Greetings,
I have 2 types of HO scale Kato engines and am considering adding sound to both of them. One is a newer SD40-2 that has the dual ditch lights (separate plastic pieces allow for alternate flashing) and is pre-milled for sound in the fuel tank. The second is a new BN SD70MAC that has a single plastic piece for the ditch lights (not able to alternate flash) and is not pre-milled for sound.
The 40-2 currently has a DH165K1A deconder in it and it works great as I can program the ditch lights to flash alternately. The MAC is new and just has the factory board in it. Here are my questions:
1) In general, who is at the top in sound quality decoders, is it QSI, Soundtraxx, Soundbug, or someone else? (More interested in the late diesel sounds, as opposed to steam) If I am going thru the trouble and expense of installing sound, I want it to be worth it.
2) Without doing any type of milling of my own, what is going to be my best option for installing sound decoders and speakers in these two units (40-2 and MAC)? I have installed many types of decoders in various types of engines, but have never done sound. I take it that I will not be able to use the DH165K1A in the 40-2 unless I use the Soundbug. I also do not want to give up my separate headlight bulbs and alternate flashings ditch lights on the 40-2.
3) This is more of a prototype question. What type of horn (Leslie xx, Nathan xx, ?) is mounted on the BN SD70MACs? They have a distinctive sound and I would like to find that sound in the decoder for the MAC.
Thanks for your time and help!
Mark
Mark,
I have tried all the sound systems out there and to me, the Soundtraxx Tsunami is the best. In the future, QSI with the Titan might be better, but they're so late getting it out, who knows if it will happen. I have started to standardize on Tsunami and that has helped with programming and function control, etc.
I do put speakers in the tanks, but they can pick up stuff off of the track, so keeping the track clean or cleaning out the speaker will be required.
I don't always mill the frame. A lot of times I just use a jigsaw with a metal blade and cut it down rather quickly, clean and reassemble. I've done this on my Kato units and have been able to put in some medium oval or bass reflex speakers which sound a lot better than smaller speakers. One rule of thumb in sound locos--the larger speaker almost always wins( assuming good install). Larger magnets vs smaller magnets is also a good thing. All speakers sound better when installed with separation/isolation of front from back sound. Properly enclosing takes care of this. Proper installation is a lot of times more important than anything else. Soundtraxx has information on their website to help you with this.
Also, Soundtraxx has your locos' sound files for in a Kato format which include the forward and rear LEDs. They are nominally, TSU-KT1000 chips.
Richard