Topic: Who Went from a R-09HR to PCM-M10

[acidjack]

I moved to the M10 (because my R-09HR was destroyed) and prefer it, but only because of the better battery life, slightly better preamp, and the onboard storage capacity.  I also don't stealth much.

If I did, I still think the R-09HR is better precisely because of the "HOLD" function that allows you to lock the gain.  I also found the giant "RECORD" button in the middle much easier to find in the dark, without looking at the deck.  And the M10s brighter lights (including the nice-looking flashing peak lights on either of the top corners), while desirable if you're not worried about being detected, are also a negative for stealth reasons.

I also bought into the whole "the level knob won't move" thing after many on here said that was the case... and then found out the hard way when it did move one time when I was pulling the deck out of my pocket to check levels.  Yes, I know how to use gaff tape - but that seems like a less desirable solution than a "hold" button that actually puts ALL functions on hold.

If I still had the R-09HR, and if mine had not been damaged, I would not have moved to the M10.  If anything, if it's sound that you're concerned with, and you record quieter stuff, you'd be better served by adding a Church pre.

All that said, the M10 seems better built and the battery life is amazing.  So it's really just a matter of dealing with the REC knob and changing the setting for the peak lights.

[cgresq192]

Thanks for all the replies, especially acidjack for your breakdown.

[mblindsey]

While a bit cumbersome, the <choose your small mic here, i have CA-11's> and the CA-9100 into an R-09HR has met my needs.  It is a bit of cables here and there.  It is a bit of bulk in my rig...at least the size of two packs of cigs + mics.  I have pulled great recordings with it.  Great for me when stands are not allowed but recording is.  I like the looks/specs of the Sony, but can't justify the move.  My batt's last the length of a concert.  For festivals, I have an open rig.  The R09-HR has never failed me. 

---give me a small recorder with a pre like the church that powers the audix caps in one unit and I'm sold...     

[su6oxone]

I used the R-09 and R-09HR for a year or two and now own a M10 and have to say that the M10 is clearly nicer in terms of build quality, battery life, larger screen, but not necessarily anything significantly better than the R-09HR.  Like acidjack mentioned, the dial does turn without a whole lot of effort while the R-09HR has a hold button that locks the recording level buttons too.  On the other hand, it's more convenient to use a dial than the buttons. 

I did like how on the R-09HR the lanyard attachment loop is located on the top of the unit (when standing vertically), which I used to attach a neck strap and hang it around my neck when stealthing (easy access, easy to see the screen discretely, etc.) whereas the M10 has a loop on the bottom right corner.  However, I wanted to try something new so I got the M10 and plan to slip it into a shirt pocket when stealthing where the gain dial shouldn't be too susceptible to accidental movement. 

Otherwise, the M10 supposedly has quieter pres (I don't know, still haven't tested out my M10) but if you use a CA9100 preamp it shouldn't be an issue really.  So in summary, I like the M10 over the R-09HR mostly over build quality (looks very solid compared to the cheap looking R-09HR and the even cheaper looking R-09), but I think either will be good for taping.  Oh, one last thing is that the M10 tends to still be cheaper than the R-09HR which always helps.

[illconditioned]

While a bit cumbersome, the <choose your small mic here, i have CA-11's> and the CA-9100 into an R-09HR has met my needs.  It is a bit of cables here and there.  It is a bit of bulk in my rig...at least the size of two packs of cigs + mics.  I have pulled great recordings with it.  Great for me when stands are not allowed but recording is.  I like the looks/specs of the Sony, but can't justify the move.  My batt's last the length of a concert.  For festivals, I have an open rig.  The R09-HR has never failed me. 

---give me a small recorder with a pre like the church that powers the audix caps in one unit and I'm sold...     

I've run the audix/church combination on plug-in-power, both the Edirol and the Sony, and it works fine.  Maybe not extremely loud shows, but I have not overloaded it so far.  It is certainly worth a try, especially for stealth shows.  Less wires and batteries to worry about.  Start it up, tape the gain knob, and go with it.

  Richard

[yates7592]

I 've run the R09-HR for a couple of years now (with a Church pre) and never had any cause to want to change. It does everything I need really really well, and i don't need to worry about the hold button. Battery life has always been more than adequate, no worries there, never gone below 4 bars after taping for 3-4 hours with alkalines. Never run it at a festival but if i did i'd just take along an extra set of batteries. If it ain't broke - don't fix it! Depsite all the positive reviews above, I don't see any significant advantage in shelling out a whole load more cash for the M10. Even with the M10 i'd still want to use a pre for loud shows.
I AM considering the Tascam DR-2D however, purely for it's 4-channel mode, that is a big advantage worth paying for in my book.

[aaronji]

The M10's pre is a good bit quieter than the R09HR's (~ 4 or 5 dB), judging from guysonic's graphs (and corroborated by Raimund Specht's measurements).  Less noise from plug-in power and in the high-frequencies as well.  Probably doesn't matter for many people, but, if noise is a concern, the M10 has an advantage. 

On the other hand, the R09HR can tell time...

[cgresq192]

Here's what I've determined this far:

R09HR
Larger/less stealthy
Less Battery Life
Louder Pre's
Hold locks everything

PCM-M10
Small/More stealthy
Better Battery Life
Quieter Pre's
Clock issue
Knob cannot be "locked"

Tough Decision....The set it and forget it nature of the R09HR seems a major plus.

[cgresq192]

in an ideal world

both M10 cons could prob be fixed with firmware update

(lock knob)
(fix clock issue)

[F.O.Bean]

What exactly is the runtime on this sucka And whats the biggest card that you can use Is anyone using a 32gb card

[Dede2002]

No secrets here. I'm a very happy R-09HR user and, yes, I do have issues regarding the PCM-M10 rec level knob.
Let's put all that aside. What about sound?
Considering that I almost never tape acoustic/soft music, a PCM-M10 will produce better sounding recordings than my R-09HR? Simple as that.
Also, I'm curious about the lights. Can I get rid of suspicious bright lights on the Sony like you do with the R-09HR?

Thanks in advance.

[su6oxone]

Also, I'm curious about the lights. Can I get rid of suspicious bright lights on the Sony like you do with the R-09HR?

You can turn off the LED lights (the green -12dB and red 0dB lights next to each internal mic) from the menu.  The LCD screen can be set to power save with several different times before turning off, but the brightness of the screen itself cannot be adjusted at all.  It's not a bad screen, but I would prefer the black/white screen of the R-09HR for stealthing since it is likely less noticeable than an orange screen in the dark.

[acidjack]

I'd agree with the below except re: size. Size is almost identical. The M10 is slimmer "seeming" but I don't think it actually is; just has rounded-off corners.

Here's what I've determined this far:

R09HR
Larger/less stealthy
Less Battery Life
Louder Pre's
Hold locks everything

PCM-M10
Small/More stealthy
Better Battery Life
Quieter Pre's
Clock issue
Knob cannot be "locked"

Tough Decision....The set it and forget it nature of the R09HR seems a major plus.

[Belexes]

Many of us taped with portable Sony DAT decks which also had a gain knob, was this that big of an issue back then? Wasn't for me.

[acidjack]

Many of us taped with portable Sony DAT decks which also had a gain knob, was this that big of an issue back then? Wasn't for me.

I generally kept that thing in a hip sack because it was so big. Of course, you could do so with an M10, but I rather like being able to put the unit in my pocket rather than having to wear what I tend to consider one of the uglier pieces of clothing out there.  The M10 knob moves and cannot be locked.  I don't care that gaff tape can hold it down; it's still a flaw in the unit (for what we are doing).