EmailBest Reviewed
Digital Voice Recorders
- Budget digital voice recorder Olympus WS-210S *Est. $60
- Best digital voice recorder Olympus WS-331M *Est. $115
- Professional-grade digital voice recorder Roland Edirol R-09HR *Est. $400
- Digital voice recorder for dictating and transcription Sony ICD-MX20 *Est. $200
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- Effective sound quality for podcasts
- Compatibility with PCs and Macs
- Use of AA batteries
- Ability to utilize memory cards up to 16 GB
- Plastic casing
- Build quality
Reviews say the Zoom H2 digital voice recorder offers extraordinary sound for the money, making it a favorite for podcasters and professional musicians at practice sessions. About the only complaint is that the plastic housing makes the Zoom H2 look cheap, but that is why it weighs just 4 ounces. The Zoom H2 runs on two AA batteries and records on removable memory cards. It's also compatible with PCs and Macs. The Zoom H2 is unique among handhelds because of its four microphones, which enable it to record from all directions. The Zoom H2 does not have a speaker; users must plug it in to a speaker or utilize the included earbud headphones for playback.
The best review available of the Zoom H2 is by musician/tech writer Mark Nelson for O'Reilly Digital Media. His long, thorough report is supplemented by hundreds of reader comments. There are also reviews by dictation/transcription experts, broadcasters and customers, including almost unanimously positive ones on Amazon.com.
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Musician and audio reviewer Mark Nelson says that the Zoom H2 is good for its price, though not in the same league as more expensive recorders designed for recording music. There are also hundreds of questions and comments from readers and users posted on this site.
Review: Review: Zoom H2 Handheld Surround Recorder, Mark Nelson, Sept. 13, 2007
AudioTranscription.de is the website of a German retailer. In this review, Thorsten Dresing and Thorsten Pehl say they don't like the Zoom H2's plastic shell, but conclude that the recording quality is the best you'll find at this price.
Review: Zoom H2 Handy Recorder Test Report, Thorsten Dresing and Thorsten Pehl, March 13, 2009
3. Transom.org
Transom.org is a website devoted to helping contributors to public radio. This review doesn't say which product is the best to buy, but otherwise it is a comprehensive review that includes a dozen sound clips.
Review: Zoom H2 Review, Editors of Transom.org, Nov. 2007
Stephanie Wingfield is a retailer, but her review of the Zoom H2 appears to be unbiased, and she provides sound clips so you can decide for yourself. She tests battery life and finds it "excellent" at 8.48 hours (though she notes that it will vary depending on the size of the file you record). She claims the Zoom H2 is "an incredible bargain for its price."
Review: Zoom H2 Review, Stephanie Wingfield
5. Amazon.com
The vast majority of the more than 150 customer reviews at Amazon.com give the Zoom H2 four or five stars. Some owners say it feels like the Zoom H2 is cheaply built because of its plastic casing, while others report that it is difficult to use.
Review: Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
Digital Voice Recorders Runners Up:
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: Amazon.com, O'Reilly Digital Media…
2 picks by top review sites.
Olympus DS-40 Digital Voice Recorder
 from Amazon.com New: $209.99 $146.95 In Stock.
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Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder
from Amazon.com New: $334.99 In Stock.
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Olympus WS-321M Digital Voice Recorder and WMA Music Player
from Amazon.com New: $149.99 $89.99 In Stock.
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