This HO scale Pennsylvania RR class M1a 4-8-2 steam locomotive from Broadway Limited Imports features the firm’s new Paragon3 sound system. These new electronics work with the firm’s new Rolling Thunder subwoofer system that captures the low-bass rumble of the real thing. Hear the system for yourself and get a demo of the Digital Command Control (DCC) equipped steamer.
Video: Broadway Limited Imports Paragon3 PRR M1a and Rolling Thunder subwoofer system
By Angela Cotey | February 5, 2016
| Last updated on December 3, 2020
See and hear this Digital Command Control equipped locomotive in action on the Model Railroader staff's HO scale model train layout
Hopefully, you could tune the bass back. It's way too high in this video. It has way too much booming and distortion. I know, I know, you wanted to show how low it could go, but, sometimes it just sounds unreal. Dial it back a bit!!!
Think the sub is turned up to high. Have an old PFM system with a sub and it sounds a lot better.
that looks like a good start. But it would seem to me with today's miniature electronics that an FM radio transmitter in the tender to a normal FM receiver would be more effective and less expensive. I have tried it and it works but not installed it yet as I had to pack up and move house.Perhaps one of the young electronic whiz kids can build an write about it in MR
I don't like it, sounds than not real, I prefer an individual sound in each locomotives
As both a recording musician and producer, I STRONGLY feel that the 8" speaker in the subwoofer is WAY too small for effective track side, chest thumping bass, no matter how well ported, etc. Even the cheapest portable bass guitar amplifiers usually contain a 10" minimum and often a 12". The proprietary aspect of this product keeps me and many others "out of the game" anyway. Not impressed on the computer speakers or my youtube streamed Bose stereo speakers. Maybe in person? I'll wait for a more universal product with MUCH better bass response. 8" speaker stuffed under the benchwork with all of the usual accumulated "stuff" most of us have stored there is just silly IMHO. Too bad, I was initially excited by the possibilities.
If the sub-woofer in my home theater sounded like that I'd be embarrassed. Is the sub properly adjusted in this demo? It sounds unnatural and way too "hot". The sub should complement the sound not overpower it.
So if you have multiple paragon 3 equipped locomotives, and you have multiple receivers, will the rolling thunder subwoofer pick all of them up and still allow for the farthest locomotives to fade??
Why not just make 10 a little louder? LOL
Not for me. Only 15' range? OK for small layouts, I guess, but my layout if 30' x 50'. I'd need at least four of those huge boxes. I get better bass from my MP3.
always good to hear a Steam in action
It goes to 11! BAHAHAHAHA!!! 😛
There are still too many limitations – more than one loco or large layouts requires multiple units – with this proprietary system to justify the expense. If you desire big sound – especially in N scale – the SurroundTraxx DSP-80 system is still the only reasonable choice.
We can hope that future DCC standards will include BIG sound options that don't require a marriage ceremony with one manufacturer or another.
At last, a sound decoder system that does not sound like my lawn mower. I want to hear it on a deisel unit.
Interesting new technology!
11 just for that extra Boost when 10 does not do it for you. Old People know some odd things.
Appreciated demo-ing with and without the sub-woofer, there certainly is a distinct difference. Wish that the manufacturer would include some additional sounds, like rod clank and filling the water tank. I also wish they would discontinue the sometimes inappropriate "radio chatter". And lots of luck in doing away with smoke, as it is usually the wrong color and not enough volume (particularly when starting with a load).
It goes to 11, ? wow !! let me plug in my Les Paul and roll out those Marshall stacks, let rock this puppy! someone is showing their age.. ST btw: nice system, steam on mates, Nigel would be proud