looking for a good recorder

[dimm0k]

I'm currently borrowing my friend's Sony MZ-R90 minidisc, but I would like something that I can call my own so I'm looking for a replacement.  The only purpose of the replacement would be to record and nothing else... my budget is about 150-200USD.

Not sure if it will make a difference price/selection wise, but my mom is currently in Hong Kong for a few days...

Anyone have any recommendations?

[knoxmallette]

Find a used iRiver and rock-box it. If you have any questions there is a FAQ on top of the board. Should be in your price range and with Rockbox you will be pleased- I'm sure.

[Arni99]

Find a used iRiver and rock-box it.

look out for iriver H120 or H140 (same as iHP-120 or iHP-140).
H120 = 20GB harddisk
H140 = 40GB harddisk

[willndmb]

you can get used iRivers, JB3, and some times MT for that price
what other gear do you use?
the iRiver and JB3 have optical in, the MT has coax, 1/4
and all 3 have 1/8
the MT you need a memory card for the others have hd in them

[tms]

A used Nomad Jukebox3 (JB3) is actually below that price range.  Or go with another minidisc player/recorder.  Or the iRiver.  That might be about it for less than $200 unless people start unloading their MicroTracker to buy the MicroTracker2 (?)

[dimm0k]

Actually I was thinking of going with a minidisc player/recorder... any ideas if it would actually be cheaper in Hong Kong versus US?

[attheshow]

I'm not sure about price/selection in HK vs US, but if you go minidisc, try to get a HiMD unit. These will record in PCM (uncompressed) audio to 1 gigabyte HiMD discs 94 Minutes per disc. If you decide to go with Atrack Compression you can get 7-8 hours on a 1G HiMD. You may want to search the forums at minidisc.org as well... great community!

[tms]

Actually I was thinking of going with a minidisc player/recorder... any ideas if it would actually be cheaper in Hong Kong versus US?

The local Guitar Center here in Buffalo (might actually be Tonawanda) has their last three for less than half price.  $125 for the MZ-M10 (model?) and $150 for the MZ-M100 (model?), closing them out. These went for $300 and $400 originally.  Maybe they'd ship one to you?

[china_rider]

It may just be me... But if you can find something in your range that is not MD I would go for it.  I have never used one... But several tapers in the area have them and I watch them scramble to change disks and it always looks like a total pain + they often end up missing parts of a show because of it.  Depending on what music you tape there are alot of acts that won't give you a chance to change disks... For example almost any Delta Nove show.

[tms]

Could prove to be a down side for sure.  Much nicer to have a big hard drive as long as you can get your files off there onto a pc.  But people taped with cassettes and dat tapes and managed.  And doesn't the Edirol R1 require you to save and restart before 2gb?  That must take several seconds.  Or swapping CF cards means shutting the R1 down, swapping cards and restarting.   That must take even longer.

All have pros and cons for sure and it depends on what's impotant to you.  For me I've come to realize I like standard batteries and long unattended recording ability so the hi-md is out.

fwiw I always felt a connection to all the tapers before me while scrambling to swap md discs! 

It may just be me... But if you can find something in your range that is not MD I would go for it.  I have never used one... But several tapers in the area have them and I watch them scramble to change disks and it always looks like a total pain + they often end up missing parts of a show because of it.  Depending on what music you tape there are alot of acts that won't give you a chance to change disks... For example almost any Delta Nove show.