11-05-2010, 11:34 AM
When it comes to sound, there's three ways you can go... excellent, good or cheap.
Good will cost you about $100, which will get you 16 bit sound, the correct prime-mover sounds for your model, a selection of horns that will give you one that's close to your prototype, and BEMF motor control.
Good will get you decent, generic sounds, and BEMF motor control.
Cheap will make noise, go forwards and backwards, and generally be dissatisfying.
In the "excellent" category, I'd rank Soundtraxx, QSI and ESU LokSound.
In the "good" category, I'd put the Digitrax 164D and Soundbugs.
I've had no experience with TCS sound decoders, so I can't say where they fall.
I'm not going to disparage anyone by putting them in the "cheap" category, having installed a bunch of them for clients, and been personally disappointed by the sound and performance, I now recommend at that price point the Digitrax 164D decoder... for less than $50 with the speaker, it's a good deal.
Good will cost you about $100, which will get you 16 bit sound, the correct prime-mover sounds for your model, a selection of horns that will give you one that's close to your prototype, and BEMF motor control.
Good will get you decent, generic sounds, and BEMF motor control.
Cheap will make noise, go forwards and backwards, and generally be dissatisfying.
In the "excellent" category, I'd rank Soundtraxx, QSI and ESU LokSound.
In the "good" category, I'd put the Digitrax 164D and Soundbugs.
I've had no experience with TCS sound decoders, so I can't say where they fall.
I'm not going to disparage anyone by putting them in the "cheap" category, having installed a bunch of them for clients, and been personally disappointed by the sound and performance, I now recommend at that price point the Digitrax 164D decoder... for less than $50 with the speaker, it's a good deal.