Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Tsunami review !!!

922 views
20 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 11:10 AM
I think the expansion is

Freak U. MTH.

Soundtraxx/Throttle-up was threatened by litigation by MTH if they release the Tsunami with back EMF.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 10:44 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by gbailey


BTW:

FUMTH

What does that mean[X-)][X-)][X-)]

DRew
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 10:34 AM
Agreed Randy. Sound is relatively cheap.

I've been reading the soundtraxx news group on yahoo. It does finally look to be a highly impressive decoder.

There's only one other minor thing about QSI that I liked over soundtraxx...fewer dropouts. The capacitor on the QSI equipped units, and multiple pickups really helped with dropout issues. In matter of fact, I have yet for a QSI unit to drop sound due to a bad spot in the track.

On the other hand, my two Soundtraxx plug-n-play modules I installed dropped out numerous times especially at slow speeds. I'm hoping the new units behave better. I'll let you guys know when I get mine in the mail.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 9:40 PM
And that gives you an idea of what a deal some of the BLI locos are - subtract out the cost of the sound decoder and speakers. Pull out the soudn cost fromt he Standard Hobby price my father-in-law paid for his PRR M1, and you have what would amount to to $40 or less loco. The only $40 steam locos you can get are Bachmann non-Spectrum, and not one of those runs as nice nor is as well detailed as this BLI model.
Notice too there is only a $100 difference for those BLI locos they offer without the sound, and also between Atlas' sound/no sound pricing. Also keep in mind the non-sound units don't even have a DCC decoder - so add another $15-$20 and THEN compare - the sound is actually pretty cheap!

--Randy

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,238 posts
Posted by tstage on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 5:01 PM
Thanks, Guy! That's what I was hoping. $140 just for a sound decoder - and that's all! - seemed a bit steep to me.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 4:48 PM
Tom,

They control the motor and the sound function. You won't need two decoders, the Tsunami will do it all.....

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,238 posts
Posted by tstage on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 3:59 PM
Just a note of clarification for my behalf, please. Do the sound decoders operate JUST sound, or sound AND operation? In other words, would I need just a Tsunami decoder to both operate and have my locomotive make all those nifty realistic sounds? Or, would I need another decoder in addition to the Tsunami to operate my locomotive?

Thanks!

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 2:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by gbailey

Tsunami review at good ol'Tony's:
http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/2005/062505.htm
Sounds good !!! (Pun intended!)


I give up. I searched all over both Tony's and Soundtraxx sites and cannot find the Tsunami "sounds" that you are listening too. I can only find the old normal 8-bit DSD-150 clips. Where are they hiding?
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 11:32 AM
This is going to be really interesting.

I checked out LOK Sound's website. I clicked on the upload chart and WOW! What a wide choice of prime mover sounds! I wi***hough that LOK sound would post some sound samples of these though. The only sounds you can access are the Europeon locomotives.

All in all, if the quality is good and prices competitive, Soundtraxx is going to have some HEAVY competition!

Looking forward to it!

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, June 27, 2005 7:57 PM
If that's true, then ......YEESSSSSSS!!
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, June 27, 2005 12:18 PM
It also offers 'silent running' on the motor drive, so no more buzzing motors interfering with the sound quality.

--Randy

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: SE Michigan
  • 922 posts
Posted by fmilhaupt on Monday, June 27, 2005 9:56 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by oleirish

Tsunami
What will this thing cost,and will it work with DC or do you have to have DCC?[:P][2c]

Jim


According to SoundTraxx's web site, one of the differences between the Tsunami and their earlier decoders is that it is designed so that it will work on non-DCC, analog powered layouts.

MSRP is $179.00. Street price appears to be around $140.00.

-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.
http://www.pmhistsoc.org

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: oregon
  • 885 posts
Posted by oleirish on Monday, June 27, 2005 9:24 AM
Tsunami
What will this thing cost,and will it work with DC or do you have to have DCC?[:P][2c]

Jim
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Monday, June 27, 2005 6:32 AM
I was getting worried there. I was about to convert my Tsunami orders to three QSI equipped orders coming out in October & November.

Hopefully there will be an July announcement. Who wants to take bets on an official release date? [:D]


Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Monday, June 27, 2005 5:52 AM
Looking forward to hearing the turbocharged 645 EMD version.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 3,864 posts
Posted by Don Gibson on Sunday, June 26, 2005 2:44 PM
Thank you George for your 'head's up' post..

I see Tony's installed two 1" speakers (like BLI) in the tender. This moves more air to produce more volume - which has been BLI's main deal .

SOUNTRAXX has been more oriented in sound 'accuracy' and not the 'one-sound- fit's-all' philosophy.
Don Gibson .............. ________ _______ I I__()____||__| ||||| I / I ((|__|----------| | |||||||||| I ______ I // o--O O O O-----o o OO-------OO ###########################
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Sunday, June 26, 2005 2:12 PM
Of course when they picked the name (2 or more years ago) it did not have the image of the disaster 6 months ago. We had a big debate on the forum just after the Tsunami hit as to if they should change the name.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    July 2002
  • 484 posts
Posted by Gluefinger on Sunday, June 26, 2005 1:33 PM
They probably could have picked a better name though.........
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Sunday, June 26, 2005 11:08 AM
I may actually have to drive to Cinci for the NMRA train show as there seems to be a lot going on that will be fun to witness first hand. Bruce at Litchfield station is another of the Beta testers and he is also very impressed with the Tsunami so far.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Along the Murphy Branch
  • 1,410 posts
Posted by dave9999 on Sunday, June 26, 2005 11:07 AM
Sounds like they are making some progress. People have been waiting so long that
the demand will probably be greater than the supply. I should have reserved a couple
of them way back. Dave
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Tsunami review !!!
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 26, 2005 10:57 AM
Tsunami review at good ol'Tony's:

http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/2005/062505.htm

Sounds good !!! (Pun intended!)



BTW:

FUMTH

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!