Has there been any further info on sound decoders for the FEF3

[Paradise275]

I've waited for the dust to settle on the Kato FEF3. I want to install a sound decoder and have put it off until now so as to get the most up to date information on what's available.
The ESU LokSound micro looks to be the best alternative. Would you still install a separate motor decoder in the loco and a sound decoder in the tender?

Rick

[peteski]

As I mentioned in the original FEF3 threads, I'm partial to QSI sound decoders.  I will install a Titan or the older Revolution in the tender (with the motor and headlight also being powered by that decoder.  QSI Decoder is physically large but it will fit in the top of the tender shell.  I just like the sound fidelity and motor control of those decoders.

EDIT:
The QSI decoder controls coreless motors well. I did a test run (with the decoder just temporarily hooked up to the motor) and it had a very good slow speed and it was smooth through the full speed range.

[carlso]

Rick,

If you have not seen my short video of my FEF 3 with ESU Loksound Select Micro decoder and a Knowles Dumbo speaker in the tender.
As Peteski mentioned QSI makes pretty good sound decoders, I have no idea bout the motor control with their decoders. The ESU is smaller by quite a bit than the QSI and I can tell you, first hand experience, that the motor control is superior to most USA made sound decoders. If you use a decoder such as the ESU or maybe a Zimo, or QSI you will not need to put in two decoders.

The following short video is not the best as there are several members BSing in the background. The tender problem as shown has been fixed, in my haste to run the loco I had a wire sticking out the other side of tender that prevented it from sitting as it should.

Hope you enjoy and can see and hear the benefits of an ESU.

Carl

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[jdcolombo]

I went the two-decoder route, using a Zimo MX621 in the boiler for motor control and a Tsunami heavy steam for sound, also using a Knowles Dumbo (now replaced by the Knowles Grand, same size) in a custom enclosure for the spearker.  But I am slowly converting my entire big steam fleet to ESU LokSound - the one decoder approach is easier, and if you use a wiring harness with a micro plug in the tender, you can still separate the tender from the boiler should you want to do so.  But the FEF two-decoder install works so well and sounds so good that I'll probably leave it alone.

Here's a video of the result:

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John C.

[Cajonpassfan]

John, very sweet, love it!
Otto K.