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Dual vs single speaker in steam locomotive tender Track and electrical/DCC
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Regular poster 219 posts LMACKATTACK Regular poster 219 posts
LMACKATTACK
Just picked up 2 BROADWAY LIMITED ATSF 2-10-2 for $300. Think i got them for a good deal. And boy do they pull with the traction tires on ! both were non sound but dcc ready. I also picked up 2 soundtraxx heavy sound decoders to install. When i removed the tender shell i noticed the tender frame has provisions for 2 speakers. I have done plenty of sound installs but have always used just a single speaker. What is the genral thought with speakers? Use 2 when you can or single speaker if lack of space.? What are the pro and con? Normally I just build a box to house a single speaker to get a deeper chuff from it. Thoughts? Trent Blasco.
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Bruce Petrarca Frequent poster 920 posts
Bruce Petrarca

Two speakers . . .

In series aiding configuration will blow your sox off! See: http://www.mrdccu.com/curriculum/speakers.htmbottom of the page.

Bruce Petrarca, Mr. DCC; MMR #574
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kleaverjr Prolific poster 2,861 posts
kleaverjr

Speaking of speakers in Steam Locomotives...

I would like to add a smaller second speaker in the actual locomotives such as the one mentioned above, is that practical and possible?  One of things that "irks" me a bit is being close to the locomotive (I don't like the volume level "blasting" me out of the room) and you can tell the sound is coming out of the Tender and not the locomotive itself.  I know putting the primary speaker in the locomotive isn't practical but may a smaller speaker in addition to the main one?  Your thoughts Bruce?

Ken L
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,956 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Dis-similar speaker installs : done

Dear Ken,

I'm not Bruce, but I strongly suggest you check out the Youtube channel of aussie NG'er Laurie McLean ("scoopmmr"). Laurie has been doing dis-similar-sized speaker installs in various NG steam locos for a number of years now, and has done some of the most extensive R&D/testing I've seen... (By Laurie's own admission, his testing techniques are maybe not 200% "empirical audio", but he "trusts his ears" and the results speak for themselves)

http://www.youtube.com/user/scoopmmr/videos?view=0&flow=grid

Suffice to say:

- Yes, it's entirely possible to do "dis-similar speaker size installs"
- Yes, it can "bring the apparent point-source toward the stack, where the sound actually comes from"
- and with careful speaker selection and install, wider frequency response is also achievable

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr
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