Sound Decoder observation

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Now that I have ALMOST one of each type sound decoder I feel that I can make a statement of what sounds the best to me.

All mine are steam so no clue on the diesel side

With the updated chip I like the QSI the best as far as WHistles, bells, and Chuff sound. I like the speed readout very much. Got the Hudsons running at 1 mph.

THe TSunami is the most advanced I have with all the changes you can make. I like the Auto feature for the Whistle and bell as far as starting, stopping and such. Old Firmen Fred is a trip to set up but he adds to the fun. There was NO chuff cam installed.

Removed the MRC from the Big Boy and that has the Tsunami in it. The H8 will also get a Tsunami.

THe MRC i still in the challenger and for some reason has been a good boy for a long time now. Still no 4 digit address or ability to change many settings but it does run well.

Wanted to try LOK in the new H8 but my sound install geru said to stay with the Tsunami.

I am thinking of adding sound to the Y6b and would like to try the Lok anybody tried that one?

P.S. 12 sound engines are VERY LOUD!!! This makes the mute key a GOOD THING!

2

I have loksound decoders. I think they are the easiest to install as sound decoders go. The speaker is already attached to the decoder, and there is a 8-pin plug. No soldering. TRUE plug and play. The sound is also very nice, with a 100 ohm speaker.

Highly reccomended. Grade - A

3

I agree. George, I was happy to receive a Trix Mikado with the older ESU Loksound 2.0 (or whatever it is), and I must say that the sound exceeds the Tsunami in some respects. Now, we must remember that this is a professional installation engineered for that tender, so adding a Tsunami to anything, which is all any of us can do these days since they don’t come installed in many locos just yet, is really an after-market process. We all fit those decoders in as best as seems sensible.

If you feel like experimenting, I think you will be very pleased with the Loksound.

-Crandell

4

I put a Soundtraxx decoder in my P1K Alco RS3. It took some “engineering” to get the speaker in, but I’m very happy with the result.

5

Thank you all for the feedback. I will probably get one from Tony’s since my sound guru will not sell me one. Says they are not as good as the Tsunami and I would not be happy. Bad thing to say to me since I am the one who likes or dislikes something.

The Plug and play feature and the fact that you are giving me information from HAVING the unit I can put in more thought. I have about 2 weeks of car stuff before I will have the time to put one in.

Again Thank you

6

I’m a Tsunami fan. Have 7, hoping to be able to get some Tsunami diesels if they ever actually make them. I also like the short whistle, brake function & sound, and get a kick out of Fireman Fred. Personally, I think the water stop is a bit much, but visitors like it.

I’ve got 7 QSIs, too, and they’re good, but I still prefer the Tsunami.

I’ve also got one LokSound, the v3.5 model. I don’t have the LokProgrammer that lets you download your own sounds, or replace what you have with a different set. You also need a Windoze computer for that.

Before you spend the $$$, you might investigate some of the things the LokSound won’t do, like proper ditch lights, no brake function (you can get the brakes to sound as you decelerate, though). Also you’re probably accustomed to the way you can set a SoundTraxx unit to remain silent until the engine is addressed – you can’t do that with a LokSound. If you want it off when you power-up the layout, you have to be sure it’s off when you power down, or set it to come on with a function key. I’ve set mine to work with F6, like the QSI startup. Others set it to come on and off with the lights.

The sound is indeed good, though. I don’t think it matches the Tsunami, but many folks do. So if the lack of some functions doesn’t bother you, or you want to play sound engineer (load loco sounds, station announcements, Star Spangled Banner, whatever, via the roughly $100 LokProgrammer), give it a shot!

If you do try a LokSound, join their Yahoo user’s group. The instruction manual that comes with it is very small, as is the typeface, and not very comprehensive. Nothing like the QSI and Tsunami info. In fact, unless they’ve changed it recently, neither the printed US manual nor the one on the US web site mentions that it will do Rule 17 lighting! The user’s group finally steered me to t