Anyone looking for a great deal on some Soundtraxx decoders, check out Empire Northern Models: http://www.empirenorthernmodels.com.
Important: You have to ADD THE DECODER to your cart BEFORE you can actually see the SALE price. It’s definitely worth a look.
Tom
woah ! those prices are low . the only thing i can think is they’re clearing out stock before the tsunamis start to ship .
i’m calling my LHS tomorrow to cancel my 2 month old backorder . even if they don’t refund my deposit it will be cheaper from empire northern
Tony’s is having a Soundtraxx sale too, I say new soundtraxx stock coming??.
empire beats tony’s price tho.
Ken.
Wow! Those prices look pretty good. Are those units any good? I remember reading somewhere (it may have even been on this forum) that a lot of people were having all kinds of problems with them. The only one I would be interested in is the DSX, because I already have decoders in all my locos.
Okay, for my Atlas GP-38, which one should I get?
Chip,
E-mail Tim Smith @ ENM directly and get his input. The DSX is supposed to be a very nice decoder. I’ll be getting that particular one installed in the B-unit of my NYC FT diesel that I’m ordering from him. The B-unit will also contain two speakers instead of one, which should really put out some sound. I’m looking forward to it…[:)]
Tom
cripes, i would LOVE to get one for my HO DCC atlas master FM H16-44, but i have no idea what one i should get, i know i need a speeker also. i dont know what DSX, DSD, or any of that stuff means. i"m an old DC guy, just now getting into DCC so its all new to me, but i DO know i would REALLY like to put sound in my FM!
DXS is sound only, so you need a motor decoder aswell. DSD 100 LC is a generic diesel or steam with motor decoder. the LC means low cost.
Ken.
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/
Bruce at Litchfield has a sale as well. I picked up a couple last week and installed a generic steam decoder in an IHC steamer. The LC’s are a big decoder (it is the first sound install I have done), but the install in a tender was easy and it sounds good.
If you are considering installing an LC, you really need some space as it is large and then of course have to fit the speaker as well. I am going to tackle a diesel install this weekend.
I’ve ordered a pile of decoders and my DT400 from Tim at Empire Northern, very responsive! Now with this Soundtraxx sale I have no excuse not to load up my Stewart F7B dummy with big speakers and a DSX. And right when I was trying to save up my pennies for my on-order PCM T-1… [:(]
–Randy
If you want to hear the DSD100LC in action, here’s a video clip (click on the image):
Click the image to see video
By the way, my guess is that it is the Digitrax sound decoders coming out in October for $50 ($75 with light decoder) that are driving the dump of the current SoundTrax technology–not the Tsunami which is the higher end market.
Wow something is going on just got an email from Gadget toms. He is giving 25.00 off on all soundtrax decoders. I just put a dsd (sound and engine control) in a P2K GP-9 sounds great standing still but it studders and cuts off and on at every single speck of dirt, etc on the track. I am now putting a soundtrax DSX (sound only) in a Athern Genisis Mike 2-8-2 (along with a keep alive capactitor) . That way i can keep my Digitrax decoder and prevent the sensitivity of the soundtrax sound/engine decoders. August issue of MRC had an installation of a sound module in a GP-7 and rec the same. ANyway let you know how it turns out.
Iginc - Just bought an Atlas H16-44. Took it apart to check it out for sound possiblities. Looks like it will hold a 11/2 oval speaker just above the front truck and lots of room for one of the plug in play sound decoders. Soon as I get my Mikado done I will start on the H16-44.
Terry
By the way my DSX medium steam BroadTop costs 88.00 with gadget toms 25.00 coupon. Cheapest I have seen it anywhere.
Terry
I’ll eventually be doing this with the same engine, but it’ll take a little work.
Options:
DSX + other decoder (remember, the DSX is sound-only) ==> will run you around $100 with shipping right now, it looks like, but room for two decoders is tight in that engine (one reason I haven’t done this so far- have been doing my C-Liners and Erie-Builts first).
choose one of the LC ==> cheaper, perhaps, but as noted above, bigger than the DSX (don’t know how much, haven’t tried these because…) and I’ve heard elsewhere on this forum that a) sounds isn’t as good and/or b) control of the motor doesn’t work as well. Personally, I’m not going to bother with this one.
wait for Tsunami ==> will cost more (haven’t seen any pre-order prices yet, but I would give a W.A.G. of $125-$150 street price). Supposed to be smaller, and is a single unit, so easier to fit than the first option. Since the other options (below) don’t seem to have FM sounds yet, this is likely what I’m going to do
Other options include:
ESU LokSound- anyone tried these yet? prices look competitive, variety of sounds looks good. Just wi***here was a standard on the “programmer” system (see next…). There isn’t an FM option right now that I can find, although you can apparently program in your own sounds if you’ve got an FM sample.
Digitrax’s new system- can you say price point? I knew you could. This is likely going into several of my units, and if quality is typical Digitrax, likely most of the remaining. Only one series (new EMD, IIRC) of sounds announced yet, but suppose
bpickering, WOW!, THANK YOU so much for the help! i REALLY want the sound now, but i think i"m going with what your going to do,wait for the tsunami. hopfully by the time the big shows in madison and milwaukee are on the tsunami will be out, and maybe i can get a deal on them there. once agian, THANK YOU! bpickering, you have been VERRY helpful! this is why i like this forum, NICE people, WILLING to take thier time to give others help. [:)][:D][8D]
I have to agree here. After owning the QSI equipped BLI’s the LC is a real let down. I would have been mighty dissapointed if I had paid anything close to list price for this decoder. As it is, it was a very useful intro to sound install for me and was a great price, so I am not complaining, but won’t get any more of them. The sound is not as good, it does not have the number of different sounds (No coupler and control of blow off etc) and the decoder is huge and just feels like out dated technology. I’m going to wait for some of the new entrants to hit the market.
I hate to tell you, but they are $60 at Empire Northern. $77 at Tony’s. Also $60 at Litchfield.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Tom, I got my first batch of decoders from him. Super fast shipping, too.
–Randy
Check one of the popular sites, Empire Northern, Litchfield, Tony’s, etc. They have a whole series of FM sound decoders, the difference between them is what horn sound it makes. You’d have to research your prototype to see which horn they ordered with their FM’s.
$60 for the sound, $12-$15 for a good decoder (NCE D13SRJ), probably $10 or so for a good speaker, and you’re all set. Fitting it all in might take a little work, mostly mechanical.
One thing to keep in mind is that these older Soundtraxx decoders DO NOT work on DC. In fact they will be damaged if you put them on DC track. Strictly DCC, not dual-mode like the new Tsunami, the QSI sound in the BLI and other locos, and the ESU Loksound.
–Randy
tstage,
Thanks for the heads-up. My grandson’s new Spectrum K-4 is going to get a voice! He will be thrilled. Thanks again.