Topic: PMD 661 MKll

[OOK]

I just saw this... not sure if it is out there yet.

http://usa.d-mpro.com/us/denon/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=AudioRecordingandPlayback&SubCatId=HandheldandPortableRecorders&ProductId=PMD661MKIIHandheldSolidStateRecorder

Peace OOK

[noahbickart]

Looks like the new features are:

Card check compatibility feature - New!
Passcode protection for the device​ - New!
Password protected file encryption - New!
Linear style Retake record function - New!

Not sure how much any of this helps for what we do.

[fmaderjr]

Looks like the new features are:

Card check compatibility feature - New!
Passcode protection for the device​ - New!
Password protected file encryption - New!
Linear style Retake record function - New!

Not sure how much any of this helps for what we do.

This is very puzzling. Looks like just a simple firmware update for the standard PMD-661, but I can't find where Marantz posts firmware updates for the recorder to check on this.

The recorder looks exactly the same (and is not marked MKii) and the added features could have been added through a firmware update, I think.

I don't need or care about the new features either, but I'm wondering if this is simply the original recorder with a preinstalled firmware update.

[ashevillain]

The recorder looks exactly the same (and is not marked MKii)

Look a bit closer. It definitely says MKII.

[jbell]

Doesn't seem like muck of an upgrade!  Maybe the price of the original 661 will drop I've been wanting to pic up a deck with a digital in.   Have been looking at getting another D50 or a 661

[fmaderjr]

The recorder looks exactly the same (and is not marked MKii)

Look a bit closer. It definitely says MKII.

Ooop!....Still it does look like the same machine & seems like they could have done it with a firmware update. I'd really like to know why they couldn't have done that or if they did it hoping some PMD-661 owners would buy the new machine for the additional features. I Hope that's not the case because I've always had a good opinion of Marantz.

[fmaderjr]

Doesn't seem like much of an upgrade!  Maybe the price of the original 661 will drop I've been wanting to pic up a deck with a digital in.   

The price of the original is dropping like a rock at Full Compass. It's $10 less than they sell the MKII for. Maybe that confirms how valuable the upgrade is.....

I'm still wondering if this is simply the original recorder (with MKII added after the PMD661) & with a preinstalled firmware update that is not made available to PMD661 owners.

[DigiGal]

Looks like the new features are:

Card check compatibility feature - New!
Passcode protection for the device​ - New!
Password protected file encryption - New!
Linear style Retake record function - New!

Not sure how much any of this helps for what we do.

This is very puzzling. Looks like just a simple firmware update for the standard PMD-661, but I can't find where Marantz posts firmware updates for the recorder to check on this.

The recorder looks exactly the same (and is not marked MKii) and the added features could have been added through a firmware update, I think.

I don't need or care about the new features either, but I'm wondering if this is simply the original recorder with a preinstalled firmware update.

Firmware updates have required a password for a while now, Marantz has moved them here . . .  http://usa.d-mpro.com/us/software/Pages/Login.aspx?SubSite=denon
 
The MkII moniker just seems like a marketing ploy to refresh the product since it has been out for a while and new ones have been released by competition quite regularly.  Marantz carried and maybe still does the PMD660's, years past when they should have discontinued them, I have finally seen closeout sales on 660's this year.

D&M Holdings (Denon & Marantz) also owned McIntosh Labs, but sold McIntosh Labs a couple of weeks ago to an Italian Company -->> http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=158613.0

Speculation - there may be more changes, restructuring, and product juggling ahead like moving deck chairs around to prevent the ship from sinking.

[NOLAfishwater]

Totally underwhelmed by this recorder. I have not been a fan of the form factor if 660 and 661. Seems likop.e they designed them to be placed on a table top.

[kenyee]

The price of the original is dropping like a rock at Full Compass. It's $10 less than they sell the MKII for. Maybe that confirms how valuable the upgrade is.....

LOL

They should have modified the form factor or made it act like a USB mike.
I wish Zoom would come out w/ their next version of the H4N instead...

[dream]

I downloaded pmd661-va-203.zip some weeks ago from a Marantz web site, but haven't installed and checked if the new features of the MKII are included for the 'old' model.
The firmware is somewhere here: http://www.d-mpro.com/Pages/D-MProfessional.htm

[DigiGal]

I downloaded pmd661-va-203.zip some weeks ago from a Marantz web site, but haven't installed and checked if the new features of the MKII are included for the 'old' model.
The firmware is somewhere here: http://www.d-mpro.com/Pages/D-MProfessional.htm

Here it is again firmware updates have required a password for a while now, Marantz has moved them here . . .  http://usa.d-mpro.com/us/software/Pages/Login.aspx?SubSite=denon

The latest update is still v2.03 6/17/2011

[fmaderjr]

I downloaded pmd661-va-203.zip some weeks ago from a Marantz web site, but haven't installed and checked if the new features of the MKII are included for the 'old' model.

No, the only feature 2.03 adds is expanded SD card compatibility.

[DigiGal]

I downloaded pmd661-va-203.zip some weeks ago from a Marantz web site, but haven't installed and checked if the new features of the MKII are included for the 'old' model.
The firmware is somewhere here: http://www.d-mpro.com/Pages/D-MProfessional.htm

Here it is again firmware updates have required a password for a while now, Marantz has moved them here . . .  http://usa.d-mpro.com/us/software/Pages/Login.aspx?SubSite=denon

The latest update is still v2.03 6/17/2011

I downloaded pmd661-va-203.zip some weeks ago from a Marantz web site, but haven't installed and checked if the new features of the MKII are included for the 'old' model.

No, the only feature 2.03 adds is expanded SD card compatibility.

This 2011 firmware contains the following...

PMD661 vA2.03 Firmware Details:
1.   Expanded SD card compatibility.

Previous firmware versions resolved issues below:
1.   By using pitch control, the unit locks up at audio files recorded at 24 bit 96 kHz.
2.   EDL marks corrupt file date created properties.
3.   When unit is restored after abnormal termination, data's chunk might not be correct.
4.   Malfunction might occur when using an SD card that is formatted by PMD661 in other equipment.

[rastasean]

wow, this is really underwhelming. Its hard to imagine a restructuring company would want to create a new identical recorder and have it sell for nearly what the already existing recorder sold for, but maybe they have a marketing strategy at play which may raise capital for some new product--I have no idea, really.