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Spectrum steamers with Sound

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  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Spectrum steamers with Sound
Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 9:52 AM

I buy all my Spectrums from Micro Mark. Very good prices. The are selling steamers with DCC and Sound for very good prices. $169 to $208. The retail prices are around $400.

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Department&ID=158&Offset=30

Look at all the pages.

Rich 

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
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  • From: Seattle Area
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Posted by Capt. Grimek on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:06 PM
Thanks Rich,
I'll be buying a number of steam locos in the near future so I appreciate the "best price" heads up.
So just to clarify, these are DCC POWERED not just decoder/sound equipped?
Ready to run DCC?

Have you had only good shipping/ordering experiences with Micro Mark? No weird long term hold ups
because one item is on back order, etc.?

Thanks, Capt. G.

Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:30 PM

I have had good service from Micro Mark. A few steamers at Micro Mark are "DCC READY", i.e, you add speaker and decoder. Most of the steamers are DCC powered with Sound.

Some places sell the locos DCC ready. You add plug in decoder and speaker.  DCC powered (can usually run on DC), you add speaker and sound decoder or remove DCC decoder and install DCC/sound decoder and DCC plus Sound, completely equipped..

I have never seen locomotives sold with sound only but it might have happened. Read ALL ADS very carefully.

Ebay has better prices for DCC powered Spectrum right now. Check Completed Auctions for final prices. There are Buy Now options also.

Rich 

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
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  • From: Fredericksburg, VA
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Posted by Bill54 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:41 PM

Dave B,

The Bachmann loco's that have sound do have Tsunami decoders but not like the ones you purchase and install separately.  These are cut down versions of the regular Tsunami decoders. 

Options are very limited.  Many CV's are not adjustable as on a standard Tsunami decoder.

That's one drawbacks to purchasing one at standard retail prices. 

I bought two from Micro Mark when they were on sale several months ago.  Both cost less than $135.00. each.  They are ok but if you want all the bells and whistles, pun intended, purchase the loco and decoder separately

Bill

As my Mom always says...Where there's a will there's a way!
  • Member since
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Posted by HarryHotspur on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 7:33 PM
 davidmbedard wrote:
 Bill54 wrote:

Dave B,

The Bachmann loco's that have sound do have Tsunami decoders but not like the ones you purchase and install separately.  These are cut down versions of the regular Tsunami decoders. 

Options are very limited.  Many CV's are not adjustable as on a standard Tsunami decoder.

That's one drawbacks to purchasing one at standard retail prices. 

I bought two from Micro Mark when they were on sale several months ago.  Both cost less than $135.00. each.  They are ok but if you want all the bells and whistles, pun intended, purchase the loco and decoder separately

Bill

Yes, you are right.  It is a Tsunami light (as in featured-down).  You have fewer horns to choose from (3), a few less sounds that you can adjust the volume on, less ASC options, and no reverb/equalizer control.  beyond that, they are essentially the same.

For the price point they are going for, the Tsunami 'light' is still beyond any QSI, Lok or Digitrax decoders for sound on the market today.

David B

What are "ASC" options? 

- Harry

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 8:19 PM

Tsunami and Micro-Tsunami whistles. The Micro has two functions, the Standard Tsunami has four functions. Scroll down and notice the Bachmann OEM specs.

Tsunami Whistles - all types

Tsunami Heavy Steam, TSU-1000, P/N 826103

Frisco #1522 "Mountain" (4-8-2)
Norfolk & Western #1218 2-6-6-4 (N&W Class "A")
Union Pacific # 4018 "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4
Southern Pacific #4449 (Whistle) "Northern" 4-8-4
Southern Pacific #4449 (Air Horn) "Northern" 4-8-4
USRA 6-chime
------------------------------------------
Tsunami Medium Steam, TSU-1000, P/N 826102

USRA 6-chime
Baltimore & Ohio 3-chime
Colorado & Southern #801 "Mikado" 2-8-2
Pennsylvania Railroad Banshee
Lehigh Valley
Nathan 5-chime (Road mix)
Nathan 5-chime (Yard mix)
Santa Fe Freight
------------------------------------------
Tsunami Light Steam, TSU-1000, P/N 826101 (?)

Colorado & Southern 2-8-0 #74 (Road Mix)
Colorado & Southern 2-8-0 #74 (Yard Mix)
Baldwin Consolodation
Heisler
Westside Shay #14
Peanut
D&RGW single-chime
Reading 6-chime
------------------------------------------
Tsunami DRGW K-Class

K-27 #463
K-36 #487
K-36 #488
K-36 #489
K-36 #489 (with broken chime)
K-37 #497
------------------------------------------
Tsunami DRGW C-Class

C-19 #340 (Road Mix)
C-19 #340 (Yard Mix)
D&RGW single-chime
Westside Shay #14
Peanut
------------------------------------------
Tsunami Bachmann OEM

USRA 6-chime
Baltimore & Ohio 3-chime
Colorado & Southern #801 "Mikado" 2-8-2
------------------------------------------
Micro Tsunami Light Logging, TSU-750, P/N 826820

Westside Logging Co. Shay #12
Westside Logging Co. Shay #14
Heisler
Peanut
D&RGW Single Chime
------------------------------------------
Tsunami SP Cab Forward, TSU-1000, P/N 826105

SP 6-chime
Southern Pacific #4449 (Whistle) "Northern" 4-8-4
Southern Pacific #4449 (Air Horn) "Northern" 4-8-4
Frisco #1522
N&W #1218
Rich
USRA 6-chime

 

 

 

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Seattle Area
  • 1,794 posts
Posted by Capt. Grimek on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 9:00 PM
Thanks Rich and others. This thread has been very educational for a newcomer to DCC world.
I didn't realize that the same brand of Loco could have two different sound modules/decoders.

Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.

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