Soundtraxx or Loksound - which is "better" for stewart/kato F units???

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi!

I’ve got 3 Stewart F ABBA consists with Kato drive and 3 Stewart FT consists with Stewart drive. I’ve got bitten by the “soundbug” and am looking to get the Stewart sound/power chassis for the B units.

I notice that they now offer either Soundtraxx or Loksound systems. I am only familiar with BLI’s sound and know nothing about these two offerings. What can you tell me about them?

Also, I will be putting decoders in the A units, and figure on getting the NCE DASR for the F units and NCE D13SRP for the FT units. Is this a good way to go?

I know it would be cheaper to install my own sound system, but frankly I have too much on my plate with building the new layout, etc., to consider it now.

Thanks!

Mobilman44

2

I would go with the soundtraxx or you could go with QSI solutions also. I have had lots of experience with loksound but find their horn to be lacking in volume.

http://www.qsisolutions.com/products/q-revolution.html

Pete

3

All things being equal, I would go for the Soundtraxx equipped units.

The LokSound decoders use 8 bit sound and the Soundtraxx uses 16 bit (think cassette vs cd). On the other hand, LokSound decoders allow you to change the sounds (as well at pitch the motor so multiples sound authentic…with their Programmer $$$) and Soundtraxx decoders dont (you get what they give ya). The Soundtraxx decoder has an onboard Equalizer (allowing you to adjust the decoder to fit your speaker) and the Loksound tends to be a bit quiet out of the box (can be changed with the LokProgrammer).

That said, both are excellent decoders and will please you in ways the Sound Bug cannot.

Both offer Authentic (not computer-created [QSI]) sounds, and all 8 notches. Both offer fantastic motor control and lighting effects.

Your other decoders sound like good choices too.

David B

4

I personal love the sounds of my Loksound decoders. My PCM steam engines sound more real than my BLI QSI steamers.

Ulrich Models can program Loksound decoders and he ships fast!

Ken

5

I have just received my brand new Bowser Stewart F-7a, factory equipped with a Soundtraxx Tsunami. I am more than impressed by the sound, This is just as close as you can get to the real thing. If I´d wire up a HiFi speaker to it, there´d be no difference to a real F-7.

6

For amazing slow speed performance and realistic engine “ramp up” before the unit moves, I swear by LokSound for my diesel fleet. After many hours (now months) of trying, I have not been able to come close the the perfomance with QSI, Digitrax, NCE (non-sound), TCS (non-sound), or Soundtraxx.

IMO, the motor control alone is almost worth the price premium.

Some of the functions can be confusing at first, if you are used to the other systems, but they can be changed. The biggest weak spot is the factory loaded horn, but you can change that as well.

True that the programmer is pricey, but you can then “drag and drop” sounds, and reprogram nearly everything in a graphical, “object oreinted” envirnment.