Tsunami ....... Yet Closer

[Anonymous]

Bruce at Litchfield sent this out the other day on his email list.....

" SoundTraxx is building sub assemblies and ironing out part numbers and
manuals. I expect we will start seeing units soon "

I've only been model railroading for months, now. How long have some of you guys been waiting for this?

I only have small, switcher type engines. I think I may finally buy a large, quality engine, and install the Tsunami decoder in it, along with some nice speakers. Sounds like a plan for a Cristmas gift to me. If the Tsunami's are really out by then. Lol.

I keep staring at that new PCM Reading T1 with sound, though. That baby sure is sweet.

Jim

[cacole]

It's been almost, or maybe more than, 2 years that we've been waiting for the Tsunami.

It's been so long that I have forgotten when ThrottleUp! first announced the Tsunami development.

[Anonymous]

I think I would have endeavored to name it something different.

QUOTE: Originally posted by yardgoat46

Bruce at Litchfield sent this out the other day on his email list.....

" SoundTraxx is building sub assemblies and ironing out part numbers and
manuals. I expect we will start seeing units soon "

I've only been model railroading for months, now. How long have some of you guys been waiting for this?

I only have small, switcher type engines. I think I may finally buy a large, quality engine, and install the Tsunami decoder in it, along with some nice speakers. Sounds like a plan for a Cristmas gift to me. If the Tsunami's are really out by then. Lol.

I keep staring at that new PCM Reading T1 with sound, though. That baby sure is sweet.

Jim

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigRedneckRob

I think I would have endeavored to name it something different.

Like maybe volcano?

It may make a lot of rumbling noises, and who knows when the sucker is going to erupt? [swg]

[jfugate]

And this is the Steam sound decoder ... I hope it's not another two years for the Diesel sound decoder. [xx(]

[MisterBeasley]

Personally, I think the upcoming Digitrax systems, aimed at the mainstream price point, will have a far bigger impact. With downloadable sound files, people will be putting these into entire fleets, not just that one "premium" engine.

Still, it's nice to that competition is out there improving the breed, huh?

[AntonioFP45]

O.K, latest scoop:

Barring a possible nuclear terrorist attack (did you all see the news?) , we should be seeing the Tsunami before Fall, 2005. If so, timing would be good as this is when Digitrax's unit hits the market. Lok Sound isn't far behind.

According to Beta test results, the Tsunami's sound was clearer than QSI's and the equalizer does make a difference in allowing the adjustment of individual sounds.

However, I am looking forward to hear what the Digitrax sound decoders are like. Originally, Digitrax was not planning in developing sound decoders.......and only did so at the persistent urging of Kato management. Goes to show that tenacity can pay off!

Lok Sound, while more expensive than Digitrax, offers the advantages in that it has a wider selection of prime mover sounds.

Digitrax and Lok Sound offer one option that Soundtraxx chose to leave out: The feature that allows the "uploading" of sound. For guys like me that are picky about locomotive horns, this is nice!

In any case, Tsunami is going to have some stiff competition. It's too bad that Soundtraxx couldn't get it on the market a year ago.

[Anonymous]

I saw where they threatened...but I didn't hear anything about a nuclear threat. Did they make that too? What a bunch of retards.

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

O.K, latest scoop:

Barring a possible nuclear terrorist attack (did you all see the news?) , we should be seeing the Tsunami before Fall, 2005. If so, timing would be good as this is when Digitrax's unit hits the market. Lok Sound isn't far behind.

According to Beta test results, the Tsunami's sound was clearer than QSI's and the equalizer does make a difference in allowing the adjustment of individual sounds.

However, I am looking forward to hear what the Digitrax sound decoders are like. Originally, Digitrax was not planning in developing sound decoders.......and only did so at the persistent urging of Kato management. Goes to show that tenacity can pay off!

Lok Sound, while more expensive than Digitrax, offers the advantages in that it has a wider selection of prime mover sounds.

Digitrax and Lok Sound offer one option that Soundtraxx chose to leave out: The feature that allows the "uploading" of sound. For guys like me that are picky about locomotive horns, this is nice!

In any case, Tsunami is going to have some stiff competition. It's too bad that Soundtraxx couldn't get it on the market a year ago.

[Anonymous]

These guys are like a piece of toast that got stuck in the toaster, they stink and they blow a lot of smoke.
P.S. I do mean the terrorists, not the sound system.

[brothaslide]

Tsunami - what is all the hype about? I think sound on-board loco sound is great but it still sounds so much like AM radio. Will the Tsunami sound more cleaner - Like FM radio (to use the radio analogy).

Take care,

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45
According to Beta test results, the Tsunami's sound was clearer than QSI's and the equalizer does make a difference in allowing the adjustment of individual sounds.

I hope it isn't just clearer (I would have said cleaner) but also can get some lower frequencies. After hanging around the UP 844 the last couple weeks all these new sound units sound like an old fashion transistor radio. Way to high pitched and trying to make up for the quality with volume.

[jnichols]

I agee with the other guys here who are more excited to see the new Digitrax and LokSound products. Given the experience that Digitrax has with sound systems, I'm not sure what the products will be like and they may not be that good, but at the prices they are talking about I'm crossing my fingers in hopes things turn out awesome!

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45
According to Beta test results, the Tsunami's sound was clearer than QSI's and the equalizer does make a difference in allowing the adjustment of individual sounds.

I hope it isn't just clearer (I would have said cleaner) but also can get some lower frequencies. After hanging around the UP 844 the last couple weeks all these new sound units sound like an old fashion transistor radio. Way to high pitched and trying to make up for the quality with volume.

Not much you can do about that, not with on-board sound. It's more a speaker limitation than anything. Try the same sound unit in a large scale loco where you can fit a proper speaker SYSTEM with a crossover and all, instead of expecting a single 1.5" speaker to reproduce the entire sound spectrum.

--Randy

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher
I hope it isn't just clearer (I would have said cleaner) but also can get some lower frequencies. After hanging around the UP 844 the last couple weeks all these new sound units sound like an old fashion transistor radio. Way to high pitched and trying to make up for the quality with volume.

Not much you can do about that, not with on-board sound. It's more a speaker limitation than anything.

Like Scotty used to say on Star Trek ...

"But Cap'n ... I cannah change the laws of physics!" [2c]

[BRVRR]

I too am looking forward to the Digitrax offering. The projected prices make them very attractive to me. If the quality is up to their usual standards, I think they will have a winner. Soundtraxx, like the domestic auto makers, have priced themselves out of my market.

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher
I hope it isn't just clearer (I would have said cleaner) but also can get some lower frequencies. After hanging around the UP 844 the last couple weeks all these new sound units sound like an old fashion transistor radio. Way to high pitched and trying to make up for the quality with volume.

Not much you can do about that, not with on-board sound. It's more a speaker limitation than anything.

Like Scotty used to say on Star Trek ...

"But Cap'n ... I cannah change the laws of physics!" [2c]

Indeed. RIP Scotty.
My prized non-train possession: "Mr Scott's Guide tot he Enterprise" signed by Scotty himself - I met him when he came to speak when I was in college. The Chief Engineer speaking at an engineering school, perfect fit.

--Randy

[AntonioFP45]

BRVRR,

I saw the Digitrax video that showcased the new sound decoder. Featured a Kato six axle GE with sound on it. Seemed pretty decent and loud considering videos on the web are compressed.

Indeed, if the sound quality of the Digitrax unit is comparable to that of a Soundtraxx DSX decoder and it's quiet (doesn't buzz at low current) than Soundtraxx's loyal customers are going to have a lower cost option, ironically, by a company that didn't originally plan on producing sound decoders.

As for Sountraxx pricing itself out of the market, not necessarily. From the way threads have been reading, the Tsunami is catering to modelers that are willing to spend extra for "top notch cream-of-the-crop" product. Hopefully Tsunami lives up to that expectation. Sort of like a familyy buying a Camry or Chevy Impala for all purpose trips, and then dad gets a big bonus on the job and buys a Corvette or Mustang.

If the sound is that good, I would buy one or two Tsunamis for my absolute favorite, "show stopper" locomotives. The rest of the fleet would get the more standard units like the Digitrax or LokSound. This is just my thinking.

I have yet to hear a Tsunami. As a technician friend of mine points out, Tsunami is using 2002-2003 technology! So....when the delays occured, did Soundtraxx go ahead and upgrade as well?.....Hopefully Soundtraxx did, since then.

[DigitalGriffin]

I'm having one installed in a P2K Berkshire (Big Mike on the C&O)

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

~D

[robengland]

You can't change the laws of physics but you can exploit them. Low freq sound is non-directional (which is why you can put your stereo sub-woofer anywhere in the room and the other dinky little speakers have to go in the right spots).

Loco sound will only really hit home when the bidirectional communication thing gets all sorted out (technically and legally), so that an on-board speaker can do the directional tweeting it does now, and something like a Surroundtraxx (an idea from Soundtraxx that makes the Tsunami look fast-to-market) pumps out 100 Watts of synchronised rumble under the layout.

The NMRA need to wade into this political minefield quick-smart and get a standard out for bi-directional so all the vendors will inter-operate. Sadly, I'm betting they won't, so you'll have to have decoders from the same vendor as your under-the-table sound system and possibly also your throttles/boosters.

But however it pans out, it will make today's sound systems sound more like ripples than tsunamis