george stein Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Being totally unfamiliar with Hornby TTS, a question from the USA. I have a Hornby "King James II" King Class loco. I notice a forthcoming Hornby TTS specifically for the King. Based on your experience, should I: (a) wait for the Hornby TTS chip, (b) go with a Zimo or ESU for the King or © try the new UK-sound Soundtraxx "Econami" as it provides the standard high & low GWR whistles? So far, I am quite happy with the Zimo in my Hornby 2800 class 2-8-0. Any advice much appreciated. George North Carolina Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBAGE Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Being totally unfamiliar with Hornby TTS, a question from the USA. I have a Hornby "King James II" King Class loco. I notice a forthcoming Hornby TTS specifically for the King. Based on your experience, should I: (a) wait for the Hornby TTS chip, (b) go with a Zimo or ESU for the King or © try the new UK-sound Soundtraxx "Econami" as it provides the standard high & low GWR whistles? So far, I am quite happy with the Zimo in my Hornby 2800 class 2-8-0. Any advice much appreciated. George North Carolina I'm not a Great Western fan but based on my experience of 8F and Q6 from Locoman, I would strongly recommend his King. It has had good reviews on this site and Locoman is the man. Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady_Ava_Hay Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 The comparison between a Hornby TTS and a 'blown to order' Zimo or ESU is a bit like comparing a block of mousetrap cheese with a block of extra mature vintage cheddar. The analogy is a good one in terms of both price and flavour. In other words, you will enjoy the Zimo/ESU option operationally but perhaps not the expenditure. "Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbyhorse Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 One of the things that no one has got correct with the sound in the UK is the drain cocks, just a continuous sounds which is wrong, most of the other sounds are OK. Beware a lot of the chips have generic sounds on them. I've used ESU and soundtrack, and I've noted that ESU have started adding free downloads on the site, which is very good news. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
george stein Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 Thanks for helpful comments. George Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Abel Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I can provide a simplistic (I'm not a sound specialist) subjective response; I have TWO sound locos at present, will be obtaining a TTS sound equipped loco tomorrow, so can comment additionally on that then. One is a loksound, for a Std 5MT, don't know the origin of the sound file. Sounds very nice, and mostly to the uneducated listener, like a UK steam loco. One is a Soundtraxx Econami UK Steam installed in a Hornby S15. Sounds very nice, and mostly to the uneducated listener, like a UK steam loco! Whilst both have a variety of options, and the custom sound has more/different choices, I find I'm not spending much time using all the features of EITHER, simply because I'm running the locos rather than trying to get the appropriate sounds at all the appropriate times. I quickly discovered it's rather long winded trying to use all the options of either of them Frankly, I can't really tell much of a difference when they are variably at different distances around the layout. Certainly there are some nuances for both, and if I was an audiophile and had very recent and frequent encounters with the real thing I may be able to tell/need something upscale, I'm not and I don't. As it is, for me, other sound decoders I buy may well also be the Econamis. I like the price and flexibility/choices they offer, meaning I can move them to another appropriate loco if I want/need to. The Econami is quite an advantage price-wise, as is the TTS, and if they suit your needs/fit the requirements, it simply means you can afford to install sound in more locos. NOTE: Given you're in the US as am I, the Econami is even more affordable if you contact Coastal DCC, as they also don't charge VAT for appropriate overseas customers, where some I checked into do. Net result is you can get an Econami UK Steam decoder for 70 quid and change INCLUDING the postage to the US! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold geoff Posted March 31, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 31, 2017 One of the things that no one has got correct with the sound in the UK is the drain cocks, just a continuous sounds which is wrong, most of the other sounds are OK. Beware a lot of the chips have generic sounds on them. I've used ESU and soundtrack, and I've noted that ESU have started adding free downloads on the site, which is very good news. Simon Except of course the SWD 9f I have in my Bachmann model which has the drain cocks working in sync with the exhaust. I will have to check my 4f to see if that does too. Geoff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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