Considering the low quality sound and problems people are having with DCC operation should Athearn replace the MRC sound decoder on the Challenger?
Me, I don’t care!
I posted my own problems with this engine on both this forum and the layout forum. I thought it was just me that had problems.
Yes. I voted for a QSI sound system, but if the new, as yet unreleased, SoundTraxx Tsunami ever sees the light of day, it would also be a better choice than MRC. I have the Lionel Challenger with QSI sound, and think the Athearn would be a much more attractive model if they would use a better system. I’m sure Athearn would have to increase the price of their model to put the better sound system in it, but I think it would be worth the extra cost. As things currently stand, I will leave my Athearn Challenger on the store shelf for someone else. It’s really a shame that MRC has been so reluctant to grasp DCC and realize that modelers want better decoders and sound than what they have been producing. I still have some MRC power packs from the 1960’s, and they are probably going to last forever, but MRC’s decoders are very poor quality.
Guys,
Make sure you e-mail this thread as well as your observations to Athearn. Enough complaints may prompt them to make changes.
I was informed by www.firsthobby.com that there will be a second run first half of 2005 so let Athearn and the Parent company, Horizon know.
This is the reason I not buying one, because of the MRC sound decoder.
I voted for Qsi i was ready to buy the atheren model untill I read all the posts about the sound system I have several BLI products and the sound so far is the best.I am waiting for soundtraxx’s new decoder there first generation diesels are exellent but not as user freindly as QSI.As far as mrc I jumped on the band wagon with their cheap AD370 diesel, I think I have 3 or 4 in the junk drawer.I think Atheren got the only sound system available at the time to get their product to market.Now maybe they will step back and put a high quality sound system in what could be a premier loco.
I paid the same price for a P2K Berk and don’t feel cheated it came w/o sound.
I think the MRC system sounds fine. You guys who have BLI locos are spoiled with the QSI system![;)] An affordable steam locomotive with sound FINALLY comes out and everybody starts complaining…
Bigboy is right, I AM spoiled by my BLIs. I admit it! [:D]
I voted yes.
I have both BLI and the Athearn Challenger and like the sound of both. The problem is getting the MRC decoder to program to a channel other than 03. See my other post on both this forum and the layout forum.
I am doubtful if Athearn’s people would read this forum and if they did, would give much credence to what 12 poster’s opinions on their product would be. If they listen to their customers, which I would hope that they do, as AntonioFP45 has suggested, sending them email or letters, with suggestions would carry much more weight and I suggest you do this.
I would like to see everything offered with and without sound, and with and without DCC. It ain’t gonna happen, but that’s how I feel. That way I won’t have any money tied up in stuff I don’t need or want, and it will be available when QSI releases their stuff seperately.
I don’t have my Challenger yet but the ones I’ve heard aren’t too much worse than others. At this stage of development they all sound pretty bad. Its the physics of trying to get low freqency out of a tiny speaker. The real UP Challenger whistle has that very same raggedy tone.
Of course many people confuse volume with quality. We have one fellow at the club who was making fun of the quality of one of my units until I turned up the volume to match his. I then turned the table and pointed out the points of how his was more a noise system than a sound system.
I have a friend who is planning on ripping the sound system out of his Lionel 4-8-8-4 and move it over.
Well, after bitching and complaining about everyone and their Aunt Ethel coming out with a UP Challenger, I bit the bullet and got the Athearn Challenger (Rio Grande) at my LHS, today. I’ve got a few BLI’s, and as far as I’m concerned, the Athearn is just as good (though the whistle is downright weird). A beautiful running locomotive, and after spending a hour getting used to the transmitter, a lot of fun to run. And very smooth and powerful. Okay, I’m not the biggest fan of the UP design (prefer the Baldwin L-105), but I have to admit that it looks like a dream come true at the head of about 30 or 40 reefers. And the sound’s okay by me. Only one thing–I wi***hat Athearn had installed the driver sets out of synch, instead of in line. Other than that, hey, I’m a happy camper.
Tom
With a few of the polls I started, I emailed manufactures with a link to the page. So they can see directly what the people have to say.
[xx(] well I ordered a challenger on line and then canceled after I heard the tin sound system at a local train store. It’s not that I am spoiled by BLI’s system, it is just obvious that it sounds better. Sent my email off to Athearn asking if they would cnsidered the next run with the QSI system. They did reply that they will take my suggestion under advisement. What ever that means .Sure wish I had the the loco now as I am really tired of running my rivarossi 3979 in silence.[^]
E-mail the parent company too.
I prefer Sound Traxx over BLI’s generic diesel sounds…I never heard a SD40-2 that sounds like a 567 prime mover found in F units,geeps and switchers.
BLI’s steam sound is much better then their generic diesel sounds.