Friend of mine is interested in adding a sound decoder to a GP30. He has seen the Soundtraxx DSD-101LC decoders available at different places at what appears to him to be a reasonable price ($50 - $60 range). Obviously, there are other decoders out there that cost twice as much.
So the question before the house is what are the opinions of the forum members concerning this decoder. Also, what issues if any have people had. I'm interested in things like they "run away", they have poor sound quality, the available sounds are limited (or not-prototypical), they are yesterday's technology, etc. Obviously if they're the greatest thing since sliced bread for the price, I'd like to hear that also.
I did search the forum for this decoder, and see that there was some issue concerning a capacitor. The packages he's looking at contain the capacitor so I already know about that.
Thanks for your responses.
Regards
The 'LC' in the decoder's number stands for 'Low Cost.' The sound is not as good as with a Tsunami and they don't have as powerful an amplifier, but for a home layout where you don't have a lot of background noise, they are a good buy. The most critical thing with the LC decoders is a properly baffled, good quality speaker. The motor control circuitry in the LC series is not as smooth as a more expensive decoder, but I have never heard of anyone having a runaway problem with them.
All sound decoders except the ESU LokSound have a capacitor, so I'm not sure what you mean by a 'capacitor issue.'
I don't think SoundTraxx even makes the LC decoder any more because they have been superseded by technological advances.
David,
Has SoundTraxx overcome the runaway locomotive problem in the Diesel Tsunami decoders? I purchased one of their first releases and wound up putting it into a friend's dummy locomotive where motor control was not necessary because of this problem.
I have the DSD-090LC and DSD-100LC decoders and there is a 33 ufd bi-polar capacitor used between one purple speaker lead and speaker terminal. It is Not for keep alive. I do not have the 101 but I think the DSD-101LC is the same.
Some people insist on confusing the keep alive and speaker capacitors for the SoundTraxx decoders. The Tsunami does Not use a speaker capacitor.
Here is a link to keep alive capacitor information.
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm
Marcus, who owns the site is also on the Yahoo SoundTraxx group which is quite active.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soundtraxx/
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.
davidmbedardI don't like my decoder restarting (start up sequence) every time it encounters dirty track.
As I mentioned, the package he was looking at came with a capacitor. However, can you explain exactly what you mean by "restarting"? Specifically, following a momentary power interuption, will the engine keep moving while the diesel sound "restarts", or will the engine just sit there until the startup cycle is completed and then start to move?
The first case is an annoyance, while the second case results in a temporarily dead engine being pushed along by other engines in a consist.
Thanks
Edit: oh, and based on the post above, is the capacitor that is in the bag a "keep-alive" capacitor, or does it serve some other function?
Thanks again.
maxman davidmbedardI don't like my decoder restarting (start up sequence) every time it encounters dirty track. As I mentioned, the package he was looking at came with a capacitor. However, can you explain exactly what you mean by "restarting"? Specifically, following a momentary power interuption, will the engine keep moving while the diesel sound "restarts", or will the engine just sit there until the startup cycle is completed and then start to move? The first case is an annoyance, while the second case results in a temporarily dead engine being pushed along by other engines in a consist. Thanks
It's the first in my experience. The sound goes out, then the engine sound re-starts and "rev's up" to where it was before it lost power, but the loco keeps running.
FWIW I have maybe 5-6 LC equipped engines at this point. (I generally use the board - replacement kind because they take up no more room than the light board, you just need to find room for the speaker.) I find the loss of signal is pretty rare. For me it happens more often with a couple engines I have with MRC "Sounder" decoders. If it does happen, I go back and clean the track where it happened, or check the turnout points if it's at a switch, until it stops happening. You need to be sure to keep the wheels clean too. But IMHO it's not a major issue; I'm not a neatness freak or anything and I find it happens maybe to one engine every-other month.
Overall the LC's are good. They come with a choice of one, three or five chime diesel horns; I think one is available now with a "Canadian" three-chime. Compared to some other decoders their sound may not be that powerful, but a lot of that depends on the speaker. I find a 1/2" round speaker with enclosure will fit in the long hood of say an Atlas GP or Alco and give good results, but of course an F unit or E unit where you can fit in a 1" speaker is going to be louder and sound better (more bass). I may go back and try some oval speakers and see if that pumps up the volume a little, but then most folks find that in the long run you want the engines to be loud enough to hear when you're next to them, but not loud enough to hear from the other side of the basement...or the next room!!
I have three of them, two in Atlas HO RS-3s and one in a Kato RS-2. I suffered with the poor motor control for several years until I disconnected the LC from motor and light control, substituting a TCS M-1 decoder, bought for $20. It is so small that it sits in a "valley" on the LC board.
Now all three locos run beautifully. Previously, the motors made a buzzing/grinding noise that overcame the sound system. Unfortunately for me, I bought these when they first came out and there was no other sound decoder choice. They were $140 then!
Along the same lines, does anyone want to share their opinion on some of the top sound decoders, Soundtraxx Tsunami, QSI Revolution or LokSound 3.5? I'm sure they all have advantages and disadvantages, but just looking for anyones thoughts. I am looking to add sound to some HO F7's for refernece.
Jeff
I have several of the Soundtraxx DSD-100LC and DSD-101LC decoders, both steam and diesel, installed in locomotives. For the money, I don't think you can beat them. Most of my diesel installations are soldered into Athearn BB locos and a few are plugged into DCC ready P2K and Atlas engines. In fact I just installed a DSD-101LC decoder in an Atlas Trainman Loco. I posted a short tutorial on the installation on my updated website.
The steam installations range from plug and play Spectrums to DCC ready Bachmann's.
The LC decoders have worked as advertised in every instance. I haven't had any problems with any of them. The 'skipping' or 'stutter' of the sound was once a problem, but some slight modifications to turnout frogs cleared that up. I don't think I've ever had a decoder skip from dirt.
To sum up. The DSD-100LC and DSD-101LC are a good value in my humble opinion. The motor control could be better and sound volume louder in some applications. They have met my needs in every application so far. Of course there are alternatives out there, most of which cost nearly double what the LC decoders do.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I put a Soundtraxx LC in my Proto RSC-3. I'm very happy with it. It was my first do-it-yourself sound installation. I used a pre-made speaker enclosure. It's been running a couple of years now, and I run this engine a lot.
I have no power pickup problems at all with this. The RSC-3 is the 6-axle version of the popular Alco RS-3, so it's got a dozen wheels for pickup. I also keep my track clean with a CMX.
I had to adjust the output level because the full-volume default was overpowering in my layout room. I put it about 50-60%, and I'm happy with that.
The decoder lacks a couple of things. It doesn't have brake squeal, which I like to use. It may have a dynamic brake noise, but I don't think this engine had dynamic brakes, so I never use that. It also doesn't have a shutdown sequence, like the QSI engines. It takes F8 to mute the sound, but if there's a power-down the sound comes back on again with the power. The QSI shutdown stays off until re-activated with F6.
I just bought another LC for a Proto GP-9. It's going to take some surgery to get the speaker in, so it will be a while before I tackle this job.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
BRVRRThe LC decoders have worked as advertised in every instance. I haven't had any problems with any of them. The 'skipping' or 'stutter' of the sound was once a problem, but some slight modifications to turnout frogs cleared that up. I don't think I've ever had a decoder skip from dirt.
What "slight modifications" do you do to solve that? Can you be more specific? (I have similar issues with Atlas Mark 3 code 100 turnouts)
MisterBeasleyI put a Soundtraxx LC in my Proto RSC-3. I'm very happy with it.
Just as an initial followup, I printed out everyone's comments and gave them to the guy who was asking for the opinions. He had gone ahead and had the decoder installed, so I asked him to look over the comments and put down his opinions. If he does this, I'll pass them along.
I did see the engine in operation, and it seemed to move along quite nicely. The bell and horn sounded fine, as did the engine sound. Whether or not the sounds were prototypical I can't say. My own personal take on those guys that claim that this or that sound is incorrect because it isn't what they remember from when they sat next to an engine back in 1950 is that they are fooling themselves.
There may also be some shortcomings to the decoder as regards the availability of different sounds, but the engine's owner has not discovered them yet. Possibly as he plays with the thing more and has opportunities to hear more sophisticated decoders in other engines he'll change what he likes and dislikes. Right now he appears as happy as the clam that didn't end up in the chowder, so far be it for me to stick a pin in his bubble of euphoria.
Anyhow, I do appreciate the input from the forum members who shared their thoughts.
SoundTraxx has announced that they are discontinuing the LC decoder series, so if one fails you won't be able to find a direct replacement.
cacoleSoundTraxx has announced that they are discontinuing the LC decoder series, so if one fails you won't be able to find a direct replacement.
In an email I received from Litchfield Station, only the DSD-101LC will be available. I just looked at the SoundTraxx site and they only list the DSD-101LC.
The DSX decoders are being discontinued.
There are new Tsunami decoders being released.
Soundtraxx decoders were my first experience with installed sound. At the time I thought they were the next best thing to sliced bread. They are ok, but after hearing a QSI engine, I will never go back. From now on if my engine doesn't come with QSI or equivalent quality sound, I don't buy it. I think its cheaper in the long run just to buy the engine you want with sound. Of course if your model is not offered in sound then I would suggest a tsunami or loc sound. I think Davidmbedard prefers lok sound. But they are pricey. You know the old adage, you get what you pay for. Lok sound is the cadillac of aftermarket installed sound, soundtraxx LC is like buying a little kia.
davidmbedard Drilline, before you discound Soundtraxx, have a listen to the Tsunami sound samples..... http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/index.php?p=tsunamisound.php The EMD second gen sound makes me smile. David B
Drilline, before you discound Soundtraxx, have a listen to the Tsunami sound samples.....
http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/index.php?p=tsunamisound.php
The EMD second gen sound makes me smile.
David B
Sorry, I was speaking only to the LC models not the tsunami. I assume the tsunami are equivalent to lok sound?