ModelRailroader.com Reader Poll – February 26, 2003

[Anonymous]

My two cents worth. I am big fan of DCC, and I would prefer that the locomotives come with decoders and all associated wiring (lights etc) functional. Many of the locos I purchased required too much sodering and light bulb changeouts. Sound is not as important, a couple of locos with sound is plenty on the layout.

[Anonymous]

A couple of years ago, i installed an MRC $60 sound system on the RR. This does a good job for diesels but the steam sound is for a loco at about 15 MPH. My problem is that I'm an old timer. Been in the hobby since 1948, have 8 brass Sierras,which I'd love to have good sound for, and over 50 Diesels. There is just no way that I'd consider rewiring and installing DCC. Without a doubt the no 22 feeders on the layout would be inadequate as well. If I was just starting out I'd be tempted to go DCC and sound, but if I had to pay the price for a decoder already installed, I would probably not buy the product. Jack.

[BAYOUMAN]

SOUND IS NICE WITH ONE OR TWO ENGINES ON THE LAYOUT. BUT MOST OR TOO LOUD AND SHOULD MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR BE ON LINE IT IS VERY DISTRACTING. I HAVE MY SOUND CUT DOWN TO WHAT I THINK IS PROPER FOR OUR CLUB LAYOUT ( ABLE TO HEAR IT FROM ABOUT EIGHT TO TEN FEET AWAY). OUR LAYOUT IS SOME SIXTH FEET LONG AND TWENTY FOUR FEET WIDE SO SOUND IS CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA. TRY HEARING A SD 45 WITH A SHAY LOGGING ENGINE CRAWLING UP GRADE .

[icmr]

When I get a so called permanent layout I will have DCC and sound so it is very important.



Victor

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[scubaterry]

I prefer preinstalled sound in my loco's. I have installed sound in 12 of my Loco's to date. They sound great but I would prefer not to have to do the extra work putting sound in. The only major drawback is the price.
Terry[8D]

[Anonymous]

Love sound ! But my budget doesn't.[|(][|(][banghead][sigh]

[Anonymous]

If having to choose between a non DCC (but DCC ready) loco or one with DCC+sound I'll probably go with non DCC and add my own decoder. To me the sound quality across the board does not justify an extra $100-$150 on a locomotive. I think people are getting gouged as I know the components don't cost that much. Heck you can buy a whole computer with speakers for not much more.

[on30francisco]

I prefer to buy a loco (in HO) that is DCC ready (and plug in my own decoder) that can run on either DC or DCC. I could care less about sound. The same goes for Large Scale, however, I do like sound as an option since it sounds much more realistic.

[Darth Santa Fe]

Not important to me, because I only use DC. I wish some of Bachmann's newer stuff came with DCC and without DCC, so I could have a choice. But instead, I have to pay for a decoder, which is dual mode,(runs on DC or DCC) but why pay extra?

[Anonymous]

I voted not important at all. I'm not really interested in sound, first of all. Second of all, they're charging sometimes over $100 for a $20 decoder. I just can't justify that.

Kevin

[tomikawaTT]

While I just took delivery of four locos, three of which are DCC ready, I voted 'not interested.' Of those four locos, only one will go into operation pretty much as built. The others are raw material for projected kitbashes, and will bear no resemblance to the original prototypes when finished - in fact, only one will have the same wheel arrangement.

A pre-installed DCC chip, with or without sound, would just be something else in the way of the intended design.

Chuck

[sebamat]

I have several hundreds engines of all possible makers, a lot of them over 15y old. No way I will change to DCC and retrofit all of them..

Sound ... just one steam engine (a 2-8-2 from Broadway, it works also without DCC)to try it.
Fun, but often not so realistic, when it stop in the middle of a move. I would not buy more (at 70$extra cost)......

I really like the producers to continue to offer not 'overequipped' models, they are already getting more and more expensive.

sebastiano

p.s: I do not understand people who says DCC is easier... at the club converting the engine was a big work ok, these were older engines, it requested quite a lot of resoldering & rewiring), and fried decoders or programming resetted to 0 were really common!