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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: tomy01 on May 23, 2016, 03:11:32 PM

Title: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: tomy01 on May 23, 2016, 03:11:32 PM
Just an opinion - what type of battery would be best for the Sony PCM-M10 - the Duracell Copper Top that you would replace every time for a new concert or something like the Duracell Rechargeable type battery that comes with several AA and AAA batteries plus a mini charger?
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) on May 23, 2016, 05:26:23 PM
I use Duracell's and they last FOREVER. You most certainly won't need to replace them every show. I'd wager I go to about 5-8 shows with a single set of AA's.

Other folks like the rechargeable Enloops batteries. Probably cheaper in the long run to go that route. I probably should buy some. :P
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: aaronji on May 24, 2016, 08:12:17 AM
^ No doubt.  The battery life is so good with quality batteries (either alkaline or rechargeable), that it has made me kind of lazy.  I probably should replace them more frequently than I do.  Not like other recorders I have owned where a switch out was mandatory after every show...
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: Jhurlbs81 on May 24, 2016, 12:31:14 PM
^ No doubt.  The battery life is so good with quality batteries (either alkaline or rechargeable), that it has made me kind of lazy.  I probably should replace them more frequently than I do.  Not like other recorders I have owned where a switch out was mandatory after every show...

I use the silver and green chargeable energizers.  I still charge them every show out of habit, but they last over 15 hours per charge.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 25, 2016, 05:49:22 AM
^ No doubt.  The battery life is so good with quality batteries (either alkaline or rechargeable), that it has made me kind of lazy.  I probably should replace them more frequently than I do.  Not like other recorders I have owned where a switch out was mandatory after every show...

I use the silver and green chargeable energizers.  I still charge them every show out of habit, but they last over 15 hours per charge.

I also use those 2,300mah Energizer rechargeable AAs, and they lasted me around 18 hrs when doing 2 channel@24-Bit[96k or 44.1k is what I use] using the Line In! GREAT batteries too! I just replaced most of the ones I bought 5+ years ago! I have a nice Maha MHC-9000 charger[the "Break-In" on new batteries is critical IMO], and it lets me know when they are dead for good! Best charger Ive ever owned for AAs/AAAs by FAR! I still have a few of those 5+ yr old ones in use in remotes ;D Just got new ones in the last few months, and I expect them to last for 5+ years too ;D

Those cheap chargers that come with the rechargeable batteries[AAs and AAAs usually] at most chain stores are JUNK, and you're batteries won't be reliable IMO! You never know how much juice is actually in your batteries with those POS chargers, and the MHC-9000 has real time info on the batteries, which those def do NOT! I have used plenty of those and swore them off years ago! My Maha MHC-9000 charger has lasted me well over 10+ years now and no reason not to last another 10+ years, so you should NEVER need to buy another AA/AAA charger! I know $50 is a lot for a charger is some peoples mind, but having RELIABLE batteries is very important to me, and I'm sure you as well ;)

I'd spend the $50 on the Maha MHC-9000 charger
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/Maha-MH-C9000-Advanced-Battery-Charger_p_2558.html (http://www.thomasdistributing.com/Maha-MH-C9000-Advanced-Battery-Charger_p_2558.html)

And another $23 on these 2,700mah NIMH batteries, and you should be getting 20+ hrs out of just 2xAA's :) And they're LSD[Low Self Discharge] batteries, so that means they'll hold a charge for a long time between charges, so you can use them quickly if you don't have time to charge them before the show 8)
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/20-Maha-Imedion-AA-2400mAh-Rechargeable-Low-Discharge-Batteries-_p_3167.html (http://www.thomasdistributing.com/20-Maha-Imedion-AA-2400mAh-Rechargeable-Low-Discharge-Batteries-_p_3167.html)
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: Perry on May 27, 2016, 11:20:16 AM
An M10 and a pair of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries will run 30+ hours. The lithiums are definitely worth the added cost.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: chinariderstl on May 27, 2016, 01:11:10 PM
An M10 and a pair of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries will run 30+ hours. The lithiums are definitely worth the added cost.

Niiice.  ;D
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: Gordon on June 04, 2016, 10:48:36 AM
An M10 and a pair of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries will run 30+ hours. The lithiums are definitely worth the added cost.

that's what I use.  I've had the same set in for roughly a year.  I don't tape a ton anymore but I would guess I've gotten over 30 hours.  they are just now needing replaced.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: jbell on June 04, 2016, 06:13:30 PM
I have these with a high quality charger.  They work great and I just recharge before using. 

http://www.amazon.com/Fujitsu-HR-3UTCEX-4B-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable/dp/B00OHOJQQE/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1465078546&sr=1-5&keywords=Fujitsu+batteries

The charge I use:

http://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technology-BC-700-Battery-Charger/dp/B000RSOV50/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1465078649&sr=1-11&keywords=AA+battery+charger
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: tapeheadtoo on June 04, 2016, 08:23:31 PM
Another vote for the Energizer Ultimate Lithiums.  They're all I ever use in my M10s.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: hi and lo on June 05, 2016, 08:25:58 PM
There are significant dangers associated with disposal of batteries into our landfills, regardless of chemistry. NiCad was the worst, but Alkaline and Lithium batteries aren't 100% safe either. I can probably dig up 100 posts on taperssection where we've already hashed this out, so please, from the very fucking bottom of my hippie heart, stop using and recommending disposable batteries unless absolutely required. The M10 isn't a DAT deck and you're not recording Spinal Tap's final performance... it doesn't need Lithiums.  :-*

The M10 is unquestionably the single easiest recorder to power ever produced. It simply does not care what batteries are used and will last an entire day on even the most humble NiMH rechargeable batteries. Furthermore, I am unaware of any performance claim that can be made by using a 1.5v nominal voltage.

Use rechargeables.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: spyder9 on June 08, 2016, 10:40:05 AM
Rayovac (black, alkaline)    I get about 20 hours on a pair.   You can get them way cheaper than Duracells. 

I hate lithiums in the M10, because they can die on you without warning.  There's no "warning blink" from the battery meter that you get from dying alkalines.  It happened to me once, so I swore I would never use lithiums in it again.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: cavekelly on June 08, 2016, 02:17:45 PM
I apologize if there is a specific thread, but I do not recall seeing this information.  Can someone explain the intricacies of the M10 battery meter?  I normally change out alkalines once two "segments" have disappeared; is there a time correlation to the segments? And what is this "warning blink" (never seen it) and what does it mean?
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: ilduclo on June 08, 2016, 02:48:34 PM
I've been using some sets of 2700 mah rechargeables for quite some time, Duracells. Probably 5 years on the oldest set, 3 on the newer ones.  I sometimes replace them between bands, but the rechargeables are the way to go, IMO, if you have more than one or 2 sets, you always have some on hand, and it saves $ and the environment not to be tossing out alkalines.  The battery meter bars to me are just an approximation, I generally try not to go below 50% of the bars, but I won't try to replace them on the fly in the middle of a set if I have at least one bar registered. I haven't seen the low battery flashing, either ;D
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: dnsacks on June 08, 2016, 03:49:53 PM
I apologize if there is a specific thread, but I do not recall seeing this information.  Can someone explain the intricacies of the M10 battery meter?  I normally change out alkalines once two "segments" have disappeared; is there a time correlation to the segments? And what is this "warning blink" (never seen it) and what does it mean?

My advice to you is to "do a dry run" -- set up your gear and record ambient noise, check every few hours and note where the battery meter is -- since the batteries will eventually run out, this will also give you a good guestimate of total run time.   

FULLY agree with those who suggest rechargables -- unlike previous generation rechargables, which would only hold their charge for a few weeks, the current LSD (low self discharge) NIMH batteries will retain 80%+ of their charge capacity for over a year (and have capacities that are similar to, or frequently exceed, depending on load that of alkaline aa batteries).  I've had no issues using eneloops (made by panasonic and considered by many to be "top tier" rechargables -- see, e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BK-3MCCA8BA-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B00JHKSN5I?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0) for entire shows (2 sets plus opener) in my M10 and now run eneloops in virtually every consumer device in my house that requires aa batteries (and experience charge to charge runtimes equal or greater than alkaline aas) -- with a 2100 cycle lifetime, suspect my eneloops will easily outlive me -- Coupled with the lacross bc700 charger, one would have a bulletproof charging system that, even if used exclusively for powering an M10 would pay for itself after a few shows. 
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: spyder9 on June 09, 2016, 12:07:27 PM
I apologize if there is a specific thread, but I do not recall seeing this information.  Can someone explain the intricacies of the M10 battery meter?  I normally change out alkalines once two "segments" have disappeared; is there a time correlation to the segments? And what is this "warning blink" (never seen it) and what does it mean?

"warning blink"  - when you're batteries are about to die, the battery meter on the M10 starts to blink on-and-off.  To understand, put two batteries in your M10.  Turn on your M10 and hit record.  Let it run until it dies.  Eventually, you'll see it blink and then..... 
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: bombdiggity on June 10, 2016, 11:22:49 AM
I apologize if there is a specific thread, but I do not recall seeing this information.  Can someone explain the intricacies of the M10 battery meter?  I normally change out alkalines once two "segments" have disappeared; is there a time correlation to the segments? And what is this "warning blink" (never seen it) and what does it mean?

As one who has come to be comfortable running to try to pretty well use them up:

This thread reminds me I need to get some new rechargables... 

I've been using Ikea batteries.  They're quite good and a lot less expensive than brand name ones, but mainly because we have a lot of them.  I believe they're alkaline.  They run a lot of hours (at least 20, maybe 30)...   I use a tinybox (whether powering Schoeps or SPs into it), so no PIP. 

Getting to the questions it may depend on what you record.  Most of what I see occurs in shorter sets (they'll do two 60 to 80 minute sets if it is a full show or early/late club date). 

There doesn't seem to be a time correlation to the segments but I would say that as the batteries become more well used the segments disappear faster.  If you turn on a set that has seen some use you may see two or three segments initially but they disappear faster.  That last segment will run a long time though...  I usually replace when I only see one segment when turned on (unless I'm recording something that will run longer than usual).  Live dangerously I guess... 

There is a low battery flashing warning that comes on but I was not aware lithiums don;t trigger that, so thanks!).  I'm not quite sure how much run time you have at that point (it probably depends on the mics and how they're powered and perhaps how long it has been running before the warning came on).  I've only seen that once (when I forgot to change batteries and they got too low).  It ran for a while after I noticed that but I did a switch batteries at the encore break. 
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: magmazing on June 13, 2016, 05:20:55 AM
I also use Energizer Ultimate Lithium (for all day festivals) and Panasonic Enerloop Pros (for regular shows)
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 Battery
Post by: morst on June 27, 2016, 01:51:58 PM
Another option that doesn't harm the planet quite as much is to re-use half-used AA's from other devices. The amazing M10 can run for at least 4 hours on a set of cells which are no hotter than 1.37V when you start. 1.37 is my cutoff for using half-useds on live music. I am sure I can get the opener and main act if I have a 1.37 or better set. OK if I know I don't have an opener, I might use a pair as low as 1.35V, in a pinch...


I can probably dig up 100 posts on taperssection where we've already hashed this out, so please, from the very fucking bottom of my hippie heart, stop using and recommending disposable batteries unless absolutely required. ...

Use rechargeables.