Sound and engine control decoders?

[schom]

I was looking at sound and engine control decoders, at a Tsunami steam decoder, wow its expensive. Are there any other decoders out their, that do as good of a job that are cheaper? No trying to be cheap, but come on.

[cacole]

If you consider $80 for a decoder with excellent sound and motor control to be too expensive, then stick with only motor control, which can be had for around $15. If you saw the Tsunami priced much higher than $80, then you may be looking at a full retail price source instead of some of the discounted prices that can be found.

Sure you can get cheaper sound decoders, such as an MRC, but they are very poor in all respects and have a nasty habit of releasing their magic smoke after only a couple of hours of use.

If you think a Tsunami is expensive, you haven’t priced a LokSound. QSI decoders, if they ever become an after-market product, will probably cost over $100 each when you consider that manufacturers who build them in are chaging $100 more for sound.

[Anonymous]

If you consider $80 for a decoder with excellent sound and motor control to be too expensive, then stick with only motor control, which can be had for around $15. If you saw the Tsunami priced much higher than $80, then you may be looking at a full retail price source instead of some of the discounted prices that can be found.

Sure you can get cheaper sound decoders, such as an MRC, but they are very poor in all respects and have a nasty habit of releasing their magic smoke after only a couple of hours of use.

If you think a Tsunami is expensive, you haven’t priced a LokSound. QSI decoders, if they ever become an after-market product, will probably cost over $100 each when you consider that manufacturers who build them in are chaging $100 more for sound.

[#ditto]

But one correction: Tsunamis now list at $119; most dealers sell them for about $95. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

An addition: Soundtraxx also makes a “Low Cost” series of decoders (list $85, dealers $65 or so), and a “Plug & Play” series (most list $65 or $70, dealers $50 to $60 or so).

I have a few of these (pre-Tsunami). They’re pretty good, but my personal opinion is, you get about 3 times the decoder with the Tsunami.

I have no relationship to Soundtraxx except as a satisfied customer (but wish I did – maybe I’d have some idea if/when there will be Tsunamis for Diesels!)

[joe-daddy]

If you think a Tsunami is expensive, you haven’t priced a LokSound. QSI decoders, if they ever become an after-market product, will probably cost over $100 each when you consider that manufacturers who build them in are chaging $100 more for sound.

So far, todate, I have installed 3 sound decoders, 2 steam, 1 diesel. I own 9 other locomotives that I purchased with sound built in. I cannot imagine why I would ever want to buy another locomotive that does not include sound built in. The incremental, the add on price of the built in sound is less than I can DIM (do it myself) and the quality is superior with the built in decoders. That is my experience.

See my blog entry on sound locomotives at my train blog

http://wwwjoe-daddy.blogspot.com/

Have a great day!

Joe

[mike33469]

I bought a Soundtrax DSD 101 from Tony’w Trains for $51.95, speaker another $7.95, mot bad.

[Driline]

I bought a Soundtrax DSD 101 from Tony’w Trains for $51.95, speaker another $7.95, mot bad.

I’ve got one too. These sound decoders are fantastic. I also bought the el cheapo for $39.95 (DSD LC100) and I think the sound is incredible. I put it in my proto 2000 E9 and am very pleased with it. I’ve heard the Atlas quantum sound decoders and they are slightly better, but you also are paying nearly $100 just for the sound decoder. I have not experienced the lok sound decoders but would like to hear a diesel version.

So for only $39.95 plus about 7 dollars for a speaker, you can get a great sound system from soundtraxx on the cheap.

[Texas_Zephyr]

I was looking at sound and engine control decoders, at a Tsunami steam decoder, wow its expensive. Are there any other decoders out their, that do as good of a job that are cheaper? No trying to be cheap, but come on.

To put this into perspective, the advance of technology is reducing the cost. The older technology sound units used to be $195-$300 each. So the Tsunami is higher quality for a much cheaper price. The only reason the old units have come down in price is because of the competition of the new units.