These are real cheap starting at $37 with speaker. I know these are not top of the line but I am happy with Bachmanns sound value so my standards are not that high. I have a couple of engines with more expencive decoders in them but the sound is just not that much better to my ears except when they are sitting still.
They are really just MRC decoders that are being manufactured and sold I assume without MRC's permission.
CNR378 They are really just MRC decoders that are being manufactured and sold I assume without MRC's permission.
http://xlsystemsdcc.com/
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
This is my first post, so go easy on me guys..... I have a couple of the XL steam decoders. The first one I bought quit working after a few minutes. I sent it back and he told me that I shorted out a diode (I don't think so), but he repaired it and I paid the return postage. They have decent generic sound with a few options. For the money, there not a bad deal.
......Paul
I've got two, w/sound installed in Mantua steamers 2-8-2 and 4-6-2.
The XL boards are kind of big, won't fit in my old time steamers.
I had one non-sound XL decoder that I could not get to consist properly and I removedit. I may try again
Well, I'm glad someone is picking up this line. I have several MRC sound decoders. Some have been in operation for over 10 years, without any problems. I believe the early ones were more problematic. I checked the Website, they appear to have kept the original product numbers.
Simon
I have purchased four steam sound decoders from XL Systems with quite satisfactory results. The great prices often include a speaker and you can choose from quite a few sound options. Nice lighting effects and I even added firebox flicker to a couple of older MDC steamers. I did have to remove the factory PC boards from the tenders of two HO scale Bachmann 2-6-0 Moguls in order to get the XL Systems decoders and keep-alives to fit. Both run and sound great.
I simply won't purchase sound decoders that cost more than the price of the loco itself, regardless of the claimed sound quality. We're still working with tiny little speakers that can't produce much in the bass spectrum. Even the one Intermountain loco I own with factory sound doesn't really sound much better than my own decoder installations. With lots of diesel and steam sound decoders to choose from, you just can't beat the prices (and quick service) from XL Systems DCC.
Hornblower
rrebell These are real cheap starting at $37 with speaker. I know these are not top of the line but I am happy with Bachmanns sound value so my standards are not that high. I have a couple of engines with more expencive decoders in them but the sound is just not that much better to my ears except when they are sitting still.