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Tsunami sound conversions? (Proto 2000 GP7 and Athearn F units)

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  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Anaheim, CA Bayfield, CO
  • 1,829 posts
Tsunami sound conversions? (Proto 2000 GP7 and Athearn F units)
Posted by Southwest Chief on Saturday, June 12, 2010 11:38 AM

I hate to ask a question that's likely already been dealt with.  But I didn't find anything super helpful in the archives.

Question 1

I have an older Proto 2000 GP7 (Santa Fe) that I installed a plug and play Soundtraxx decoder into many years ago.  With the vast improvement in HO sound decoders over the years I think it is time to upgrade the sound in this old but reliable GP7.

Tsunami is my preferred sound system and I was looking at the Soundtraxx website to see if they have any drop ins for a Proto 2000 style board.  It doesn't look like they do.

My question is, what would be a good replacement Tsunami sound/DCC board to install into an older Proto 2000 GP7?  The TSU-1000, or maybe the small TSU-750?

 Question 2 (Athearn Genesis F unit speakers)

I'm also getting fed up with the sporadic performance of my older Athearn Genesis F units that came with factory installed MRC sound decoders.  They work alright considering what I've read at how bad the MRC decoders can be.  But the sound has never been as realistic as it could be so I think it is time to upgrade to Tsunami.  Also it makes sense to do this since the new Athearn Genesis F units (with sound) come with Tsunami...so if I get more in the future they will sound similar and should have similar speed characteristics. 

It looks like the TSU-GN1000 is the way to go for these.  I suppose I could retain the existing speaker as well making this a pretty easy conversion. 

I do have some questions though in general about Athearn Genesis F units.  Do the ones without factory installed sound still have a speaker under the shell?  Or does this speaker only come with the sound equipped locos.  Also do the newer F units with Tsunami sound have a different type of speaker, or is it the same round one that came with the MRC sound equipped units?

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
Click Here for my model train photo website

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Saturday, June 12, 2010 12:01 PM

 I doubt think the Athearns without sound come with a speaker, however if it's a unit that is available in sound you might get lucky and have the speaker mount ready.

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 208 posts
Posted by WPAllen on Saturday, June 12, 2010 12:32 PM

I have used the MRC speaker that comes in the sound Genesis F units with Tsunami decoder and have had no problems. The newer non-sound Genesis F units come with a spot for the speaker which make the install easier.

Not sure on the P2K units as I have not got round to installing sound in mine yet.

 

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