Jez, sorry to be nit picking, but from how I read your email, there is only=
the LS-100 in the same price range of the 661, which is similar in quality=
but has a problem with headphone out, as you point out. What are the recor=
ders that "plenty of folks [...] say you get more for your money"? From wha=
t I can see all other recorders in your list are way above the price of the=
661 and LS-100 and if you mean that one gets more value for money if one i=
nvests in a recorder in this more expensive category then you are partially=
right. Of course you will get better quality with these, however, it reall=
y depends on the use case. Scott's question was about a mid-price recorder =
(limited budget). So which other recorders are there in this price range th=
at have quieter pre-amps and how do the 661 and LS-100 really compare in te=
rms of quality? I haven't tested the LS-100 and if you have both, I'd be ve=
ry interested in a comparison recording :) However, looking at Scott's othe=
r requirements (interviews, live concerts), the LS-100 may be the better ch=
oice because it seems a lot smaller than the 661.
What limitations do you refer to with the 661? I have found none, other tha=
n that I would sometimes like a couple more channels ...
Cheers,
Eric
On 04/06/2013, at 7:24 AM, Jez <> wrote:
> oh oh :) this is one of those questions that can result in tons of differ=
ent answers, of course.
>
> It all depends on what features you want on the recorder & which are most=
important. The Olympus LS-100 is, imo, the best all round hand held record=
er with decent-ish built in mics for below =A3400 for example, but of cours=
e like every recorder it has some quirks (low headphone output that takes s=
ome time to get used to etc.). I try to keep up with developments at all pr=
ice ranges but have to say that if you can afford it it's worth stretching =
your budget a bit. Again its just my opinion but I think there's not much a=
dvantage in recorders over =A3400 until one begin to look at something like=
the Tascam DR-680. Some folks like the Roland R-44 & R-88 or the Fostex FR=
-2LE also for example.
>
> Just to be clear the Marantz is ok & if you like the features & don't min=
d its particular limitations then i'm sure you'll get a lot out of it.
>
> --- In Eric Fassbender <> wrote=
:
> >
> > Hi Jez,
> >
> > could you please provide some examples? I would be very interested to i=
mprove my gear.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> > On 04/06/2013, at 2:04 AM, Jez <> wrote:
> >
> > > the 661 has ok pre-amps but not the quietest in this price range. If =
you start with a zoom then just about anything else will be a big step up a=
s they have some of the noisiest pre-amps. The 661 is an ok recorder for su=
re, but there are plenty of folks who'll say you get more for your money wi=
th other recorders (good in-built mics, better power usage etc etc).
> > >
> > > --- In Tim Kahn <timothy.kahn@> wro=
te:
> > > >
> > > > I also have the 661 and I love it very much. I moved from the origi=
nal H4. I purchased mine from Doug Oade (oade.com) with the "super mod" whi=
ch supposedly uses quieter pre-amps than the stock unit. I have never tried=
a stock unit so I can't say for sure there is a difference. I have used th=
e 661 in a lot of different applications and conditions and except for 2 oc=
casions it has worked as it should.
> > > > In the two occasions that it failed, it was raining very hard and t=
he recorder got wet. It seems water can get between the buttons on the fron=
t panel and cause erratic behavior (like a particular button is being press=
ed over and over rapidly, for example). In both cases I placed the recorder=
in my food dehydrator, set on low, and left it to dry over night. Now it w=
orks perfectly well again. I should add that in both cases the rain was ext=
remely heavy and I was in the rain for extended periods of time and I'm rea=
lly surprised that there was not more damage.
> > > > My main complaint with it is that there are not two separate knobs =
for gain adjustment. For a stereo pair where you only need to change the ga=
in for both at once its fine, but often I have two lav mics on people and i=
t is a two hand job to change the gain on one channel and almost always you=
will change the gain on the other as well. If you happen to have especiall=
y large fingers it might even be more annoying.
> > > > But really, for me it has been an excellent recorder standing up to=
my particular abuses very well.
> > > > Here is a recording I am particularly fond of: http://www.freesound=
.org/people/Corsica_S/sounds/184797/
> > > > Tim
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Jun 1, 2013, at 10:17 PM, shooze53 wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hello folks,
> > > > > I have a question regarding the quality and durability of the Mar=
antz recorders. I have in the past owned the ZOOM H4n and Tascam DR100-mkII=
recorders. Both have their strengths I suppose, but those strengths are no=
t the durability of the switches and controls. The Tascam I had for approx.=
6 months, and it was suitable for some situations using onboard microphone=
s, but the rotary wheel started to fail, and the power switch was always a =
little questionable from the very beginning. I returned it, unsatisfied.
> > > > >
> > > > > I am now considering purchase of the PMD661 Marantz recorder for =
field recording, (as well as other uses, ie. interview and live music recor=
ding) Does anyone have experience using the Marantz product? If so, any com=
ments as to durability and ease of use, and sound quality would be very use=
ful and helpful in my decision to purchase.
> > > > >
> > > > > i am on a limited budget, but am willing to spend what is needed =
to obtain both high grade audio, and durable hardware.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks in advance.
> > > > >
> > > > > Scott
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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