Anyone give the new diesel decoders a try? Any thoughts?
The Tsunami decoders are being discussed at length in the Yahoo SoundTraxx forum. Some people are happy with them though there are a few issues to keep this on a positive note. Operating a diesel decoder is quite different than operating a steam decoder. Some people are happy with the default sounds. Rivet counters what exact duplication of prototype sounds which is ok.
Go look. Free to join and there is quite a lot of info in the Files and Photos sections where members can post information, manuals, installations. Bruce of Litchfield Station and Rick of DCC Sales and Installs along with some other experienced decoder users are there. Very informative group for SoundTraxx products.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soundtraxx/
I use the Tsunami steam decoders.
Rich
Here is my take on them.
Great motor sounds…They sound just right.
Sorry horn sounds…Dissapointing as they used the same recordings as their old decoders with a few new ones added.
Ok motor control. Diesel Tsunamis have a major glitch, they will take off if there is a quick, sudden loss of power.
Personally, I would like to get more for what I have paid for mine. For the same price, you can be in with a better decoders, like LokSound.
David B
David- So you think for diesel sounds, the Loksound is a better purchase?
A friend of mine demoed his unit to me. It was a 2nd gen. EMD (forgot exactly which model).
Prime mover, air compressor and other power system sounds were good. The horn was not bad, though, as Soundtraxx did add a few more horn sounds to their offerings.
My “quirky” disappointment was that the air “pop-off” burst is too short and not adjustable. Prototypically on 1st and 2nd generation EMD and GEs air systems age, the pop offs tend to get longer.
Overall, the “sound quality” that I heard was good. Though I’m leaning heavily towards Lok Sound, I can see myself getting one diesel Tsunami for one of my P2K E-units.
LokSound decoders have been around for a while and they are proven. They have amazing motor control, full notches, great sound quality and the clincher…they are downloadable. You can actually record your own loco sounds and put them on your decoder. Then you can tell the decoder how to use the sounds.
After reading what I have written, you have to ask the question, why not Digitrax SFX or QSI Revolution.
Well, the SFX doesnt have actual notches like the Loksound and personally, I dont think their sound quality is up to par.
QSI-R is downloadable, but you can only use the provided schemes. This would be ok, but QSI has dissapointed me in how they handle different prime movers. They have committed some sound faux-pas and unless they actually improve the sound of their primemovers, I cannot recommend them yet. (Their horns rock my world though).
Bottom line, Lok is the best out there. They sound great, and are rock solid when it comes to features and performance.
David B
Thanks for the helpful info David. I wasn’t aware that the SFX didn’t have throttle notching. A friend of mine (DCC newbie) is planning on purchasing several Digitrax 165 series decoders for his Kato and P2K diesels so that he can install the a “sound bug” in each one. I’ll suggest to him that he just purchase one Digitrax sound unit and try it out before laying out money for several. Of course he’s attracted to the price when compared to the Lok Sound.
BTW: I saw that YouTube vid again with the Tsunami equipped loco chassis taking off like a rocket after a power interuption. Got a good laugh out of it again. [(-D]
David, don’t you think this may change very shortly? I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that the latest schemes for QSI-R have a USER SOUND slot that can take whatever you put in it. Seems natural that the rest might follow. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking.
As far as Loksound, the one thing that has stopped me from buying is not the cost. It’s the 100 ohm speakers. Limits selection just a bit.
The “User Sound” input is nothing more than a single sound on the decoder that will loop when you hit the proper F button. Gimik, and nothing actually useable.
Do yourself a favor and download the LokProgrammer program. Then download any sound file. Take a look at how much customization you can have with their decoders. You can change anything and everything…I mean EVERYTHING. You can even adjust the RPMs and Pitch of the loco so if you have 2 of the same units, they actually sound slightly different…with every other MFG of sound decoder, they sound exactly the same…
Now, i****f QSI was smart they would allow users into the back-end of their decoders. Let US record our own sounds…Let US change whatever we want…Let US do the work for QSI…it would be a win-win.
My ideal decoder would be the Motor drive of the LokSound, Motor sound of the Tsunami and the Horns of the QSI. But for now, the LokSound have the best coverage over all areas. (Notice how Digitrax SFX is not on my list?).
David B
I think you missed my point a bit. Right now, I agree, one more sound whether you put some radio chatter or cows in the road, is fluff. BUT, they are showing me that NEW sounds CAN be put on the decoder. If one, why not more? If they aren’t thinking about it, maybe we need to email and voice our opinions about it.
Please don’t misunderstand my posting here. I have only one Revolution and a few Factory QSI and I like them. I am not here to knock anybody elses choices.
I do think that QSI is showing some interest in the customers though. They have already revised the software for their programmer so it works with their software or JMRI Decoder Pro. To me, that at least says they care a little.
Here is the other side of the coin.
When they advertized the Revolution, they made many promises. They havent delivered on these promises. They have lost my buisness. I will not ‘wait’ to see if they will actually deliver on what I payed for. Nope. I will spend my hard earned money on a product that I know actually does what I pay for, not on what it might/perhaps do in the future.
David B