- +Dual 200 PSI compressors roughly halve 5-gallon tank recovery time
- +Both compressors rated for 100% duty cycle
- +Full 1/2" hose and 1/2" solenoid instead of 1/4" line
- +Low 7-1/2" horn profile suits under-bed mounting
- +Complete kit: gauge, 170/200 PSI switch, fittings, wiring, horn button
- +4.1/5 across 72 Amazon ratings
- −170 dB claim has no test distance; Viking rated the same trumpets 152 dB elsewhere
- −Amazon listing currently unavailable
- −Viking's official domain no longer hosts the brand store; warranty support uncertain
- −No chord frequencies, weight or measured output disclosed
- −Two compressors double the wiring and mounting work
Methodology
This review aggregates publicly available information from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings, and verified user reviews. We do not perform hands-on testing. A housekeeping note up front: Viking Horns’ own domain (viking-horns.com) no longer hosts the brand’s store — as of this review it serves an unrelated gambling website — and the Internet Archive holds no snapshot of a dedicated official page for this exact dual-compressor black kit. Kit specs below therefore come from the Amazon listing for ASIN B07M9Z7ZTX, a third-party marketplace listing that mirrors it, and archived official Viking pages for the same 311-1B black trumpet set and the sister V103C2X dual-compressor kit. Decibel context comes from HornBlasters’ measurement guide. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.
Quick verdict
The V103C2X-6-12/311-1B pairs Viking’s black, powder-coated 311-1B three-trumpet horn with the brand’s strongest air system: two 12-volt, 200 PSI compressors rated for 100% duty cycle, a 5-gallon tank, and true 1/2-inch plumbing from tank to valve. The hardware list is genuinely good for a do-it-all kit. The loudness claim is not. This kit is advertised at 170 dB, yet Viking’s own archived listing for a smaller kit using the same 311-1B trumpet set rated that horn at 152 dB, and independent testing has never measured a real locomotive horn above roughly 149 dB. Add an Amazon listing that’s currently unavailable, plus a brand website that has gone dark, and we land at 3.2/5. Buy it for the dual-compressor air system if you find one at a fair price. Don’t buy it for the number on the box.
What it is
This is a complete onboard-air train horn kit. The horn is Viking’s 311-1B assembly: three metal trumpets with a black finish on a shared bracket. The listing gives the trumpets as 16-1/2, 14-1/2 and 12-1/2 inches long, and the whole assembly measures 19-1/4 inches long by 18 inches wide by 7-1/2 inches tall. The “2X” in the model number means two compressors. Both are 12-volt, 200 PSI units, and both fill a single 5-gallon (18-liter) tank. A 1/2-inch hose and a 1/2-inch electric solenoid valve carry air to the horns. A 170/200 PSI pressure switch, an air gauge, brass fittings, wiring and a horn button complete the kit.
It’s the black-trumpet counterpart to the chrome dual-compressor kit we covered in our V103C2X-6-12/307 review, but it uses the longer, lower-profile 311 trumpet set rather than the 307 cluster. It also shares that trumpet set with the single-compressor kit in our V103C-6-12/311-1B review. Viking pitched the kit at trucks, RVs, SUVs, pickups and boats. Realistically, it’s for full-size pickups and RVs with room for a 21-inch tank and two compressors.
A note on the listing’s identity
Buyers should know about one oddity. Viking listed this kit on Amazon in two finishes. The black V103C2X-6-12/311-1B (ASIN B07M9Z7ZTX) describes “metal trumpets in powder black color,” and a marketplace listing mirrors that title. A separate chrome V103C2X-6-12/311-1 listing (ASIN B01M99D6WG) shows the color set to Chrome, with bullets reading “metal chrome plated trumpets.” The kit contents and dimensions are identical in both versions, and both listings share the same pool of ratings. The black variant is the one this review covers. Check the finish in the listing photos before you order.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | V103C2X-6-12/311-1B (black); V103C2X-6-12/311-1 (chrome) |
| Advertised sound level | 170 dB (test distance not disclosed) |
| Same trumpet set, smaller kit | 152 dB on Viking’s archived V103C-5/311-1B listing |
| Realistic output | ~135–146 dB, editorial estimate for this class of kit (see below) |
| Trumpets | 3, metal, powder-black finish |
| Trumpet lengths | 16-1/2”, 14-1/2”, 12-1/2” |
| Horn assembly dimensions | 19-1/4” L × 18” W × 7-1/2” H |
| Compressors | Two 12V units, 200 PSI max each, 100% duty cycle, maintenance-free |
| Compressor dimensions | 10-3/4” L × 4” W × 6-3/4” H (each) |
| Air tank | 5 gallon / 18 L; 21” L × 10-1/2” H including bracket |
| Air line | 1/2” diameter hose |
| Valve | 1/2” heavy-duty electric solenoid |
| Pressure switch | 170/200 PSI |
| Chord frequencies | Not disclosed |
| Weight | Not disclosed |
| Price | $489.02 on a third-party marketplace listing; Amazon currently unavailable |
| Warranty | 12-month limited + 30-day satisfaction guarantee (brand policy) |
| Amazon rating | 4.1/5 from 72 ratings |
What’s in the box
- Three-trumpet 311-1B metal horn assembly (black finish)
- Two 12V, 200 PSI, 100%-duty-cycle maintenance-free air compressors
- 5-gallon (18 L) air tank
- 1/2” diameter air hose
- 1/2” heavy-duty electric air valve solenoid
- 170/200 PSI air pressure switch and air gauge
- Mounting hardware, brass fittings, and Teflon tape sealer
- Electric wires, installation instructions, and a free horn button
Pros
- Dual 200 PSI compressors roughly halve 5-gallon tank recovery time compared with Viking’s single-compressor kits
- Both compressors are rated for 100% duty cycle on paper
- Full 1/2” hose and 1/2” solenoid, where many budget kits ship 1/4” line
- Low 7-1/2” profile of the 311 trumpet set is easier to tuck under a bed or frame than a tall cluster
- Complete kit: gauge, pressure switch, fittings, wiring and horn button included
- Buyer sentiment is positive overall: 4.1/5 across 72 Amazon ratings, 77% four or five stars
Cons
- 170 dB claim has no test distance, and Viking itself rated the same trumpet set at 152 dB in another kit
- Amazon listing currently shows “unavailable”
- Viking’s official domain no longer hosts the brand’s store, so warranty support is uncertain
- No chord frequencies, weight or measured output disclosed
- 12% of Amazon ratings are one-star, a meaningful minority of unhappy buyers
- Two compressors mean double the fused circuits, relays and mounting space
The 170 dB claim vs. reality
This kit is a clean case study for our advertised vs real-world decibels guide, because Viking contradicts itself. Its archived official listing for the V103C-5/311-1B kit uses the same black 311-1B trumpet set, with the same 19-1/4 × 18 × 7-1/2-inch dimensions, and rates it at 152 dB. In the dual-compressor kit, that same horn becomes 170 dB. A second compressor and a bigger tank change how fast the tank refills and how long you can hold a blast. They don’t change peak loudness, which depends on the trumpets, the valve and the pressure at the horn. An 18 dB jump is about 63 times the sound intensity, and no compressor upgrade delivers that.
For outside context, HornBlasters’ decibel guide cites an independent DJD Labs test in which a genuine Nathan AirChime K5LA locomotive horn peaked at 149.4 dB. The guide treats claims above 150 dB as misinformation. Our editorial estimate for a large three-trumpet metal kit like this one is the same as in our other Viking reviews: roughly 135–146 dB at close range. That is genuinely loud and well inside real train-horn territory, but it’s nowhere near 170. For how this compares across the market, see our loudest train horn roundup.
Alternatives
- Viking Horns V103C2X-6-12/307 — the same dual-compressor air system with a taller chrome 307 trumpet cluster. See our V103C2X-6-12/307 review.
- Viking Horns V103C-6-12/311-1B — the identical black 311-1B trumpets and 5-gallon tank with one compressor. Recovery is slower and the kit is simpler to wire. See our V103C-6-12/311-1B review.
- HornBlasters Conductor’s Special 228H — a Shocker-family horn from a brand with an active website, a support line and candid talk about measured output. See our Conductor’s Special 228H review.
More Viking coverage lives on our Viking Horns brand hub.
Install / compatibility notes
This is a full onboard-air install, not a bolt-on. You’ll be mounting a 21-inch, 5-gallon tank, two 10-3/4-inch compressors and a horn assembly 19-1/4 inches long by 18 inches wide. You’ll also run both air and electrical lines. A full-size pickup frame or bed, an RV storage bay or a large SUV cargo area is the realistic minimum. The low 7-1/2-inch horn profile helps with under-bed mounting, but the 18-inch width does not.
On the electrical side, give each compressor its own fused 12-volt feed and relay, and run both through the 170/200 PSI pressure switch circuit. Our relay wiring guide and amp draw and fuse sizing guide cover the details. If your alternator or battery is marginal, two compressors starting together is a real load, so plan the wiring rather than splicing into an existing circuit.
On the air side, the 1/2-inch line is the right choice for volume and tone, and our air line size guide explains why. Routing 1/2-inch hose takes more planning than 1/4-inch tube, though. The tank runs at the top of the hobby pressure range, so drain it regularly, and consider a water trap in humid climates. Our air tank size guide and compressor duty cycle explainer help set realistic expectations for blast length and recovery. Budget a full weekend for a clean first install.
Sources
- Amazon — Viking Horns V103C2X-6-12/311-1B black dual-compressor kit, ASIN B07M9Z7ZTX — 170 dB claim, powder-black trumpets, dual 200 PSI / 100% duty-cycle compressors, 5-gallon (18 L) tank, 1/2” hose and solenoid, 170/200 PSI switch, kit contents, horn/trumpet/compressor/tank dimensions, 4.1/5 rating from 72 ratings and histogram, current “unavailable” status
- Amazon — Viking Horns V103C2X-6-12/311-1 chrome dual-compressor kit, ASIN B01M99D6WG — Chrome color and 311-1 model labeling of the chrome variant, identical kit contents and dimensions
- Truegether — Viking Horns V103C2X-6-12/311-1B Black Train Air Horn Kit listing — black/powder-black finish and 311-1B model naming, $489.02 marketplace price
- Viking Horns — V103C-5/311-1B official product page (Internet Archive snapshot, December 2024) — same 311-1B black trumpet set rated at 152 dB, matching 19-1/4” × 18” × 7-1/2” horn dimensions, 311-1B trumpet product photo
- Viking Horns — V103C2X-6-12/307B official product page (Internet Archive snapshot, September 2023) — black dual-compressor sister kit, kit layout photo, $540 official price for comparison
- Viking Horns — V103C-6-12/311-1 official product page (Internet Archive) — compressor and air tank product photos
- Viking Horns — Warranty Policy (Internet Archive snapshot, July 2024) — 12-month limited warranty and 30-day satisfaction guarantee terms
- HornBlasters — How Loud Are Your Train Horns? — DJD Labs test context, 149.4 dB measured ceiling for the Nathan K5LA, commentary on 150+ dB claims
Train Horn Hub aggregates publicly available data. We do not test products in-house. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
A strong dual-compressor air system with true 1/2-inch plumbing behind Viking's low-profile black 311-1B trumpets, undercut by a 170 dB claim Viking's own 152 dB rating for the same horn contradicts, an unavailable Amazon listing and a dark brand website. Worth it only at a fair price for buyers who prioritize fast tank recovery, and expect roughly 135-146 dB in practice.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about this topic.
- How loud is the Viking Horns V103C2X-6-12/311-1B really?
- Viking advertises 170 dB with no test distance, but its own archived listing for a smaller kit using the same 311-1B trumpet set rates that horn at 152 dB. Independent testing cited by HornBlasters measured a real Nathan K5LA locomotive horn at 149.4 dB. Our editorial estimate is roughly 135-146 dB at close range.
- Does the second compressor make the horn louder?
- No. The two 200 PSI compressors fill the 5-gallon tank roughly twice as fast, which shortens recovery between long blasts. Peak loudness depends on the trumpets, the 1/2-inch valve and the pressure at the horn, and those are the same as in single-compressor kits.
- Is ASIN B01M99D6WG the black or the chrome version?
- Chrome. The live Amazon page for B01M99D6WG labels the kit V103C2X-6-12/311-1 with a Chrome color, while the black V103C2X-6-12/311-1B has its own listing, ASIN B07M9Z7ZTX, describing powder-black trumpets. Kit contents and dimensions are identical, so check the finish in the photos before ordering.
- Will this kit fit my truck?
- Plan for a full-size pickup, RV or large SUV. The horn assembly is 19-1/4 x 18 x 7-1/2 inches, the 5-gallon tank is 21 inches long, and each compressor measures 10-3/4 x 4 x 6-3/4 inches, per the Amazon listing.
- What warranty does Viking Horns offer?
- Viking's published policy is a 12-month limited warranty to the original purchaser plus a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. With the brand's domain no longer hosting its store, how that warranty is honored in practice is an open question.
