MRC AC Sounder

Frank, good news, thanks for working on this!

I bought a bunch a while back and have had fun installing them in various engines: Williams and Lionel. In all cases I have used the speakers already installed in the engines, and get decent volume as a result. Very nice sounds, and just the ticket for low-end locos.

Count me in for a half-dozen of the new units. I still have 2 of the older versions waiting on me to put them in.

Ken

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff2035:
Bob D, interesting about the simple connection to the cruise commander. That is a great advantage for this sound unit as newer TMCC type boards, to my knowledge, only work with RS 2.5/3 or higher.

Jeff,

I think what David said about it working "along side" IS more appropriate. I don't see where the ERR unit has any influence on the Sounder, other than it makes for a nice, easy connection point!

quote:

Originally posted by MRCRRTECH:
we are also coming out with versions of this same decoder with the baldwin/ge soundsd

Yea baby! Don't forget FM.

Any time estimate on when the new version will be out? How about price?

John

quote:

Originally posted by DPC:

quote:

Originally posted by MRCRRTECH:
I was on my way out the door today when we received a small shipment of the old version ac sound units, [item no. 0001815]
so while the new version is getting worked out. we have a small quantity of the old ones that use the transmitter
same price as usual for you forum members

Frank how do we get our hands on them?I know for sure I'd like to have 3
And if it's the old version I'd need the remote


David

David, call Frank at work, and be sure to tell him you are a Forumite.

John

quote:

I, and my friends who have tried these, have been very happy with them. They were an excellent value and easy to install. If they were reissued, I'd like a version with Baldwin, FM, and GE U-boat sounds.

John

Mee too! there is a LOG of Baldwin and GE product lately that would be a good fit for these guys.

Actually, the EMD 567 sound is pretty close for some FM units, as they are
similar 2 cycle engines. The old QSI soft idle on the PS1 chip was
nearly exactly what I remember of the CNJ TMs idling away in Penn Station,
Newark. I would like to see 'em continue with the remote option as this
works just fine in conjunction with old Lionel PW type transformers. I
paid MRC $37 for the unit and controller, and it had to be the deal of
the century, or close to it!

I have to disagree with that. Having heard both types at the same time on a number of occasions in the mid-seventies, the FM OP's (opposed piston) and the EMD 567's (mostly V-12's) have different and distinct sounds.

If I only had a video camera back then - Baby Train Masters, EMD F-7's & geeps, Alco's and U-boats going by my house regularly! Aah, back in the day!
That is what I want to recreate on my layout.

John

I bought four. I should have bought more! I think they work & sound great.

When will the new one's be available? What will the price point be?

quote:

Originally posted by Hartman:
I bought four. I should have bought more! I think they work & sound great.
Dennis

Still some left as of today. I just bought 2 more.

John

I told Frank I wanted 3 I ordered 5

Better get em while they're hot

Got mine today, installed one in my Williams SD90 and programed it. The sounds are nice, but when moving you can barely hear it at all. I use the speaker that was already in the loco as it was nice and loud with the stock TB2. I have one more that will go into a Beep tomorrow, will see how that one sounds.

Jut an update, MRC got another shipement of these AC sounders in. So far I got 14 of them and slowly adding them into my Dummy units. Get them now while they are here!

I did a google search on the AC Sounder and found several dealers selling them. In the description of the unit it says: Not DCC DCS or TMCC compatable. To what extent is this implied. If I run any one of systems does that mean I caannot use the AC Sounder in any manner or that I just can't activate the sounds with these systems? Will the system not work if I am using TMCC or DCS on the same layout?

It will work but you will need to select manual mode and will have to control engine revs with the remote. Otherwise the motor sounds will always be at full throttle. This is because the AC sounder senses voltage applied to determine how fast the motor sounds are, and TMCC/DCS uses a constant 18 volts.

BTW, you will get a better price by contacting Frank at MRC rrtech@modelrectifier.com and asking for the OGR Forum price.

John

I ordered three and have installed one in an MPC F3 so far. The sounds are realistic and good, the unit works well but its not as loud as I would like it to be. On a layout with four trains running (and making noise) the horn sound is not pronounced. I got more volume using a baffle and a higher quality speaker but when the train runs on the other side of the room, the horn isn't really noticeable. However, for the price and features I still think that the MRC AC sounder is a worthwhile option to add to a conventional engine that doesn't have any sound.

Hello Frank, any update on when the new style boards will be available?

John

quote:

we use the same wattage amplifier on all of our decoders...max volume is determined by speaker size

Frank,

Do you know if all of the current MTH speakers will work with the Sounder? Or another way to say it...is there a larger speaker you can recommend so we can try getting louder sounds out?

My WBB E7 sounds good (I like the prime mover sounds), but it could be a bit louder. An oblong speaker might be the best fit-wise.

An inexpensive amplifier would probably do wonders for the sound. There are some really small audio amplifier designs.

Tiny audio amplifier using LM386

How about a really simple one, replace the 5V supply with a three terminal regulator.

quote:

Frank,

Do you know if all of the current MTH speakers will work with the Sounder? Or another way to say it...is there a larger speaker you can recommend so we can try getting louder sounds out?

YES and it's cheap too!

http://www.allelectronics.com/...4-OHM-SPEAKER/1.html

quote:

Originally posted by prrhorseshoecurve:

quote:

Frank,

Do you know if all of the current MTH speakers will work with the Sounder? Or another way to say it...is there a larger speaker you can recommend so we can try getting louder sounds out?

YES and it's cheap too!

http://www.allelectronics.com/...4-OHM-SPEAKER/1.html

That's the exact speaker that I have been using. Its does improve the sound quality a bit and also gives it a bit more volume, especially when used with a tube baffle.

Thanks curve!

And for you professionals aout there, this 50mm [2in] speaker will fit most SCALE MTH/Atlas O/Lionel 2" speaker applications- width and height as well!

If you read back thru the posts you'll see that I bought 5 of the sounders.

Here's my review:

I've done many sound installs In N scale Loco's so I'm pretty good at squeezing sound out of small speakers.The biggest speaker you can get in a N scale steamer is usually about 5/8 inch diameter.

The install of the sounder is easy 2 wires and your done.It has a nice compact size so it's easy to fit in track maintenance machines or Beeps.
It has a lot of different horns and engine sounds which I miss from my DCC decoder days.It can be used with it's wireless controller for horn ,bell and engine sounds.

But where I found the sounder to be woefully lacking is you guessed it the sound . I tried these in a Beep, a Williams F-3 and E-7 .I tried every kind of Baffle you can think of . I used a commercial baffle, a toilet paper tube and even used half a Ping Pong ball, which by the way gave me the loudest sound.

I immediately changed out the speaker to a larger Fat Boy style(Not a Fat Boy a Fat Boy style) speaker and nothing I did brought the sound volume up to what it needs to be for O scale trains.

You'll have guys here that say they're happy(You always have those guys)
But if you spend your money thinking your going to hear the sound like you do in your PS2 or TMCC equipped train, your going to be thoroughly disappointed.

I think your better off to Bite the bullet and by a ERR sound board or one from Dallee and yes they cost a lot more but these MRC sound boards were designed for HO stuff not for O.

David

quote:

I immediately changed out the speaker to a larger Fat Boy style(Not a Fat Boy a Fat Boy style) speaker

was that a 4 ohm speaker/ would be nice to see a pic of that speaker.

quote:

Originally posted by prrhorseshoecurve:

quote:

I immediately changed out the speaker to a larger Fat Boy style(Not a Fat Boy a Fat Boy style) speaker

was that a 4 ohm speaker/ would be nice to see a pic of that speaker.

Yes as this is not my first rodeo it was a 4 Ohm 5 watt speaker .
I don't have a picture of it right now because it is in another engine.
I'll try to get a picture of it and post it here.

And since this is not my first Rodeo I can say that the problem is this.

You can't get more sound out of the sounder unless you have a larger speaker But you can't install a large enough speaker because the engine shell won't let you.
Throw your money away-It's yours to do with how you see fit.

David

quote:

Originally posted by DPC:
You'll have guys here that say they're happy(You always have those guys)
But if you spend your money thinking your going to hear the sound like you do in your PS2 or TMCC equipped train, your going to be thoroughly disappointed.
David

You'll have guys b******g that it's not as loud as their $150+ factory sound systems (You always have THOSE guys), but for $15 dollars each, I think this board has its place in O gauge. I also have Railsound, PS-1, and PS-2 engines, but I turn the volume DOWN on those. Enough racket in the world without adding to it. I like diesel & steam sounds - I used to work as train crew for a couple of railroads, but I don't need prototypical volume levels in my basement. I don't consider these boards throwing away money. Do whatever you want, but don't put down others that may like something different.

John