Actually, the RTR DCC and Sound locomotives only cost about at most $40 more. RTR is not that bad. It has really evolved since the old days and could be considered the same quality as some older genesis.
I hae to dig it out to see which one I have. It isn't the very newest, but it isn't one of the really old ones, either - it does read back the CVs unlike the earliest ones, and it doesn't have a large capacitor just flapping in the breeze off one end. I don't remember if it is the chip on board type or has an actual chip - I really hate that chip on board stuff (where the actual ship is soldered to the pc board, and then covered with a blob of epoxy, as opposed to a square or rectangular chip with legs or no legs, if it has an array of solder balls on the bottom) which is mostly found in cheap toys.
--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've tried Tsunami, QSI, Loksound, and MRC. And this is where I have to disagree. The worst quality of sound is from the MRC. The worst motor drive is from MRC. MRC claims to have dozens of horn files you can switch between with just a CV change - true. But even their tech support can't tell you what kind of hooorn you get for what value in the CV! "We don't keep track of that" is what their answer to me was. Granted, it was easy to install, it was a board replacement for Athearn RTR - but them, so are other brands in that form factor.
The Tsunami prime mover was decent, but the horns were weak and muddy, not a whole lot better than MRC, actually. That was in a factory sound loco, a different run came with a Loksound, so I traded even up with someone who was more of a Tsunami fan than I am. Apart frooom my one Atlas loco with a QSI, all my sound is Loksound. They aren;t the cheapest, but they aren't the most expensive. But they do things none of the others can (though that flexibility means they can be more difficult to program, but JMRI or even better, the Lokprogrammer, solve most of those issues).
Oh yeah, I do have one of the original Digitrax sound decoders laying around somewhere. Not very good, the sound is like a really poor quality MP3 file. And the original ones try to do too much with the little microcontroller on the board, the loco actually slows down when you blow the horn. The newer 16 bit ones (with the 'X' in the name) are better sounding but still have the annoying Digitrax rounding in the BEMF motor control which causes jumps at certain speed steps that no amount of momentum can fix. Same applies to their motor only decoders, which is why I don't use any even though I use a Digitrax DCC system.
I know many disagree, but MRC sound decoders are good decoders and the (slightly) older ones can often be found new for around $35-40. I have maybe a half-dozen EMD and Alco diesels with MRC sound decoders now and I'm quite happy with them.
Robert,
You need to first define what "reasonably priced" is to you? Most good-quality sound decoders (e.g Loksound, TCS Wow!) are going to run you $85-$110. However, for that price you get a lot of features, sound PLUS terrific motor control.
And there's nothing wrong with just installing non-sound decoders at first then gradually install sound decoders when the funds are available.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
BigDaddy At least one forum member swaps decoders between his various locos.
At least one forum member swaps decoders between his various locos.
In a world where an Athearn DCC with sound loco costs $100 more than the DC version, reasonably priced is going to be $85 -$100
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Sound decoders are generally expensive regardless of the plug. Hornby released a line of relatively cheap sound decoders. No idea, however, if they can be -reconfigured. In any case there are tons of adapters available that connect almost everything to anything. RegardsWalid Khier
Can anyone tell me who makes an 8 pin sound decoder that is reasonably priced and where it can be purchased.
I have several engines that are DCC ready with 8 pin plugs and would like to install an 8 pin sound decoder in each. I have noticed that the decoders tend to be pricey, why cna't you buy them at a reasable price?
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Line
Newberry, SC