Official announcement on you tube:
Steam:
Diesel:
Now that the Tsu-2 is released I am wondering what people think?? Not sure that I’d pay $40 more for a Tsu-2 vs an Econami.
Mark
I just hope that video was quickly thrown together with no configuration really of the loco because the slow speed operation was horribly jerky, and the chuffs got out of sync pretty quickly.
–Randy
I noticed the exact same thing, Randy. It centered more around the sound features than any improved motor-control; not a real surprise.
I guess I’ll remain in my wait-and-see posture until I see something the compares to either Loksound or TCS. As I’ve mentioned before, for me - motor-control comes first; sound - although cool - is a distant second.
Tom
Yes, very unfortunate for them to throw a video together like that, I made an assumption that the loco may be brand new and not broken in yet, still they should have made sure they put this new decoder in the best light.
To do a flip flop, I just installed a ESO Loksound micro with power pack in a shay, I really wish I could get the sound to work…running to get a new speaker in a minute. [:|]
Like Randy and Tom, I have not been impressed by this video at all.
This is a much better production.
Assuming the whole video created by Ken Patterson, he should know better than to include a music track to compete with the decoder’s sounds.
RR Baron
Well based on his workload, who am I to criticize a guy who makes his living do these things.
Yes, the overall video production is better but it just confirms what I saw in the first clip:
- Counting rail ties/sec - Start up speed: ~4 sMPH [:S]
- Overall jerkiness throughout speed ranges but most noticeable at slower speeds - Due to the locomotive brand?
Sorry, Soundtraxx. You still haven’t won me over yet with your motor-control. [:(]
Tom
At least the horn sounds much improved over the older Tsunamis. Definitely a better video, because Ken knows what he’s doing in that regard.
But yeah, slow speed is still lacking.
–Randy
I wonder how many that complaints about the newer Tsunami /Econami decoders that has actually tested them?
The Econamis that I have installed in my HOn3 locomotives are very, very good. They have good slow running and the sound is very much to my liking. It’s very easy to program, and the operation is very realistic. I especially like the coast function.
As I run brass locomotives, the current keeper is a very nice and cheap addition.
The decoder also handles the four chuff per revolution in various speeds.
I see it as a very good value for money!
That’s good to here, Graffen. Did you have to adjust a number of CVs in order for your Economi decoder(s) to achieve the “good slow running” that you mention?
I’m not complaining about the new offerings of Soundtraxx. I’m basing it on my own experiences with their older decoders and what I am observing from the video clips that I’ve seen so far. It’s possible that both are concentrating on the sound aspects of the new decoder (rather than motor-control) and I get that. I’m just hoping that someone will show these running at very slow speed along with the new sound offerings.
Tom
No big CV adjustments. That Soundtraxx has implemented the regular Vmid Vmax makes the adjustments so easy compared to speed tables.
I altered CV 2,3,4,5 and 6 to achieve good running.
I will take a small video of one of my Econami equipped locomotives.
I am an N scale modeler so size is very important to me as well as good sound and motor control. I have installed many Econami 100 into N scale diesels and steam. I use a sugar cube speaker for the speaker and the sound is ( well out of this world)
I have to turn down the volume a bunch!
At one point I used two locos (just alike) and installed a Econami in one and a LokSound in the otherusing the same speaker in each one. The Econami had a better (to my eare) sound than the LokSound. But the LokSound likes a 4 ohm load and the speaker I use was 8 ohm. Might make a differance.
I have done some beta testing on the new Tsunami 2’s and all I can say is you better be ready for some very loud sounds couming out of this decoder.
I thought that the sounds were way too loud! But that is just my opion.
I have a new DB meter coming and will be doing some tests on several units that I install decoders into for sound volume.
Has for speed control, these things will crawl very slow.
I have instlled the LokSound into Kato’s FEF #844 units and have found that you must work with the CV values in CV51-54 to make run smooth, This is due to the coreless motor- It works a whole bunch differant then the normal motors we see.
Graffen,
Thanks for posting the video clip. [:D] It’s kinda dark and hard to make out the details. Is it possible to get a close-up view of the drivers to better see the motor control of the Economi decoder? Thanks!
Tom
Here’s a video of a brass steamer done for me with an Econami. You can see it start from a stop at about 1:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGVg08_vskI
Mark
Thanks, Mark - better. I like the gradual start but I still want to see a more prolonged slow start to see how well it crawls. It looks promising though. [:D]
Tom