Hi all,
For a while now I've been wanting sound for my atlas S-1 but I haven't known what to use. I'm looking at the MRC1907, but I really haven't heard many good things about it. I was hoping that someone might have a suggestion for a decoder to use. The sound doesn't have to be perfect. I'd settle for a generic small diesel sound. All I really want is a decoder that fits my S-1's shell, has satisfactory sound, and will compliment my paltry budget. Thanks, I appreciate any suggestions. =)
I believe both Soundtraxx (Tsunami) and Digitrax make board-replacement sound decoders that you could use. You can check their websites, or a dealer like Tony's Trains online. To install, all you have to do is disconnect the green Atlas light board, and replace it with the sound decoder, which is shaped just like the light board. Then you just have to find space for a speaker. Unless the engine has a pre-made opening for a speaker, usually a 1/2" by 1/4" oval speaker and enclosure is the largest you can fit in a switcher or GP/SD type engine.
Thanks, but those are a wee bit outside my price range (sad, I know). Also, if it helps, I already have a NCE-ATLS4 installed. If there's a way to add sound without buying a whole new decoder that would be ideal.
Well, you can buy "cheap" two or three times and have more invested that buying "quality" once and be done with it. Your Choice.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
I'm not saying "cheap", I'm saying affordable. Unless I'm simply an uneducated nitwit, I don't believe they are the same thing
There's little enough room in there to begin with, so a single board solution will be much better.
The MRC is the only thign close to a dorp in solution for sound. It's affordable - and cheap. If you really don't care what it sounds liek, go for it. It really is that bad though.
A correct solution would be something like a Loksound Micro and a common speaker location is in the cab, you can fit a bigger speaker for better sound there, at the expensve of some of the interior details. On a very small loco like that, it's all about tradeoffs. The "micro" versions of decoders are always more expensive, trying to fit the same features in a significantly smalelr space just costs more. Why is the MRC so much less expensive than the others? Two words: poor quality. I have one of the drop-ins for the Athearn RS-3, because it was 'affordable' and I wanted to honestly be able to give an opinion and not rely on what I heard others say. Se the sacrifices I make for you people?
It's not worth the space it takes up, really. Sound is horrible at best, there's plenty of room for a larger speaker but they put something on there the size of an earbud, and while the decoder comes with 16 user selectable horns, even thie tech support told me they don't know which 'actual' horn the sampled for each one. Maybe I'm picky but a K5LA doesn;t sound like an M3 doesn't sound like an E2, and if they really did record their sounds from actual working locos as they claim, you think they'd know which one the recorded for each option.
As for affordable, well, nearly everything is afforable. It all depends on how long you're willing to wait. With a $5/week hobby budget you can still afford a $1000 brass loco - it's just going to take a while and you aren't going to have a fleet of them. The Loksound Select Micro is around $80 if you shop around (just checked MB Klein, modeltrainstuff - an advertiser here that I have dealt with many times). The MRC 1907 is $70 from them. Do yourself a huge favor - spend the extra $10, you won't regret it. You may want to look elsewhere for the Loksound, as Klein only sells them 'ready to program' with your choice of sounds, not preprogrammed. Plus you will need a speaker for it, Loksound has matching speakers in various sizes, around $10 or less depending on the size.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
RRinker has a good point here.
I have one of the MRC sound decoders in this ATLAS switcher. If I am not mistaken it is still a 244 RS-3 prime mover. You will be happy with the sound, a little staticy (sp) until you hear the correct 539 from Soundtrax or Loksound.
Before doing this look at the great artical in MR from about a year ago that shows how to add the Soundtrax to this loco.
Hopoe this is helpful, Chris
As with the above a non-MRC sound decoder is your best bet. I too tried the cheaper MRC to no avail. Sent it back and got another that didn't work at all. We tried these decoders on three different DCC systems and after hours of fiddling we decided a return for credit was my only recourse, gads I love Kliens LOL.... Doing just the return postage and shipping, it turned out more expensive then a better brand. With MRCs resources they are really missing the boat with this product.
Yep....sorry about that...guess I'm just a NON-MRC bigot now,
John
newhavenroad Thanks, but those are a wee bit outside my price range (sad, I know). Also, if it helps, I already have a NCE-ATLS4 installed. If there's a way to add sound without buying a whole new decoder that would be ideal.
Fitting two decoders and a speaker in an enclosure in an S-1 could be a challenge.
If you don't go want to go for the board replacement, you could remove the board and hardwire in a Digitrax SDH164D. It's pretty small and it lists for $49.95. You'd have to remove the 1" speaker it comes with and substitute a smaller one. Digitrax's "Soundbug" sound-only decoder lists for the same price by the way so you're not really saving anything there by going the piggyback route.
The MRC "Sounder" sound only decoder lists for $53.98, and does have Alco as one of the sound options. I've used a couple of them and had no problems, but both are in larger engines with enough room for both.
You could try looking on ebay etc. for discontinued board-replacement decoders, like the QSI Revolution - A or the old Soundtraxx "LC" decoder. You might find one on sale cheap, then you could install that and use the NCE decoder in another engine.
Note these prices are list prices, if you shop around you can find them for a lot less.
Another advantage of going with the Loksound Micro decoder is that you'll get excellent low-speed response, which is EXACTLY what you want in a switcher. That's the one thing I wish Soundtraxx was better at.
As others have already noted, I would avoid the MRC decoder I heard one of their "sheer brilliance" sound decoders in a friend's Intermountain F3. Absolutely atrocious. The prime mover sound was distorted and "whooshy". It sounded like a special effect from a Star Wars movie.
Take Randy's advice, save your pennies, and spend it on a quality decoder. You won't regret going that route.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
...............and most importantly, you'll need watchmaker skills.
I have an MRC 1800 "sheer brilliance" decoder with 16 horns. Unfortunately, they all sound the same. When I change the CV values, they read back to what I entered, but the horn sounds the same. But I'll put my MRCs up against anything you got, for "sheer volume"! LOL