Great video Robert. The Lionel does have better sound with dual "fat boy" speakers. Neil Young has done a great job in bringing great sound to Lionel. However I am biased to MTH. My opinion (and my opinion only) MTH has better quality die-cast locomotives and electronics (Proto Sound 3 & DCC compatibility). I just sold a MTH Premier Big Boy from a few years ago (flat black version of 4014) that was a 3-rail. The guy who bought from me removed the 3 rail pick-ups, flipped the switch from 3-rail, to 2-rail and ran on 2-rail track on his DCC layout. I sold that Big Boy to buy a MTH 20-3807-1 (last Mike Wolf produced Big Boy) and it has the "glossy black" paint. This was done to reflect the real, restored UP Big Boy that is painted in glossy black. UP uses glossy black, as it it easer to clean and holds up better/longer over time, just like UP 4-8-4 844, is glossy black as well. However... The UP 4014 used the older tender from Challenger 3985 (which is "flat black") to save time and money restoring Big Boy 4014 tender. Lionel's Big Boy 4014 represents this. Their glossy black loco and flat black tender. MTH is thinking of the future though... When time permits, UP will restore 4014's original tender and will be painted glossy black. As UP has donated their Challenger 3985 to be restored by Railroading Heritage of Midwest America (RRHMA). Thanks for your video!

Im not a big fan of the glossy look. And mth sound set. Good video!

Thanks for posting Robert -agree on the bass, looks like the MTH is on a turn and the Lionel is on a straight section, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that the Lionel is smoother regardless. Beautiful layout!!!

I'm a big fan of MTH

Great video. I'm glad to see your new mth works. Mine doesn't. waited since last August 2021for delivery and arrived in June. The eccentric crank was not properly installed with the timing being off 180 degrees, causing the drive train to lock up and with powered still being applied, the electronic boards shorted out . These engines are a big investment. I have read articles where other people are having problems with them. I'm not a happy railroad engineer.

The only Lionel Advantages are the double chuff coming from the smoke stack, whistle steam (MTH can do this too - they have on other models) and more side rod detailing such as moving linkages. Also, MTH's model (and this is unusual because they are pretty good at scale accuracy) is almost an inch too long, a "pencil on wheels" as a scale brass friend of mine once said, while Lionel's is correct. It's nice to see that MTH followed Lionel with the work lights over the wheels, that does enhance their model. Usually, I prefer MTH to Lionel because they have more add-on detailing which makes their models pop while Lionel tends to simply cast in detailing on the boiler but not here, it's the other way around these Big Boy's are a different scenario and I would prefer Lionel's model over all. Why can't we get Lionel's Legacy sounds and super slow start out speeds combined with MTH's PS3 and all the individual control it allows? Now we're talking!!! I love the ability to control individual volumes which is provided by DCS while Legacy has just one volume control, so if you have a bell on steroids, oh well. Now we're talking!!!

I Have my mth big boy i I noticed the if you put the chuff Labor sound on should give it a strong chuff in my opinion I think that should have been the main chuff sounds in instead of labor chuff sounds great video tho thanks for sharing.

The MTH is evidently better with the realistic sounds and the shiny paint. But Lionel does have dual speakers in their engines, however it doesn’t sound like 4014 in real life.

I just subscribed to your channel.

The Lionel Visionline model has a considerable amount of greater detailing and though both models have a nice sound set, Lion el still wins out. I also like the independent dual stack putting out smoke at different times on different chuffs. With PS2 or PS3, to get the smoothest low speed you have to set the handheld at 2 scale MPH. Lionel's Legacy system specifically set out to match MTH's then slower operating speed, which they've done. MTH models are made in Korea while LIonel's models are made in China which equals fairly high risk of zinc rot. Nothing out of Korea does this as quality control is much better. Ironically, Lionel dealt with zinc rot way back in 1937 with their first run of the original NYC 700E Scale Hudson, a problem which they readily corrected by 1938 so what's Lionel/China's problem?

So I get what you’re saying on the sound quality end. Lionel has always had the bass response and killer sound quality. Never been a huge fan of their crew talk, from tmcc or legacy. The MTH Proto effect stop sequences are better designed and gone your engine more identity. Especially in passenger engines. Lionel you have to spend more money and buy a car with sounds like that. That does fine your train a more “3D” sound experience but those station sounds cars get pricy. I’m converting an MTH S1 to ps3 I got that was dead, and I’m Putting the dual mini fat boy speakers and enclosure for them inside. If that makes the quality significantly better, I will do that on other MTH engines where it’ll fit like a big boy. The sound quality is also due to the sound file itself too though. And I think mths sound amps in their board are weaker. Kinda funny how your new MTH big boy isn’t smoking that well. Usually MTH has always had better smoke output. Legacy has gotten alot better though. And you can modify older tmcc ones to smoke better too. I guess both have their pros and cons and it’s tough to settle for just one. Which is why many guys like you have both. I also have a Lionel s1 because I love the sounds on it in addition to my MTH s1 lol!