My nomination for 2016 N scale product of the YEAR!

[drgw0579]

This topic could probably go any number places on Railwire, but I'll start it here:

My nomination for N scale Product of the year, won't be a locomotive or car, but rather, it is a great accessory that makes it a whole lot easier to get good sound in an N scale locomotive:

Keystone Customs Enclosure for Soberton 8x12mm Speaker

I've used this in 2 recent sound conversions and it not only gives you a sound-tight baffle, but makes it easier to mount the speaker.  Using it, I was able to add sound to a Hornby U25C by mounting this enclousure on the underside of the circuit board at the rear of the locomotive.  The Soberton speaker sounded better to me with the diaphragm pointing inside the box.  Doing that also eliminates having to drill holes for the speaker wires.

Specific discussion belongs under the existing thread in DCC/Electronics:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=40189.0

I really appreciate those who do little things that make a big difference for many of us.

Bill Kepner

[Lemosteam]

Wow, thanks Bill.  I must give credit to @jdcolombo for the help in designing it.

[jdcolombo]

I just used the enclosure to complete a sound install in a Kato PA-1, and I didn't have a Soberton speaker on hand, so I used one of my stash of old Star Micronics 8x12's mounted with the diaphragm down and it worked perfectly.  So it can be used with more than just the Soberton.

John C.

[Lemosteam]

I just used the enclosure to complete a sound install in a Kato PA-1, and I didn't have a Soberton speaker on hand, so I used one of my stash of old Star Micronics 8x12's mounted with the diaphragm down and it worked perfectly.  So it can be used with more than just the Soberton.

John C.

Excellent news are those still avaialble?

If they are, I'll update the website and the Shapeways page!

[jdcolombo]

Excellent news are those still avaialble?

If they are, I'll update the website and the Shapeways page!

Hi John.

No, these have been out of production for a couple of years.  Some of us still have some lying around, though.

John

[reinhardtjh]

Excellent news are those still avaialble?

If they are, I'll update the website and the Shapeways page!

Hi John.

No, these have been out of production for a couple of years.  Some of us still have some lying around, though.

John

I bought 150 of the Star Micronics from an electronics supplier that found some in Europe.  I then resold them to John Columbo and a few other people for $6 (which was my cost) each plus shipping.  The Soberton speakers are cheaper and probably just as good (John C?).   Since I already have them I was going to keep them for my own use, but I still have a few "extra" left if anyone is dying for them. 

[jdcolombo]

I bought 150 of the Star Micronics from an electronics supplier that found some in Europe.  I then resold them to John Columbo and a few other people for $6 (which was my cost) each plus shipping.  The Soberton speakers are cheaper and probably just as good (John C?).   Since I already have them I was going to keep them for my own use, but I still have a few "extra" left if anyone is dying for them.

I can't tell any difference in the sound between the Soberton and the Star Micronics when in the same enclosure, although the Star Micronics looks like it is made more robustly, with a metal surround instead of all plastic.  I've still got about 35 of the Star Micronics that you sold me, and I'm going to use them up before buying more of the Sobertons.  That's why I was so pleased to find that they fit perfectly diaphragm-down in Lemosteam's enclosure - and they sound great that way, too (take a look at my Kato PA-1 install thread I just posted on the DCC forum for a short video of how one sounds in this installation).

John C.

John C.

[reinhardtjh]

I can't tell any difference in the sound between the Soberton and the Star Micronics when in the same enclosure, although the Star Micronics looks like it is made more robustly, with a metal surround instead of all plastic.  I've still got about 35 of the Star Micronics that you sold me, and I'm going to use them up before buying more of the Sobertons.  That's why I was so pleased to find that they fit perfectly diaphragm-down in Lemosteam's enclosure - and they sound great that way, too (take a look at my Kato PA-1 install thread I just posted on the DCC forum for a short video of how one sounds in this installation).

John C.

If you can't tell a difference then I surely can't.  I have a tin ear.     All of your installations sound good to me and I'm copying them  every chance I get!  By the time I get through my stash the Soberton will be obsolete and we'll be looking for the next great 8x12mm speaker.

[Dave V]

Mad props to Keystone Customs ( @Lemosteam ) but after 12+ years of waiting from the initial product announcement I would nominate the BLI PRR M1a/b 4-8-2.   It looks great, runs great, and sounds great.

[wcfn100]

Click bait thread of the year.

Jason

[Lemosteam]

Click bait thread of the year.

Jason

Imagine my surprise.   

Agree with Dave here, but the Bachmann K4 is a very close second.

[u18b]

I was thinking the Centipede was a pretty impressive loco-  even though the prototype is limited.

[Dave V]

Imagine my surprise.   

Agree with Dave here, but the Bachmann K4 is a very close second.

The K4 hit the shelves in 2015.

[u18b]

I was just going through the BLW update pages for the year.

And it doesn't seem like a whole lot new happened in 2016.  2015 was a bigger year for new stuff.  And it may be that 2017 will be a big year).

Maybe we ought to make a quick list of what was released new?

Centipede
M-1a
Kato SDP40F
Rapido FL-9
BLMA refridgerated Trinity 64' reefer  (I was pretty impressed by this one)
Bachmann GG-1
Bachmann passenger cars
Fox spartan cab GP60
MT bubble roof (hey, we've been begging for years!)


I'm sure I missed a whole lot.  Esp on the freight car end.

[cbroughton67]

@drgw0579 which sound decoder did you use for your U25C install? I'd love to see pics if you have them (perhaps in a new thread?).

Chris