eBay

ginzokid · ‎10-30-2006

I need help guys. Has anyone seen and heard the MRC Synchro Sound Boxes? Here's a link. http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-MRC-Synchro-Sound-Box-Steam-0001022_W0QQitemZ280037990958QQihZ018QQcategoryZ... The reason I am asking is because I'm contemplating a new coffee table N scale layout and it will be DC only. I'd like to have sound but my Atlas Shays are not DCC or sound equipped. Therefore, the sound box. If anyone has heard or operated these, I would appreciate a review of it. Maybe a LHS near you has one to listen to, but alas, I have no hobby shop on the Rock. The list is $75.98 and this ebay price is good, but I can get it cheaper yet at Toy Train Heaven on line for $54.71. With two train operation I would need two units, so I'm researching before I spend that kind of money. Any help would be appreciated. The MiserFadda

dl85vette · ‎10-30-2006

That unit reminds of the one that MRC had out a few years ago that created environmental sounds of city and country and I htink even had diesel noise on it. They were always advertised on the back cover of MR. As to your question, no I have not seen it before. I'd start with one and see if it suits ya before buying two of them. just my 2 cents that's worth 1 for what you want for info.sorry.. dave

ginzokid · ‎10-31-2006

Yes Dave, MRC has had several issues of sound boxes. Maybe you're right. One would probably be enough for such a small space. It would only be a novelty for use when guests were over. I like to dream..... BTW, I want an air horn for my car for Christmas. Butit better sound like a steam whistle! B-)

dl85vette · ‎10-31-2006

The LHS I deal with in 'Peg has one of those sound boxes on the counter. There's always a steam sound and bell ring going off when the phone rings. I never noticed if it is the phone or the sound unit.(as the phone is a steam loco). Sounds good anyways. I'm guessing it is the sound system as it seems to be louder than what the phone could reproduce for lower freqs. The mrc system has the speakers that look like what you'd have with a computer. dave

ginzokid · ‎12-28-2006

Did I tell you guys that I ordered two of these sound boxes? I probably did in another thread. I'm still waiting to get them though. Stock piling stuff for the next layout. Will I ever learn? Nah! B-)

dl85vette · ‎12-28-2006

Nope never mentioned it before Pete. Are you gonna try it out before packing it away?

ginzokid · ‎12-29-2006

I'll try them both out on the test oval. There is supposed to be a selection of whistle type and adjustable chuff rate so I can make the two sound different. We shall see. Two may turn out to be too much for a small layout, but I can always sell one..... Kim all of a sudden noticed that I'm collecting N scale stuff again. She said, "...but you don't do that scale anymore....". Wrongo-bongo! B-)

dl85vette · ‎12-29-2006

C'mon Pete. Get a big domino of N scale happening. You could have the small layout as designed but have a nice big staging yard or even a nice sized yard with a pass. station. the yard would give you a place to store your N collection and room to park the Cdn MTL car/engine series.

ginzokid · ‎12-30-2006

Dave, You, sir, are a genuine gold plated trouble maker! :D

dl85vette · ‎12-30-2006

well you gotta have a nice steam era yard witht he ash pit and coaling tower and roundhouse filled with locos and a sound circuit of machine work inside the roundhouse.

ginzokid · ‎01-09-2007

The sound boxes came today. Hooked one up to my trusty old MRC TechII 2500 and guess what......didn't work. Holy Dissappointment Trackman! Time for a phone call to MRC. Turns out the circuitry in the older MRC transformers is not filtered enough for any of their sound units. Ya gotta spend more money to get things to work. Planned would you say? Fortunately I have a new MRC280 which MRC tech support said would work. I hooked it up and eureka! I have N scale sound! It's cool! There is a choice of whistle sounds and bell rates along with syncro chuff that is adjustable. The volume is adjustable too. There are all sorts of controllable sounds like hiss, flange squeal, pump, etc. This unit works with both analog DC and DCC. Mounting the speakers under the table gives an overall impression of surround sound. Considering that I will run the N in DC and that it is almost impossible to get sound in an N scale Shay, I'm glad I bought these units.