Joined
·
1,601 Posts
QUOTE (simonj @ 13 Dec 2008, 12:13) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Why are these sound locos so expensive anyway? You can go to the local toy shop and buy a nice radio controlled car that makes sounds and has operating parts for £20 or so.
I think that to understand why sound locomotives are expensive is to look at the history of DCC.
From a European stand point, DCC arrived in 1985. Lots of Hype, but really few if any features. Over the next 5 years there were further enhancements and what "we" take for granted (the likes of acceleration, deceleration, back EMF reading etc) were introduced.
About 10 years ago ESU released the loksound (1) chip. Over the next 5 years this was further enhanced to the loksound 3.5 that many are familiar with. I am pretty sure that the price of the loksound (1) chip, is about the same price as a loksound 3.5. So although new features have been added, the price has not increased (or decreased for that matter).
Now like it or not, the loksound chip is built by the Germans. There are two distinct parts to the German RTR market. There is the 2 rail side, which conforms to the DCC/NRMA/NEM standards. But the biggest Market segment is the Marklin market which doesn't follow the DCC/NRMA/NEM standard, it has (for better terminology) the Marklin standard. ESU have built a chip that will run on either spec, so that has undoubtedly increased its cost.
When we look at the British RTR (read Hornby) market, DCC has literally happened in the last 2 years. DCC is now becoming mainstream, and Hornby modellers are looking at it and going I want sound. Hornby, in what I consider to be an excellent business decision, have made a commercial decision to not invest R&D in equipping locomotives with sound and have elected to use loksound chips. I truly hope that the issues Marklin had with ESU do not happen with Hornby.
If you think Loksound chips are expensive, have a look at the price of Zimo chips.
There has also been comment passed about how few British locomotive sounds are available from ESU. Again, I would look back at history and ask the question, why would ESU go to the expense of making British sounds available when for all intents and purposes DCC was/is not mainstream yet.
I have a very healthy respect for Richard Johnson who is fortunate to have the time and skills to do some wonderful things regarding British sounds, enhanced by the fact that he is in Australia and not the UK.
Cheers
John
I think that to understand why sound locomotives are expensive is to look at the history of DCC.
From a European stand point, DCC arrived in 1985. Lots of Hype, but really few if any features. Over the next 5 years there were further enhancements and what "we" take for granted (the likes of acceleration, deceleration, back EMF reading etc) were introduced.
About 10 years ago ESU released the loksound (1) chip. Over the next 5 years this was further enhanced to the loksound 3.5 that many are familiar with. I am pretty sure that the price of the loksound (1) chip, is about the same price as a loksound 3.5. So although new features have been added, the price has not increased (or decreased for that matter).
Now like it or not, the loksound chip is built by the Germans. There are two distinct parts to the German RTR market. There is the 2 rail side, which conforms to the DCC/NRMA/NEM standards. But the biggest Market segment is the Marklin market which doesn't follow the DCC/NRMA/NEM standard, it has (for better terminology) the Marklin standard. ESU have built a chip that will run on either spec, so that has undoubtedly increased its cost.
When we look at the British RTR (read Hornby) market, DCC has literally happened in the last 2 years. DCC is now becoming mainstream, and Hornby modellers are looking at it and going I want sound. Hornby, in what I consider to be an excellent business decision, have made a commercial decision to not invest R&D in equipping locomotives with sound and have elected to use loksound chips. I truly hope that the issues Marklin had with ESU do not happen with Hornby.
If you think Loksound chips are expensive, have a look at the price of Zimo chips.
There has also been comment passed about how few British locomotive sounds are available from ESU. Again, I would look back at history and ask the question, why would ESU go to the expense of making British sounds available when for all intents and purposes DCC was/is not mainstream yet.
I have a very healthy respect for Richard Johnson who is fortunate to have the time and skills to do some wonderful things regarding British sounds, enhanced by the fact that he is in Australia and not the UK.
Cheers
John
