I have just installed one of these into a Bachmann decapod. I used this N scale decoder as the tender is small but I replaced the supplied speaker with a 28mm one, the same as used with the HO version.
I have just read the review of the HO version on Tony's Train Exchange site and the reviewer is far too polite. He says the chuff sounds like a machine gun, my thoughts were a very small jackhammer and I do mean small as the volume is very weak. Also there is only one whistle choice.
I don't think it was worth $50. Sad to say but the MRC mini steam it replaced has far,far better sound.
Motor control is good.
I was not expecting a fully featured decoder like a Tsunami given the price but this is pathetic.
CN Charlie
Did you test it with the original speaker? The Tony's spec says this unit has an 8-ohm speaker, but I've noticed in the past that Digitrax specs sometimes don't match the products. Take a look at the original speaker and make sure its impedance matches the one you're using.
There are EVs to control volume levels. While some sound decoders come with the volume set to maximum, the default on others is nearer the middle. You may be able to boost the volume with some CV adjustment.
Some of the older products, like the SFX0416 sound-and-function decoder, just had very little output power available. They are too quiet for my tastes. It may be that this N-scale decoder has the same issue.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Mister B,
Yes I did check the speaker to be sure it was an 8 ohm as stated in the specs. Interesting in that the Soundbug they sell says it has a 32 ohm speaker but in fact they come with an 8 ohm speaker. It was the speaker from a Soundbug that I used.
I did adjust the CV's to get more volume but it was more the sound quality that I found poor.
I put the MRC back in and while many here won't believe it, it sounds far better and the motor control is just as good.
One other weird thing was that with the Digitrax installed the loco stalled on Kato unitrack turnouts but with the MRC back in, it no longer does.
I have a Soundbug in a PK2 0-6-0 and it is OK so I thought that this new decoder would be as good if not better.
Anyone want a SDN144PS, going cheap.