Any strong opinions on QSI Titan sound decoders?

[RODERICK A WELCH]

I have been very disapointed with the performance of a new QSI Titan unit that I installed in an Atlas SD 24. I consider both Tsunami and QSI over priced when compared to the European offerings from LOKsound and Uhlenbrock.

[AntonioFP45]

Since comparisons are being mentioned, I wonder how the Titan stacks up against the TCS diesel "Wow" decoder.

[Mark R.]

Seeing as how this thread is approaching two years old, a lot has changed. At this point, I would place QSI towards the bottom half of the pile today, with everything taken into consideration.

Mark.

[fieryturbo]

I've had very good luck with MRC's dual-567 decoder, and man is it LOUD

[DigitalGriffin]

Well there are still glitches in the TCS WOW and the documentation is...questionable.

The Titan has upgraded to the simulation series (Emulation Technology(ET)) which increases the realism when properly set up.  But the gooood grief, the manual is nightmarish.  It's like running a nuclear reactor.

So there you go.

http://www.qsisolutions.com/#!emulator-technology-sound-files/c12ap

 Demos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf8XQf2megQ

Q1a versus Q3 titan with ET
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_r1_YUELCg

 

 

[RRR_BethBr]

DigitalGriffin

The Titan has upgraded to the simulation series (Emulation Technology(ET)) which increases the realism when properly set up.  But the gooood grief, the manual is nightmarish.  It's like running a nuclear reactor.

So there you go.

From YT videos of both, the latest QSI Titan version ("Q3" Emulator sound sets) certainly seem comparable with TCS as being towards the top of the heap of current sound decoders.

TCS's configuration approach of built-in 'audio assist' vs. QSI w/ their PC software and ($90) add-on usb programmer tips the advantage to TCS IMO. At least for someone like me, weighing their entry into DCC/sound. Shame really, as QSI's throttle/motor control/sound integration (what they call "Emulator Technology) appears to be top-notch. But the 'programmer' (ie USB dongle) to set the thing up rationally costs as much as a complete decoder...

I don't think they have a proportional braking function like TCS WOW either, though that appears to be a pretty polarizing option in the first place.

[rrinker]

 You don't NEED their programmer, JMRI can program QSI decoders (other than loading new sound sets, but that goes for EVERY decoder that has user loadable sound). Dunno is QSI does any tricks with their programmer unit, I standardized on Loksound decoders and when usign their programmer you cna read and write all the CVs in the decoder in a few seconds. SInce every sound slot is configurable to any of the 29 functions is configurable to any function output wire is configurable to any event... yes, 100% flexible...there are thousands of CVs for mapping this. It takes a decently fast programmer (like SPROG, probbaly the fastest NMRA standard programmer) quite some time to read and/or write all the CVs with JMRI. With the Lokprogrammer? A minute or so. To facilitate loading sounds into the decoder, they have their own proprietary comminucations protocol in addition to NMRA standard methods, and they leverage this to also read and write the CVs, making it VERY worthwhile to have the programming device. If you stick with one brand of decoders, the cost of the programemr is really a non-issue. If you flip back and forth between multiple brand and end up needing 3 or 4 programming devices, yeah, it gets expensive.

                          ---Randy