Gadget Tom's Hobby - Gadgetry for the Model Train Enthusiast, Including DCC ready and DCC Decoder equipped engines and model trains supplies!
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Including DCC ready and DCC Decoder equipped engines and model trains supplies!

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So what does a SoundTraxx Decoder do? It brings you locomotive alive with Digital locomotive sounds from inside your model locomotive. It’s not a speaker on or under your layout but actually in your locomotive. The chuffing or engine exhaust is synchronized with your throttle and you control the bell, whistle and other sounds!

Here I will review the various types for SoundTraxx decoders. If you’ve just read the Digitrax information and followed the link over you saw that I made the implication that there are three main categories of the SoundTraxx decoders:

• Sound Only Decoders – DSX Series - Still available but phasing out
• Plug n Play Sound, Motor and Light decoders in both Tsunami and Micro-Tsunami
• Wire in Sound, Motor and Light decoders in both Tsunami and Micro-Tsunami

If you already have a decoder in your engine and want to continue to use it then the DSX sound only decoders will give you rich full function sound when used in conjunction with your existing motor decoder.  You can run the two decoders in consist, or more likely you will essentially "piggy back" them and run them at the same address it will take more room but this is a simple add-on.

Otherwise I suggest a plug n play Tsunami or better yet a Micro-Tsunami if their is a model that will fit your engine.  The Micro-Tsunamis are more compact and offer all the same capabilities as their bigger Tsunamis but just handle a bit less current.  This is not a problem for most modern engines.  If you can't find a matching plug n play then get out your soldering iron and go for the wire in version.

But lets categorize this a little more:  Sound Samples

• Tsunami TSU-1000 Steam – These are wire in sound decoders for Steam engines.
• Tsunami TSU-1000 Diesel – These are wire in sound decoders for Diesel engines.
• Tsunami TSU-AT1000 – These are plug n play decoders with Diesel sounds designed for Atlas engines.
• Tsunami TSU-GN1000 – These are plug n play decoders with Diesel sounds designed for Athern Genesis engines.
• Micro-Tsunami TSU-750 – These are smaller versions (.75 amp) of the Tsunami and are available in both Steam and Diesel versions
• DSD-101LC and DSD-AT100LC are simpler and less expensive plug n play sound decoders for steam and diesel engines.
• DSX Steam & DSX Diesel Series – This is a sound only decoder. It has no motor control or light outputs. Thus it needs a Digitrax decoder to handle the motor and light control. They have a wire in harnesses, but do match the Digitrax flat 9 pin plug and can be plugged into engines that come with that pug in connector.

Remember, along with the decoder you will need to have a speaker and preferable a speaker baffle too. Most of the SoundTraxx  decoders do not include the speaker and baffle kit so you will need to purchase them separately.

The general rule of thumb is, the bigger the speaker the better. I find the rounds put out more sound than the ovals, but sometimes the oval will fit larger speaker than a round for the same engine width. Multiple speakers will probably not give you much in return except for possible spreading out the sound. Their are also heavy base speakers to give you a deeper tone.  Select these base on the space available and your personal preference.  I don't recommend multiple speakers attached to the same decoder, it will not benefit you and could damage the decoder.

The baffle act like you speaker cabinet in your home stereo. If forces the sir movement (sound) forward out of the speaker and thus limits "waist" sound from leaking out the back where it does you no good. I HIGHLY recommend always using some sort of baffle, whether you purchase a kit, use what comes with the Plug n Play’s or build your own. You will get far more return for your money than adding another speaker. I can measure it but it seems to in most cases almost double the actual sound output. This makes sense if you able to prevent 50% of the sound going out the back of the speaker into the engine itself.

It’s mostly about the sound! - First determine the series you want based on the price, functions, and installation technique that suits you.  You can refer to the SoundTraxx Decoder Selector for help here.  If you settle on the DSD-150 series or a DSX decoder, then go to the SoundTraxx Sample Sound Page and select the proper decoder by engine prime mover (EMD 1^st Generation, EMD 2^nd Generations, GE, etc). Once you’ve got that down listen to the whistle and bell sample and pick the one you like best.

Here is some other links to the SoundTraxx Manufacture site.  

More about SoundTraxx Decoders!

Manuals, Technical Bulletins and Application Notes

Tsunami Quick Reference Chart

SoundTraxx Decoder Selector!

Check out the Sound examples!

PTB-100 Programming Track Booster

Speakers and Accessories