There is little or no room for this decoder and speaker in an N scale diesel. There might be room for both inside a tender of a steam loco and that might be debatable in some tenders. If this decoder has BEMF function, it isn't just a sound decoder as the title suggests. How much are they? Stay cool and run steam.....
Why would you need the BEMF function in a sound decoder. I much rather use a Tsunami Soundtraxx sound decoder. The sounds from the Tsunami decoder are outstanding. So you need a regular decoder for motor functions. Where is the MRC sound decoder plus the speaker going to fit? Stay cool and run steam....
Bob, They list for about $85 and Tony has them for $65 as Five Flat said. From what I read it sounds like it is both a sound decoder and regular motor/function decoder.
Stan: I would rather install a Lenz gold mini decoder in the loco and find room elsewhere for a Tsunami decoder who sound is outstanding. I already have Tsunami decoders for steam loco's. If you carefully re-read the description on Tony's website, MRC has embellished the language and you must read carefully between the lines. This discussion clearly belongs in the DCC section where it will receive more attention. I will move it there in several hours. Stay cool and run steam....
I agree, instead of all the Marketing Hyped Language just show me an installation in some different locos that works and sounds good. When something is overly hyped it breeds suspicion.
Stan: It would be nice to see the installation in one N scale loco, instead of all the hype. Somehow, an example of a loco with the decoder and speaker is never accomplished. I'll pass on this. Stay cool and run steam......
It's obviously a decoder with sound. And worth a trial. Two questions to ask: How good is the sound quality from that tiny speaker? How well coordinated to actual speed is the steam chuff?
Do you really expect the quality of sound to be good from that small speaker? I have my doubts. With the Soundtraxx DSX sound only decoders you can coordinate the steam chuff to the actual speed of the loco fairly easily. Stay cool and run steam....
Guys, If this MRC sound is anything like its HO big brother, then it doesnt sound very good. I've heard the MRC EMD and Steam sound in HO and the EMD sound wasnt even as good as first generation soundtraxx (The startup sound was akin to a pazer going off!) and the steam sound is weak, the chuff sounds like sandpaper rubbing together inside a tin can, the one-size-fits-all QSI steam sound is superior even to the MRC "Brillance" steam sound. Tsunami for steam, QSI and Tsunami for diesel. MRC comes up short again.
It is Sound & Motion No idea of sound quality. LIRR said the HO was disapointing, and these N scale are suppose to be the HO shrunk down. so probably can't be any better. Tsunami sounds (pun intended) like the best thing in sound. I'm going to "World's Greatest Hobby on Tour" Feb 25-26, 2006 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN and hope to see/hear these as well as tsunami, lok sound, etc. and also digitrax, prodigy advance DCC.
I must chime in again and say that Lok Sound is really good sounding, the only problem is you need to have a large speaker to fully flesh out the sounds.
