Compatibility

[alloboard]

Is the Soundtraxx PnP sound decoders compatible with Digitrax Sound FX 8 pin socket?

[jrbernier]

  What are you asking?  Both of these are sound decoders, you want to plug one sound decoder into another?  Stereo Trains?

  Are you talking about an 8 pin socket in the locomotive?

  The Digitrax Sound decoders are available in a 'wired' version(you have to wire it in the locomotive), and the new 165 series decoders that can have the 'Soundbug' plugged into the decoder.  There are multiple socket formats for the 165 series(wired/8 pin/JST).  I am not aware of any other 'sound only' decoder that can plug into a Digitrax 165 series decoder other than the Digitrax 'Soundbug'.

  Soundtraxx has 3 different types of decoders currently:

• Tsunami - This is their high end sound decoder and is currently available in 'steam' only.  It provides very high quality sound and good motor control.
• DSX - This is a 'sound only' decoder that does not plug into a Digitrax decoder.
• LC - This is a series of 'Low Cost' sound decoders that have rather basic motor control and some are PnP or specific to certain model locomotives. For example, Soundtraxx offered a B280LC decoder that just plugs into the 8 pin socket in the DC 'light board' in the tender of the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0.  A very simple 'install' for a specific model.

  From your posts over the past week, I feel that you need to do some serious reading of the manufacturer's documentation before you attempt any of these installs you have been describing.  I think you have been getting some 'bum' advice from your LHS 'expert' based on your questions.  I have wired over 100 engines for DCC, and most of the new ones can use an 8 pin or JST decoder.  For older engines with no socket, I many times buy a decoder with a JST connector and a set of wires.  I 'hard wire' the engine and now have a short cable with a JST connector for the decoder to plug into.  As you have found out, the color coding of the existing DC wiring(and light boards) many times has no relationship with DCC wiring specs.  Many model were designed before DCC was a big thing.

Jim