naturerecordists
[Top] [All Lists]

1. Re: Marantz PMD661, Olympus LS-10, Sony MZ-RH1 Input Noise Test

Subject: 1. Re: Marantz PMD661, Olympus LS-10, Sony MZ-RH1 Input Noise Test
From: "Rob Danielson" danielson_audio
Date: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:08 pm ((PST))

At 2:03 PM +0000 2/19/09, tk7859 wrote:
>Hi Rob and the Group
>
>I ran the tests this morning and have sent you direct some WAV files.
>I did two sets of tests; the first with the pre-amp gain turned to
>maximum and a second series with the gain at 80% For a quick
>comparison I have put together a compilation of 10 second snippets
>from the 100% gain recordings out of each of the three machines The
>quietest (LS-10) is first and the loudest (MZ-NH1) last. Other than
>being converted to mp3 the recordings are "as recorded"
>
>I don't think a lot can be deduced from this until the levels have
>been equalised. However, the Marantz 661 seems to be good.
>
>The mp3 of the compilation is in the files section
>
>compLS66NH.mp3
>
>Cheers
>
>TomR

Hi Tom et al--
Tom's test in QT video format is accessible here along with a sonogram version:

http://tinyurl.com/bw5wnl
or
http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-art-tech-gallery/pages/Robinson_HiMD_661_LS10_Sor_Lrg-present.html

Adjust the playback level to a comfortable listening level.

Raimund measured the input noise of the 661 at -125dBu and at -124 
dBu, the noise of Hi-MD sample does sound very, very close to me. 
With some of the 661's low-end rolled off, I have a hard time 
detecting the edit between the Hi-MD and PMD661 samples. Tom's LS-10 
seems to possess the same noise characteristic we discovered in 
Vicki's LS_10 tests with the input noise extending down to around 
Message: 500Hz. 
Subject: Noise this low in the frequency spectrum tends to obscure 
important spatial cues in my judgement.

The most curious trait to me in this test is the ringing resonance of 
the 661 and LS-10 "tocks" centered around 250 Hz. They sound like the 
result of a "peak" in Tom's living room but I do not know why this 
phenomenon would not also be picked-up by the Hi-MD recorder. 
Befuddling,..

Remember, "max gain" test  are designed to approximate recorder 
noise/pre performance under the most demanding situations such as 
recording ambience in quiet locations. The noise produced in this 
test would not be audible when recording robust sounds with low pre 
gain or recording loud settings. Mics with self-noise greater than 14 
dB(A) would likely mask the input noise of the Hi-MD and PMD 661 
recorders under all conditions. I would _guess_ that the LS-10's 
input noise would probably become inaudible when using mics whose 
self-noise rating is 16 dB(A) or a bit higher.

Thanks for the informative test, Tom!
  Rob D.

-- 










"While a picture is worth a thousand words, a 
sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists/

<*> Your email settings:
    Digest Email  | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
     
    

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • 1. Re: Marantz PMD661, Olympus LS-10, Sony MZ-RH1 Input Noise Test, Rob Danielson <=
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the naturerecordists mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU