Bachmann EM-1 with Tsunami Sound (photos added)

[SkipGear]

The Dumbo, Zimo, and CT speakers are all OEM replacement speakers for various smart phones. I just picked up a couple from Ebay for $3 each. The markings on them match the Zimo speaker. Unfortunately I haven't gotten a chance to play iwth them because my PR3 is on the fritz and I can't programe my decoder with the right sounds to try them. It crashed right after erasing the original sound file and before installing the new one so I have a soundless sound decoder.

[carlso]

Roger - I did not state that very well. I meant his video on TB. I don't think he has posted any photos of his install.

Tony - I have had a couple of those soundless sound decoders. I was so po'd because I could not program anything in them. I let my temper overcome me
           and tossed them into the file 13. Sound can be frustrating.

carl

[rogergperkins]

I did check TB after I wrote, and should have done it before.  I saw the more recent posts and video.
I seem to have lost my membership to TB and had to "re-Up" to get access then was on probation.

[Mike Madonna]

The Zimo speaker is so tall because it includes a sound chamber. If it is removed, it looks very similar to the Dumbo speaker.  The sound chamber is fairly easily removed (attached with double-sided foam adhesive gasket).

Peteski,
True, one can remove the sound chamber. However, once removed, the sound volume and quality are greatly reduced.

[SkipGear]

I'm back in the game. My programmer was bad. I borrowed another from the shop today and got the sound decoders updated and good to go. I tried one of the cell phone speakers and it is much better than the OEM Digitrax speaker of course but I need to find a larger one for this application. These are 11x15 and I have room for a 15x20 or more in this tender. I thought of running two in series but I am going to see about a larger speaker in general.

[peteski]

Peteski,
True, one can remove the sound chamber. However, once removed, the sound volume and quality are greatly reduced.

My point was to simply inform that the actual speaker in those Zimo "cubes" is very similar to the other ones shown in that photo.  I agree that removing the sound chamber enclosure would drastically decrease the sound quality.

But if someone is looking for  a speaker that has a footprint and thinness of the Zimo units to be installed in an airtight tender (or wants to build a much larger enclosure, the Zimo enclosure can be easily removed.

The speakers of that design produce a good sound (in a suitable enclosure) because the speaker "cone" has a very soft suspension and large deflection.  Most small speakers used for N scale DCC sound have a relatively stiff suspension and small deflection.

[jdcolombo]

I'm back in the game. My programmer was bad. I borrowed another from the shop today and got the sound decoders updated and good to go. I tried one of the cell phone speakers and it is much better than the OEM Digitrax speaker of course but I need to find a larger one for this application. These are 11x15 and I have room for a 15x20 or more in this tender. I thought of running two in series but I am going to see about a larger speaker in general.

Hi Tony.

The "Dumbo" speaker by Knowles is 13 x 18, but its specs are better than anything I've seen that will fit in an N scale tender.  If you go to Digikey and compare everything they sell with a 16mm width or less (16mm is about the maximum for our applications), the Dumbo's frequency response and SPL are better (better even than the 16 x 30mm I've used in my Challenger).  The Dumbo is the largest dynamic speaker that Knowles makes; there may be larger ones out there somewhere (what does Apple use in the iPad? or iPad mini?) but apart from the electronics supply places like Digikey, I don't know how to find them.  A 16 x 25 or 16 x 30 "Dumbo-style" speaker would be terrific, but I haven't been able to find such a beast.

What I don't understand is why companies like Athearn or Bachmann don't find these speakers.  A Dumbo in an appropriate enclosure would put the 15mm round that comes in the Challenger and BigBoy to shame, and there's plenty of room in that tender for it.  Ditto for the EM-1 - why cut a hole for a crappy 15mm round when there are so much better choices?  I understand the need for good manufacturing design and cost, but these speakers are hardly expensive in the context of a $400 locomotive, and not a whole lot bigger than a 15mm round.  If Bachmann would join forces with QSI for an EM-1 sound board along with one of the Knowles speakers, this thing would have absolutely killer sound to go with its killer looks and operation.  Sigh . . .

John C.

[rogergperkins]

Thanks for every one sharing the critiques of sound decoder and speakers.
I got on the Digi-key website with sales resistance to the wind  and ordered some of the 13x18x4.5 mm Dumbo Knowles speakers 2403 260 00057; not certain what I will be doing with them, but Just in Case!

[SkipGear]

Just for fun, I now have one running with a SDN144 with the EM-1 sound project and a 15mm round speaker in the stock location just to see what a quick and painless install would sound like. Incredibly, for all the complaining about low sound volume on the Digitrax decoder, with the 15mm speaker in the stock location, simply using the shell as an enclosure (which is fairly air tight as a matter of fact, if you don't mind the hole where the wires enter from the loco), and it was too loud for my taste. I have the volume turned down to about half right now.

I honestly can't tell you what the speaker is. I believe it is something that pirated from an old set of earbuds. It sounds a little tinny but the volume is way too much. It may be a real consideration to seal up the hole for the wires and install a larger, high quality speaker in the stock location for a simple install.

When I get time, I am going to play with the sounds in the sound file. There some definite improvements that can be made with a little audio editing software that can make this sound project much better. I'm impressed with the number of features that have been squeezed out of the Digitrax decoder. If it just had more voices and a BEMF circuit that worked, these would be damn good decoders now that they have been figured out.

It now does most all the toys that Soundtraxx does including auto toots, auto steam blowdown, brake squeal, water stop, even auto grade crossing signals at random intervals.

[Chris333]

We need Beats by Dre brand tender speakers 

[rogergperkins]

  I just listened and watched the YouTube video posted by John Colombo in which he compares a couple of speakers.
Amazing how different and how good the one sounded to me.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, my first half dozen Dumbos arrived today and wow, what possibilities! I'm in love, accoustically speaking...
Until I had them in my hand, I didn't quite appreciate their diminutive size; the 18mm "long" side can actually be filed down to fit into some of my tender bodies sideways! and vertically, to project sound forward through the front of the tender, through an opening below the deck. I can also see them inside fuel tanks on F and E units....  To be continued....
Thanks John, for finding these!
Regards, Otto K.

[jdcolombo]

Well, my first half dozen Dumbos arrived today and wow, what possibilities! I'm in love, accoustically speaking...
Until I had them in my hand, I didn't quite appreciate their diminutive size; the 18mm "long" side can actually be filed down to fit into some of my tender bodies sideways! and vertically, to project sound forward through the front of the tender, through an opening below the deck. I can also see them inside fuel tanks on F and E units....  To be continued....
Thanks John, for finding these!
Regards, Otto K.

I'd like to take credit, but it was Doug Sluder over on Trainboard that first mentioned these.  As Tony Hines notes, the Dumbo is part of a range of speakers designed for cell phones and tablets.  But I am truly amazed at how much quasi-bass response these speakers have - one of these makes my 16 x 35mm oval sound terribly tinny by comparison.   And even if you simply wrap the speaker with something to make a 7mm-deep enclosure overall, they still sound quite good (not as good as giving them a bit more air space in back, but still better than any of the ovals I've been using.

I plan to investigate the even smaller offerings from Knowles and others in this market.  There's a speaker that is 9mm wide by 15mm long; that one would fit in even a GP9.  I've resisted putting sound in my diesels, partly because the drone of the prime mover doesn't do much for me, but mostly because I couldn't find a speaker that would give decent sound and fit in a narrow-hood unit.  Maybe that concern is over.

I just got through putting the Dumbo in my Bachmann EM-1's with a heavy steam TSU-750; they sound exceptional.   Going to replace the speaker in my BigBoy next, and then start on replacing the speakers in all my other steamers.   And at $3 each from Digikey, you can't beat the price!

John C.

John C.

[Scott Lupia]

I was interested while watching that video.  When I saw the final speaker, then I was blown away by the Dumbo's.  Are these speakers only available through Digikey?  I was actually thinking how cool it would be to install larger ones in HO locomotives but they don't seem to make larger speakers.  I have have been wanting to paint and detail the NKP 759 Berk.  Now might be the time.  Thanks for everything John, you have sent a shot of inspiration through the computer once again.

Scott Lupia

[Cajonpassfan]

I'd like to take credit, but it was Doug Sluder over on Trainboard that first mentioned these. 

Correction noted. Thanks Doug on TB!
Otto


John C.