BEST SOUND DECODER for an HO Bachmann Spectrum SD45

[Hawks Rule]

Hello All,

Yesterday, I purchased a new, never run Bachmann Spectrum HO SD45, still wrapped in plastic from an estate sale.

I opened the box, read the instructions and put it on the track to test it.

It runs very well and now I would like to add a sound decoder.

Any suggetions as to which manufacturer is good for this loco?

Soundtraxx, TCS, Digitrax, ESU?

Thanks

[tstage]

Hawks,

How much room do you have under the shell for a decoder & speaker?

I would go with either ESU, TCS, or Soundtraxx.  Here's the Loksound 5 sound files from the ESU website for an SD45:

http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/search?cat=18&q=sd45

You'll need to determine which primer mover would be appropriate for your particular model.  Clicking on "Demo sound and Functions" under each sound file heading will give you a good sound byte sample.

And, if you need or want a good speaker to compliment whichever decoder you decide on, I would highly recommend Scale Sound Systems.  I have installed a few in my steam and diesel locomotives and they sound terrific.  JT also has all three of the aforementioned decoders for one-stop shopping.

Lastly, any of the above decoder choices will give you excellent motor control.  That's more imporant to me than sound.

HTH,

Tom

[Hawks Rule]

Hello Tom,

Thank you for your input.

After looking at all 3 Decoders, I am leaning towards the ESU.

[JDVass]

I usualy use SoundTraxx. I have had great luck with their products and their warranty is excellent. They even cover you if you screw up on the install. I shorted some wires and let the smoke out of one of their TSU-2200 decoders. They replaced it no questions asked.

I just finished installing one in an older Proto 2000 GP9 and it sounds great.

[wrench567]

  I'm assuming it's not an older split frame model.

  Asking what is the best decoder is like asking what is the best car, beer, cola ect. Each brand is more of a personal decision. I am kinda standardized on Loksound solely because I have a programmer. But that doesn't limit me to only Loksound. I had a WOW steam decoder that was purchased on an awesome sale sitting on the shelf waiting for a locomotive. I also have Tsunami decoders and very old soundtraxx sound only decoders. Plus all the decoder equipped locomotives bought through the years. Not one is better than the other to my ears. How it runs is also a huge consideration.

   Buy what is right for you.

     Pete.

[ba&prr]

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1349    This is what the chasis should look like. Looks like room for a speaker above the rear truck. 

[Hawks Rule]

JDVass

I usualy use SoundTraxx. I have had great luck with their products and their warranty is excellent. They even cover you if you screw up on the install. I shorted some wires and let the smoke out of one of their TSU-2200 decoders. They replaced it no questions asked.

I just finished installing one in an older Proto 2000 GP9 and it sounds great.

 

 

Thanks,

Soundtraxx is also on my list.

[Hawks Rule]

ba&prr

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1349    This is what the chasis should look like. Looks like room for a speaker above the rear truck. 

 

That is exactly what the chassis looks like.

Thanks

[hon30critter]

Hi Hawks Rule,

I favour the ESU LoKsound decoders and eventually I will convert all of my locomotives to ESU.

However, as has been said, the other brands are excellent too.

I would offer a suggestion which will probably make operating and programming your locomotives a lot easier:

Once you have chosen a brand, stick to that brand as much as you possibly can. The reason is that different brands of decoders have some variations in the way that they are programmed and the way they operate. If all of your decoders are from the same manufacturer they will all operate the same way.

I have a mish-mash of different brands so I frequently have to refer back to the manuals to remind myself how to program a decoder. Once I have all my fleet converted to ESU I'm hoping that I won't have to spend time referencing the manual for most tasks. I wish I had thought about this when I first started to install sound. I would have saved myself a lot of money!

As far as ESU decoders are concerned, I can't think of any negatives. Every one of the 20 or so that I have installed has worked perfectly right out of the box. Most of them didn't require any adjustments to the speed tables at all. I have measured their low speed performance in my 'critters' and, at speed step one, they take more than five seconds to move from one tie to the next tie! That speed is ridiculously slow for normal train operations, but it demonstrates what sort of motor control the ESU decoders are capable of.

Their programming can be updated any time there are improvements in the software or if you want to switch the decoder to an entirely different locomotive. (LokProgrammer required).

Cheers!!

Dave