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DCC Sound Update-Are they worth it?

Tay Bridge

Entry posted by Tay Bridge

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Hi

 

Returned from holiday in Greece and fired up all the sound locos today. Fair' takes you back so it does!!

:lol:

 

So far I now have

Class 20 Bachmann DCC sound re blown by Howes. Improvement spectacular!

Class 25 Bachmann DCC sound re blown with Howes Sound. Now excellent.

Class 37 Bachmann DCC sound, will be off to be re blown by Howes.

Class 40 fitted with 21 pin bachie DCC Sound chip re blown by Howes. Also superb

Class 47 035 Bachmann DCC sound re blown by Howes. Now unbelievably real!

Class 50 with Howes DCC chip and sounds with bass reflex. Excellent Hoover!!

Class 55 Bachmann DCC chip. it's not bad but not quite there despite fitting bass reflex. Better but not quite I'm afraid.:( Come on Howes....

 

I have to say having listened to the sound/ non sound debate, in my opinion, if you have DCC you are missing something if you don't gradually (for non lottery winners like me)go down the sound route. I have particular memories of my train days circa 1980 of locos light or on freight sitting alongside platfrom 4 on the passing loop at Dundee Taybridge awaiting a passenger working before thrashing up the hill into the tunnel. It is backed by tall retaining walls and the sound was terrific. On my depot layout I have a 'very' loosely based similar section. With a sound loco I am right back there. Even without moving just a Class 40, 47 or 25 sitting there idling just hits the spot. So for me sound it is folks! If you are thinking about it don't judge factory fitted sound but get along and listen to someone's re blows. You tube does not do it justice. It makes your locos....real!

;)

Next steps are to get my remaining sound locos re blown and then work through the fleet. One sound chip loco per class will be my aim. Not looking forward to tackling that Hornby 08 mind!! Will have to be sent off to the works somewhere as it is beyond me!

and... at some point .....an A4 in Union of South Africa, BR Green guise with both sound and smoke generator! Not that I am departing from my like of diesels but I have fond memories of visiting it at RAF Leuchars air displays with my father and brother (the other taybridge). It was always a static but steamed exhibit. You got up onto the footplate to sound the whistle etc. There was, I admit, (just!) something special about that loco. It was owned and stored locally by it's owner Mr Cameron. It was kept in a shed in Markinch in those days. Now an occasional visit to Glasburgh TMD would therefore be quite within the realms of possibilty!

Other two will be my 108 and soon (I hope santa!!) a bachie Craven in Blue which will of course have to be sound fitted....and the lights doctored ....and...

:blink:

 

Chris

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Jon020

Chris, I'm with you on "sound" but haven't had the funds to expend on it yet... although I've had a brief play. Slowly, I may start to add this... and thinking of "provisioning" the bass speaker in current deltic project... but whose? - Poss SWD. Don't think Howes will - said at Warley last year that would need to chips - one for each engine... and therefore didn't seem to want to do this. Hey ho.

Jon

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Tay Bridge
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Chris, I'm with you on "sound" but haven't had the funds to expend on it yet... although I've had a brief play. Slowly, I may start to add this... and thinking of "provisioning" the bass speaker in current deltic project... but whose? - Poss SWD. Don't think Howes will - said at Warley last year that would need to chips - one for each engine... and therefore didn't seem to want to do this. Hey ho.

Jon

 

Hi Jon

 

Don't quite see why it would need two chips (one for each engine) as the Bachmann one has only one chip. You can quite clearly hear the two engines at start up on it. It is the sound that is not quite right. Perhaps they are wiser than me and that is exactly why it doesn't sound right but I am not sure about that. I am sure that even if they replicated it with their functions etc it would be a lot better than the Bachmann or Olivia's one. I have had both. The Olivia's one (Which I sold to fund Bachmann one and a half..! ) kept tripping out the sound at slow running over points etc. I think it is only good for tail chasing large layouts at full tilt. no use on my depot. The Bachmann one which to me sounds and performs better (with reflex speaker added)than my Olivia's one is just not quite there. (Perhaps Olivia's have improved it since I had mine -think I will e mail and see) However, I think Howes should be encouraged to have a go. Will write to them I think when I send my Bachmann 37 for re blow.

To me the jury is still out on the Deltic. There must be a better way of doing it even with one chip.

 

On the cost front I know exactly what you mean. They are certainly not cheap are they?? Don't think I will be getting another one for a while. Unless santa is feeling very generous....:unsure:

 

Chris

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br-nse-fan

I have to agree.. that sound takes it to a whole new level! Between Youtube and the occasional show, I've been treaded to both UK and NA sound models in action. Unfortunately, at almost three times the price of a regular loco, sound is going to be a very long time away for me (Bachmann 20 = $115, Bachmann sound 20 = $298).

 

Hats off to those who can afford it! Just make sure you have a bucket to catch the drool from those of us who can't!

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morris50

I am hooked on a class 20 sound and so would like to have on my end to end small layout,it was explained to me by a model rail outlet that they could sell me a loco fitted with sound for £120 and also need to purchase a small dcc control unit £59, i have some Bachmann dcc ready locos to hand,would it not be cheaper to have someone fit them for sound,what advice do any members advise,i am not capable of doing any electronic work.

 

morris50

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