QSI's advertising (read "hype") far exceeds their capabilities. They are still using their original pitch-bent sound files and their documentation is poor at best.
The QSI Yahoo Group is thread after thread of problems and complaints and lack of support.
Now - That being said, I'm sure there are many happy individuals using the Titan decoders. Most threads on forums are usually complaints and problems .... not too many people posting thread after thread on how much they like a product. However, I tend to look at the amount of complaints and problems, and it seems as though a LOT of people have them with QSI decoders.
Kind of like the feedback system on Ebay. If a person has a lot of sales and only one or two negatives, I would probably still buy from them. But if a person has a large number of negatives, chances are pretty good that person won't see any of my business no matter how many positives he has.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
For diesel, you might want to also consider Loksound. I bought a VO-660 sound chassis with a Loksound Select and the horn was very good, "playable", and the motor control was excellent. A similar sound chassis outfitted with a Tsunami decoder yielded a horn that was horrible and flat and a motor control that was not very good.
I'm more into great motor control than I am sound but the sound from the above Loksound decoder makes it a pleasure to listen to - in moderation.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
After installing around 35 chips and buying locos OEM equipped with chips, I would say go with Tsunami for diesel or steam. I have found that I get a LOT better sound when I upgrade the speaker install on most OEM sound equipped locos. I usually use 2 speakers with my installs/upgrades. The OEM speaker system on Atlas locos using their teepee is very good though. I like the F11 braking on Soundtraxx, that along with the momentum can make operating the loco seem realistic. I don't think the F11 braking is available on the value line some OEMs are using however.
Richard
Go with a Soundtraxx pre-equipped. I have three of those and work really well. I also put a Soundtraxx Tsunami AT in a DC engine as well, and that works well too.
I put a Titan U in a Bachmann EM-1, and it took hours of setting parameters to get the low-speed control decent. The tech manual is a must to do this because of the interactions, and I think this is a major drawback of the U. I know the problem was not with the engine, as it ran quite nicely with the original Soundtraxx (silent) decoder. Would help if QSI explained the parameters better, and had suggested settings for popular engines.
Hal
I had a professionally installed two steam locos with Titan decoders and duel speakers. They sound great, but the motor control is horrible. I have one, that no matter what I do, I've tried every kind of voltage start setting and speed curve table, and to no avail, it jumps on speedstep 1 like a Tyco engine.
Not only that, but when I used JMRI Decoder Pro for programming all the CVs. On both of them, sometimes the settings didn't take, or it will lose other settings. It was a horrible experience trying get the Titans to a point where I was somewhat satisfied.
I will no longer be buying the Titans again. I have several older QSI quantems and they perform great.
Save yourself the headaches, and just buy the DCC with Sound.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
I was going to try a Titan decoder in one of my steamers. Until I really took a good hard look. The Titan U is a very large decoder that has wiring harnesses for 10 functions. Unless you can use the Titan A the U would be very very hard to fit into a first gen diesel. While I do have a number of QSI equipped locomotives that run and sound good. If the Titan U was not so big I would have tried it.
If you really want to try a sound instal, May I suggest a Loksound Select. They have very good sound and superior motor control. Easily customized using CVs where a stand alone programmer is not needed.
Buying a sound equipped loco is almost always cheaper and most sound very good right out of the box.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
I'm a newby with DCC and sound decoders, but I'm ready to buy some new DCC equiped locomotives. Does anyone have any good experience with the QSI Titan? I'm wondering if it is worth it to purchase a DCC ready loco and install the Titan vs. getting a loco that has a Soundtraxx or other sound decoder already installed? I'm willing to spend a little extra money and do the installation myself, if the sound is that much better.
Also, most of the loco's would be first gen diesels, which would probably mean only one speaker for some of the units, which obviously wouldn't be stereo. I did read on the QSI site about how important the speaker installation dynamics are.