Large Scale Central

Yes! They are a-coming!

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

Hi all,

My friend Art - importer/distributor for ZIMO in NA - returned from the NMRA convention on Monday and brought back a ZIMO MX690 sound decoder.

Of course I had to hear this one right away, so he rigged it up temporarily with a motor on the bench and I supplied a rather largish 20W / 8 Ohm speaker. As a sound box we used a pickle jar, fit pretty well.

There were some people who had concerns that the output would be puny. No worries! Nominally it is 1.1W so we cranked it up to a CV setting of 60 (255 would be 100% ) and it was LOUD and CLEAR. Given the proper speaker and the proper sound box this will get the cops to your door! It apparently really blew the socks off some people at the NMRA convention (people who have LGB sound engines :wink: :slight_smile: :wink: ). Of course I hadn’t read anything on the different fora yet, it’s a safe bet that the competion will try to keep this one quiet.
But I’m looking forward to, and looking for, the first mention in the Clambake mags (really!!)

Since it is a decoder all the sounds can be called up using the CVs - yes, sounds (plural) - it has four channels and as supplied from the factory there are different CV registers to select different steam-chuffs, different whistles, all kinds of different random sounds and and and and and and.
Using a DCC system that has some decent functionality (able to call up CV300 etc.) this can even be done on the fly.
Best of all one, can upload one’s own files (from whatever source), of course it is a given that the engine control parameters are just like the standard MX69 (adjustments for performance enhancements to the n-th degree).

In short I can hardly wait 'til the first shipment arrives (they are on the way!) :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :smiley:

#2

Is this something for largescale Hans? Do you have to run DCC ?

#3
Bryan Johnson said:
Is this something for largescale Hans? Do you have to run DCC ?
Bryan,

The MX690 is a DCC sound decoder designed for Large Scale.

#4

Hans, was the one you saw a 690S or 690V? Interesting about the additional low voltage outputs.

Big question, do the sounds vary with engine load (not speed) like the Tsunami? That’s the big advantage of the Tsunami, and also the SUSI output to a sound decoder.

There is no mention of this feature on the site.

Thanks, Greg

#5

Greg,

Yes, the sound varies considerably. At the Philly convention they used a simple oval set on a slant to demonstrate that with a LGB Mallet.

The engine would come through the lower turn and then the exhaust hammering would start as it started up the hill, coming around the upper curve the exhaust would settle back and then drift down the hill with minimal exhaust. (Function of the B-EMF sampling)

I can hardly wait 'til Art has the demo installed in an engine, let alone 'til the first batch arrives. :wink: :slight_smile:

BTW the ZIMO decoders have had a SUSI interface for some time now. But there are not all that many sound boards yet that use SUSI, the only ones that I know of are the ones from D-I-E-T-Z. Or at least as far as RhB sounds are concerned.

#6

Great, I have about 6 locos waiting on Tsunami’s… this decoder has all the Tsunami has and more, the extra low voltage outputs, and downloadable sounds.

Any idea what cost? Where to buy?

Regards, Greg

#7

I’m intriqued with the drift and bark feature(B-EMF). Last time I heard a sound system with that was at the Seattle convention and that was in a home made unit .

#8

Hi Ken.

If Sierra ever get around to doing what they promised me at the Seattle Convention they would do, I will be well pleased to see just that happening.
I understand the P2K2 can be programmed to drift and bark but I have yet to see it accomplished.
Hopefully the P5 will also have that feature and equally hopefully, it can be used with R/C and not ruin the range.

#9
Greg Elmassian said:
Great, I have about 6 locos waiting on Tsunami's.... this decoder has all the Tsunami has and more, the extra low voltage outputs, and downloadable sounds.

Any idea what cost? Where to buy?

Regards, Greg


Hi Greg,

The importer/distributor for NA is http://www.mrsonline.net
I’ll post as soon as the first batch gets to Kelowna.

#10
TonyWalsham said:
Hi Ken.

If Sierra ever get around to doing what they promised me at the Seattle Convention they would do, I will be well pleased to see just that happening.
I understand the P2K2 can be programmed to drift and bark but I have yet to see it accomplished.
Hopefully the P5 will also have that feature and equally hopefully, it can be used with R/C and not ruin the range.


Well, if Sierra and/or Phoenix don’t get their butts in gear, I may just get one of those ZIMA thingies…hopefully someone (hint, hint) will make it work with an R/C and battery arrangement…:wink:

#11

Talking to folks who have the 2K2, they can be programmed for soft and loud chuff, but it must be manually selected (i.e. start down a hill, remember to hit F-7,942 or whatever, and when you start back up the hill hit F- 9, 345, 742 or whatever).

#12

Ken,

I am well aware of the potential that combined DCC motor drivers/sound systems will offer to LS.

I have held potentially fruitful discussions with a well known DCC expert who has agreed to design an interface for me that will enable RCS R/C to be used with ANY regular DCC decoder. This would enable DCC decoders to be used in battery only format with the RCS RF signals being converted to usable DCC packet data inside the loco.
No more track power, no more command stations and no more boosters.

If and when this happens, and it could be some time yet, your request will be more than satisfied.

In the meantime, if there are any other DCC experts who would like to see this happen sooner rather than later, I would be only too pleased to hear from them.

#13
Greg Elmassian said:
Great, I have about 6 locos waiting on Tsunami's.... this decoder has all the Tsunami has and more, the extra low voltage outputs, and downloadable sounds.

Any idea what cost? Where to buy?

Regards, Greg


Greg,

Just talked to Art at MRS

Update:

MSRP Canada/USA:

MX690S 138 Euro

MX690V 159.50 Euro

1 Euro = 1.26006 US$

#14

Youch! Not cheap. Still cheaper than 2 decoders. The Tsunami’s are very reasonably priced, street price for a 1 amp unit is $99-$89 … But no prices on the LS version, so comparision is not possible yet.

I’d like to buy a 690V to try out, where to buy? I assume there are not here yet.

Thanks, Greg

#15

Hi Greg,

Still about $28 cheaper than the LokSoundXL at US$229, not counting the better features. I find that the ZIMO HO versions are about 50 Euro less expensive than the LS versions.

Interpolating from that there would be a $30+ price difference to a Tsunami

I read the Tsunami manual. The way I understand it you have to work with what comes loaded as soundfiles i.e. you can’t upload and use your own files? Or am I missing something??

#16
TonyWalsham said:
Ken,

I am well aware of the potential that combined DCC motor drivers/sound systems will offer to LS.

I have held potentially fruitful discussions with a well known DCC expert who has agreed to design an interface for me that will enable RCS R/C to be used with ANY regular DCC decoder. This would enable DCC decoders to be used in battery only format with the RCS RF signals being converted to usable DCC packet data inside the loco.
No more track power, no more command stations and no more boosters.

If and when this happens, and it could be some time yet, your request will be more than satisfied.

In the meantime, if there are any other DCC experts who would like to see this happen sooner rather than later, I would be only too pleased to hear from them.


Thank you, Tony. …:slight_smile:

#17

Well Hans, I agree that it’s cheaper than an ESU, no question, but we have no estimates on the Tsunami price, only the single point of the HO decoder.

Not to give you a hard time, but interpolation is “guessing” an unknown point between 2 points. (Cannot assume a linear relationship with just 2 points)
If you “guess” outside of two or more points, it is extrapolation, more error in the “guess”.
Guessing on a single point is closer to what we call a “WAG” here, a Wild A** Guess.

You are correct on the fact Tsunami’s are not downloadable… Now, I like the idea, but I am a “tweaker” and have a computer science background, so no problem. For many people, getting the decoder with the right sounds in the first place is more desirable, so what’s desirable for me may not be desirable for others, or the masses in general.

I’ve not waded through their site enough, so will ask this question: Do they have a variety of American steam sounds, whistles, diesel horns and diesel sounds? As a comparision, the Tsunami is getting rave reviews for the sound quality, frequency range, and variety of sounds in their offerings.

If there is a shortcut to where these sounds are listed and can be played online, please post the link. (I do promise to peruse the site in detail).

Regards, Greg