Olympus WS-331M

The Olympus WS-331M sets itself apart from some other digital voice recorders because of its ability to double as an MP3 player, but voice recording is where this digital recorder really shines. This Olympus WS-331M can't accept additional memory cards, but its 2 GB of built-in storage accommodates nearly 36 hours of recording at the highest-quality stereo setting, and nearly 556 hours in its lowest-quality mono setting, which experts say is still quite usable. A built-in USB jack means you can plug the Olympus WS-331M right into a Mac or PC without a separate USB cable. This voice recorder is appropriate for personal note taking, but the audio quality is not suitable for podcasting or radio. If you need a digital voice recorder for that, experts say that the Edirol R-09HR (*est. $400) is a top -- but expensive -- choice. For those on a tighter budget, the Olympus WS-321M (*est. $90) has all of the features of the Olympus WS-331M, but only half the memory (1 GB). Budget buyers might also want to investigate the Olympus WS-210S (*est. $65); it has less memory still (512 MB) and fewer features, but experts say that it is a competent performer overall.

We found good professional reviews of the Olympus WS-331M at a couple of sources. AudioTranscription.de is a German retailer, but the review posted there seems balanced and competently done, and includes audio samples so you can hear recorder quality for yourself. Laptop magazine also offers a testing-backed review. PCMag.com does not review the Olympus WS-331M, but does report on the Olympus WS-321M, which is identical except for less built-in memory (1 GB vs. 2 GB). You can find owner reviews at Amazon.com.