Installed a Loksound in Atlas Silver C420 and SD35

[wmcbride]

I have done this before in my Silver SD35s but I wanted to report that I just popped in a Loksound decoder into one Silver C420 and one Silver SD35 (the recent ones with the factory speaker).

I was reminded, pleasantly, how well Atlas has engineered the speaker and enclosures. Both sound great. No tinny horn or thin engine sounds.

My N benchmark for excellent sound are my first-run Rapido Dash 8-40CMs with factory sound. They had robust, full-throated horns and excellent prime-mover sounds. These Atlas engines sound just as nice.

I will put my obligatory ScaleTrains comment in brackets: [I wish ScaleTrains would figure out how to enclose their speakers properly.] BTW, I own 12 of their rivet counter engines.

So, thanks Atlas for an easy upgrade to sound. Easy shell removal and easy decoder installation!

[peteski]

I will put my obligatory ScaleTrains comment in brackets: [I wish ScaleTrains would figure out how to enclose their speakers properly.] BTW, I own 12 of their rivet counter engines.

Not sure which models are those.  I own several Scale Trains Turbine engines, and they all sound excellent. The horn, bell, hostler engine and of course the deafening turbine sound.

[wmcbride]

Not sure which models are those.  I own several Scale Trains Turbine engines, and they all sound excellent. The horn, bell, hostler engine and of course the deafening turbine sound.

Most of mine are the early run GEVOs with the holes in the fuel tank bottom to let the sound out. The sound is just tinny because of that.

I have a C40-9, still with the holes, but it sounds better.

I think they did a much better job with the turbine's speaker system.

[GM50 4164]

Most of mine are the early run GEVOs with the holes in the fuel tank bottom to let the sound out. The sound is just tinny because of that.

I have a C40-9, still with the holes, but it sounds better.

I think they did a much better job with the turbine's speaker system.

I purchased mine without sound and since they don't come with speakers like the ones from Atlas, I had to provide my own and since I did my own, ended up building a sealed enclosure. Boy what a difference it makes with a sealed enclosure. They sure are tinny without the enclosure!

[wmcbride]

I purchased mine without sound and since they don't come with speakers like the ones from Atlas, I had to provide my own and since I did my own, ended up building a sealed enclosure. Boy what a difference it makes with a sealed enclosure. They sure are tinny without the enclosure!

I've had to do the same thing and I remember one of the early ones I did (GEVO?) had a fuel tank that was offset with some ridge inside. In any case, it was a bit of a pain. However, I paid attention to everything John Colombo taught me!

The most recent ST engine I bought w sound (maybe it was a Dash 9), I just added tape over the holes and improved the sound. It was a slap-dash experiment that needs a more permanent solution.

Bottom line is I wish ST would engineer their speakers more  like Atlas.