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Author Topic: Tascam DR-680 MKii  (Read 92945 times)

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Offline 2manyrocks

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #15 on: February 09, 2015, 03:08:32 PM »
Much appreciated here, too.

Offline drewloo

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #16 on: February 20, 2015, 11:03:12 AM »
I didn't pre-order one but did ask for availability notification from B&H.  Was a bit disappointed that it wasn't available at 12am this morning but that could also be because they sold out of their 1st allotment already I guess.

edit, now says:   Expected availability: March 20 2015
« Last Edit: February 26, 2015, 02:58:25 PM by drewloo »

Offline glennjr

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #17 on: March 11, 2015, 05:56:48 AM »
Any real world experience with the mkii yet? I've got a couple screwed up channels on my 680 and might try upgrading.

I've got the Busman 680; real curious how they compare. Would be nice if mkii is quieter.
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Offline Rally_AK

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #18 on: March 24, 2015, 01:03:30 PM »
For those of you who pre-ordered from B&H, I just got off the phone with customer service and their expected availability date slipped from 3/20 to 4/15 due to shipping delays from Tascam. >:( >:( >:( Glad I picked up a 70d as well, which should be here in time tape a couple Keller shows next week.
« Last Edit: March 24, 2015, 01:18:29 PM by Rally_AK »
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Offline 404 Not Found

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #19 on: March 24, 2015, 03:20:50 PM »
For what it may be worth? There is a giveaway contest sponsored by TASCAM on musicpage.com's site for the DR680 MKII: 

https://www.musicpage.com/musicop/fe1255063fe924a58bbe
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Offline rockymtnryan

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #20 on: March 30, 2015, 12:03:21 AM »
The Tascam rep has posted a couple of things about the 680mkii.  One said:  "The main audio improvement in the DR-680mkII comes from the upgraded op-amp, including better EIN (lower noise)." 

Another quote from the 680 thread:  "Somebody asked about op-amps on the mkII.
The mkII uses a better sounding op-amp compared to the mkI.   (BA2115 instead of BA4580)
Only the DR-70D has the NE5532 op-amp.

I thought I mentioned this before, but the Headphone knob is improved on the mkII as well - better taper and finer control."

Has anyone compared the BA2115 to the NE5532? Not sure if the BA2115 is stock in any other Tascam deck.  If so I'd like to hear samples. Is the consensus that the NE5532 is a higher quality op amp for field recording? If so, I'm really surprised they didn't use that op amp in the MKII since it costs $300 more than the DR-70D.

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Offline drewloo

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #21 on: April 14, 2015, 07:03:20 AM »
Full Compass showing the MKii in stock.

Offline leehookem

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #22 on: April 14, 2015, 11:58:58 AM »
Get it Drew!!!
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Offline AB52

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #23 on: April 15, 2015, 12:07:02 AM »
How difficult and costly is it to swap out the op amp?

The Tascam rep has posted a couple of things about the 680mkii.  One said:  "The main audio improvement in the DR-680mkII comes from the upgraded op-amp, including better EIN (lower noise)." 

Another quote from the 680 thread:  "Somebody asked about op-amps on the mkII.
The mkII uses a better sounding op-amp compared to the mkI.   (BA2115 instead of BA4580)
Only the DR-70D has the NE5532 op-amp.

I thought I mentioned this before, but the Headphone knob is improved on the mkII as well - better taper and finer control."

Has anyone compared the BA2115 to the NE5532? Not sure if the BA2115 is stock in any other Tascam deck.  If so I'd like to hear samples. Is the consensus that the NE5532 is a higher quality op amp for field recording? If so, I'm really surprised they didn't use that op amp in the MKII since it costs $300 more than the DR-70D.

Offline florian.ardelean

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #24 on: April 15, 2015, 02:01:09 AM »
How difficult and costly is it to swap out the op amp?

If they used the 2-channel version (the BA2115 comes in a 3 and even 4-channel flavour as well), then it wouldn't be very complicated. However, there are many other factors to be taken into consideration apart from the op-amp, and they're actually using the "improved op-amp" line mainly as marketing hype - it's the new deal, it sounds good and sells.

However, the performance of the recorder is only partly based on the op-amp, just like the performance of a microphone - recorder is only partly based on the recorder.

The DR680 already had stellar EIN, close to the Sound Devices 7xx series, so if the DR680MKII is even a bit better, why bother modding it?
Recorders: SD 744T Tascam HDP2 Sony D50 Olympus LS100 Zoom H2 Tascam IM2
Mixers: SD 422 SD 302 Mackie VLZ4
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Studio: Protools 9 HD2x2 - Digidesign C24 - Tascam 1804 - Mbox Mini 2 - Macbook with Reaper
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Offline 2manyrocks

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #25 on: April 15, 2015, 10:20:13 AM »
As I understand it, part of the alleged problem with the original 680 was that the capacitors were too small when it came to providing phantom power, and Tascam fixed this in the mkii along with providing improved op-amps.  It remains to be seen whether changing the mkii op amps would make a substantial difference. 

With the Zoom F8 on the horizon offering 8 individually adjustable channels, nice metering,  and possibly, timecode, in a SD style case for $1,000, it might be smart to pause and let things settle down before committing $600 to the mkii and then spending another $350 on modding the mkii for what might or might not be that much improvement. 

Offline Gutbucket

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #26 on: April 15, 2015, 11:25:10 AM »
I'd be far more interested in replacing my mk1 680 if Tascam would have included a few of the features available on the DR-70D, rather than simply fixing the problems with the mk1 version without really adding other significant improvements.

I'd buy one if it had these things:
individual channel output level
individual channel EQ
individual channel polarity

Possible those things may be addressable via firmware update, but I doubt it.

As it is, it seems like asking mk1 owners to pay for a new machine in order to fix problems which were Tascam's responsibility.
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Offline florian.ardelean

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #27 on: April 15, 2015, 11:27:13 AM »
I really don't see the need to swap the op-amps. There are not even any real world tests yet online! The 680 is a proven model, and the MKii upgrade (mode of an update) fixed the few problems the first version did have.

I wouldn't jump to the F8 just yet, even if it is launched this year. Zoom doesn't have a good reputation for sound quality (all their products are noisy and induce non-linear distortion). As for reliability, Zoom has learned a lot lately, yes, the H6 and H5 are the first of their recorders which can be trusted to an extent. But I wouldn't rely on a new model for serious work, at least not until it has been field-proven. I'd wait a year or so after it comes up for all the firmware quirks to be resolved.

However the F8 prototype looks like a sound mixer's nightmare for ENG work - extremely non-user-friendly. Why would we need such a large color screen? To cramp up "rec" and "stop" buttons to the side of the case, where they can be accidentally pressed if doing an over-the-soulder recording? The case should be bigger for 8 channels...
Recorders: SD 744T Tascam HDP2 Sony D50 Olympus LS100 Zoom H2 Tascam IM2
Mixers: SD 422 SD 302 Mackie VLZ4
Microphones: Rode NT2A x 2 - Sanken CS1 - Senn MKH415T x 2 - Senn MKH40 - AKG D190 - Sennheiser MKE-2-Gold - Sennheiser MKE 40 - Audio Technica CC417
Headphones: Sennheiser HD280 x 2 - KRK KNS 8400 x 2 - Beyer 880 - Senn HD 590 - Senn HD201
Headphone amps: Sound Devices HX3 - Presonus HP4
Studio: Protools 9 HD2x2 - Digidesign C24 - Tascam 1804 - Mbox Mini 2 - Macbook with Reaper
Monitoring: JBL 4675Cx3, JBL 8340Ax2, Behringer B2030Px3
Subwoofers: Altec Lansing LFx3, JBL 18', Dynaudio BM14s
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Offline Gutbucket

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #28 on: April 15, 2015, 11:36:06 AM »
What I would really like is a 6 channel DR2d!
But I know it ain't never gonna happen.
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline danny3

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Re: Tascam DR-680 MKii
« Reply #29 on: April 15, 2015, 06:16:42 PM »
What I would really like is a 6 channel DR2d!/

Or at least bring us a DR-2d mkii !

 

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