Olympus DP-201

Bottom Line

It's easy to think of the Olympus DP-201 as "the little recorder that could." This scrappy, palm-sized digital voice recorder makes up for its lack of extra functions with overall reliability and a very reasonable price tag.

Performance

Packs a decent pint-sized punch. For the most basic uses, the Olympus DP-201 captures good sounding audio. A noise-reduction feature blocks unwanted noises in some of the more challenging recording situations you might encounter, but some users report spotty sound quality in noisier settings all the same. Still, most owners say that this digital voice recorder generally gets the job done for simple tasks.

Ease Of Use

Finger friendly. Sticking to a limited number of large, easy-to-hit buttons, the Olympus DP-201 is one of the easiest, most straightforward recorders to wield in its range. Files are simply organized by date, rather than numerous folders, letting you pinpoint what you recorded and when. You can get quite a bit of material stored on the built-in 2 GB flash memory; unlike most digital voice recorders, there are no expansion options. Another big downside is the fact that this recorder doesn't connect to a computer, so you can't download files. What you hear is what you get. Some users struggle with the erase function, saying it's counterintuitive.

Value

Bargain bin buster. The Olympus DP-201's biggest draw is its low price tag. It's one of the cheaper digital voice recorders on the market, but it lacks many of the extras and even some basic functions that higher-end users come to expect in a recorder. Still, many non-tech-savvy users find it suits their needs perfectly at the right price.