What’s the Loudest Train Horn
This is the question we hear the most. Everyone wants to know what the loudest horn is. And if you're looking for an easy answer, here it is. The Nathan Airchime K5, the King 5 Train Horn, and the Leslie RS-5T Supertyfon are the three loudest train horns you can buy.
Years ago, we had our most popular horns tested by a third party. The K5LA took the number one spot at 149.4 decibels. It was louder at close range and even more impressive at a hundred meters. Since then, the King 5 entered the lineup and it hits just as hard. The Leslie RS-5T stands right alongside them as one of the most powerful five-chime horns ever produced.
All three horns are cast from die-cast aluminum. All three are machined to exact specs. All three push serious air and deliver unmistakable five-chime chords that are felt as much as they're heard. The only differences are the manufacturing approach and tone.
These three horns sit alone at the top. If you want something louder, it doesn't exist. We're not exaggerating for marketing effect. This is the reality of what's available. Five-chime horns max out here. Anything claiming to be louder is either lying about the numbers or comparing different testing methods. This is as loud as it gets.
Nathan Airchime K5: A Horn With History
There's no question that the Nathan Airchime K5 is a piece of rail history. These horns were originally built for real trains and used across North America for decades. The ones we sell have already done their job on locomotives, and they carry that legacy with them.
When you install a K5 on your truck, you're mounting something that was once heard from miles down the tracks. These horns have survived rain, snow, dirt, and vibration for years. And after a full reconditioning process, they're ready for another lifetime of service.
The K5 is standard equipment on railroads like CSX and Amtrak. It tested at 149.4 decibels and remains the proven loudest horn in independent testing. It's aggressive, sharp, and unmistakable. It's more than just a horn. It's a piece of the past brought back to life.
King 5: A New Standard
Not everyone needs that kind of backstory. Some people just want the tone, the volume, and the performance without the rebuild. That's where the King 5 shines.
The King 5 was designed to offer everything great about the K5 and deliver it in a clean, new package. It's not louder because it cheats. It's louder in some setups because it's untouched. No metal fatigue. No internal wear. Just raw five-chime power with every blast.
For customers who want that deep, full sound of a K5 without the time, cost, or wait that comes with reconditioning, the King 5 is built for that. It doesn't come with a story, but it makes a statement.
Leslie RS-5T Supertyfon: A Different Sound Entirely
The Leslie RS-5T Supertyfon is not just another five-chime horn. It's a completely different animal. While the King 5 and Nathan K5 sound similar in tone, the Leslie produces something else entirely. It's mellow. It's harmonized. And it's unmistakable.
The Supertyfon line dates back to 1951, when Leslie Engineering took an unconventional approach to horn design. Instead of creating perfectly tuned chords like Nathan, Leslie intentionally tuned their horns slightly off-key. The theory was that a less pleasing, slightly discordant tone would be more effective as a warning device. Railroads like the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, and the Frisco loved them. Railfans nicknamed the Leslie RS-5T "The King of Train Horns" because of its unique sound.
The RS-5T is the modern evolution of that original design. The "RS" chamber was introduced in 1977 as an improved power chamber with better reliability and performance. It's physically the largest five-chime horn on the market at 26.5 inches long, 17.5 inches wide, and weighing in at 25 pounds. At 144 decibels at 100 PSI, it's heard from up to 3.5 miles away.
HornBlasters acquired the assets of the Leslie Supertyfon line in 2021. We now manufacture these horns ourselves, carrying forward the legacy that started seventy years ago.
Performance Without Compromise
At the end of the day, the King 5, the Nathan Airchime K5, and the Leslie RS-5T Supertyfon are all built to dominate. They all deliver the tone that sets them apart from everything else on the market. If you've only ever heard smaller air horns or budget kits, these three are in a different category entirely.
We're not talking about exaggerated specs or gimmick ratings. These horns don't need fake numbers to prove their worth. They've been used in the real world, on real vehicles, by people who expect more than noise. They want tone. They want depth. And they want that unmistakable sound that comes with five tuned bells moving real air.
If you want something that turns heads and never gets old, this is where you stop looking.
