What decoder is correct for...

[railBuilderDhd]

... this locomotive (http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATHG67059)?
I just got this locomotive and need to upgrade it to DCC and wanted to get feed back on what everyone thought was a good decoder for this model. I want to have sound and prototype lighting on this so keep that in mind. Speaking of sound what is a good speaker for this as well?

I will open it up and take a look to see what options it has to make upgrading to DCC easier but I think it has a 8 pin connector. hat's all I know right now.

Thanks for all your thoughts,
Dave

[tankist]

you probably want to remove symbols ")?" from your link - it is broken right now (proper link (http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATHG67059))

quick plug here is not 8 but 9 pin. non sound DH123 or DH163 will get right in.
ADD: on a second look this is an old stock unit from 2005 run and it is not listed as DCC ready. no personal experience with this run.

for sound decoder look here (http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/1000.php). perhaps you will want one in board replacement format.
or here here (http://qsisolutions.com/)for QSI offering.
regardless of the manufacturer you decide to go with , to install sound decoder you probably will want to hard-wire it and not go with "easier".

[diburning]

For Athearn Genesis, if it's not DCC Quick-Plug equipped, it IS DCC ready, you just need to replace the board because theres no socket for you to plug in a decoder.

[bnsf971]

That one is DCC/sound ready. I have the SCL version of it with an MRC sound decoder. If you get it, and for some reason it doesn't have a speaker mount at the rear, PM me. I've got a spare frame, and we can swap.
If I were to install a new sound decoder,I'd go with this one:
http://www.soundtraxx.com/dsd/tsunami/showwistle.php?s=emd645t

[railBuilderDhd]

Thanks all for the help and because of your help I have my search refined. I'll report back as I move alonge with this project.

BTW: the link has been fixed.

Dave