Well, I just paid for my ScaleTrains SD40-2 Preorder

[signalmaintainer]

Fixed it for ya. N scale sound should be consumer fraud, IMNSHO.  It's the least prototypical part of any N scale model that comes with a sound decoder.

I tend to think the same way. Onboard sound is just one of those things that doesn't scale down very well -- yet.

[amato1969]

Fraud may be a little extreme 

I've always thought about a solution using external speakers/subs under the layout that would sync with the DCC throttle settings.  What hardware+software that would involve I don't know LOL.

  Frank

[kiwi_bnsf]

I'm not sure I understand the negativity towards the availability of locomotives with N scale sound. In almost all cases (even BLI), you can purchase the locomotive without sound.

Perhaps the only criticism that I can understand is the reduced weight due to a speaker cavity in the frame, but this has been a long-standing gripe since frames were engineered to be DCC-ready with sufficient additional space for drop-in decoders. Most Atlas and Kato non-sound DCC-ready frames have large amounts of free space at the rear of the long hood etc. The good news is that it's easily addressed by adding back some weight. (Ideally, the manufacturers would include a "blank" piece of metal in place of the speaker cavity — but that would add cost).


In terms of the general "N scale sound sucks" and "N scale sound lacks the bass of real trains" vibes, I think that this is very subjective and really a matter of taste.

Those running one or two locos with a switching layout might really appreciate turning up the sound, and perhaps augmenting the lack of bass with a consisted sound decoder plugged into larger speakers/subs. Those running on larger layouts with multi-unit consists, multiple trains, and multiple operators in the same room (like me) might prefer to turn the sound way way down to achieve the effect of volume that is more proportionate to the scale distance that operators are away from the train. This has been discussed extensively in other threads here on TRW.


I think factory sound is usually set too loud, but to be fair to the manufacturers, their decoders are optimised for the best demo at a show, or in a shop, or at club where people are going to judge what it sounds like based on how loud it is and whether it can cut through the noise (if you can't hear the loco, then its sound might be judged as substandard).

Turning the volume down, carefully balancing the sounds in the various sound slots, optimising the decoder tone controls, and even installing upgraded speaker enclosures can go a long way to more "scale" sound that is cleaner and less distracting. I like it when the sound becomes part of the overall background of running trains instead of being in your face (or ears). This is a classic case of there being room for improvement by investing some extra modelling time and effort to achieve something beyond RTR — again I don't see how this is different to any other area of modelling.


I for one greatly appreciate the time savings achieved from having a factory sound option, and this has really allowed me to advance my modelling without having to hardwire a decoder in every sound install, and in many cases allowing me to avoid having to mill frames.

[wmcbride]

N scale sound depends so much on the speaker and a proper enclosure. Otherwise it is tinny and just irksome.

Personally, I think N scale sound, when properly installed, works well and scales well. In running a train with 2 sound engines around my old layout, the sound scaled well. My slant range to the train when close to me was about 4' (or a little over 2 football fields in N world (640 N ft). As the train went far away from me (14' or 0.4 N miles), I could still hear it but it was muted by distance and the horn sounded like a train a half mile away. These were FVM GEVOs with Loksound and speakers built per John Colombo's tutorials.

I think the best factory sound I have heard (and owned) were Rapido's Dash 8-40CM. The horns were vibrant and clear as were the prime mover sounds. They reminded me of the first time I heard a Bowser C430 with factory Loksound. Quite a change from the contemporary Soundtraxx offerings in Athearn engines.

Bill McBride

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't get the hate either.

N scale sound is far from perfect, but it adds a great dimension to operations in certain circumstances.

It doesn't really do much for me when just orbiting around the layout. But standing there switching cars? It adds a whole lot to the experience. Especially when you've got a road running through your switching lead. It busy keeps your head more in the game.

[packers#1]

Fraud may be a little extreme 

I've always thought about a solution using external speakers/subs under the layout that would sync with the DCC throttle settings.  What hardware+software that would involve I don't know LOL.

  Frank

I know Lance Mindheim and some others have done this; it’s on my list of roundtuit projects in my head to build

[Missaberoad]

My personal perspective on sound is I have to listen to it 12 hours a day every day so its the last thing I want to listen to when I get home. Scale sound just bothers me, again just my take.

There is some cool stuff out there tho, and I can definitly see how it would help people build immersion in the hobby.

Live and let live and all that.

[mu26aeh]

Anyone else seeing this with their ST locos ?

[Chris333]

Someone get that guy a level   

[daniel_leavitt2000]

After playing around with my BN unit a few days, here are some initial impressions:

1. Great detail. Goes without saying. These things look good. It becomes an issue when lashed up to SD60Ms or other last generation models. You start noticing all the missing detail on everything else. These units have the great roof detailing similar to IM units, and blows BLI away. They also didn't make major mistakes with the tooling like IM.

2. Adding sound to DCC ready units is not straight forward. The tossed the speaker and wiring. You'll need to add these yourself should you want sound later.

3. Parts fly. I had an air tank launch itself clear across the basement. After finding it, the thing took 40 minutes to get back in to place. Yes, there are lot of small parts that use glue.

4. They need to cool it with the sand lines. These are made with very flexible plastic and made to be pushed out of the way when the truck rotates. It does not always work on sharp curves and switches. These lead to derailments. I may remove them on my units.

5. They weigh only 2/3 the IM or BLI SD40-2s. This is certainly going to cause issues for sound units and for pulling. Those engines equipped with a full fuel tank may be able to add weight in the forward section as it is just enclosed plastic.

[chessie system fan]

One detail in particular I noticed immediately.  Flush cab  windows!

[Point353]

Someone get that guy a level   

"Big G" needs a layout with only "one layer" and "no raises". 

[Leggy]

I've always turned the sound way down on any sound equipped N scale models I've bought and it's been atleast one way for me to 'improve' the sound quality but as others have said, the speaker/enclosure matter as much as anything else when we're talking something so small.

[Ian MacMillan]

Eagerly awaiting mine, which have been stuck in the Memphis sort facility since Wednesday.

[arbomambo]

My wife, Denise, received her Chessie last week, just in time to take it to run on the T-TRAK layout at the Jacksonville Train Show on Saturday.
She pulled an 18 car Chessie train around the entire layout with nary a single hitch. The loco looked, sounded, and performed beautifully, and she couldn’t have been more pleased.