[SRman]

I like different sounds for variety, but generally only run one or two with sound at any one time. That doesn't stop me running other trains at the same time though.

DCC has other advantages than just running multiple trains; one can also tweak various parameters to make locomotives behave more realistically for things like top speed, acceleration, braking, or more advanced adjustments to the speed curve for given throttle settings.

However, the one thing no one else seems to have mentioned so far that makes DCC sound that much more enjoyable for me (besides the pleasure of particular engine sounds) is the driving experience. With DCC, and to a lesser degree, DC (especially with inertia controllers), one can drive a locomotive with the throttle so that it appears to behave more realistically, but with sound one gets some feedback as to what is happening, built in delays for start up, brake release then engine revs rise, followed by a gradual movement ... one actually seems to be driving and has to adjust the techniques to suit the engine characteristics.

It is just one more facet to a multi-facetted hobby that, to me personally, makes it more enjoyable.

As others have already said, though, to each his own!

 

[SRman]

I hope I'm not duplicating anything said earlier (I skim-read some of this thread!): you can get sound decoders that are add-ons for existing ones, e.g. Digitrax. there is no reason why these couldn't be used for auxilliary sounds like whistles, without engine/steam sounds. I believe that these decoders are somewhat cheaper than the usual ESU / Zimo types too.

It is also possible that these sounds could be used independently so perhaps the auxilliary decoders might be a way around the Lenz ABC problem too - not sure on that one so perhaps someone else with more experience in that area could speak up.