LOC VS Tsunami decoders

[maxman]

rrinker

I bought the Lokprogrammer unit to load sounds (costs about the same as one decoder).

Well, maybe 1-1/2 to 2 decoders.

[ricktrains4824]

I said it on the other thread, I will repeat it here: Loksound hands down over Tsunami. Better motor control with best sound I have found anywhere. 

And yes, I have units with Tsunami decoders, and units with Loksound decoders.  My Loksound equipped units do indeed perform, and sound, better.

It is not even close, zero contest. (Blown out of the water, smoking the competition style.)

[Mark R.]

hon30critter

.... One thing I am disappointed with is that the number of North American sound files offered by Loksound is rather limited. They are planning on releasing more but they seem to take forever to do it.

Dave

 

Really ? They have three pages of sound files ! What are you needing that they don't have ?

 

Mark.

[rrinker]

 I've standardized on using only Loksound for sound decoders, my last loco with a Tsunami I traded for the same loco with a Loksound. Prime movers are fairly comparable, but the horns are WAY better in Loksound. Out of the box motor drive is no comparison either, but Loksound also has an auto-configure mode for the motor drive (just need to have enough track space - since it starts the loco at full throttle and runs for some distance to auto calibrate the drive, so it's not something you can do on a short test track).

 Since I don't plan on using any other sound decoders, I bought the Lokprogrammer unit to load sounds (costs about the same as one decoder). You don't need this - you can buy the decoders preprogrammed with any of the available sounds from any of the reputable DCC dealers, but this way I can buy plain unprogrammed (they do come with some test sounds loaded) decoder and load the sounds as I need them. In one case, I did customize a sound project by altering the horn - the supplied horn was not the one used on my prototype, but their library of sounds did include the correct horn. It was a simple matter to swap out the one in the project with a new one from the library (I did NOT record and process the sounds myself, this was already done by ESU and provided in a library of sounds they have available), producing the prime mover/horn combination that perfectly fit my prototype. Can't do that with Tsunami - if the horn isn't one of the provided options, you're stuck.

 For small applications, until the recent release of the Econami series, the Loksound Micro is much smaller than the Tsu-750, and also does not suffer from heat problems.

                      --Randy

 

[tstage]

As mentioned in another thread recently, Loksound for better motor control and sound.  And it's great right out of the box.  I usually don't have to tweak anything to get a steamer or diesel to go 1sMPH or < on speed step 001.

Tom

[hon30critter]

Hi Marty:

I'm assuming by "LOC" you are referring to Loksound decoders made by ESU. If so, I can strongly recommend them. I have installed about a dozen. They work properly right out of the box, and they can even fine tune themselves to match your particular locomotive. Locomotives crawl at speed step 1, and I do mean crawl. My HO stuff will move at well under one tie per second. They also have very little heat build up.

Loksound offers a couple of different 'grades' of decoders starting with the Select series and moving up to the V 4.0. The quality and performance of the two is the same. The Select series will do anything you want it to. It is not a low end decoder. The main reason for moving up to the V 4.0 is that it allows you to customize your sound files. You can record your own sounds and install them on the V 4.0. You will need a Lokprogrammer to do it.

I will confess that my experience with Tsunamis is limited, and it wasn't great. I only have two and they are a few years old so things may have changed. In order to get the locomotives to run the way I wanted them to I had to go through some fairly complex CV adjustments. The Loksounds didn't need any adjustments. Having said that, in fairness to the Tsunamis, their operation is actually more prototypical in that the locomotive moves on speed step 1 before the engine revs up, that is once you have played with the CVs to get it to move on speed step 1 at all.

One thing I am disappointed with is that the number of North American sound files offered by Loksound is rather limited. They are planning on releasing more but they seem to take forever to do it.

EDIT: I should have checked the ESU website before saying that. They have many more sound files on it then the last time I looked. Thanks to Mark R for correcting me.

Dave

[peahrens]

I can't comment on the specific Tsunami.  I'm biased...I've gone to LokSound Select as my go-to choice for the diesels I've been converting, including in my choice the very favorable comments often in the forum about the motor control and the sound files quality and specific loco options. 

I did convert an Athearn (2012 era) GP9 factory Tsunami (not sure which one) particularly because of the poor horn sound.  I don't know if that's representative of the sound quality of the current Tsunami you are looking at.  I installed a LokSound Select AUX6 and switched from the original small oval speaker to twin sugarcube speakers.  The sound improvement was quite significant and the motor control quite nice (w/o adjusting BEMF).  So if going for the Tsunami I'd want to understand whether the sound files today are improved over yesteryear's. 

I've since used LokSound Selects in LifeLike P2K SD50/60s, PA/PB, E6, others and Kato RS-2s and GE 44-9 CWs, etc and been very pleased with the results.  I don't know what you plan for speakers nor the provisions for same in your model (e.g., room in the fuel tank / weight).  I tend to put dual HiBass 1.1" speakers in the wide diesels (e.g., E6) and 2-4 sugarcube speakers above the weight in the narrow hood diesels, often milling space as needed for the speakers.  The decoder usually fits over the motor after removing the original board.

With the Select decoder, you can use the "Direct" replacement board that fits where the factory one was, wiring to the tabs.  Or you can hard wire in the Select, which I usually choose (those tend to run $82).  In your SD40-2 case I believe the correct sound file is there for you, the 73408 (AUX6) or 73708 (Direct).  

Also, you might want to check out the TCS site for an internal view of the loco if they show an example.  I think the following one is a motor only conversion:

http://www.tcsdcc.com/Customer_Content/Installation_Pictures/HO_Scale/Kato/EMD%20SD40-2/EMD%20SD40-2.html

And do consider changing from bulbs to LEDs while you're in there, if bulbs are the original lights.

[HejhogMarty]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a KATO SD40-2 Mid Loco # 37-6614. I have been using Tsunami KT1000 decoders in my Kato locos, but heard that LOC makes a better decoder for movement. Any suggestions?

Marty