Kato - 22-101-1 - Accessories, Sound Box - Kato Precision Railroad Models

Specific Item Information: The Kato Sound Box has been developed as a joint effort between engineers at Kato and Soundtraxx to craft a simple, versatile, and powerful sound system for use on non-DCC layouts. Completely self-contained, the Soundbox has a built in speaker and will allow modelers to enjoy an “In-Cab” experience while operating their favorite trains!

Using separate plug-in sound “containers”, cartridges each with their own individual sound and programming sets (even including things like momentum!), the Soundbox is a “smart” device, not just making sounds but reacting appropriately to the actions of your locomotives by reading back-EMF from the motors. Steam locomotive chuffs will speed up and slow down according to the speed of the locomotive itself; not just the position of the throttle, making the sound a properly interactive experience! Works with both HO and N track

Includes an EMD 1st Generation Diesel sound chip. Additional diesel, steam and electric sound sets to be made available (sold separately) that will allow you to bring nearly any sounds that you desire to your non-DCC layout!

Smart Back-EMF reading - The sound box doesn't just make noise - it will read the strain on the motor in your engines and know how fast they're moving and how hard they're working. Certain sound schemes (like steam where the chuff is directly linked to the visual movement of the side rods) will self-adjust the sound based on the speed of the locomotive so what you hear will match what you see, all without the need for DCC!

The US Market version of the Soundbox includes an EMD 1st Generation Diesel sound chip with EMD 567 Prime Mover sounds

Road Name History: KATO U.S.A. was established in 1986, with the first U.S. locomotive model (the GP38-2, in N-Scale) released in 1987. Since that time, KATO has come to be known as one of the leading manufacturers of precision railroad products for the modeling community. KATO's parent company, Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd., is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Brand/Importer Information: Kato Precision Railroad Models (関水金属株式会社 Sekisui Kinzoku Kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese manufacturer of model railroad equipment in N and HO scales. The Tokyo-based company manufactures models based on Japanese prototypes (such as the Shinkansen bullet train) for the Japanese market, North American prototypes for the North American market and European high-speed trains for European market.
The Kato (pronounced kah-toe) model railroad companies were founded by Yuji Kato, father of current president Hiroshi Kato, of the parent company Sekisui Kinzoku Co., Ltd.

The design and distribution of models for the North American market are handled by their U.S. subsidiary, Kato USA, located in Schaumburg, Illinois.
The design of special models for the European market is handled for some of them by their partner, Lemke, whereas the general distribution of Kato products in Europe is handled by NOCH; both companies are located in Germany.
As a result, some Kato European models are sold as Kato Lemke and others as Kato (alone).