I'm not an audiophile. I have added a few sound decoders to engines, but now I try to save myself the trouble of installation and I generally buy sound already on board the engine. So, I have a lot of different decoders. Honestly, I'm fine with most of them. The hard part is remembering the shutdown sequence and the more obscure keycodes for secondary sounds.
The Loksound decoder is particularly nice for a diesel switcher, and has a delay in throttling up before moving to mimic the real thing. I'm also happy with my Soundtrack decoders for both diesel and steam.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Jack - While I don't really have a comparison of the four, I believe that they are all offering a good experience, if you are just out for the sound of that type of engine. I believe it matters more (and there likely will be differentiations), if you are out for a specific engines and very detailed features (such as specific prime movers, or chuffs, or particular bell and whistle sounds).
More importantly, I think, make a decision for a particular brand and then stick with it, this will make your programming as well as operating much simpler.
I am a rather "casual" sound user and a light steam engine sounds like any other to me. And I can't differentiate between different sounds of a particular dynamo. I have decided for soundtraxx, and have started to replace decoders in engines that had other brands installed and refit them with soundtraxx tsu1100's (all steam), and so far had a great experience.
Urs
As far as sound decoders, I would lean more towards Soundtraxx Tsunami or ESU LokSound. I don't have any sound decoders manufactured by Digitrax or TCS.
Another thing you need to remember and take into consideration.......speakers. Regardless of how good your sound decoder is, crappy speakers will give you crappy sound. I would consider bass reflex speaker(s) or multiple sugar cube speakers.
Terry
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
I'd try to listen to several locos with each sound decoder oin board.
If your goal is more diesel than steam, concentrate on that aspect as much as possible. Some will do better steam vs diesel to your ears and that's worth considering.
Another aspect is programming. They all do it a little different, so it's worth considering JMRI Decoder Pro to help you through whatever your choices are as well as making it all work.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Jack,
The first three are going to give you more prototype-specific sounds to choose from than the Digitrax decoder. And, since your locomotives are both switchers and you'll want great motor-control for low-speed switching action, I would go TCS or Loksound for the S4 and TCS for the 0-8-0.
Loksound has a plethora of diesel sound files but is still very limited with their steam sound file offerings. I've heard that the Tsunami2 decoders have improved motor-control. I don't have one so I can't comment on that.
Lastly, while you'll have ample room for a sound decoder & speaker in your 0-8-0 tender, the S4 is going to be more challenging to squeeze both of them in. You may need to remove some of the chassis in order to make them fit.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
As I have looked for sound decoders for my 0-8-0 steamer and S4 diesel, I have become pretty much confused. I have found LokSound (ESU), TCS (Train Control Systems), Tsunami (Soundtraxx) and Digitrax. I am now looking for reasons, pro or con, as to why I should choose one over the others. Any comments will certainly be appreciated!
Jack