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MRC Steam Sounder

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Monday, February 12, 2018 1:21 PM

Chip,

I wouldn't use a 4 ohm as it doubles the power through the speaker which is hard on an amp.  I would at the very least cut the CV volume in half or run 2 of them in series.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Monday, February 12, 2018 1:19 PM

SpaceMouse
 
DigitalGriffin

There no reason you cant replace that speaker with a smaller one.  That said, I would seriously boost that power supply cap.

 

 

MRC makes a sound decoder for light steam that comes without a speaker. If I forgo the speaker, I might as well get that. Hmmm.

On a different note, where would one go to get elecronic components if they live withing an hour and a half of a Radio Shack--and not have to pay more than it's worth for shipping?

 



I guess you don't have amazon prime?

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Monday, February 12, 2018 1:10 PM

RR_Mel
One thing to make note of is they are 4Ω.

I'm not sure of the signifcance. I know my car speakers are 8 ohm.

The question I have is can you fit one of those suckers in your 0-6-0 tender?

 


Crandell, that is a good idea. I'm filing that one away in my brain.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, February 12, 2018 12:22 PM

Skip
 
If you’re looking for great sounding speakers take a look at these
 
 
After installing a couple of these in my Cab Forward tenders I’ve replaced most of the speakers in my locomotives with them, they sound better than great.  One thing to make note of is they are 4Ω.
 
This is a link to my blog and the installation of a pair of the eBay 1” speakers in one of my Cab Forward oil tenders.
 
 
Most small high powered (1 watt) speakers have Neodymium magnets that are super strong so if they are placed close the track you need to protect them from getting clogged with metal filings.
 
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
  
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, February 12, 2018 11:42 AM

Chip, Lionel placed large speakers inside of the tender on my Challenger.  They did it by cutting the plastic tube-like housing on an angle instead of at right angles the way you'd cut a PVC pipe normally.  The effect is that it canted the speaker's cone and body at an angle inside the tender when it was glued to the open face of the tube.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Monday, February 12, 2018 11:34 AM

DigitalGriffin

There no reason you cant replace that speaker with a smaller one.  That said, I would seriously boost that power supply cap.

MRC makes a sound decoder for light steam that comes without a speaker. If I forgo the speaker, I might as well get that. Hmmm.

On a different note, where would one go to get elecronic components if they live withing an hour and a half of a Radio Shack--and not have to pay more than it's worth for shipping?

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Pa.
  • 3,361 posts
Posted by DigitalGriffin on Monday, February 12, 2018 11:24 AM

There no reason you cant replace that speaker with a smaller one.  That said, I would seriously boost that power supply cap.

Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions

Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
MRC Steam Sounder
Posted by SpaceMouse on Monday, February 12, 2018 10:58 AM

I'm pretty sure this description was written by engineers, because it took me a while to decipher.

The exclusive "Sounder" is a sound-only decoder and speaker that's easily added to any HO locomotive equipped with a standard, non-sound decoder or even any piece of rolling stock being pulled by the locomotive equipped with wheel pickups.

The railroader simply "hooks-up" two wires to the track power pickup points in the loco and suddenly can enjoy MRC's rich, Brilliance sound and the world's most extensive feature set.

The Steam Sounder reproduces eight, genuine articulated and eight, non-articulated steam locomotive sounds and you can select 33 whisles as well.

Features:

  • Use with any HO non-sound decoder from MRC or any other brand
  • Full 28 NMRA function capability
  • Select desired sounds and functions in "seconds"
  • No time consuming downloading or expensive purchases ... all the features are in the decoder
  • Use with any NMRA compatible DCC system to add sound "on the rails" or "below the rails"
  • Simple 2-wire hookup
  • Superb Brilliance sound quailty with multiple sounds and volume selectability
  • Capable of providing six dynamic lighting effects
  • 18V maximum input

So I get that there are 16 engine sounds and they are called forth on the programming track, but I have no idea if there is anything close to a 1900's 2-6-0 in the programming--although it might be cool to have an 0-6-0 that shounds like a Russsian. 

And the size of the speaker looks like it's better suited to the door panel in my wife's van than the tender of a 2-6-0, although the last one I got has a depression with pre-drilled holes that has to come pretty close. 

So, I guess my questions are has anyone tried one of these and what kinds of sounds does it make?

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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