Is it better to buy a DCC equiped unit or buy a DCC ready and install the decoder after the fact?
With decoder installed loco's it depends what your buying. If your buying a more expensive loco you'll get a decent decoder and you'll be happy with it. If you buy a Bachmann the decoder is of a low quality and is very limited in what it can do. You probably wont like it.
As far as installing a decoder in a loco that doen't have one, most newer DC loco's are DCC ready so installing a decoder is just a matter of plugging it in. If you buy an older stock loco you may have to hard wire the decoder which is a little more involved.
Basically other than not having to install a decoder in a DCC equiped loco, or, being able to choose what decoder goes in a DC loco, there is no benefit in buying one or the other.
If it's a DCC model with motor, lights and sound costing at least a hundred $ more than the standard model I'll take the standard model and wire a $25 DZ125 decoder into it for light and motor control. I don't need the sound and I don't want it.
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However, if you DO want sound, the price difference between the sound and non-sound versions is usually less than $100, and you can't buy the decoder and speaker and get them installed for that. When it's DC or just a motor DCC decoder, the price difference can be $30 or more - you can buy a top quality motor decoder for $12.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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Eric97123Thanks.. I like the advice and it is just as suspected it is for the most part cheaper to buy not equipped and install it myself.. I think I would like to have sound an unit or two but I am ok with out it as well.
If you do want sound then I recommend getting them with sound already installed (as long as they are quality sound decoders like QSI, Tsunami etc..). The cost will be almost identical as adding them yourself and you won't have the additional work involved.
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