BLI introduces "No Sound" locomotives

[lupo]

this is from an e-mail I recived last night from Internet Hobbies:

QUOTE:

Good News!
At the request of many customers, Broadway Limited Imports will be offering several of its locomotive products without sound!

These "No-Sound" units sport the same finely detailed bodies as their counterparts with sound, but have the more traditional chassis and mechanism. Each No-Sound unit operates on DC and is also "DCC Ready" for intallation of your favorite DCC decoder.

No-Sound units also operate like traditional units, responding to DC polarity/direction switches with a change in direction.

example:
BLI New York Central S1b 4-8-4 Niagara, retailprice with sound: $ 329,99
retailprice no sound: $ 249,=

[CNJ831]

Just goes to show that all hobbyists haven't gone absolutely gaagaa over ultra-high- priced, DCC, sound locomotives after all. I have to presume these new locomotives will also come with a decidedly lower price tag. Perhaps the need for the dumping of BLI engines last December at very deep discounts served as a wakeup call. Hope the other manufacturers heed the message too.

CNJ831

[Eriediamond]

Thanks for the i info lupo. I shadow CNJ831's thoughts, in that I wish manufacturers would offer stripped down versions for those of us that still like things the old fashion way or on limited funds. Thanks, Ken

[lupo]

I found this mail interesting because over the last year this option had been put forward several times in topics about sound
I do not care for sound in locomotives, so why pay for it,
otoh I appreciate a well made model, so lets hope this is a new trent.

[AntonioFP45]

Hi Crew,

This is a nice option, but don't forget that BLI has other reasons as well. Future competition. QSI is slated to release a "separate" sound board later this year. Will be an EMD 567 with a 3 chime horn (the one currently used on the P2K sound equipped GP9.

There has been a lot of "noises" about Soundtraxx's Tsunami decoder which is slated to hit the market sometime between Spring and early Summer 2005. IF, (and that's a big if) this unit turns out to be almost as good, or just as good in quality as the QSI system that's used in BLI units, then BLI will face some MAJOR COMPETITION.

Soundtraxx's Tsunami will be offering the wide variety of horns, diesel prime mover, and steam sounds as in past decoders, however, the sounds will be more dynamic. With the onboard QSI units on BLI locomotives, you get what you get, period. As discussed last year, a prototype CSX SD40-2 typically has a K5 horn whearas a prototype BN SD40-2 typically uses a 3 chime horn. This is where Soundtraxx has the edge by offering variety.

Add to this, Atlas and LIfe Like Proto 2000 units are already coming available with QSI sound. In the HO "sound-equipped" diesel market, BLI is slowly losing its once dominant edge.

So it does make sense that now BLI would offer stripped down versions to generate more sales as sales may decline, at least on the diesel side. Not helping much is that some modelers have been complaining about the BLI SD40-2's detailing, which is inferior to P2K diesel locomotives.

Just like the other manufacturers, BLI will be pressured by market demands. I do hope they'll be around for the long haul as overall, BLI units are decent and I may even breakdown and get one BLI E7.

[lupo]

Antonio, you could be right about the declining BLI diesel sales they want to boost,
as the mail also included their GE AC6000 , GE C30-7 and the RSD15 Diesels ,
the price differences on these models are:
for the GE AC6000 mrp $249.99, no sound $139.99
the GE C30-7 and the RDS15 with sound $249,99 no sound $129,99

note: these are retail prices, Internet Hobbies offers them at $99,99, advance reservation, so others discounters may beat these prices in the near future

[tomwatkins]

Choice is good. While I like sound, and have several BLI light and heavy mikes with sound, I think they are making a good business decision in giving model railroaders the ability to choose between sound and no sound.Hopefully it will work out well for everyone.
Have Fun,
Tom

[Virginian]

If (a very big IF) I knew QSI is really going to offer their system seperately, I could hold off on getting that BLI Class 'J'. Nah, I want one, may as well face up to it.
I don't want sound in all my locos, or even 'on' all the time in the ones I have, but when I do want it, I really prefer the QSI/BLI quality of sound in their steam engines. They did not do a sloppy job of installing that system, and it would not be real simple to duplicate it. That cast metal floor with speaker mounting is good. I have been tempted to get a new P2K 2-8-8-2 with sound, remove the sound and put it in my old P2K 2-8-8-2, and then re-sell the new one. If the new ones with sound weren't so high, and the ones without sound were selling better, I'd do it.
I cringe to think what the QSI systems are going to sell for. Unless the Tsunami works on DC and DCC, QSI still has me in their hip pocket.

[AntonioFP45]

Virginian,

Yes, the Tsunami is slated to be able to work in DC and DCC. This, just my opinion, is causing BLI to see "the writing on the wall". Of course, modelers are going to benefit from the competition.

[trolleyboy]

I'm glad they are releasing these loco's with out sound as others have stated it allows most of us to strreeech our hooby dollars a little farther and still have nicley detailed steam as well as the decent diesel models they've come out with. I applaud them for doing this. rob