Quantum sound system - are they any good?

[Anonymous]

I am new to the sound and DCC systems. I see a lot of steam engines with "Quantum sound system with dual speakers" on ebay, I was wondering if any one has one and what they think of it. I know I should not even be thinking of buying one of these things yet (as my layout has not been compleated yet). But I have seen some of your cut scenes on this forum - and they look and sound so fantastic. Like I said, I see these on ebay and it takes a lot of willpower not to buy one. I just want to know more about them first. I have learned alot from you guys and hope to learn alot more.[:)]
Thanks, ennout

[simon1966]

I have a couple of BLI steamers and I am really happy with them. The QSI decoder is an excellent product and now appears in several other manufactuers locomotives.

[Anonymous]

simon1966, I thought they would be pretty nice. but wanted it hear it form someone who has one.
Thanks again, ennout[:D]

[Anonymous]

QSI is like the gold standard for me. I get QSI or forget it.

[NZRMac]

I have two QSI (BLI) SD40-2's and had a BLI 2-8-2 QSI it had mechanical problems and I sent it back. But the sound on all of them is just awesome.

I now have a proto 2000 2-8-8-2 QSI on order which I bought from E-bay looking forward to hearing it run.

Ken.

[Anonymous]

If you want to know about the QSI system go to your local hobby store (LHS as we say).
They are great systems. The sound is excellant. You won't go wrong buying a loco with it in.
Bill

[Anonymous]

Great! That settles it. it's in my future.
Thanks again guys,
ennout[:)]

[WilmJunc]

Unlike some aftermarket sound systems that are barely loud enough at maximum volume, most would agree that the volume of QSI equipped locomotives is actually too loud out of the box and has to be turned down. A nice problem to have.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ennout

I am new to the sound and DCC systems. I see a lot of steam engines with "Quantum sound system with dual speakers" on ebay, I was wondering if any one has one and what they think of it. I know I should not even be thinking of buying one of these things yet

I have several. They are certainly loud, it takes a lot of playing with the settings to get all the components in the right volume relative to one another. The bell always seems to be the thing I turn down the farthest.

I was disapointed that the sound is not syncronized with a cam or something on the drive shaft. So one has to futz with one of the CVs to get a compromize syncronization. I end up setting mine set to syncronize at the slower speeds where it is more noticible if it is wrong.

The other thing is to turn on the ummm, ummm, can't even think of what BPL calls it. In PFM systems it was called the "exhaust chuff cut off". Basically the exhaust sound can change depending on how hard the locomotive is laboring. It makes heavy chuffs for accelerating, up hill, and pulling really heavy trains and really light chuffs for downhill or the loco moving without a train. There is a set of CV values that can be turned on and adjusted in the BLI unit to activate these effects.

[BRVRR]

I have a BLI Heavy Mike with the QSI sound system. I love it! I'm hoping they make the sound chips available for after market applications soon. Once you get the CVs set up, the QSI sound system is awesome.

[Anonymous]

I have the P2K E6A (in ROCK ISLAND ROCKET scheme, of course!) with QSI sound - it's great !!!

And unlike some BLI diesels, LL has had QSI use more correct sounds. The E6 uses sounds recorded off an E5 (if you think that is still "off", the BLI SD40-2 used sounds off an Geep !!!). Atlas and LL seem to be making QSI record more accruate sounds - hopefully BLI diesels will also in the future.