SoundTraxx SurroundTraxx - Manual (Page 14)

SurroundTraxx User’s Guide Setup Guide Page 1:8 SurroundTraxx User’s Guide Setup Guide Page 1:9
Setup Guide
Additional Items Needed for Operation
Depending on the operating mode you have chosen, you will need to
purchase the following items to complete your installation:
 Up to six 8-ohm speakers
 Optional Subwoofer
 Appropriate DCC mobile decoders equipped with transponding or a
TL-1 transponder
 Digitrax DCC Command Station, cabs and power boosters
 Additional Speaker wire
 Digitrax BDL-168 (or older BDL-162) Block Detector *
 Two Digitrax RX-4s *
*Because each BDL-168 and RX-4 can only support up to eight blocks, larger
layouts may require additional detectors.
Speakers and Subwoofer
SurroundTraxx can accommodate up to 6 speakers per system. The size and
quality of these speakers are largely up to you and should be based on your
layout design and the needs you identify in the planning process. However,
we have a few helpful guidelines and some requirements to help you get the
best audio experience.
First, the speakers you choose must be passive 8-ohm speakers rated
between 5 and 25 Watts. We recommend choosing speakers with a
frequency response of at least 80 to 16,000 Hz. If you plan to use a
subwoofer, you may use smaller speakers with a frequency response of 150
to 16,000 Hz, as the subwoofer will provide the bass.
Mobile Decoders and Transponders
SurroundTraxx is a sound system designed to operate on DCC layouts.
In order to operate SurroundTraxx in transponding mode (multiple trains
in multiple sound zones) you must have DCC mobile decoders with
transponding installed in your locomotives. Alternatively, you may add
separate transponders to any DCC mobile decoder that you may already
have installed. To emphasize this point, when utilizing SurroundTraxx to
its full capabilities, you must either use decoders that come equipped
with Digitrax transponding or purchase a TL-1 transponder to add to the
locomotive. Sound decoders can also be installed in the locomotive but are
not required. Locomotives that aren’t equipped with transponders will still
run on the layout but will not be able to be dispatched or produce any sound
through your SurroundTraxx system.
DCC Command Station, Cabs and Boosters
SurroundTraxx requires a Digitrax LocoNet-equipped command station
in order to operate in any of its different modes of operation. At this time
SurroundTraxx cannot be used with a non-LocoNet command station and
cab.