ESU Loksound 5 issue

[Hatchet]

Well, I bit the bullet and had an ESU Loksound 5 installed in my Kato FEF along with an 11 by 15 sugar cube speaker. Got it back and everything is working but the sound is really low. Called my installer and we tried resetting master volume to max but still no real effect. I’m running NCE for my DCC and don’t have LokSound computer programming. Before I send it back to him for troubleshooting, is there anything I am missing? Is it a speaker issue or a function in the decoder I am missing? Speaker is located in the tender.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

[EL3632]

If you are using the ESU 50321 speaker I have found success with using the medium/large enclosure type, as in building a larger box with the included parts. I can't remember right now which exact enclosure I installed, and the install was for the hobby shop I work at, so it may or may not be there anymore.
This larger enclosure produces more volume than just the flat end on the speaker, which is really quiet with the FEF sound file.

[tehachapifan]

It's been a while since I tried changing volume CV's in a LokSound decoder without using a LokProgrammer, but you may need to remove the loco from power after the CV is changed. This can often be accomplished by tilting the loco to one side momentarily, so the wheels on one side rise off the tracks.

If you successfully get the volume to increase, be careful with setting it too high. The max volume settings in LokSound decoders are often too high for many speakers suitable for N scale.

[Hatchet]

Thanks, all. Hadn’t thought about removing from power after CV change so will give that a try.

Mark

[Spruslayer]

I have 7 Loksound decoders i installed and the Lokprogramer interface.Compared to some of my BLI P3 locos,the Loksounds even when the volume is maxed out is only about half of what the BLI are.I have used the deepest speaker enclouser i can fit in each install but the Loksounds dont have the power even on the ones with two 8 ohm speakers wired in parallel to give 4 ohms. I would also be interested in knowing if something can give the Loksounds more sound output

[peteski]

From what I remember, changing the volumes CVs can be done programming on main (POM), and will take effect immediately (so you can hear the difference). No removal from the track (reset) should be needed.

CV63 is the master volume.  Range 0-255. Default=192. Try changing that volume while on main, and you should hear the difference.
See page 93 in version 13 of the LokSound Decoder Manual

As for the volume level compared to BLI, fisrt thing to compare would be the specs of the audio amplifier.

ESU's V4 and V5 amps are rated for 2W with 4 Ohm speaker (and likely 1W with 8 Ohm speaker). What are the BLI specs?  The efficiency of the speaker and the enclosure used also make big difference.

The other thing to consider is how the audio samples are recorded in the sound project.

[Hatchet]

Interesting- the speaker is what SBSDCC recommenced and my 8nstaller said the sound was loud but when I get it on the rails, I have to be about 6 inches away to hear the bell and whistle, while the chuffs are pretty much non existent.

Mark

[peteski]

Interesting- the speaker is what SBSDCC recommenced and my 8nstaller said the sound was loud but when I get it on the rails, I have to be about 6 inches away to hear the bell and whistle, while the chuffs are pretty much non existent.

Mark

I agree that something doesn't sound right. Do you remember how you adjusted the volume to the max?  Did you program CV63? What value did you use?

[Hatchet]

Believe I used 192 for cv63

Mark

[mu26aeh]

When making the changes to the CV, are you reading afterwards and making sure the change went thru ?  Some sound decoders need a resistor across the programming track to "help " out.  At least they used to

[Hatchet]

I’ll recheck the cv reading to see what it is. When you say resistor across the track, do you mean like a quarter or something or am I misunderstanding?

Mark

[peteski]

No, what he is describing is the inability of certain DCC command stations to properly CVs on some brands of sound decoders while on programming track. Placing a resistor across the programming track, along with the model being read is supposed to help out.

But if you have NCE system I don't believe you will need to do any of that.  Of course to read CVs you need to do that on the programming track, while you can play with the volume setting CV (by writing different values to it) on main line while the model is making sound and running.

But it is a good idea to read (on programming track) CV63 and make note of its value, so you can restore it to that setting if needed. Plus you will know what setting sounds too quiet to you.

[Hatchet]

Got it- thanks. I’ll see what I can do.

Mark

[tehachapifan]

Just spit balling here, but could the mute function be active? I don't typically use that function, so I can't recall if it mutes entirely to silent or to a lower volume (or maybe it's adjustable).

[peteski]

Just spit balling here, but could the mute function be active? I don't typically use that function, so I can't recall if it mutes entirely to silent or to a lower volume (or maybe it's adjustable).

That is a good idea, but looking at the FEF sound project, the only thing like that is F8. No other sound fades are configured in the function maps.  F8 only fades the engine noises like chuffs, and similar.  Whistle and bell are not affected by F8. Unless of course the original sound file was modified by the installer.