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Who makes sound decoders for N scale steamers?

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  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: City of Québec,Canada
  • 1,258 posts
Who makes sound decoders for N scale steamers?
Posted by Jacktal on Thursday, May 29, 2008 9:41 PM

I've visited Digitrax's website and they don't seem to make any.I own Digitrax DCC system so would like to find suitable sound decoders for N scale steamers,namely Kato GS4 4-8-4 and Con-Cor 2-10-2 that I plan on buying in a next future.Both models are already DCC friendly but adding sound is what I'd prefer if possible at all.

Also,do sound decoders come with the speaker installed to them and a sound databank ready to use or does the installer have to supply these?I probably could handle the speaker installation but the software part is much more complicated for me.Thanks.

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • 4 posts
Posted by Agrant on Saturday, May 31, 2008 12:41 PM
Check out MRC. They have sound decoders that are installed in Athearn N Scale steam loco's. Don't know anything about compatibility with Kato steam locomotives, but I've installed their sound decoders on Kato diesels. MRC sound decoders have the speaker installed and also include a library of a variety of programmable sounds.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Saturday, May 31, 2008 3:44 PM
  Loksound micro is small also. Mikro tsunnami is probably best buy and any 8 ohm speaker will work with it. Some N scalers and also Z scalers put decoders in a box car behind the locos. This works great for diesel decoders.

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: City of Québec,Canada
  • 1,258 posts
Posted by Jacktal on Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:59 PM

Your answers were most useful,thanks a bunch.I've visited MRC's website and they don't advertise any N scale oriented sound decoder yet so it is possible that they are not available separately,at least not yet,or they decided to keep them exclusive to Athearn.

I've also visited ESU's site and their product (Loksound) seem of very good quality,but since my german isn't that good,I couldn't learn anything valuable from my research.

But I was really impressed by the features of the Micro-Tsunami.Price may be a little steep but we get what we pay for.I've listened to their sound samples and if these are true to the real decoder sound,then I'd be very happy with it.Thanks again for the info. 

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: CANADA
  • 2,292 posts
Posted by ereimer on Sunday, June 1, 2008 10:28 PM

http://www.loksound.com/

is the english version  

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