Offboard Sound

[N Scale Train Boy]

Now, Im not an expert at all, and am happy to be proven wrong, but I would imagine you could just wire multiple speakers into the same bluetooth transmitter/speaker setup, just like how you have multiple decoders on the track at once, and just mute the decoder's volume when you are done with that prime mover.

[Sumner]

Sumner, thanks so much for showing that schematic.  It makes a lot more sense now.  I like your version.  It does exactly what I want to do.  Only being able to use one sound at a time isn't an issue for me since I'm the only operator on my layout.  If I want to switch prime mover sounds, it looks like I would require another decoder, correct?  Have you given any thought as to how one could switch between decoders and still use only one setup?

Doug

To switch between decoders would only involve switching the 2 speaker wires between decoders.  A DPDT center off switch would do it if you only had 2 decoders.  But if it was me and I didn't need to switch all that often I'd get (I have one)  the LokProgrammer as you could download/change sound files in about 20-30 minutes and don't need to be there that whole time...

If you only want sounds for a couple locos is there a reason you aren't putting a sound decoder in the loco?

Are you interested in also controlling a DC loco with it? 

If not there are only 6 wires to that attach to the decoder (8 if you want the DC output).  Remember that it is a way to run a DC loco on a DCC layout if you only feed the DCC to the decoder and the DC from the decoder to the tracks.  You can now also use a wireless or wired handheld throttle if you have one with your command station.

Sumner

[BCR751]

If you only want sounds for a couple locos is there a reason you aren't putting a sound decoder in the loco?

Are you interested in also controlling a DC loco with it? 


Sumner

For my layout, I would need (read 'like to have')  prime mover sounds: EMD SD40-2 16-645E3, ALCO C/M630 251, ALCO C420 & RS18 244, the main ones being the C/M630 and the EMD SD40-2.  This is not a big deal and could be modified at a later date.

The main, actually the only, reason for not putting sound in the locos is that I simply can not stand the crappy, tinny sound.  Keep in mind that I model  in N-Scale.  IF my layout was HO I may be more accepting of the onboard sound.

Regarding running DC, I have only two Arnold S2 switchers that can never be converted to DCC so I likely won't be running DC.  Having said that, however, it looks pretty simple to switch over using your setup.

Doug

[peteski]

Sumner, thanks so much for showing that schematic.  It makes a lot more sense now.  I like your version.  It does exactly what I want to do.  Only being able to use one sound at a time isn't an issue for me since I'm the only operator on my layout.  If I want to switch prime mover sounds, it looks like I would require another decoder, correct?  Have you given any thought as to how one could switch between decoders and still use only one setup?

Doug

If you use ESU LokSound decoders (and buy the LokProgrammer for the cost of about a single N scale loco), you could just reload whatever sound you want to use. The only thing is that it takes about 30 minutes for the sound project to upload to the decoder. Of course the stationary decoder's address has to match the mobile decoder's address.  It can be done using POM, but it requires several steps.

If you want to switch decoders, looks like you could just wire up each decoder to a 6-pin connector for easy swap.

[ednadolski]

I think any audio transformer would work .. amazon sells them for a few $$ for several in a pack ..

Internet says it is a 1K ohm to 8 Ohm matching transformer ..

this might do ..

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Transformer-Isolation-1300-TransformerTransformer/dp/B0C8V19PVW/ref=sr_1_21?crid=30LO67NSJ3II9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.B3r0nM0oHi5c-C8ckgat1IGE1gZfU6Ib123CX6fqWJ3GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.hEUIg73BjcNpM9HvUzYLclwCkbgrW89B23p044wO1Uo&dib_tag=se&keywords=1000+to+8+ohm+audio+matching+transformer&qid=1752744644&sprefix=1000+to+8+ohm+audio+matching+transformer%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-21&xpid=OlX3VHhe0IZc-

A bit pricier but (presumably) better than the 1-star review version:
https://www.amazon.com/BOJACK-EI-14-Efficiency-Isolation-Transformers/dp/B09YHHGR8H/ref=pd_sbs_d_sccl_3_1/143-9733796-7985652?pd_rd_w=HSaBU&content-id=amzn1.sym.2cd14f8d-eb5c-4042-b934-4a05eafd2874&pf_rd_p=2cd14f8d-eb5c-4042-b934-4a05eafd2874&pf_rd_r=G6TXBBE5PHXF9BDXPHB5&pd_rd_wg=2dciP&pd_rd_r=3605bf62-bff1-4ff8-a367-cf34cda4f72f&pd_rd_i=B07Q6RSWYC&th=1

[CNscale]

FWIW I did this a while back using a sound decoder designed for G-scale. (PhoenixSound BigSound P5). It output 6W, so I just connected a speaker to it. No need for a transformer or anything else. Connect the decoder to the speaker, to the track, set up a consist, and try it out.

(Since then I've bought N-scale locomotives with onboard sound, and the P5 has found it's way into a 1:29 scale GP9).