Ok, as some of you know, I recently took the plunge into DCC. I have 2 cheap (brand new) Bachmann DCC engines (GP38-2's), with an NCE Powercab 2Amp system. I want sound! What is the best way to go about it? Do I spend 100 or more (each)on sound decoders and upgrade the cheap stuff I have or should I fork out 200 or more (each) for new engines. I am a mechanical engineer by trade( I work on the actual engines in trains) but the small wires on these things scares me a little. I am not the best solderer out there. Should I just pay to have the things installed? I have been looking at the Soundtraxx and ESU websites (among others). Do their sound decoders come with the speakers, or do I have to buy them also. Do I need to install a booster for the sound? I will run at most 3 engines on the track, with 2 running at the same time.
One more, personal opinions on who makes the best sound quality? heard one the other day that had the engineers talking to each other, how do you do that???
To answer your main question, the best way to get sound is to buy a locomotive that has factory-installed sound instead of trying to add it yourself.
The new Broadway Limited Paragon2 locomotives with factory installed sound are probably the ones you heard with radio chatter, but you cannot buy these decoders as a user-installable product. I don't know if the NCE PowerCab can control this feature, but the ProCab system can through decoder programming. Those decoders also have several other sounds such as livestock and a sawmill, etc., but I use only the radio chatter.
SoundTraxx Tsunami or QSI Revolution sound decoders are good choices depending on the type of locomotive you are wanting to equip. Neither one comes with a speaker because there are too many options on what will or will not fit into a particular model.
Digitrax and ESU are also available for end user installations, but I don't think they sound as good as a QSI or Tsunami.
IMO the best sound is currently offered by Soundtrax
As far as upgrading the Bachmanns the first question is are they Spectrum's or standard? If standard bachmann I'd pass since the decoder is worth more than the loco.
For your first sound loco I would recommend that you buy one with sound installed. You'll be happy you did and also have something to give you ideas on how different sound components are installed.
Springfield PA
Your NCE Power Cab system should be able to program sound decoders without an additional program track booster. An NCE Power Pro does need a program track booster.
I have both LOK Sound, QSI and Soundtraxx sound decoders. I will not buy another QSI or LOK Sound. I love the Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders too well.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
gandydancer19 An NCE Power Pro does need a program track booster.
An NCE Power Pro does need a program track booster.
Excuse me, but I don't know where you got this information. I have a 5 Amp NCE Power Pro system on my HO scale home layout and we have the same system on our large HO scale club layout, and I have never encountered a decoder that could not be programmed without a booster.
I have even used it to program decoders for people who use MRC, EasyDCC, or other systems on their home layouts who could not program their decoders.
The PH Pro has no problem with programming any decoder that I know of. The only issue it has is with readback of sound decoders, as is an issue with many systems. A booster does help there.
tugboat95the small wires on these things scares me a little. I am not the best solderer out there.
[qutoe]One more, personal opinions on who makes the best sound quality?[/quote]Often the sound quality is more dependent on the installation of the speaker than it is the audio processor. I mean the best processor can sound bad with a poorly installed speaker.