About SoundTraxx

SoundTraxx has been designing and manufacturing the latest in state-of-the-art sound systems for the discriminating model railroader since 1990.

Company History

1989

SoundTraxx’ corporate entity, Throttle Up! Corp., was founded in 1989 in Pocasset, Massachusetts.

1990

Hyperlight

Our first product, the Hyperlight, was the first lighting system to use a microprocessor, not only to provide brilliant lighting effects, but also to allow the user to select the desired effect from within one model. a

This allowed model railroaders to purchase one item, but one that could be configured into a multitude of different lighting systems. It also allowed for multiple effects to be used at the same time! Although we no longer sell the Hyperlight, the effects we designed for this wonderful lighting module have been rolled into our Digital Sound Decoders and continue to be enjoyed by modelers everywhere. a

1991

D220-IR Diesel Sound System

This was the first sound and throttle system to incorporate wireless control.

1992

SoundTraxx S220-IR Steam Sound System

The first digital sound system to offer ‘playable’ whistles.a

1994

Move to Broomfield, Colorado (Denver suburb) DSD-2408 Digital Sound Decoder

The first DCC decoder to be integrated with sound and lighting functions. Model Railroaders heard, for the first time ‘polyphonic’ sound – no longer did the playing of one sound interrupt another.

1996

Introduction of DSD-2408 & Dynamic Digital Exhaust

Dynamic Digital Exhaust: a method of adjusting the sound volume and ‘cut-off’ of steam exhaust chuff automatically, further enhancing the illusion of a steam locomotive ‘coasting’ into the station.a

1997

DSD-050 & the DSD-150 Digital Sound Decoders

In this same year, SoundTraxx forayed into the large-scale sound market with the introduction of SoundTraxx Sierra. In addition to being the first large-scale sound system with realistic lighting effects built in, Sierra was also the first sound system to incorporate a coupler-activated sound effect.

1998

SoundTraxx Brand Recognition

With the focus now being clearly on sound, the SoundTraxx name was more identifiable as well as appropriate, and, Throttle Up! took a back seat as the company began marketing under the SoundTraxx name.a

DSD-150 Diesel Digital Sound Decoders Move to Durango, Colorado

1999

‘LC’ line of Digital Sound Decoders

A varied line of Digital Sound Decoders meant to be easier to install, many following a ‘plug and play’ format. Many of these decoders were lower in cost and included such items as speakers and baffle kits. This line continued to grow and became a popular addition to our repertoire of decoders.

2001

Moved to Durango Tech Center

SoundTraxx moved into a brand-new 6,100 sq ft building in the Durango Tech Center, overlooking downtown and overlooked by Smelter Mountain.a

2004

Some work experience

We announced a new division, Blackstone Models, which we created to further diversify the company product line and to fill a need in the marketplace we knew and understood. It was time to marry our sound technology to a model from the beginning in a way that we felt only we could do. At that time, we announced our first project, an HOn3 K-27 Mikado.

2005

Tsunami Release

The first 16-bit Digital Sound Decoder for steam locomotives. The improved sound quality, added functionality and motor control features made Tsunami the decoder to have. It was the first Digital Sound Decoder to use the back-EMF to adjust the tone and volume of the exhaust chuff with changes in the engine load and to include a 7-band equalizer.a

2006

Blackstone Models K-27s shipped

These locomotives were highly anticipated and received with great enthusiasm. Followed the next year by both HOn3 Boxcars and Stock Cars, we began to develop a hungry following for these terrific models. That same year, we upgraded our manufacturing line with two new SMT machines, which were a magnitude better and faster than our previous equipment.

2008

Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders for Diesel

Available with the same technologically advanced features as our steam versions and a few new surprises, we continued to add to the list of prototypes offered in order to satisfy the largest number of customers. The first ‘plug and play’ style Tsunami for Atlas HO diesels and models using a similar physical light board also was introduced.a

2011

SurroundTraxx

A unique digital sound system designed for the layout, not the individual model.

Since SurroundTraxx relies in part on the technology of another company, it faced several delays while these products were made commercially available and the technology proven. It is truly an amazing product and the first of its kind. Working with today’s DCC technology, SurroundTraxx gives the modeler the realism of high-fidelity sound moving with their train as it travels about the layout without installing speakers onboard the engine. Using the latest digital signal processing (DSP) technology and advanced block detection techniques, SurroundTraxx faithfully reproduces the sounds made by each train on the layout and directs the sound to the speaker closest to the train’s location.

2012

DCC Digital Sound Decoder with sound channels

The first DCC Digital Sound Decoder with separate sound channels for the three prime movers used by NRE GenSet locomotives, which makes the prime mover sounds kick on independently based on the throttle setting. a

2013

Expanding our Tsunami offerings

We released a plug and play format for InterMountain HO diesels, which is our first Digital Sound Decoder to include six lighting outputs. We also added prime movers to our line of decoders for recently released Athearn Genesis ES44AC/DC and Kato HO P42 models.

2014

Tsunami SoundCar Digital Sound Decoder

The first-ever 16-bit DCC decoder for rolling stock. We also developed Intelligent Consisting, a new method for quickly adding and removing trains in a consist without tricky programming. That fall, we broke ground on a new building to expand our manufacturing capabilities.a

2015

Our 25th year of Innovation Launched the Econami Digital Sound Decoders

This value line of 16-bit sound decoders offers many great new features and some SoundTraxx classics at a more affordable price point. We also announced UK steam and diesel versions for the Econami line during our first appearance at the Warley National Railway Exhibition in Birmingham, England.

Move into Our New Manufacturing Facility

Located at 141 Burnett Drive, which is near our former location in the Durango Tech Center. This new facility provides three times the manufacturing and product development space.