Atlas S2 - Problem with sound - degraded sound then no sound.

[bdennis]

Guys,
I own a nice new (well purchased it back in August 2017 kind of new..) Atlas N scale S2 with sound.

Up to yesterday the loco had been running flawlessly.
Yesterday the loco was sitting on the layout idling away with no issues as it had been the last time I used the layout prior to Christmas.

I noticed that the sound coming from the loco (while just idling) had developed what could only be best described as a crackle. It was like the speaker had developed a poor connection.
Over about 1 or 2 minutes, the crackle got worse and then finally the sound from the loco stopped. This happened while not operating the loco.
After the sound failed, I tried the usual Function buttons to sound the horn, bell and turn on or off the prime mover with no change.. The sound has stopped completely.

The loco still runs on DCC with no issues, it just has no sound.
My layout is N scale and uses a Digitrax DCS100 as the command station and DT402D throttles with PM42’s as the circuit breakers.
At the time the loco sound failed, I had another loco with an older LokSound micro V3 decoder sitting next to it idling away and it has no issues.

Has anyone heard or found this kind of failure on a LokSound decoder?
My personal view is that for N scale, the LokSound decoder is the decoder of choice.

I have not yet removed the shell from the loco to see if there is anything obvious.
I checked the shell of the loco at the time of the sound starting to play up and it was not hot in any way.

I have a LokSound programmer so can reset the decoder and or reinstall a sound file if needed. I just have not tried to make any changes as yet..

If anyone has had any issues in the past, please let me know.
I have contacted the Atlas Warranty department to start processing this as a warranty claim..

Thanks
Regards
Brendan.

[Petty Cash]

You mentioned that it sounded like a bad speaker connection.  Are you sure that’s not what the problem is?

[bdennis]

Petty Cash, It could very well be a bad connection. I dont know if the speaker is on the decoder circuit board or not. I will have a look for some pictures and pull it apart later today and will see.

[RBrodzinsky]

None of the LokSound boards have the speaker on them. IIRC, the speaker is mounted behind the Cab. It is possible that one of the speaker wires became disconnected.

[bdennis]

Rick,
Thanks for that.. Went searching and found some picks on the spookshow page. I will pull it apart tonight and see what I can find,

[Petty Cash]

Petty Cash, It could very well be a bad connection. I dont know if the speaker is on the decoder circuit board or not. I will have a look for some pictures and pull it apart later today and will see.

I tried to take a couple pics of mine real quick.  They’re crappy cell phone pics, but hopefully they can give you an idea of how it’s wired.

[AKNscale]

One of mine is starting to sound pretty bad, kind of how you're describing. I was planning on just putting a new sugar cube speaker in it as I feel that the speakers aren't of very good quality. From what you're describing(I am no expert), but it sounds more likely that the speaker went out than a bad connection, though that is also a possibility. Have you left the volume at the factory setting of the max level?

[bdennis]

Thanks for the pics.. I will look to pull the loco apart and see.
I have a spare sugar cube speaker so may install it and see if it is any better. (once I find the fault).

Thanks for the info...

[peteski]

I have a spare sugar cube speaker so may install it and see if it is any better. (once I find the fault).

If you do, make sure to put it in an enclosure.

[jdcolombo]

Here's a post on how I replaced the speaker in my own S-2:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=36665.msg436061#msg436061

John C.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Yep, sounds like a bad speaker.

[bdennis]

John,
Thanks for the link and info. Ran out of time last night to have a look inside. I will see what I can do tonight.

[haasmarc]

Here's a post on how I replaced the speaker in my own S-2:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=36665.msg436061#msg436061

John C.

John, what speaker did you use or if it is no longer available, what speaker would you use today for an S2?

[jdcolombo]

John, what speaker did you use or if it is no longer available, what speaker would you use today for an S2?

The one I used is out of production.

Today I would use a Soberton 8x12mm (available from Digikey).  Usually I recommend using John LeMerise's 3D printed enclosure with that (from Keystone Customs on Shapeways), but I'm not sure there is enough depth to work with for that enclosure.  You can measure the space available in the cab of the S-2 and see if John's enclosure would work.  If it will, that's the best choice; if not, you'll have to roll your own.

John C.

[bdennis]

I have now pulled the loco apart and can confirm that the speaker is dead. When I put a multi meter across the input wires I get 4.0M ohms.
I have a 16mm x 9mm sugar cube speaker and when I place that across the speaker output I get sound.. So the decoder is working perfectly.

As the space in the enclosure is 15.74mm tall and my speaker is 16mm tall, wont fit with an enclosure. It may fit if I just sit it inside the Atlas enclosure but it will be 0.2mm to tall. There may be enough space in the top of the cab to allow for the extra 0.2mm. Alternatively I may order a speaker per John's link and upgrade and roll my own enclosure.
Alternatively, I may be able to build my own enclosure around the speaker and do away with the Atlas factory one.

I will look to just wire up the speaker I have and install it and see what it sounds like with the loco back in 1 piece.
I will keep you posted.