Finchy, not gonna start a shoot out between the H1xx and h3xx series but my overall feeling is that the H1xx beats the H3xx series hands down since it has the optical-in, it is THE choice for anyone seriously recording (outboard AD). If you look at what used units go for, I think you will agree. I have already noticed the used price point creeping up since preglow's SPDIF patch was committed.
When you decide to upgrade your gear, you are stuck with your H3xx analog section and AD, the H1xx does not limit you to it's own AD, you just go and score a modSBM and start to enter a completey different world of field recording...the transistion is dramatic.
Haha, yeh I've been through similar debates a few times. Over the last 3 years I have many times considered upgrading to an ADC & using optical input (I have a JB3 & optical MD as well as my H340), but considering there is nothing truely stealthy available it is not practical for me.
Consider for a second that I am from Australia, & compared to the States taping is still in it's infancy here & is NOT widely accepted! Therefore when taping shows here most of the time I need to be completely stealth! (Mics stands or anything visibly noticable are out of the question). & Anytime I have been casual with my taping I have been plagued with security guard hassles, or self-righteous mofo's who believe that they are saving the world by dobbing me in to security... or just hassles from people asking questions & talking etc (which I'm sure happens everywhere). Last year at a festival I had some yuppy prick hassle me claiming he'd seen me during the day (taping) & was convinced that I was concealing a bomb!
Anyway so having established that I need to be steathy, the less equipment I have to carry (& conceal) the better! That means no extra battery modules & chunky ADC, or pre-amps, or converter plugs etc etc. & I've already mentioned in my earlier post that I think that anolog taping is fine for live recordings, unless you're doing soundboard source then 99% of the time Digital input is not necissary imo! There are many other dynamic factors that will compromise audio quality before you'd notice the limits of an anaolg line, eg: sound src & venue speakers, mic position stability, crowd noise, recording settings & bass roll-off & other filtering etc. Also the anolog soundboard source shows I've done sound nothing less than the few DSBD shows I've heard.
I respect that everyone has their own opinions & when it comes to taping it mostly comes down to locality factors, venues, policies, crowd, & last but not least: "Luck!". If you tape with digital source then no derr the H100 is better than H300 considering the H300 only records analog. I respect that, & if you'd read my post more closely I was specificly talking about analog taping only! It's all good for you to sit on ya high-horse & judge me by suggesting I'm not a "serious taper" just because I don't use optical digital, but I hope this post has highlighted that there are
other factors to consider. It's not as simple for everyone else then how you put it.
My personal opinion is that H100 is the best portable optical WAV recorder, & H300 is the best analog WAV recorder (both with Rockbox). I have researched a lot of portable recording units a few times over the past 4 years (up until Aug '05), & I believe my opinion is well founded. You're enititled to your opinions too.
My ideal dream (if possible) would be digital USB stealth mics running directly into something small & self contaned like the iRiver. Digital source with minimal gear to carry
To
whataboutbob:
I haven't done extensive tests with battery usage on my iRiver (only basic testing), but since I've been recording WAV using Rockbox: I get about 5 to 5.5 hours out of a fully charged battery (standard battery), & obviously that is a little less the more the screen & any functions are used.
Btw: 1 other very nice thing I forgot to mention in my previous posts, I haven't tested it in the field yet but there is also Peak Light setting that will turn on the screen if the levels peak out at all (serving as an alert). I've tested this at home which seems to work great! But I never really get that issue anyway since I usually record with a little less gain to allow extra levels than the highest before peaking, still nice to have though.
