Speakers To Make Your Loco Sounds Come Alive (210)

It can be disappointing to install an expensive sound decoder in your favorite loco and still not have it sound just right. And part of getting it right is selecting the right speaker for the installation. In this video I'll go over a range of decoders suitable for installations in locos of most popular scales and I'll give you some tips on ways to get the best sound out of them. So let's get started!

[@mikedurhan9941]

Larry: I am grateful that you do these videos. I look forward to each one.

[@enriqueaguilar4892]

Speakers are great investments for Ho locomotive's, n O gauge, O scale, S scale n Garden scale locomotive's n even the big scales the ones that you ride on for your property to

[@michaelpfister1283]

Larry: Thank you for this video! Excellent information and very timely for me. :-) Sound is one of the areas I am very weak on, and this has helped me greatly!

[@alanmusicman3385]

Larry - from what I can judge from the video sound track those high bass speakers sound really excellent - far better. Those for me! Many thanks.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, as I said I am gradually changing my steam locos over to these. Still need to test one in a diesel. It also helps to direct the sound out the top of the tender or hood.

[@andrewstevenson5449]

Really good overview - thanks! Even over a laptop speaker at this end, the improvement offered by the high bass speaker seemed evident. I've seen people this side of the pond talking about using i-phone speakers in their locos, though that could just be shorthand for the one of the types of speaker you showed,

[@westwonic]

Yes, genuine iPhone speakers are available in the UK for model rail Road sounds.

[@peterjhillier7659]

Thanks Larry, I always look forward to your Videos, they never disappoint. I loved your J Class Locos ever since reading the Books of O Winston Link I became all a lover of the N&W. With regard to Steam Loco Sounds I think Diesel Locos sound more realistic what do you think. Thanks once again and keep safe.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I specifically chose to model the Lynchburg area because that was where the Js took over Southern passenger trains that traveled across N&W territory. I used to live in Manassas VA, outside Washington DC on the old Southern mainline. And when the J 611 was being used on excursions they would leave it parked on a siding there during the week before a run. So I got to climb all over it several times. It is a spectacular piece of technology!

[@kennedygauger4680]

Great review. Do you ever use speakers fro Scale Sound Systems owned by J T Burke? They seem to have excellent bass.

[@TheDCCGuy]

They appear to sell a selection of Spundtraxx, LokSound, TCS, and other commercially avaialble speakers as well as some sugar cubes with their own 3D printed enclosures.

[@jonnyspeed]

@@TheDCCGuy JT sources his own driver from a manufacturer that meets his requirements and then custom designs each enclosure for a specific model so that it drops right into place with minimal fuss. He also make generic models. I suggest looking at his videos. kzbin.info

[@jonnyspeed]

The best speaker is a TangBand if it will fit. Other than that nothing can touch Scale Sound Systems. Every other speaker that I have tried and tested objectively falls short. Those are the best.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Who makes it and where can you buy them? Most of what Scale Spund Systems sells seems to be SoundTraxx, LokSound, and TCS speakers plus the generic sugar cubes.

[@jonnyspeed]

@@TheDCCGuy Here is a video of a Tang Band test I did with an Intermountain F unit with LokSound 4 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHvSfoF_hbynbcU

[@jonnyspeed]

@@TheDCCGuy Here is the Tang Band T0-2008S module installed in an S scale SW-1 with LokSound and the correct 6cyl 567 PM sound file kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWKmq3ucqNdmabs

[@profklyzlr]

@@TheDCCGuy As noted above, the SSS speakers are a lot more than just "generic sugar cubes"... I don't see any of the DCC Manufs displayed doing proper ISO or AES acoustic speaker analysis on their offerings? (The hint is in the name, they are _DCC_ Manufs, not _Audio_ Specialists... ;-) )

[@blueridgebonsai9155]

@@profklyzlr Thanks for your comment but you’re about 3 weeks late on this one. At the time, this comment was the first time I ever heard of SSS speakers and as I said elsewhere to me they APPEARED to be sugar cubes with their own enclosures. Since then I have read the white paper and unfortunately I am not an acoustics professional and like many technically advanced professionals he has a hard time dumbing it down to where most folks can comprehend-sort of like AJ Ireland trying to explain a Digitrax product. I have never seen his products in a head to head test of speakers comparable to the MRH forum thread which I know you contributed a lot of discussion to. If there has been such a head to head please let me know, I would love to see it. When I get time I intend to get one of his speakers and see how it compares to my ears, but that will not be a measurable, repeatable test. PS, I had to use my other account name to reply because of the way KZbin handles old comments like this. Always better to start your own comment especially on a thread older than a couple of days.

[@wheelhorseman2306]

For high bass speakers, it's hard to match the value of what I bought at Jameco- they sell .9 inch speakers for under $3 and they are rated at 8 Ohms, 2 watts nominal, 4 watts max, perfect for DCC, and they come in less than a week. Still waiting on my iphone4 speakers from China...

[@christopherbrown6152]

I see small blue tooth transmitter circuits on ebay that would fit in the same space as a speaker.

[@chrism7894]

It was nice to see the history of the speakers since I am pretty new to this. Larry, I'm curious how you handle a certain scenario. I bough an MTH GP38-2 DCC ready locomotive, I then got a 8-pin LokSound 5 and sugar cube speaker to go with it. How would you personally hold the decoder and wires in place? I was thinking of using double side tape and taping the LokSound decoder to the MTH motherboard, and then putting electrical tape around the wires. Maybe you have a better idea.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Chris-avoid using electricians tape, it will eventually turn into a sticky mess. I typically use 3M double sided foam tape available in rolls or individual strips and widths. I usually get mine from Staples but any store with office supplies should have it. For bundles of wires I most often use Kaptan tape found on Amazon and some DCC suppliers. Just fold the wires over if need be or secure where convenient with the Kapton tape-it was used on the space shuttles so should hold up in this use too. I usually use the double sided tape to fix the speaker i place too. I have several diesel installations on the channel as examples.

[@rogerthomas9017]

No speaker that fits into an HO or smaller loco can ever reproduce the low bass sound of a diesel. So in several instances where a switcher is used in a small area - a yard or industrial area - I have installed an under-table speaker system designed for a PC, and consisted a decoder driving this speaker to the non-sound loco decoder. Yes, the sound doesn't move, but as you operate it feels like you are in the cab with that diesel thrumming and burbling behind you. Soundtraxx has a tech paper showing how to connect a decoder output to the undertable speaker. No good for mainline, but great for switching moves.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Good idea and of course Soundtraxx has their own system SurroundTraxx system that sends sound to as many as 6 sound districts on a layout. It uses Digitrax block detection to track the locations of up to 6 trains on the layout so the sound follows them. Since it uses under the layout speakers you can get some really good bass.

[@1949snowman]

Is there any reason you did not include cell phone speakers? They come with enclosures, are quite slim and sound great. They can be used as multiples for richer sound. I have been successful installing these in Shay size tenders. Also, they are very inexpensive compared to the speakers you reviewed. We need less expensive alternatives to our hobby. I personally have had very satisfying results at a fraction of the cost against the speakers you have critiqued. My favorites are the iPhone 6S or 6+ speakers. they cost around $1 on eBay and produce better sound than most sugar cube speakers costing $12 or more. Try them out. You will be happily surprised.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Watch the next video.

[@Alexander_Sth]

Dear Larry, did something change in speaker market this year? Which one or two is the best for electric locomotive despite of the measurement?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Not that I know of. I use the high bass speakers for my steam locos since they will fit in the tenders and give great sound. For most other projects I use the 11x13mm sugar cube speakers.

[@Alexander_Sth]

@@TheDCCGuy which one you choose for electric locomotive?

[@TheDCCGuy]

I suggest installing the largest one that will fit. With most modern locos that usually means the smaller ones unless it has a tender.

[@davidhudson391]

Rather than instal individual decoder in locos, I have downloaded a series of generic railway .wav files and built a ten minute loop of sounds to my iPad. This is based on free .wav files that are available and gives me a full background soundtrack for my steam locomotive set up.

[@TheDCCGuy]

SoundYraxx has a similar system that uses Digitrax transponders to track the location of individual,locos on the layout and then sends the appropriate sounds to speakers placed near that loco. It is especially good for N-scale locos or small HO.

[@nathanschronce8703]

Actually, the current whistle came off another class J engine. It's a Hancock top-step 3-chime. Same as the Big Boy, and SP #4449. But all sound different because the castings weren't consistant

[@graemehansell7642]

Hi Larry. Have you ever tried an iPhone speaker? I believe they give excellent results.

[@TheDCCGuy]

See other comments below.

[@roberttrofa8469]

Larry to piggy back on what Andrew just mentioned about iPhone speakers, I have several damaged Apple products that I could conceivably re-purpose parts out of. Have you heard of anyone using the speakers out of old phones or tablets?

[@foremanbaselice]

I have installed an old iPhone 6 speaker in a GG1 with a Soundtraxx “electric” decoder .the sound is awesome and the size of the speaker is great for installs that have limited space. The speaker has its owns enclosure with ports that the sound comes out of .

[@TheDCCGuy]

I have seen at least one thread on a forum about using iPhone speakers and they appear to compare favorably to 11x15mm sugar cubes. I need to try and dig some up for a future video.

[@foremanbaselice]

@@TheDCCGuy I purchased 6 for $12 on ebay. Quite a bargain for the quality of sound!!

[@TheDCCGuy]

The post I read showed that the iPhone 4 speaker performed the best. The iPhone 5 not so good so be careful which ones you buy.

[@ricter591]

Thanks Larry, What is your name you use on eBay so I can se what you have to sell. 🐾🚂

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’ll let everyone know when I get around to posting stuff on eBay.

[@simonalexandercritchley439]

High bass spk.best by far.

[@trapdriver7006]

👍😁😁😁🚂🇬🇧

[@tvmann2106]

Why are you only looking at commercial speakers only? Some cell phone speakers are far superior to any of the ones you are showing.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Have you watched video 211 yet?