Install sound in LGB Spreewald

Slawman

Slawman

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Hi All,

I am looking to install a Massoth XLS sound chip in my Spreewald loco.

DEV Spreewald Steam Locomotive | Märklin

Does anyone have any idea where/how to place the speaker? This loco has quite a small boiler and I am struggling to identify a good spot (maybe out through the firewall into the cab)?

Many thanks for your consideration in advance.
 
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At some stage in the life of the prototype the cab roof profile changed to one with a large "box" ventilator? on top. LGB have modelled this with their sound fitted examples and fitted a speaker in it.
This isn't any help when fitting sound to an earlier model.
I managed to do so for a mate about a year ago.
I tried a speaker in the bunker without success and I don't think you'll be able to get one in the firebox.
The good news is that I found an article on the net on fitting one in the smokebox. I checked but couldn't find it again but I remember the basics.
Drill several holes in the footplate underneath the smokebox.
Trim a little from the front weight in the boiler such that it no longer protrudes over the front of the lower boiler section that holds it. Fix a 40mm dia. speaker with "sound box" into the available space in the smokebox. I chose to fit an ESU 50323 speaker tilted downwards a little and fixed with hot melt glue.
I bought the speaker from Mark of this forum at GRO, but I include this link for a large image of the speaker in question.
ESU 50323 Speaker 40mm (8 Ohm) | Howes Models | Radio Control Model Boats, Cars, Helicopters, Planes, Bait Boats, Model Railway, Heljan and Sound decoders

I hope this is of some help.
 
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Many thanks Neil, mine is an older version with no box on the roof so the roof mount is not an option for me.

I have scoured the net for any information but couldn't find anything either.

I will look into your suggested approach.
 
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Obviously, the bigger speaker you can fit in the better, BUT if there is no room for anything larger then the 28mm diameter flat Visaton one that Massoth supply can be fitted in almost anywhere..... you can buy the Massoth one with the cable and CT plug already attached, or you can get the speaker cheaper here:
Visaton K 28 WP 8 OHM Mm Diameter Mini Speaker Waterproof
....but then you have to add your own wires and plug to connect to the XLS.
These little speakers are surprisingly good for their size, and better still if you have room for some kind of sound chamber behind them.

Another small type I've used successfully is this one: RVFM ABS-229-RC Miniature Loudspeaker Rectangular with Mounting Lugs
Very compact, with its own built-in sound enclosure - you just need to change the plug for a Massoth type CT. This one can be slipped in almost anywhere (I've installed one in an LGB Fiery Elias tram loco, on the cab floor alongside the boiler) and held in place with a strip on double-sided tape.

Jon.
 
I used a Massoth sound card and managed to fit two small speakers from a computer monitor - one at the front and one at the back in the floor of the loco between the chassis rails. Not that loud but reasonable. 0782 shows front speaker under the pony truck and 0781 shows the rear one.

Geoff
 

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I did an thread on adding XLS decoder plus speaker for GSM some while ago (2008!).

I mounted the speaker in the cab roof which involved removing the one-pice perspex "sleeve`' that makes up the various cab windows, cutting out a circular hole and fitting the speaker to the roof in whatever way takes your fancy (I used hot glue and it's still inlace after all this time). I had to sacrifice the cab light as there wasn't room for it, but I moved it two the firebox to provide a glow from there.

I'm not very "handy" at creating things like speaker enclosures but I'm sure it must be possible to do this to enhance the sound if that takes your fancy.

I don't have the text from my "how i did it" post, but the following pics may help -

Pic showing cab and perspex sleeve separated and with hole cut in sleeve

Step 18.JPG

Pic showing speaker in place

Step 28.JPG

Pic showing reassembled cab roof

Step 30.JPG

Pic showing decoder in situ and wired up prior to reattaching body to chassis

Step 33.JPG

Hope this helps.

(PS - sorry if pics aren't too clear; in GSM days you we had to resize them before uploading and some of the clarity got lost. If you want the full set of originals showing dismantling, decoder fitting, etc. as well as speaker fitting let me know)
 
I managed to put one of the 40x40 speakers facing rearwards in the smoke box though it was not very loud, even after adding some holes :)

If I where to do another then I would probably use a 28mm in the rear bunker facing into the cab or a 57mm super flat attached to the cab roof.
 
Many thanks for your great thoughts and experience lads.

Some great experience to consider. I would very much like to get a 3 watter in somewhere with an enclosure as it makes such a difference to the lower end, the quality of the sound is important to me. I have noticed in some installations that the loco body can act as an enclosure, greatly improving the depth and quality of the sound output.

I will now re-examine the project looking in particular at the locations you have recommended.
 
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