So why spend all that money on sound decoders ??

[jecorbett]

With just a handful of locos with onboard sound, both steam and diesel, I am spoiled. I want to retro fit all my fleet with sound but that will be expensive, especially if I go for top of the line sound decoders. Based on the feedback I've gotten on this board, it sounds like there's no point to settling for less.

[Roadtrp]

I have the MRC Sound Station 312 and have been very happy with it. I also model 'N' scale, and there isn't much available for onboard sound at this time. I would never claim that my MRC unit is as realistic as onboard sound, but it is good enough for me.

It all depends on what you want to get out of your railroad. Although I try to keep my equipment and buildings prototypical to the era I'm modeling, I'm not a huge stickler for realism. I view making scenery as more of a chore than a pleasure. The main thing I like to do is watch my trains run (by the way... no "operating sessions" for me; that sounds too much like work!).

So with my very casual approach to the hobby I am more than satisfied with my MRC system. I hope you enjoy yours too. You can always upgrade later if you get to where you feel you've outgrown your present system.

[:)]

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfreek92
So why spend all that money when you could just buy a sound system like the MRC Synchro system.... so is there a reason??

1. Multiple locomotives at the same time all with their own/independent sound.
2. (for steam) Syncronization of the exhaust with the drive wheels.
3. Sound actually coming from the unit so it "tracks" with ones eyes.
4. Sound quality. However, my father uses the MRC system (as you indicated mostly because he is in N-scale). We upgraded and added additional speakers the sound is now even less "directional". It improved the overall sound quite a bit.

[joecool1212]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfreek92

Forgot something there- For me just having the sound is enough for example i am modeling New England it will have New England Trees, New England style buildings and I will run New England locos/freight cars but not model a real place my railroad might not run like a real railroad with only one train running at a time but it will be good sised for me 4x8 with a 36x80 extension to make it shaped like a backwards L. as i stated i will not run that realisticly but it will have 4 mainlines 2 yards and 5 other sidings of the mainlines. I might just type up little operations for me ex- take Maine Central # 564 into Redwood yard 4 and pick up train procced out od yard at a maximuim of 25 percent throtthle and head south on the mainline tell you reach yard #2 (still to be named) and pull into siding 1 cut power from engine and bring engine to loco yard. so thats fun for me others might not find that intresting but to me...[:D]

Thats fun for me also. And even if you have a really huge layout somtimes its fun to just take a train out and move some freight around. Joe A.

[trainfreek92]

Forgot something there- For me just having the sound is enough for example i am modeling New England it will have New England Trees, New England style buildings and I will run New England locos/freight cars but not model a real place my railroad might not run like a real railroad with only one train running at a time but it will be good sised for me 4x8 with a 36x80 extension to make it shaped like a backwards L. as i stated i will not run that realisticly but it will have 4 mainlines 2 yards and 5 other sidings of the mainlines. I might just type up little operations for me ex- take Maine Central # 564 into Redwood yard 4 and pick up train procced out od yard at a maximuim of 25 percent throtthle and head south on the mainline tell you reach yard #2 (still to be named) and pull into siding 1 cut power from engine and bring engine to loco yard. so thats fun for me others might not find that intresting but to me...[:D]

[trainfreek92]

loather- i will make a thread on my report about the sound box when my dad hepls me wire it up and get the control panel working[:D][:D] it seems easy enough to work just like red on green, yellow on black etc. on the synchro part- and it is called and i qoute "MRC Synchro Sound Box For Diesel Loco" if i was doing Dcc and had more money to spend i would use a sound decoder but i mnot and in N scale so it is harder to find one then Ho. Antonio- I hear train horns all the time on weekends april through may in maine. Thanks for the responses guys. Tim

[rolleiman]

Trainfreek, If you are happy with what you have then there is no reason to spend the extra money.. Just mount a few speakers around your layout and enjoy the noise.. Some of us, myself included, have become spoiled by the lastest in onboard sounds but I'm not going to knock somebody elses pleasure..

If you want to get into some electronic tinkering, by the way, there is a way to pipe that sound Into your locomotives.. Check the index for articles on sound (probably pre-1980) if you want to check it out..

Enjoy the gift..

Jeff

[AntonioFP45]

Loathar,

Nobody has been beating up on anyone here. TrainFreak asked a very reasonable question, and several forum members responded. StuckArm's response seems "gritty" but from reading it, he was being straightforward. My response was based upon my hearing MRC's sound systems.....the current one, the previous model, and the old powerpack version from the 80s.

QUOTE: Can folks keep from bashing any replies because it's not a $75 decoder

- Again, what bashing? Question was asked....opinions were provided. Cut and dry. No one mentioned anything about a $75 decoder.

Loathar, it's funny that you mentioned it, some years back my thougths were similar to yours in that if I built a layout I would have used recorded train sounds for background via a portable stereo.

TrainFreak, it's different strokes for all types of good folks. [8D]
If Synchro Sound is the best route for you to take because it fulfills what you want out of your railroad.....then absolutely go for it. [{(-_-)}][tup]

No bashing here at all, however, it should be emphasized for all modelers young and old..........that before making a final choice.......the modeler should check out the other available options as well. Calling ahead and then taking a trip to a hobby shop or model railroad club and asking for demonstrations is the smart thing to do if feasible. If one has to drive an hour to get there, it may well be worth the gasoline.

Guys, remember: Sometimes modelers, because of budget constraints, will "settle" for something that winds up not satisfying them after a short while (Oh, yes! Been there, done that).

Merry Christmas, High Greens, and have fun!

[loathar]

TrainFreak- I saw your post about your gift and was going to E-mail you about it. (Don't you hate it when folks beat you up about a present?) I normally have my stereo up so loud I'd never hear a decoder so I would never spend money on them. I would like a system like you just got or even a CD of train sounds for certain occasions. Can you give ME a little info on how it works and sounds? Is it really syncro? Can you hook it into a home stereo?Can folks keep from bashing any replies because it's not a $75 decoder?[:O][:D]

[jecorbett]

Until you've heard it in a top quality loco, you just can't appreciate what you are missing. I've been in this hobby a long time and when I started, sound equipped locos were a pipe dream. Electronics were just too big to be practical for an HO locomotive. I really didn't think sound would add that much to the realism, but hearing is believing. Having the sound come directly from the loco makes it so much better. In addition, the sound is synced to the speed of the locomotive on my BLI steamers. BLI also has advanced features like a Doppler effect in which the sound changes from when the loco is approaching to when it is moving away. My primitive DCC system won't let me access that feature yet which is reason enough for me to upgrade my system. One of the coolest effects is to sound the horn or whistle when the train is in the distance before you can even observe it from your vantage point. Just like the real thing.

[Anonymous]

Nothing beats a train coming at you on a grade working steam.

Sure you can run models without sound but it isnt the same. I have my eye on the BLI F7's as well. They have been .. like 2 years in development.

I agree with Antonio's assessment that back in the 70's alot of the technology availible today would have been a science fiction fantasy.

[AntonioFP45]

Hello TrainFreak, Joe Cool.

Glad to hear that you're excited about sound. Believe me...I had been fantasizing about HO sound locomotives since the 70s! Seemed like a crazy fantasy back then.

To answer the question, TrainFreak:
A number of model railroaders, like myself, were fortunate enough to have lived in cities where we had easy access to prototype trains. We saw, rode, and "heard" locomotives. I even tape recorded a few. At age 14, my main hangouts were Tampa Union Station, and two railroad yards....all easily accessible with a 10 speed bike. (From 1977-81,,,,those were the days!)

It is a bit of nitpicking but since sound is available we would like for it to be as "reasonably" accurate as possible. The MRC sound that's in the Athearn Genesis units is a dissappointment as it does not remotely even sound like an EMD under the carbody. The BLI SD40-2 does not sound like an EMD 645 diesel , but more like a turbo charged EMD 567, like the GP30).

So what's the big deal? To modelers that haven't spent time around prototype locomotives, probably none. The sounds from an MRC unit can be satisfying, indeed, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But to modelers that spent time around around prototypes, it is a different story and the manufacturers seem to be realizing this. They want our dollars! The benefit of us being critical of sound is that the manufacturers have an incentive to strive for better accuracy. So modelers that have never been able to get close to the prototypes know what they sound like.

Athearn is already receiving criticism for the MRC sound in the F-Units. Of course, BLI caught has caught flack for the SD40-2, which is still a nice unit with crisp, dynamic sound...but not accurate. The owner of my LHS was prepared to order a big batch of sound equipped Genesis F units; now he'll order them based on customer demand which is not very high. I plan on getting a "non-sound version and equip it with a DSX or hopefully a Tsunami. (Though first I'll check out BLI's F7 when it hits the market).

BLI did a very nice job with some of their other diesels, such as the E7, E8, and AC6000CW. Unfortunately, the only downside is that only one horn is available for each model line. A CSX SD40-2 typically uses a Nathan K5LA horn, a CP SD40-2 uses the Nathan K5H, while a UP SD40-2 may use a Leslie S3. So the selection of horns has been another sticking point with some modelers. Again, I realize that this may seem " nitpicky". Those darn friendly train crews should have chased me away back then!

So overall, this is why a number of modelers would rather spend their hard-earned money on Soundtraxx decoders, which have pretty accurate sound and a decent selection of horns used by various railroads.

With the arrival of uploadable decoders, the horn selection may become even more promising.

Hope that answers your question.

Peace and High Greens.

[trainfreek92]

Yoshi yes the sound sytem is the box with a speaker but one correction to your post my layout is not a 4x8 it is a 4x8 with a 36x80 extension so it is shaped like a backwards L. By the way happy posting to all this is going to be number 400 I hope soom were useful to a few people[:I]

[railroadyoshi]

Are you refering to the stationary system? MRC Synchro is the Speaker & Controller thing, right?

This sort of system works well in a situation like yours, a 4x8. This is because if the sound was coming from the locomotive, it would be coming from pretty much the same point, and therefore the Synchro would be in the right place most of the time.

However, on a shelf layout, the sound can't all come from one place. Then, it would really mess up the illusion that the sound is coming from the loco. In this case, the sound must come directly from the locomotive.

I hope that explains it.

[Anonymous]

Because the MRC sound is horrible, soundtraxx and QSI are superior sounding. I havent heard the sound box, but I've heard the new sound decoders they put out, the startup sound on the f-units sounds like a phaser going off. Terrible!

[trainfreek92]

Joe, i will when the layout gets more proggres when the first section is finished track laying 1-2 weeks!!

[joecool1212]

The BLI SD 40-2 is my first of hopefully man more sound equiped locos, nothing beats the sound comming right out of the engine where its supposed to. I would say that $80.00 Or more is alot to pay for sound on top of the price of the loco. But aI had to try it and It sounds great!! Tell me more about the MRC synchro system. Joe A.

[trainfreek92]

So why spend all that money when you could just buy a sound system like the MRC Synchro sytem wich i got for X-mas. so is there a reason??