Ever since the Louisville show this past summer, I have been very excited about the Surroundtraxx unit coming out. It is just the thing for my N scale layout. Has anyone actually recieved one yet? What speakers did you buy to go with it? Thanks Chuck McDonald:thumbs_up:
I don't have one but I'd like to get feedback from those who have it. I was just very disappointed in the product featureset after such a long wait so I couldn't pull the trigger on it. Maybe someday I'll hear one in action and change my mind.
What didnt you like doug? I thought it looked really cool to me...however I do just have a 10X13' layout in a spare bedroom. Chuck
The big thing was no way to upload additional sounds or otherwise upgrade/change the system. I'm not clear on what sounds are included but any device released these days should have the capability for expansion and/or improvement. (i.e. a flash upgrade to the "OS" if there are issues) For example, new sounds are created monthly it seems, like when the Con-Cor Zephyr came out. The other thing that I thought would have been cool is to allow it to integrate with on-board sound. So, have the majority of the bell, whistle, and high frequency sound volume coming from the loco itself (the directional sounds) and have the lower mids and bass (non-directional sounds) come from the SurroundTraxx unit. That wasn't a deal breaker, but again just seemed disappointing given the anticipation. I just get the impression they just released the device as it was 7-8 years ago when they first announced it and never touched the design again....and everything else has surpassed the technology. Again, if I could hear one I might change my tune, no pun intended. I went to OKC specifically to see a demo and they didn't have anything...just the black box to look at and one person manning the booth who was otherwise engaged when I stopped by...twice. Bottom line...I'm not convinced that anything more than the equivalent of an old MRC sound unit/squawk-box that is Loconet aware, instead of a truly innovative piece of hardware. It's too much money to just be the former. I will be glad to be proven wrong. I have the detection and transponding set up to do it. BTW, the size of the layout shouldn't matter much. Mine is even smaller than yours and although my goal was to include it on an evetually much larger pike, I still would set it up with my layout if I did decide to make the purchase.
