MRRCSound Aircraft Sound System

Written by Tony Stillman Worth A Closer Look Product Spotlight As seen in the March 2019 issue of Model Aviation.

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Tony Stillman reviewed the MRRCSound ASPIRE Aircraft Sound System and this is what he had to say: In customizing a 90-inch wingspan Stuka Ju 87B-1, to include droppable bombs, I was also looking to add the Stuka dive siren sound for more realism. In researching this, I found that MRRCSound has this sound, along with engine and machine gun sounds, as part of the standard package included in the ASPIRE system. The ASPIRE system includes the main control board and a single TT-25 transducer (speaker). Also in the box is a mini DVD that has quite a bit of great information on it. It has all of the instructional paperwork for the unit and includes videos to demonstrate the product and show how it sounds in the air. Several pictures provide answers to installation questions. The ASPIRE unit is quite versatile! It is a sound generator that features CD-quality 44K 16-bit sound. It uses a micro SD card that can be replaced by optional cards from MRRCSound that offer additional sounds for other full-scale aircraft, including jets. The ASPIRE sound card can be safely run from a 12-volt to 42-volt power source. With two speakers, the unit draws approximately 2.5 amps and 42 watts. Connecting the ASPIRE is straightforward. There are four servo-style connections on the board. These accept male-tomale servo cables that go to the receiver. These are labeled on the board "Servo 1-4." Servo 1 is the main engine sound connection. Servos 2, 3, and 4 are used for auxiliary sounds such as guns, whistles, and pilot chatter. The Servo 1 connection can be made either to your throttle channel with a servo Y cable with the other end going to your ESC, or to a separate channel you have mixed with the throttle. Connection of Servos 2, 3, and 4 can be made to any empty receiver channels that are associated with a switch or knob. The default ASPIRE Aircraft Sound System comes complete with eight engine sounds. These include Lycoming, Merlin, Continental, BMW 810, Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp, Wasp Jr., Wright Cyclone, and a generic turbine. Each sound configuration has three auxiliary sounds to complete the sound set. On the Airplane Sound Unit, Servo 2 is always a machine gun sound and is synced to the two LED outputs on the board. The main engine sound used determines the auxiliary sounds on Servo channels 3 and 4. For example, Lycoming, Continental, or other civilian engine sounds may have pilot chatter such as "clear," "clear prop," or "contact," while military engines might have a second machine gun, cannon, whistle, or other special sounds. Sound configurations are changed by pressing the button located on the board. The MRRCSound ASPIRE Aircraft Sound System measures 2 × 3.25 × 1 inches and weighs approximately 2.2 ounces. It can run on 3S to 10S LiPo battery power and is available from Motion RC and HobbyKing for approximately $170. I have tested the system quite a bit and found that the sounds are very realistic. With the ability to add machine gun sounds, whistles, and in my case, a Stuka dive siren, this is a great unit for most electric and glow/gas models. My Stuka has a DLE 55RA engine and I plan to mount two speakers. My next step is to finish the model and install the sound system then out to the field when spring arrives! Sources: MRRCSound www.MRRCSound.com Motion RC www.motionrc.com HobbyKing www.hobbyking.com