I only recently got into sound and I think I may have been spoiled because I started with the Revolution 66 which is the best sounding loco I've ever heard in N. I think that largely comes down to it having a very good sound project and excellent design and QC for the factory sound fitting.

If I had started with the Farish 08 that I bought recently, which tried its best to blow up the decoder and wasn't even properly sealed so sounded pathetic in comparison, I would have probably dismissed it as an expensive gimmick.

I will probably not buy any more factory fitted sound locos, I think it's too much of a roll of the dice. I'm now confident fitting sound myself and making sure that it's done properly.

Because when it is, the play factor with one or two nice sounding locos on a layout at home is well worth 20 fancy coffees worth of cash.

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

Despite being 6 years old nothing has fundamentally changed either!

Quote from: njee20 on February 12, 2026, 08:36:16 AMHoly thread resurrection Batman!

Despite being 6 years old nothing has fundamentally changed either!

What idiot started this thread..?

Oh, my bad. 

On the upside. I was very happy with my sound (retro-) fitted 8F. I changed the 'beat' to four per revolution, so it synchs properly, and I think it sounds good. I do however turn it off after a little while, because it is really just a novelty thing in my eyes.

This thread has saved me money in this regard:


I'm happy with my Graham Farish BR Class 40 and LMS 10001 sounds - they both have that deep chugging rumble. However, I looked up on youtube the Revolution Class 66... and that's not for me. That's more of a high-pitched whine and doesn't excite me.

So, immensely cool looking but I'd go without sound on that one, saving lots of $$.

Quote from: Will_J on February 12, 2026, 07:59:06 AMI only recently got into sound and I think I may have been spoiled because I started with the Revolution 66 which is the best sounding loco I've ever heard in N. I think that largely comes down to it having a very good sound project and excellent design and QC for the factory sound fitting.

If I had started with the Farish 08 that I bought recently, which tried its best to blow up the decoder and wasn't even properly sealed so sounded pathetic in comparison, I would have probably dismissed it as an expensive gimmick.

I will probably not buy any more factory fitted sound locos, I think it's too much of a roll of the dice. I'm now confident fitting sound myself and making sure that it's done properly.

Because when it is, the play factor with one or two nice sounding locos on a layout at home is well worth 20 fancy coffees worth of cash.

I have a lot of factory fitted sound locos including an 08, and they are all pretty decent to my ear, so I wouldn't consider it a "roll of the dice" to get a good one. That said, I guess with any mass produced model there is always the risk of a "lemon". I enjoy running them, finding the sounds of different locos both steam and diesel prototypically distinctive.

Some of my favourites are fits I have done myself or had done, with sound files I have chosen, for example my Class 37 with Jamie Goodman sound is awesome!

There are though times when I run with sound off or some of my DCC silent locos, it just depends what takes my fancy.

My advice is to try one and see how you get on, you don't necessarily need to have an entire fleet sound fitted, you could just choose ones you particularly like.

Roy