Topic: PMD660 vs. FR-2LE

[Mike D (VT)]

Please chime in w/ likes/ dislikes of each unit. I've narrowed it down to these two, (if another should be considered, which one, and why) and I'm leaning towards the Marantz (maybe the old school taper in me), but maybe folks here that have actual experience can help me pull the trigger.
They will be use w/ AKG C1000s directly in. (more thoughts?)
I'm a casual taper of 15+ years who doesn't need audiophile level gear, but still strives for quality gear and quality tapes.
Thanks in advance!
    -Mike D (VT)

[Javier Cinakowski]

The fostex sounds great stock, the marantz does not. 

If you are getting them modded than it is a tough call....
The 660 is slightly smaller and less goofy than the fostex.  The fostex has more versitle battery options and the biggie is 24bit....
If you are only interested in recording 16bit, I would go with the marantz.  The marantz adc is really nice.  It can't do 24bit, but my bet is it does 16bit better.

[Mike D (VT)]

I would upgrade either one w/ a Busman or Oade mod.
   -Mike D (VT)

[Mike D (VT)]

Oh, and as far as 16bit or 24 bit- 16bit is very good (relatively speaking), but 24bit takes up twice the hard drive space (right?), which is where the masters will be stored. For this reason I'd choose 16bit.
   -Mike D (VT)

[Will_S]

Oh, and as far as 16bit or 24 bit- 16bit is very good (relatively speaking), but 24bit takes up twice the hard drive space (right?)

No.  1.5x as much.  (assuming you use the same sample rate)

[spcyrfc]

having owned both, i'd say fr2le hands down.  24bit is great.  hard drive space is negligible at this point unless  you are pulling an absurd amount of GB's.  Fostex also can record in 16 bit.  the trim pots on the fr2le are very nice.  It is able to handle a much wider range of sound levels...

good luck