Answering the original question - which is the best buy, not the best sounding.....
Caboose Hobbies has a bunch of Broadway Limited F7's on clearance. An AB set for $238.88, single A for $124. F7Bs for $114-$124.
I beefed up my collection a bit today.
cudaken wrote: Pondini, well I am a sound snob, but I am a audiophile and have been for years. (means I spend way to much on stereo gear) Yes, unless it sound's like the engine is in the garage I will not be happy with the sound. In fact that is why I took this long to go DCC. Only reason I bought the BLI Class J was for pulling power. I did not know the sound would work with my DC supply. Should have seen my faces when I powered it up the first time. The QSI sounds better than any of the other engines I have heard ran. As far as train world, do you need a decoder ring to figuer it out? I am lost on there site! They have the Hudson BLI with QSI sound listed for only $129.95 but could not figuer out how to order the darn thing! So I finaly bought it of E-bay for $169.95. Um, help with train world? I have some chump change to spend. After $320.00 BLI a $150.00 engine sounds cheap? I guess that is how it happend to other people here as well. Cuda Ken
Pondini, well I am a sound snob, but I am a audiophile and have been for years. (means I spend way to much on stereo gear) Yes, unless it sound's like the engine is in the garage I will not be happy with the sound. In fact that is why I took this long to go DCC. Only reason I bought the BLI Class J was for pulling power. I did not know the sound would work with my DC supply. Should have seen my faces when I powered it up the first time.
The QSI sounds better than any of the other engines I have heard ran.
As far as train world, do you need a decoder ring to figuer it out? I am lost on there site! They have the Hudson BLI with QSI sound listed for only $129.95 but could not figuer out how to order the darn thing! So I finaly bought it of E-bay for $169.95.
Um, help with train world? I have some chump change to spend. After $320.00 BLI a $150.00 engine sounds cheap? I guess that is how it happend to other people here as well.
Cuda Ken
If you're a real audiophile, you might want to check out the LokSound decoders made by ESU, a German company. They're probably the most expensive on the market, and a lot of folks think they're the neatest thing since the girl. But others, including me, don't favor them because of some limitations on functions. For example, they don't do ditch lights properly.
But their big claim to fame is, if you spring for another $100 or so and get the LokProgrammer, and hook it up to a Windows PC (only), you can download any of the vast array of sound sets (they call them "projects") on their website http://www.loksound.com/, and/or you can play audio engineer and load your own sounds! From what I read on their discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loksound/, getting good quality is no easy task. But you can put whatever you want in there, to be played by function keys. Custom station announcements, weird whistles you've recorded, Star Spangled Banner, whatever.
By the way, the folks at QSI (or is it QSI solutions, I never know which) are still promising similar user downloads. When and how, and whether you'll need new chips, is anybody's guess.
What do you mean you couldn't figure out how to order from Trainworld? Did you bother to read the top of the main page?
Orders Only: 800-541-7010PLEASE ASK FOR THE ORDER TAKERS NAME WHEN ORDERING OVER THE PHONE 24 Hour Fax Orders: 718-972-8514 Info: 718-436-7072 READY TO PLACE AN ORDER USE ORDERS@TRAINWORLD.COMPrintable Order Form (for mail or fax)
Seems pretty clear to me. Phone, Fax, or Mail -- take your choice.
I hate Rust
jbinkley60 wrote: dekruif wrote: http://www.trainworld.com/2005_ho_scale.htm . You can also get a proto 2000 U28B's for 89.99 or a proto 2000 U30B fo 119.99.Have you actually bought anything from these guys that was a closeout price ? Their prices seem almost too good to be true or they say starting at $99.99 but each item doesn't have a price (i.e. BLI SD40-2s).
dekruif wrote: http://www.trainworld.com/2005_ho_scale.htm . You can also get a proto 2000 U28B's for 89.99 or a proto 2000 U30B fo 119.99.
Jeff,
I bought a $110 Proto 2000 S1 from Trainworld for $29.99. One of my best locomotives.
The trick with ordering from Trainworld is having the ordering information in front of you. From my experience, I've found that the customer service (or ordering) department works most efficiently when you just give them the stock #. If you don't have the stock number, they give frazzled easily.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
dekruif wrote: cuda ken,I suggest getting a BLI. I have run one, and I love the sound on them. You can get a Sd40-2 or a RSD-15 for $129.99 at http://www.trainworld.com/2005_ho_scale.htm . You can also get a proto 2000 U28B's for 89.99 or a proto 2000 U30B fo 119.99. -dekruif
cuda ken,
I suggest getting a BLI. I have run one, and I love the sound on them. You can get a Sd40-2 or a RSD-15 for $129.99 at http://www.trainworld.com/2005_ho_scale.htm . You can also get a proto 2000 U28B's for 89.99 or a proto 2000 U30B fo 119.99.
-dekruif
Have you actually bought anything from these guys that was a closeout price ? Their prices seem almost too good to be true or they say starting at $99.99 but each item doesn't have a price (i.e. BLI SD40-2s).
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
nfmisso wrote:The Walthers' flyer that arrived today had selected Proto E8/9A units with sound for under $100-
I have the same catalog but mine says $110. ($109.98) per pair.
Cuda Ken:
THE ABOVE units are an outstanding buy.
NOTE: ANY single units (without QSI sound) cannot be run with sound equipped units unless on DCC only and adjusting CV's. (QSI works on both DC & DCC). Reason is QSI uses some of the voltage going to the motor.
All sound units use some motor voltage and therefor have the same problem.
What is it about the BLI's sound that you don't like? It's hard to make a recommendation based on you not being "impressed" without knowing why.
If it's levels (one sound too loud, another not loud enough), have you tried adjusting them? You do know there's about a dozen individual controls, plus the overall volume, don't you?
Most BLIs seem to be shipped with the sound turned WAYYYY up -- and it often seems distorted to me. Turning it down helped a great deal.
Or are there sounds missing? If so, what?
Or does it not compare well to something else? If so, what?
If you think it just doesn't sound like a steam engine, well, your're right. No sound decoder will ever have the low, heavy rumble of a real one -- those little speakers just cannot physically produce the very low bass frequencies required. You'd need about an 18-inch sub-wooofer! And you'll find that diesels are even less realistic, as the low rumble produced by a big, slow-revving diesel just ain't possible.
I've got 3 BLI steamers and 4 diesels. Personally, I prefer the Tsunami for steam (I've got 6 so far, and am hoping there'll be a diesel version in my lifetime, but beginning to wonder). But lots of folks swear by Loksound, and others by QSI.
So what is it you want?
Just last week I purchased a digitrax sound decoder for my Kato F40PH. The thing sounds better than my much pricier Atlas gold C40-8! Long story short, If you like applying dozens of tiny plastic detail parts, go with a Kato F40PH, SD38-2, or the GE they make (all three come with room for sound decoders), get the appropriate sound decoder, and you can have a nice sound equipped loco for under $150.
Dave
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I made the jump to DCC and it was a BL 1 Class J 611 4-8-4 with Quantum Sound. Still not impressed with the sound qulity but sure is fun. I bought a nother BL 1 Hutson 4-6-4 and hope to have it Saturday.
Now it is time for Diesel's with sound! I have had very good luck with Proto, BL 1 sort of hit and miss. First Class J stripped something but new one is doing fine.
I hope to find something in the $150.00 range, any idea for the maker I should look at? Bachmann just came out with a sound series with sound, all I have seen so far is steam.