I'm debating on which brand of sound decoder to use for my Athearn RTR SW1000. I'm stuck between Loksound and a Tsunami.
I'd be running this as a pair with my Athearn RTR SW1500, so I'd need an EMD 645 non-turbo. The SW1500 already has a soundtraxx non-sound decoder in it.
I already figured out the installation with both decoders, but IDK which is the better option as far as the decoder.
I've heard loksound has really good motor control, and the sound sample on there webpage sounds pretty good, and they have a file specifically for an SW10 or SW15, but it cost nearly $40 bucks more.
The soundtraxx would make it a piece of cake to install in my SW10 since it has a 9-pin plug, and it'd be easier to match up to my SW15. so I'm kinda stuck...
Any opinions?Soundtraxx: http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/playsound.php?s=emd645nt Loksound: http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/sounds/generation-3/loksound-micro-v35/us-sounds/
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Loksounds are usually the same or lower price point - I see it's because you are comparing a full-size Tsunami to a Loksound Micro - the tiny ones are more expensive, but the Loksound Micro really is VERY small, and doesn;t have the heat issues of the Micro Tsunami. Also you probably want to look at the Select or V4 series, the V3.5 is now outdated. If you have no intention of actually modifying the sounds, the Select series would be perfectly suitable - there is a board repalcement for the Athearn boards.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
If it were me I would go with the Loksound. The motor control will be much better than the Tsunami. I have a Loksound Select in my Stewart VO-660 switcher and it's amazing; both motor- and sound-wise.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Randy, You're right. After some looking, I found a place that has the Loksound Select for $84. I just wish they were available with a 9-pin plug (because the athearn board has a spot for an accessory function). But I can work around that with some soldeing and a resistor.
Tom, I have 2 tsunamis and they are tricky to get to run well at low speed. I got the one in my GP15 to work after a bit of tweaking. But the non-sound in my SW15 is a bit different it seems. Maybe a TCS decoder would work well in the other loco...
Guess it's just shopping around now.
Vincent.
Traintek LLC has the Select Micro for under $80. http://www.traintekllc.com/ESU-73800-LokSound-Select-Micro-Sound-Decoder/productinfo/ESU-73800/ It includes a small rectangular speaker with enclosure too. I believe the Tsunami does not include the speaker at $112. You can add ten bucks to the 112 for a speaker and another 6 to 8 for an enclosure. The Select micro is an outstanding decoder. I have 2 of them in steam configuration. One of them is inside a brass 0-6-0 and only the speaker is in the tender. This way I only needed 2 wires from loco to tender instead of five wires. Scrap the Athearn board and lights. Wire in a couple of LEDs and have fun.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Yeah scrap those silly light bulbs anyway, I really don;t get why Athearn continues to use them, and half the time they stick through the light unrealistically - even on the Genesis line. They are the only ones who haven;t gone to LEDs.
Definitely scrap the factory Athearn board. I've read more than a few times about people having function output problems when trying to feed through the factory board.
As a rule, I always scrap any factory board. Those additional components (resistors / diodes / etc.) can adversely affect how the functions work. Forced directional lighting, incorrect resistance values for lighting, etc.. Best to start with only the decoder as it was designed.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Even more importantly, when doing sound, eliminating all unecessary extra bits makes more room for the speaker and enclosure. The bigger the speaker and enclosure you cna fit in, the better the sound.
I would do a board style replacement. There's not a lot of room under the hood. I know that Soundtraxx board styles have 2 lighting FX out puts. I'm not familiar with Lok sound. I have an Athearn SW1500 with the board style in it. Mines for the Great Northern and came with a strobe light on top. I hooked this up tp the F5 FX out put. It looks great! Joe
But how does the locomotive sound and run?
For one thing I removed the cab interior to put in a 20mm speaker with baffle. The loco starts out on speed step 1 and the volume is set to around 90. Volume range is 0 to 255. I use Decoder Pro and a Digitrax PR3 as a stand alone programmer. I set up myown speed tables so that even at full throttle, the loco only goes about 20mph. I also set up the auto sound functions: At speed step 1 the horn blows a short blast( I thinks it's 2 for going forward and 3 when in reverse, not sure if other way around) the bell rings until speed step 15. I like the sound and performance of this decoder. I have 6 diesels I put Soundtraxx decoders in and like them all. Joe
I would suggest before you buy Loksound to try and play/listen to some of their sounds. They have a 7FDL sound(which I've never heard) they say is appropriate for a AC6000--the 6000HP prime mover is an HDL engine with a very different sound. Some of them may be good?
Richard
Loksound Select is available as a board replacement. Six lighting outputs, BEMF, 8 channel sound, 4 prime mover sounds, 16 horns, and adjustable bells. http://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-select-direct/
I have only done the steam version but I am very impressed with the sound and operation of the Select decoders. As long as they are available I will never buy another brand of sound decoder. I am doing one right now in a Brass K5s pacific. Dual one inch speakers should be great. QSI are about 30% more than the select and Tsunamis are about 25% more. Maybe this is why Stewart and Atlas are going Loksound.
Go with the Loksound Select AUX 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpCEPbvqOyw
Here's 1 in a BB SW1500. The video is fuzzy in spots, but the sound is what you are after here!
And it does come with a plug for the RTR version! (I cut mine off!)
Karl
NCE über alles!
Thanks for the vid, Karl. By chance, what speaker did you use
I'm thinking of using the 1" x .64" speaker that some of those Loksound selects (like the ones from MB Klien)come with or the Tsunami speaker that is similar in size. Then I'd use lead sheet on the inside of the shell to act as a baffle and add some weight.*
*I was able to add about 2-3 ounces to a BB SW1500 using lead sheet.