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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: kennyb on December 24, 2018, 03:13:03 PM

Title: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: kennyb on December 24, 2018, 03:13:03 PM
I've had my Sony M10 since 2011. It's been great, but I'm considering selling it and buying the Tascam DR-05, since the Sonys are getting crazy prices on ebay and the Tascam is just $79 new. There are probably some comparisons around but I couldn't locate anything definitive. The recorders are very similar in a lot of ways (2 AA batts, omni mics)... I record some live shows and a lot of outdoor ambient sounds, so noise floor could be a consideration. Anyway thanks for any recommendations or data points, or if this thread is already out there please point me to it. Cheers
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: morst on December 24, 2018, 03:33:42 PM
do you use internal mics or line in?
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: kennyb on December 24, 2018, 03:51:30 PM
I use internals or line-in mostly, and have some external electrets that I use sometimes with plug in power
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: unidentified on December 24, 2018, 03:59:18 PM
I own them both.  Keep the Sony. It's smaller, better built, has much longer battery life, and (IMHO) better pre-amps. 
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: mrfender on December 24, 2018, 04:12:18 PM
I own them both.  Keep the Sony. It's smaller, better built, has much longer battery life, and (IMHO) better pre-amps.

The DR-05 was my first recorder (awww....) and works great but I have to agree with this. No reason to switch.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: kennyb on December 24, 2018, 10:16:46 PM
Thanks, didn't know if the Sony was $300 better than the Tascam, I suppose it is  :)  I'll keep it for now
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: capnhook on December 25, 2018, 03:40:50 AM
Thanks, didn't know if the Sony was $300 better than the Tascam, I suppose it is  :)  I'll keep it for now

Hey man, it's Christmas.  No reason you shouldn't have both of them..!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: unidentified on December 25, 2018, 12:57:52 PM
Thanks, didn't know if the Sony was $300 better than the Tascam, I suppose it is  :)  I'll keep it for now

Well, that's a fair point.  You could also buy several of the Tascams if you raised your asking price a tad, like this fellow:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-SONY-PCM-M10-Black-Audio-Linear-PCM-Recorder-F-S-EMS-from-JAPAN/292655911986?hash=item4423a6d432:rk:5:pf:0
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: felmmando on August 25, 2021, 10:58:43 PM
I own them both.  Keep the Sony. It's smaller, better built, has much longer battery life, and (IMHO) better pre-amps.

I hope this question isn't too naïve, but how do you know the Sony has better pre-amps? Does that mean more gain? Or what differences do you notice?
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: MakersMarc on August 26, 2021, 05:27:47 PM
my opinion, having owned plenty of Tascam decks, and Sony D3 cassette recorder, D7/8 dats, and four m10's, is that the Tascam is a bunch more likely than the Sony to let you down. The stock line in is better than the Tascam's, and although the Sony m10 preamps are nothing to write home about, they're better. And they're a lot better than the Sony A10 preamps, which suck, imho.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: felmmando on August 27, 2021, 11:54:32 PM
my opinion, having owned plenty of Tascam decks, and Sony D3 cassette recorder, D7/8 dats, and four m10's, is that the Tascam is a bunch more likely than the Sony to let you down. The stock line in is better than the Tascam's, and although the Sony m10 preamps are nothing to write home about, they're better. And they're a lot better than the Sony A10 preamps, which suck, imho.

So which device's preamps are something to write home about?
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: morst on August 28, 2021, 06:51:53 AM

So which device's preamps are something to write home about?
If power consumption is proportional to sound quality, the Kashmir preamps in the SoundDevices MixPre series are worth writing to your local nuclear plant?!
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: rocksuitcase on August 28, 2021, 09:22:56 AM

So which device's preamps are something to write home about?
If power consumption is proportional to sound quality, the Kashmir preamps in the SoundDevices MixPre series are worth writing to your local nuclear plant?!
So I hear this often. Can you make the ($$-not weight) case for the MixPre KAshmir pre-amps over using high quality externals? (maybe leaning OT)
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: morst on August 28, 2021, 03:02:20 PM
So I hear this often. Can you make the ($$-not weight) case for the MixPre KAshmir pre-amps over using high quality externals? (maybe leaning OT)
Nope, I'm deaf over approx 10k, I think the shit they advertise is mostly the high stuff.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: MakersMarc on August 28, 2021, 06:17:07 PM
my opinion, having owned plenty of Tascam decks, and Sony D3 cassette recorder, D7/8 dats, and four m10's, is that the Tascam is a bunch more likely than the Sony to let you down. The stock line in is better than the Tascam's, and although the Sony m10 preamps are nothing to write home about, they're better. And they're a lot better than the Sony A10 preamps, which suck, imho.

So which device's preamps are something to write home about?

none. The Sony D100 is too big to stealth.

Find a stock Sony M10 or a Marantz PMD 620, and have the seller ship to Doug Oade at Oade Brothers Audio. Drop Doug a line first, Dougoade@yahoo.com. He doesn't advertise the M10 mod, but he does it. Personally I like the Marantz better for stealth because it has no volume knob, and all controls lock out internally. I like the warm mod best, but ymmv. Best $150-200 you'll ever spend. He will do the same mod on both m10 and 620.

https://www.oade.com/digital_recorders/hard_disc_recorders/PMD-620MODS.html
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: neutrino on September 20, 2021, 02:41:57 AM
https://www.oade.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=185
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: MakersMarc on September 20, 2021, 11:51:34 AM
 :coolguy:
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: dactylus on October 24, 2021, 09:26:09 AM
my opinion, having owned plenty of Tascam decks, and Sony D3 cassette recorder, D7/8 dats, and four m10's, is that the Tascam is a bunch more likely than the Sony to let you down. The stock line in is better than the Tascam's, and although the Sony m10 preamps are nothing to write home about, they're better. And they're a lot better than the Sony A10 preamps, which suck, imho.

So which device's preamps are something to write home about?

none. The Sony D100 is too big to stealth.

Find a stock Sony M10 or a Marantz PMD 620, and have the seller ship to Doug Oade at Oade Brothers Audio. Drop Doug a line first, Dougoade@yahoo.com. He doesn't advertise the M10 mod, but he does it. Personally I like the Marantz better for stealth because it has no volume knob, and all controls lock out internally. I like the warm mod best, but ymmv. Best $150-200 you'll ever spend. He will do the same mod on both m10 and 620.

https://www.oade.com/digital_recorders/hard_disc_recorders/PMD-620MODS.html


Hello Marc,

I'm thinking about having one of my M10's modded by Doug.  Do you know what the difference is between these two mods offered?  I did not see a Warm Mod offered.

https://www.oade.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=200

https://www.oade.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=185

thanks,

David

Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: MakersMarc on October 24, 2021, 12:35:38 PM
david, I'm not familiar with those mods, but Doug will absolutely do a warm mod on an m10, I asked him a few months back. Give him a call, or email at Doug@yahoo.com, he'll be happy to answer any questions. I think that a mod is a must if you own a baby nbox. Good luck!
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: MakersMarc on October 24, 2021, 12:40:53 PM
Also, if you ask he'll send you the warm mod m10 payment link.
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: dactylus on October 25, 2021, 07:17:25 AM
Also, if you ask he'll send you the warm mod m10 payment link.

Thanks Marc!

David
Title: Re: Sony PCM-M10 vs Tascam DR-05
Post by: spybo on October 26, 2021, 08:24:53 AM
Hey all,
I just had Doug do this mod for me....apart from delivery from the USA to AUS everything was great.
Great sounding mod too.
SB