I doubt you can find a recorder that performs as well as your FR2LE for les=
s than $800. (That's the price of the Tascam DR-680 4 channel recorder, whi=
ch arguably is a better deal than the FR2LE.)
Comparing the FR2LE with the Sony PCM-D50:
-- the FR2LE has noticeably quieter preamps than the Sony PCM-D50 has. (See=
http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm) You will hear the D50's preamp =
more than the FR2LE's when recording in a quiet setting.
-- the larger size of the FR2LE means space for XLR cable connectors and 48=
V phantom power to mics, neither of which are available on the D50.
-- the D50 requires Sony's proprietary Memory Stick Pro HG Duo flash memory=
cards. The FR2LE uses Compactflash, and can use SD cards with an adapter.
-- the D50 does have smaller size and weight, better built-in mics than the=
FR2LE has, and much longer battery life.
I suggest keeping the FR2LE and your current mics for "critical recording" =
(whatever that might mean to you), and look at pocket size recorders like t=
he Sony PCM-M10 or Olympus LS-11 (either about $230) for point and shoot re=
cording when the FR2LE is too much to bring along.
--oryoki
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