I have to report back on my recently-purchased Zoom H4. Winter is still
hanging on here in Wisconsin, so there haven't been a lot of animal sounds
available in the 2 weeks since I've had the machine. I have managed to get =
a
train passing and a chain saw (for a radio commercial for a fix-it shop). I=
t
does a very nice job, the stereo imaging is amazing, etc... HOWEVER, today =
-
two weeks since the initial purchase - I just got back from exchanging the
unit... for the 2nd time.
The first one had a faulty "jog" switch - a spring-loaded up/down switch
used for moving through the menus.
The second one was good for about 9 or 10 days and the headphones started
having trouble. On Saturday, the jack broke loose, so when you tried to plu=
g
in the phones, the jack pushed inside the case. Thinking it might be on a
little hex nut that might have come loose, I attempted to open the unit, bu=
t
after removing 4 screws, I couldn't get it to open and I didn't want to
force it.
So, today, they gave me #3. I considered paying the difference and getting
the H4N, but those that were in stock were already purchased... and I didn'=
t
want to wait.
So, my main reason for this message is to tell y'all that, although it
records very well, it might be just a tad on the fragile/cheap side,
construction-wise.
On the other hand, I know at least four others that have them and they
haven't reported any problems.
My $.02 worth.
ms
On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 10:19 AM, Rob Danielson <> wrote:
> At 2:14 AM +0000 3/16/09, justinasia wrote:
> > > Here's the "recorder list" with no frills and missing lots of data:
> >
> >Hi Rob
> >Quick note on why I like qualitative measurements:
> >- I believe they are (at least) as equally valid as quantitative
> measurements
> >- I guess that comparison charts are especially useful to people
> >wanting to buy a new recorder, many of whom may be buying for the
> >first time and so may not be able to understand numbers as well as
> >they can understand qualitative data. So I believe adding
> >qualitative data will greatly increase the functionality of a
> >comparison chart. Perhaps you could even add little explanations for
> >the columns too, such as "lower EIN value =3D more quiet". (All that
> >might help beginners like me to find the information without having
> >to ask too many questions).
> >
> >One more thing I think would be very useful to add, is modded
> >models. My impression is that modded models can have much improved
> >performance over the stock models enough to make a lot of difference
> >for nature recording. But since they do not seem to feature on any
> >comparison charts, it is difficult to compare them. Perhaps it is
> >just because the reviewers do not try them? When I was researching
> >which recorder to get, I received no feedback on the modded models
> >from this group, so I asked Doug Oade directly about some EIN
> >values, which I thought would be the most useful way for comparing
> >them for nature recording. Here is his reply concerning the 2 models
> >I was interested in, which may be useful for the new chart:
> >
> >About the Marantz PMD 661
> >"The improvement is about 3dB resulting in an EIN of about -128dBu
> >for the [Marantz PMD] 661 Super MOD. It would not have as much gain
> >as the MixPre but would have much better detail and clarity as it
> >has a higher SFDR on the front end.
> >I like the [Fostex] FR2LE Super MOD for acoustic music recording
> >best [I also asked him about quiet acoustic music] , EIN is about
> >130dBu post MOD. Why is simple, I can use much better capacitors in
> >the signal path plus it has a better A/D chip and less electronics
> >in the signal path. It does not have as much gain as the 661, but it
> >is close. It also uses a simple, pure FET signal path up to the A/D
> >chip. This gives it the most natural sound and the best low level
> >detail. If you listen carefully and use headphones or a hi
> >resolution playback system, I feel confident you will agree."
> >
> >I asked also about the EIN for the Marantz PMD 620. He didn't have
> >it on hand but said this:
> >"The 620 is almost as quiet as the [Sony] D50 post MOD"
> >
> >If you told him about the chart, I expect he would be happy to
> >provide more figures for his modded models. His quietest Marantz PMD
> >620 has the internal mics and plug in power removed, by the way, to
> >make it quieter, so has less features. But that combined with
> >rebuilt preamps etc, he says makes for a quieter better recorder
> >(and more gain).
> >
> >I have no connection to Doug by the way, except from having ordered
> >from him recently. I just wanted to share about it as it seems that
> >what he is doing should be so useful for the nature recording
> >community, making the recorders quieter, sometimes higher gain, and
> >more accurate sound. If I could help to give you more info when my
> >modded fr-2le and 620 arrive, I would be happy to try though I am
> >not very "high tech"! My microtrack is stock so perhaps I could
> >compare it to that as a known reference. If that would be wanted,
> >please contact me.
> >
> >Justin
>
> Justin--
> To fill-in the blank cells we have now would take several people a
> full day reading through manuals. I need help. Feel free to download
> a chart and add a column and start adding info. If the info you add
> is complete enough, I'll add it to the master. If you sort the list,
> be sure to do it very carefully as to not scramble the cells.
>
> You can use NeoOffice (mac) or OpenOffice (pc) to open and edit .xls
> spreadsheets ($5 donation-ware)
>
> I plan to add links to comparison tests and I agree it would be
> useful add some comments on how to interpret EIN numbers. There's a
> limited number of units that have been measured which I think is the
> most useful information provided. Many manufacturers don't provide
> EIN specs; it will take some work to convert what they do supply into
> meaningful numbers, if it possible. The manuf noise specs column may
> be the most important category to work on first.
>
> As for including modified units, indeed, many recordists are curious
> about how their mods actually sound. Applications like recording
> ambience in quiet locations should allow the improvements to shine.
> "About" allows quite a bit of wiggle room when describing a change of
> 2-3 dB and there's what the noise sounds like which I'm sure they are
> very aware of. I feel it would be most appropriate if the Oade
> Brothers provided before/after comparison tests. If we try to do it
> for them; you can see why they would question our results. Maybe you
> can find some existing A/B tests on-line or you can check with them
> and see what they have to say about this need.
>
> Guy-
> I think one needs the recorder in hand to assess those features
> accurately. If you can ascertain that a few models are very well
> designed for such needs, let me know. The "comments" cell can contain
> some of this sort of info. Much of what is in that cell now doesn't
> have much pertinence to general field recording. Rob D.
>
> --
>
>
>
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