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Tsunami LC Series DCC Sound

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  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 91 posts
Posted by cadman11 on Saturday, April 9, 2011 6:20 PM

Hi Stix,

Thanks for the info. I've got the CVs adjusted to max and the rectangular speaker is in a baffle so have pretty much decided to replace the decoder with a newer Tsunami. I've heard several on youtube and the sound/volume is great. Never know what you're getting on EBAY sometimes.

 

 

cadman

Thom Owen
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, April 9, 2011 12:59 PM

 I have one LC decoder, in a STewart F-7 B unit dummy. With tons of room, I used a large speaker, and fashioned a styrene baffle to seal it off, using the body shell as the rest of the baffle. It's plenty loud,

         --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Saturday, April 9, 2011 12:27 PM

I have a couple of units with LC decoders that sound good and loud, either with a rectangular speaker or (in F units) a 1" round speaker. As noted, putting the speaker in an enclosure helps A LOT.

Stix
  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 91 posts
Posted by cadman11 on Friday, April 8, 2011 11:11 AM

Thank you. I was able to download the CVs from a link sent by "cacone" which will be helpful and thank you for the info on "master volume."  This is a great forum and great members...thanks to all.

cadman1

Tags: Decoders , kato
Thom Owen
  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 91 posts
Posted by cadman11 on Friday, April 8, 2011 11:07 AM

cacole,

Thank you very much for the link. What you wrote makes sense and it is probably a Sondtraxx decoder...my mistake. Printed out the CVs from the link and will give them a try this afternoon.

Thanks again -cadman1 

Thom Owen
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, April 8, 2011 7:38 AM

I've got a couple of Tsunamis and one LC sound decoder.  They all work fine.  I have the sound level set around the middle of the range.  There is a "master volume" CV that you may want to check if you're not getting enough sound out.  Individual sounds can also be controlled with CVs.

I'll agree about the baffle, though.  A speaker by itself won't do much, but the same speaker, properly baffled, sounds much better and has more volume.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, April 7, 2011 9:57 PM

There has never been such an animal as a Tsunami LC Decoder.  The original SoundTraxx LC Decoder (Low Cost) does have low volume no matter what speaker you use with it.  The Tsunami is a much newer decoder with a more powerful amplifier.

SoundTraxx discontinued the LC decoders several years ago when they introduced the Tsunami.

Here's a link to the manual for the old, discontinued LC decoders:

http://www.soundtraxx.com/manuals/lc_techref.pdf 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Thursday, April 7, 2011 7:35 PM

LC means "Low Cost", they were a cheap version of the Soundtraxx decoder. The Tsunami is a later and greatly improved decoder. It's kinda like comparing a Model T to a recent Lincoln Continental.

Stix
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, April 7, 2011 6:57 PM

I can see you need some moe education about DCC and sound. Below is a link to the same locomotive.

http://www.mrdccu.com/install/hods/Kato-SD45-828041.htm

Look at all this fellow's links in his page. There is a lot of info. He use to own Litchfield Station.

Below is a link to the SoundTraxx site.

http://www.soundtraxx.com/

As stated before, no baffle, very low sound. I have diesel installs that use only the shell as a baffle and plenty of sound.

Store the links in Favorites as you will need them. I refer to them a lot.

Rich

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.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, April 7, 2011 6:46 PM

Never throw away decoder paper work unless you have another copy.

You seem reluctant to give many details.

Is this a light board type decoder, one with no shrink around it, one wrapped in yellow shrink or wrapped in purple shrink?

I use the LC decoders, Tsunami decoders and Tsunami light board decoders and plenty of sound. I have baffles for all the installs. I have to turn down the sounds.

The decoder info is available if we know exactly which decoder you have. I and probably some others here belong to the Yahoo SoundTraxx Group which has plenty of LC and Tsunami wiring details.

Rich

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.

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 91 posts
Posted by cadman11 on Thursday, April 7, 2011 6:29 PM

Graffen,

I am not sure since I no longer have the paperwork. I did put "Tsunami LC Series" on the loco label in the display so am sure it is a Tsunami. I did try another speaker which was a bit louder and changed it out. Still not much sound.

Thanks...

cadman1

Thom Owen
  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Sweden
  • 1,468 posts
Posted by Graffen on Thursday, April 7, 2011 6:05 PM

But is it a Tsunami decoder or a DSD/LC?

The Tsunami is a very different creature compared to the DSD. I would say that the sound volume might be related to either a lower output effect (compared to a Tsunami) or to the fact that it might be bad.....

Have you tried different speakers? It might be a bad speaker.

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

My Railroad

My Youtube:

Graff´s channel

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 91 posts
Posted by cadman11 on Thursday, April 7, 2011 5:37 PM

I should have not included so much info and probably confused myself. I was refering to the size of the rectangular speaker being used with other decoders. In the case of the ESU I use the 100 Ohm version but with all other decoders I have used the 8 Ohm version as is the case with the Tsunami. Perhaps I just have a bad decoder.

Cadman1 

Thom Owen
  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Sweden
  • 1,468 posts
Posted by Graffen on Thursday, April 7, 2011 1:14 PM

I don´t understand, are you using a 100 Ohm speaker with a Tsunami??

Or are you having problem with a (old) Soundtraxx DSD LC?

Either way, I can see why you have a problem if you are using a 100 Ohm speaker in a system designed for a (8 Ohm speaker.....

Replace it and you should have sound....

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

My Railroad

My Youtube:

Graff´s channel

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 91 posts
Tsunami LC Series DCC Sound
Posted by cadman11 on Thursday, April 7, 2011 12:38 PM

I tried a Tsunami in my KATO SD45 using a rectangular speaker (same as used with many of my other sound locos) but cannot get much volume. Probably about as loud as an ESU Loksound in lowest setting. Have adjusted CVs to highest sound but still very quiet even with the shell off.  I emailed Tsunami about this and they simply replied suggested one of their retangular speakers which is too big to fit in the shell.

 I've used this same speaker along with the baffle with ESU (100 Ohm) and with MRC (8 Ohm)  with great results and lots of volume. I would appreciate any input.

cadman1

 

Tags: DCC , Tsunami
Thom Owen

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