The Sony recorder units are the best of them all. Sound Devices 702, way over-rated for the money I spent on it. The Sony D50 and M10 make just as good or better sounding recordings and have much better user interface controls.
You're the first I've heard say the d50 is as good or better sounding than the 7xx. Same for the m10. I look forward to hearing that difference in a recording. On what sort of source material do you base your conclusions?
I guess I think the D50 is in the same ballpark, but unfortunately I can't say with any certainty.
I had both the 722 and the 702, but outside of a handful of recordings done 7xx directly, I mainly recorded with V3> 7xx. I probably did almost all my 722 recordings with V3 (digital) > 722 since I liked the V3 and didn't trust that I'd prefer the 722 A/D over the V3.
By the time I downgraded from 722 > 702, I started recording a lot of shows with V3 (analog) > 702. There are probably a number of shows I also did a back up of V3 (digital) > D50 so I could dig up some good comps of the V3 A/D stage vs the 702 A/D. But I never recorded V3 (analog) > D50.
Very stupid -- wish I had while I had all that equipment.
Anyway, to the point, I ditched the V3 and 702, got a PSP2, Oade R44 and a pair of Gefells. So for 2ch I changed from V3 (analog) > 702 to PSP2 > Sony D50. Too many variables changing at once, but I like the PSP2 > D50 combo at least as much as the V3 > 702 combo. Some things about the new combo better, some not as good. In a blind test I have no idea which recorder + A/D I'd like better, the D50 or the 702, but the D50 does have a very nice A/D stage. A tad on the darker side, esp compared to the V3 A/D, but very nice nonetheless. I've had the SBM1, modSBM1, Apogee AD500e, Lunatec V3, as well as the internal A/D of the 7xx recorders, and the D50 A/D definitely ranks up there -- no slouch for sure. (Oh, and owned the G-P ADC20 and used the Zefiro in-box a number of times, those A/D don't even make the ranking.
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