Topic: Which would you buy, new R-09HR or used stock 660

[johnny9fingers]

Hello,  If you could get a new R-09HR or used 660 for about the same price, and you're intended use was to record ambient sounds, (birds, sounds of the neighborhood ect), and voice, (vocal & interview), what would you go with?  And lets say for the time being you were going to use the internal mic's.  Is there a big difference in audio quality between the two stock machines?

John

[rastasean]

very detailed review of the 09HR board here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,109703.0.html

[Mike R.]

I con't comment on the R-09 (any version), but I purchased a rather early stock 660 and was not happy with it.  The overload level was too low and this hiss too high.  I'm very happy with the 660 after an Oade basic mod after he opened up to units purchased elsewhere.

[flintstone]

The PMD660's internal mics are really meant for situations where a person is speaking close to the recorder.  They are not a good choice for ambience.   The R09HR will do a better job, but don't expect miracles. 

For examples that show what to expect, check out Digifish's test recordings here:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,112994.0.html
The second set of tests have examples of the improvement you'll get if you use good external mics and a quality external preamp.

Flintstone