A few years ago we released the BigSound^TM P5, a board geared towards the DCC and battery power operators. To make the basic P5 system fully functional with non-DCC remote control systems you needed to add the P5T module to the system. To better suit the battery and R/C market we decided to revisit this design.

The result of this reconsideration is the BigSound^TM P8. The P8 is for all intents and purposes a combination of the P5 and P5T. We started with the basic P5 design and added both motor voltage speed inputs and more physical triggers. This eliminates the need for the P5T for most users - you can still add one on to the system if you desire more that the 5 on board trigger inputs.

BigSound^TM P8 Features:

16-bit Sound Reproduction

A 16-bit microprocessor is used to produce museum-quality sound Cannot be matched by an 8-bit solution

DCC Sound Decoder Built-In

It isn't necessary to purchase a separate DCC decoder to trigger sounds like the whistle and bell on the P8 - this system works with all DCC systems that adhere to the NMRA spec (and even some that don't!). In fact The BigSound^TM P8 was designed with the DCC user in mind.

up to 6 Watts Power

New amplifier strategy allows us to generate up to 6 Watts of power - depending upon the total input voltage supplied and the setting of the wattage limiter (which can adjusted with the computer interface). The default setting matches output of the P8 to that of the 2K2.

Advanced Protection Circuit

The actual output power is monitored by the processor to prevent speaker overload and to protect the sound board from shorted speaker leads.

Board Size

The board is 2.25" x 0.875" x 0.4375" -- smaller than the BigSound^TM PB9 board.

All the effects of the 2K2...

The P8 system includes all the additional sound effect that were incorporated into the 2K2 such as coal loading and shoveling, water filling and many others

Extensive Sound Library

Over 70 sounds and growing.

Simple remote programming

No buttons to push or wires to configure. The P8 is 100% configurable from any personal computer using our simple computer interface.

Expandable with the P5T

Connecting a P5T to the system increases the number of useable analog triggers to 11. 5 on the P8 board itself and 6 addtional trigger inputs on the P5T.

Included with the Bigsound P8:

          Volume Switch

          Programming Jack

          AirWire "Drop-In" interface cable (connects the P8 to the AirWire Drop-In board and the speaker)

P8's have a default sound of a GP38. Other locomotives can be programmed using the computer interface cable.