Topic: Marantz PMD 661 or Fostex FR2-LE, any suggestions?

[tapermatt]

I'm wanting to get a new all in one deck and just can't decide on these two.  I have 2 Behringer Shark DSP 110's that I can run delay to my now BM2P UA-5 so I can do a matrix on the fly and would still like to be able to have that option with a new deck, and I know the 661  has a spdif in but not 100% sure about the FR2-LE. I've thought about the R44 but since I allready have the Sharks and the modded UA-5 I didn't think the extra $200 was worth it for the R44 especially since I don't pull that many matrix mixes to begin with. Any comments or help would much appreciated

[willndmb]

the fr2le does not have digi in
you could prob sell the ua5 and sharks, get a r44 and have a little cash left over

[dointhatrag]

I own a Fostex FR2-LE (oade sup mod)

It doesnt have digi in, it's not seem less.

but for the price its the cleanest line- in/ad bit bucket I have ever heard.

I like the line in signal path better than the one in my SD722.

I have never tried the mic pre's though.

if you looking for a line-in bit bucket, I cant recommend it (w/ sup mod) enough..

[JasonSobel]

I own a Fostex FRE-LE2 (oade sup mod)

It doesnt have digi in, it's not seem less.

but for the price its the cleanest line- in/ad bit bucket I have ever heard.

I like the line in signal path better than the one in my SD722.

I have never tried the mic pre's though.

if you looking for a line-in bit bucket, I cant recommend it (w/ sup mod) enough..

just to clarify, the FR2-LE is not a "bit-bucket"  Although it's not a formal term, a "bit-bucket" is generally just a recorder that takes a digital S/PDIF input and records the signal.

anyway, I'm probably close to buying a PMD-661, and I've considered the FR2-LE as well.  The 661 is a newer recording deck, so there's far fewer people to date who have experience using one relative to the FR2-LE.  That said, I would expect the two decks to sound similar, because they both use the same preamp chips (according to Doug Oade, who has looked at the insides of both).  Not to say that they will sound the same, but similar.

[dointhatrag]

you might wanna check the block diagram on the 661 to see if it resamples on the digi in.
I cannot use recorders that resample cause then I can't sync my files up from the 722 in post correctly, thats why when I needed a lower cost unit I went with one that is Line in with a top rated a/d.

[datbrad]

you might wanna check the block diagram on the 661 to see if it resamples on the digi in.
I cannot use recorders that resample cause then I can't sync my files up from the 722 in post correctly, thats why when I needed a lower cost unit I went with one that is Line in with a top rated a/d.

It was already confirmed by D&M Pro that the 661, like the 670 and 671, are bit accurate and lock on the clock supplying the digital signal. FYI.....