So I'm looking into my decoder options for my Bachmann Spectrum GP30.
So far I've identified:
TCS WOWsound 121 Diesel has an EMD 567 Turbo
Digitrax is programmable but requires an expensive programmer. SOund quality is unknown
Soundtraxx of course has one.
Have I missed any manufacturers that offer 567 Turbo sounds?
Julian
Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)
fieryturboTCS WOWsound 121 Diesel has an EMD 567 Turbo
You should probably measure the inside of your long hood before you buy. I dont own a Bachmann GP30 but GPs tend to have limited space compared to an E unit. Also remember you need a speaker. The wowsound 121 also needs a mother board or pin connection to plug into. A 101 diesel would probably be better in this situation that a 121. I have no experience with Soundtrax diesel decoders. I won't touch digitrax with a "39 1/2ft pole".
I have a Atlas Master Gold Alco S-2 with a Loksound decoder, I like the sound quality and operation.
Check LokSound, ESU.
Don't forget, SoundTraxx Tsunami is old school, about ten years old.
Wow and LokSound seem to have better running qualities from different forums I have been watching.
Not sure about the SoundTraxx Econami decoder though.
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.
Digitrax does not require an expensive programmer - any reputable dealer will load the file you want when ordering. And it's not expensive anyway - it's a full standalone programmer that can program any decoder and just happens to load sounds in Digitrax sound decoders. I use one as my program/test track and I don;t even have any Digitrax sound decoders.
Loksound has a 567 turbo as well as a 567 non-turbo, They also do not REQUIRE an expensive programmer, you can buy them preloaded with whatever sound project you want. But I do have one of those as well, because I only use Loksound decoders now - because I can load whatever sounds I need in one, not worry about say a 9 pin EMD being out of stock. And it's easy to change things around - the Alco 244 set did not have an M3RT1 horn as an option, but the Loksound sound library did so I simply swapped the horn for the M3RT1 to match my prototype. Flexibility.
--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 would go with either the Loksound or the TCS Wow for your GP30. They will give you much better sound and smoother running than the Tsunami.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have a LifeLike Proto 2000 GP30 in the queue for conversion. I will use a LokSound Aux6 Select because I like them. Plus dual sugarcube speakers (net 4 ohms, good or the selects). The dual speakers will require some milling of the weight. You can get dual sugarcubes in most HO narrow hood diesels.
While I like the Selects, I'm finding it sometimes interesting to find an exact prototype sound. For the GP30, Wikipedia notes they were 2250HP EMD 567D3 turbo 16 cyl. ESU has a 73406 item that is just that, but they told me to skip it as it is an older, lower quality recording which they consider "obsolete". Their other better ones seem to have a compromise or two, blown vs turbo, C vs D, etc. I'll make a decision with the plan to refine later as I desire. I plan to buy a LokProgrammers so I can revise (swap) sound files; e.g., they just came out with dual motor E-units so I want to upgrade those.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Is this a split frame model? I did one with a Soundtraxx decoder and 1/2" round speaker. I milled the frame to make room for the keep alive cap( I used 2 wired in parralell) Speaker in rear of loco. Joe
I've decided to go with Digitrax equipment. I managed to get the PR3 for $44 shipped, and the decoders are dirt cheap, at least the 8-bit ones. Considering I'm planning on doing a 3-5 unit consist with these, I need to conserve money, but I want all that racket from the locos.
The cheap decoder/speaker sets from Digitrax will work just fine, having speakers that are 9mm tall.
fieryturboI've decided to go with Digitrax equipment.
I bought two Digitrax sound decoders that I installed in a pair of Kato F-40PH some years ago. As you say, "all that racket from the locos" is correct. They were the worst sounding decoders I've ever owned. I ripped them out and installed Loksound Selects... Much happier now!
I hope you have better luck with them than I did, Ed
DOn;t get the 8 bit ones. The 16 bit X series ones are as little as $5 more and are 100% better decoders (assuming you use a sound project made for them - loading the old 8 bit junk in the 16 bit decoders does nothing, in fact it probably sounds WORSE than when used on the 8 bit ones. There are now may advanced 16 bit projects available thanks to John McMaster's work in remastering sound files to higher quality and then building up sound projects that take advantage of the X series features. They aren't so bad. What's bad is they continue to sell the horrible 8 bit ones and there isn't always a clear distinction made between what the various sound projects are.
fieryturbo But it just might be a $40 decoder I'm looking for. Seriously though, several folks at the lcal club have them, and they sound okay.
But it just might be a $40 decoder I'm looking for. Seriously though, several folks at the lcal club have them, and they sound okay.
Then...okay, it is. Hope the Digitrax sound decoder works out for you, fiery.
gmpullman I bought two Digitrax sound decoders...They were the worst sounding decoders I've ever owned.
I bought two Digitrax sound decoders...They were the worst sounding decoders I've ever owned.
Worse than an MRC decoder, Ed? I heard one at a friend's house a few years ago that was installed in an F-Unit. It sounded like a flying saucer taking off.
Definitely not worse than MRC. I have an MRC and Soundbug, with a proper sound project the Soundbug is much better - plus I know what specific horns it has.
The only sound decoder i have right now is the dual-567 MRC decoder, which I think is terrific. The only problem is that it's so loud that you can't hear anything over it.
If it's too loud turn down the volume. If you don't have the manual, and you know what decoder it is, go to MRC's web site . They usually have the manuals you can download. Joe
Huh, looks like my command station throws an error when I try to set value 49. I think I may need a new DCC system.
Lack of ability to program an MRC decoder doesn't mean you need a new DCC system. If you are getting a no acknowledgement error, it's probably just the MRC decoder not supporting readback. Or needing more power on the program track. Volume settings should be done in Ops Mode on the main anyway, so you can immediately hear the difference.
What DCC system are you using?
LokSound does NOT have a 567 Turbo DCC sound decoder, at least in the ESU LokSound Select Micro. I have been waiting for them to get one so I could install it into my N scale SD26.
rrinker Lack of ability to program an MRC decoder doesn't mean you need a new DCC system. If you are getting a no acknowledgement error, it's probably just the MRC decoder not supporting readback. Or needing more power on the program track. Volume settings should be done in Ops Mode on the main anyway, so you can immediately hear the difference. What DCC system are you using? --Randy
Roco LokMaus 2, but also RocRail, which acts as a command station (and uses the Roco transciever to talk to the track)
I haven't yet tried programming the loco directly with RocRail, I will probably try that this evening.
Doing some more digging, neither TCS or ESU offer ANY form of 567 Turbo sounds, so I'm not sure why any of you suggested those brands. All of the 567s are non-turbo.
fiery,
I see an EMD 567 turbo listed the 6th line down on the ESU site:
http://www.esu.eu/en/products/loksound/loksound-select/ordering-information/
Is that not what you are looking for?
You also stated that you identified a TCS version in your original post. Where did you find that info? The manufacturer's site? Or, another vendor?
According to the website, those files are what's coming, not what's available now. You my knowledge, you can't actually order an ESU LokSound 567 Turbo sound decoder sound. It's also not available in the download page either.
Ahhhhhhh...Didn't catch that before. Thanks, gatrhumpy.
So I ended up mounting the speaker pointing down in the GP30's hat-like cab roof, it's pretty loud. The preinstalled GP38 sound set is okay, I'm going to play with the GP30 sounds as soon as my programmer arrives.
Installation was kind of a pain. The speaker just *barely* didn't fit in the long hood.
The SDH166D that I installed is a 2013 update of the SDH164D, which may have been what some in this thread had bad experiences with.
I've found the motor control is quite smooth compared to my MRC and soundless NCE decoders.
All in all, not a bad deal for $40.