On this and other forums I head Economai and Sound Value Line terms thrown out as the same. Here from my latest dealer newsletter: Probably the biggest question we get with the new Econami line is, “Is this decoder the same as what is in the Bachmann Sound Value, Athearn RTR or the Walthers Mainline sound system?” The answer is a resounding no. This value priced decoder ($79.95 MSRP) contains many of the features found in some of the higher-priced decoders, such as a full complement of sound effects (Eco supports up to 34 functions!), full startup and shutdown of the diesel engines, 4-6 lighting outputs (depending on board format), a full roster of Hyperlights (and some new ones including opposite light dim), 7-band EQ (just like on the Tsunami), F11 brakes and sound effects (just like Tsunami), and more! There are several new features added to the line, such as our new smoother and slower Hyperdrive2 (advanced motor control also supporting CV 5 and CV 6 3-point speed table), our new FlexMap technology (allowing any function to be assigned to any button without a difficult matrix of CVs), selectable sound files on one decoder (minimizing part number count and allows full customization of the decoder to the model), many new recordings (new whistles, cylinder cocks, boiler blowdown), and more. More in the letter...but...if it's a Botch sound decoder (don't care who made it...it's called "OEM" and Botch specs it) it isn't the same. Cost is the only concern, remove features until you get the cost to where we want it to be. Bachmann's goal is to have DCC on board mandated in all locomotives. When I heard that from their "technical advisor", made my future non-purchases look like a really smart thing.
For those of you who might be contemplating swapping decoders in this model for a different whistle, here's a video in which I cycle through all 15 whistles available with the ESU LokSound sound file #73817.
I think I need to print some more keystones and go to the rifle range. Happy that some modelers are going to be happy,, for my self,, I could give 10,000,000 you know what's!! and it ain't dollars!!!!! wyatt
Well, I probably won't get one either but I am encouraged that N scale can grow from this which means more profits for the manufacturers, which means more goodies for ME down the road.
West coaster here so I won't be getting one of these...ever. However, it's worth having Bachmann come out with a Pennsy engine just to SHUT the Pennsy fanatics (who seem to railroad any thread regarding steam into a crying fest as to why there aren't any Pennsy steam locos) up. There, you got what you wanted. I'd ask you to be quiet but I'm sure that you are ramping up to complain about how this new engine isn't good enough...wrong whistle, drivers 1" too big, sound is too trebley, too fast, too slow, too something...it will always be too something.
Like you. I still prefer the loksound myself.. It's truly a Cadillac and I don't need to add heat sinks to keep it from cooking itself.. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
My hearing isn't the best being an old guy but I really can't hear anything that would push me to up grade the speaker and sound decoder. I think I can live with the stock sound decoder, if my K4 runs as good as my Berkshire.
If this thing is shown as "shipping", why haven't the major e-tailers like Fifer, BLW, or woo woo woo have them listed on their pages yet ? ? ? Carl
Well I haven't been to trw for sometime now. But it sounds to me that Kato-nymphs just can't see anything but kato.. But here is the big "Q"" about kato. When, was the last time they actually took a poll of what Americans want? Or anyone but the Japanese? They may make outstanding locos. But if it was not for Con Cor teaming up with them. Would we have ever heard of them? And then they ditched con cor, destroyed that company, took everything home and intentionally forgot how they started. Am I being mean? Sure why not. Kato-nymphs attack everything not kato made. If bachman is putting out good steam, enjoy it. It's not even competition for kato. ( they have to produce quantities of steam. Not just specials once in awhile ) Atlas, Athearn, Fox Valley, Intermountain, model power and others continue to make new on a regular basis. Kato.... Does not.. I suggest all the Kato-nymphs beg kato to make more American steam. Beg all you want. You might get one again in a few years. And don't use the FEF as an example. It's an FEF. Any mods, kills the warranty. Even bachmann isn't that stuck up.. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
"Shipping" could and often does mean from the factory. It's a month across that big blue pond; a week - ten days for unloading, marshalling, transport to"Anytown USA" and your warehouse so when you see "Shipping" add up to six weeks until it's actually available for the distributors to order; another few days for them to get them and then another few days to a week for them to get to stores.... in all you could realistically add eight weeks from the time a manufacturer says shipping... I try and use the term "in transit".... I have no idea how Bachmann operates but if the announcement just came out then the stores are also just getting their dealer update with sku codes, msrp's discounts and all that good stuff....
The ad that shows that is in the October MR which is still over a month away. Maybe they just didn't account for the early magazine. Jason
I am a long, long time Soundtraxx dealer. Long time. That's why I had the dealer bulletin to copy in earlier. Having been through Bachmann OEM designed semi-tsunami decoders before (quasinami springs readily to mind), I called just now and asked about this. If it is "sound value" as mentioned, it is ordered, specifically, stripped down, less options, no reverb, no equalizer, far less functions than even the economai. This page gives you links to specific factory-installed releases, you can see what CV's are there..if it's zero, there are no options available: http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM_pages/bachmann/bachmann.php You can check about any factory installed Soundtraxx unit: http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/index.php The K4 is not yet listed, but it will be. These are entry level, or for folks who want to use it as a back-up loco, things like that. Those who are flaming dcc users might just want to save the what, $80 difference and buy a dc version and add the sound decoder with all the options they like. Just a thought. Dave
As a 'regular' DCC user.... A straight DCC decoder is in the $30.00 range. Thats a $50.00 saving we 'flaming dcc users' can save for something more important then a $80.00 sound unit...which we dont/wont wanna use anyways... Guys like JD are gonna trashcan the factory sound and he will install a....I hate to say this...Better sounding sound units. I guess its all relative to the consumers needs
Bachmann doesn't pay retail for there sound decoders, so thinking you would save $50 is ridicules. It would be more like a $10 - $15 difference, and the big reason Bachmann isn't doing both.
If you look at the spec sheet for the HO K4, it lists three whistle options: PRR Banshee, Reading 6 Chime and Baldwin B4G. Perhaps the decoder for the N scale version will have similar functionality. http://www.soundtraxx.com/factory/OEM_pages/bachmann/ho_k4_4-6-2.pdf
It depends. Sometimes Bach orders full-on Economai or Tsunami. The one in question is neither. But, at $400 MSRP, you willing to take a chance? Some where I had heard $80 difference between dcc and dc versions. Cannot find any reference (yet) other than some n scaler's comment.
Wowsa !!!!! I dont believe I said anything about Bachmann spending 80.00 on a decoder. I qouted a post that stated the consumer could save 80.00 by buying a DC version versus a Bachmann installed DCC sound one. That would indicate that no matter how much Bachmann was buying them for...they where charging the consumer 80.00 for the sound decoder (which BTW is cheap for a DCC Sound decoder). The original post also said the consumer could then put whatever dcc sound unit they wanted in it. If a consumer saved 80.00 by buying a DC one it wouldnt matter what they put in it afterwards. I was using a straight DCC user as an example of what was stated. +80.oo saving to the consumer to buy one with no Bachmann sound decoder -30.00 for a consumer to purchase a straight DCC decoder of their choice _______ +50.00 net profit for the consumer who only wants straight DCC And I did all that math without a calculator...imagine that !!
That's what I said. You want good dcc and sound, why pay them the $80 so you can yank it out and put in something good? How folks can mis-read that is beyond me. If you want decent dcc/sound, think about the dc version and do it that way. And, I remember their "technical advisor" saying the electronics cost nothing. Really. I wouldn't pay any money to support the PRC full stop. With their economy in free fall, one wonders just how much "support" you'd get. I had Bachmann N at one point. I've had to work a lot on Bachmann Half Zero. No more for me.
