Ok, so you have 5 times the amount of loco's I have and it sounds like you have a HUGE layout! Us little guys with 4X8's or small bedroom layouts like mine would not spend near as much.
mobilman44But I sure do want some sound, and plan on getting sound for several of the "B" units and maybe a couple of the other steamers. I have not priced these out yet, but expect that $60 each is not out of line. So I will probably end up with 10 or 20 of them, but lets just say 20. Therefore, 20 x $60 is another $1,200 bucks! Mobilman44
But I sure do want some sound, and plan on getting sound for several of the "B" units and maybe a couple of the other steamers. I have not priced these out yet, but expect that $60 each is not out of line. So I will probably end up with 10 or 20 of them, but lets just say 20. Therefore, 20 x $60 is another $1,200 bucks!
Mobilman44
$60 for sound is way too cheap. Quality sound costs money. I believe for a QSI aftermarket system you will spend in excess of $110 or so for each. As a retired financial analyst I'm quite sure that $5,000 is play money and barely a blip on the money radar for you. I say go for it
My SEB from Digitrax cost me CDN$400 in early 2005. I added a second DT400, about CDN$100-ish..can't quite recall. I have had six decoder installations, between then and now, all Tsunami steam, about $680 in total. Some of those engines had decoders of another kind that I didn't like, so add another $220 for misspent money. My other 5 engines came with sound, so make that CDN$500 per sound system for easy figuring.
For original and modified purchases for all things DCC, with a total to date of 13 engines of various kinds, my total expenses total about CDN$1900. So, the $2K guesstimate is probably going to be an accurate reflection of true costs for a lot of modellers who begin to convert and buy sound engines and want to run them with a decent system. For those with a substantial stable of older engines, I can only shake my head...wouldn't think of it...way too much moolah.
Note that the fellow who does my installations has become a good buddy and won't take a dime for his time. Over four years that has to have saved me about $350-400...he is quite efficient and wouldn't be taking a couple of hours to do these installations for the most part.
DCC is expensive, I don't care what anyone says. I couldn't conceive of the hobby without it, but it sure rips up the budget getting sound out of an engine. Not that it isn't a smart thing to do all the time, but I have to be a patient and methodical shopper/surfer to find bargoons that permit me to buy them. A MSRP $300 BLI anything is just not in the offing for me unless I can get a Factory Outlet sale at BLI's site or from the other etailers who have blow-outs.
Driline ;You make a good point,I don't no if I could make it without my big screen tv, the cell phone, well they can be annoying .What I meant about being spoiled was I would never have imagined the tech. we enjoy today ,back in the early 60's . I was looking at Tony's today, thanks for the tip. Randy......