Typically the bigger the enclosure the better the sound. Since the entire tender shell is acting as the enclosure it will produce better sound. (Provided there are no major leaks/holes around the shell)
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
I installed a Sountraxx chip in one before Christmas. I used a 1.22 HB speaker which I personally believe is superior to the speaker in your photo. The HB speaker is much taller and so will require weight relocation/modification. But to me, it is worth the work as you can hear a wider range of decibels, including more of those down low.
As far as using the speaker enclosure, I have tried not to use them as they are small and a small enclosure usually does not provide as good a sound as a large enclosure. Therefore, using the tender body as the enclosure should in theory and to my ear provide better sound. However, the tender body must be sealed as much as possible, including the areas where the wires enter up front. Also, you want to make sure that no parts have come loose and could vibrate.
Richard
I have done about 4 or 5 installs in this type of loco . Its true they dont follow NMRA but its not that hard to figure out . Pulling the board is one way and hard wiring . But with 3 of the ones I have done I found the reverse light is a two color directional LED . In reverse its that crappy yellow color but swithing to forward it goes red . If you rip out the board you loose this feature . Mind you its not a great feature but one some may like . Also I only use the tender shell itself as the speaker enclosure . It sounds better and gives more depth to the sound . If you can get hold of someone with Decoder Pro to help set it up you will be amazed at the sounds you can get from it . Goodluck with it and enjoy . MartyG
Yeah you are entirely correct Bachmann does not follow NMRA color standards but at least the printed circuit board has the solder joints labeled so I was able to get the wires matched up
Won't know until my NCE gets here whether I got er done right or if the soldering I did was OK
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ME&O
Fergmiester Bob Over the last few years I have found ripping out the boards and "hard" easy wiring the decoders to be the best route. However Bachmann's colour coding is not NMRA and changes from loco to loco... It's a pain to trace at best of times.
Bob
Over the last few years I have found ripping out the boards and "hard" easy wiring the decoders to be the best route. However Bachmann's colour coding is not NMRA and changes from loco to loco... It's a pain to trace at best of times.
Thanks again --I will go those routes
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Fergmiester I just installed a Tsunami sound system in a Bachmann 2-8-4 a week ago and as several have indicated used a bead of silicone and no baffle and I am very happy with the sound quality. And I am very anal about getting the write sound quality
I just installed a Tsunami sound system in a Bachmann 2-8-4 a week ago and as several have indicated used a bead of silicone and no baffle and I am very happy with the sound quality. And I am very anal about getting the write sound quality
Many thanks
That is exactly the type of info I wanted
Did you use an 8 pin plug ( and if you did did you mess with the capacitors etc like posters have stated is necessary )or take the PC board out and splice the Tsunami into the tender engine wires
richg1998 UncBob: woodone: You can leave the enclosure off. The tender shell will become the enclosure. All the sound will come out the bottom where the holes are. I figured as such but what I want to know which sounds better Obviously YOU should try both options. That is what I do. Sound is very subjective. Rich
UncBob: woodone: You can leave the enclosure off. The tender shell will become the enclosure. All the sound will come out the bottom where the holes are. I figured as such but what I want to know which sounds better
woodone: You can leave the enclosure off. The tender shell will become the enclosure. All the sound will come out the bottom where the holes are.
You can leave the enclosure off. The tender shell will become the enclosure. All the sound will come out the bottom where the holes are.
You can leave the enclosure off. The tender shell will become the enclosure.
All the sound will come out the bottom where the holes are.
I figured as such but what I want to know which sounds better
Obviously YOU should try both options. That is what I do. Sound is very subjective.
Rich
I thought somebody might have installed one without the Soundtrax baffle and could give mne some input
UncBob woodone: You can leave the enclosure off. The tender shell will become the enclosure. All the sound will come out the bottom where the holes are. I figured as such but what I want to know which sounds better
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
woodone You can leave the enclosure off. The tender shell will become the enclosure. All the sound will come out the bottom where the holes are.
I am in the process of adding sound to my Bachmann 2-8-4
The Soundtrax speaker has a baffle system that can be used with the speaker
However I noticed on my sound equipped Bachmann 4-8-2 the speaker justs sits in the tender bottom cutout
My 2-8-4 has a cutout in the tender bottom and the speaker sits in nicely
Question is to go the way Bachmann did on the 4-8-2 or use the Soundtrax baffle over the speaker
If I use the Soundtrax baffle the tender weights 'won't sit on the screw posts as .In the Mountain the weights sit almost directly on top of their speaker
I can use spacers etc so the weights can be screwed on but if the Soundtrax baffles adds nothing in sound quality I might as well leave it off
Here are the comparison pics