I have a Bachmann Baldwin 4-6-0 I converted to DCC a few years ago using a Digitrax DH123 decoder. I never could acheive a reliable starting speed with that decoder and I am considering going to sound with that loco. Which will be the best choice, either for good slow speed and realistic sound for such a small steam loco, Esu Loksound Select or TCS WOW Sound? I really like the Loksound that I have on two Atlas diesels and I am happy with the good speed control I get from the few motor only TCS decoders I installed in diesel locos. Which kink of speaker would you recommend, standard or cube?
Thank you for the input.
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
They were offered with sound. For choosing a speaker, I'd first investigate if they did a speaker mount in your loco. And then see if there's a drop-in. It COULD happen.
Ed
I recently replaced the QSI decoder in an old Life-Like 2-10-2 with a Loksound Select. I knew going in to the project that ESU's sound project choices are somewhat limited but they did have a North American 2-10-0 so I used that file, 73414.
Motor control and operating characteristics are excellent, of course. Sound files, not so much. However, I ANTICIPATE future steam sound projects from Loksound and when those become available I will replace the sound project with the newer recordings. I undesstand Matt Herman is working on these.
I have several WOWsound Steam decoders in operation and other than getting used to the "audio assist" voice prompts I am very pleased with the sound and operating characteristics. I did reduce the stopping momentum considerably as by default TCS has it set pretty high, expecting the user to "apply" the brakes with the F7 button.
I have another engine with a Soundtraxx Econammi which I really haven't had time to completely evaluate yet. My first impression is, good but not "great".
Without knowing exactly when ESU will make new steam sound projects available, my choice would be the WOWsound. The present ESU sounds for steam are disappointing, IMHO.
Regards, Ed
Which one do you have?
The small driver version has a small tender. About the size of the 4-4-0 tender.
The large driver, a bigger tender. I have it with on board Bachmann SoundTraxx decoder but Bachmann does not sell the decoder. It is a square decoder that plugs into the eight pin socket on the other PC board. This loco probably had the same PC board with the shrink wrapped non sound decoder.
I have both. A few years ago I hardwired the small driver tender and put in a 28mm speaker. Had to rip out everything. It is designed for that size speaker. There was no room for the PC board. I used a SoundTraxx Micro decoder and I also put in a 1k, 1/4 watt resistor for the loco headlight.
I am wondering if the TCS steam decoder for the 4-4-0 would work for the 4-6-0? The decoder has quite a lot in it. A mother board B-MB4 with a plug in WOW 141 decoder.
Same with the large driver 4-6-0.
http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Bachmann/4-4-0%20Richmond/Richmond_4-4-0.html
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.
SoundTraxx has a new line of sound decoders.
Below is what they recommend for the 4-6-0.
Baldwin 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler