Poll: BLI Paragon vs Paragon 2 vs Paragon 3 Sound!

[selector]

I have the upgraded QSI in my Paragon steamers, and I have five or six of the Paragon 2, including a duplicate J1 Hudson and a S1b Niagara.  I greatly prefer the sound of the Paragon whistle for the Niagara over the Paragon 2.  I prefer the air pump sounds in the P2's.  The bells are about the same, and the chuffs are a wash. I have a Hybrid Q2 which, if it has the same whistle as the T1, is not the same in P2 as it was in the QSI-equipped Paragon T1 Duplex, or the P1 J1 2-10-4 and K4. I feel the P1 version, in QSI, is closer to what I hear in videos of the real locomotives.

The Paragon decoders have better motor control, though.  They are smoother off the line.

[richhotrain]

I don't have any Paragon 3, but I do have several Paragon and two Paragon 2 steamers.

I guess that I am in the minority, but I really like the Paragon/QSI sound.

As for Paragon 2, when I first heard the sound on these steamers, I really liked it, but whenever I decreased the speed, the chuff sounds cut out momentarily. I assumed that the decoder was defective so I called BLI and was told that the cutout was normal and something that occurred on the prototype. So, now, I live with that cutout, but it annoys me every time every time that it occurs.

Rich

[gmpullman]

The first Paragon 3 engine I bought was the PRR H10. I agree the chuff "timing" was off. I believe BLI was trying to replicate an engine where the valve gear was worn out. Additionally there was that odd, extra "clang" of the bell when you shut it off. Sure that would happen occasionally but after a while it became monotonous.

I've since acquired five other P3 BLI steamers and they are better than the first H10. My most recent is the K4 with the coast-to-coast tender. Generally the sound is very good. 

As Tom mentions, there are variables between the sound files loaded onto the BLI decoders. I have replaced some of my earlier QSI and Paragon 2 decoders for varying reasons. 

In my opinion there is not one decoder manufacturer that I could consider the best overall. Each one has pros and cons. I'm just glad there are so many varieties to choose from but there always seem to be compromises no matter which choice you make.

Regards, Ed 

 

[tstage]

A: Yes.  I have all three and each one sounds good...but it depends on which locomotivie it's installed in.  Any one of them may sound better than the other two.

Tom

[Trainman440]

Hi all!

Simple question: which BLI made steam engine sound do you like best?

1. Paragon/Powerhouse (QSI) sound

2. Paragon 2 sound

3. Paragon 3 sound (excluding subwoofer)

If you want to make a separate answer for diesel sound, be my guest, but the poll is for steam sound only. 

Im personally a huge fan of Paragon 2 sound. IMO Paragon/QSI sound like cheap toy garbage (although Im sure at the time it mustve been rated highly). Paragon 3 has a weird chuff sound at higher speeds, which sounds like the engine skipped a chuff per revolution. It drives me crazy!

PS don't say you hate all of them. If that's how you feel, then don't reply, as that's off topic. 

Charles