Adding sound chips to your locos makes a world of difference to a layout but not all model train speakers are created equal as Richard Croft from Road and Rails finds out.
I’m a huge fan of Adam Savage, both because of his model making (he’s worked on models several big Sci-Fi films) but also because of his Tv series MythBusters and at Tested.com, where he applies tests and review products and ideas. It’s great to see him put things through their paces.
It’s for the same reasons that I like Richard Croft’s video below where he rigs up and tests various speakers for DCC model train sound systems. Rather than just talking about the different speakers, Richard has wired them up to a sound chip and tried them out on camera so you can actually hear what they sound like.
If you’re thinking of getting a DCC sound chip, watch the video first and then decide which speaker to get.
> A final, personal, note: I spend a huge amount of time testing, photographing, writing and researching techniques for these articles and pay for all the running costs of MRE out of my own pocket. If you found this article useful you can support me by making a donation on my fund-raising page. Thanks and happy modelling, Andy.
Andy is a lifelong modeller, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com and its sister site. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 30 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.
One thing that cheeses me off about DCC sound is that their sound decoders tend to be large and many a loco has the speaker in the tender and for a steam loco it sounds odd to hear chuffing coming from the tender. Also the speakers supplied are usually large making the tender the only place to put them. 6 pin sound decoders are tiny but are usually reserved for small locos. Many of the sounds on the decoders are gimmick sounds like the sounds of having a cook up on the footplate which in the real world you’re never going to hear or a DMU with the guards buzzer sound which once again in the real world you never hear.
What would be nice in OO is for steam loco sound decoders to be small with small speakers than can fit into a smoke box not the tender. Yes some smoke boxes have metal weights in them but they can be extracted and cut in half so a speaker can sit on top of the metal weight. Often of course you have to drill out the chimney to let the sound out. People want large speakers because often the sounds are all treble with no bass. But even with so called large speakers there’s no bass only treble and mid range. If you want good bass then set up proper a hi-fi as it’s the only way at present to have proper sounding locos.
If making a video for social media then add a separate steam or diesel real soundtrack to the video. People spend a lot of money on sound decoders and instead of getting chug chug chug they get chic chic chic.
Manufacturers have increasingly made locos especially steam outline locos heavier by putting more weight into them. But a Pannier tank is not going to be hauling an 80 wagon train round your railway or an express loco is not going to be hauling a 15 coach Irish Mail so some of the weight albeit a small amount can be removed to fit a speaker in it’s proper location. If the increased weight is to improve the locos ability to climb gradients then DCC Concepts has their Power Base for use with DC or DCC powered locos to climb gradients.