As many of you know, the BLI Blueline series has separate decoders for motion and sound. I picked up a Blueline NYC Niagara a couple of months ago and chose to install a Lenz Silver MP motion decoder in it because of the excellent BEMF. All I can say is - Boy! - I am NOT disappointed in the choice!
My Niagara crawls so well at speed step 001 that it rivals my Trix Mikado (Loksound) and nearly my Stewart FT diesel (Lenz Gold). I've also been VERY happy with the sound. It's full, rich, and vibrant! I was thinking this evening, as I was running my Niagara, that I'm glad I had a choice with this model what motion decoder to install into it. Most sound decoders manufactured today are also motion decoders. But some are better at low-speed response than others.I've heard folks complain here and on other fora that they see BLI's decision to have separate decoders in their Blueline series as a bad idea. I can not vouch for any of the other Blueline models. However, in this instance, I don't think I could get as good a combination of sound and low-speed response with a sound/motion decoder than I have with these separate sound and motion decoders.A happy Blueline Niagara owner...that crawls like a 0-8-0 switcher...and growls like a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Wow! Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tom,
I installed a Digitrax decoder in my BLI light Mikado, which I bought as a "refurbished" deal. Sound was OK, the bark could have been a little deeper, the chuff a little out of sync at higher speeds, in fact, speeds above prototype speed, so it does not really matter. The Digitrax decoder worked just fine, after fiddling around with them CV´s.
In all, I can confirm your statement.
Back in the day when the Soundtraxx (pre-Tsunami) decoders were the only decent sound decoders out there, I would definitely have agreed with you. the slow speed response just wasn't quite there, and even adjusting Vstart and a few others that I can't recall off the top of my head wouldn't improve things much. Back then, the best choice was a Soundtraxx DSX (sound only) decoder with your choice of motor decoder.
Fast forward to today...I've seen examples of both Loksound and Tsunami decoders in action, and the control response is MUCH improved. I've installed two Tsunamis recently for friends, and have been completely blown away by both the sound quality and motor control. One of them was in an Athearn Blue Box F-unit with the stock motor, and the other was in a Kato. Without making ANY adjustments, the Athearn would creep along almost as slowly as the Kato. Of course, there are plans to do all the usual tricks to the Athearn to make it purr, then the response will be even better.
Just my , take it for what it's worth!
Robert Beaty
The Laughing Hippie
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The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the
end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming
your way. -Metallica, No Leaf Clover