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Roland Edirol R-09HR

*Est. $400

Reviewed April 2009
Roland Edirol R-09HR

Professional-grade digital voice recorder

pros
  • Professional sound quality
  • Memory card slot
  • Excellent build quality
  • Ease of use
cons
  • Expensive
  • Only 512 MB of built-in memory
  • Relatively large
 
 
Where to Buy
  • eBay

    for $275.00

  • Unique Squared Inc

    for $399.00

  • Compuplus.com

    for $326.77

 
 
 

For anyone who wants a digital recorder capable of creating high fidelity audio recordings suitable for broadcast, radio or podcasts, the feature-packed Edirol R-09HR makes an excellent pick, reviewers say. The Edirol R-09HR records at a sampling rate of up to 96 kHz for the best sound quality and can save these recordings in WAV, MP3 or VBR formats. While the 512 MB of built-in flash memory is skimpy by current standards -- especially for recording high-quality audio -- there's a card slot for adding SD memory cards (up to 32 GB). Reviewers note that there are some other professional-grade recorders, such as the Zoom H2 (*est. $150) that offer similar features and produce recordings that are just as good, but at a lower price. However, the Edirol R-09HR distinguishes itself from the pack by being much easier to use and offering superior construction quality.

Among reviews of the Edirol R-09HR, the most complete comes from CNET's Donald Bell, who tests the device for design, features and performance and makes clear comparative references to other similar models. O'Reilly Digital Media's Mark Nelson also gives good coverage of the Edirol R-09HR, though his original review of the Edirol R-09 is more detailed. Mac users will also want to read the Mac-centric review at Life123. Go to Amazon.com to read the opinions of dozens of users.

Where To Buy
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
eBayeBay rated 4.00 (1175 reviews)1175 store reviewsIn Stock. $275.00
Unique Squared IncUnique Squared Inc has not yet been reviewed0 store reviewsIn Stock. New$399.00
Compuplus.comCompuplus.com rated 4.50 (3622 reviews)3622 store reviewsIn Stock. Brand new & in stock!$326.77
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. CNET

CNET's Donald Bell tests the Edirol R-09HR and comes away impressed. Negatives are minimal, but include its large size and the lack of a tripod mount. Bell also says the digital recorder is hard to use in low light or darkness. However, all that pales in comparison to the Edirol R-09HR's pluses, leaving Bell to conclude, "If you want a high-quality audio recorder that fits in your pocket, the Edirol R-09HR can't be beat."

Review: Edirol R-09HR Review, Donald Bell, Aug. 15, 2008

2. O'Reilly Digital Media

Mark Nelson compares the Edirol R-09HR to its predecessor, the Edirol R-09, and to the M-Audio MicroTrack II in this very detailed review. Though the emphasis is on using the recorders to capture music, there's plenty of information here for all users. Pluses include the fact that the Edirol R-09HR is very easy to use, and that it includes a very helpful user manual.

Review: Review: Edirol R-09HR & M-Audio MicroTrack II, Mark Nelson, Aug. 7, 2008

3. Life123.com

Though not a review, per se, this article delves into the special considerations that go into selecting a digital voice recorder for use with Mac computers and the Mac OS. Among the recommendations made, the Edirol R-09HR is called a great pick for those who need the best quality recordings.

Review: Buying a Mini Voice Recorder for a Mac, Dachary Carey

4. Amazon.com

While there aren't a ton of reviews at Amazon.com, there are more than enough to establish a clear pattern of satisfaction among owners. Impressively, not one out of the dozens of users that have posted here to date give the Edirol R-09HR less than four out of five stars, and the overwhelming majority give it a perfect score.

Review: Edirol R-09HR Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

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