I am aware of the problems with the MRC decoders a couple years ago. My question is, are the current crop of MRC decoders any better, and have they improved their quality control and eliminated the problems? I notice several of the online retailers carry the MRC line exclusively.
hobo9941 I notice several of the online retailers carry the MRC line exclusively.
I notice several of the online retailers carry the MRC line exclusively.
I can't answer your question either. I had several bad experiences with MRC decoders and have never gone back. Might I suggest this though. Look at all of the major builders of locomotives. .....Atlas, Athearn, Broadway limited, ect. If NONE of them are using MRC......There must be a pretty good reason.
I have 2 of the drop in sound decoders for the Athearn RS3. Both of them presents. I tryed them for a year and replaced both with Tsunamis. I tryed their current decoders. I placed 1 in an old Atlea rs3. The controll is better, more lighting options, and more volume controll ( not as much as a Tsunami). And you don't have to press F8 3 times to mute the sound. It is better then the earlier ones, but I'm still not a fan. Joe
Almost all of my engines have MRC decoders with sound, all about 5 years old or less. Some colleagues at the local club have more expensive decoders and yes, they do sound better and louder. These more expensive decoders have not been more reliable from what I can see. Is high-end worth the money? If you are a purist about sound, then perhaps MRC is not for you. If you only have one or two locos, then you might want to go with the high-end sound and programming. For me, MRC is a good compromise for my budget. I should also add that I like to fix old engines - this can be an expensive aspect of the hobby and I prefer to save my money to buy (more) good brass or metal engines than purchasing expensive decoders. MRC decoders sometimes require a bit of tinkering, but to me, that's all part of the fun... And if i want a louder sound, I just drill some holes under the tender or engine, and that can make a big difference.
Simon