Sound decoder for Kato F40PHI

D

darkcurves

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Feb 5, 2007
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Just wondering, which sound decoder is installed in the stock sound equipped Kato F40PHI for HO scale? I am thinking of buying the loco without the sound, then later add on when i have the cash. Lemme know.

Thanks in advance. :mrgreen:
 
As near as I can tell, the Kato F40's aren't offered with factory sound, just DCC ready.

Even if it were, usually you can't get the factory decoder as a separate item, you have to go with an ESU or Soundtraxx or somesuch.
 
Hey, thanks for the reply man. Yeah, that's why i would like to know if the stock one uses ESU, Sountraxx or any other brand, so if i get the similar one, easier to install.
 
Dude, DCC ready means you can plug any decoder into it. You pick.

Digitrax makes a drop-in decoder for it, so that would be the simplest install, but I haven't heard it, so no idea what the sound is like.
 
Yeah true also. Btw, what you think of MRC's sound decoders? Which are the ones you heard before, which do you prefer?
 
The original MRC diesel decoder sounds were cheezy, in my opinion. I haven't heard a MRC Brilliance decoder yet, so maybe they've improved.

You want good diesel sound and a good decoder, you're going to pay $$$. I haven't heard the Digitrax sound, but I've read they're good.

The best diesel sounds I've heard are ESU, Soundtraxx DSX and QSI. The Soundtraxx is just a sound decoder, so you use it in tandem with a mobile decoder of your choice, and QSI isn't available as an aftermarket unit (that I'm aware of).
 
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