Portable CompactFlash Digital Audio Recorders

 

1/22/2006 - This document is meant to have an easy comparison of four popular CompactFlash digital audio recorders:

 

 

I put this comparison together, because I am evaluating each for purchase, and there was no place to find all this stuff in one place. If you find some corrections that you wish to make,

 

Size-wise, the PMD670 doesn’t exactly fit into the category of the others; it’s substantially bigger. But, a number of persons who have tried some of the more compact recorders (such as the R1) have opted for the larger model.

 

Comparison Table

 

Name

PMD660

R1

R09*

MicroTrack

PMD670

WAV

16-bit PCM, 44.1K or 48K

16- or 24-bit, 44.1K

16- or 24-bit, 44.1K or 48K

16- or 24-bit, from 32k to 96k

16bit, 44.1 or 48k

MP3

128K stereo or 64k mono

64 to 320k, 16bit

64k to 320k, 16 or 24 bit

96k to 320k, 16 or 24 bit

64k to 320k, 16bit

WMV

No

No

No

No

No

Other

BWF (Broadcast Wave File),

MP2

No

No

No

MP2 (64k – 384k), BWF

Mic In?

Yes, 2 x XLR

Yes, 1/8” TRS

Yes, 1/8” TRS

Yes, 1/8” TRS and 2 x Ό” TS

Yes, 2 x XLR

Phantom Power and Voltage?

Yes, +48V

No?

No?

Yes, +30V

 

Media type?

CompactFlash Type II

CompactFlash

SecureDigital (SD)

CompactFlash

CompactFlash Type II

Max media size

4GB

2 GB

2GB

2GB

4GB

USB Connection?

Yes, USB/USB2

Yes,
USB/USB 2.0

Yes,
 USB/USB 2.0

Yes,
 USB/USB 2.0

Yes, USB/USB2

Built-in Mics?

Yes, 2 condensor

Yes, 2

Yes, 2

No, but includes external mini mic

Yes, one

Level meters?

Yes

??

??

??

Yes

Optional Mic Pad?

Yes, 20db pad

??

??

??

Yes, 20db

Batteries

4 AA

2 AA

2 AA

Built-in rechargeable; can be USB powered

8 AA

Est. Battery Life

w/o Phantom Power, 6.5 hrs

w/condenser: 5.5 hrs

4 hrs typical

2.5hrs

2.5hrs

4-5hrs; 3 with phantom power; can run off USB power

w/o Phantom Power, 6 hrs

w/condenser: 5 hrs

4 hrs typical

Analog Line In?

Yes, 1/8” TRS (stereo)

Yes, 1/8” TRS (stereo)

Yes, 1/8” TRS (stereo)

Yes, Ό” (stereo)

Yes, RCA (stereo)

Stereo Line Out?

Yes, 1/8” TRS

Yes, 1/8” TRS

Yes, 1/8” TRS

Yes, dual RCA

Yes, dual RCA

Stereo Headphone Out?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes, Ό”

Optical Out?

No?

Yes

Yes

Yes, SPDIF

Yes

S/N Ratio

80db Line, 60db Mic

93db

93db

98db

86db Line, 65db Mic

Optional Remote?

Yes

No

No

No

??

Time Clock?

Yes

No

No

??

Yes

Allow track marking (for new files?)

Yes

??

??

No

Yes

Date/Time Stamping of files?

Yes

No

No

??

Yes

Automatic Level Control?

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Pro’s

 

 

 

 

 

Con’s

One of the larger “handheld” models; poor MP3 recording quality

Metering is difficult to judge; no date times tamping; display somewhat dim;

Not yet available!

You have to start a new track to set input level

 

Width

4.5” / 11.3cm

3.94” / 9.92cm

?

2.4” / 6.1cm

10.4” / 26.4 cm

Height

1.9” / 4.7cm

1.19” / 3.02cm

?

4.3” / 10.95cm

2” / 5.5 cm

Depth

7.2” / 18.35cm

5.31” / 13.4cm

?

1.12” / 2.85cm

7.3” / 18.5cm

Weigth

1.1lb / 0.5kg

8oz / 205g

?

5.2oz / 147.4g

2lb 14oz / 1.3kg

Cost

$499 USD

$429 USD

$399 USD (estimated)

$399 USD

$699 USD

 

Official Web Sites:

 

 

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