While visiting with Dale Kreutzer last night for the first time since spring (see Box Culverts, stubs . . . ), Dale demonstrated the new Soundtraxx "Econami" decoder:
http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/econami/index.phpDale had installed it in one of his 1926 C-16 locomotives (PBL). The decoder is 1 amp as compared to the Micro-Tsunami (0.75 amp) but is about half the size. It will easily fit into the water leg of an Sn3 tender, possibly into the smoke box of a C&S B-4-C, B-4-D or B-4-E. Think of it! Only 2 wires to the tender for the speaker (if the fireman's rail input is run thru the draw bar).
The Econami doesn't have all the features of the Tsunamis, but is impressive. It has all the light functions, 6 bells with 5 ring speed settings for each, something like 12 whistles from small steam (C-16) to 4-8-4. There are also multiple air pump (single stage vs dual stage) settings and 5 or 6 different dynamo sounds for those of you who model in the electric headlight age. There is even a function to variably control firebox flicker.
It is marketed only as a generic steam sound decoder, but with all the recorded function variations you can pretty much reproduce any locomotive, of any size.
And at $65.00 to $75.00 per decoder, depending on source, the price is attractive.
Dale ran engines with both decoders and I couldn't really hear any difference (but my hearing may have been shot back in the 1960s listening to Pink Floyd too many times, too loudly . . .).
And Jeff, I don't know if ya'll do DCC/sound in Ireland, but this little guy is just the ticket for HOn3 locomotive tenders!
Jim Courtney
Poulsbo, WA
Locked
