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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: lordzoster on January 14, 2010, 05:10:26 PM

Title: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: lordzoster on January 14, 2010, 05:10:26 PM
Hallo
I'm pondering between these two solid state recorders: they differ by about 200€, but is the PMD661 actually better than the DR-100, in quality?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: dgale on January 14, 2010, 11:25:40 PM
I don't know much about the Tascam deck but right off the bat I notice it doesn't have digital spidf input like the PMD661.  The 661 is the only small recorder I've found so far that does have a digital input - just depends on your plans for the recorder but for me I like the option of taking a feed from an external A/D or otherwise using it as a bit bucket.  I'm not sure what the other differences are between the two.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: flintstone on January 15, 2010, 01:43:17 AM
PMD661 sounds better, to my ear.  And there are a couple of people
(oade, busman) offering inexpensive mods to make the 661 sound even better.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: sunjan on January 15, 2010, 04:36:36 AM
I don't know much about the Tascam deck but right off the bat I notice it doesn't have digital spidf input like the PMD661.  The 661 is the only small recorder I've found so far that does have a digital input.
For the record, you could add Sony D50 and MTII as well, both 24bit and digi-in. H1x0, JB3 and MT too, although 16bit only, and they're getting obsolete...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: datbrad on January 15, 2010, 08:33:55 AM
The PMD661 is the only small recorder that has full size switchable mic/line XLR inputs and a spdif coax digital input that I know of.

The Marantz is more like a full size deck, without the full size.

Tascam makes great stuff as well, and I have a couple of their DAT machines and a CD burner that are still chugging along just fine.

If you don't need the digital input or XLR line in, I am sure the Tascam will work for you just fine.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: ShawnF on January 15, 2010, 10:52:31 AM
I don't know much about the Tascam deck but right off the bat I notice it doesn't have digital spidf input like the PMD661.  The 661 is the only small recorder I've found so far that does have a digital input.
For the record, you could add Sony D50 and MTII as well, both 24bit and digi-in. H1x0, JB3 and MT too, although 16bit only, and they're getting obsolete...

The MT has always done 24-bit . . .
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: dgale on January 15, 2010, 03:07:57 PM
I don't know much about the Tascam deck but right off the bat I notice it doesn't have digital spidf input like the PMD661.  The 661 is the only small recorder I've found so far that does have a digital input.
For the record, you could add Sony D50 and MTII as well, both 24bit and digi-in. H1x0, JB3 and MT too, although 16bit only, and they're getting obsolete...

I should have phrased my comment that the 661 is the only small recorder I've found so far that has spdif input and XLR inputs - the later is important to me...Id like to think I'm done with 1/8" mini inputs in my life.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: capnhook on January 15, 2010, 07:32:17 PM
I don't know much about the Tascam deck but right off the bat I notice it doesn't have digital spidf input like the PMD661.  The 661 is the only small recorder I've found so far that does have a digital input.
For the record, you could add Sony D50 and MTII as well, both 24bit and digi-in. H1x0, JB3 and MT too, although 16bit only, and they're getting obsolete...

I should have phrased my comment that the 661 is the only small recorder I've found so far that has spdif input and XLR inputs - the later is important to me...Id like to think I'm done with 1/8" mini inputs in my life.

Everything I see, even the new stuff debuting at NAMM, still is bringing me around to this 661 unit.  Cool...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: lordzoster on January 17, 2010, 04:13:46 AM
I agree with you, I just sold my MT but the lack of a digital in could make the difference sometimes. Moreover, I just find a local reseller selling the 661 at only 50€ more than the DR-100.
But what about the internal mics? That was a bonus that MT lacked in.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-100 vs Marantz PMD661
Post by: capnhook on January 17, 2010, 09:58:48 AM
I agree with you, I just sold my MT but the lack of a digital in could make the difference sometimes. Moreover, I just find a local reseller selling the 661 at only 50€ more than the DR-100.
But what about the internal mics? That was a bonus that MT lacked in.

Yeah, with internal mics, if by chance your full rig gets shut down, the show is not a total loss (we all know what I mean, eh?   ;) )