I bought about six, 50s era diesel locomotives about 12 or more years ago. These were all listed as "DCC ready" so they will need DCC decoders installed in them. I am looking for recommendations for what everyone thinks are the best sound decoders available today to install in these locomotives. I'm interested in ease of installation, sound quality, and price. I have a Digitrax DCC system. It appears that the most common manufacturers currently include Digitrax, SoundTraxx, QSI, and ESU. Opinions appreciated.
Modeling the B&M Railroad during the transition era in Lowell, MA
ESU. And soundtraxx. Seam to be the preferred sound chips right now. Mix with sugar cube speakers to get the best sound. If you are not aware DCC ready means you just plug in the chip.
shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
ESU, TCS, and SoundTraxx are the Big 3 in sound decoders. QSI is no longer being manufactured.
I have experience with the first two (LokSound & WOW) and have been very happy with them - especially the motor control. I have not installed any Tsunami2s but have heard from a few folks here that the motor control is vastly improved over the original Tsunamis.
You can't really go wrong with any of the above. Decoder & speaker installation ease or difficulty is primarily contingent on the amount of room in a given locomotive and whether the motor is isolated from the frame. The latter is generally an issue with older locomotives (brass & plastic) so it doesn't hurt to check that with a ohmeter before starting any sound installation.
The other thing you have to consider is which sound decoder manufacturer offers the sound file you need for your particular locomotive. An F7 should be covered by all three...and may be offered in several versions of the prime mover. A 2-6-6-2 Mallet? I know that ESU offers two. I'm not sure about TCS or Soundtraxx.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
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Have a look at the TCS site. They make sound decoders. On the site they have decoder installation directions for many locos. You may find yours listed and even if you choose a different decoder brand the information on the site will be of use for your installation.
Joe
NVSRR ESU. And soundtraxx. Seam to be the preferred sound chips right now. Mix with sugar cube speakers to get the best sound. If you are not aware DCC ready means you just plug in the chip. shane
Where do you purchase the "sugar cube" speakers? It seems like most of these sound decoders do not come with speakers.
A number of vendors sell them. Streamlined Backshop, Tony's Train Xchange, and Litchfield Station are three of them. Do a Google search for sugar cube speakers and you'll find them.
WilmJuncI bought about six, 50s era diesel locomotives about 12 or more years ago. These were all listed as "DCC ready" so they will need DCC decoders installed in them.
Before you spend any money, open each engine up and see what's inside. Over the years "DCC Ready" has mean anything from "this engine has a lightboard with a DCC receptacle" to "we think there's enough room to fit a decoder in the engine if you know how to solder a hardwire installation and insulate the motor from the chassis".
Also, even if there is a receptacle, you'll need to find out if it's an 8-pin or a 9-pin 'harness' type, and judge which decoder will fit in the available space.
You also want to consider if an engine needs a "keep alive" included with the decoder. Those can be a great addition for engines that easily stall out at crossovers or are very touchy on less-than-perfect track.
To make a recommendation we need a brand, model type and year produced.
wjstixAlso, even if there is a receptacle, you'll need to find out if it's an 8-pin or a 9-pin 'harness' type, and judge which decoder will fit in the available space.
Or 21 PIN.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Decoders have evolved over the years, with each iteration having better features and qualities than the generation before.
Its 2021, soon to be 2022, if you're starting from scratch with sound, buy only ESU LokSound 5.0 or Soundtraxx Tsunami2, or Soundtraxx Econami (which is similar technology, just fewer features).
Don't bother with ESU Select or 4.0, or Soundtraxx Tsunami at this point.
But, the 12 year old locomotives likely have an 8 pin plug for the decoder. Make sure that you buy decoders that have the same number of plugs. Modern locos now use 21 pin plugs for the most part.
Or, their DCC Ready claim may simply mean that its set up so the owner can replace the entire PC board with a decoder....not a plug in version.
ESU and Soundtraxx make the same decoder in two different shapes, one for pluggin into an existing board that has a plug and one where you remove the Analog board entirely and replace it with a decoder board.
As has been mentioned, you'll need to open up the locos to see whats inside to see what shape of decoder you'll need.
- Douglas
The last couple of sound installs I purchased speakers from Scale Sound Systems. Great speakers and they come with their own baffles. The proprietor, JT, is a professional sound & recording engineer so the baffles are designed (3D-printed) to maximize the range of the speaker. (The two I placed in my brass 2-6-6-2 Mallet sounded fantastic.) He also sells decoders from all three aforementioned sound decoder manufacturers.
riogrande5761 wjstix Also, even if there is a receptacle, you'll need to find out if it's an 8-pin or a 9-pin 'harness' type, and judge which decoder will fit in the available space. Or 21 PIN.
wjstix Also, even if there is a receptacle, you'll need to find out if it's an 8-pin or a 9-pin 'harness' type, and judge which decoder will fit in the available space.
Not if he bought them 12 years ago - not clear how old they were at that time, so could be older than that.
Our departed Randy Rinker was a fan of removing the circuit boards all together and hard wiring the decoder. Decoder color coded wire can be found in the onlne DCC shops.
Choosing one brand of decoder will make your life simple. I'm going to say something controversial. ESU has made their decoders too complex for most of us. If you don't want to create your own sound projects buy a lok programmer, and diddle with tweeking dozens of CV's they are probably more than most of us need.
If I was starting afresh, I would go with TCS.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
rrebell To make a recommendation we need a brand, model type and year produced.
I will take an inventory tonight and post the makes and models that I have.
wjstix riogrande5761 wjstix Also, even if there is a receptacle, you'll need to find out if it's an 8-pin or a 9-pin 'harness' type, and judge which decoder will fit in the available space. Or 21 PIN Not if he bought them 12 years ago - not clear how old they were at that time, so could be older than that.
riogrande5761 wjstix Also, even if there is a receptacle, you'll need to find out if it's an 8-pin or a 9-pin 'harness' type, and judge which decoder will fit in the available space. Or 21 PIN
Or 21 PIN
Of course the 21 PIN dcc ready are more recent although I don't recall when the were instructed on the mass market.
My first recomemdation is ESU. But Soundtraxx is a good option for Steamers. I prefer ESU for ease of programming and the features they offer, but as far as performance, most decoder manufacturers will do fine. ESU is still top dog in my book. Soundtraxx a close second. Never had a TCS decoders and I don't plan too. Nce is great for dcc only. Digitrax decoers are great if you are on a tight budget. Decent sound, good motor control, great price. Win win win.
Whatever model you choose, standardize on a SINGLE brand. Programming and remembering what each function button does is easy if each loco is the same.
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
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JDawgNever had a TCS decoders and I don't plan too.
JDawg,
Any particular reason why, if I may ask?
Digitrax also offers low cost generic sound decoders. I have a few of them.
Simon
There can be an advantage to limiting yourself to one decoder brand, assuming that brand makes decoders for all your engines - some don't make sound for FM or Baldwin engines for example, just GM and Alco. However, I wouldn't limit yourself to one just for issues with the function buttons. If you have DecoderPro, you can pretty easily change a decoders function buttons so they match up with your other engines. It's also handy to move/remove functions that you don't need (like say a decoder uses F4 to turn on dynamic braking, but the engine you're installing it in didn't have dynamic brakes) and replace them with ones you use more often.
TStage- I don't have anything against TCS but I've pretty much standardized on ESU and I supplement with soundtraxx for special sound projects. I like being able to program with my NCE system and being able to memorize the CV's for only two manufacturers is very helpful. Adding a third would be frustrating for me.
While I'm sure they are not the last gasp in audio quality (but plenty good enough for me), the nice motor control, effects and pricing on the decoders from XL Systems DCC (http//:xlsystemsdcc.com) can't be beat.
Hornblower