Hi! MRC has a new sound system out that is for an under the table speaker (not in the train). The system is also a DCC unit that can be consisted like a regular decoder. This is seriously cool. Consider hooking up multiple speakers under a layout, with each speaker being connnected through a relay. As the train moves and sets off track detectors, the detector throws the relay. Ta daa! Decent sound with bass that moves with your train in N Scale! Tony Burzio San Diego, CA
I was looking at this on NscaleSupply website. I went to MRC's website and couldn't find much information on it. The NSS site has more info than the mfg company. Figure that one out. I just may give this one a shot.
From the ad copy it seems as if this may be pretty neat. Affordable also. Does anyone have one to be able to give us a review ?
These units have been out for awhile. I bought both the steam and diesel units before Christmas. I have used them both with DC and DCC and also used the steam unit with the 027 Christmas tree layout, but I had to use a rectifier bridge to get it to work correctly with the ac output. The instructions has an error on the proper wireing for DC use, but is correct for DCC. For DC Red & brown for track terminals and yellow & white for fixed ac terminals. I am really pleased with the steam unit. It works better on DCC than DC. I am refering to the synchronization(?spelling). On DC it is a bit tricky, but I didn't spend a lot of time on DC. I haven't spent much time with the diesel unit but I am sure it will work fine once I get the speed curve right. Michael Mercer
Does anyone have any suggestions for proper synchronization with both your steam locos and diesel units? The sound seems to kick in much after the locomotive is on its way.
I saw ads for this as well and it caught my attention. The one thing I was wondering about though is what does it sound like have a fixed speaker as the loco(s) move about. Meaning the sound is not coming from the locomotive so doesnt that sound odd? Also, how does the system handle transition from one area of the layout to another? This is one of three areas I see as a draw back for Nscale 1. The difficulty of incorporating sound in nscale diesel. 2. limited space for decoders (this is getting better) 3. Little to no options for operating smoke and other nifty things that the bigger scales have. Dont get me wrong, I love Nscale I just wish there was away to bring some of these neat features to N-scale. This product from MRC seems to be a possible compromise solution to the sound problem for N-scale. The other option I was looking for down the road was by installing soundtrax decoders/speakers into railcars for diesel. Steamers can sometimes cram this stuff inside of a tender. Sorry, I am sort of thinking outloud about this topic.
By the way, how large is that speaker??? does it have to be installed under the layout? what about having multiple trains running with multiple locos running at the same time?
I'm very happy using Soundtraxx DSX sound only decoders hooked up to Radio Shack 4 inch speakers under the benchwork. The JJJ&E has been operating with sound that way for almost six years. The other option which pales in comparison to the quality of sound is to place a DSX sound only decoder in a 50 foot boxcar behind a diesel or steam loco. It very nice to have multiple trains running with sound. Stay cool and run steam.....
I am so confused so with one speaker under the layout, how does it work then when trains are coming and going? also, Do you install the DSX decoders inside each loco then? or are they installed somewhere else?
The DSX dound decoder is mounted under the benchwork near the speaker. With a four inch Radio Shack speaker, the sound is mighty convincing. You must strategically place your speaker in an ideal spot. You must also remember that my layout's footprint is 4x15' on multiple levels. I don't need the sound traveling around the layout. Stay cool and run steam.....
Mike : The wiring is simple, It's only a four inch Radio Shack speaker for $9.99 that hooked up to a decoder under your benchwork. Here is the DSX Sound Only decoder: You use four of the wires. The red and black go the the common bus lines. The two purple wires are soldered to the leads of the four inch speaker. One of the leads also has a capacitor which is supplied soldered in series to the speaker. You don't use the remaining wires. It's so simple and easy. The speaker can be mounted to any cross beam under the benchwork with the decoder placed close by and wired to the speaker and common bus lines. Tony's Trains has all the Soundtraxx DSX sound only decoders on sale for 1/2 price. I've collected about 25 different steam and diesel sound over the years. Each decoder is mounted to an individual four inch speaker. You can multi-consist any number of loco's to a decoder( say for example four Trainmasters to one decoder). The DSX sound decoder in DCC now acts like a loco and is synchronised to all the throttle changes that a loco in the multi-consist undergoes during operations. You have many sounds to individually synchronise when you program the loco's to the decoder. Here are all the sound options in diesels and steam with Soundtraxx' DSX sound only decoders: Soundtraxx DSX Sound Only Decoders (Steam & Diesel) Have fun with sound in N Scale. Stay cool and run steam.... [ October 17, 2005, 05:54 PM: Message edited by: Powersteamguy1790 ]
Hmmm, I'm intrigued by this one. I run DC, but I just ordered one to see how it works. It should really make my wife happy!
Bob: I was thinking about what you have done for a while now. That is the way to go for my current temporary layout. It is a switching layout 2'x6'. I will have sound. Thanks for posting your system. Scott Lupia
Scott: It's ideal for your switching layout. Just place the speaker/speakers in the middle of the benchwork equi-distant front and back. You use an individual Radio Shack four inch speaker with each Soundtraxx DSX sound decoder. The speakers are $9.99 at Radio Shack. The decoder acts just like a loco when you program it, and then multiconsist the decoder to a loco/loco's. The address for the decoder will control the decoder functions. The loco address controls the front and rear headlights. Both addresses control train movement. The loco address won't control any of the decoder sound functions. I've really enjoyed the sound I've had on the JJJ&E for almost six years now. Have fun with sound.... Stay cool and run steam.....
My layout is straight DC with dual-cab walk around . I put two of the MRC Synchro Sound units on layaway at the LHS. It seemed like an inexpensive way to add sound to the AD&N.
Bob, Would this work on a larger layout, meaning the loco or consist will eventually move away from the speaker. How does one solve that issue? Good idea though this has grabed my interest.
Lots of speakers, one per block, each connected in series with a relay. The output of the block detector turns on the relay, moving the sound with the train.
