I have two Athearn Genesis SP switchers which have MRC sound decoders in them. Both have failed, not totally but more then enough to know that they have to replaced. One runs with sound but no light control. The headlights simply will not come on. Reset after reset to no avail. The second unit has headlights but no sound, reset after reset to no avail. Still have motor control but for how long. They don't have a lot of run time on them but I'm going to swap them out. Soundtraxx or Loksound or TCS would be better by far!
One of the things I really don't like about any electronics is when they put a big blob of epoxy on the board to hide whatever components are under there - most of the MRC decoders are like this. Instead of a nice big custom IC, with MRC you get a blob. There were some older ones with visibly poor solder joints, and larger components like capacitors hanging off the board at odd angles, not nicely lined up.
As far as price - we still tend to think of the 'good' sound decoders all costing $100. Loksound Selects are actually closer to $80, which is only about $20 more than the latest MRC decoders - well worth the slight extra cost. The Micro ones are more, but so are Micro Tsunamis. And QSI and MRC don't even have 'micro' versions of their sound decoders.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I recall reading numerous topics on MRC decoders including one years ago about the "shop" where they were assembled - including things like bad soldering and other comments. It probably winds down to poor oversight of the Chinese contractor on MRC's part when they first starteded offering OEM sound decoders.
Probably trying to be a low cost competitor contributed as well as quality became a major casulty. The result was MRC sound decoders have gotten a very bad reputation among the model railroading community and likely a difficult reputation to overcome now. My guess is most sales of MRC decoders are from folks unfamiliar with the past debacle.
Having read plenty about MRC sound, I made sure I only bought "silent" Athearn Genesis diesels. I was a Johnny come lately to sound, and in this case, it saved me from wasting my money.
As for low cost - thats all well and good - I like to save money too. But there has always been some truth to "you get what you pay for" so I tend to spend a little more and try to get the best price I can on better quality products.
I can't endorse a buy of MRC sound decoders.
Jim
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I am no DCC sound expert but I listened to MRC Alco 244 and EMD 567 sound sample on my computer and compared them to a Loksound Select installed in a Atlas Gold Serie RS3 (Alco 244) and a BLI sound decoder installed in a NW2 (EMD567) I own.
Either those MRC decoders do not compete on the same level as the one I mentioned or my computer cannot interpret train related sounds.
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
Fly Me to the Moon!!! Iagree on the space ship part. I listened to a Soundtraxx and LokSound versions of the same engine. No comparison.So this is what MRC means by what the other guys do want you to know about our decoders? Joe
Just checked out the new sound files on MRC's site ....
http://www.modelrec.com/train-controls/dcc-decoders.asp
I only listened to the EMD567 and Alco244 and they sound more like space ships than train engines !
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
"If what you guys say about MRC Decoders being such miserable failures, I wonder how the company can ever bring such inferior products to market!"
I believe P.T. Barnum explained that one. (No offense intended to those who use MRC decoders).
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thank you for expounding upon your experiences with MRC stuff. I now have the information needed that is explicit enough, making it a logical choice to not mess with MRC products! I have also installed many Decoders in my own locomotives, both steam and diesel; so, I’m no dummy about this stuff, either.
My only experience with MRC equipment was with their Tech II and older power packs, which never gave me a lick of trouble; so, my experience and opinions where based only on these products. At one time MRC produced R/C equipment that seemed fairly well accepted in the R/C Hobby. I knew several users who liked there MRC Radios!
If what you guys say about MRC Decoders being such miserable failures, I wonder how the company can ever bring such inferior products to market!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Having fitted decoders on a professional level for a few yrs (now retired) I only speak from my experience.
After to many failures, more than other brands, I got to the stage where I would not fit them for anybody.
One can only cop the blame for something that was not my fault for so long.
In fact, none of my instalations with other brands failed.
The newer ones may be better but having been bitten to many times I am affraid their reputation does it for me.
There may be those that have success with MRC decoders and the best of luck to them but each of us can only speak from our own experiences.
Cheers
Ian
They aren't soo bad.......if you have a wobbly table...they can be repurposed.
So true, so true
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
davidmbedardHarrow...as a professional installer my opinion is absolutely unbiased. Harrow....as someone who has seen the results of wonderful MRC decoders over and over, my opinion is completely unbiased. Harrow.....as someone who actually gave MRC a second and third chance, my opinion is unbiased. Please feel free to look in the mirror before slinging that brown stuff my direction!!!!!!!! People need to be properly informed and not purchase decoders based on questionable MR ads or affordable price. They need to include quality in their decision making process. David B
Why can't I ask for better information without being bludgeoned, for making a suggestion to you to provide better information? You explained your experiences and I believe you to have an informed opinion, now. Whereas your one sentence review in the post I addressed, meant less than nothing to me. I don't know who you are; or, what you have done in the past. Am I just supposed to just know that davidmbedard is an expert at DCC?
Sorry you took such offense!
I have an MRC Sounder diesel decoder that was dead on arrival, and would only make a clicking noise every few seconds.
I sent an email to MRC about the problem, and they kindly agreed to waive their normal $25 service fee and repair the decoder. I don't really think they should have offered anything less, since the decoder was obviously a defective product.
When I got it back and tested it, I realized that I will never be able to use it. The 'repair' looks like a kindergarten age child tried to change some of the surface mounted components, and the decoder gets so hot it can't be touched within just a few seconds. It now makes 'noise' but would melt a plastic locomotive shell and maybe even start a fire.
That's the second MRC sound decoder I've had such a problem with, so I will never, ever, touch another one no matter how wildly exaggerated their advertising claims become.
I've never had such problems with any other brand of decoder, and I have installed close to 100 in various club members' locomotives.
What about an unbelievable failing rate?Mine were 100%...biased opinion?
davidmbedardThey aren't soo bad.......if you have a wobbly table...they can be repurposed.
I really don't find the above type of statement helpful! They do show that you have a bias, either founded; or, unfounded. It would be better to outline why you think MRC stuff is garbage!
Davidmbedard, I am not singling you out, just asking everyone to offer a bit more information on why they feel the way they do! I feel it is important to offer unbiased information about products available to the public.
My construction standards are higher than that. Maybe if I need extreme superelevation or something...
To be fair, it DOES work, it just sounds bad and has bare-bones motor control. Maybe if they sold them for like $30.
That's why I bought an MRC decoder for myself. Rather than just take everyone else's word for it, I wanted to see for myself. Sorry, the one I have is quite poor, especially since a Loksound is only about $25 more.
MRC has blown their corporate goodwill with all the previous junk. Their next release might be the best sound decoder ever, but why would I even bother taking a chance when I KNOW Loksound is great, AND they do very obvious continuous improvements? MRC improvements are "new model decoder, same old ads with nothing but superlatives about how awesome they are" They don't necessarily tell you what they improved, and given that they STILL cannot tell you what horn you get for a given value of the horn selection CV, I wonder sometimes if they themselves know what they've done.
snjroyI've installed about 20 MRC decoders over the last five years or so. Only one failed, by my own fault. They are generic and need a bit of cv adjustments, but a good deal for someone like me that has a large fleet to convert. Simon
This is also a problem with reviews of equipment, here on this; or, other forums. The information may come form people who have a bias one way or the other. Any manufacture today actively persues a process of "Ccontinuing Improvement" as a basis for their products and company. If a company isn't doing this, simply put, they will not be around for very long. I understand that people have bad experiences with specific products; or, products from specific companies. Chances are strong that the company knows they've had a "Quality Spill" and will attempt to do everything in their power to improve. The market is a fickle place and bad press can kill a company! So, I like to think I am fair and willing to give a producer the benefit of the doubt. This is one of the reasons I do struggle so with my purchases!
As a group I think we tend to be more conservative and not so much into the planned obsolecence that pervades so much consumer electronics. As such - something that last less than 3 years is just a non-starter. I now have locos with decoders from Digitrax, NCE, and TCS that have been installed for over 12 years and not one has EVER failed.
Jacktal They were reliable...on the negative side.I had three,all three failed.Not only failed...one destroyed the Big Boy's coal load with its heat. Unless I read three years of favorable comments about the new ones,I wouldn't touch one with a twelve foot pole.
They were reliable...on the negative side.I had three,all three failed.Not only failed...one destroyed the Big Boy's coal load with its heat.
Unless I read three years of favorable comments about the new ones,I wouldn't touch one with a twelve foot pole.
A failure such as you described would not cause me to state: "They were reliable"!
I can understand your need to go three years of favorable commnets!
This thread is very timely for me. I had been looking at sound decoders for my Bachmann S-4 switcher with an Alco 539T diesel sound. I listened to MRC's decoder for this loco and was impressed with the sound. However, I have heard some comments on MRC sound decoders and was leery.
Missouri Pacific BNSF:
I get the impression that this might be your first decoder installation. If so, I can understand you wanting to make it as simple and as inexpensive as possible. However, there are some things that you might want to consider before buying an MRC decoder.
First, I will challenge you to find a glowing review of MRC decoders. Most of the past comments, and there have been many, are just the opposite. There are numerous examples of MRC decoder failures. The few endorsements that there are seem to be focused on price and not performance.
Ease of installation with a plug and play decoder is certainly a valid issue but other better quality decoders come with plugs too.
The choice of saving a few bucks up front is entirely yours and it is very tempting. However, if you were to read through the many reviews of decoders in the forum you would soon realize that those forum members with experience favour brands like Loksound, Soundtrax and TCS.
Personally, I have tried a number of brands but I have settled on Loksound Select. They are so easy to program that they can actually maximize locomotive control all by themselves. The sound is great. I could go on...
By all means get yourself an MRC decoder for your F7. However, for your next decoder try a Loksound Select.
I bought on to see for myself. Luckily I got it cheap on eBay, because it is every bit as bad as everyone said it would be. The one I got is an Alco 244 for an RS-3. The motor sounds are absolutel yhorrible, and the horns are ok to poor. Ther4e's a CV to select among multiple horns - but the instruction do not say what CV value corresponds to what type of horn. I emailed tech support, their reply was "We don't keep track of things like that" So, I guess just pick whichever horn seems the closest to the one you want.
The only 'simplicity' comes with some of the MRC ones having the speaker soldered righ on the circuit board. a REALLY TINY speaker. Which results in either REALLY TINY sound, or else LOTS OF DISTORTION when the volume is cranked up to try and hear it. It's no harder using a Tsunami or Loksound. Remember, do not confuse "has lots of features" with "must use lots of features". Loksound Select works much like the MRC - there is a single CV you set to pick a specific variation of prime mover, the bell type, and the horn type. Only difference is, the sound project will have the values documented as to which of these you get for specific values in the CV. Set an address like any other decoder, and off you go.
Sounds like they are at least improving... Thanks for the information guys.
Their newer 1600 series are better then the older ones. I have 1 in an older Atlas RS3. It has out puts for lighting effects as well. The sound levels are better, no more hitting F8 3 times to mute the decoder. As far as reliability, I only had this decoder 1 1/2 years. Joe
I have several MRC sound decoders installed in various locomotives. A MRC 1627 decoder installed in a Bachmann 4-8-4 Niagara, failed, partially after 10 years. I replaced it with a new model 1618 which provides better sound and much better motor control.
We have an Athearn Challenger which came with a MRC decoder. It failed totally in just under two years. I replaced it with an Soundtraxx DSD101-LC decoder.
I use several MRC diesel decoders in my E8 and E7 locos. I haven't had any trouble so far. Some of them are nearly as old as the one in the Niagara.
When you compare price and features, the MRC decoders are a bargain in MHO.
Since the demise of the Soundtraxx LC series, they are my "go to" for sound decoders.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I did read herein that the prior to 2013 (these have Soundtraxx Tsunamis) Athearn Genesis challenger, big boy, etc, had quite unreliable MRCs. I don't know if that paints all that era MRCs with those problems. But I'f find out (someone here will likely weigh in with more details, or inquire at one of the larger multi-brand suppliers) if current MRCs are updated designs and solved the old problems.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Has anyone had any experience with MRC sound decoders in the past? I am looking to purchase one for my MTH F7 unit. Comparing price and simplicity with decoders such as tsunami and loksound, it seems to be more price allowable and quick plug ready.