Digitrax sound decoders are a bust!

[selector]

Sound "crap"? To you, maybe, but not to those who seem to be keeping BLI in healthy business. Oh, and count me among them. [:D][:D][:D] - a smile for each loco.

Of course they don't sound real. Maybe 'cuz....they're not? They are toyz if they are not in revenue service, and some of us like them more realistic than less. If the sound quality doesn't suit you, that's cool. I would urge you to stick with non-sound locos of good quality, like the new BLI Stealth series. But I would never call your choice a crappy one.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UNIONPACIFIC4018
Personally all of this sound crap is jacking up the price of locomotives.

Upon what facts do you base that statement? The ONLY vendor I can think of that had only made sound units to-date was BLI. I don't see how their units caused a general price increase on the rest of the locomotive market.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UNIONPACIFIC4018

Personally all of this sound crap is jacking up the price of locomotives. You all really think your going to get scaled down decent sound? I have heard lots of the locomotives with sound and all I can think of is toys.

Sean UnionPacific4018,

What do you base this on? The overwhelming majority of N, HO, S, and O scale locomotives in the hobby market are not equipped with sound. Prices are "Jacking up", as well as everything else due to the spike in crude oil pricing. Blame global economics, not "sound".

QUOTE: You all really think you're going to get scaled down decent sound?

---- Nobody on this forum is stupid.[:p] Of course we're not going to get the "super low" rumbles produced by prototype diesels, for example, due to the limited low frequency response of small speakers.

You are entitlled to your opinion....if it's "c*ap" to you well then that's what it is to you. As for sound raising the overall price of model locomotives? Sorry, I don't buy that. Might be a good question for the boys at Kalmbach as they get the statistics.

I've heard sound equipped locomotives as well and the ones that had the sound properly installed brought back pleasant memories for me. You also don't seem to be considering that as time moves on and the technology improves......the quality of sound is only going to get better and better. [:)][:D][8D][;)]

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UNIONPACIFIC4018

Personally all of this sound crap is jacking up the price of locomotives. You all really think your going to get scaled down decent sound? I have heard lots of the locomotives with sound and all I can think of is toys.

So what's your point?? If you don't want sound, you don't have to buy it.. How is it "jacking up the price of locomotives" for you?

[UNIONPACIFIC4018]

Personally all of this sound crap is jacking up the price of locomotives. You all really think your going to get scaled down decent sound? I have heard lots of the locomotives with sound and all I can think of is toys.

[Anonymous]

I agree that waiting to hear a production sample would be the smart way to assess the sound quality.

On the other hand IF Digitrax sent a sound sample out to a major train show that wasn't baffled or otherwise properly installed then they would have to be sort of stupid! Why would you try to demonstrate something that wasn't right in hopes of drumming up business for a product that you've spent lots of money, time and energy developing?

My 2¢
Roger

[davekelly]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. At their price point, I don't expect the Digitrax to be at the same level as the Tsunami or LOK, but if it is reasonably close - then they got my order!

[Anonymous]

I hadnt even thought about it being a pre-production product. That could have a lot to do with it. I guess I will wait until there are people using them and giving reports to make my final conclusions then.

[Texas Zepher]

Well that was disapointing. I was expecting a first hand, real, observation. While I've had my doubts from the first announcement (people good with digital seldom seem to be good with analog), I will remain hopeful and hold my judgement until I actually hear the product. Then even perhaps tweek on it myself a bit to see what it can really do, before branding it as anything.

[jnichols]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Another point- the Digitrax sound decoders can't POSSIBLY go down the MRC path - the motor drive portion is the same as the existing Digitrax decoders, so right there we have a better motor drive AND no problems reading back CV values. Lack of readback in the MRC decoders, ESPECIALLY a completely brand new one, is inexcusable.

--Randy

Randy,

When I said I hoped they didn't follow MRC's path, I was referring to the sound quality. I realize the rest of the decoder should be up to the high standards we've all come to expect from Digitrax.

Jeff

[rrinker]

Another point- the Digitrax sound decoders can't POSSIBLY go down the MRC path - the motor drive portion is the same as the existing Digitrax decoders, so right there we have a better motor drive AND no problems reading back CV values. Lack of readback in the MRC decoders, ESPECIALLY a completely brand new one, is inexcusable.

--Randy

[jrbernier]

I was at the NTS this past summer, and attlended a private Digitrax demo in a seperate room the Thursday night before the show. They had a Kato GE 'something' that sounded very good. They also had another GE that had the whistle sound changed to a N&W 'J' and that was awsome.
At the show the next day, I heard the Genesis/MRC sound at the Athearn booth - not too bad(but in a noisy enviroment). Since then, I have head negative comments about the next generation MRC sound decoders. The bottom line is that you really need to listen to this stuff in a controlled enviroment, and a large auditorium with thousands of folks talking really is a bad enviroment.
As far as sound, porting/baffles are a fact of life. My pair of BLI USRA Heavy 2-8-2's did not sound as good as the ATSF
4-8-4. Taking the tender shell off, I built a plastic baffle and added foam to the rest of the tender as the sound seemed to be bouncing around - Great results! The 'chuff' has much more 'depth', without having to turn up the volume......

Jim Bernier

[rrinker]

Exactly. They aren't even out yet, the most anyone has heard is the video from the NTS which is on Digitrax's web site. There is one point where it sound sliek there is a problem with the sound, but those on the Digitrax Yahoo group will know that the guy who made that video has mentioned that he made an editing mistake and cut at the wrong point, since he was workign under a time constraint to have the video available the next day.
And since when has Overland done anything half-way? That they are using these new Digitrax sound decoders says a lot.

--Randy

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jnichols
Let's hope they don't stumble down the MRC path, because uploadability or not, they won't see any of my money if that's the case..

I seriously doubt Digitrax will "stumble down the MRC path". If they did, it would be the first time.

[simon1966]

I was at the National train show and spent time on all the Sound decoder booths. All sound decoders sound poor in the noisy environment of a train show. The only ones that sounded good were the MRC ones because they were pumping the decoders thru large enclosed speakers. I am willing to get one on my layout before making a judgement.

[Virginian]

To prove the point about installation, pop the top off or even just loosen up a BLI/QSI steam engine tender.

[Anonymous]

Antonio, I agree 100%. Lots of times, companies get prototypes just barely up and running to make shows so that people will see something. Something that sounds crappy is better than nothing they figure. At least it does show they are working on a product. Besides all that, all of this so far is clearly a case of he said she said, anyway. I'll judge it for myself.

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Guys, before we make pre-mature conclusions, let the product hit the market.

Case in point:

I heard a new Tsunami decoder installed recently inside of an HO steamer's tender. At first I was not very impressed with it.......then a friend of mine who is an expert help diagnose the problem. The tender was not properly baffled! Baffling, just like the speaker quality makes all the difference in the world so I knew then not judge the Tsunami's performance based on an improper installation. The owner is now going to "re-baffle" his tender.

So, JPM, in the case of the Digitrax sound decoder demo that your friend heard, consider that there may have been factors involved that left him with a less-than-positive impression.

So far, several of the modelers that have seen a demo of this decoder have reported positive impressions on the Yahoo DCC forums. Additionally, this new Digitrax sound decoder is designed to be comparable to a Soundtraxx DSX, not a Tsunami, which offers more features..

I'm only suggesting that we wait for customer feedback before praising or tarnishing the decoder...

Peace and High Greens

[AntonioFP45]

Guys, before we make pre-mature conclusions, let the product hit the market.

Case in point:

I heard a new Tsunami decoder installed recently inside of an HO steamer's tender. At first I was not very impressed with it.......then a friend of mine who is an expert help diagnose the problem. The tender was not properly baffled! Baffling, just like the speaker quality makes all the difference in the world so I knew then not judge the Tsunami's performance based on an improper installation. The owner is now going to "re-baffle" his tender.

So, JPM, in the case of the Digitrax sound decoder demo that your friend heard, consider that there may have been factors involved that left him with a less-than-positive impression.

So far, several of the modelers that have seen a demo of this decoder have reported positive impressions on the Yahoo DCC forums. Additionally, this new Digitrax sound decoder is designed to be comparable to a Soundtraxx DSX, not a Tsunami, which offers more features..

I'm only suggesting that we wait for customer feedback before praising or tarnishing the decoder...

Peace and High Greens

[Anonymous]

I've said it before, Soundtraxx and QSI have sound cornered, the rest are just coming up short.

[jnichols]

Based solely on the low MSRP, I've also worried about this as well. Let's hope they don't stumble down the MRC path, because uploadability or not, they won't see any of my money if that's the case.. [;)]

Jeff

[grandeman]

Hum. I'm still gonna wait and see. They'll have to be REALLY good to compete with the Tsunami though. The downloadable part is what intrigues me about the Digitrax sound board. Time will tell.

[Anonymous]

When I heard a while ago that Digitrax was going to offer sound decoders with downloadable sound. I was very excited. I have been nothing but impressed with Digitrax products. But I was talking to a friend of mine who went to the Houston show and he gave a report on Digitrax Sound.

According to him, the Digitrax sound was not very good at all. I didnt get to many details but he was not impressed with it at all. Now, this guy has at least a couple dozen sound locos so I take it he knows what hes talking about. If anyone has the Digitrax decoder (are they even available yet?) Id like to hear your experience too.