[gear] Zoom H2 self-noise estimate

["oryoki2000" oryoki2000]

A post to a Zoom discussion forum sheds some
light on the mic and preamp noise level of
the new Zoom H2 recorder.  The test results
show that the H2's EIN is somewhere around -115 dB
when using the internal mics.  

The results improve (that is, there is less noise) 
when a higher quality external mic is used. That
leads me to think that the H2's preamp is pretty
quiet.  

This result is similar to a recorder like the 
M-Audio Microtrack 2496.  Put another way, the 
EIN is pretty good, but not great.  

For $200, including internal microphones, the H2 
continues to impress me as a great value, and a 
good choice for a recordist on a budget.

Here's the link to the test results.  See the
post by "acousmod" on 8 Sept 07.  It's the post
with all the graphs and plots.

http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=9542

--oryoki