TSUNAMI DIESEL DECODER

[gn goat]

I apologize if this topic has been discussed before but I couldn't find any references to the sound quality of the Tsunami Diesel Decoder. Has anyone had any experience with one of these decoders?

Thanks.

the goat

[cacole]

I bought one of the Alco Tsunami decoders and was very disappointed in the sound compared to their steam versions.  The volume seems very weak even with an oval speaker and enclosure.  Not nearly as good as I had expected.

[richg1998]

Go join the SoundTraxx Yahoo Group. Some have been discussing the diesel Tsunami using High Base speakers. They love the sounds.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soundtraxx/

Rich 

I do  believe this thread should be in the DCC Electronics group 

[AntonioFP45]

Heard an EMD version in my friend's Geep about 3 weeks ago.  I forgot what brand the locomotive was.  The unit was very, well baffled.

I was very impressed.  The sound was dynamic and clear.  Volume wise it could go head to head with a well baffled QSI unit.  Nice sounding K3 horn with a bit of a "tail" to it.  My friend did tell me that one feature modelers should utilize is the equalizer just as one would on a quality home stereo system.  It does make a difference.

The only feature that I was a slight turnoff was the "pop off" sound, which is not adjustable.  While it was prototypical, and loud enough, it was too short and kept going off about every 25 seconds.  As many 1st and 2nd gen. locomotives aged and maintenance was deferred, their pop offs usually sounded longer. 

Overall, it was a very sweet sounding unit and I wouldn't mind getting at least one.

[AntonioFP45]

David,

Curious, what did you not like about the horns?  Which ones in particular?

[cacole]

I am hoping that Broadway Limited offers the BlueLine sound decoders as user-installable items -- they have the clearest, best sound of anything on the market.

[AntonioFP45]

To me, they sound like the horns you would get with the LC series of decoders.  In comparrision, QSI's horns literally blow you away.

If we could only download a QSI horn to the Tsunami.........but nope, we cant.  If the horns were up to snuff, I would have ordered a slew for the store.  But as it stands, we have a demo unit on the layout (F3) and will be taking special orders.  Even with my background with tsunamis and adjusting reverbs, ASC and the like, I couldnt get this little guy to make much noise. 

My feeling is that they were side swiped by the Revolution, and hurried production of the Tsunami to compete.  It feels rushed.

David B

David,

When you tested it, did you use the type of enclosure/baffle that you posted a photo of before on the forum?   

The unit I heard was well baffled and, imho, was quite clear and as loud as QSI equipped hood diesels that I've heard before.  (Paraphrasing) my friend did tell me that modelers should take advantage of the equilizer feature as it will make a difference in dynamic clarity as the type of baffle and it's location can affect what our ears hear.

Soundtraxx did use the same horn sounds that it had in its catalog before, but they have been edited and remixed them for greater clarity.  Also, did you notice, that Soundtraxx added some additional horns, like the Nathan P5 series? 

Yes, I like the QSI units very much indeed and like the flexibility of being able to upload different sound schemes.   I'm leaning much more towards QSI than Soundtraxx, however, my point is simply that we may be writing the diesel Tsunami off a bit too hastily.  Don't you think?

[johncolley]

Well, I think maybe someone missed a point re the horn sounds. The older diesel horns, on Alco's and EMD's were often a single chime Wabco that indeed sounded like a ruptured duck! I have one such in my 4 unit FT that is a Soundtraxx decoder. Try as you might there is no way a single chime Wabco will ever sound like a three chime Nathan. So it all boils down to what era, railroad, and loco model are you running...what did the prototype sound like, at 100 yards, or at 1,000 yards? jc5729 John Colley, Port Townsend, WA

[AntonioFP45]

John, the recording sampled is a factor.

Both, the WABCO "honker" and Leslie "honkers" that you're referring to, imho, sound nice when new or "tuned up".  Just listen to a BLI E-8. It uses the Leslie AA2 horn and imho, it's even smoother than the AA2 honker used for the BLI F7.   Yet, the AA2 horn recording used for BLI's GG1 was from a prototype GG1 and interestingly it does sound aged.  A friend of mine listened to Soundtraxx's WABCO E-2 honker (pre-Tsunami).  He noticed that it does sound a bit worn as well. 

[cmarchan]

cacole

I bought one of the Alco Tsunami decoders and was very disappointed in the sound compared to their steam versions.  The volume seems very weak even with an oval speaker and enclosure.  Not nearly as good as I had expected.

What locomotive did you use? what baffling method? I installed one of these in a Proto 1000 RSC2 and the results were quite good. Much improved over the LC series decoders. Setting the graphic equalizer helps. BTW, the sounds for the ALCO are NOT the same as the LC or DSX decoders; engine idle, running sounds, and the single chime horns are different samples. Best Soundtraxx WABCO horns I've achieved for a narrow hood ALCO locomotive.