MRC1821 DCC Sound for EMD F

[cadman11]

I am a user of MRC decoders for the most part mainly because I started out with them  and have found it much easier to speed match all my locos using decoders from the same manufacturer. I am not stuck on MRC and have used ESU Loksound, Digitrax, NCE, etc.

My question is whether or not the MRC 1821 for EMD F units sounds as good as the Tsunami or Loksound in representing the correct sound of the 567?

 

Thanks,

Thom

 

 

 

[CWMRRC]

With all my times with MRC decoders I have never had a luck with one yet. I have all ways had them die or they never sound right,there are cheaply made and do not have great sounds.

But by the way them sell them as you would think there the best,and they say that they get real sound recordings, but I don't think they do.

I would go with a Soundtraxx or a QSI because they sound better and you can control more with them like the sounds and the motor.

[tstage]

Thom,

I've only heard one MRC decoder: It was in an Intermountain FT and it sounded terrible.  The best description of the prime mover sound that I can come up with would be a UFO taking off...underwater.  The distortion was absolutely awful and it wasn't because of volume level.

The QSI, Paragon2 and Loksound decoders I have range anywhere from good to great.  The Soundtraxx decoders I've heard have been very good, as well.

Tom

[riogrande5761]

The MRC decoders were so terrible that Athearn finally stopped using them in their sound equipped Genesis loco's.

I remember reading an account by someone who apparently visited the assembly plant of the MRC decoders and it was not a nice description.  The assembly process was described as very poor and as well as the QAQC, with a lot of bad soldering etc such that there was a high percentage of bad decoders.

Athearn Genesis now users the Tsunami sound decoders in their Genesis units for about the last 3 years and going forward.  Hobby fans report them to be superior to both QSI and MRC.  Eventually I hope to get a few myself.