Ok right up front im new to DCC and I need a little help. I have just installed two new MRC sound decoders (n scale ) into two loco,s . And there ok but just don,t have the volume I was hoping for but thats ok . I know you can,t get 10 pounds of sound out of a 1 pound box? I had 2 MRC-1025 sound boxs that I hooked up and they worked great!!!!! Problem is they only have one loco sound and they don,t have the start up or stut down sound was was hoping for. Now iv,e been told you can build your own sound box using a sound decoder but I can,t find a thing on online on how to do this!!!!!
Can somebody (HELP) me with this PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
NW oldguy
The problem isn't the decoders, it's the speakers. I find a 1/4" by 1/2" speaker with enclosure is about as small as I can go and still get what I consider "acceptable" sound". I suspect in N scale a 1/4" round speaker would be the normal limit in a powered engine.
You can take a sound decoder and wire it to a larger speaker under your layout (or to a stereo amp with a speaker or speakers under your layout) which will give you much better sound. You'd connect the decoder to track power, and either assign it the same number as one of your engines, or give the sound decoder it's own ID no. and put it in a consist with a diesel (which would have a non-sound decoder in it.)
Another alternative would be to try to put a larger speaker inside a freight or passenger car, or in an unpowered diesel, that's permanently coupled to the powered engine with the sound decoder in it.
Thanks for the info. What im doing and tell me if im wrong ? but so far i got a projest box from Radio shack and a digitrax sound decoder # SDN144AO and 2 speakers a ESU-50336 (41MMx71MM and ESU-50338 78MM ROUND ONE to try one of each. The reason I went with the DIGITRAX sound decoder was it is 8 oms and so are the speakers. And the biggest reason was that DIGITRAX sound decoders are progammable with the PS-3 from Digitrax. So my thinking here is i can build a box for each of my 5 locos and that sould give me all the sound i need on my 5 foot x 5 foot layout. All I can say now is Wish me luck in going to need it becease it,s costing me a arm and leg
AS THEY SAY IF YOU WANT PLAY YOU GOT TO PAY !!!!!!!!