I will reiterate - if you want sound, go DCC. SOund on DC, regardless if the control is a wireless throttle like the Aristo, or a plain old MRC power pack, is a kludge and the performance is less than satisfying, because the electronics need voltage to start making sounds so unless you want the loco to be zipping along before it even starts making sounds, it has to sit there until past half throttle so the electronics can get power. You are left with maybe 1/4 of the throttle range to control speed, and no sound loco will ever run with a non sound on DC. To truly use a sound equipped loco, DCC is the way to go. You have full control over the loco speed, plus access to ALL the sounds, AND you can run a non-sound loco with a sound one no problems.
All these half way and hybrid systems - maybe they are fine if you never plan on going further in the hobby. But like most people who picked up the extremely simplistic Bachmann EZ Command, you'll probbaly find yourself wanting more as you go on, and you'll find those halfway system just not expandable, so you'll end up tossing it in a drawer and buying a real DCC system, wasting that initial investment. Pay me now, or pay me later. You don;t need to start with a Cadillac though. The two most popular systems in the US, NCE and Digitrax, both are fully expandable from the most basic starter system to a full blown club size system with no parts needing to be thrown out as you get bigger. Everything you buy today for the 4x8 will still be usable in a few years when you build a basement size layout.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.