Topic: Line-In Quality: Sony MZ-RH1 v. Edirol R-09HR

[javertim]

So, like most others here, I typically run my mics into a battery box and then into the line-in of my recorder.  Up until now I have been using the MZ-RH1, but I have recently decided to go solid state.  My eyes are on the Edirol R-09HR. ... But then I listened to some comparisons between the two recorders where external mics were fed into the mic-in and the MZ-RH1 seemed to have significantly less hiss / self-noise.  Granted, I hardly ever use the mic-in, but such a comparison leads me to wonder whether the MZ-RH1's line-in is better than the Edirol's.  Self-noise and hiss is a big factor to me, and I know line-in recordings generally have a lot less of this than mic-in recordings ... But I figured I would ask before I made my final decision.

Thanks! :-)

[nameloc01]

Whatever sounds better to you is your answer. IMO, the Sony stock preamps are among the best sounding..especially considering the size of the decks and the price.

[javertim]

I'm not really interested in the performance of the preamp, just how clean the line-in signal of the Edirol R-09HR is as opposed to that of the MZ-RH1.

[Dede2002]

I'm not really interested in the performance of the preamp, just how clean the line-in signal of the Edirol R-09HR is as opposed to that of the MZ-RH1.

So you are interested in the preamps performances.

[javertim]

Okay, I admit I'm not too well-versed in a lot of this stuff, but I always assumed that there was no preamp for line-in recording.  I'll be using a battery box and connecting it to line-in rather than the mic-in.  School me, please!

[Dede2002]

Okay, I admit I'm not too well-versed in a lot of this stuff, but I always assumed that there was no preamp for line-in recording.  I'll be using a battery box and connecting it to line-in rather than the mic-in.  School me, please!

That´s totally OK. I´m no expert either.
In my experience, the R-09HR preamp is very nice. I've heard awesome things about the Sony preamps. So I also have a question: compared to the R-09HR's, the Sony preamp really make a difference recording loud amplified music?

[rastasean]

The pre-amps on the mini disc recorders have very high sex appeal to a lot of people but its not solid state and you state you are interested in solid state. 

[javertim]

I'm just weary about giving up a moving-parts recorder that DOES sound good only to acquire a solid state recorder that produces lots of hiss on the recordings.

[Dede2002]

I'm just weary about giving up a moving-parts recorder that DOES sound good only to acquire a solid state recorder that produces lots of hiss on the recordings.

No worries. The  R-09HR is a terrific recorder and do not produce lots of hiss.

[javertim]

Thank you to everyone for your guidance and suggestions!

[Dede2002]

Thank you to everyone for your guidance and suggestions!

No problem 

[nameloc01]

Well,if you're planning on taping loud(er) shows,and you get in a good position-FOS, I don't think "hiss" is going to be too much of an issue. Meaning if you don't have to jack the levels up (HIGH) to get a decent signal,you should be fine.

[Arni99]

here 2 samples: recorded italian TV-newschannel at living-room-volume
mics: SP-CMC-8 cardioids
power supply: 12V bbox
line in

MZ-RH1: max. gain 30/30 16bit 44.1kHz
http://www.file-upload.net/download-1056923/RH1-line-in-at-max-gain-30-of-30.wav.html

R09-HR: max. gain 80/80 16bit 44.1kHz
http://www.file-upload.net/download-1056938/R09HR-line-in-at-max-gain-80-of-80.WAV.html

[digifish_music]

here 2 samples: recorded italian TV-newschannel at living-room-volume
mics: SP-CMC-8 cardioids
power supply: 12V bbox
line in

MZ-RH1: max. gain 30/30 16bit 44.1kHz
http://www.file-upload.net/download-1056923/RH1-line-in-at-max-gain-30-of-30.wav.html

R09-HR: max. gain 80/80 16bit 44.1kHz
http://www.file-upload.net/download-1056938/R09HR-line-in-at-max-gain-80-of-80.WAV.html

+T

I grabbed a bit if silence from each recording and had a look in a spectrograph, the HR seems a little quieter. And as I have seen elsewhere, more bass sensitive...a tad more room rumble has been picked up. Listening to the silences back to back, they are very similar.



Is it possible to do the same for the mic preamps? Aim for a -12 dB peak?

digifish

[javertim]

mics: SP-CMC-8 cardioids
power supply: 12V bbox

Wow, that will be my exact set-up when all is said and done.

Thank you, Arni and Digifish! :-)

... And as I have seen elsewhere, more bass sensitive...a tad more room rumble has been picked up.

I guess this means the Edirol has better Frequency response ... ?