I've been disappointed with the low volume available from the Digitrax sound-only decoders, so I'm looking for other low-priced alternatives for add-ons.
Has anyone tried the MRC Sounders? How is the volume level and sound quality from these?
How big are they? Since I need to add both a speaker and this second decoder, that may be a factor. Is an extra capacitor required as well?
How about reliability? The MRC motor decoders don't have a good reputation, but being newer, are these any better?
I'm not an audiophile, by the way, and I'm just trying to "back-fill" my fleet of non-sound engines in a reasonable fashion. I'm particularly interested in sound for my GP-9's and F-7's.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Mr. Beasley,
there are three different Sounders:
#0001662 diesel-has two prime mover sounds- MP-15 and SD45-2
#0001665 steam- has different steam chuffs, whisles and bells
#0001666 diesel- has four prime mover sounds- alco 244, SD60, SD70, and EMD 567B
they are all approx. the size of a postage stamp, [length time width] and just about 1/16 of an inch thick. they all come with a 28 mm round speaker with a baffle.
the speaker can be replaced with any size 8 ohm speaker that you choose.
it is a simple two wire hook up to piggy-back it on your already installed power decoder.
hope this helps
Frank-Model Rectifier
The first and only one I have ever bought is back at MRC right now to be repaired or replaced because it was totally dead on arrival -- made no sound on the default address of 3 and could not be programmed.
Frank are there any plans to offer any other sound packages in the Sounder format ??? Say the existing GE sound ? --- Ken McCorry
I have two, one steam and one diesel. The diesel one was originally in a dummy B unit of an FT A/B set but I had to remove it...even though I loved the sound (especially the single-chime "blat" airhorn) it was WAY TOO LOUD!! Even with the volume set at zero (choices are 0-4 IIRC) it was maybe twice as loud as a Soundtraxx decoder. It operated OK otherwise though. Yes once or twice it forgot it's address and I had to redo that, but otherwise it was fine.
I finally put the diesel one in an SD70 with a 1/2" speaker. The smaller speaker quieted the sound down so it turned out well.
I put one in the tender of a Spectrum 2-6-6-2 with the regular speaker, no problems with that so far.
I do wish they had a full list of the sounds though - it gives you many choices, like four different diesels (early EMD, SD60, SD70, Alco), many steam "chuff" sounds, many airhorns and whistles (maybe 20-30) but there are no listings anywhere of which is which. Would be nice if you could see that entering "11" in a CV would give you a Nathan three-chime or whatever, rather than having to go thru them all one by one till you find one that sounds right.
Ken,
for 2009 we are going to using all 16 bit sound chips in our decoders
so once we have the production schedule planned i'm hoping to do G.E. sounders as well as Baldwin units as well
i will try to keep everyone updated on progress
Thank You Frank, Will be waiting for more Sounders in teh future. By the way all my SD-45-2 units are running great now !!! ----- Ken McCorry