the only thing that gives me pause is the relatively low high input sensitivity (aka low max input level) on mic in, +4 dbU
most other pres are +10 to +20dbu on mic input
many mics can exceed +4dBu (1.2V RMS), including schoeps CMC1, DPA MMC-A,C,E, and G, etc
given the fixed input topology i was wondering if there is any practical downside to using the +24dBu "line in" for most applications (which they have acknowledged is basically just a 20 dB pad, phantom is still available on line-in
so i did two whisper tests
4011C, one channel line in, one channel mic in (then i made 2 channel files from each sample after increasing volume. all data was kept in 192/32f from recording thru volume adjustment thru these samples
fader at -60 dB on both:
mic in:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dPQbqiFQW3A8wB4-KU_GVXq45-ig3OkC/view?usp=sharingline in:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IxRKsogP5DhJ6tOZ6q2GoyKVuHnWUI3r/view?usp=sharingseparate test with faders cranked +60 dB on each, whispering slightly quieter
mic in:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YjEABVH9s9Uk3lJeqRbIvztFTIs0cIt0/view?usp=sharingline in:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hAn0ioZRJ0bzYxJmLz3uVF0LXMMLJTCY/view?usp=sharingin both tests i recorded test tones with my 94/114dB calibrator (which ran upwards of +40dB over FSD at +60dB on line in - did not clip in either case
safe to say we run into the noise floor of the recorder with quiet sounds on mic in - so there is no free lunch. still this is VERY quiet and youd be hard pressed to be in a situation with so much dynamic range that you would be constrained by input noise vs overloading, it indeed does have a very wide dynamic range, i would say fundamentally close to or in excess of most microphones (which we rarely push to their 120+ dB max SPLs). at the end of the day, forget about a concert and its typical 50 dB dynamic range, a symphony *might* approach 70 dB with all those people in the room
a future test on upper SPL handling would be with the higher output 'MMP-A' bodies with higher sens caps like the 40 mv/PA 2006. those mic bodies have selectable 20 dB pads as well, so i can test the 20 dB pads in the mics vs the recorder
TLDR: its insanely quiet but there is indeed a consequence to mic vs line in, in regard to input noise, so select accordingly, as would be expected