You won't loose any sound

You won't loose any sound functions. Are you running steam or diesels?  Try 50. If the loco runs faster than you want, lower the number. If it runs to slow raise the number. Does your DCC system have a computer interface? Digitrax has a PR3 programmer that can be used as a stand alone programmer. There's also the Sprog II which does the same. Both hook up to a computer that run JMRI Decoder Pro. I use the PR3 to program my decoders. I use speed curves on my loco's as well and Decoder Pro makes it easy to program CV's. Joe

Works for me

I used JMRI to set the user defined speed table with a top speed of about 40 percent of full, give or take, depending on the operating characteristics of each model.  And of course, they're never the same, eh?

For the Bachmann 2-10-2 Tsunami steam, setting the max speed lower requires a commensurate change in the speed of the chuff sound, as that is tied to throttle setting, not the speed table.

I have Soundtraxx's

I have Soundtraxx's Programmer for the Soundtraxx decoders and Loksound's Programmer for theirs.  I use DecoderPro for the former and Loksound's software for the latter.  I tried DecoderPro with the Loksound decoders but the result was noticeably "buggy."  

I plan on using a straight line speed curve as I only have room for a loco with maybe 5 cars max, including the caboose.  Most trains will be shorter.

Thanks for the reply, Scott Groff

Speed vs motor power

I'm not intimately familiar with either of those decoders. However I'd be surprised if they have an actual "max speed" setting. Decoders typically can limit the max power they'll deliver to the motor in a loco, but the speed attained for a given motor power level will vary with the gear ratio, driver size, number of cars being pulled, and the gradient of the train under the train.

That said, you could always experiment around with settings to see what effect they have on maximum speed.

One thing, you really don't want is the loco motor to stall. That is, you don't want the motor to be powered without enough oompf to keep it rotating. If you reduce the max power level and the train is on a steep grade it's possible that the loco could stall rather than spin its wheels if the train is too much for the loco on the grade (stalling or slipping depends on the weight of the loco).

A stalled motor presents a near short circuit to the power output of the decoder and both can become quite hot.

Just something to look for when you're running. With gentle (or no) grades and short trains it shouldn't become an issue.

Cheers,

Charlie