DCC Sound Locomotives

[Iskra]

What are people's experience with these locomotives? Are they worth the high prices? Does anyone own a Hornby TTS model which seem much more reasonably priced- are they decent models? Or has anyone even tried a Hornby TTS vent van?

Is this just a fad or is it the future? Do we think it works better on some types of layouts compared to others?

I've seen a few videos on here and elsewhere with modellers overlaying sounds to give the impression of DCC sound which can come across well but I'm guessing it is quite faffy and time-consuming to arrange and execute well.

What are your opinions on this?

 

[birchesgreen]

Some people i know online really love it and claim the locos sound amazing though whenever i've seen ... rather... heard a DCC sound loco at an exhibition i've always found it sounding a bit twee.

 

[Cowley]

Some people i know online really love it and claim the locos sound amazing though whenever i've seen ... rather... heard a DCC sound loco at an exhibition i've always found it sounding a bit twee.

I’d have one at home for a play about, and actually I’m probably going to get the new Farish 31 with sound in a few weeks when it comes out, but being stuck next to it at a show all weekend drives you bonkers after a few hours.

 

[reddragon]

Hornby TTS is truly awful and a waste of money in a steam loco. With Diesel locos a new speaker (c £5-10) makes it worth while and sound decent.

An ESU Sound decoder does sound really good. Not sure about the Bachmann ones.

I have a twin TTS sound HST. It would be OK if I changed the speakers (future project)

I have an ESU Howes Class 52 - excellent

I got a cheap Lima 156 with an ESU sound set up - sound is really good but doesn't match unit speed - my plan is to use the sound chip on a better DMU & put in a DCC chip in the class 156

 

[Iskra]

I’d have one at home for a play about, and actually I’m probably going to get the new Farish 31 with sound in a few weeks when it comes out, but being stuck next to it at a show all weekend drives you bonkers after a few hours.

The 31 sounds a good model and will fit in well on your layout. Yeah I can imagine hours of it can't be fun!

Hornby TTS is truly awful and a waste of money in a steam loco. With Diesel locos a new speaker (c £5-10) makes it worth while and sound decent.

An ESU Sound decoder does sound really good. Not sure about the Bachmann ones.

I have a twin TTS sound HST. It would be OK if I changed the speakers (future project)

I have an ESU Howes Class 52 - excellent

I got a cheap Lima 156 with an ESU sound set up - sound is really good but doesn't match unit speed - my plan is to use the sound chip on a better DMU & put in a DCC chip in the class 156

Thanks for the great feedback!

I've got factory sound fitted Bachmann 20, 37x2 and 47 plus sound fitted railroad Black 5, Jinty and 101. They are all really good, but I was just wondering if I could pick up some Hornby TTS stuff in the future and save a few quid.

 

[reddragon]

The 31 sounds a good model and will fit in well on your layout. Yeah I can imagine hours of it can't be fun!



Thanks for the great feedback!

I've got factory sound fitted Bachmann 20, 37x2 and 47 plus sound fitted railroad Black 5, Jinty and 101. They are all really good, but I was just wondering if I could pick up some Hornby TTS stuff in the future and save a few quid.

Sounds like you can make some savings on TTS diesels then but on eBay there are some real bargains on locos with sound, including Bachmann. You must read the small print and contact seller to confirm what sound chip they have sometimes though. People buy better speakers, but I-phone speakers supposed to be the best (and cheap) but have no idea how I would fit one!

I only bought the Lima 156 for the £110 ESU sound chip. Problem is Lima locos & sound chips don't work! I'll fit it to a better DMU one day.

 

[Iskra]

Sounds like you can make some savings on TTS diesels then but on eBay there are some real bargains on locos with sound, including Bachmann. You must read the small print and contact seller to confirm what sound chip they have sometimes though. People buy better speakers, but I-phone speakers supposed to be the best (and cheap) but have no idea how I would fit one!

I only bought the Lima 156 for the £110 ESU sound chip. Problem is Lima locos & sound chips don't work! I'll fit it to a better DMU one day.

Yeah I've picked some good stuff up on ebay actually.

Ha, that's a good bit of purchasing!

 

[raetiamann]

My fleet are all sound, but as I only run one or two at a time, it's not too noisy. Usually I will turn the volume down and also make use of the fade control (on most locos/units)