Cheap iPhone Speakers For Your Model Trains (211)

To get the best sound from your expensive DCC sound decoders you need good speakers. So it might come as no surprise that iPhone speakers can do a decent job given how expensive an iPhone is. However, these can also be a surprisingly inexpensive option for your sound decoder installations. In this video I'll show you an iPhone 4 speaker and let you listen to how it sounds compared to a sugar cube speaker that has become the go to choice for many model railroaders. Below I have listed some another option for speakers, a source for iPhone 4 speakers, and a forum thread that provides a comparison of iPhone speakers to several common other speakers. So let's get started!
Scale Sound Systems speakers www.scalesoundsystems.com
iPhone 4 source www.dhgate.com/product/loud-s...
Model Railroad Hobbyist forum model-railroad-hobbyist.com/n...

[@dkaustin98]

I ordered that 10 pack of iPhone 4 speakers just to have some handy if I need those.

[@jonathanlake6053]

Very good demonstration Larry, I prefer the sound of the iphone 4 speaker it has a lot more presence.

[@roberttrofa8469]

Thanks for the update Larry!!! Always a pleasurer learning from your information!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Great side-by-side comparison, Larry. This is truly helpful. The only difference I can hear is that the Sugar Cube speaker seems to have a slightly louder high end, heard mostly in the hiss of the blow down and steam release when first engaging the drivers. I don't know if this is preferable or not, its just the one very slight difference I hear.

[@TheDCCGuy]

It is very difficult to make these kinds of comparison without very controlled conditions. The size, shape and internals of the tenders or loco also play a big role in the quality of the sound. And of course your ears may pick up different frequencies than mine. But overall it does give some guidance.

[@andyd_9]

Another great video Larry! Thanks! I ordered 10 speakers from DHGate and I got $2 off for being a new customer...so got 10 for $10.58. Great deal for sure. Never hurts to have parts around for future projects.

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

This is a great video enjoyed it very much. Hope there more to come.

[@TheDCCGuy]

This was video #211 on my channel, so feel free to binge watch the other 210!

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@TheDCCGuy Thank you very much for replying to my comment. I would love if you could take a quick look at my page and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. The iPhone speaker sounds pretty good.

[@peterjhillier7659]

Excellent Larry, I fancy that the iPhone Speaker has the edge.

[@TootnKumin]

I started using the iP4 speaker shown but found it had a physical fault. The sound exits at the side of the "round" shaped end and has small opening with a rubber gasket. It fits up inside something like an Athearn SD40 RTR DC/DCC ready casing with very little side space. Removing the thin gasket helps, but if it should slip sideways and block that exit, no sound comes out. I discovered the iP6s plus 5'5" loudspeaker/ringer better. It's thinner than the "4" vertically and the sound exits from the end through a larger hole. Usually will sit on top of a rear weight and with the hole facing forwards gives a good representation of doppler effect. Just needs the side mounting bracket clipped off to fit up into a diesels long hood.

[@steeplecab]

It's important to note that these are the iPhone *loudspeakers*, not the earphone speaker. Try the iPhone 7+ with the mounting ears trimmed off. It will then lay flat against the top of a long hood of a cab unit diesel. I've used the iPhone 7 speaker for smaller locations like switchers, but the 7+ seems to have two different speakers inside it's enclosure.

[@ronduz1281]

👍👍👍Great video Larry iPhone speaker and the sugar do sound identical

[@krypton1142]

This is really cool!

[@gmglz]

You can download sound meter app on cell phone and check it up on the next test! Nice videos and help for those we want go on the right and straight track for MRR. Larry keep going! 👍🌟🥇

[@PFR1]

Thank you Gary.

[@DougWilsonyellowhawkcustoms]

GREAT VIDEO!

[@paistefreak18]

I’ve tested a bunch of iPhone speakers and I use a combination of 1 iPhone 6s and a sugar cube with great results

[@deanpurcell7771]

Rapido was using I Phone 4 speakers in their early models. They do sound good!

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, I heard that somewhere, thanks for reminding me.

[@ricter591]

Thanks Larry, 🐾🚂 KY.

[@ToccoaFallssRR]

JT at scale sound is great. He has great product and will help you out with questions.

[@bernardc2553]

Thanks Larry, my notification just came thru there already outta stock..

[@TheDCCGuy]

Me too, I should have ordered before the video!

[@PFR1]

Scale Sound Systems charges for shipping. At least jt did when I bought a speaker from him last week. The speaker was $17.00 with $5.00 shipping. I replaced the twin-cubes in a Scale Trains Rivet Counter C44-9W with one of his Scale Trains Universal #1 speakers and it sounds good - less tinny than the original.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, I was misled by the Free Shipping blurb up front and didn’t see that was only with the purchase of a new decoder. Thanks for the heads up.

[@ScottDowneywoundedbear]

When I bought them I paid $5 for 10 speakers. The problem is Rapido uses them in their trains and they became popular on EBay, so the price goes up.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I also think that now that the iPhone 4 is very out of dates the parts may be more difficult to find which in turn leads to price increases-so get them while you can!

[@eXtremeFX2010]

My Best DCC Installs have been from iPhone 4 speakers vs. The Sugar Cubes. Unfortunately as I figured your reference is "Out Of STOCK🙈" after only 5hrs I happen to have 4 left. from my eBay Source Great Video...😉

[@TheDCCGuy]

Wow, I should have ordered some BEFORE posting this video. I guess they didn’t have a lot on hand or a lot of you guys bought them out! I’ll have to keep and eye out so I can order some when they are back in stock.

[@wheelhorseman2306]

@@TheDCCGuy Good news- DHGate has them back in stock, and they are even cheaper than before- if you order two packages, you get $3 off, so I ordered 20 speakers for $19.54. The price goes lower the more you buy. Thanks for the money saving tip!!

[@PetesPrettyGoodTrains]

11:26 Good comparison of how much larger 1/76 OO scale is compared to HO. Pretty sure in real life the J would dwarf those two!

[@James-Railyard]

I’ve stood next to the J, that thing can dwarf even some American locos.

[@trainman264]

Do you know if some of the modern day Iphone speakers work on locomotives?

[@frankhellman6879]

Sadly, there are way too many variables in sound input/ output to get realistic comparisons from your place to you viewers. Your mic is super, my phone speaker is like a transistor radio paper speaker. Even so, I could hear a difference. The iPhone seemed to have a more realistic tone to it. But others probably heard it differently. We've made great strides in video quality. Sound is still an art mixed with alchemy. Both your videos were excellent. 👌

[@jasonlinhardt7811]

If anything, the newer iPhone speakers certainly haven’t degraded in sound quality, so can’t see how you’d go wrong with a newer version.

[@tvtoms]

I think you saved me 17 minutes.

[@stanleym2679]

Getting ready to attempt doc sound in n scale rs2, what is the height in mm for 2021 micro sugar cube speaker also the oval speaker that comes with sound board for kato n scale ,found width and length but no height ,I am guessing 2 to 3 mm

[@TheDCCGuy]

Sorry but I have no idea and none in my stash to measure.

[@GSMRFan]

How does one get sugar cube speakers to sound louder with esu decoders. I turn volume up all the way but it is sooo quite but when I swap to tsunami2 the same speakers are super loud?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Are you using the ESU speakers or another brand? I have never had any problems getting plenty of volume from a LokSound decoder using various sugar cubes somI am not sure what is happening. Is it possible for you to load another sound package into the LokSound decoder and see if that is the issue? Is this problem limited it one decoder or several?

[@GSMRFan]

@@TheDCCGuy esu decoders with esu speaker factory installed sugar cubes

[@GSMRFan]

@@TheDCCGuy it is with every esu sound equipped loco I have such as atlas, Intermountain, rapido, and scaletrains

[@TheDCCGuy]

Very odd. I did have a couple of LokSound factory decoder installs in Atlas Alco RS1 and S2 models that had horrible volume but in both they used that small oval speaker I showed in video 210. As soon as I replaced them with sugar cubes there was plenty of volume. So I am surprised you get good volume with a replacement SoundTraxx decoder. It makes no sense, have you tried the LokSound decoders with some other sugar cube speakers?

[@repeters1]

Great video Larry. I found the speakers on DHGate and they ask if I want the 4G or 4S model. Did you pick either one specifically?

[@TheDCCGuy]

When I ordered mine off eBay that was not an option and to be honest I don’t know the difference. Can they say whether the shape differs or the specs? I would assume it is a shape difference.

[@repeters1]

I think it is the model of the phone, not the speaker. I've searched Google and there doesn't seem to be a different speaker for the 2 phones, only offered for the iPhone 4.

[@repeters1]

The 4S phone I believe is a little larger then the 4.

[@PFR1]

I meant Larry.

[@echohunter4199]

I used the link to DHgate but it wasn’t for the speaker and I did a couple searches on DHgate for the iPhone 4 speaker but didn’t find any either new or used. Then I went on eBay to see what might be there and the pickings were pretty slim, a couple came from Germany and Italy at $15 each but the shipping was $37 which made me laugh a little. I know I’ll have better luck at visiting a few local cell phone repair shops and dig through their take off parts box. I notice this video is a couple years old now so does anyone have any suggestions for any other iPhone or tablet speakers that can perform as well as the iPhone 4 speaker? Thanks in advance for any advise.

[@TheDCCGuy]

These are getting hard to find anymore so I really can’t offer any other options.

[@Conn653]

Will the iPhone 4 speakers work for N-Scale steam engines?

[@TheDCCGuy]

I doubt it unless you cut them down quite a bit. Better to go with some of the really small sugar cube speaker/enclosure kits or check out Scale Sound Systems, he does have a bit on N-scale.

[@ericklassen742]

Great comparison! Do you have a good source for Mars light or any gyrating loco light fo f7

[@TheDCCGuy]

Most decoders have a Mars light function built in.

[@ericklassen742]

Oh, that makes it a bit easier. Do you have a source for the Mars light itself for me to install in my F7?@@TheDCCGuy

[@TheDCCGuy]

The Mars light is either a standard bulb or LED and the decoder just makes it pulse giving the desired appearance.

[@ericklassen742]

Thanks Larry, I had no idea that's how it works.@@TheDCCGuy

[@karenjohnmartin2861]

How can one tell which is the positive or negative connection on I phone speaker

[@TheDCCGuy]

Do an internet search and maybe a schematic will come up. But it doesn’t really matter with these installs.

[@karenjohnmartin2861]

@@TheDCCGuy Thanks Larry

[@bluetunnel]

6:35

[@flyboy2610]

This is a video I made about 10 months ago about a Bachmann 0-6-0 project I did. I used an Iphone 4 speaker cut down and fastened to the underside of the cab roof. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYuaY4B4fpmWock

[@kurtumlauf5823]

What is Ohm rating?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Good question. In the forum thread I referenced this came up and no one was sure. However measurements of resistance came close to 8 ohms so the assumption is that’s what they are.

[@erikhilsinger9421]

@@TheDCCGuy impedance of the voice coil measured in ohms. The sound circuit is AC expressing an analog signal through the voice coil but it is still the same math. Buy the speakers to match the output of the decoder; soundtraxx are usually 8 ohms, digitrax are 34 or some dang thing. Iphone 4 speakers are 8 ohms impedance. I just search by impedance to match the decoder I'm using. Great job DCC guy!

[@mikebledsoe2315]

*Is this N gauge? Thank you.*

[@pieroluciano3272]

HO

[@TheDCCGuy]

Actually those are OO scale 1:76, bigger than HO.

[@mikebledsoe2315]

@@TheDCCGuy *Thank you very much.*

[@jasonlinhardt7811]

iPhone speaker has more low end

[@TheDCCGuy]

And that is surprising that humans are more tuned to the mid and high end frequencies so I had expected the same for the speakers. Given that the sugar cubes are designed for similar applications in tablet computers I am not at all surprised they are similar. I may go ahead and buy a pack of 10 myself.

[@PFR1]

​@@TheDCCGuy Larry, I bought a DHgate 10-pack. If you buy a DHgate 10-pack, please let us know if they are of the same quality construction and sound production as the iPhone 4 speakers you've used before. In case the DHgate units turn out to be knock-offs or counterfeit instead of OEM. Thanks.

[@KingTrump2024]

iPhone 4, Rapido... all the same outdated tech !