Hi,
About 18 months ago I asked a question similar to this one about Loksound units for Stewart locos. When I went to buy them (at that time), they were sold out.
New ones (motorized, DCC, Loksound system) are now available and I am ready to buy a couple, but once again I’m looking for your feedback. What do you think about them???
Thank you!
Apparently you are not looking at the Bowser site. The Stewart’s come with Tsunami, a very good decoder.
I also use the LokSound in other diesels and a good decoder.
Do some Google searches for both and you will find a lot of info about them.
Rich
Hi,
The only ones available (FT, B unit, Black trucks) at a really good price (from a very reputable dealer) have the Loksound system.
Soooo, my question is about the Loksound system for the Fts.
Hi once again!
Well, looks like we were both correct. The unit I was looking at on the dealers website does state a LokSound unit. However, both Walthers and Bowser say this same unit is a Soundtraxx Tsunami!
Soooo, it looks like the newer versions (as I had read somewhere) are Tsunamis - while the original older versions were LokSound.
That being said, I assume the Soundtraxx is an excellent representation of the FT’s 567 motor.
Mobilman.
FWIW the Loksound decoders have excellent motor control and most of the sounds are great. My only complaint with them is the horn volume. If they could fix that I would buy more of them. At half volume on all the other sounds and the horn at full volume I can hear the bell across the room but have to listen very closely to hear the horn. Another downside with their decoders is the 100 ohm speakers.
Pete
Yes, some online dealers and LHS will have the old stock with LokSound. I have not found any.
Bowser was mentioning Tsunami replacements the beginning of 2009 I have been in contact with Bowser and SoundTraxx.
I use the LokSound v3.5 with a 100 ohm speaker in a Stewart VO-1000 and very good response and sound. I see no disadvantage to using the 100 ohm speakers. The same with my PCM F3, A/B set with LokSound v3.5 and three 100 ohm speakers.
I use the Tsunami sound in two Stewart VO-1000’s and also very good response and sound.
Some rivet counters believe the LokSound has a little better motor control. I like the advantage of more sound modification in the Tsunami.
Rich
I would be curious to see where the new ones are being released with LokSound.
Got a link?
Yes, some online dealers and LHS will have the old stock with LokSound. I have not found any.
There may be a possibility some dealers are putting in the LokSound if they have DCC ready ones still on the shelf.
Bowser was mentioning Tsunami replacements the beginning of 2009 I have been in contact with Bowser and SoundTraxx.
I use the LokSound v3.5 with a 100 ohm speaker in a Stewart VO-1000 and very good response and sound. I see no disadvantage to using the 100 ohm speakers. The same with my PCM F3, A/B set with LokSound v3.5 and three 100 ohm speakers.
I use the Tsunami sound in two Stewart VO-1000’s and also very good response and sound.
Some rivet counters believe the LokSound has a little better motor control. I like the advantage of more sound modification in the Tsunami.
Rich
Speaker isn’t really an issue for a factory installed system.
Tsunami has the equalizer capability, but Loksound and QSI let you actually change the sounds. QSI is easier since you can’t change individual sounds but instead can only load complete sets that they have already programmed, so no need to learn complex sound editing.
–Randy
FWIW, the new Loksound Select decoders use 8-ohm speakers, I have a 567 and a 645 installed in a Trainline and Athearn RTR, respectively. One thing I like about these decoders is that the sounds are off when the track is powered up, which is opposite of the other decoder brands.
Hi Again!
Well, I just ordered two of the #691-1214 units from M.B.Klein (www.modeltrainstuff.com). They were out of stock for some time and just in the last two weeks got a new supply. The website says they are Loksound, but other places (walthers, TTH) say they are Tsunami. I’ll just wait and see what they are and how they operate.
By the way, the retail on these is $199, and MBK is selling at $120. Looking forward to sliding these into the Stewart freight (red stripe) ABBA consist and see how many cars we can pull up a 2 % grade!
I’ll let you all know how it goes!
That’s a steal - $120 for a powered chassis with a sound decoder installed. I may have to rethink not putting sound in more locos.
–Randy
Please do. Been very interested in upgrading my old Stewart FT AB lashup with sound.
My only concern on the new power/sound chassis is the lack of side LEDs for Santa Fe (and a few other roads) large side number boards. Actually it looks like there is no provision for any lighting in the photos you can find online of the FT power/sound chassis.
I just received the below message form Lee English at Bowser who make and sell the Stewart’s.
Hello Lee
Is Bowser still making the below Stewart frames with LokSound?
Is this maybe another dealer with old stock?
Someone in a Trains.com forum said they locos with LokSound are again
being made available.
ttp://www.modeltrainstuff.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=stewart+chassis&Search.x=21&Search.y=11
Thanks.
Rich
the chassis have Soundtrax Tsuanmi sound not LOK
[url]http://bowser-trains.com/Stewart/Stewart%20Sound%20Chass
Thank You for the tip on the FT powered sound units at MB Klien. I just ordered a Tsunami unit myself for the $120 price.
\
Glad to help. Good deal.
Unfortunately, some just refuse to go to the source for info.
Nearly a year ago I purchased three DCC ready Stewart VO-1000’s for $50.00 each and it cost me nearly $90.00 each for decoder and speaker, plus the time to do the install. Worked out OK. Not difficult. The Baldwin sound decodrs for the VO-1000 were new back then. I had been in contact with Bowser and SoundTraxx.
Lee English also told me that they install the same decoder we can buy from SoundTraxx so all the specs are the same. Athearn and Bachmann has SoundTraxx cut a few things out of their factory Tsunami sound decoder installs.
Rich
Hi!
Didn’t want to leave you all hangin out there…
Just got the two Stewart/Bowser FTB power chassis with DCC and Sound from M.B.Klein - Model Train Stuff. The sound system is Tsunami, and sounds just great!!!
By the way, dealing with M.B.Klein is always a pleasure, and I recommend them highly!
Thanks for all your input,
Yes, I have purchased from them also.
Rich
“Just got the two Stewart/Bowser FTB power chassis with DCC and Sound from M.B.Klein - Model Train Stuff. The sound system is Tsunami, and sounds just great!!!”
Dittos. I received mine also and can back up what you stated.
Bummer, I just checked Saturday and they were all out of stock. This is probably a GOOD thing, actually. [(-D]
–Randy
Probably there was a run on these when the link was posted in the forum.
Rich