"Input impedance: 22k ohms; Minimum input level: 500mV; Rated input level: 2.0V"
while the edirol R-09HR has
"Line input: 15 k ohms, Line input: 2 dBu (Default input level)"
Anyone care to tell me what this means in normal language? Would this enable the M10 to handle a hotter signal than the edirol?
in normal language:
1) 22kohm: it's telling you that the input is high impedance, so you can connect a mic without worrying about signal loss. Connecting a low-impedance device to a high-impedance is called "bridging" and it's a good thing. Generally, good quality mics are low impedance (200 ohm, 600 ohm etc.), but cheap mics can be higher, although still less than 22 kohm.
2) 500mV: the minimum input level is how much signal voltage the device needs in order to write something other than zero. If you run a self-powered mic or a preamp, don't worry. Sony makes some mics for pod-casting, like the MS-907, that they'll probably encourage you to use with this thing.
3) 2.0V: the rated voltage, and I'm guessing here so someone may correct this, is probably the voltage rating for clipping the ADC. It should, therefore, be able to handle a line-level signal. (I wonder if this is peak or RMS, my gut tells me peak).
4) 2 dBu: I'm no audio expert, but I belive dBu is used to describe the RMS of the signal. If you don't know, RMS is Root Mean Square, which is a way of describing the magnitude of a varying quantity, or in this case a varying audio signal. When working with audio, I often think of it as the average loudness of the recording. IIRC, most pro audio line output is +4dBu, which means that the signal coming out has an RMS around 1.25V. I always thought that the (American) standard for line level was +4dBu for balanced loads and +2dBu for unbalanced loads so I think this is a normal rating for professional equipment. Guysonic would know better. Anyway, it's basically saying that it can handle a line-level signal.
Frankly, I'm not sure the M10 will give the R-09HR much competition. Edirol makes a great recorder and, as I've said before, the MicroSD card is an immediate turn off for me. They're too easy to lose. Also, while Sony has made great preamps, they must have skimped somewhere on this recorder to make it so cheap:hopefully they kept the same preamp from the D-50, and skimped elsewhere