Topic: Marantz PMD 660 vs. Fostex FR2-LE

[Corbin]

I'm having a very difficult time deciding between these two recorders..I've read and reread the 4 or 5 threads on these two boxes and I still can't decide..

I am not too concerned about 24 vs. 16 bit because I won't be seeding or listening to the tunes in 24 bit. That makes my decision even harder.  This is my first rig and I'm planning on running C-4s in front of it.  I'll be open taping at festivals and trying to archive for Grand Theft Bus in bars and smaller venues.

Both are more or less the same size and price..I'm assuming that the FR2-LE will be available with Oade mods as well..I've heard some good pulls with the 660 (Zero, Ratdog, d/loading Aberg's Mule show right now) but I don't want to buy it only to find out that the FR2-LE becomes a better all-in-one box with Oade mods.

Can anyone help me out and weigh in on which box they think will be better?

Thanks,
Adam

[spyder9]

Won't know until the Fostex is available for sale.  Expect shipment on the LE to begin sometime in September.

[aberg]

I'm having a very difficult time deciding between these two recorders..I've read and reread the 4 or 5 threads on these two boxes and I still can't decide..

I am not too concerned about 24 vs. 16 bit because I won't be seeding or listening to the tunes in 24 bit. That makes my decision even harder.  This is my first rig and I'm planning on running C-4s in front of it.  I'll be open taping at festivals and trying to archive for Grand Theft Bus in bars and smaller venues.

Both are more or less the same size and price..I'm assuming that the FR2-LE will be available with Oade mods as well..I've heard some good pulls with the 660 (Zero, Ratdog, d/loading Aberg's Mule show right now) but I don't want to buy it only to find out that the FR2-LE becomes a better all-in-one box with Oade mods.

Can anyone help me out and weigh in on which box they think will be better?

Thanks,
Adam

Archiving for GTB, atta be! I haven't seen them in a long time.. it's been a while since they've toured Ontario, but that's great. Can't wait to see more east coast tapes surfacing. Where are you from, Adam?

And yah, finish downloading my mule 660 recording... that might influence your decision a little. 

[Corbin]

I'm from Moncton/Fredericton but right now I'm living in Korea teaching English..I'm trying to buy my rig now while I have the cash and have it all ready for when I return in March '07 ..so unfortunately no east coast 660 shows  for a little while..but I am planning on taping all GTB's spring and summer 07 shows.

What part of Ontario are you from and how is your 660 working?  Any battery problems or cell phone bullshit?

[Corbin]

Is it safe to assume that Oade will be doing mods on the FR2-LE?

[aberg]

I'm from Moncton/Fredericton but right now I'm living in Korea teaching English..I'm trying to buy my rig now while I have the cash and have it all ready for when I return in March '07 ..so unfortunately no east coast 660 shows  for a little while..but I am planning on taping all GTB's spring and summer 07 shows.

What part of Ontario are you from and how is your 660 working?  Any battery problems or cell phone bullshit?

I'm in Kitchener-Waterloo now, but grew up in Ottawa and went to school at Queen's in Kingston. Many of the GTB shows (lots on the archive) between 2002-2005 in Ottawa and Kingston I taped.

I've only used my 660 once, and borrowed Dan's once, and both times, no battery issues or cell phone bullshit whatsoever.

[Jammin72]

Is it safe to assume that Oade will be doing mods on the FR2-LE?

It's really going to depend on the board design and the components that they are using.

The Marantz models gave him the space that he needed and they left room for significant improvements because of some of the compnonet choices. 


I can tell you that it won't happen very quickly!  He's got enought work to do with the boxes already available!

I know that the FR-2 was a royal pain in the ass and that is part of the reason that the Marantz Boxes became the mod box of choice for hime (aside from Price Point).

[agave]

Is it safe to assume that Oade will be doing mods on the FR2-LE?

It's really going to depend on the board design and the components that they are using.

The Marantz models gave him the space that he needed and they left room for significant improvements because of some of the compnonet choices. 


I can tell you that it won't happen very quickly!  He's got enought work to do with the boxes already available!

I know that the FR-2 was a royal pain in the ass and that is part of the reason that the Marantz Boxes became the mod box of choice for hime (aside from Price Point).

   i like the way the 660 of mine is set up with the mics input at one end of the deck & the level lights/flash card access  at the other end it makes for a good stealth rig as you can let it ride on the strap under yer armpit inside of a vest or a coat with the mic cables that run straight down your body  and the level meters up soo they can be easily watched but still be  covered up from prying eyes   Mike

[Corbin]

Aberg,

How long did it take from the time you ordered your 660 to the time you received it in the mail?

And do you have any old GTB recordings that you didn't release on archive or etree? just wondering..

[Jammin72]

I'm having a very difficult time deciding between these two recorders..I've read and reread the 4 or 5 threads on these two boxes and I still can't decide..

I am not too concerned about 24 vs. 16 bit because I won't be seeding or listening to the tunes in 24 bit. That makes my decision even harder.  This is my first rig and I'm planning on running C-4s in front of it.  I'll be open taping at festivals and trying to archive for Grand Theft Bus in bars and smaller venues.

Both are more or less the same size and price..I'm assuming that the FR2-LE will be available with Oade mods as well..I've heard some good pulls with the 660 (Zero, Ratdog, d/loading Aberg's Mule show right now) but I don't want to buy it only to find out that the FR2-LE becomes a better all-in-one box with Oade mods.

Can anyone help me out and weigh in on which box they think will be better?

Thanks,
Adam

I'm from Moncton/Fredericton but right now I'm living in Korea teaching English..I'm trying to buy my rig now while I have the cash and have it all ready for when I return in March '07 ..so unfortunately no east coast 660 shows  for a little while..but I am planning on taping all GTB's spring and summer 07 shows.

adam, since it appears that you don't need the box NOW, I'd wait on the fr2le.  no offense to all of you mod 660 owners, but if doug is able to mod the fostex, it'll make the mod 660 obsolete.  I called doug yesterday to discuss the fr2le and he honestly doesn't know what he'll be able to do to it yet, since he doesn't have one.  only once he's able to open it up and see how much room is inside is when he'll know if he can work his magic on it.  it all depends on how much physical space is actually in the box. 

if I was in your shoes I wouldn't even consider the 660, UNLESS doug can't mod the fr2le.

oh yea, fwiw, doug can't send to, or accept payment from, addressess and credit cards outside of the usa. 
 

It only makes it obsolete if you're convinced that 24bit recording is absolutely necessary ; )    Also you go back to a proprietary battery system.  There will be some advantages to the 660...

[spyder9]

If the batteries are proprietary, I won't buy it.  Been there and done that with the JB3.  AA's rule, IMO!

I don't think the LE will render the 660 irrelevent.  660 is a great sounding little box.  I've run it a bunch of times and have been very impressed with it.  Battery life is the best of any all-in-one box out there.  The only thing the LE offers me is: 24 bit, metering on the side, and trim pots.  That's it.  Its not going to replace my Tascam for open taping.  But I am considering it for my stealth box. 

That being said, this thing might have issues out of the gate, since not one reseller even has a demo or info on the LE.  Moreover, the release date is September (28 days away) and Fostex USA doesn't even have it on its website yet.  Strange.  You'd think they'd want to hype it up well before its release.  Instead, its being treated like a bad movie:  skipping the preview, and sending it straight to DVD.    

[aberg]

Aberg,

How long did it take from the time you ordered your 660 to the time you received it in the mail?

And do you have any old GTB recordings that you didn't release on archive or etree? just wondering..

They only deliver to US addresses and they don't accept CDN credit cards either. I ordered it so that I was in the queue, and then mailed a US money order via XpressPost USA. The unit took 2 weeks to be complete, and then was FedEx'd to my friend in upstate NY. He received it about 3 weeks after I placed the initial call.

As for GTB recordings, everything I've done is up there I believe. There might be one or two I can fish out of my shoebox full of recordings... I'll let you know.

[leshlush]

To those running the 660, how do you like the front-end and ADC on the 660??? My understanding is that the 660 does not have a digital in, is that correct??? Would that limit your opprtunity to upgarde your rig (You would have to sell the 660, you couldn't just throw another box in your chain and use the 660 as a bit-bucket) Or is the front-end and ADC more than you would ever need to upgrade(especially w/ the Oade Mod)

I'm not trying to play devil's advocat or dis the 660, I just had a few honest questions and wanted to know...

What's the price difference right now between the 660 and the 671??? And are both of their front-end's fairly similar??? Does Oade do any of the same mods on the 671??? Doesn't the 671 have a digital input and 24bit ADC???

[leshlush]

Oh yeah, before I forget...

+T Hicks(Corben), for looking at putting a rig together whether it ends up being the Marantz or the Fostex

[spyder9]

To those running the 660, how do you like the front-end and ADC on the 660??? My understanding is that the 660 does not have a digital in, is that correct??? Would that limit your opprtunity to upgarde your rig (You would have to sell the 660, you couldn't just throw another box in your chain and use the 660 as a bit-bucket) Or is the front-end and ADC more than you would ever need to upgrade(especially w/ the Oade Mod)

I'm not trying to play devil's advocat or dis the 660, I just had a few honest questions and wanted to know...

What's the price difference right now between the 660 and the 671??? And are both of their front-end's fairly similar??? Does Oade do any of the same mods on the 671??? Doesn't the 671 have a digital input and 24bit ADC???

1) 660 does not have digi-in.

2) preamp and ADC sounds fantastic after its modded

3) have to run the -20db pad for higher sensitive mics on both 671 and 660.

4)  I use to run UA5 (Busman) > JB3, and I consider the 660 an upgrade as far as 16 bit goes

5) 671 $1200 (modded), 660 $750 (modded)  - I believe.  I'm the 2nd owner of my 660

6) 671 - 24 bit or 16 bit, digi-in, 8 bats,    660 - 16 bit only, no digi-in, 4 bats

6) www. oade.com.  His mods are explained better there

7) Anything else, the "Search" button on this page actually works