What sound decoders have you found to be a good value for the money? I’m unsure why Soundtraxx’ Tsunami decoders are worth roughly twice the cost of their competition.
It kind of depends what you call competition…
The MRC and low-end Digitrax (SDH64) decoders are pretty poor preformers. If you dont buy the tsu-1000 (purple shrink-wrapped) or the KT-1000 (resistors built in) type, you can keep your cost around $80. Still alot, but when comparing sound quality between the Soundtraxx and the MRC and SDH64, for only $35, what can I say, you get what you pay for. The ESU/Loksound can be found for $83 and are excellent. The sound and motor control of the Lok is hard to beat.
In the end, imho, you get what you pay for. Yes, it is expensive, and yes these decoders are probably very profitable for the companies that make them. But its an expensive hobby that I dont see getting any cheaper.
IMHO the Tsunami is probably the best out there.I like the sound of the EMD 567 and 645E used in the SW1500 and other units.
Now,I have MRC 645 sound decoder in a Athearn RTR SW1500 and when used with my Tech 6 I an set several CVs and select the horn,plus Rule 17 lighting.It sounds good but,not quite on the level of the Tsunami but,the MRC was a simple plug/play and that’s why I chose it over the Tsunami-I can’t solder worth a lick with my left hand and I’m to stubborn to ask…
You get what you pay for.
I have had MRC sound decoders and they failed in about a year. So I had to buy new decoders. So how does that make MRC decoders a better buy?
People here report that the Digitrax sound decoders don’t sound very well, so I have left them alone.
I have tried most sound decoders except for Digitrax. I have one Loksound decoder, and one QSI, and many Tsunami’s. I like the Tsunami’s better, but can not complain about the Loksound or QSI except to say the QSI has lost it’s programming several times so I won’t buy another one.
Elmer,I haven’t had any problems yet but,I only used the simple CV setting acceleration(CV3),deceleration(CV4) start(CV2) and top volt(CV5),the master volume(CV49) and horn type(CV50)…Again the sound is ok.
When and if it fails I will probably buy a Tsunami and ask for help soldering the fool thing.
I thought I was the only one that had ran across this problem with QSI losing its programming, since there has been little mention of that on these forums.
We have 15 or 20 locomotives with factory-equipped QSI sound decoders in them, primarily diesels, that sometimes have to have a factory reset and reprogramming. Not all of them, but enough to be an aggravation.
I have a set of P2K F7s (ABA), Atlas MP15, 2 Atlas GP40-2s.
All with QSI sound…and to me they all sound the same.
I have a 3 unit set of P2K GP30s that I installed Tsunamis into and they sound great.
Next weekend at the Timonium show I`m picking up a TSU-750 micro Tsunami for my Walthers doodlebug.
It depends on what’s important to you. I prefer great motor control so LokSound and the new QSI are my choices. I have yet to come across a Soundtraxx decoder - even after adjusting - that can match either one.
Sound primarily depends on the quality of the original sound recording and how well it’s sampled. While the LokSound whistle and chuff in my Trix Mike is fair, at best, the playable horn and bell of my LokSound Selector decoder in my Stewart VO-660 is excellent. OTOH, a similar Tsunami decoder in a Stewart VO-1000 I had yielded an anemic and monotone horn and poor motor control. It went back to the vendor pronto.
Even though the Loksound 3.5 decoder in my Trix Mike has so-so sound files (except the bell, which is nice and crisp), I can always hold out for a better sound file, as long as the motor control is excellent. To me - that has greater “value” than sound ever will.
Tom
Thanks to all who responded!
I dislike answers like: “You get what you pay for!” Paying more is not always a guarantees you’re getting the highest/best quality!
Well, I’ve used both the Loksound V3.5 and the Loksound Select, and frankly, I think the Select performs just as well as the V3.5.
On the flip-side I have had three, count them three, different MRC sound decoders for over five years, and they have been awesome. I have a Soundtraxx decoder for my Model Power 4-6-2 Pacific, and it’s great, but to get a Soundtraxx decoder in an Atlas diesel is darned near impossible. MRC was the way to go.
Now Digitrax decoders are all crap. Yes, ALL of them. I have had three of them, and they all suck.
I can only relate my experience, some of it dated and some very recent.
About six years ago, the model railroad world heaved a huge collective sigh of relief when Soundtraxx finally launched their Tsunami decoders. It improved as they branched out into light, medium heavy steam, and their diesels. Things were peachy for about five years.
Then both QSI and ESU LokSound launched their Revolution Series and 3.5 respectively. Wow, and decisions, decisions. At about that time, two years ago or more, I had a Stealth BLI J Class 4-8-4 needing a sound decoder. I elected to purchase a tried-and-true Tsunami ‘heavy steam’ because the Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 is indeed a heavy locomotive. It didn’t run all that well at low speeds. I saw a thread dealing with fine-tuning low-speed control with Tsunamis on another forum and decided to give it a try. WOW!!! That Stealth J Class turned into a silk purse suddenly!
Buuuuuuuuuttttt, there was that generic rod clank that I couldn’t shut off or turn down, no matter what I did. Further, if you listen to recent Tsunami installations today on youtube, they all have that same generic rod clank, same pitch, same omnipresence…[sigh…].
My recent experience (and I haven’t the slightest doubt LokSound could match it hands down) is with the new QSI Titan series. I have two ‘universal’ Titans installed in the newest steamer purchases, a BlueLine A Class 2-6-6-4 from BLI and a Bachmann Spectrum Heavy Mountain 4-8-2. Both are truly welcome additions to my roster because of reputation and actual finish, fit, and running qualities. Believe me, the Titan doesn’t diminish either engine, and for the sound enthusiast, it is a welcome improvement from the Revolution Series from QSI.
The upshot is that, without knowing how the latest LokSounds are, the QSI Titan is now my go-to sound decoder.
Crandell
I’m sorry to hear that, gatrhumpy. I have a DZ123 and a DH143 in a couple of switchers and they have very nice motor control. With that said, I still prefer Lenz, NCE, and TCS decoders.
Tom
I have installed many Digitrax DZ123s in Stewart, Atlas, P2K, IHC, Model Power and MDC Roundhouse locomotives and all are performing very well, indeed. I have been extremely happy with the Digitrax products I own; so, had been wondering about installing their sound decoders in a couple of my steam locos. However, I’m hearing that people seem to be dissatisfied with Digitrax’s sound decoders. Hense my original question, above.
How many sound decoder manufacturers are there? I know of: Digitrax, Soundtraxx, Loksound, QSI and MRC. I see that Bachmann offers locos with sound; but, doesn’t seem to offer decoders as stand alone products. Are there any others?
I believe Zimo has a sound decoder.
Tom
Go to the Soundtraxx web site and download their Tsunami Steam Technical Reference Manual. On Page 64 of that document you will see that CV 135 is the Rod Clank Volume.
By adjusting the value in CV 135, you can turn it off completely or to a lower volume so it is barely heard.
The Bachmann sound locos are Tsunami chips, and cannot be purchased as they are licensed to Bachmann only, some are stripped down versions missing some features (coupler clank in the Alco 2-6-0 sound value for example)
Years ago when I was in N scale Digitrax and TCS were the decoders I ran, I always felt the Digitrax while having more features at the time, the TCS had better motor control, but that was almost 6 or more years ago, and I imagine decoders have excelled at how they perform.
I am now into HO and didn’t do my research as I should have, instead buying all MRC decoders for my Athearn GP’s and the Atlas genset. I recently was introduced to Loksound, and have decided to convert al my engines over to Loksound, the Micro Selects, I was blown away at the better clarity in the sound, the fact I can get rule 17, and eventually I will by the Loksound programmer for fine tuning. The Loksounds also seem to have a smooth as silk motor control compared to how the MRC’s respond, step 1 in the Lok’s is a nice 1-2 mph crawl, as were no mater what I do, my genset seems to only get down to 4-5 mph, and is a bit jerky at a 10-15 mph speed.
Costs for either the MRC or the Loksound for me, the Loksound was actually a better price.
I would be interested in hearing what people think of the factory installed decoders from Atlas and Athearn and the others as far as sound quality and motor control. I would have to agree with others, the motor control is the 1st thing on my list of wanting best performing, with the sound coming in next.
TCS unveiled their new steam sound decoder this week-end at the Springfield show … could diesels be far behind ?
Mark.
So, how was it, Mark?
Tom