Topic: Sony PCM-D100

[yates7592]

Samples were internal on both D100 and LS100.

[Amir]

Samples were internal on both D100 and LS100.

While I do believe that the comparison between the H4N and the D100 is more or less a joke, I'd like to know your take on the comparison between the D100 and the LS-100. That clock test there was peculiar (though useful) in that the levels in both recordings were gradually (and artificially) magnified for the sake of comparison. I myself sense a higher degree of noise in the LS-100 recording -- especially in the left channel of the football track. Also, I seem to be able to hear people talking in the left channel of the D100 football track -- something which is apparently absent in that of the LS-100.

[yates7592]

^^^ To be honest, I haven't listened to the samples provided, I will try to later. The internal mics are not particularly important to me, although it will be interesting to listen to those samples. But like you, I think this guy above is talking BS when he tries to compare the D100 to the H4N.

[H₂O]

I have to agree about internal mics - I have yet to see a recorder that I would remotely consider using the internal mics for recording anything this site is focused on.


ALL internal mics are garbage IMO and are only there for use in interviewing or personal experimentations.  If you are using internal mics to make concert or nature recordings you have a lot too learn.

[dogmusic]

I got my D100 on Friday and set up this test vs my D50 today.

The D50 chain was Beyer MC930 mics>Audient MICO preamp>D50 line-in.

The D100 was internal mics at 120º wide stereo on the same stand as the Beyers.

As usual my piano is out of tune. There is a river outside my house so that may account for some of the ambient white noise.

D50: https://app.box.com/s/mvnwghlpqo613gafc9yn

D100: https://app.box.com/s/mqsd7m4iib8fsxp6bbrc

[Amir]

I got my D100 on Friday and set up this test vs my D50 today.

The D50 chain was Beyer MC930 mics>Audient MICO preamp>D50 line-in.

The D100 was internal mics at 120º wide stereo on the same stand as the Beyers.

As usual my piano is out of tune. There is a river outside my house so that may account for some of the ambient white noise.

D50: https://app.box.com/s/mvnwghlpqo613gafc9yn

D100: https://app.box.com/s/mqsd7m4iib8fsxp6bbrc

Thanks for the samples -- will listen to them later today via my pro headphones. In the meantime, do you agree with the author(s) of this German review? http://www.audiotranskription.de/sony-pcm-d-100
Specifically, does your machine have the very same hardware characteristics as the pre-production model reviewed -- rather noisy mic positioning and fragile mem card holder? The extra features of the D100 aside, do you prefer it to the D50 at least when internal mics and the built-in preamps are concerned?

[dogmusic]

Thanks for the samples -- will listen to them later today via my pro headphones. In the meantime, do you agree with the author(s) of this German review? http://www.audiotranskription.de/sony-pcm-d-100
Specifically, does your machine have the very same hardware characteristics as the pre-production model reviewed -- rather noisy mic positioning and fragile mem card holder? The extra features of the D100 aside, do you prefer it to the D50 at least when internal mics and the built-in preamps are concerned?

Since I read the review in translation only, I wasn't clear about all the criticisms. If the reviewer had read the manual, he would know that in order to move the record level knobs separately, you push in the middle knob. They're very smooth.

Yes, the mic housing is hard plastic, but I don't know how that affects the sound. Do other handhelds have metal internal mics?

Not sure what noisy mic positioning is. I wouldn't change the direction of the mics during recording, if that's what he means. But who would do that with any mic?

Yes, the mem card door is a bit vulnerable, but on the other hand, it's easy to open and get the card out without resorting to tweezers as I do on the D50.

I think the internal mics are better than the D50. Tomorrow I will set up a recording from the Beyers into the D50 and D100 simultaneously to compare their preamps.

[Amir]

Thanks for the samples -- will listen to them later today via my pro headphones. In the meantime, do you agree with the author(s) of this German review? http://www.audiotranskription.de/sony-pcm-d-100
Specifically, does your machine have the very same hardware characteristics as the pre-production model reviewed -- rather noisy mic positioning and fragile mem card holder? The extra features of the D100 aside, do you prefer it to the D50 at least when internal mics and the built-in preamps are concerned?

Since I read the review in translation only, I wasn't clear about all the criticisms. If the reviewer had read the manual, he would know that in order to move the record level knobs separately, you push in the middle knob. They're very smooth.

Yes, the mic housing is hard plastic, but I don't know how that affects the sound. Do other handhelds have metal internal mics?

Not sure what noisy mic positioning is. I wouldn't change the direction of the mics during recording, if that's what he means. But who would do that with any mic?

Yes, the mem card door is a bit vulnerable, but on the other hand, it's easy to open and get the card out without resorting to tweezers as I do on the D50.

I think the internal mics are better than the D50. Tomorrow I will set up a recording from the Beyers into the D50 and D100 simultaneously to compare their preamps.

At least the LS-100's mic housing is also plastic -- that's what I feel and it's not a problem. I'm looking forward to your preamp comparisons. The D100 hasn't yet become available here.

[dogmusic]

Here are mic-in and line-in preamp comps of the D50 and D100.

I don't have a phantom power adapter to go mic-in with the Beyers, so I used an old battery-powered SONY ECM-979 stereo mic, its output split into the mic-ins of the two recorders.

The line-in test was done Beyer MC 930's>Audient MICO>splitter>line-ins of the two recorders.

D50 mic-in: https://app.box.com/s/h3k31ctarpdsq7zu0621

D100 mic-in: https://app.box.com/s/qkkpxn4swvfvp2k5thn9

D50 line-in: https://app.box.com/s/4n9h8ho0dux6ja9y61nj

D100 line-in-in: https://app.box.com/s/fyrrfn7ge3dkb96zejg0

[Amir]

Here are mic-in and line-in preamp comps of the D50 and D100.

I don't have a phantom power adapter to go mic-in with the Beyers, so I used an old battery-powered SONY ECM-979 stereo mic, its output split into the mic-ins of the two recorders.

The line-in test was done Beyer MC 930's>Audient MICO>splitter>line-ins of the two recorders.

D50 mic-in: https://app.box.com/s/h3k31ctarpdsq7zu0621

D100 mic-in: https://app.box.com/s/qkkpxn4swvfvp2k5thn9

D50 line-in: https://app.box.com/s/4n9h8ho0dux6ja9y61nj

D100 line-in-in: https://app.box.com/s/fyrrfn7ge3dkb96zejg0

Thanks for the samples! Quite interestingly, the more I listen to them via my pro headphones, the more I come to the conclusion that there's virtually no difference between the two recorders! Across the board, the mic-in samples are far more noisier than the line-in ones -- that's not strange. However, the D50 line-in sample is as noisy as that of the D100, and the same is also true about both mic-in samples. I also sense some sort of minor rumbling or squeaking in both line-in samples. Considering these results, I'm wondering which D100-compatible portable mics I should get for concert-recording when seated in the middle of the audience.

[dogmusic]

Some of the noise is the river outside my house. And it's a windy day here. My house is not sound-proofed.

The rumble and squeak is also most probably ambient.

Then again, it could be me --- I haven't eaten all day!

[Amir]

Some of the noise is the river outside my house. And it's a windy day here. My house is not sound-proofed.

The rumble and squeak is also most probably ambient.

Then again, it could be me --- I haven't eaten all day!

Fortunately I don't have the D50 to face the dilemma of upgrading to D100 or continuing with that. Currently I have the LS-100 and given my need for a digital-in, upgrading to the D100 seems to be logical. Of course provided that the reseller finally makes it available here!

[dogmusic]

given my need for a digital-in, upgrading to the D100 seems to be logical.

If you only need a bit-bucket, what about the TASCAM DR100mkii? Just $221.00 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/DR-100mkII-2-Channel-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B006JVNTXO

[Amir]

given my need for a digital-in, upgrading to the D100 seems to be logical.

If you only need a bit-bucket, what about the TASCAM DR100mkii? Just $221.00 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/DR-100mkII-2-Channel-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B006JVNTXO

It's hard to argue against a cheaper recorder like the DR-100MKII. I saw it a couple of months ago and, frankly, don't like it at all. It isn't as sturdy as I like it to be. Also, I don't like its dual-battery system coupled with the fact that I should buy an extra charger for it. In addition to the digital-in, I want something whose internal mics I can fall back on when the need arises and the D100 easily beats the DR-100MKII in that respect. My LS-100 holds up well against the DR-100MKII; so if I'm to get a new recorder, it should be a step up from the LS-100. Since I'm a radio journalist, I'm also thinking about matching the D100 with low-output dynamic mics (namely Beyerdynamic M58 and Sennheiser MD46), and hope the D100's performance proves to be superior to that of the LS-100 in that respect. Finally, as I'm visually impaired (totally blind), the D100 is quite easier to operate and control with its higher-quality mechanical knobs and controls.

[Chimney Top]

I have to agree about internal mics - I have yet to see a recorder that I would remotely consider using the internal mics for recording anything this site is focused on.


ALL internal mics are garbage IMO and are only there for use in interviewing or personal experimentations.  If you are using internal mics to make concert or nature recordings you have a lot too learn.

Roland R-26 internal mic's are decent.