questions about n scale sound??

[bikerraypa]

has anyone given Soundtraxx DSD090 decoders a try?

http://www.soundtraxx.com/dcc/dsd090.html

I was starting to use DCC when doing HO, and now that I'm in N I plan to do the same (probably EasyDCC). I figure, if I'm going to be installing decoders anyway, I might as well go whole hog and get sound in the bargain too. Are these decent sounding decoders, and will they stuff into an N scale locomotive or tender?

Or, has anyone tried the Loksound decoders? I like the idea of being able to download new sounds, etc

http://tinyurl.com/7npuk

http://tinyurl.com/dxs6q

And besides all that, does EasyDCC do sound very well?

Dang, this gets complicated, don't it? [:)]


Ray

[Anonymous]

Soundtraxx are good decoders and easyDCC does sound just fine, but the problem is speaker size. The reason more people dont do sound in N scale is because you can only fit a TINY speaker into an N scale engine. With such a small speaker the sound just isnt that great. Even in HO you can't really get the bass note that a real engine has, N scale is even worse. So it can be done, but it will sound like a tiny engine, not like the real thing.

[rrinker]

Two years ago I saw a display at the Timonium train show, the guy had an N scale E8 with Sountraxx sound in it - I was quite amazed at how good the horn was, for such a small scale. His secret was the fuel tank being adapted to fit a speaker you'd think would NEVER fit in an n scale loco. Actually he wasn't selling N scale locos, or sound, or DCC, he was sellign a speedometer, this was his demo layout. It can and does work.

--Randy

[bikerraypa]

That's sort of what I was thinking. I've been doing some measuring, and I can actually fit a pretty good sized speaker in the fuel tank of most of my N scale engines. With the steam engines, I can even do a bit larger. I'm going to a train show tomorrow, and another next weekend, and hopefully will have a chance to see some N scale locos with sound, and give them a listen.

[Don Gibson]

Good news and Bad news.

SOUNTRAXX has addressed the sound reproduction problem with N Scale.
The problem with N scale is 'itty bitty' speakers cannot move enough air to sound very realistic in a room.

GOOD NEWS is SURROUNDTRAXX with under-table home-theater componet's. It literally 'blow's away' sound from all HO installation's.

BAD NEWS is Soundtraxx just makes the 'black box'. Home-Theater Sound system's start at $500. - $700.