Just found this in a SoundTraxx forum posted by a DCC dealer. I do not use the diesel but I thought some of you might be interested.
SoundTraxx announces new sounds and the long-awaited Atlas Light board Tsunami Decoders!
Shipping later in October will be a total of 8 voices in the standard TSU-1000 and the new TSU-AT1000 decoder. The new voices include:
V16 ALCO 251
GE FDL-16
Fairbanks-Morse
All of these come with 16 era-appropriate horns already loaded in each decoder.
Tradittional TSU-1000
Atlas Light board style TSU-AT1000
The TSU-AT1000 includes a 1.5 volt regulator, making installations in Athearn Genesis and similar locos a breeze!
Rich
Also, a heads up about the Tsunamis…they have a MAJOR glitch that they dont want you to know about.
When a Diesel Tsunamis have a temporary electrical disconnect, they tend to take off at FULL speed. This is a known issue that Soundtraxx has yet to address.
IMHO, I would wait until that glitch is fixed before I put down hard earned monies for a product that sounds great, but runs glitchy.
David B
Here is a photo of the install in a Atlas RS-1.
There is a lot of discussion of the Tsunami decoders on the Yahoo SoundTraxx group with explanations by one or two DCC installers. Free to join.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soundtraxx/
A lot of Tsunami disccusions between members. Probably more discussion than you can get here.
The speed up issues is also discussed. One person so far has found a solution. Go read.
Rich
Instead of telling me to go read an entire yahoo group, why not just cut and paste what is a major breakthrough in the years the Tsunami has been out.
In terms of that install that you have pictured, I can tell you right now that it will sound very bad. Without a baffel, that speaker wont be able to work properly.
David B
Go join the group and read yourself. You sound much more experienced than me. Get involved with a discussion. Maybe you will develop a following there. I am giving people information. The are free to look or not look.
There are at least a couple owners of online DCC stores who contribute to an intelligent and usefull problem solving involving the Tsunami and othe zsoundTraxx decoders.
Rich
I am involved in the Soundtraxx, Sound_DCC, Digitrax, Digitrax Sound, QSI, QSI solutions, LokSound ESU and NCE Yahoo Groups. I get daily digests, and one topic that is flooding the Soundtraxx and DCC_Sound groups is the Tsunami Drive issue. No one has found a solution, and it has been an issue since the release of the TSU1000 years ago.
Its one thing to get excited about a product like the new form factor, but it is very useful to provide prospective buyers ALL the information that is applicable with the product.
The Diesel Tsunami was rushed out the door (because of the release of the QSI-R) and the product has some flaws. Tsunamis have a horrible drive, but great sound (except for their horns, which are a dissapointment).
David B
Heard a diesel Tsunami installed in an Atlas EMD Dash 2. My friend took advantage of the equalizer feature and the unit sounded crisp and clear as his baffling was excellent. The horn was smooth and almost as loud as a QSI unit.
My primary criticism was that the “pop-off” sound was very short and not adjustable. On brand new prototype locomotives pop offs ( air let-offs) are short but tend to get longer as their air compressors, governors, and let off valves age.
David,
Your point on Soundtraxx rushing it out of the door is interesting as you had mentioned that before. But all of the features and abilities that Soundtraxx mentioned about the diesel Tsunami are there, especially the equalizer.
Horrible drive? This is the first I heard of this as my friend’s unit ran very smoothly. Please, can you elaborate? Did the unit you tested perform poorly? Did you also hear similar feedback from other diesel Tsunami owners?
Hi 
AntonioFP45
I do not use the Tsunami diesel, I use the Tsunami steam. I belong to the SoundTraxx Yahoo group that has a lot intelligent discussion concerning the diesel decoder. Bruce of Litchfield Station is there as well as Rick Bell of DCC Installs & Sales. Search for those two companies. Two online DCC installer & suppliers. They have facts and examples of operation rather than opinion. It helps to have different people using the decoders and speakers, comparing notes to solve issues rather than criticize. I think you will enjoy the group as you seem to have an open mind.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soundtraxx/
Rich
We need to make one thing clear here.
The Steam and Diesel Tsuanmi are essentially the same in terms of technology, however there is ONE huge difference in the 2 and it has to do with how the decoder behaves after a momentary loss of power.
The Steam Tsunami would keep going the same speed, but the chuff would double in speed.
The Diesel Tsunami was changed in this respect. When the Diesel Tsunami has a momentary loss of power, it takes off at FULL speed. This is a problem in many respects including using the Tsunami in areas where this behavoir is not welcome, as well as in consists.
This is a problem, a major flaw and it is also the topic of choice the past 3 weeks on the Sountraxx forums.
Until Soundtraxx fixes this issue (and I have to admit the MOTOR sounds are amazing…but the horn is just plain blah…) I cannot see myself recommending this decoder to any of my customers.
It is no different than MRC decoder behavoir. I dont care how GOOD something sounds, but the moment it decides that it will do it’s own thing, you have a problem.
Lets face it, Soundtraxx doesnt have a good track record when it comes to motor drives. Look at the LC series of decoders.
The QSI-R decoder, on the other hand, has a very robust drive to it.
David B
Rich, David.
Thanks for your info. I’ll check out the Yahoo Group discussion on the Tsunami.
Again, I do not use the diesel Tsunami, only the steam Tsunami. According to what I am seeing in the Yahoo group, there are some issues with the operation of the diesel decoder, which right now “seem” to be operational issues. There is intelligent discussion. Yes, there are one or two of the usual Ranters who want to complain rather than investigate and help. I guess it makes them feel important. Even these forums have those people.
There are some knowledgeable people in the Yahoo group. Maybe you can bring some of that knowledge here since you use the diesel Tsunami. Try to stay away from those who just want to argue.
Rich
Understandable Rich.
I’m not an expert by any means as I’m a DCC newbie that happens that enjoys and appreciates sound equipped scale locomotives.
I don’t own any Tsunamis yet. But the demo I heard from a friend’s unit was what I was referring to.
Currently I’m leaning towards the Lok Sound (of which I have one) and the QSI unit. I very much appreciate the sound “upload” features offered.
I do hope that the reported issues with this decoder will be resolved. Soundtraxx’s no longer on top of the “sound food chain” in HO anymore, but I certainly would like to see them be successful.
I just copied this of the Yahoo SoundTraxx group. It is from Bruce at Litchfield Station.
I just received this from Steve Dominguez, SoundTraxx’ Chief Engineer:
We have been monitoring the discussion on the SoundTraxx group with
regard to the sudden acceleration observed by some customers and offer
the following comments:
A frequent complaint of our older decoder designs (LC and DSX series)
was that whenever power was disrupted, the engine sound would cycle
through the startup and lower notches. In response to this complaint,
the Tsunami diesel software was designed so that when track power is
restored, the sound algorithms bypass the startup and notching sequences
and jump immediately to the corresponding engine notch based on the
value of the current throttle setting. Additionally, the decoder will
bypass any programmed momentum in CV 3 and 4 and apply a motor voltage
also corresponding to the current throttle setting.
An un-anticipated consequence of this design is what happens when power
is lost during a long acceleration/braking cycle. As has been observed,
the decoder will bypass the momentum effects and jump to the commanded
speed, which can result in a disturbing speed change particularly if the
power glitch occurred early in the inertia cycle. The suggestion to
restore the decoder to the speed prior to the power disruption is a good
one but unfortunately is not practical at this time for a number of
technical reasons related to the way non-volatile memory is handled in
the present Tsunami design.
From the comments posted, it appears that the effect our customers are
trying to achieve is to have the train run/accelerate slowly with the
prime mover at full power. There are a couple alternatives ways to
achieve this.
- Use manual notching to run the prime mov