Which brand?

[alexstan]

I'd like to know which people's opinions are re whether I should get a QSI or Soundtraxx drop in(Light board replacement) sound decoder for my Atlas GP38-2? Which decoder sounds the best and runs the best? I hear QSI did a major upgrade to their decoders.(Sorry I've only had MRC and ESU sound decoder experience)

[Train Modeler]

I have installed  QSI and many Soundtraxx units as well as Digitrax and MRC sound decoders.    I first replaced the Digitrax and then MRC with Soundtraxx and now working on replacing the QSI with Soundtraxx.   That's almost $1000 in decoders I am replacing not to mention the extra costs of the new Soundtraxx.    I wish I had posted your question before I went down this road.  

The Soundtraxx has many formats to install(Kato, AT, Universal, etc), the sounds are recorded, not synthesized(or at least better recordings), does not require sound file programming/modifying, has F11 braking and are really easy to optimize for operations and sound.   I wish they had at least 2 more functions, provided speed calculations and had DDE(sound increases with load) on the diesel as well as steam decoders.

The new QSI sound decoder is called Titan and it is out for certain steam locos, but not yet diesel--at least last I checked.    If they use the same sound files in it as the current, the stereo Titan won't be much better since the prime mover is not a different recording for most locos and actually sounds syntehsized.   Particularly no discernable notching changes, particularly on 567 prime movers.

More OEMs are moving to Soundtraxx, currently.   So you can set those to have similar programming/function control as the aftermarket--making life easier.

Richard

[cacole]

The new LokSound Select is an excellent decoder to consider, but their available sound schemes are limited at the present time.

[tstage]

Alex,

If both have GP38-2 sound files, then the choice is really up to you.

The newer Q2 decoders will have better low-speed response than the Soundtraxx decoder.  The sound is also much better than the original QSI decoders and upgrades.   Soundtraxx should give you very nice sound but won't start out as slow as the Q2 decoders.

Given the choice between sound and great low-speed?  I'll take the low-speed - hands down!

Tom

[gandydancer19]

I have settled on Soundtraxx Tsunami's for all of my new sound decoder installs.  I have one QSI and one Lok-Sound.  Both have been a pain in the BeHind for me.

[alexstan]

Thanks for the info guys. I've sort of decided on the Soundtraxx Tsunami now. The accurate sound files and I've heard the Tsunami and I think it sounds better than the QSI to me.

[rrinker]

 Never behind in horns though, the Tsunami horns are a poor second.

And there's still that annoying inability of the Tsunami to load up before moving.

                 --Randy

 

[alexstan]

Now LokSound Select has a "Direct" decoder http://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-select-direct/ I think I might get that and keep all my sound decoders ESU/Loksound.