055 Podcast Answer Man – Marantz PMD620 Review
April 1, 2008 by Cliff Ravenscraft
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In this episode, I review the Marantz PMD620 Professional Portable Digital Recorder. I also give a bit of an update regarding my feelings on the Zoom H2 Recorder. I also compare both the Marantz and the Zoom recorders to the Edirol R-09. Folks may be shocked to learn that if I had to replace my Edirol, there is a good chance that I might do so with the PMD620.
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This recorder has a problem with the firmware update. Certain types of SD memory it simply does not like, these including Transcend and Kingston. Any file over several minutes in length (aren’t they all) will not play on your PC until you go back and try to play the file on the recorder itself first. When you do this, a small window comes saying ‘restore’ only then the file will play on your PC (Most of the time). Tech support was of no help. Only recommended we don’t use these brands.
They also say they have not heard of the problem before. However, if the problem is not known, then how does the recorder know to ‘restore’ the file when you try to play it? This ‘restore’ function MUST be written into the latest firmware update to happen. Naughty, naughty, being deceptive to the customer…
I am not discouraging anyone from getting this, it’s just that if a problem exists, (and it’s known by the manufacturer) they have to correct it, or advise to not purchase some types of memory before you make your purchase. Get Sandisk only for this…
Some technical information:
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.arts.movies.production.sound/2008-03/msg00862.html
RR
Robert, thanks for the feedback. I’ve sold quite a few of these recorders and so far, I’ve not had any of my podcast consultant clients or my average equipment order customers complain of any such issue.
I’m not saying that no such problem exists. Is it possible that this is occurring with high capacity sd cards? I’ve noticed a few slight issues with those types of cards in many different devices.
Overall, the Marantz PMD 620 is a great unit. However, since the Edirol R-09HR came out, I can not imagine recommending anything but the Edirol in this price range. It is simply amazing!
The latest firmware (as of Dec 2008) is v2.27 which I received from Marantz with a short update guide.
There is no latency, the auto level control (ALC) works great, the data formats are all correct (as far as I can tell from use in Adobe Audition, Windows media player, Winamp, and various other wav, mp3 players and editing programs.
The noise floor on this unit is very very good and the recording quality is pristine.
I have made several recordings of just me and my Taylor guitar. The recordings were so convincing that my wife thought I was playing when I was I was simply playing back the music on my home system.
The battery life claims of 4 hours are grossly conservative. I use 2200mAhr NiMH rechargeables (that are a year old btw). I get 6 hours from these batteries. I have 2600mAhr AA’s on route. I suspect that one could get as much as 7 hours of recording on a good set of NiMH rechargeables …. that should put a smile on your face.
I have recorded using both the external mic and my PA system line out with everything from the previously mentioned acoustic setting, to my entire band blaring at club levels. Everything came out sounding fantastic.
Marantz support was great and responded to my request for a firmware update in a polite and quick manner. With my update Marantz stated the following:
“Please note, we strongly recommend using Lexar and SanDisk SD and SDHC
cards with the PMD620″
I have a 4Gb SanDisk SDHC headed my way from NewEgg. We will see how it goes
The ability to mount the unit on a tripod (my camera tripod) is perfect. Other recorders require an additional purchase for this.
I researched alot before making this purchase. I compared the Marantz to the Edriol 09HR, The M-Audio Microtrack II, and the Sony PCM-D50.
The Edriol had lower audio quality to my ears, and persistent quality issues with the phone jack breaking.
The M-Audio’s use of a proprietary battery that must be sent back to the manufacturer to be replaced (think iPod esque) removed it from the running despite its good recording quality.
The Sony simply got disqualified because of price. If money were not of any concern, it would have won. I would have missed the MP3 and mono capabilities of the Marantz anyway.
In this price category, it is the best unit presently being made IMHO.
Thanks so much for the update on the Marantz PMD620. I work with many of my clients who ended up purchasing this unit from me. All of them are still very happy with the unit.
I’d like to just touch base on two of your comments.
1) Headphones jack on the Edirol. I use the Edirol recorder every single day. In fact, I have one that goes with me everywhere I go and one in the studio at all times. I have both the original R-09 and the R-09HR…. Both of these recorders work just as great today as the day I bought them. No problems here with the headphones jack and I’ve sold 8x as many Edirols as I have PMD 620’s and no clients have had issues either.
2) The sound quality. I’m very big into the sound of audio. At best, I’d say they sound almost equal.
Other notes…
Don’t forget that the Zoom H2 also has a built in Tripod connector.
With all that said.. I don’t regret selling the Marantz PMD 620 to any of my clients and, in fact, I still have it for sale. However for reasons covered in a number of various episodes, I VERY STRONGLY SUGGEST either the Edirol R-09HR for those who can fit that into their budget and the Zoom H2 for those who can’t.
Hi,
I see your post in google group about the pmd620.
I can’t find the update firmware for my PMD620 and marantz doens’t answer me (nor from USA, nor from France).
Could you please mail me (and maybe other people) the update, eventually the ‘how to’ and if you have, the old firmware if you have it and if it allow to recover the first version if any problem.
Do you think now it is a good idea to update ?
Thank you form Marseille, France, Europe
Gilles FOA
gilles@foa.fr
I personally do not ever update firmware unless I’m experiencing a problem that it says that it will solve.
However, the most recent firmware update can be found on the Marantz site. Here’s a direct link to the PMD620 site
http://www.d-mpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=4313
Cliff