Best Reviewed
Digital Voice Recorders
- Budget digital voice recorder Olympus VN-6200PC *Est. $60
- Best digital voice recorder with MP3 player Olympus WS-500M *Est. $100
- Professional-grade digital voice recorder Samson Zoom H4n *Est. $300
- Digital voice recorder for dictating and transcription Sony ICD-MX20 *Est. $250
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- Edit and search functions
- Versatile sound quality
- 130-hour recording time
- Voice-recognition software compatibility
- Lightweight
- Lack of ability to record in stereo
- Incompatibility with Mac computers
A professional review by syndicated newspaper technology columnist and consultant Andy Kaiser recommends an earlier version of the Sony P520, the P320, as the best inexpensive digital voice recorder. User reviews at Amazon.com are also helpful.
Reviews say the Sony ICD-P520 is a versatile digital voice recorder that weighs 2.4 ounces, including its two AAA batteries. While this voice recorder does not offer broadcast quality recording, it has more editing and search functions than some pricier models. At its lowest quality setting, the Sony ICD-P520 can retain about 130 hours of recording in its 256 MB of memory. Reviews indicate that for note taking and one-on-one interviews, the quality is tolerable. Overall, customer reviews of the Sony ICD-P520 indicate satisfaction, though the P520 draws criticism for its proprietary file format and incompatibility with Mac computers. For better sound (and the ability to record in stereo), reviews suggest the Olympus WS-311M (*est. $80).
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Our Sources
1. Amazon.com
At Amazon.com, roughly 50 customer reviews give the Sony ICD-P520 an average rating of four stars out of five. Some reviewers say they expected more from this budget model, while others indicate their desire to use it with a Mac.
Review: Sony ICD-P520 Digital Voice Recorder with 256 MB Built-in Flash Memory and USB, Contributors to Amazon.com
2. PC World
Fewer than 10 reader reviews for the Sony ICD-P520 give it an average of four out of five stars. There's no real consensus on the specifics beyond a general satisfaction for the price.
Review: Sony ICD-P520 256MB Digital Voice Recorder, Contributors to PCWorld.com
All but one of the eight contributors who share their feedback at PriceGrabber.com rate the Sony ICD-P520 at four out of five stars. Most users find it easy to use, though one detractor says the voice activation does not work well.
Review: Sony ICD-P520 256MB Digital Voice Recorder, Contributors to PriceGrabber.com
4. Digital Bits
Reviewer Andy Kaiser says the price and compatibility with Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice-recognition software makes the Sony ICD-P320 (an earlier version of the P520) the budget choice for "students and casual users."
Review: Digital Voice Recorder Review, Andy Kaiser
Digital Voice Recorders Runners Up:
3 picks including: Amazon.com, O'Reilly Digital Media…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, O'Reilly Digital Media…
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
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