There are only a few after market sound decoders options at the moment for diesels until the Soundtraxx Tsunamis arrive. They are:

• The older Soundtraxx DSX that comes in “specific” models that has to be installed with a second decoder for the motor. Price of this total installation would be approximately $175 – 210. (DSX = $110 plus speaker $20 and motor decoder $25 – 60).
• Soundtraxx DSD090 combination sound and “noisy” motor control unit Total price $130 ($110 plus speaker $20) You could also add a second motor decoder and use the DSD090 for sound only.
• ESU’s Loksound V3.5. This is the smallest decoder and can have its sound modified or altered with other sounds and for the very adventurous, you can add your own sounds. These units cost $195 and include a 100 ohm speaker with a 25 mm enclosure.

Others and new players to the after market that have just made it to the shops or soon to be released are:

• QSI’s after market sound decoders.
• Digitrax’s sound decoders that are being released in the Tower 55 diesels.
• Soundtraxx’s diesel Tsunamis
• MRC Brilliance range.

A little side feature about Loksound decoders, with their “downloadable” sounds, they can have their firmware adjusted as I have already had changed. These decoders did not delete their consist number when the consist was killed on my NCE DCC system. Contacted ESU and they corrected the software problem and posted the fix on their web site that I since have had John P, with a ESU Lokprogrammer install the new firmware. Consisting problem fixed. Similar problem with the Lokpilot non sound decoders.

So instead of having to “kiss these decoders goodbye” as I would have had to with the Lokpilot, they can be saved by new firmware.

This on top of being able to tailor make your own sound decoder by choosing different sounds that are all available at the Loksound site or in the Lokprogrammer software that is automatically upgraded each time you “connect” to ESU, makes these features the forefront of decoder design that others are going to follow to keep up with ESU, the leaders in sound decoder innovations.