Topic: Olympus LS-10S

[flintstone]

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1623

Olympus USA has posted a page describing the new LS-10S audio recorder.  MSRP is $200.

With only 2 GB of built-in flash memory, the LS-10S appears to be similar to the LS-5 sold in Europe.  The reported battery life on 2 AA cells is 10 hours, much less than the top of the line LS-11. 

The LS-10 and LS-11 were discontinued by OlympusUSA about a year ago.  The LS-11 is still available in USA from a few dealers, such as Guitar Center.  The LS-11 continues to be available in Europe.  The LS-5 was introduced in Europe, but never offered by OlympusUSA.

The good news is that the LS-5 preamp is identical to the excellent LS-11.  So the LS-10S should have low self noise, and should not have the bass roll-off (like a low frequency filter you couldn't turn off) that the original LS-10 came with. 

We'll have to confirm that LS5 == LS10S.  If true, and the usual discounting kicks in, we'll have a nice alternative in the sub-$200 price range.

Flintstone

[flintstone]

Update:  A fellow on the Nature Recordists reports that the LS-10S really is the same as the LS-10, minus the Cubase software that used to be included in the box.  This according to OlympusUSA tech support.  Big disappointment!

[TSNéa]

Hello everybody,

If so, LS-10S = LS-5 (which I own).
And another difference with the LS-11, according to Olympus, is an internal memory of 2 Go instead of 8 Go...

I got mine from Digixo for 150 euros, cheaper at that time than Thomann.
The LS-5 now sells for 129.90 € at Digixo (Summer sales):
http://www.digixo.com/audio-mp3/enregistreur-numerique/olympus/p268660-ls-5.html
and for 185 euros at Thomann (3 years warranty):
http://www.thomann.de/gb/olympus_ls5.htm (price drops 14 % with two pieces...).

I was curious about the input clippping level but had no answer from Digixo, nor from Olympus Japan. Should try Olympus USA... Thomann is much more responsive.
Full specs (in French, but you're only looking after numbers right?):
http://www.olympus.fr/consumer/2581_digital-recorder_ls-5_specifications_23101.htm
Access to the LS-11 on the left side.

A short review from Sound on Sound:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov10/articles/olympusls5.htm

LS-5 / LS-11 comp and manuals:
http://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/olympus_ls-series.htm

And of course:
http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/type/www/audio-reports/RecorderList/RecorderList.htm

Hope this helps.

[John Willett]

The new LS-20M replaces these, I think.  I also has a built-in HD camera and you have the option of recording up to 24/96 with or without camera - about £250 in the UK.

[rjp]

Update:  A fellow on the Nature Recordists reports that the LS-10S really is the same as the LS-10, minus the Cubase software that used to be included in the box.  This according to OlympusUSA tech support.  Big disappointment!

Still, if you're using an external preamp, it works quite well - I've loved the results from my Littlebox->LS-10 combo. Unlike some of their newer recorders (like the LS-7), it actually has a line input.

[carpa]

The new LS-20M replaces these, I think.  I also has a built-in HD camera and you have the option of recording up to 24/96 with or without camera - about £250 in the UK.

True. I was - and still I am - curious about this model, but nobody could answer a few questions:

1)Has this Ls20m  the low cut filter with the internal preamp like the older models? I hope it hasn't, but still not sure....

2) I'm a bit scared about battery life and so I'm wondering which power options are left.  Besides this it seems that when connected to the wall with the adapter it recharges the battery but can't record at the same time.
This would be very disappointing because the recorder would turn to be useless even in case there is the possibility of AC powering.
I wrote to Olympus and someone answered me that it should work even if pluggeg, but I don't know if I can trust him as the owner's manual claims different.

If there will be no low-filter and the device will work even when plugged ( so the manual would be uncorrect! ), LS20m could be a nice thing; a good recorder with a camera whose videos are really not to bad.
thanks

c

[John Willett]

The new LS-20M replaces these, I think.  I also has a built-in HD camera and you have the option of recording up to 24/96 with or without camera - about £250 in the UK.

True. I was - and still I am - curious about this model, but nobody could answer a few questions:

1)Has this Ls20m  the low cut filter with the internal preamp like the older models? I hope it hasn't, but still not sure....

2) I'm a bit scared about battery life and so I'm wondering which power options are left.  Besides this it seems that when connected to the wall with the adapter it recharges the battery but can't record at the same time.
This would be very disappointing because the recorder would turn to be useless even in case there is the possibility of AC powering.
I wrote to Olympus and someone answered me that it should work even if pluggeg, but I don't know if I can trust him as the owner's manual claims different.

If there will be no low-filter and the device will work even when plugged ( so the manual would be incorrect! ), LS20m could be a nice thing; a good recorder with a camera whose videos are really not to bad.
thanks

I can't find anywhere a mention of any bass roll-off.

The battery time is much shorter than the LS-10/11 - I purchased a second battery (well known manufacturer, rather than un-branded Chinese) and an after-market charger that will charge from the mains with interchangeable plugs and it also has a plug-in cable for charging in a car - not expensive.  I then have a fully charged battery in the LS-20M and a fully charged spare.  So the original can be charging while I am using the spare and will be fully charged by the time the spare is used (even if I am out and about in the car).

[carpa]

Thanks a lot.   The idea of a double battery is good, but not suitable for me since I'd use the recorder to tape some concerts of mine and I need to push the rec button and forget about it for a couple of hours. That's why is very important to me to understand wether the LS20m works while plugged to AC or not.

In case of negative response, the only alternatives are waiting for something else to come or buy a Zoom q3Hd, which I don't trust so much.

thanks
c

[fmaderjr]

If anybody wants to buy the better LS-11 refurbished for $190 shipped, check this out:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olympus-LS11-Linear-PCM-Portable-Recorder-REFURBISHED-/320942046056?pt=Voice_Recorders&hash=item4ab9a2fb68

They have more than 10 available.