I am thinking about trying one of the new Digitax sound decoders that retail for $49.95. Has anyone used these and what do you think of them. I know there are better ones at much higher prices but I don't have the money to use them in all the locos I am planning to upgrade to DCC with sound.
Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I bought one last week-end at the NTS, after being told by a DCC vendor that the sound was just 'OK' (not real good). I have installed it in a P2K GP9, and it really is not too bad. I need to download the 567 non-turbo sound(It came with 645 non-turbo). Unlike previous Digitrax sound decoders, this one is not 'quiet'. I think a better speaker/enclosure(a small 3/4" one is included) wiould be even better. But for the price($45), it installed easy & was up and running in one evening. With 11 more GP's to add sound to, this is a good fit. I did buy a PR3 so I could download additional sound projects, but I have been told that we are driving out to the 'farm' this W/E. No 'playing'.....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
There was an earlier thread about these. The topic was started by someone who had installed an N-scale version. He was disappointed with it, particularly because the maximum volume was barely audible.
I've been concerned about that same issue. The earlier sound-only decoders from Digitrax were kind of schizophrenic that way. The SoundBug decoders have plenty of volume, but the others (like the SFX0416) are kind of quiet.
Thanks to Jim for biting the bullet and reporting back to us on it. Any tips on the installation in the P2K Geep? That's one of the engines I'd like to upgrade one of these days.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Jim,
Sorry about your weekend, But I am glad to hear what you had to say about the Digitrax decoder. One of the models I was looking at is the SDN144PS which has both decoder and sound, this way I only have to upgrade once. I have several steam engines on the list plus some GP7's and 9's and a couple of RS3's. This is going to be a slow process but I think I will try one to see how it goes.
Jim, what do you mean by "not quiet"? Do you mean they have adequate volume or do you mean there is some distortion?
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
Several weeks ago I purchased a Digitrax SDH164D decoder which is both sound and motor. I installed it in an older PK2 GP30 (HO Scale) which had a TCS motor only decoder. (The TCS decoder worked fine, just no sound). I hard wired the SDH164D which was very easy to do. I had to cut the weight down to make room for a speaker. I removed the large round spaeker which came with the decoder and replaced it with a QSI small 8 ohms 1 watt oval speaker and enclosure. I placed the speaker face up in the back of the locomotive as the PK2 GP30 fans are open.
The sound is very good. I have the volume set at 1/2 level (I use Decoder Pro for programing and PR3), and it is still somewhat too loud. I need to do some additional adjustments with the sound.
I have also purchased several digitrax SFX004 Sound Bug decoders to add to my digitrax DH165AO decoders. I have installed one with good results. I replaced the speaker on this dedoder as well.
For the cost, I believe that the Digitrax SDH decoders are a great value. I think the large 1.1" speakers that come with the decoders are a waste of money, unless you model steam HO or O scale, as there is not a lot of room in even an HO locomotive for this size speaker.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
I installed a SND144PS in a Bachmann Decapod. I used a larger speaker with a baffle as the speaker is 'N' size with that decoder.
The motor control was good , the sound was awful. I thought the chuff was like a small jackhammer but the reviewer on Tonys Train Exchange site said small machine gun. There is only one whistle choice. The volume was quite weak even set on maximum.
I heard the diesel sounds are better.
In any event I was so disappointed that I removed it.
CN Charlie
They are , OK. Not the greatest and certainly not the worst. And if that's what your budget permits and it answers what you need then it is a fine choice.
DANOC&O lives on!!! Visit my railfan community site: http://www.crtraincrew.com
two short clips of n scale SDN144 version in HO trains
zephyr has MRC 16 x 38 speaker with enclosure
aerotrain has MRC 15mm round with enclosure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AbA9Y2vs_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f76UZ6PIQm0