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This is an ADC line-in comparison between the Edirol R-09 and R-09HR. For the ADC test, I ran as follows:

Pioneer DV-588-A CD/SACD/DVD-A deck > Kind Kables (RCA > mini) > recorder (24/48 line-in)

I chose to record at 24/48 because it's the highest available on the R-09 and it is the recording format I will personally be using.

The R-09 was set at level 8, and the R-09HR was set at level 35. This results in approximately the same final recording gain for the two (see the R-09HR thread for more details http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100541.msg1400415.html#msg1400415). I initially tried the default inputs (13 and 40, respectfully), but was clipping.

The discs used for the comparison are as follows:
Track 1 - Grateful Dead - American Beauty DVD-A, Box Of Rain
Track 2 - Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek SACD, The Lighthouse's Tale

I recorded appx 90sec of each track. Disregard any clicks you may hear at the beginning of the recording, as it was me pressing play/track switch. The files are an A-B blind test, with A-1 being track 1 for recorder A, B-1 being track 1 for recorder B, etc.

The 24/48 FLAC files (encoded to FLAC level 8 using xACT) may be downloaded below:

A-1: http://www.mediafire.com/?cxcwskmzf47
B-1: http://www.mediafire.com/?td9wjlcd1zo

A-2: http://www.mediafire.com/?mnezssyzedn
B-2: http://www.mediafire.com/?ylejmtsnmyw

FFP: http://www.mediafire.com/?7cytduujxsy

After a few days or no activity in this thread, I will post the key. For those who are impatient, you can PM me for the key.

I'm impacient. I'll PM you. ;D

Quote from: bgalizio on June 03, 2008, 08:25:41 PM
This is an ADC line-in comparison between the Edirol R-09 and R-09HR. For the ADC test, I ran as follows:

Pioneer DV-588-A CD/SACD/DVD-A deck > Kind Kables (RCA > mini) > recorder (24/48 line-in)

I chose to record at 24/48 because it's the highest available on the R-09 and it is the recording format I will personally be using.

The R-09 was set at level 8, and the R-09HR was set at level 35. This results in approximately the same final recording gain for the two (see the R-09HR thread for more details http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,100541.msg1400415.html#msg1400415). I initially tried the default inputs (13 and 40, respectfully), but was clipping.

The discs used for the comparison are as follows:
Track 1 - Grateful Dead - American Beauty DVD-A, Box Of Rain
Track 2 - Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek SACD, The Lighthouse's Tale

I recorded appx 90sec of each track. Disregard any clicks you may hear at the beginning of the recording, as it was me pressing play/track switch. The files are an A-B blind test, with A-1 being track 1 for recorder A, B-1 being track 1 for recorder B, etc.

The 24/48 FLAC files (encoded to FLAC level 8 using xACT) may be downloaded below:

A-1: http://www.mediafire.com/?cxcwskmzf47
B-1: http://www.mediafire.com/?td9wjlcd1zo

A-2: http://www.mediafire.com/?mnezssyzedn
B-2: http://www.mediafire.com/?ylejmtsnmyw

FFP: http://www.mediafire.com/?7cytduujxsy

After a few days or no activity in this thread, I will post the key. For those who am impatient, you can PM me for the key.

Well, that's a tricky one ;). They both sound great. But to my ears, samples A are more light and less defined on the bass side.
For this alone I'd choose samples B.

Bump. I thought more people would be interested in this comp.

I am but cant find my good Shure head phones LOL
Ill run it vis speakers when the download ends

Quote from: bgalizio on June 05, 2008, 07:50:16 AM
Bump. I thought more people would be interested in this comp.

Why don't you just move the whole thing to the recording gear area? Sure there would be more interested people there. ;)

Quote from: Dede2002 on June 07, 2008, 11:54:42 PM

Quote from: bgalizio on June 05, 2008, 07:50:16 AM
Bump. I thought more people would be interested in this comp.

Why don't you just move the whole thing to the recording gear area? Sure there would be more interested people there. ;)

Good call - mods, could you move this thread to the recording gear section?

I want to say the #2 samples are the R9HR, but really, I think any difference I am hearing is all psychological, i.e. not there except for in my head. *laughs*

They both sounded great through tube amp plus Klipsch speakers, and my Grado SR80 headphones and I can't tell a difference.

well i can only listen through a laptop speaker right now, so i won't even try

I also vote B. Fuller sound.

I prefer the B tracks.  Big bell-bottom bass, recessed highs, and passive mids.  A and B aren't that close sounding.  A tracks sound like they have some air in the them and lack the bass response that B has.  Overall, they both sound great. 

Thanks Ben!    ;D 

Very difficult to pick a clear winner for me.  I "think" B has a little more clarity and the string plucking might be more defined, but not enough to get worked up over.  :)  Track 2 is actually a little better for this test IMHO because it makes use of lower level signals where I would expect the A/Ds to have more differences.

As for which one is a "better" copy of the source - No idea what the original recordings sounded like, though I suppose I could run out and buy them for the purpose of the test.   ;D

Quote from: GregDunn on June 08, 2008, 04:11:40 PM
As for which one is a "better" copy of the source - No idea what the original recordings sounded like, though I suppose I could run out and buy them for the purpose of the test.   ;D

They're good source albums to have, especially in SACD/DVD-A!

Thanks for the comments all (and the suggestion to move the topic to the recording gear forum). I'll wait a little longer before posting the key. But, if you are dying to know, send me a PM.

I like 'em both and have a hard time hearing a difference.

In the end, I like B.

Stream of thought.. immediately noticed the string attack on track 2. Much sharper. Too much? 'A' sounds good too.  In a way that I don't take notice of the top.  Maybe that'll be better, long term.. start preferring 'A'..  remember that I had the treble boosted +1db on the amp for adjusted playback of the acoustic stuff I recorded yesterday (on an R-09).. reset flat. Prefer B, repeat the ordeal with track 1. Like 'B' on both tracks now, but most obvious on 2. Notice it in the top, mostly.

I'll guess B is HR, but if it's not I'm even happier I have what I have.

In my opinion, they are very close, and both very capable devices for line-in recording. But, I give the edge to "B," as I find the bass response to be tighter and fuller.

*********SPOILER ALERT*********

Now, for the big reveal...
























































A = R-09
B = R-09HR

I was very happy to hear the low end differences between the two recorders, as I've always thought the R-09 sounded a little light in the low end. I would be very happy with either recorder, though you'll see my R-09 up for sale after next week's vacation (unless someone here wants it right now).

Excellent - I can hear a little difference and it's in the "right" direction.  Makes me feel very good about my choice of hardware.

Thank you very much for the tests. It would be very helpful to hear the original track clips off the CDs. Then, we could hear how the R-09 and R-09HR altered the original sound of the track. For example, the R-09HR may slightly exaggerate the low end, or maybe it is true that the R-09 thins out the low end.

Here is a link to the MP3 of the original Nickel Creek track from the CD:
http://www.TomJRoach.com/MP3s/Nickel_Creek_&_Allison_Krauss-The_Lighthouse's_Tale.mp3 (http://www.tomjroach.com/MP3s/Nickel_Creek_&_Allison_Krauss-The_Lighthouse's_Tale.mp3)

I adjusted the volume of the above MP3 to match the sound levels of the R-09 samples. The CD track is louder.
Keep in mind, the D/A converter in the signal path to the R-09 and R-09HR recorders plays a role, but this MP3 should give a good indication of what the R-09 and R-09HR recorders do to the signals.

Quote from: TheImplodingVoice on August 25, 2008, 02:22:55 AM
Here is a link to the MP3 of the original Nickel Creek track from the CD:
http://www.TomJRoach.com/MP3s/Nickel_Creek_&_Allison_Krauss-The_Lighthouse's_Tale.mp3 (http://www.tomjroach.com/MP3s/Nickel_Creek_&_Allison_Krauss-The_Lighthouse's_Tale.mp3)

I adjusted the volume of the above MP3 to match the sound levels of the R-09 samples. The CD track is louder.
Keep in mind, the D/A converter in the signal path to the R-09 and R-09HR recorders plays a role, but this MP3 should give a good indication of what the R-09 and R-09HR recorders do to the signals.

Well, also keep in mind the following:

1. I was using the "hi-resolution" versions of these albums (DVD-A for the GD disc, SACD for the NC disc).

2. Running analog out of my DVD player means its DAC plays a role.

3. The mp3 encoding of the sample posted will undoubtedly alter the sound.

When I play these files back compared to the original discs, the R-09HR sounds ever so slightly closer to the original source. The difference is in the low end. YMMV, of course.

Late comment on this thread...

I have always wondered about the sound quality of trim 8 vs. say 10 or 12 on the r09.  In my testing I heard some distortion at 7, but not 8.  Since I wanted as much as hot signal handling as possible, I always ran at 8.. But I wondered if a higher setting would actually sound better.  That is something I think deserves more testing on all of the recorders we use - a comp where a recorder like the r09hr is tested at 35 and 40, with the 40 results raised in post to match the gain.  Or 0 vs. -6 on the 7xx.

Given how much we spend, and how much effort we put into our recordings, details like this can be hugely important.  The difference between 7 and 8 on the r09 is a big deal, but without testing you'd never know.

^^^
Truth.

I run the R-09s at 8 if I have to, but prefer being in the 9-15 zone just to be safe.  But that's going on gut-level instinct, not based on listening tests.