Should I go for sound?

Roy L S · February 20, 2026, 07:58:56 AM

Quote from: Graham on February 19, 2026, 11:51:20 PMmy first sound locos were the Revolution Pendo's, it was also the purchase of these which made me consider and then move to DCC.
Whilst I have a few sound loco's, I tend to agree with a number of others, it does get annoying after a while.
Last night at the club we had a HO member running 3 large US diesels and he was told in no uncertain term to shut the f****** things up after a while.

The beauty of it is that for each of us a suitable alternative is available, I enjoy my sound locos, and I think that Bachmann in particular do some excellent sound files in their RTR models, but I also understand why some don't.

It isn't lost on me and is kind of ironic that once upon a time how quietly a loco ran was something we talked about and celebrated in the days before DCC, but I guess actually it remains just as important on a sound fitted model as there is nothing more annoying (to me anyway) than being able to hear the mechanism as well as the sound the loco is supposed to make.

Roy

Foxhound · February 20, 2026, 08:35:17 AM

Quote from: Roy L S on February 20, 2026, 07:58:56 AMIt isn't lost on me and is kind of ironic that once upon a time how quietly a loco ran was something we talked about and celebrated in the days before DCC, but I guess actually it remains just as important on a sound fitted model as there is nothing more annoying (to me anyway) than being able to hear the mechanism as well as the sound the loco is supposed to make.

Roy

Your point about quietness is very valid, Roy. The new Kato SBB Re6/6 I Krokodil is possibly the quietest mechanism I've ever heard, virtually silent. A pal has two and they're fabulous.

Will_J · February 20, 2026, 08:36:20 AM

It's certainly been my own experience that sound doesn't do very well with shows. You can barely hear it unless it's blasted through a watt-tastic O gauge speaker and I can only imagine how grating it gets for exhibitors both on the sound layout or close to it!

Roy L S · February 20, 2026, 09:05:57 AM

Quote from: Will_J on February 20, 2026, 08:36:20 AMIt's certainly been my own experience that sound doesn't do very well with shows. You can barely hear it unless it's blasted through a watt-tastic O gauge speaker and I can only imagine how grating it gets for exhibitors both on the sound layout or close to it!

My personal experience of exhibiting N models with sound is that it depends on (1) the venue, in a smaller more "intimate" one with a lowish ceiling it can work fine and be perfectly audible, but in a large and busy "tin shed" with very high roof less so (2) the quality of the sound fit and sound file, my 37 with Jamie goodman sound file and decent Sugarcube speaker as an example does pretty well.

I totally agree with the other point you make, I remember one show I was exhibiting at had a G Scale layout demo, some lovely models, but those sound locos (especially with continuous bells clanging) did my head in after about 10 minutes and I was across the hall from them!

Will_J · February 20, 2026, 09:36:38 AM

Quote from: Roy L S on February 20, 2026, 09:05:57 AMin a smaller more "intimate" one with a lowish ceiling it can work fine and be perfectly audible, but in a large and busy "tin shed" with very high roof less so (2) the quality of the sound fit and sound file, my 37 with Jamie goodman sound file and decent Sugarcube speaker as an example does pretty well.

That's true, I more commonly visit the big shows like the ones at the NEC or GETS where the acoustics are less than ideal.

Totally agree with you on the quality of installation. The gooduns I've got sound wonderful at home. The badduns go on the upgrade list!

Firstone18 · February 20, 2026, 10:18:43 AM

Regarding the sound 'interference' at shows, Yes I have experience the same. Exhibiting an N gauge DC layout next to an 0 gauge TMD layout with full sound was not a good experience. short periods with sound, or to demonstrate to an interested viewer are fine, but continuously on all locos and all day is not pleasant.
Maybe exhibition managers need to take note of this and request operators using sound to only turn it on for say 10 minutes in every hour, or when requested by someone viewing the layout. A notice could be attached to the layout, or in the guide to indicate which layouts have sound fitted locos?
Just my thoughts based on experience.
Cheers.

martyn · February 20, 2026, 11:30:40 AM

Probably the best sound I've heard so far is a class 37 file from Kevin at Coastal dcc own file.

Not my loco, but it's been run at the club and it really does sound 'the business'. I'm not convinced by other diesel sound files.

I fully agree with sound at exhibitions; as an exhibitor, other layouts' sound really grates, though on some layouts it does give a certain something.

I agree with PLD about the plethora of OO or O gauge exhibition loco shed layouts with sound well up-purgatory!

Martyn-

Newportnobby · February 20, 2026, 12:34:47 PM

I have to say maybe 99% of N gauge diesel horns just sound like a sparrow farting IMHO.
Having said that, the first time I heard a real Deltic horn I actually laughed because, compared to the loco power and sound, the horn was just pathetic
Imagine total loco sound on James Street

PLD · February 20, 2026, 12:46:37 PM

Like most things, when done right it can be an enhancement, but not just the sound of the locos, background noises - birdsong, livestock in a country setting, traffic in the urban environment.

What you don't want is when you are watching that 1930s bucolic country branchline, is to be able to hear the diesel on tick-over on the modern image depot at the other end of the hall...

Newportnobby · February 20, 2026, 01:15:15 PM

Anyone who has watched the N gauge layout 'Grange-over-Sands' will soon wish they had a shotgun to deal with the seagulls

emjaybee · February 21, 2026, 09:52:13 AM

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 20, 2026, 12:34:47 PMI have to say maybe 99% of N gauge diesel horns just sound like a sparrow farting IMHO.

That raises more questions than it answers...

EtchedPixels · February 21, 2026, 01:01:37 PM

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 20, 2026, 12:34:47 PMI have to say maybe 99% of N gauge diesel horns just sound like a sparrow farting IMHO.
Having said that, the first time I heard a real Deltic horn I actually laughed because, compared to the loco power and sound, the horn was just pathetic
Imagine total loco sound on James Street

It's not helped by the fact they are not kept in tune. The Deltic horn though is I agree particularly funny because it's near inaudible when the engines are giving it some welly.

I have mixed feelings about sound. On "follow the train" kind of close up layouts I find it's a really nice feature, and I can see why the US folks jumped on that and DCC first because it fits the "todays train, all the movements" world and view. A sound fitted 08 shunting a plank layout and good use of wheel squeal and buffer clank effects works so well.

I am much less gone on sound for a lot of the "trains in the landscape" kind of layouts where the landscape noise is missing and the train would (especially in an N scale world) be a distant rumble. Maybe with good ambient sound as well (and not the damned seagulls on loop). Good ambient sound is almost imperceptable unless you listen for it.

Volume levels are IMHO mostly down to speaker choice. The newer speakers are much better than the ones they used to fit (I actually gave one of the Bachmann folks a CT cube speaker to play with in N and when they finally tried it over their usual in the DMU they were shocked how much better it was). Some stuff actually overdoes it even in N. I've got a full sound minitrix ICE and on max volume you can hear it half way round the house because the sound fitting was done right.