Hi All! So as I am getting back into the hobby after a long layoff, I'm catching up on all the progress in electronics. I know I want to use DCC in my N-scale locos. I'm not sure how to accomplish sound. It seems that combo DCC and sound decoders run about $80-100 a pop. After a few locos that adds up - I'm intrigued by the Soundtraxx unit. Seems that would be more economicical than adding sound decoders to all the locos. Has anyone here used one? I'm interested in hearing everyone's thoughts and this topic. Thanks!
I have used Soundtrack Economy before in my Bachmann GP7. However, space is limited in other locomotives, like Atlas and Kato, hence why most use ESU products.
Are you asking about the Soundtraxx DSP-80 sound system? That system adds up quickly, too. And requires Digitrax transponding, along with at least one BDL-168, RX4s, speakers, subwoofer, etc. I did get to hear this at an NMRA show, and it was very cool.
The Econami is a good decoder , but you will be kicking yourself if you don't get the Tsunami 2. It does things so much better than the Eco . The reverb and whistles alone are worth it !
There is some folks using sound decoders as under layout sound for multiple locomotives. I am planning to install that system soon on my layout with a Soundcar decoder. The theory is that you set up the decoder by wiring it into you power buss and output the sound through a cheap set of amplified PC speakers. Then you MU it to a non sound or sound locomotive. I’ve seen it in action and it works pretty good. I’m going with a soundcar to get flange squeal and other car effects. You can also do a regular sound decoder for loco sounds. So for less than a hundred bucks......
It’s been done, look up lancemendheim.com, under table sound for the “How-To”. A friend of mine has done it. It works great.
The SurroundTraxx system or other under-the-table sound systems work passably well on smaller layouts, as long as you are not terribly sensitive to the fact that the sound isn't coming directly from the locomotive. On larger, walk-around layouts, neither system works well - and the SurroundTraxx system gets very expensive very quickly in this scenario, which would require multiple speakers situated around the layout and transponding capability to "follow" the locomotive. I have tried some under-table sound for the yard switchers on my layout, and frankly, even when the locomotive is limited in its travel range, the under-table systems were not acceptable for me - I still can pretty easily identify the fact that the sound isn't coming from the locomotive and that proved too annoying in my case. If you aspire to a large-ish layout with walkaround capability some day, then I would bite the bullet now and install sound decoders directly into the locomotive. Yes, it is expensive and complicated, but for this scenario, in the long run cheaper and more realistic IMHO than an under-table system. John C.
