Tsunami, SoundFX or other?
Hello Electro,
Now you know that’s a loaded question.
But to keep it simple, the new Tsunami is supposed to be the “Rolls Royce” of sound decoders. Of course it has the price tag to go with it.
The most dynamic sound I’ve heard comes from HO scale, QSI equipped locomotives.
The best sound I’ve heard where you can select your diesel locomotive horn is the Soundtraxx DSX decoders. These are my favorite so far.
Many of us are awaiting the arrival of the new Digitrax Sound decoders, and Soundtraxx’s Tsunami. Opinions will likely change after the arrival of those two.
I’ve not heard LOK Sound units yet but I’ve heard good things about them.
QSI and Tsunami are the two best that I have had any experience with. MRC is the absolute worst. LokSound is relatively new in the US, and I believe Digitrax is going to use it. I don’t consider it worth the cost and hassle of having to purchase an additional hardware interface for a computer so the decoder can have sounds downloaded from the Internet and programmed into it. I would prefer that it come with all of the sounds already in it, just like the others.
As of this writing, only the steam versions of the Tsunami are available. The latest word I received last night from Tony’s Train Exchange is that the diesel version is still at least two months off.
I was on the phone with Digitrax the other day and he said six months to a year out wasn’t too far off.
Tsumani - very good - I heard it last summer at the NTS - it is ‘pricey’, and should now
be available.
LOK - I also listened to LOK - very interesting, good quality and BIG price!
QSI - I guess we have all heard their stuff, and I understand they are going to sell the
units seperately in the future. I have a P2K GP9 with this unit, and the engine
sound is ‘suspect’. I really do not plan to buy more until they start installing the
correct sounds that match the engine. My 2 steamers sound good, and I am
quite happy with them.
MRC - The new line is available(and from what I understand it is in the new Athearn
Genesis engines). Heard it at the NTS, and was not impressed.
SoundFX(Digitrax) - The demo unit at the NTS was very nice. The price is good, and
they will have the capability for ‘down-loadable’ sounds(I think LOK also has this
feature). The initial units should be available right now, and are a ‘drop’ in for
Kato engines.
I have 6 ‘sound’ engines(QSI and Soundtraxx units). My feeling are that the price will drop fast over the next year and the features will increase. Like most things there will be a ‘shake out’ of the available units. Of course if you have to have the stuff right now, go ahead and get you money out!
Jim Bernier
Tsunami is not “pricey” at $77 each for the heavy steam version – the DSD150 that it is equivalent to was priced at $150.
Competition is driving prices down on all brands.
well let’s discuss price and availability…
right now it seems that loksound and tsunami are the only ones shipping
prices…
QSI - no pricing or ship date
MRC brilliance - $84.95 … shipping sept 2005 , but i don’t think they’ve shipped yet
Soundtraxx tsunami - $79.95 … steam shipping now , diesel next year sometime
Digitrax soundfx - $51.95 or $64.95 with add-on 4 function … not in stock , no ship date
ESU loksound - $109.95 … shipping now , amazing diesel selection , limited steam . more sounds downloadable but requires programmer
all the above info is from Tony’s Trains . i assume it’s correct . prices will vary depending where you shop .
The new Tsunami’s $77 !!! Not a joke, is it? I thought they were over $130 still! That’s cheaper than what the DSX and “L” series used to sell for just a year ago.
( I hope this price will apply to the diesel Tsunami decoders as well) Don’t mean to “seem smug” but my!..how the might have fallen!
I guess Soundtraxx kept the prices high due to its dominance of the market. Can’t fault them since they’re working for a profit. Now with the advent of “Healthy Competition”, the sound decoder market is looking much sweeter than in 2004. Remember, we were worrying about MTH’s lawsuit against QSI and wondering if there really was going to be a Soundtraxx “Tsunami”.
At $77 dollars for a top notch sound decoder I think that Soundtraxx, through Tony’s Trains and LItchfield Station, is going to have some pretty healthy sales. I want to hear turbo-charged whines from my FP45s.[{(-_-)}]
Cheers.
Have purchased all three types of Tsunami steam decoders, and just
installed the heavy in a Trix Big Boy 4013.
This decoder has so many features one almost needs a class on it
to get the most out of it. Soundwise, I like the equalizer, the
short, playable and automatic whistle functions, the adjustable
slip rate for articulateds, the reverb and DDE functions, as well as
about every kind of noise a steamer makes, rod clank included.
I found that the Big Boy whistle (#2 - 4018) does not work well with
small speakers such as my 1.1 inch. This sample has loud bass in it
and the part that is audible in a small speaker is too faint. The
equalizer helped to some extent, but not enough. But no problem -
the #1 (1522) whistle sounds the same, except less bass and a lot
louder.
I think that to compete with these at $80, Digitrax and Loksound have
their work cut out for them.
Hal
Hi electrolove ,
I bought a atlas HO scale B23-7 Santa fe and the sound was not as good as the dash 8 -40 BW by atlas ,
I was a bit dissapointed ,
did you get my Email , Please hör av dig 
It sounds like you are happy with the tsunami. Have you heard the diesel version?
I would say other. The often overlooked Phoenix Sound:
http://www.phoenixsound.com/products/bs2k2.html
http://www.phoenixsound.com/
Obviously too big to fit into anything but a dummy unit, and I’ve never been able to wedge one into an Alco hood unit. But if you’ve got an EMD F3B, E6, or PA this unit combined with a big speaker - wow!
P.S. electrolove, what happened to the California Zephyr layout plan/project. Last time I looked it up it had fallen back to page 21 or so…
Antonio
I received two of the first Tsunami’s from Tony’s and you are correct, they really are selling well. I was on a list for more Tsunami’s with other vendors and some are on their way now.
I have installed both of the first two units and now waiting for some more to continue the installations. The sound is great of course, but some problems have come up and one of the units is back at Soundttraxx for repair because after four days of operation, it stopped working.
Overall, it is a great sound unit and the price is right.
We are all waiting for the Diesel versions. Get in line with a reservation if you want any of the first units.
Thanks, Bangert!
I have two QSI-equipped locos, and they sound marvelous. However, I just got my first Tsunami loco, and …WOW! I even get the sound of coal being shoveled into the firebox!
I haven’t programmed the loco yet, but in the two minutes I played with it as address 03, it was superior to the QSI. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being audiophile quality), I would rate the QSI as a 7.5, but the Tsunami, is nearer to 8.5. Just my first impression.
electrolove wrote “have you heard the diesel version yet?”
Have not heard the Tsunami demo units.
I have three diesels with Loksounds installed, but would rate them
only OK. They seem to exhibit some odd behavior, occasionally refus-
ing to start after being stopped and exercising the chimes and bell,
or hanging the chimes. Was also reading a claim that their chimes
are not correct as named. Given also the higher price, I’ll be
waiting for the Tsunamis.
Hal