Modern HO Trains

Modern HO Trains with Sound Decoders part 1

Can an HO scale train track be placed on straight onto carpet?

I have a layout for my son using Atlas True-Track, which is not the best track in the world.
It is hard to keep together and was thinking of upgrading.
I was thinking of KATO Uni-Track.
My overall question is that his current layout is sitting on the carpet in his room.
It is a simple DC setup using a basic MRC controller.
Is this safe? The track has the built in plastic roadbed, so the actual nickel track is not on the carpet, but I just wanted to make sure.
Should I put down cork pieces underneath to be safe? OR, is the plastic roadbed enough?
Also anybody have experience with KATO unitrack? Any better than the Tru-Track?

Putting track directly on the carpet is not recommended in any scale. Sectional track will have alignment problems at the joints. Derailments are common. The weight of a locomotive causes the track to flex up and down; same result. Movement of the track sections causes the rail joiners to loosen. This causes random electrical failure.

Worst is carpet fibers being drawn into the gears and tiny wheel bearings. They get soggy with the grease/oil and gum up the works, causing premature failure that can only be corrected by dismantling.

I would suggest a sheet of plywood or other smooth material where the track can be (at least semi) permanently attached. Once you do that, carefully aligning the sections, your set track will be quite sufficient.

Re your MRC power pack; Prior to the advent of DCC, MRC was -the- standard of reference for RTR set power packs. They still make an excellent product.
My HO scale train set