emdmikeI think they sound fine, but, we have found they dont play well with Decoder Pro or JMRI. None of my friends engines with MRC boards in them will program on his programing track at the computer using Decoder Pro.
One of the big issues with early MRC decoders was that they did not support 'read back' of the CV's. You could 'write' to the CV, but you could not 'read' it to verify that it was written correctly. I have an Athearn Genesis MP15AC with the MRC sound decoder factory installed. It was impossible to program the address even on a Digitrax program track with a 'booster'. I finally calculated the CV17/18/29 values and programmed them 'on the main'.
I also have an Atlas NRE GenSet with a MRC decoder - install went fine, but the sound is really not correct for a GenSet. They advertise about 'stereo' sound - but do not provide dual speakers, and I cannot ofr the life of me understand how one can get 'stereo' in a model train engine. This is just the usual marketing hype you read in their magazine ads.
Until they get serious and address some of their known issues, I will not being buying any more of their DCC products.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
A person who recently moved to Arizona from Chicago brought several Athearn Genesis locomotives that he purchased when they were using MRC sound decoders, but he had never ran them.
The sound is okay, but motor control is horrible. Four of them surged, stalled, lurched, or ran so erratically that we had to piggy-back NCE or TCS decoders into them for motor control purposes and totally bypass the MRC motor drive circuitry.
These are the first MRC decoders we have encountered at our club because everyone has shunned them over the years due to their terrible reputation. TCS or NCE are our preferred motor and light control decoders, and Tsunami, QSI, or LokSound are our sound choices.
The last time I saw the pricing of newer MRC sound decoders they seem to be more expensive than the other brands.
I think they sound fine, but, we have found they dont play well with Decoder Pro or JMRI. None of my friends engines with MRC boards in them will program on his programing track at the computer using Decoder Pro. Where as his QSI and Soundtraxx boards do just fine. I dont think he has any Loksound boards yet. I have 2 MRC (1 steam 1 diesel) that I programed using my NCE Powercab and they have done just fine over the past few years. Both are currerntly out of a model but I will be reinstalling the steam one shortly in a PFM brass engine. If one of the other brands could get their prices down to the MRC level while maintaining thier current quality levels, MRC would be out of business IMHO. Many modelers that use MRC would like to run other brands, but the higher price pushes them to take a chance on the MRC decoders. In the past year, I have only had 1 MRC decoder fail outright. I have had them loose thier programing and need to be reprogramed, but I have had that issue with Digitrax and TCS decoders from time to time as well. Cheers Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
People always say they want the "best" and "high quality" stuff, but history of consumer electronics proves that people really buy CHEAP. That is how MRC is staying in the market. Newbies and inexperienced purchasers see "sound", look at the price and buy.
I have three MRC sound decoders and am very happy with them. I love them. They worked perfect right out of the package, and two have been going for more than five years now. I should note I model in N scale, and the diesels I have cannot accept Tsunami or other decoders.
I wa rooting around today for info on a non-sound decoder choice for my first DC to DCC conversion (non-sound) but I came across this recent thread on sound decoders which I "favorite"-ed. It may be of help.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/214272.aspx
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
davidmbedardGo buy an MRC decoder and be happy with it. No one's opinion should get in the way of your spending. However, the fact is that Athearn has dropped the MRC line if decoders because of the failure rate. The fact that no mfg actually supports MRC on the OEM side of things speaks volumes. They once did, but now Soundtraxx and Loksound has the lion's share of the OEM market. Reliability aside, MRC has been eclipsed by every other mfg of sound decoders in terms of sound quality and accuracy. MRC is still around because of the low cost of their product, not because they make a quality product in any way. You have been now informed as to why we don't use MRC under our hoods, now it is up to you what your time is worth. David B
Well said David! Really its about your budget, that is the one thing MRC has going for it is price point. but to Davids point. You get what you pay for.
I don't need to explain anything else so.. Happy modeling!
DANOC&O lives on!!! Visit my railfan community site: http://www.crtraincrew.com
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration