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Dual speaker decoder

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  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: South Carolina
  • 1,719 posts
Posted by Train Modeler on Friday, July 11, 2014 11:15 AM

I use 2 8 ohm speakers almost all the time with my Soundtraxx in diesels.  Try to have atleast one be a High Bass speaker.  Some I get 2 High Bass speakers going.  Sounds great.  I use the shell as part of the enclosure on a lot of installs.

Richard

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, July 10, 2014 1:48 PM

gandydancer19

Although the two speakers would work together, they won't sound like two different prime movers.  It will still sound like one, but the volume and sounds will be better.

 

Go to the below site. Bruce explains how to do this with the Tsunami.. He is a DCC contributer to the MRH forums and has experience since he use to run an online DCC company.

http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/soundtraxx/tsunami.htm

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
    January 2007
  • From: Eastern Shore Virginia
  • 3,290 posts
Posted by gandydancer19 on Thursday, July 10, 2014 12:54 PM

Although the two speakers would work together, they won't sound like two different prime movers.  It will still sound like one, but the volume and sounds will be better.

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.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, July 10, 2014 12:30 PM

Yes, it is possible, but depends on the brand of decoder and input impedance of the speakers.

For example, a LokSound decoder can handle a speaker impedance between 4 and 16 Ohms.  Two 8-Ohm speakers wired in parallel would produce a 4 Ohm load, and wired in series would result in 16 Ohms.

ESU provides a 1-inch round, 4 Ohm speaker with their Select series of sound decoders.  Two of their speakers wired in parallel would result in a 2 Ohm load, which could damage the decoder; however, two of their 4 Ohm speakers wired in series would result of a load of 8 Ohms, which is within the acceptable range for their decoders.

I believe Soundtraxx Tsunami recommends only an 8 Ohm speaker, so you would have to use two 4 Ohm speakers wired in series or two 16 Ohm speakers wired in parallel for optimal sound output.

Most sound decoders come with a wiring diagram showing how to connect more than one speaker, and explaining which speakers must be used.

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: Gladstone, Qld Australia
  • 54 posts
Dual speaker decoder
Posted by QRNational4101 on Thursday, July 10, 2014 12:21 PM

Hi all, 

 

this is may sound like a stupid question, but can one wire a second speaker to a single sound decoder? I am working on a custom loco (an 8 axle, double engined SD90) and would like to know if it's possible to join a second speaker to the decoder to give the effect of two prime movers. What are your thoughts?

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