Best Of LokSound Installation Threads and Techniques List (Updated 10/24/2024)

[garethashenden]

I know that having the right sound file is half the battle and I don't know if they are available, but I have recently come across a smaller sound decoder. 16.7x7.7x2.3mm. I haven't used one yet but I have used their non-sound decoders and been very impressed.
Website in German... http://www.tran.at/Produkte/SL76.shtml

[jdcolombo]

I know that having the right sound file is half the battle and I don't know if they are available, but I have recently come across a smaller sound decoder. 16.7x7.7x2.3mm. I haven't used one yet but I have used their non-sound decoders and been very impressed.
Website in German... http://www.tran.at/Produkte/SL76.shtml

What you found is made by CT Elektronik in Austria.  As far as I know, they do not have any US prototype sound files available.  Another very small sound decoder is made by Zimo, but once again no US prototype sound files are available.  The size of the SL76, however, makes clear that ESU LokSound could do a somewhat smaller "mini" version of their excellent sound decoder.   I'm still optimistic that their OEM efforts for the Atlas S-2, the Rapido GMD-1, and the new Intermountain SD40-2 will result in a smaller wired decoder that will more easily fit inside the shells of narrow-hood diesels. 

John C.

[milw156]

I am considering putting two fox speakers into a F40C, mainly because there is room. However, when two speakers are placed close together, their magnetic fields try to push them away from each other. Would putting them right next to each other, oriented on the long axis, [   ] [   ], have a negative affect on sound quality, or would I be better off separating them?
Rick

[peteski]

I am considering putting two fox speakers into a F40C, mainly because there is room. However, when two speakers are placed close together, their magnetic fields try to push them away from each other. Would putting them right next to each other, oriented on the long axis, [   ] [   ], have a negative affect on sound quality, or would I be better off separating them?
Rick

I don't think that the interaction of the outside magnetic field of the speakers will have any negative effect on the magnetic flux in the coil gap (inside) the speaker where it matters.  Just make sure to build an airtight enclosure  around them isolating the front and back of the speaker cone.  If these are 8 ohm speakers you will most likely have to wire them in series to prevent overloading the decoder's audio amplifier. Make sure to hook them up properly: hook up the positive lead  from one speaker to the negative lead. then the positive and negative leads remaining unconnected go to the output if the audio amp.

[AKNscale]

JD: B30 install ready to add now

[Big4Man]

What's the Frequency Kenneth??!!! 

[dpharris]

Hi -
I have just discovered this site, and am impressed, and inspired by @jdcolombo's installation of a Loksound into a Shay!  This has lead me to get out my Shay again, in which I had installed a venerable Lenz 511 decoder.  I had lost some of the side drive shaft parts at a show, and it had depressed me, so it had been sitting in its box.  However, I am now actively planning to install a sound decoder into it. 

I do have a Loksound v3.5 Micro and a Loksound v4.0 Micro, and a plethora of small cellphone speakers, and the programmer. 

I understand the v3.5 is the harder of the two to add keep-alives capacitors to, so am leaning towards the 4.0.  What sound projects have people used for the Shay?  I tried one on the 3.5 on the bench, and its pretty good, but more limited.  Also, can I run Loksound Select sound projects on my 3.5 and 4.0? 

Thanks again for inspiring me!   I am also thinking about sound in one of my RS2s, as another project.   

David

[jdcolombo]

Hi David.

Welcome!

The Shay installation wasn't done by me; it was done by member craigolio1. 

But if you're going to try this, definitely DO NOT used the LokSound 3.5.  That decoder is a decade out of date, and no longer represents the state of sound installation art.  The LokSound 4 would be the one to use.

John C.

[dpharris]

Oops, sorry @craigolio1 -- great install!  Thanks for the reply @jdcolombo.   

Yes, I was looking for 100 ohm speakers -- nada.  I have the one that came with the v3.5, but its too big.  The best I have are some 25 ohm speakers, but four in series won't fit, either.  Too bad, because the Shay sound project was pretty good, with even periodic coal shovelling   So, since I am N-scale, the v3.5 is not very useful.  I had temporarily installed it into a box car with wheel-wipers, thinking that I could attach it to any loco.   Guess I will attempt to sell it to an HO-er. 

I will need to buy at least another decoder.  The Selects are reprogrammable, but one is limited to the fixed sound-files for them?   Can Select-files be loaded into v4.0 micros?   The v5s look like they might be harder to shoe-horn into N-scale locos.

David

[reinhardtjh]

I will need to buy at least another decoder.  The Selects are reprogrammable, but one is limited to the fixed sound-files for them?   Can Select-files be loaded into v4.0 micros?   The v5s look like they might be harder to shoe-horn into N-scale locos.
David

Selects and V4's (except for the 73100 and 73199 models) are discontinued and haven't been manufactured since early 2019 so the LokSound 5 is pretty much your only choice unless you find some NOS (new old stock).  LokSound V4 files can be up-converted to run in a V5 but not vice versa.  Only Select files may be loaded into the Select decoders and they cannot be loaded into V4 decoders.  Usually you will find that the ESU site has versions of the same file for each, but not always.  And only ESU can create Select sound files.

All in all, if you can fit the LokSound 5 Micro DCC into the Shay, you will be better off as the LokSound 5 is new and will be supported longer into the future.