Lionel "Rail Sounds" versus PS-1

Railsounds is a cd quality sound system only. It's a digital sound board reproducing cd clarity like sounds of the engine [prime mover] and the horn and the bell.

Ps-1 is a sound system plus multi-function engine control for use on conventional controlled locomotives. Using a pure AC power output sine wave transformer[ like a z4000, MRC Pure AC transformers or Postwar Lionel transformers] it is a board that not only reproduces the locomotives sounds but a mini computer that activates lights , electronic couplers, and different speeds/functions of a model locomotive.

So railsounds has exhaust chugs?  Doesn't sound like it would have any sound correlation to locomotive movement if it is just recorded?

PS-3 sounds and control system is a vast improvement in terms of sound quality over the PS -1 system. The PS-3 sounds are closer to the individual prototype. Lionel RS-5 and later Legacy sounds are generally well executed and tailored to the particular engine.

I have owned many MTH and Lionel locos over the last twenty-years and my observations are based on my particular experiences.

BOTH newer systems employ synchronized chuffing and smoke output. My Later PS-2 locos have cylinder exhaust sounds (6) prior to the chuffing sounds beginning.

PS1 is the first iteration of MTH's sound AND control system. It was produced until sometime in the early 2000s. PS2 followed and PS3 is current. Protosounds (the "PS" in PS1/2/3) is an integrated sound AND control system in both PS2 and PS3, PS1 is conventional only.

Railsounds is Lionel's sound system. It is often, but not always, sold in units that's also have TMCC or Legacy control systems. Railsounds started out in the very early 90s, transistioned to Railsounds 2 in 1994, Railsounds 4 in 2000ish, Railsounds 5 in 2005ish, and since to Legacy Railsounds (current). 

In terms of sound quality, the original early 90s railsounds is pretty poor. 

The sound quality of Railsounds 2 all the way to present day is very good.

The Protosound systems have improved with every generation and are also quite good but IN MY OPINION they are still not as good as Railsounds (even the mid-90s era Railsounds II), particularly the steam chuff sounds.

There is a wide variance in the perception of any sounds and therefore they are highly subjective.

When it comes to RTR/conventional locomotives, IMHO, the PS-1 locomotives sound so much better than the RS locomotives.  The PS-1 in some cases even sound better than the RS in some TMCC locomotives.  RS are more generic, while PS-1 were tailored to the locomotive.

The difference in the sound quality is mostly said to be in the quality of the speakers used in the loco.  In the mid-1990s Lionel started using better and better speakers, so to my ear, the quality of Lionel sounds was much more realistic (deeper bass in particular) and "musical" than the PS1 and PS2 locos, which seemed hollower, for lack of a better word.  Haven't had a chance to compare more recent PS3 locos but I'm told the sound quality is improved.  Early Lionel Sound of Steam was electronic noise, as was MTH Locosounds. 

My advice is to do some visiting of layouts and listen to the various systems for yourself and make your own judgment.  Evaluating sound quality is a very subjective topic, and if you ask ten people, you'll get ten different opinions.