Has any one tried the new Quantum Revolution A decoders yet ?
Of course. Hundreds; perhaps thousands, of them have been sold. What are you trying to ask?
Are they good? Absolutely! Are they easy to install? It depends. Do they sound good? Yes, with a properly baffled speaker. Are they cheap? NO! – but you get what you pay for. Are they programmable? Yes, if you have a computer and the Quantum Programmer.
I order from a dealer who programs them for me.
I guess i was trying to ask how people liked/disliked them
There is a comparison article written here
http://qsisolutions.com/products/techinfo/revolution/q-revo_tsunami_comparison.html
But it may be bias
One of the differences i found interesting was the ability to quiet down without totally muting the decoder
It’s ever so slightly bias. And you can’t go by Tony’s trains word either. Notice how both companies have the same address?
That being said, the Tsunami has the slight edge on steam sound IMHO. There have been complaints lately that QSI has been taking short cuts and rehashing a lot of engine sound files and horns from one engine to the next. I don’t know how true this is, but it might be worth researching. Soundtraxx also offers auto-sounds that play automatically when appropriate. (ie: appropriate whistles & bells for starting/stopping, and grade changes.)
There have been reports of Tsunami Deisels randomly taking off on tracks with “spotty” power supply. Apparently the decoder is getting confused.
But Soundtraxx is slowly loosing out to the QSI as more and more features get added (like variable Johnson Bar advancement as the train accelerates) And the QSI does offer the quantum engineer to control sounds (which is great if you run on DC.) If you use a high-bass speaker, you have to be sure to get the appropriate sound chip which is re-mixed for high bass. Tony’s can help you with that. QSI revolution also offers “No resistor ncessary” +5V light pads which makes installation a TON easier.
Both offer good BEMF. But I find the QSI Revolution offers slightly more control, yet is harder to program. So if you aren’t good at programming 2 index (Primary/Secondary) CV’s, then you’ll want to invest in the revolution programmer and hook it to a PC.
I’ve communicated with QSI’s rep regarding the following:
The designated sound schemes for turbocharged EMD dash 2s don’t have the appropriate turbo sound to them. The sound that is currently heard more closely resembles a roots blower equipped 2nd generation EMD, like the GP/SD 38 series.
The gentleman thanked me for my messages and explained that QSI does value customer input. Hopefullly QSI’s management will do the appropriate research and get the right sound scheme. I have the Q2 programmer, and do compliment some of their horn sounds. The M5 is one of the best versions that I’ve ever heard.
Can you elaborate on the ‘depends’ part of your reply re:installation. The Rev A has been recommended to me for a Stewart F7 and when I asked if it would drop in or need to be soldiered, I was told that all adtermarket sound would require soldiering. Advice?
Yes, soldering will be required because the Revolution A is a generic decoder and not a “drop in” replacement. You will have to solder the track feeder, motor, and light wiring to the decoder, and the wires to the speaker. It comes with a capacitor pre-wired to the ends of some rather long wires, which may need to be shortened to fit into some models.
Not only will you have to do some soldering but you also will need the wires
because this decoder comes as a plain board with only the capacitor attached
and doesn’t have a speaker attached as this photo shows
http://qsisolutions.com/products/q-revolution.html
as long as you are buying wire yo may want some shrink tubing also
here’s a link for some wire
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=2450009&cat=171&page=2
Sorry I can’t remember which you are replacing, but what you pictured is the Revolution - A (which is short for Atlas Format) It’s designed to be a drop in replacement for the Atlas board!
The Revolution U comes with the wires you need. These are not out yet, but should be arriving shortly.
Thanks for the link to the Ulrich Models sound samples, very enlightening. I, like the OP am interested in some sound decoders for EMD F-7s so my comments are restricted to the 567 sounds. I am not convinced that anyone has gotten these right yet. LokSound seems to have gotten the tone and pitch of the turbocharger dead on, at least to my tin ear. I don’t hear enough of the 567 diesel engine with this decoder though. The Tsunami has a good compromise between the turbo sound and that of the diesel engine, but I dont think the tone and pitch of the turbo sound is reproduced accurately. As for QSI, maybe I should refrain from comment, but here goes…for the first half second or so, ALL of the QSI decoders sound the same. Steam, Diesel, and Electric. All have a start-up that consists of an air let-off followed by air pump operation routine. Then that odd clicking sound begins. Diesel
Yep your right Don
But I like many others am not waiting till fall
I’m actually placing mine in a Berkshire
With the QSI T-1 sound file downloaded to it
TraceFork,
One thing though…neither the EMD F7 nor it’s hooded cousin, the GP7, have turbochargers. None of the EMD 3s, 7s, 9s, and 18s were factory turbo equipped. These units were generally equipped with roots blowers.The turbocharger for EMD units was introduced in the six axle SD24 and the four axle GP20. Successive 567 turbo equipped units were the GP30, and the GP/SD/SDP35 series.
So, you did purchase a LokSound unit?
Thanks for the clarification, I know little of things diesel. I purchased a four unit lash-up of Genesis Erie F-3s in a moment of weakness. The thought being that they would contrast well with the endless stream of PRR J-1 and J-1a powered coal trains through Marion Ohio on PRR’s Columbus-Sandusky line.
Regardless of the method of forced induction (turbo charger, roots blower), none of these 3 decoders have accurately captured the sound of the EMD F-Unit. At least to my ear. So I have yet to purchase any decoders for mine.
I thought they were out this spring, and didn’t they have a berk sound file? Or was that to be released later?
The revolution A is currently shipping but the Revolution U is not expected till August
You can read about it here
http://qsisolutions.com/news/revo_shipping_063008.html
The Berk file was not listed in stock when i bought mine
But that’s ok because the T-1 has by far the best whistle
Seems the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing over up in NH. This is from Tonys Trains which has the exact identical address as QSI Solutions.
I will agree with you though. The T-1 Whistle is OUTSTANDING. 
Nice choice. The berk whistle sounded a lil off to me (compared to video’s of berks I’ve seen)
That is pretty funny
All i know is Bruce at Litchfield Station and DCC Install Sales
the 2 places i buy from didn’t have any and said the didn’t expect them till fall
Information.
The issue regarding the turbocharged Dash 2 EMD sound scheme is being looked into. Hopefully we will see a true turbocharged Dash 2 become available from QSI. For now, Soundtraxx and LokSound are ahead for this particular sound scheme.
Again, for those that vaguley remember or hearing of this for the first time, click on the link below and compare the sound samples on the Santa Fe FP45. Listen to the sound clips in this order:
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LokSound
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Soundtraxx Tsunami
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QSI Revolution…