Trains.com

Who has better sound system - Lionel or MTH

2249 views
9 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Who has better sound system - Lionel or MTH
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 9, 2004 10:02 PM
Does anyone have a perspective on who has the better sounds system, Lionel's entry level steamers and diesels or MTH RailKing entry level steamers and diesels - Thanks for the help!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Fremont, CA, USA
  • 213 posts
Posted by macdannyk1 on Friday, December 10, 2004 12:57 AM
It's all in the ears of the beholder.
Dan Member and Webmaster, Golden State TTOS
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Willoughby, Ohio
  • 5,231 posts
Posted by spankybird on Friday, December 10, 2004 6:30 AM
Consider this, to 99% of the people of the world, engine sounds, whistles, horns, and bells of trains are NOISE ,just ask anyone who live next to a set of tracks.

As much as I love trains, at 2:30am to hear three trains go by and blow their horns for the grade crossing, it is noise. [:O] (I live less than a ½ mile from the tracks).

You can’t compare it to music. [:D]

I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com 

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Friday, December 10, 2004 6:35 AM
LGB

It can wake up the neighbors.[:D]

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 10, 2004 9:42 AM
Both are very good. Depends solely on what your own ears interpret as the "best" or "most realistic" sounds. I kind of see it as six of one; a half-dozen of the other. Both--today--are excellent, although Lionel definitely had the lead in the early years of RailSounds and ProtoSounds.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, December 10, 2004 10:39 AM
There are many facets to the word "better" when it comes to sound.

A few example.

You can have the best sound in the industry but if the chuffs are only 2 to driver revolutions instead of 4, then the chuff sounds would be incorrect.

Secondly, better sound is quite often unwanted sound (called noise) that can easily be turned off. For instance, I love to hear the engine sounds but not the chatter. Until I got DCS, I couldn't turn off that chatter (unless I took the loco to someone who had it and turned it off). Now, I'm much happier hearing the sounds I selected and not the noise I didn't.

Third, you would want the sounds for the intended purpose of your locomotive. For example, I'm running a Santa Fe Northern (RK) with passenger sounds. However, I use the locomotive as a freight only. Fortunately, I can turn off the chatter.

So you see, defining what is better for you may be a different definition of what's better for me.

Dave Vergun
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 10, 2004 12:30 PM
Both sound systems sound very good to my ears. Accuracy is another thing though.
I you have listened to the lionel UP M10,000 you will hear a neat distlilate 4 cycle engine, but if you listen to the MTH pioner zepher you will hear a very clean sounding emd 2 cycle latter generation diesel engine.
Both of these engines were the same as they were produced within weeks of each other.
MTH gets a 10 for good sound and a 0 for accuracy. Lionel gets a 10 for both sound quality and accuracy.
This is my opinion only. Dave Roxin.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Posted by FJ and G on Friday, December 10, 2004 12:57 PM
Dave,

I have a similar gripe with the F-3 Railking. Sounds like a birthday party horn. Lionel's is much better.

I'm sure you can pick winners and losers from each company.
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Kaukauna WI
  • 2,115 posts
Posted by 3railguy on Friday, December 10, 2004 2:03 PM
Postwar Lionel gearboxes, air whistles, and bicycle horns make the best sounding noise.
John Long Give me Magnetraction or give me Death.
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • 306 posts
Posted by CB&Q on Friday, December 10, 2004 4:49 PM
I disagree that train horns at 2-6 a.m. are anoying . I grew up less than a 1/2 mile from train station&freight yards it always gave me great pleasure to hear it no matter what time of day. as to train sounds in our toys after you get 3-6 trains goin you can't pick who's what or where. mostly I enjoy a single steamer bell banging labored chuffing at a snails pace whistle blaring ahh sweet dreams of days gone past but yet good memories. as to who is best go to your local train yard no toy comes close to the real thing. this is just my opinon , I wish I had recorded it all.


Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month