"Sound Ready" makes an official appearance via Atlas

[jdcolombo]

Just noticed that Atlas is releasing new C628's and C630 locomotives.  One version with sound, and one version that is analog DC, but "sound ready" - it apparently comes with the speaker installed, so that it can be converted to sound with a board replacement (I'm assuming this model will take the new ESU board; the information provided by Atlas doesn't specifically say so, but it does say that the sound version has six function outputs, which we now know the new ESU boards have).

http://www.atlasrr.com/NLoco/nc628c.htm

I guess the "Sound Ready" concept discussed in this thread wasn't so far-fetched after all:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41220.msg513150#msg513150

John C.

[MK]

MSRP for the sound is $240.  What do you think the street price will be (e.g., Klein's)?

[bdennis]

Nice one Atlas.. Looking forward to seeing these and understanding what, if anything, they have changed on the frame.

[MK]

Also, this first one is a six axle unit.  I wonder how Atlas will do it for the smaller frame Geeps?  It will be interesting to see!

[Missaberoad]

Fingers crossed we will see updated GP30, GP35, SD7/9 with proper proportioned shells when/if it comes their turn for the sound treatment... 

[basementcalling]

MSRP for the sound is $240.  What do you think the street price will be (e.g., Klein's)?

$170 to 180 range perhaps?

[BCR 570]

Wow - this comes just after getting my C-630M fitted with LokSound, and just before same for my M-630s. 

A few questions:

Where would the speaker be - in the fuel tank?

Would the sound quality be comparable to the speaker enclosures I have built using John's design?

Would we be able to adjust the ALCO 251 prime mover setting for air or electric start?

Would we be able to change bell, horn, etc.?

Would we be able to alter function settings for ditch lights, etc.?


Definitely food for thought, although having already purchased decoders for my M-630s, purchasing new mechanisms with sound onboard would be expensive.


Tim

[mrnhn]

I asked the atlas rep at Springfield show and he said that were going to do al the n-scale engines with sound

[peteski]

Wow - this comes just after getting my C-630M fitted with LokSound, and just before same for my M-630s. 

A few questions:

Where would the speaker be - in the fuel tank?

Would the sound quality be comparable to the speaker enclosures I have built using John's design?

Would we be able to adjust the ALCO 251 prime mover setting for air or electric start?

Would we be able to change bell, horn, etc.?

Would we be able to alter function settings for ditch lights, etc.?


Definitely food for thought, although having already purchased decoders for my M-630s, purchasing new mechanisms with sound onboard would be expensive.


Tim

My take is:

Considering that IM, ESU, and Atlas seem to collaborate, and that ESU makes that narrow sound decoder, it only makes sense that this loco will have that decoder.
Speaker in the fuel tank makes most sense since that it the widest area available in that loco (to house the largest speaker).  I suspect that it will be similar quality to the IM loco (not quite up to John's standard), but that is usually expected from a factory install.

As far as the type of sounds which will be in that decoder, it is up to Atlas to determine that. The decoder is capable of hosting custom sound files so one can hope it will have the correct sounds installed.  It is a DCC decoder so it should be fully configurable as far as lighting effects go. I'm sure a full manual will eventually be available from either Atlas or ESU.  If you have a LokSound decoder then you already know how capable those decoders are. Assuming that Atlas will use the same decoder hardware as IM did (with different sound files), then you can read up on that decoder's capabilities in one of the threads which discussed that decoder.

[tehachapifan]

...Would the sound quality be comparable to the speaker enclosures I have built using John's design?...

I sure hope so. That said, the necessity for a completely air-tight enclosure on one side of the speaker still does not seem to be widely understood or is still not fully embraced. Like John did, I just finished retrofitting my S2 with a new speaker and scratch-built enclosure as the original does not have a complete enclosure. The difference in sound quality is incredible (not that the original sound was bad). I certainly applaud Atlas for venturing further into the sound front!

[jdcolombo]

My take is:

Considering that IM, ESU, and Atlas seem to collaborate, and that ESU makes that narrow sound decoder, it only makes sense that this loco will have that decoder.
Speaker in the fuel tank makes most sense since that it the widest area available in that loco (to house the largest speaker).  I suspect that it will be similar quality to the IM loco (not quite up to John's standard), but that is usually expected from a factory install.

As far as the type of sounds which will be in that decoder, it is up to Atlas to determine that. The decoder is capable of hosting custom sound files so one can hope it will have the correct sounds installed.  It is a DCC decoder so it should be fully configurable as far as lighting effects go. I'm sure a full manual will eventually be available from either Atlas or ESU.  If you have a LokSound decoder then you already know how capable those decoders are. Assuming that Atlas will use the same decoder hardware as IM did (with different sound files), then you can read up on that decoder's capabilities in one of the threads which discussed that decoder.

I agree, mostly.  The decoder almost certainly will be the same board as in the IM SD40-2 or the "retrofit" version of that board.  The board is a standard ESU LokSound Select in architecture, so you can load any sound file you want into it with a LokProgrammer.  ESU already has a sound file for the Alco 251 V-16 prime mover, which was used in the C630; I doubt they will do (or have done) a new recording just for this loco.  However, it is likely the board will come pre-programmed to Atlas' specifications (the S-2, for example, came with the default set for "sound on with power on" rather than the usual "Press F8 for sound"). 

As for the speaker, we'll just have to wait and see.  Almost certainly, it will be in the fuel tank.  Whether Atlas takes seriously my admonition to pay more attention to the speaker enclosure is still an open question.

John C.

[Rossford Yard]

Ouch.  With the MC unit, I think my little switching layout setting just moved from Chicago to Minnesota.

[garethashenden]

MSRP for the sound is $240.  What do you think the street price will be (e.g., Klein's)?

N Scale Supply has them listed at $179.96. This is the same price that they have the S2 listed for. IIRC Klein's had the S2 for something like $155, but they were by far the lowest.

[reinhardtjh]

N Scale Supply has them listed at $179.96. This is the same price that they have the S2 listed for. IIRC Klein's had the S2 for something like $155, but they were by far the lowest.

There's a guy on the N Scale yard sale Yahoo group offering  a pre-order discount of 35% for the new Atlas March announcements.  For the $239 list price that works out to $155.97.

[MK]

http://www.atlasrr.com/DCC/FINAL%20User%20Manual%20-%20Atlas%20Gold%20Series%20Diesels%20with%20LokSound.pdf