suggestion for Spectrum 4-8-2 heavy sound decoder? (UPDATED 03/10/08)

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m looking for suggestions for a sound decoder perferrably with speaker for my DCC ready 4-8-2 heavy with large tender. If it matters, I’m using the Digitrax Zephyr.
The criteria I’m looking for are

  1. ease of installation. simple plug n play would be outstanding! Also, I would like one that I don’t have to remodel the inside of the tender to put it in.
  2. cost
  3. At the very least a chuff, bell and whistle.
    What is everyone putting in thiers???

Thanks!

2

I’ve tried MRC: Nah too tinny

I’ve got Digitrax sound bug and a SFX064: Not too bad, good price but not great sound. Even though they came with a speakers I still had to modify the tender with baffle and holes.

I have Soundtraxx: [:D] It’s worth the fiddling. I have also found with some of the Bachmann that I landed up ripping out the circuit boards as they weren’t “compatable” with the decoders. Don’t know why but the decoder didn’t like them. Most decoders can be fitted with an 8 pin harness, they have to be bought seperately.

Fergie

I would be very interested in hearing if people have tried Loksound and how it compares to Soundtraxx.

3

Anything less than the Tsunami Heavy would be dissapointing.

David B

4

Amen to that! A SoundTraxx Tsunami Heavy Steam decoder is the only one I would consider using.

5

I have Tsunami,locksound,QSI and Soundtraxx.By far,I like the Tsunami best.

6

I just put a medium tsunami in mine. I have a heavy in my 2-6-6-2 and was advised to go with the medium. After all, it’s not a 4-8-4, so I went with the medium. yep, I too removed the bachmann circuit board, and also put in a new led to get rid of a blue headlight.

Question, are any tsunami’s plug and play? You can’t get to the jst plug unless you trim back some shrink wrap and I couldn’t find anywhere it said it was ok and still keep the warranty going. so, that’s why I hard wired mine. deep base qsi speaker fit under the coal load just fine. All else just fine also. I like the way it turned out.

I started first with just chuff, bell, whistle, but now have a dsd100lc that i don’t know what to do with! ha. It does good but just not up to par with the rest.

7

Sountraxx is ok if you remove just enough shrink wrapping to get at the 9 pin, but will void the warranty if you go any further. This makes it an uber-simple installation…remove 9 pin, replace with harness…install speaker…done.

David B

8

Well the Spectrum sound-equipped engines come with Tsumani’s installed, so that would be a good choice.

I think Soundtraxx still makes a “plug and play” decoder with built in speaker (the speaker is attached to the same board as the decoder components) that plugs into the DCC receptacle for the Spectrum light 4-8-2 and 2-10-0; I would assume it would work with a heavy Mountain too. Can’t get a much easier installation if that’s a primary concern.

9

…that sound chip is discontinued, but even if it wasnt, it wouldnt stand up to the Tsunami.

David B

10

Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ll probably make my purchase after we get our tax return. I’ll keep you posted!

11

Well I chose to install a Tsunami medium steam decoder in my Spectrum 4-8-2. It was extremely easy! I purchased my items from Litchfield station, free shipping on orders $50 and up, can’t go wrong there. I used a harness for plug-n-play and also used a 1.1" speaker. I tested it on what limited track I have set up and I think it’s great! I haven’t even messed with the settings yet. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Aaron