I’ve a Lima class 60 so it’s kinda empty inside. I’ve recently wired it with DCC using a Hornby TTS 60 sound chip, but, quite frankly, it sounds quiet. so, on advice from a friend, I’ve stumped up £4.99 for an iPhone speaker which I hear are the new thing to use. It arrived this morning, but alas, I was at work at 12pm and the loco is at my Dads, so hope to collect it soon and make a swap. I’ll report back on any findings. I could probably have gone for a bigger speaker, (plenty of space for once) but see what we get in volume and quality here. then I may look at what other speakers are now available as the 08 I have is soo weak you hardly hear it. (Then it squeaks like a banchee from the mechanism) andy
I was recently asked by a 90 year old friend to have a look at an Oxford Rail Adams Radial sound fitted by Hattons which had the same problem, so quiet you could hardly hear it. All the volume CV's were set at 128 (Maximum), but it was very poor, and all I could suggest was to try drilling some small holes in the imitation 'coal' to let the sound out, as the speaker was in the bunker. I then fitted sound into his Hornby Adams Radial using the Hornby 'Black 5' TTS sound decoder He'd been sold as the 'nearest to it' in sound terms, and this was quite satisfactory volume-wise, although some cutting of the angled bulkhead within the bunker had to be done to create sufficient (just!) space. In this day and age, when are manufacturers going to finally appreciate that many modellers nowadays have a right (considering the price asked of models) to expect simpler sound fitment as the 'norm' instead of having to cut and carve a model to stand any chance of getting a decoder and speaker into a model? I'd be interested to find out how you go on with the iPhone speaker Andy, presumably it's the correct impedance (usually but not always 8 ohms) to match the decoders output. What's the physical size of this speaker, the one I fitted into the Hornby Adams Radial was a 'youchoos' 15mmx11mmx5mm, smallest they do, and it just went in as there ain't much room in that bunker! Keith.
Hoping the phone speaker means that’s not needed. Unless you refer to the 08? That may be a size issue again.
For the 08, (I have the Hornby fitted version which is a ESU v3.5 so uses 80ohm speaker), I was recommended to replace the decoder for a v4 version and use two sugar cube speakers behind the front grill. Ebay has many different sizes listed, but may also be worth looking for / making a sound Box for these as well, your iPhone speakers may already have the sound box bult on. Paul
Hmm. I wonder... Swapping speaker may be an option. The iPhone speaker may even fit too.. that’s the next project to look at.
Firstly In reply to @Keith M here is the speaker. As a gauge it’s next to the decoder. Now, here is how it sounds on the original speaker. and here is how it sounds with the iPhone speaker. In my mind as may not be apparent on the computer, it’s less tinny and more base but no louder. well, next is the 08 to see if I can improve that. happy new year.
The iPhone speaker is definitely an improvement, especially from the bass point of view Andy. I can't image that the volume will be increased if the speaker impedance is the same as the original, but whatever enclosure the speaker is in could possibly reflect the sound forward and make it sound louder, though I'm no sound engineer. Keith.
Hmm. No that’s a thought. I’ve not actually got any holes in this model, which may be an issue.. but there is so much empty space in this loco that I’m not sure it matters. There is little volume change body on or off, however, I wonder if pointing the speaker upwards may make a difference?
