Sound is in loco's is getting more and more popular. With the way things are changing and technology it is getting easier to install sound in existing engines. I am in the process of converting all of my diesels into sound. I am suggesting someone with lots of dcc sound installation knolodge should develope a chart that matches chips with engines and what speakers work best in certain engines. I know tcs is going to release kits for most specific engines, pairing their products with each individual engine for example: Athearn Genesis sd 70mac with sound decoder motherboard and speaker. My problem is quite alot of stuff i order off the internet and you cant see if this speaker or decoder will fit in the engine your trying to convert into sound. Maybe their is already a chart like this available but i have yet to find it. If so please refer me to were this is on line. I am currently trying to find the best speaker and encloser to fit an athearn genesis sd 70mac ho scale. If anyone knows please relay that info to me if you can. Thanks (Modeling moffat Division)
I use Google for searching. SoundTraxx has a decoder selector and installs for some locos.
All you have to do is search the speaker number and you can find the specs.
I have ordered a lot through Litchfield Station and they clearly show the speaker sizes with photos.\
Don't forget DCC with sound is continually evolving with newer decoders, speakers, speakers from cell phones. No way is anybody going to be able to make a chart. There are just too many variations, ideas, opinions on different installs.
TCS sells sound decors and has a section for installs.
Mr DCC has a few installs.
Below is a link from SoundTraxx that I just found.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/documents/appnotes/athearn_sd70mac.pdf
Many, not all, are not plug and play.
Some like SoundTraxx decoders, some LokSound, some TCS WOW decoders.
Also, Digitrax, MRC has sound.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
bnsf0823:
As Rich says, such a chart would be pretty complicated and it wouldn't be current for very long.
I have a couple of suggestions:
- One is to post a list here of the locomotives that you want to convert and see what others have done.
- The second is to choose a decoder manufacturer and, if at all possible, stick with their products. Although decoders all operate in a similar manner there are differences between brands. If you install a bunch of different mfrs decoders you may find it a bit confusing to remember which commands do what with each locomotive. That gets more complicated when you want to start changing CVs. For example, Loksound decoders have to be 'told' to start the engine sounds whereas most other brands start as soon as power is applied. That can get a little irritating if you have a bunch of locomotives on the track. When you turn the power on you then have to tell several of them to be quiet one at a time if you don't want them running. Loksound eliminates that problem.
- If you settle on one manufacturer the question of size is considerably narrowed down. Personally I am devoted to the Loksound Select Aux 6 and Select Micro. The Micro is very small. It will fit into anything in HO scale. There is a third Loksound Select called the 'Direct' which will literally drop into many different brands of locomotives to replace their DC boards. Between the three you should pretty much be able to cover your whole fleet. They are excellent decoders.
As for speakers, bigger is obviously better but if you want to keep things simple just go with the iphone5 (sugar cube) style and figure out how many of them can fit in your locomotive. You will have to figure out how to wire multiple speakers to keep the decoder happy but that is easy. Here are a couple of links to a very good explanation of how to install sugar cube speakers:
http://www.sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/sugarcubespeakernotes.html
http://www.sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/wiringmultispeakers.html
Of course if you have a lot of space for speakers then you can go with units that offer deeper base.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks Rich and Dave I like the idea of posting what i want to change here on the forum and seeing what others have done. I will probably find good ideas here too. I always do.
As you look through the different decoder manufactures, you will see hard wire type, no connector, 8 pin NMRA type, six pin type, 21 pin type, lightboard decoder type.
Some hard wire type like the Tsunami TSU-1000 in shrink wrap have a nine pin you can remove and plug in. You cut the shrink back just enough. SoundTraxx says it is ok.
SoundTraxx now has a new Econami sound decoder with different connection variations. It is smaller than their Micro which has overheating issues. The 750 Micro design is at least fifteen years old and the TSU about ten years old according to a online seller who deal with SoundTraxx.
I watch the Yahoo SoundTraxx Group and many discussions on new speaker styles with research being done by some there for better, best sound. A very subjective issue depending on how sound is to you.
LokSound has a very good group also.
I have used the TSU-1000, Micro and LokSound Micro.
TCS is another new player with a WOW sound decoder.
These forums are very good but try to look at other forums for DCC. With the Internet, we have a huge community.
Build a library of links in your browser for reference.
Another thought, some loco companies sell locos with on board sound but many cut back on some CV and sound features to save the buyer money. I know Bachmann does that. I have some Bachmann locos with on board sound and a few I installed a full featured decoder.
Those companies will not say what they don't have, just what the decoder does have. I have read of a fair amount of messages about this issue.
MTH DCS sound locos will run on DCC but there are operating issues. They seem to have a nice loco though.