Does anyone know what kind of decoder comes preinstalled in the Spectrum line of steam engines that have dcc onboard? Not the new Tsunami ones but the other ones.
If it’s anything like some of the G-scale Spectrum products, the decoder comes from a subcontractor in China who submits the lowest bid, and Bachmann doesn’t even know who that company is.
Bachmann uses Lenz Decoders in their HO locos.
Bill
Thanks for the replies. I actually meant which model decoder. I already knew it was a lenz. Should have mentioned that I suppose. 
The upcoming Spectrum steam with sound will use Soundtraxx Tsunami. I don’t know what the non-sound ones use, but the Plus locos with decoders use an OLD Lenz decoder that does not even have silent running.
–Randy
I recieved mine Monday. It appears to be the same DCC decoder that they put in there standard locomotives. It works much better in the spectrum train than it did in my standard train. Hardly any motor noise at all. I don’t know how programmable it is going to be though.
Alex
flagumbrak,
I have a Bachmann Spectrum N&W 611 that came with a decoder. I believe it is essentially a Lenz LE1000 decoder. The low end of the Lenz line of decoders. It was quickly removed in favor of a Soundtraxx Steam decoder.
The little Bachmann/Lenz decoder went into a three-truck Shay that I needed a decoder for. While not the best, it is adequate.
Lenz/Atlas/Bachmann decoders are a little tricky to program with a Digitrax Zephyr, you need a 1K ohm, 1/4 watt resistor across the programming track. Beyond that little quirk, they work okay.