ESU LokSound DCC decoders in future Atlas-O locomotives

 I think most DCC users will or at least, should welcome ESU. They have great sounds. They have the latest features usually.

 I don't have them now but back in HO, the ESU sound packages were at least equal with QSI. I think they both push the state of the art so it maybe a question of exactly when you're comparing. They forged ahead and then QSI responded. Then I left HO.

I'm wondering the same thing. I was looking through the Atlas O literature one day, and came across an User's Guide for ESU Loksound. Atlas O ... not HO/N.

Maybe a change is in the works.

I know these ESU decoders run *and* sound great in Atlas' HO diesel engines. I'd say they surpassed QSI in every way.

I'm a Loksound tragic of many years.  I've just fitted a Select to my new Weaver GP-38.

Regards

QSI is pretty much defunct.  Sunset will be switching over as soon as their remaining QSI decoders are used.

Lok Sound is a far supperior sound and is considered the top in its' class. The morjority of manufactures use Lok Sound in HO. Division Point will be putting decoders in its models and will be using TCS decoders. Maybe Erik can change Jack's mind and use Lok Sound.

The problem with Division Point is that once Jack makes up his mind no one can change it.

Stephen

Not to rain on the parade here... I really like LokSound. Their motor control is fantastic. Their sounds are very good as well, but to say they are the absolute best would be incorrect. The QSI Titan with Q3 is superior to LokSound especially when you have a dynamic transitional load on the prime mover. The Titan Q3 can do things that LokSound can't and that's simply a fact.

For best sound quality I prefer the TCS WowSound as it has uncompressed 44.1k sampled true 16 bit sound.

Here is an example of a WowSound decoder that I installed in an Atlas SW9 using the stock speaker:

The QSI Titan Q3 has the best PRR 3 chime whistle that I've ever heard though. This video is being played through a tiny cell phone cube speaker and it is amazing...

It was interesting (sad?) to see QSI lose market share like that.  But, the Loksounds were such a large improvement over the QSI decoders they replaced.

What factory locomotives come with QSI decoders, anymore? Are BLI's "Paragon" systems actually from QSI?

JohnnySpeed:"For best sound quality I prefer the TCS WowSound as it has uncompressed 44.1k sampled true 16 bit sound."

KoreaBrass has a HO GE U-Boat, and they put a TCS WowDiesel decoder in it.

Kato is putting decoders into some of their engines now. Mostly ESU, but with some models a choice is given between a Loksound or a Tsunami. 

Look for that Atlas F7 thread, they confirmed ESU decoders will be used in their upcoming F7's.

First off, QSI lost market share because their de coders are insanely complicated to program. the manuals are like 300 pages and nothing about it is intuitive unless you are an electrical engineer or computer programmer. The ESU LokSound decoders has an extremely easy programming setup and if you are lucky enough to have the programmer it's even easier. I'd be willing to bet there's less than one tenth of one percent of train guys will ever even use the advanced functionality of their decoders

Matt .... did you notice where the ESU decoders are manufactured? Thanks.

My friends and I have the programmer coming in from Tony's. We're going to have ALCO turbo 539's in modern diesels. Lol.

I am not knocking the ESU decoders, I'm actually knocking myself. The one large scale EMD I bought, sounded fantastic! I just couldn't get it to run in my USA SD40-2? So I put in a NCE decoder that was easy to install and run, and used the ESU for it's sounds.

 I imagine that it was just me. I've heard that a lot of users like them and can install them without problems. I just found them difficult to reprogram the parameters and smooth out the running, with that model. I couldn't get much done with DCC myself so I went with DCS. I don't miss it! I'm sure over a decade later, that it must be getting better.

Wow! ESU LokSound does have some great sounfiles...and thought I read somewhere the new decoders have a 11 watt amplifier..hmm 

Awesome...scroll down to the GE 7FDL 16cyl Modern and listen to that! 

http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads...-4/loksound-v40-usa/

Sh*t..The QSI Quantum Manual v5.1 that I had printed out and bound at Kinko's is a mere 421 pages 

Those QSI decoders are power hogs...they'll use twice the amperage of a PS2 equipped loco...and I never seen one yet run a smoke unit without installing a cooling fan blowing across the decoder! 

Unless I'm missing something the ESU LokSound decoders seem to have plenty of diesel sound files but not many steam sound files.  Take the Big Boy download for example.  Does it just have one whistle choice?  Or are there several within the file like with other brand decoders.

As for sound quality comparisons between the various decoders suitable for O scale I can't see how guys can accurately do this.  There are so many variables for a given decoder involved with speaker selection, placement, enclosures, body shells, tender shells, boilers, etc, etc.  Then comparing between decoders is even harder. Please help me understand how you can claim one sounds better than the other as a general statement.  Thanks.

Finally, it is with some sadness that I find myself getting ready to abandon the QSI Titan Magnum for future installs.  I have the Quantum Programmer.  I am up the learning curve slogging thru the manuals and features using CV Manager.  I am happy with the product but find the support unacceptable and am moving on to the ESU Loksound or the new TCS WOW large scale or the new Eco-Nami ECO-400.

I wish one of the magazines or internet retailers or somebody on the forum would do a serious comparative review of these three; motor control, sound and lights, installation ease, manuals and support.  Would be a big help to me.  Maybe others.

Atlas doesn't make any steam locomotives and no US OEM of steam has so far been interested so todate that is understandable.  If/when 3rd Rail moves their 2-rail steam over to ESU that will probably change.  There are also no EMD 710 sounds available and that is more pertinent to HO OEMs. 

THE reason QSI is defunct is because of no support.  Not even the OEMs can get any support from QSI.

Otherwise,

I shall save my opinion of the ESU decoders until I see their motor control compared to the Zimo decoders.  Everybody elses motor control just sucks comparatively.

Hi Bill

I've used Loksound extensively and some Zimo.  There isn't much between them as far as motor control goes.  I've got a QSI programmer, a Lokprogrammer and a Zimo programmer.  I find the Lokprogrammer easiest.

It's a shame in a way to see QSI go, as they had a lot going for them. 

Cheers

Ive got lots of ESU equipped N scale locos and a few HO as well ant they sound great. You get the best sound when using two speakers. There are quite a few options for whistles in steam and horns in diesel.

It's a shame in a way to see QSI go, as they had a lot going for them. 

That's exactly how I feel.

Well, if they wanted top stick around they should've adapted to the market. The simple fact of the matter is that most people only need a basic setup for their decoders. The QSI deocders sounded great but were sooooooo complicated that the manufacturers opted to go with different companies. I would have done the same thing if my core market was people who just want prime mover sounds and whistle and bell. Tsuanmi, and ESU LokSound are now the primary sound decoders for OEM locos because they sound good and are easy to program and troubleshoot. I could see WOWsound system making this leap to a factory installed decoder very easily as well because they have incredible sound and a extremely simple interface. When you need to know binary and hexadecimal conversions in order to program a speed curve youre just not gonna make it

German company, but .... the Loksound decoders I purchased were made in China.

I didnt pay much attention to the actual where they are made but China makes sense since everything is made there.