There are now several manufacturers offering sound for N scale diesel engines, some come sound equipped. The standard seems to be set on the QSI Sound System. This has been around for several years in O, On30 and HO scale engines, both diesel and steam. No steam sound for N Scale as yet is offered, but, we can hope it will be soon.
I have listened to the sound samples on line of the diesel engines, and there is so little they can do. There is the run up and down, the bell, the brake application, wheel squeal and coupler charging and air-hose discharging. Not really much when you can imagine and really hear those sounds plus, pop-off valves, generator run-up, steam hiss, chug in tune with wheel rotation and idle blow-downs and the general creaking of a steam boiler with the steam sound available in the larger scales from this same company,QSI. The problem is the speakers and the lack of space for the sound unit in the steam engines.
My question is then, would you buy an N scale diesel engine with sound installed, regardless of DC or DCC? Would you be willing to wait for a steam engine with sound in N scale rather than buy the diesel? I know that some of us run only diesel and some of us run only steam and some run both. And do you need sound at all? I only ask this because most of our members seem to be in N scale. We spoiled members in the larger scales have all the advantages at present.
Aren't you glad the Americans gave the Japanese the "useless" transistor invention to help rebuild their country after WWII? You do know that this is one of the sparks of the technological revolution.
