We have some highly respected modelers on this forum that have had negative experiences with MRC decoders, and they have documented their experiences. I believe them and respect their opinions. Others have chimed in with comments about these decoders being "junk". I assume that they have also had first hand experiences.
However, I think we have to be careful here. Companies can change and they can improve their products. What was "junk" a year ago may today be much improved. Unless you have personally tried a current, new model MRC decoder I think you have to be careful in saying that they are "junk" because that may no longer be true. The one that you had may not have been good, but you can't label them all by your experience, especially if your experience is not current.
I personally prefer Digitrax sound because they're relatively economical, will fit in many different situations, have sound downloading capabilities, and provide sound that works well for me. But I also appreciate MRC's efforts to provide sound decoders for situations where no other decoders are yet available for easy, drop-in installations.
I have 5 MRC sound decoders, 3 HO and 2 N. They all run and sound just fine. The newer models seem to be much improved over what others say about them. Motor control is excellent, sound is good, and they now have CV readback. Their N scale lighting leaves something to be desired, but they say they will work on that. N scale sound is certainly not as good as HO, but I still appreciate MRC's efforts. Since I really enjoy sound on my HO layout, I also wanted it on my N scale layout as well, and MRC's sound adds an element that I like. It's not real loud, but in my quiet basement it is plenty loud, and I don't like my sound too loud anyway.
MRC tech support has also been excellent for me. Quick and helpful responses, and very generous. So, all in all, I think that MRC is making good progress in improving their DCC capabilities and I think that we just need to be fair about that. They have been long respected in the DC field and let's hope that their DCC efforts will one day be as good. Their DCC systems are already very good, and with their decoders improving, I feel good about their efforts.
Jerry
Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!
I disagree. I have a Kato P42 and a SD 70 and they sound very good considering the size. I also have HO and of course the sounds are better in the larger scale. I also have not had any problems with these MRC N scale decoders. What problems did you have with yours?
i have two of my n scale atlas locos equiped with the mrc sound decoders. the locos were decoder ready and i had installed digitrax dn 163 ao decoders. i don't remember the mrc decoder model #. the decoder sounds good in a small room where i have my layout but when i take them to my club the sound gets lost and cannot be heard unless you are standing right next to them. although the decoder is a direct drop in for an atlas loco the speaker requires that the frame in the fuel tank area be milled out to fit the speaker in and also a slot in the side of the frame to route the wires from the decoder to the speaker. i sent the frames to aztec and they milled them for $20 each. i installed them in a b23-7 and an sd35. i put them in over a year ago and only one is still working. the other one only makes sound but the loco will not move. also the locos with them in will just stop and the sound goes off for a second or two. the other locos in the consist keep moving. then the sound comes back on and throttles up and the loco will move again. it's not caused by dirty track or booster problems just lousy decoders. i would wait until one of the better decoder manufacturers produces sound decoders as mrc's are not that good .
Hi, can someone out there comment on this decoder?
The guy I buy all my train stuff from says the sound this decoder produces is too soft.
Also the description say "Directly replaces most Atlas N scale loco's PC Boards"
Which Atlas engines will this decoder fit into?
Thanks
Andy