Raimund Specht's tests provide two sets of information. First, they show the equivalent input noise (EIN) of the preamps, which is the sound pressure level that is the same as the noise of the electronics. Any sound quieter than this will be lost in the noise of the preamp.
Second, they show the sound pressure level where the preamp clips. Any sound louder than this won't be captured accurately by the recorder.
The difference between the EIN and the clipping point is the dynamic range of the recorder. Generally speaking, a larger dynamic range is preferable.
The results show on the Avisoft web site are not in any sorted order. The three recorders at the top of the chart (Sound Devices 722, Tascam HD-P2, Fostex FR-2LE) have the best test results, but the fourth-best recorder (IMO, Sony PCM-D50)
is at the bottom of the chart.
The results posted by Dr. Specht match the reports from the field posted in this forum and others. For example, the R-09HR has a quieter preamp than the R-09. The Microtrack II does not perform as well as the Microtrack 2496. The Microtrack 2496 1/8-inch input has a clipping threshold that's higher than many other small recorders. The Korg MR-1000 preamp is good but not great. The Olympus LS-10 performs better at full gain on low mic sensitivity than high sens.
Dr. Specht's tests are controversial among tapers because they show the equivalent input noise with the preamp pushed to maximum. That may be a likely scenario when recording specific nature sounds, but it's unlikely for music recording or recording ambient sounds. Unfortunately, you can't assume that the results with preamp gain at maximum will be the same as with preamp gain half-way up.
Also, the EIN performance of a recorder doesn't come into play when you're recording a loud source, like an amplified music concert. If the musicians all wear earplugs, chances are you don't need to worry about Dr. Specht's EIN numbers. You should pay attention to the input clipping numbers, because these can give you an idea how often you'll need to attenuate the mic input. This reveals one weakness of the Hi-MD minidisc machine: A preamp that is susceptible to clipping at a lower sound pressure level than most other hand-held recorders.
It's important to remember that the EIN test results don't tell the whole story. For example, the Olympus LS-10 looks good on the Avisoft tests. But, thanks to tests done by Guysonic, we know that the LS-10 filters sounds below 200 Hz pretty severely. It's like a low cut filter you can't turn off. This helps reduce handling noise and the sounds of the wind (both big problems for a hand-held recorder), but you may not like the results for music recording.
Flintstone