INTERMOUNTAIN N scale SD40-2 Speaker Swap

[Billg]

Good Evening!

Just finished a speaker swap on my Intermountain SD40-2.  The sound from the original speaker was scratchy and tinny.  I saw John Colombo's youtube video on speaker comparisons installed in the -2 and his write-up somewhere on this forum on how to do it and decided to try it.  I'm a pretty good "copier".  I am NOT an innovator.  That's why I rely on guys like John to figure out the hard stuff so guys like me can copy it!

ANYWAY, the swap was a HUGE success!  No more distortion and a not so much treble.  I used a Soberton 8x12 in a custom made enclosure using John's approximate dimensions.  I used .020 styrene to make the enclosure and wound up having to mill approx .005 off one side of the fuel tank opening so it would fit in the fuel tank.  One of the differences is, what took John an hour to make took me 4!  All's well in the end though.  I'm quite happy with the outcome.  It now sounds like a Dash 2 should!  Thank you John and all the rest of you guys!

Bill W.

[Steveruger45]

Great news Bill.  Yeah, this is on my bucket list too although I’m thinking of using a 16x9 or 15 x 8 speaker as should be able to get around 750-800mm3 enclosure for these speakers in the space.  Also you can reduce the high end a bit by adjusting the the sound speed down a little using the lokprogrammer.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I always thought the -2 sound was pretty good on this engine. Was this a problem with a specific unit?

[Billg]

I always thought the -2 sound was pretty good on this engine. Was this a problem with a specific unit?

You know daniel, it could have been. I only have one of them so I have nothing to compare it to.  I put another file in it after I got it.  I may be a bit picky due to the fact that I cut my teeth, so to speak, on dash 2's.  I retired after 37 years as an engineer on the C&NW/UP and those motors were pretty much all I played with.  Getting back to your question, yes it could have been just that unit but I've had good luck with Soberton speakers and this install is no exception.  ESU was the reason I went to sound.  They were the most prototypical to me.  It's like being in the "seat" again especially with the "Drive-Hold" feature!

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Bill, same here. I had a few BLI engines before the SD40-2s but they didn't really blow me away like the IM units did.

I have done two conversions: a B23-7 and an M420. Both use Sobertron 8x12 with rather large baffles made from the light shield. I would rate the conversions the same level as the IM SD40-2 in clarity and richness. the M420 is by far the loudest of the bunch - I believe due to the cab being open on the bottom and the sound reflected off the floor.

[Billg]

Bill, same here. I had a few BLI engines before the SD40-2s but they didn't really blow me away like the IM units did.

I have done two conversions: a B23-7 and an M420. Both use Sobertron 8x12 with rather large baffles made from the light shield. I would rate the conversions the same level as the IM SD40-2 in clarity and richness. the M420 is by far the loudest of the bunch - I believe due to the cab being open on the bottom and the sound reflected off the floor.

If I do another IM -2, I'll try a 9x16 Soberton.  JC says they'll fit.  If one of my buddies wants to try a conversion, I'll try and talk him into a 9x16....

[jdcolombo]

The 9x16 will fit, and it sounds better than the 8x12.

John C.

[carlso]

John,

Nice video. Thanks for the 3 way comparison.  9x16 wins

Carl

[GM50 4164]

The 9x16 will fit, and it sounds better than the 8x12.

John C.

John, anyway you can share the link to your info about doing the swap of these speakers? I'm interested in doing the ones I have at some point.

[jdcolombo]

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41074.0

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41025.0

John C.