02-21-2011, 11:53 PM
Hi All:
In additional to Big Blue, I also subscribe to Model Railroad News and have found many of their articles very informative. Recently, in October 2010 and February 2011, they had articles espousing how good an MRC decoder with sound was when installed in an N Scale Kato SD80 and a Kato SD45. Since I have a couple of Kato SD70MACs, I was eager to try the MRC decoders. BIG BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. Following is the "Letter to the Editor" that I wrote with my results. Suffice it to say, I won't be purchasing any more MRC decoders with sound until I can see and hear SIGNIFICANT improvements.
dwight77
EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT
I eagerly read the article by Steven Goehring in your October issue, Locomotives/Rolling Stock on “Kato’s Big MAC’s a Whopper Deal” about Kato’s SD80MAC and the use of MRC’s 1808 drop-in decoder with sound. Since I have several Kato SD70’s I was hopeful that there might be good things on the horizon for sound in N Scale diesel locomotives.
In the article, Mr. Goehring reviewed the simplicity of the installation of the MRC 1808 drop-in decoder and some adjustments he made. He then stated, “When I started running the newly sound equipped SD80MAC, I knew I had a winner. It sounded fantastic and my-oh-my, how it ran!” I thought WOW; things are looking up for N Scale sound!!
Then after the holidays came your February edition and the article, again by Steven Goehring, “Kato delivers quality DCC ready SD45 to N-Scale” and in the article, the sub section “The Big New Feature DCC (and Sound!)”. Again Mr. Goehring had installed an MRC drop-in decoder with sound (#1806-2). He summarized with, “So, with DCC and sound, how does the SD45 run? VERY well, thank you very much!...The sounds are crisp and clear,...This locomotive is simply a joy to operate.”
I was ready. I checked and found that MRC had a comparable drop-in sound decoder (#1644) built especially for my Kato SD70MAC. I placed my order and eagerly awaited its arrival, presuming it would be equally as good as the ones in your articles. It arrived, and as described, the installation was quick and easy. I put my locomotive on the program track, picked a bell and horn sound and then set the prime mover sound. And then……??????......where is the sound……?????. The horn and bell were audible. To hear the diesel sound, I had to be on top of the unit. I went back to the program track to check the volume….it was maxed out. I looked at every possible adjustment but nothing improved the volume.
Bottom line, I think the speaker is just too small, not more than ¼ inch in diameter, to produce good volume….I didn’t expect to hear it from 20 feet away; but it would be nice to hear it clearly at 10’-15’. But, it just wasn’t the case in this model configuration…..a BIG BIG DISAPPOINTMENT after reading your articles.
I am going to look into possibly mounting a larger speaker in the fuel tank to see if I can salvage the decoder purchase; but at this point, I will not be purchasing nor recommending anyone purchase the MRC 1644 drop-in sound decoder for Kato’s SD70MAC. I know it is not one of the exact decoders reviewed in your articles, but I would be hard pressed to think that the results would be much different.
I greatly enjoy your magazine, please keep up the good work.
Dwight Sedgwick
North Fort Myers, Florida
In additional to Big Blue, I also subscribe to Model Railroad News and have found many of their articles very informative. Recently, in October 2010 and February 2011, they had articles espousing how good an MRC decoder with sound was when installed in an N Scale Kato SD80 and a Kato SD45. Since I have a couple of Kato SD70MACs, I was eager to try the MRC decoders. BIG BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. Following is the "Letter to the Editor" that I wrote with my results. Suffice it to say, I won't be purchasing any more MRC decoders with sound until I can see and hear SIGNIFICANT improvements.
dwight77
EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT
I eagerly read the article by Steven Goehring in your October issue, Locomotives/Rolling Stock on “Kato’s Big MAC’s a Whopper Deal” about Kato’s SD80MAC and the use of MRC’s 1808 drop-in decoder with sound. Since I have several Kato SD70’s I was hopeful that there might be good things on the horizon for sound in N Scale diesel locomotives.
In the article, Mr. Goehring reviewed the simplicity of the installation of the MRC 1808 drop-in decoder and some adjustments he made. He then stated, “When I started running the newly sound equipped SD80MAC, I knew I had a winner. It sounded fantastic and my-oh-my, how it ran!” I thought WOW; things are looking up for N Scale sound!!
Then after the holidays came your February edition and the article, again by Steven Goehring, “Kato delivers quality DCC ready SD45 to N-Scale” and in the article, the sub section “The Big New Feature DCC (and Sound!)”. Again Mr. Goehring had installed an MRC drop-in decoder with sound (#1806-2). He summarized with, “So, with DCC and sound, how does the SD45 run? VERY well, thank you very much!...The sounds are crisp and clear,...This locomotive is simply a joy to operate.”
I was ready. I checked and found that MRC had a comparable drop-in sound decoder (#1644) built especially for my Kato SD70MAC. I placed my order and eagerly awaited its arrival, presuming it would be equally as good as the ones in your articles. It arrived, and as described, the installation was quick and easy. I put my locomotive on the program track, picked a bell and horn sound and then set the prime mover sound. And then……??????......where is the sound……?????. The horn and bell were audible. To hear the diesel sound, I had to be on top of the unit. I went back to the program track to check the volume….it was maxed out. I looked at every possible adjustment but nothing improved the volume.
Bottom line, I think the speaker is just too small, not more than ¼ inch in diameter, to produce good volume….I didn’t expect to hear it from 20 feet away; but it would be nice to hear it clearly at 10’-15’. But, it just wasn’t the case in this model configuration…..a BIG BIG DISAPPOINTMENT after reading your articles.
I am going to look into possibly mounting a larger speaker in the fuel tank to see if I can salvage the decoder purchase; but at this point, I will not be purchasing nor recommending anyone purchase the MRC 1644 drop-in sound decoder for Kato’s SD70MAC. I know it is not one of the exact decoders reviewed in your articles, but I would be hard pressed to think that the results would be much different.
I greatly enjoy your magazine, please keep up the good work.
Dwight Sedgwick
North Fort Myers, Florida