I just recently bought my first engine (and if you saw the progress on my layout you would wonder why it took so long), and I am interested in installing DCC and sound.
I got a good deal on one of the Athearn RTR RS3s, and it has a DCC plug.
Any recommedations on a sound install? I know soundtraxx makes various modules, but I don’t want a generic DSD. They do have a plug and play for Atlas and Athearn Genesis, would that work in this I wonder? Or, what about some other companies like ESU?
Help us out a little … what’s more important to you – price or features? Or would you prefer to go middle of the road – decent features for a reasonable price?
As to DCC, how large is your layout, and how large would you like to grow it to eventually? It’s one thing if you have a small layout and don’t plan to grow it much very soon, versus having plans to build a basement empire eventually.
Once we have answers to these questions, we’d be glad to help you out. [swg]
Well, I was hoping for a DCC and sound decoder all in one. But, I’m not looking to spend 100+ just on a decoder and speaker…
My layout is going to be small to middle sized, with a more basic DCC setup like the Zephyr and one to three total “operators.” But I plan on having all DCC and sound equipped locomotives, from Broadway Ltd. models to putting decoders in the Atlas/Athearn/Bachmann locos I will get.
Basically, ESU, MRC, Soundtraxx and Digitrax seem to be the companies in this market. I was just looking for an idea of which to choose for this particular model.
The current SOundtraxx all-in-one decoders have poor motor control but good sound. The ones they are coming out with will offer better motor control (but not as good as the Tsunami - but those are steam-only for now). The ESU has awesome motor control but it going to set you back that $100. You cna program your own sounds (that requires an additional piece of hardware) but many sellers liek Tony’s will preload them with whatever sounds you want at time of purchase. This will give you a very accurate sound since you can be sure the correct sounds are loaded. The Digitrax sound decoder is slated to be out byt he end of the year. This will have good motor control and also has use-loadable sounds (also requires a hardware interface to load sounds). Again if you can get good RS-3 sounds you cna load them into the decoder and know you have the right engine, bell, and horn sounds. Last (and certainly least) is the MRC. Typically not worth the space they take up. Programming issues across multiple DCC systems (except, it seems, MRC’s own), lost memory, ok but not great sounds. The Digitrax is probably the best bang for the buck because of the user loadable sounds. The new SOundtraxx units will have somewhat better but not customizeable sounds and not quite as good a motor drive. The ESU is probably the best overall but also the most expensive. --Randy
Randy gave you a very good answer.
I use the Soundtraxx LC sound decoders in dummy units because I model the 1980s SP and diesel loco consists are common – so I can stick a dummy unit with sound in the middle of the loco lashup and have economical sound for the whole consist. Randy is correct that if you want sound and good motor control and nice lighting functions, then Soundtraxx is okay but not great. (As to sound quality, the Soundtraxx are very good, even the generic LC is the first generation EMD 567, and for first generation EMD diesels, it’s a great option if you want nice sound on a budget and are okay with motor performance that’s nothing special.)
Avoid MRC sound decoders, they are cheaply made and don’t last. MRC has supposedly even said “what do you expect from a cheap sound decoder?” when asked why they don’t seem to last. The phrase “trainset junk” comes to mind. The MRC DCC systems are much better built, but they are limited in their expansion options and none of their systems allows you to use DecoderPro via a computer interface – which I see as a serious limitation.
This leaves Digitrax and ESU sound decoders. You tend to get what you pay for, and these decoders are priced accordingly.
As to a specific DCC system, it sounds like one of the starter sets would be a great option for you. You can get an NCE PowerCab for $140 or a Digitrax Zephyr for $160 from Tony’s Trains Exchange. The biggiest difference between the two is the NCE system uses a handheld walkaround form factor, while the Zephyr uses a powerpack form factor. You will also find the NCE system to be a bit more intuitive with obvious english labels on their keypad, like “Consist - Add loco” where the Zephyr isn’t quite so clear with more mysterious abbreviations on their keys like “MU - t+”.
But a large deciding factor for which DCC system to get is to pick what other modelers in your area are using. Digitrax has very good marketing, so more modelers have purchased their system than any other. I
So that probably eliminates the ESU option.
Personally I highly do not recommend the MRC. The sound just isn’t good, and I’ve had problems programming them. Even something as simple as the channel number has given me fits.
The new digitrax indicates it is sound programmable so you would be able to find and load the proper Alco 244 sounds. I don’t know how much effort this is. I cannot find that they currently sell any with pre-installed Alco sounds.
For SoundTraxx you would want one of the following:
820042 DSD-AT100LC ALCO
821210 DSD-090LC for ALCO Diesel
The first one is designed for Atlas locomotives so it should easily fit into your RS3. The second one is officially for N-scale. They used to have a generic DSD-100 with Alco sounds but I don’t see that one in the catalog now.
I don’t know how easy using the DCC plug built-in to your loco will make things. First there are two kinds of plug the 8 pin, and the edge 9 pin. I’ve done installations where I’ve simply poked the appropriate wire down into the appropriate pin location, but I would think building your own plug would be a better option, or I am guessing it will be a mater of removing the whole board with the plug on it and totally replacing it with the sound decoder.
The hard part of this installation is going to be the speaker. You almost have to use a 1/2" upward firing speaker through the radiator, or cut out the bottom of t
When we say “okay” motor control on the soundtraxx, what exactly do we mean? What are the characteristics of a motor that is running “okay” or “…nothing special.” Will they not run as smooth, have poor stops or starts…?
NYC1,
Yes, they don’t run as smoothly as a motor decoder-only locomotive. That’s why some folks will just use the sound components of a sound decoder for sound and let the motor decoder take care of everything else - i.e. motion, lights, etc. (At least that would be true for the Soundtraxx decoders.) On the otherhand, I have a LokSound 2.0 decoder in a Trix Mike that has both good sound and terrific low speed response.
Tom
The soundtraxx LC can also make the motor noisier in certain cases. Obviously this is not a desirable thing for sound. You could always do a dual-decoder setup, but that is more complicated and requires more space.
The original Soundtrax DSD motor and sound decoders do not have ‘silent running’ or high frequency drive, and so tend to make motors buzz. Depending ont he motor, some are worse than others. The new ones coming soon (hopefully) are supposed to at least have a supersonic type of drive so no buzzing, but no Back-EMF for smoother control. Tsunami has very good Back-EMF, as does ESU. Digitrax’s is decent.
–Randy
I don;t think the DSD-AT100LC is going to be a good fit for the new Athearn RS-3. It’s the old MRC model with an updated drive using the RTR components. The DSD-AT100LC would probably work well in a Genesis unit since they have very similar circuit boards to the Atlas locos, but the RS-3 is a bit different critter. I could be wrong, I don;t have one yet - waiting for the Reading units to ship.
–Randy
Ah, as usual, nothing in the hobby is simple. But, without the people here, I wouldn’t have all this good information to help.
So, basically we’re saying the Soundtraxx is undersireable because of noise and motor control. The ESU is great, despite the price. And, when the Digitrax arrives, it might be a good middle between the two.
While I’m at it, I also will be adding sound to an Atlas GP7 and a Bachmann Consolidation in the near future. What should I do with those?
I’ve got soundtraxx in two of my locomotives. An Atlas GP-40 and a Kato SD70Mac. I bought the “all in one” sound decoder and DCC. The sound in my opinion is awesome and the control is very precise. I’ve heard quantum sound decoders too, and I can’t tell the difference. I am purchasing MORE soundtraxx decoders too. I think they’re that good. And for only $54 at Tonys Train Exchange, they’re a much better deal than loksound or digitrax.
I have several of the Soundtraxx LC decoders installed in LLP2K locos & have no problems with “hum”.
I totally agree with everyone about MRC although I don’t have a sound decoder. Their regualar decoder that I installed quite working after about 5 minutes after I put it on the layout. I installed the speaker in the LLP2K GP-9 where the cab sits on the frame with only a minimal amount of weight removal. It sounds good and runs fair. If I consist it with another loco, the problem with how it runs goes away. I also run two dummies with Soundtraxx DSX soud only decoder like Joe Fugate mentioned. I think Tony’s has the LC decoders for around $45.00. Tweet.
I purchased my soundtraxx decoders about a month ago from Tonys Train Exchange. I have not encountered any motor buzz with either my Atlas or Kato locomotive. I would definatley recommend this sound decoder DSD motor controller. They are HALF the price of loksound. If you have an extra 60 dollars to burn then by all means by the other brands, but me, I’ll have two engines with sound to your one.
Well, I’ve pretty well narrowed it down to the Zephyr, Powercab or Prodigy Express.
I see that the Zephyr and Powercab are around the $150 mark. Also, I have found the Express for $95. That is a big price difference, but I wonder how good the system is (even though I’ve seen positive reviews), considering the problems with MRCs other products.
Anyone here have an opinion or preference between the three?
I’ve held the Prodigy Express and to ME it is not as comfortable as the NCE power cab. AND you need TWO hands to operate the controller IF you are using the sound functions. It also feels likes it made of cheap materials as well. It works well however and is less expensive. Just don’t buy the MRC brand decoders or sound decoders because most people here say they are crap.
With the NCE power cab you can operate the loco with one hand including sound controls. Thats a plus in my opinion.
A couple warnings about MRC:
The system isnt very expandable. You can add throttles and a booster and… oh wait… thats about it.
When you add multiple throttles (at least to the PA) the system will occaisionally get “confused” and do strange things like activate the horns on all locos on the layout, or make all of them take off full blast, or other things like that. The only way to stop this nonsense is to shut off the system and start it back up. This can be very embarrasing when you are displaying at the George Bush Library[D)].
My personal choice is Digitrax, but it is about equal to NCE. Just get what you like.
LOL [tup]
That is a strange way to phrase your answer. The PA is so complete that you don’t need to add anything (other than extra throttles or boosters). In fact; the only thing that you can not do, or add, is a computer interface. It even comes with all of the function keys in place, and useable, not just the first few.
I can’t respond to this as I only run one throttle.
Digitrax is good and so is NCE; however, both are missing some of the built-in features of the PA