I would like to upgrade the sound of my Trix Big Boy loco (Fantastic Runner) with the latest ESU Lok-sound unit. Has any one done this conversion, is it straight forward and is the sound quality (volume and variations) improved. Thanks for any help with this.
The other day I installed a Loksound decoder in my spectrum Dash-8. The sound quality is awesome. Once you turn down the volume of the prime mover a little bit the sounds are very crisp and clear. A lot better than than QSI if that can give you a benchmark. I wi***he horn were just a little bit louder in the big clubhouse but its just fine on my home layout. BEMF and Load Compensation are awesome too.
I suggest you talk to ESU about your conversion, but I dont imagine it could be too difficult.
Leighdrums,
I contacted Tony @ Tony’s Train Xchange (http://www.tonystrains.com) a few weeks ago and asked him the very same question about my Trix Mike. He told the the swap out of the older V. 2.0 decoder for the newer V. 3.5 decoder would be “wire for wire” and should be straightforward to do.
Leighdrums, I don’t know all the improvements to the upgrade. I do know that the horn or whistle duration is “adjustable” rather than fixed, like it is on the older decoder.
Got to agree with you on the operation of the Trix units. My Trix Mike is one of the smoothest runners on my layout - right next to my Proto 2000 S1 and my Stewart FT. Now, if I can only figure out how to change that ugly “orange” LED [xx(] for a brighter golden-white LED [:)].
Tom
Just get a nice golden-white LED and swap it - since it already has an LED there has to be a resistor already in the circuit somewhere.
The decoder swap should indeed be wire for wire, even use the same speaker and all.
–Randy
Thanks guys for the info. I will contact Tony’s. Friend has just received Precision Craft Y6B - the running is fantastic, slow running is almost as good as the Trix Big Boy. The sound of the Y6B is incredible and it is Loksound so I reckon I will have to upgrade the Trix now! I am very tempted to have the PCM Big Boy…!! Thanks again.
Ok so ENGLAND Didn’t win the World Cup (Football) but at least I have my model railroad.
Leighdrums, England UK
Randy,
It’s getting to the LED that’s been the issue. Trix (Marklin) ingeniously designed the shell to come off with only one screw. However, the LED is buried inside the boiler and I haven’t figured out how to get to it yet. The front boiler plate would be the most logical access but the explosion view on the parts drawing doesn’t show it coming off the front. (I’m a bit squeamish about applying too much pressure and having something break.) I’ve e-mailed Trix/Marklin twice and haven’t been able to get any info from them at all.
Tom
Tony’s has a pretty decent price on the LokSound 3.5 system: $110 (which is $30 off list).
Leighdrums, I forgot to welcome you to the forum: [#welcome]. Good to have you aboard! [:)] Trust you will travel “across the pond” and visit us often here on the forum.
Tom
And for that price Tony will preload it with whichever sound set you want.
I would suspect the the LED in the boiler can be pulled out from the back. However - good luck pressing the replacement one back in place. Hmmm. Tough one. Guess that’s why they used an LED, no chance to replace a bulb if it burned out.
–Randy