Topic: new marantz PMD 661

[moooose]

it seems that the 660 is getting a successor:

http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=10885

[JasonSobel]

it's also up on the marantz website.  although no info, they do have photos posted of all sides...

30% smaller (than the PMD-660).   XLR inputs with phantom power.  digital coax input.  records to SD cards.  1/8" line-in.  no indication if its 24 bit or 16 bit.  but considering the PMD-671 is a 24 bit device while the PMD-670 was limited to 16 bit.  let's hope the PMD-661 brings the same step up

overall, looks like a killer deck.

[DaveG73]

The PMD661 can record at rates of up to 24-bit/96kHz and can accommodate up to 32GB of solid-state storage in the SDHC format (instead of using Compact Flash, as its predecessor did). A USB 2 connection enables recorded files to be copied to a DAW system, and a wired remote control can be connected to the device, so it can be set to record if the operator is not situated in the optimum recording position.

From the website linked in the OP.

If Busman mods this one to sound as good as the 660 then this is going to be a winner.

Dave.

[jlykos]

This thing looks perfect.  Any idea about a price point or release date?  And what are the dimensions?  30% smaller than the PMD660 is still a fairly substantial object.

[JasonSobel]

ahh, very good about the 24/96 and 32gb SDHC cards.  I missed that in my first reading.

This thing looks perfect.  Any idea about a price point or release date?  And what are the dimensions?  30% smaller than the PMD660 is still a fairly substantial object.

price and release date are anyone's guess.  and while you are correct about 30% smaller than the PMD-660 won't make this tiny (obviously, it'll be larger than the R-09's, MT's, PMD-620s, etc, etc), but this has XLR inputs with phantom.  While no published specs are out, from the pictures, it looks like it'll be smaller than the Fostex FR-2LE, which will make this the smallest deck available with XLR inputs and phantom power.  also, I think the S/PDIF input is great.  other than the MT and MTII, this will be the smallest 24/96 deck with a digital input (we all know the original MT wasn't the most reliable.  I think the MTII has improved reliability, but I wasn't ready to give M-Audio another chance).

personally, this deck looks to have everything that I would be looking for.  and would definitely consider selling my Tascam HD-P2 and replace it with this deck (the only hesitation is that the HD-P2 has word clock and is easily sync'ed to other decks for 4 channel recording.  I've done this a few times with a friend who also has an HD-P2).

[aaronji]

This thing looks perfect.  Any idea about a price point or release date?  And what are the dimensions?  30% smaller than the PMD660 is still a fairly substantial object.

One site (http://www.ziogiorgio.com/viewnews.php?id=19015) is reporting 165 x 93 x 36 mm (6.5" x 3.7" x 1.4").  Compared to 183.5 x 113 x 47 mm (7.2" x 4.5" x 1.9") for the PMD660...

EDIT:  They are also saying that it goes 8 hours on four AA's.

AND EDIT AGAIN:  A Dutch site (http://www.mennegat.nl/nl/product.php?artid=430) is saying 595 euros.  Typically, the price in euros is about the same as the price in dollars or a few bucks cheaper (due to the exchange rates).  Maybe we are looking at sub-$600?

[JasonSobel]

This thing looks perfect.  Any idea about a price point or release date?  And what are the dimensions?  30% smaller than the PMD660 is still a fairly substantial object.

One site (http://www.ziogiorgio.com/viewnews.php?id=19015) is reporting 165 x 93 x 36 mm (6.5" x 3.7" x 1.4").  Compared to 183.5 x 113 x 47 mm (7.2" x 4.5" x 1.9") for the PMD660...

EDIT:  They are also saying that it goes 8 hours on four AA's.

those dimensions are also consistent with the photos.  I just printed out the photos and scaled the drawing based on the known dimenions of XLR and RCA jacks.  I came up with 6.7" x 3.8" x 1.5".  that's very close to what that article states (6.5" x 3.7" x 1.4").  So I'd say that those dimensions are accurate, even though there's no official dimensions on the marantz website yet.

[willndmb]

wow nice
smaller then the fr-2le (57/206/132mm)
has coax in
batteries could be a winner too

[timP]

damn!

looks really nice....

[Krispy D]

I want one.


now.

[Javier Cinakowski]

damn,looks fantastic

[tgakidis]

Looks like it has everything ya need in a nice small package.

[Will_S]

Line In 2?  Could it be that these can produce on-the-fly matrices ala the UA5?

Wonder if the stock version will sound any better or handle signals any hotter than the stock 660?  The fact that the XLRs are labeled mic/line suggests probably so, at least on the hot signal question.

[aaronji]

Well, I don't think this adds much to the information we have already uncovered, but here is the advance info sheet from Marantz (.pdf attached).  I got this from a friend who sells Marantz products.  He said that, in terms of sound quality, it is "much like the FR2-LE" (the quotes are around his words; he said it is considerably smaller, though).  The expectation is that it will retail for $599.00.  He is unsure whether the digi-in re-samples or not; he has inquired with Marantz and will let me know when they respond.  I also asked him if he knew about the release date; I will post that info if/when I get it...
 
EDIT: Grammar.

[ozarkbilly]

that looks really sweet!