I have an MRC 1801 in a Atlas GP7 it is “OK”. But the sound isn't what I was hoping for and the motor control is poor compared to the non-sound Digitrax decoder it replaced. I have adjusted the cv for hours and can't get it to perform like I was hoping. But it was half the price of the other options.
I have read with great interest many people both here as well as on the Atlas forums tell about their "horror" stories about MRC decoders (both Sound and Non-Sound). I have installed almost 80 DCC decoders now in my collection of locomotives. To date, I have stayed mainly with Digitrax, QSI, NCE and Soundtrax decoders.
Last month I purchased my first MRC sound decoder. I don't recall the model number (edit...MRC 1663) but it is the sound decoder specifically made to be installed in the Atlas S series of switchers.
I carefully followed the instructions and to be honest, the installation was pretty easy. Once I finished the install, I put the engine on the programing track and used decoder pro to program it up. I then put the engine on the layout and was AMAZED!!!
I have never in my life heard such crappy "muffled" sound from a sound decoder. There is simply no nice way of saying this.This decoder is just garbage. The speed of the engine was cut in half. No matter what I did with the decoder pro, I simply could not get the top end speed up. I could not get the sound levels up to something that even came close to being acceptable. At the loudest volume setting, I could just barely hear the engine sound (s). I am 39 years old and do not have hearing problems. This decoder is just garbage, plain and simple.
Here is what the MRC web site says about this decoder. "Employing MRC's "Brilliance tm" live capture, full fidelity sound, this new dual-mode decoder with 28 NMRA functions, uses sounds actually recorded by MRC's Sound engineer (railside) from a real, American Locomotive Co. (ALco) 244 Turbo-Charged prime mover".
I have since removed the MRC decoder and installed an NCE decoder. Although I don't have sound now, at least the engine runs great.
I purchased the decoder from Walther's because it was "on sale" for 59.99. I knew better, like I said, I have read all the poor reviews of so many of you out there. i took a chance and was sadly disappointed. It's a shame too because I use to own an MRC PA and loved it.
MRC may make pretty respectable DCC systems, but their decoders have a very long road ahead of them if they want to compete with Digitrax, Soundtrax or NCE.
Mike Yeager
I purchased five of the original MRC decoders way back when. Four of them went up in smoke within three or four minutes, and the MRC decoder in a Walthers Trainline F7 that MRC was offering as decoder equipped was dead on arrival. The one good MRC decoder was put into the F7, but it too burned out in a couple of hours.
Last year, after shunning any and all MRC products, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and purchased a Sounder Diesel Sound Decoder. It was totally dead on arrival and would not make any sounds at all other than an occasional clicking.
When I contacted MRC about their warranty and explained that the decoder hadn't been installed in anything because it was DOA, they offered to waive their normal $10 service fee.
When I got it back, it appeared that some kindergarten child had attempted to replace several surface mount components. The decoder gets too hot to touch and begins to smell of scorching plastic within less than one minute. I will never install it and will never, ever, purchase another MRC decoder.
I have passed up on purchasing several Athearn Genesis locomotives because they contained MRC decoders. It seems that Athearn has finally realized that the MRC decoders were hurting their sales and have decided to switch brands.
pastorbob Bought a couple of the first Genesis FP45,s and SD45-2s with sound, they all blew, won't buy any more Genesis with the sound as long as MRC decoders are used. I now buy them without decoders and add my own.
Bought a couple of the first Genesis FP45,s and SD45-2s with sound, they all blew, won't buy any more Genesis with the sound as long as MRC decoders are used. I now buy them without decoders and add my own.
Athearn has announced that the Genesis line will be switching to Tsunami for their sound decoders. It wasn't clear whether they would stop using MRC decoders altogether, or only install Tsunamis in new models, while continuing with MRC in current production.
This, unfortunately, leaves dealers with a stock of MRC-equipped Athearn engines, which knowledgable modelers will not want.
I would say that Athearn's announcement, though, clearly indicates that they do not think that MRC has gotten its act together on these decoders yet.
Disclaimer: I have no MRC decoders, and I never have had any. I am thrilled by my Tsunami-equipped GP-9, though, and I applaud Athearn's choice of decoder for their signature engines.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
mreagantdeep roots from experiences of several or more years ago.
Guess my time frame should exclude me from answering But, it was awful! On the quest for a Big Boy so I went with the Athearn with the MRC decoder. I am not sure which was the worst, the engine or the decoder? For a Big Boy it could not drag any load worthy of a Big Boy, my Athearn Blue Box F-7 could out drag the Big Boy. Problem was in the tender, at a 25% grade the tender would not roll, called Athearn and they told me to take it back to my LHS. Decoder it self? At the time one main was DC and other was DCC. I did like the functions and sounds the MRC decoder had, but after a hour I would have to set the reset the decoder to default! Before I took it back it ran the DC line only.
Second Big Boy, pulled well, But lead truck would pull a wheelie going around left turns only? OK, that I can fix and decoder was working OK for a while. Then it started doing the some thing, have to reset about every 2 hours if not more often. That was it, back it went, got a refund and bought a PCM Big Boy.
The 2 Big Boys where the last Athearn engines I bought and where the only MRC decoders I will have had.
My LHS will not sell there decoders I will add.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
I'll be nice and say I'm gun shy when it comes to ther decoders, I have either no issues what so ever or total crash & burn I wanna smash em into a zillion pieces problems. The thing that really bugs me is as far as thier dcc systems themselves The Prodigy Advances Squared in my opinion can hold it's own against Digitrax and NCE and the rest of the lot give or take. I know some will argue that point but it's the old Ford vs Chevy vs Mopar argument as far as I'm concerned. So why can't they get their act together when it comes to decoders?
I bought a brand new, just released, Athearn Genesis SD60 in June with an MRC sound decoder. It is as others describe, totally lacking in features and more. I returned it to my LHS within 48 hours. It is the only locomotive I have ever returned.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Jacktal I have an Athearn N scale Challenger (MRC brain) that lost it's memory twice in only about 45 minutes of operation and to my knowledge these engines are not old production items.However,my Big Boy hasn't had a glitch in about three hours...50%...not bad...........
I have an Athearn N scale Challenger (MRC brain) that lost it's memory twice in only about 45 minutes of operation and to my knowledge these engines are not old production items.However,my Big Boy hasn't had a glitch in about three hours...50%...not bad...........
Bob
I'm a little reluctant to open this can of worms, but I'll do so anyway.
No one who reads these discussions with any frequency could have missed the fact that some number of the participants have various levels of disdain for MRC in general and their decoders in particular. However, it seems to me that much of this disaffection with the docoders has deep roots from experiences of several or more years ago. What I'd like to know is whether their current decoder products continue to have the same reliability issues as is asserted by some about their products going back to the 90s.
I realize that some folks who got burned in the past have sworn a blood oath never to use (or recommend) their decoders, so I guess they would have little first hand knowledge of current production quality. Some of the rest of you surely do have up-to-date hands on experience, and I'd like to know if they are still subject to failure like the early runs are said to have been, especially compared to other brands.
p.s. The question has nothing to do with MRCs advertising, customer service or even the prototypical accuracy of their sound files. Just wonder if they have improved in reliability.