Greetings to all!

The news around the world still sounds like 2020 but the world of DCC and Sound has never sounded better.

This edition of the Backshop Limited features the all-new ZIMO MS Series 16-Bit Sound Decoders! The new product line has some really great features so be sure to check them out.

The first question everyone asks is "When will it be available?". I have the same information as you for the most part which are the dates listed on the ZIMO website. I am not privileged to any unpublished information. I typically find out it's available when I get the bill. I can tell you as of this writing I have a few models in stock and many more are now confirmed and headed to north Alabama.

I will gladly accept NO-OBLIGATION Pre-Orders for these items.

There are two ways to place a pre-order.

One way is to create an order on the website just like any other order. Be aware, if you enter your Credit Card info at checkout, your card will be charged immediately when you complete the order. YOU MUST SELECT AN ALTERNATE PAYMENT METHOD like Check, Money Order, or Customer Account for payment to avoid immediate charges.

I prefer the alternate payment method for pre-orders. It's really easy to cancel an order. It's really hard to refund a credit card payment. Like I said, it's no-obligation... and I never believe ANY manufacturer in this hobby when they provide a delivery date anyway.

The other way is for you to EMAIL ME with your ship to information if you are not a registered customer along with the items and quantity desired. Be sure to include a sound file number if you want a decoder pre-loaded with a sound file. I will create a backorder in the system just like any other order and you will get confirmation emails just like any other order.

In either case, I will contact you for payment by sending a PayPal invoice to the email address on the order when the items become available if payment is due. Any payment method is fine, this is just the easiest and fastest way.

It's really easy for me to manage the process this way and you don't have to keep checking the website and asking if it is here yet.

I have one additional comment about ZIMO products I need to share.

The ZIMO decoders are a great product. ZIMO has an extensive product line, they run great and they have many great sound files available that so many of you obviously want. I have a long standing relationship with ZIMO as a prominent retailer in North America and import the product directly from Austria where it is manufactured. Since I am the importer, I am responsible for all of the shipping, taxes, fees and duties required to obtain the product. I also have to navigate the fluctuations of exchange rates that magically make one shipment cost substantially more than the last thanks to manipulation of currency by governments and traders. I am trying to hold prices stable even though the exchange rate is up 10 points since the last price adjustment.

I am asked more and more frequently to update firmware on non-sound decoders. I am happy to do this but the service requires my time and effort. These products are already low margin so there will be a modest fee for this service going forward to offset the additional handling of the product. I have tried to make this easy by adding an optional radio button on the MORE INFO page of affected products for you to indicate your preference.

When you order ZIMO sound decoders from SBS4DCC, I will still load a sound file on the decoder at no additional charge (note, there may still be charges for the use of certain files). You can use the space provided on the MORE INFO page for any updateable sound decoder to specify the file number or you can enter the request in the order comments at checkout.

The ZIMO MXULFA Decoder Update Module is available for purchase if you wish to avoid these charges.

CLICK HERE to see the entire ZIMO Sound File Database.

CLICK HERE for additional information about ZIMO Sound Files.

CLICK HERE for additional information about the ZIMO MXULFA Decoder Update Module.

As a reminder, the SBS4DCC website features Real-Time Stock Status. Please remember that orders for out-of-stock products will be delayed and restock information will be limited. The shipping status notice applies to in-stock product only.

Be sure to check out the Tutorials, Tips and Tricks section of the website. I continue to add volumes of information about different subjects I think you might find valuable.

I am frequently asked for help and information about the manufacturers warranty when a project doesn't work out the way we expected. CLICK HERE to access the Consolidated DCC Manufacturers Warranty Information page. Of course this information is subject to change and the manufacturers information is always the primary resource.

And finally... Model Railroad Operations are a blast and are a great way to get engaged in this great hobby. Operating sessions are surely limited these days so you can use this time to enjoy the OpSIG Publications - A Compendium Of Model Railroad Operations - From Design To Implementation and get to work developing your own operating sessions. You can find out more by visiting the OpSIG webite or by contacting your local NMRA chapter as well.

Bryan Vianco

Owner, SBS4DCC

The MS sound decoders contain several components that are crucial for performance, first and foremost the "state-of-the-art" 32 bit ARM microcontroller with DSP properties and a fully digital sound amplifier with hi-fi sound quality real 16 bit resolution and up to 44 kHz. These decoders are at the same time a flowing further development of the previous generation, namely the MX-Sound-Decoder.

Almost every MS type has a counterpart with a similar designation in the "MX world". The proven "power electronics" (rectifier, output stages) have largely been taken over from this MX world, and of course the designs and interfaces,

With the introduction of the MS generation in 2019, ZIMO offers sound decoders that work with DCC and MM as well as the mfx * rail signal , including automatic registration at Märklin digital centers. Like all ZIMO decoders, they are also capable of analogue operation with DC and AC.

With software version 4.50, two major milestones in the development of MS decoders have been reached: the mfx-mode, and the alignment of a large part of the DCC performance feature spectrum (compared to the MX decoders).

Not all features known from the world of MX decoders are yet available for the MS decoders, but there are no more limitations for most applications and sound projects. Of course further software updates will be made available in the coming weeks and months, up to software version 5.00, where "nothing" should be missing by then.

For those users for whom optimal sound is essential, an MS decoder can be

recommended as the better choice.

There are already a number of 16-bit sound projects; and their number is growing rapidly. If there is no 16-bit project available for a certain model yet, this is no big limitation: MS decoders also accept 8-bit sound projects (from the MX world). A 16-bit project can then be loaded later, when available. Such a change is free of charge even for projects requiring a load code (i.e. surcharge). If the sound provider is identical, which is usually the case, the same load code applies.

The MS decoders are offered with loaded sound collection as standard, as

was the case with MX decoders, but now of course in 16-bit version.

At ZIMO, a "Sound Collection" is a special sound project that contains samples of 4 common types of locomotives (3 x steam, 1 x diesel). These can be selected via CV #265 (or mfx parameters) and can also be changed as often as desired. Of course, there is less storage capacity available for the individual vehicle in such a collection; therefore, an individual project is always the better choice.

Apart from the 16-bit sound there are other advantages of the MS technology, for example the greatly extended possibilities for connecting "stayalives" (i.e. energy storage to bridge dead spots in tracks) to a certain extent by integrated capacitors (see decoder MS580) or by providing for the connection of external electrolytic capacitors and gold caps.

Above all, the new processor and memory technology of the MS decoders offers an incomparably larger space compared to MX for future extensions to be supplemented by software updates; published benchmark tests of the processor type built into MS decoders confirm at least 10 times the computing power compared to the processors built into MX sound decoders.

The operating technology of the prototype, which is in a state of upheaval, will increasingly affect model railways, and this requires, among other things, ever higher performance of the vehicle electronics, for which the term "decoder" might not be entirely appropriate in the future. The MS decoders are well prepared for these requirements.

The ZIMO MS440 Series Standard DCC Sound Decoder is only available with the 21MTC interface, but in two versions (-D and -C), which differ in the design of the higher function outputs (FA3 to FA6 as open collector or logic level), although the versions are based on CV- Programming can be converted into one another (for self-correction of incorrect orders).

"MS-Sound" with 3 W fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohms or 4 ohms (or two 8 ohms in parallel) loudspeakers; completely the same as MS450.

"Stay-alive": Direct connection for external energy storage - 16 V electrolytic capacitors or 15 V supercap (without upper capacity limit); technically completely the same as MS450, but energy storage connection on wires (due to the interface standard).

The ZIMO MS450 Series Standard DCC Sound Decoder is available wired as the MS450 (free wires) and MS450R (with 8-pin NEM-652 connector on wires) as well as in the PluX interface as the MS450P22 and MS450P16.

"MS-Sound" with 3 W fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohms or 4 ohms (or two 8 ohms in parallel) loudspeakers.

"Stay-alive": Direct connection for external energy storage - 16 V electrolytic capacitors or 15 V supercap (without upper capacity limit), eg ZIMO SUPERCAP68 against "getting stuck" and light flickering and for undisturbed sound.

The ZIMO MS480 Series Sub-Micro DCC Sound Decoder is a sub-micro size sound decoder with optional PluX16 interface or wired in the versions MS480P16, MS480, MS480R, MS480F. The dimensions of this SOUND decoder correspond exactly to the NMRA and VHDM standards for NON-SOUND decoders with PluX16!

"MS-Sound" with 1 W fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohm speakers.

"Stay-alive": No special connection, but as with all decoders, an external circuit with some diodes, resistors and the energy storage capacitor up to 1000 µF can be connected.

The ZIMO MS490 Series Micro DCC Sound Decoder is a micro size sound decoder with either NEM651 interface (6-pin connector directly on the decoder, i.e. no wires) or wired in the versions MS490, MS490R, MS490F.

"MS-Sound" with 1W fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohm speakers.

"Stay-alive": No special connection, but as with all decoders, an external circuit with a few diodes, resistors and the energy storage capacitor up to 1000 µF can be connected

Introducing the All New ZIMO MS500 Series Nano DCC Sound Decoders.

Functionally identical to MS490, the new model has dimensions of just 14 x 10 x 2.6 mm! That's tiny.

The ZIMO MS500 Series Nano DCC Sound Decoder is a nano size sound decoder with optional NEM651 interface (6-pin connector directly on the decoder, so no wires) or wired in the versions MS500N, MS500R, MS500F.

"MS-Sound" with 1 W fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohm speakers.

"Stay-alive": No special connection, but as with all decoders, an external circuit with a few diodes, resistors and the energy storage capacitor up to 1000 µF can be connected

The ZIMO MS580N18 Micro DCC Sound Decoder is the micro size sound decoder with Next18 interface. NO wired versions.

"MS-Sound" with 1 W fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohm speakers.

"Stay-alive": the internal tantalum memory (2000 µF, 5 V) can be extended externally with additional tantalum or two gold caps (in series), recommended: ZIMO MINIGOLD (150,000 µF, 5 V).

The ZIMO MS590N18 Sub-Micro DCC Sound Decoder is the sub-micro size sound decoder with Next18 interface. NO wired versions; the dimensions of this SOUND decoder correspond exactly to the NMRA and VHDM standards for NON-SOUND decoders with Next18!

"MS-Sound" with 1 W fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohm speakers.

"Stay-alive": No special connection, but as with all decoders, an external circuit with a few diodes, a resistor and the energy storage capacitor up to 1000 µF can be connected

Introducing the ALL NEW ZIMO MS950L Large Scale DCC Sound Decoder for large scale models.

More details will be released soon!

The ZIMO MS990 Series Large Scale DCC Sound Decoder is the newest large scale sound decoder, optionally with three 12-pin screw terminals or three 14-pin pin strips ("quasi-standard"); for the latter, matching locomotive boards are available for plugging in. The equipment is the most extensive of all ZIMO decoders (probably also among all decoders on the market): Connections for two smoke generators without their own electronics (therefore inexpensive, each with its own fan control), two speakers (for "stereo" playback, i.e. the sounds can be distributed to the loudspeakers according to configuration), six complete servo connections with 3-pin pin headers for standard plugs, three stabilized low voltage sources (5 V, 10 V, and a voltage adjustable by CV) for external devices.

"MS-Sound" with 2 x 10 W (based on 10 V), fully digital sound amplifier for 8 ohms or 4 ohms each (or two 8 ohms in parallel) loudspeakers.

"Stay-alive": Integrated supercap energy storage from three cells - total 8 V, 1F - with step-up controller (high transformation to drive voltage) to supply the drive motor, functional devices, servos and sound. Not necessary in most applications, but possible: Supplementing the internal energy storage device by directly connecting an external energy storage device (16 V electrolytic capacitors or 16 V supercap modules such as ZIMO GOLMRUND or GOLMLANG, no upper capacity limit).

Perfect for clubs, modulars, or workbenches, the Good Deals DCC "The Programmer" is a portable, durable, convenient testing and programming track. It is available in nearly every scale from N to O as well as combination scales for those who love trains of all sizes.

Custom designed units are also available.

And don't forget we carry a fantastic selection of DCC products from all of the

best manufacturers including:

Digitrax, DCC Specialties, Electronic Solutions Ulm (ESU), NCE, SoundTraxx, Tam Valley Depot, TCS, and ZIMO.

Visit SBS4DCC today!