The latest decoder on the market is always best, people throw out old ones and shell out hundreds of $$$$$$ for the latest and greatest.......
In reality I have heard the Tsunami one(not the latest and greatest), but it sounded pretty good. Might be able to find a deal on one if you poke around some.
The Loksound in my Scaletrains Big Blow is pretty awesome as well.
Thanks for all the help,
Dave
Athearn's Tsunami decorders
Thanks Hrvoje.
Excellent sound!
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hrvoje
Mel:
I just ordered three pairs of the 1" speakers. Thanks for the lead.
I don't have a specific project in mind right now but I do have E6 and E7 AB sets with a whole bunch of space in the Bs.
Hi Dave:
As Tom mentioned, Loksound has the veranda turbine sound file and they are superb decoders. Loksound offers two versions of their decoders, the V4.0 and the Aux.6 also called the 'Select'. Both are available in 'mini' formats but unless space is really tight I would go with the standard size decoders. The standard sized decoders have a higher amp rating. Unless you plan on doing some really fancy CV modifications go with the Select decoder. Same performance, lower price.
You can actually use 4, 8, or 16 ohm speakers with the Selects. Note that if you are going to use the 4 ohm speakers that Mel recommends you will need to wire them in series. That will give you a total of 8 ohms impedance. If you wire them in parallel you will have a net of 2 ohms and you will likely damage the decoder.
As an alternative, iPhone5 speakers, commonly called 'sugar cube' speakers, will fit almost anywhere and they produce great sound. These web pages are worth studying if you are not already familiar with sugar cube speakers:
http://www.sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/sugarcubespeakernotes.html
http://www.sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/wiringmultispeakers.html
I'm not familiar with the Athearn turbine models but if there is enough room available I would give Mel's 1" speakers a try. You can make enclosures easily, or you might be able to use part of the shell as an enclosure. The sugar cubes are great where space is limited.
I couldn't see the turbine sound listed on the TCS site.
David,
I know that Loksound has a turbine. I would imagne that TCS Wow! has one, as well. Either one of those would have great sound and give you terrific motor control.
As far as speakers, find out what ohm rating the decoder manufacturer recommends for the speaker. (For Loksound Select, it's 4, 8, or 16Ω) And I would go with as large a speaker(s) you can install in the tender and/or under the shell.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I just picked up a old/new Athearn ho veranda turbine that is dcc ready. Who has the best turbine sound and what speakers should be used?