The Zoom web site in Japan has a more complete description
of the new H4n recorder: http://tinyurl.com/bkb4w6
A few additional details:
-- There's a 3.5 mm TRS input on the back of the recorder, close to
the built-in mics. If you plug mics in here, the internal mics are
cut out. The TRS input can provide "plug-in" power for mics that
require it.
-- Using the 3.5 mm input, plus the two XLR inputs at the other end of
the recorder, I think it will be possible to record with 4 external mics.
-- The mic preamp includes a mid-side mic signal decoder so you can
monitor through headphones or play back.
-- The H4n is smaller in all dimensions than the recently announced
Marantz PMD661. The H4n is 17 mm (0.67 in) narrower than the PMD661,
which helps you securely hold the recorder in one hand. The PMD661
weighs 50% more (500 g) than the H4n (325 g) with AA cells loaded
-- The H4n runs a reported 6 hours on 2 AA cells, while the
PMD661 runs about 5 hours on 4 AA cells. These run times will be
reduced when the recorder is providing 48V phantom power.
-- Street price for the H4n at its introduction in March is projected
to be $350. That's significantly less than the $600 PMD661.
The H4n literature claims that its preamps and mic capsules are
improved, but we won't know how much until the H4n is introduced in 3
or 4 weeks' time.
--oryoki
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