HornBlasters Katrina 228H Train Horn Kit Review (2026)

Methodology

This review aggregates publicly available information from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings, and verified user reviews. We do not perform hands-on testing. Last reviewed May 27, 2026. The specs below come from HornBlasters’ official Katrina product page and its published position on decibel testing; pricing reflects the listed sale price at the time of writing. Where the brand does not disclose a number, we say so rather than estimate.

Quick verdict

The HornBlasters Katrina 228H is the blacked-out, five-chime sibling of the company’s Admiral and Conductor’s Special lines, sold as a complete bolt-on kit with a 2-gallon air system. It earns a 4.2/5 from us for its full-chord sound, complete-kit convenience, and HornBlasters’ refreshingly honest stance on decibel marketing. It loses points for a tank that caps sustained honk time at about five seconds and for the absence of a Katrina-specific published dB figure. If you want a real locomotive chord in a stealth finish and don’t mind paying a premium, it’s an easy recommendation.

What it is

The Katrina is HornBlasters’ aesthetic variant of its five-chime horn: the same multi-bell layout as the Admiral and Conductor’s Special, but finished in stealth black metal instead of chrome. “228H” denotes the air system bundled with it — the HornBlasters 2-gallon tank-and-compressor package rated to 150 PSI. As a kit, it’s aimed at truck, Jeep and SUV owners who want a true five-note train-horn chord (not the thinner two- or four-trumpet sound) and prefer a murdered-out look that disappears against a black undercarriage or bed.

This is not a plug-and-play electric horn. It is a compressed-air system: the compressor fills the tank, and pressing the button dumps tank air through a solenoid valve and out the five bells. That architecture is what gives it the depth budget electric horns can’t reproduce.

Specifications

Spec	Value
Horn type	5-chime (five bells), single cast assembly
Finish / material	Blacked-out stealth metal bells
Air system	HornBlasters 2-gallon (228H)
Operating pressure	150 PSI
Restart (cut-in) pressure	110 PSI
Voltage	12V DC
Compressor max draw	22 Amps
Tank fill time (0-150 PSI)	~3 min 5 sec (+/- 10 sec)
Continuous honk time	~5 seconds
Horn dimensions	19.5” L x 19.75” W x 13.5” H
Horn weight	~20 lbs
Air inlet	1/2” air line
dB rating	Not published per-model; brand states a verified-honest floor of 130 dB+ tested at 3 ft and 100 ft
Price (sale / regular)	$766.99 / $908.99
Warranty	1-year on horn, 2-year on air-system components (manufacturer defect)

Sound

5-chime locomotive chord

Pressure

150 PSI operating / 110 PSI restart

Power

12V air-tank system, 22A compressor

Honk

~5 sec continuous before refill

What’s in the box

• Katrina five-chime blacked-out horn assembly
• HornBlasters 2-gallon air tank
• 12V air compressor (22A max draw)
• Electric solenoid valve
• 1/2” air line plus brass fittings
• Wiring in multiple gauges, relay and switch hardware
• Safety blow-off valve and drain cock
• Mounting hardware, instructions and earplugs

Pros

• The five-chime layout produces a fuller, deeper, more genuinely locomotive-like chord than two- or four-trumpet kits.
• It ships as a complete bolt-on system — horn, tank, compressor, solenoid, wiring and fittings — so there’s no separate parts-sourcing.
• HornBlasters publicly rejects inflated decibel marketing and states it tests at both 3 ft and 100 ft, which is rare honesty in this category.
• The stealth-black metal finish suits murdered-out builds where a chrome horn would look out of place.
• HornBlasters maintains replacement parts, written and video install guides, and a large active owner community for troubleshooting.

Cons

• There is no Katrina-specific published dB number; buyers get only the brand’s general honest-testing floor of 130 dB+.
• The 2-gallon 228H tank limits continuous honk time to roughly five seconds before the compressor must refill.
• At $766.99 on sale (regularly $908.99) it costs several times what a budget quad-trumpet kit does.
• The horn alone weighs about 20 lbs, and with tank and compressor you need genuine mounting space.
• The five-chime assembly is physically large at 19.5 x 19.75 in, making concealment harder than a single compact trumpet.

Alternatives

• HornBlasters Admiral 228H — the chrome-finished version of the same five-chime layout and 2-gallon air system; pick it if you prefer polished bells over stealth black. See our Admiral 228H review.
• HornBlasters Conductor’s Special 228H — another five-chime kit on the same tank platform and a long-standing HornBlasters favorite; details in our Conductor’s Special 228H review.
• HornBlasters Shocker XL — if you want maximum perceived volume and a different chord character, the Shocker line is worth comparing; see our Shocker XL review.

For a broader ranking of how five-chime kits stack up against the competition, see our loudest train horns guide.

Install / compatibility notes

The Katrina 228H is a 12V compressed-air system, so installation involves more than wiring a button. You’ll mount the five-chime horn (it needs roughly 20 inches of clearance in each direction), find a spot for the 2-gallon tank and compressor, and run a 1/2-inch air line to the solenoid valve. The compressor draws up to 22 amps, so it must be wired through the included relay to a switched 12V source — not tapped directly off a small accessory circuit.

• Common mounting points are inside the bed, under the bed rail, or in available frame-rail space on trucks and SUVs.
• The safety blow-off valve and drain cock are included — fit the drain so you can periodically purge condensation from the tank.
• Expect about 3 minutes to fill the tank from empty to 150 PSI; the compressor cuts back in at 110 PSI.

Before installing, confirm your local rules on aftermarket horns. Many states restrict horn volume or off-road-only use; our legality pages cover state-by-state specifics.

FAQ

How loud is the Katrina 228H?

HornBlasters does not publish a Katrina-specific decibel figure. The company states its horns measure 130 dB or higher under what it calls verified, honest testing at both 3 feet and 100 feet, and it explicitly criticizes competitors who advertise 150+ dB measured right at the bell. Treat 130 dB+ as the brand’s honest floor rather than a measured per-model spec.

What’s the difference between the Katrina and the Admiral?

Mechanically they’re essentially the same five-chime horn on the same 228H air platform. The Katrina is finished in stealth black metal, while the Admiral is chrome. Choose based on the look you want for your build.

How long can I hold the horn down?

With the 2-gallon 228H tank, expect roughly five seconds of continuous honk before pressure drops and the compressor needs to refill. If you want longer sustained blasts, the heavy-duty 544K variant with a 5-gallon tank is the better fit.

Will it fit my truck?

Most full-size trucks, Jeeps and SUVs have room, but the horn assembly is about 19.5 x 19.75 inches and the kit adds a tank and compressor. Measure your intended mounting area first. Smaller vehicles may struggle to house the full five-chime horn cleanly.

Is it hard to install yourself?

It’s a moderate DIY job. The kit includes wiring, fittings, a relay, instructions and earplugs, and HornBlasters publishes install guides. Comfort with running air line and wiring a 12V relay circuit is expected; many owners pay a shop if they’d rather not.

What warranty does it come with?

HornBlasters lists a 1-year manufacturer-defect warranty on the Katrina horn itself and a 2-year manufacturer-defect warranty on the air-system components.

Sources

• HornBlasters — Katrina Train Horn Kit product page — model variants, 150/110 PSI, 12V, 22A draw, fill time, horn dimensions and weight, honk time, 1/2” inlet, included items, warranty, and $766.99/$908.99 pricing
• HornBlasters — Why fake decibel ratings mislead buyers — brand’s position on dB advertising and its 3 ft / 100 ft testing methodology and 130 dB+ honest floor
• HornBlasters — Katrina train horn kits collection — Katrina line overview and blacked-out finish description

Train Horn Hub aggregates publicly available data. We do not test products in-house. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.