About Phoenix Sound

Why Phoenix Sound was born...
     Like most of our customers, we have a passion for model railroading and like most enthusiasts, we always seem to be looking for ways to improve realism.
     When digital recording started to become affordable in the early 1990s, it offered the potential to add a whole new dimension to the hobby. But we were quickly disappointed...
     We discovered that all digital sound units are not created equal and the ones we tried fell short of our expectations. Distortion, poor amplification and limited sound choices ruined the experience. Hence, Phoenix Sound Systems was born.

Uncompromising sound quality...
Our foremost goal was to produce an uncompromising system that truly lived up to the potential. In particular, we demanded clear reproduction where a ringing bell would stand out crisply from the background chuff, and not be mixed into it -- and where the howl of a whistle would not distort the chuff itself. Where you would hear the rumble of a diesel, not just the knock.

Sufficient amplification...
We also knew that the unit had to have sufficient amplification to support "loud" outdoor operation suitable for big scales such as 'O', 'G', 1" and larger. We also wanted to insure a proper frequency response providing not only crisp treble but full bodied bass. Diesels don't just knock and pop, they also rumble, and that is the most realistic part!!

Comprehensive sound selections...
     We also realized that hobbyists model many diverse eras, equipment types and road names so variety was paramount. A simple choice of diesel or steam was not enough.
     Rather a comprehensive selection of specific types of diesels and specific steam engines from different road names was required. After all there is a big difference between a 1890 era narrow gauge engine and a World War II era standard gauge heavy steam locomotive.
     We believe we have met our goals with the BigSound^TM sound unit and as such, it should live up to your dream.

The BigSound^TM solution...
BigSound^TM is a hardware/software solution that uses a unique programmable memory chip. This allows a single unit to be programmed for a broad range of sounds with many subtle sub-sets of differences. The board has sufficient memory so that we don't need to resort to distortion-causing compression techniques, and with a full range amplifier you will have all the volume you need.

Steam

While at our website...
While browsing our site, you can sample some of the many locomotive and effects options available with the BigSound^TM sound unit. There is also a comparison page lets you hear the difference, quality recording and storage can make, versus the use of compression techniques.

Excellence of support and service...
The BigSound ^TM is designed to bring an unmatched level of realism and quality to model railroad sounds. With excellent support and service, we are dedicated to your total enjoyment. For more information, why not give us a call or send us an email.