I like the sound system in Lionel Visionline locomotives myself. here is a Polyphonic sound system advertised in OGR for installation into engines but I don't know what that is all about a this point
Bob C.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I don't know about the Polyphonic system you speak of, I've never seen it. IMO, the best sound today is Lionel Legacy, they really have done an excellent job with the sound systems for most Legacy models. Obviously, the VL-BB with the two sound systems and three speakers is pretty amazing as you'd expect. 
Lionel Legacy hands down.
My Lionel Legacy 10 wheeler is the best that I have.
yes. the Polyphonic sound is advertised in the latest edition of OGR
The only mention of Polyphonic sound I find is a product announcement for the Williams GG-1.
Williams by Bachmann is offering new O42 GG1 models featuring True Blast Plus 16-bit polyphonic sound that includes electric locomotive sounds, horn, and bell.
I doubt that is going to equal the Legacy sounds.
you are right. Legacy sounds are superior.
Bob C.
Robert Coniglio posted:yes. the Polyphonic sound is advertised in the latest edition of OGR
Why don't you share the name of the company advertising "polyphonic" sound? Is it an add-on?
If it's Williams I think by saying "polyphonic" they're implying that the prime mover, the whistle and the bell can all operate simultaneously.
Pete
the Polyphonic sound system is offered by Dallee Electronics and is advertised on page 37---- left upper corner
Bob C.
I searched the last two OGR mags, the only mention of Polyphonic is a couple of Williams product announcements.
Robert Coniglio posted:I like the sound system in Lionel Visionline locomotives myself. here is a Polyphonic sound system advertised in OGR for installation into engines but I don't know what that is all about a this point
Bob C.
Is the title of the thread accurate or are you asking about this product?
Robert Coniglio posted:you are right. Legacy sounds are superior.
Bob C.
Seems you answered the question of the title of this thread.
Very confusing thread title and subsequent posts.
Sound, hands down Lionel. Although I bought a Williams RS-3 and I like the sound of the prime mover and horn, when it is running. Sound stops when changing direction ...............Paul
There's a men's room down 2 floors that's pretty polyphonic....
mwb posted:There's a men's room down 2 floors that's pretty polyphonic....
How's the echo? There's nothing like a restroom with good echo for singing doo-wop. 
Dallee sound system at this LINK.
Pete
Lionel sounds are nice but that Generic horn in the lionel diesel's and MTH has better prototype horn on there diesel.
The Dallee stuff is only for fixed installations or conventional operation, so it's no competition for the command sound systems. Now, if they interfaced it to TMCC, I'd be interested...
The VL BigBoy is probably the best sounding engine to date. The additional speaker in the engine is a very nice addition. The chuff and whistle sounds actually seem to emanate from where they should. Love it! 
Rod
Thanks for educating me on the Polyphonic sound. you can always get good info here on any model train subject.
Bob C.
Bang and Olufsen.
I don't know about the best sound system, but I can tell you the loudest. My wife when she isn't happy.
Larry
Having been in both camps I find Lionel Legacy to be much better than Protosound 1,2 or 3.
ESU LokSound. One and a half more years and I'll finally be able to get out of O scale. Three rail, that is...
bigtruckpete posted:Bang and Olufsen.
Glad that you didn't say Bose.
Oman postedGlad that you didn't say Bose.
Bose, EW! What a disappointment that was!
Oman posted:bigtruckpete posted:Bang and Olufsen.
Glad that you didn't say Bose.
No highs. No lows. It must be Bose!
I like my 1970's Sansui 125watt/channel 9090db receiver, Pioneer HPM-100 and Acoustic Research AR3a speakers that cover west coast and east coast style speakers.
Charlie
Texas Pete posted:mwb posted:There's a men's room down 2 floors that's pretty polyphonic....
How's the echo? There's nothing like a restroom with good echo for singing doo-wop.
Dallee sound system at this LINK.
Pete
Wow! You just brought me back to community college in Philly singing Doo-wop in the fire exit hallways. fun times. The crazy 60's
How did this topic get so far from model train sound systems? Does your Legacy locomotive really sing Doo-wop down the tracks?
gunrunnerjohn posted:How did this topic get so far from model train sound systems? Does your Legacy locomotive really sing Doo-wop down the tracks?
Don't you think it should? That would be so cool !
IMO, the sound system with the most potential is BLI's Rolling Thunder.
Pete
Texas Pete posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:How did this topic get so far from model train sound systems? Does your Legacy locomotive really sing Doo-wop down the tracks?
Don't you think it should? That would be so cool !
IMO, the sound system with the most potential is BLI's Rolling Thunder.
Pete
I always thought MTH should have had a sub-woofer since DCS has bi-directional communications.
We are talking (or supposed to be) about O gauge and in that respect no MTH engine I have or have heard matches the depth of sound from a VL engine with multiple speakers producing co-ordinated sounds. The Challenger and Big Boy are the prime examples but there's the VL Centipede too.
Comparing standard Legacy to PS2/3, the Lionel system wins again IMO but it depends on what you value most in terms of sound effects. The lack of engine-specific crew talk in late model Legacy engines is a disappointment to me compared with passenger/freight announcements in MTH models but of course not everybody takes that view.
There's mention of LokSound and BLI above, which is fair comment at least to this extent: I've tried to get but never got an answer to the question whether there's some system limitation in 3 rail sound technology that means you can't get the range of sound effects DCC systems offer. My particular hobby horse is the Lionel Veranda Turbine (O and HO versions) in which the O version has none of the incredible turbine sounds of the HO one (QSI sound). Is it some kind of memory limit in 3 rail boards or do the O manufacturers simply think they don't need to offer a wider range of sound options? As I say, I dunno but it would interest me to find out from someone who does.
Had hoped to hear the BLI 'Rolling Thunder' at the Asheville Train Show back in March as Bob Grubba's brother operates 'Factory Direct Trains' here and displays at the show. I spoke briefly with him but they had not had a chance to set a system up and explore it at the time.
It does seem to hold the most promise (by incorporating a powered sub-woofer) to give us the lower frequencies missing from our on board speaker limitations. Has anyone actually heard a live demonstration?
Lionel......The others are OK but Lionel has the best sound.
Not sure how accurate any of the manufacturers sounds are for specific locomotives.
Guests love the booming Lionel steam chuffs.
Guests love the MTH starting steam sounds with the cylinder cocks open then closed and turning to chuffs. They ask why "that engine" pointing to the Lionel engine "doesn't do it?" when starting up. Never been able to answer that. Clearly the correct steam start up would be better than crew talk!
Diesel sounds are about all over the place. Some like the MTH, others the Lionel. Seems Lionel has a generic horn and almost no one knows when the incorrect prime mover is heard in either brand of system.
BobbyD posted:Not sure how accurate any of the manufacturers sounds are for specific locomotives.
Guests love the booming Lionel steam chuffs.
Guests love the MTH starting steam sounds with the cylinder cocks open then closed and turning to chuffs. They ask why "that engine" pointing to the Lionel engine "doesn't do it?" when starting up. Never been able to answer that. Clearly the correct steam start up would be better than crew talk!
Diesel sounds are about all over the place. Some like the MTH, others the Lionel. Seems Lionel has a generic horn and almost no one knows when the incorrect prime mover is heard in either brand of system.
On reflection I have to agree with you - except that none of my spectators has ever noticed the difference between a Legacy and MTH steamer starting up! What they like, as do I, is a Legacy or VL engine booming away in the way that only they do at speed, whether slow or fast.
The MTH extended start-up sounds option is nice; my personal favorite is the DDA40X. But that still doesn't rate giving the prize for best sound overall to MTH.
I don't know. I'm pretty partial to this one. Lights, sound, smoke, deep saturated whistle sound with realistic steam effects, swinging bell, steam from the cylinders.
Oops. You were talking about models. In that case, I'd have to give the nod to Lionel. Despite MTH's improvements in their sound, Lionel's sound is still better.
Attachments
Images (1)
