Topic: new marantz PMD 661

[gswaim]

I've been watching the Marantz site (http://www.d-mpro.com) for more information on the PMD-661 but I haven't been able to access the site for days. I can't imagine a company like Marantz going days with a site down.

Crazy, is this intermittent? Otherwise it's been down for a week now! Christmas break?

Sunjan,

They have been up since then, but I often find their site randomly down. Maybe they will make enough money off the PMD661 that they can get a reliable web server and/or a sharper webmaster... 

[aaronji]

Here is at least a hint as to how this thing sounds (plus a few comments on build quality and potential mods):

It does not sound as good as the Fostex FR2LE, it sounds like a PMD 660. No surprise as they designed it in much the same way but with 3 gain settings. Build quality is good, what one would expect from a Japan based factory. It will be sometime early next year before I work out any MODs. Too many new designs have problems and once I modify it I am responsible for the warranty. I have learned to be patient ! I think I will be able to get it  to sound very good as there is plenty of room to work with. I will start working out MODs in January and hope to start shipping them late February or early March.

He also said that, with respect to the A/D, he "did look at chip numbers but did not ID anything as an A/D so I am assuming it is a new design."

[printguy]

I've been watching the Marantz site (http://www.d-mpro.com) for more information on the PMD-661 but I haven't been able to access the site for days. I can't imagine a company like Marantz going days with a site down.

Crazy, is this intermittent? Otherwise it's been down for a week now! Christmas break?

Sunjan,

They have been up since then, but I often find their site randomly down. Maybe they will make enough money off the PMD661 that they can get a reliable web server and/or a sharper webmaster... 

Try changing DNS - when I use the DNS supplied by my ISP it's down; when I change to OpenDNS (http://www.opendns.com/) it works.

[gswaim]

According to Sweetwater and BSW this puppy is shipping. Anybody got their hands on one yet? I am ready to "pull the trigger" on this recorder but would love to hear some feedback first.

[flintstone]

B&H Photo Video shows the PMD661 is "in stock" this evening.
The price in USA is $600.

Flintstone

[tilomagnet]

I bet this will be 600 Euro when it's available in Europe. 

[Eigenklang]

I bet this will be 600 Euro when it's available in Europe. 

Yep. For example, I paid 588 Euro for my D50. Where is the deflation they all promised? 

[darktrain]

549.00 with a free 8bg sd card and free shipping on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370142544006&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:us

[Ozpeter]

First sighting in the wild??

"I received a PMD661 this morning.  It's a handsome, businesslike box......   I'll report on preamp performance tomorrow."

That's on the Naturerecordists discussion group - where their interests are different from most here, but low noise performance is of particular interest to them.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

[Ozpeter]

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists/message/35895

"Conclusion:

The Marantz PMD661 is a well built, flexible device that would be a
good choice as a general purpose recorder in the $600 price range.
Audio preamp performance is very good. The ability to provide mics
with 48V phantom power is most welcome. If you can live with a
battery life of 3 hours, then the PMD661 would be a great choice."

[spcyrfc]

three hours, ouch.
wonder in rechargables would be better, if not exeernal will be a must

[intpseeker]

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists/message/35895

If the menu feature is similar to the 660, the software menus are straight forward and easy to learn. That should not be a deal breaker.

The mods will be the decider for me.

[dennisrtyler]

three hours, ouch.
wonder in rechargables would be better, if not exeernal will be a must

e2 lithiums should yield closer to 5 hrs. i wouldn't worry.

[datbrad]

Folks, I just got this info from a retailer that has been testing these, and I found out the thing I needed to know to make me move, and I am going to go for it soon.

"They will take a very hot signal on the XLR line in so you do not have to worry about overload. It will take more signal than most unbalanced inputs as it is a true pro XLR line in."

This means it's set for the +4 pro line standard, not the -10 consumer line standard.

Right On !!!!!

[gswaim]

And you can set the Mic Attenuation at 0db, -6db, -12db, or -18db.

I now have one of these units but I am not qualified to do a review at the level of this forum would expect.

I podcast with it using a Sennheiser HMD25XQ headset mic which is a lot different than most in this forum would use the unit. This headset is designed for broadcasting from relatively noisy areas and I like this setup because I can lay down a spoken word recording and not worry so much about ambient noise or staying on the mic as I look at papers and my monitor.

The unit sounds good to me and it was fairly easy to learn the controls. I can say that the built is awesome. It does not feel like a toy in your hand. There is no perception that anything of the unit is made of plastic. You can grab both ends and give it a twist and there is no flexing or plastic squeaking sound.

If you have any specific questions about the PMD661 I can try and answer them. Like I said I am not in the position to make expert commentary of the recording quality.

Grant