Used Marantz PMD661 Handheld SD Recorder

2016-02-16T13:35:50

The PMD661 is well suited for voice recording, not so much the Philharmonic Orchestra or a Rollings Stones concert. For oral histories, 2 Shure MX series Supercardiod boundary mics work great with the 661. Unobtrusive, forgiving pickup pattern, yields very usable recording. Conferences/meetings with mics and mixers, Line in from mixer output makes for a pro recording. Unmic'd Boardrooms? The PMD661 with two Shure MX393/0's is perfect for a half dozen participants. Larger conference table and more people? Set up Shure auto mixer(s) with Shure MX393/C or 0 pickup patterns and record direct from the mixer. The PMD661 is a professional recorder which delivers professional results. If you can't get a decent recording in the above venues with a PMD661, a Sound Devices 702 won't improve your recordings. Our fussiest clients are impressed with the recording quality of Marantz PMD 661's. I believe you will as well.

Richard A.

2012-06-17T21:00:00

I am a professional musician and recording studio pro as well. I was looking for a compact recorder with very good sound quality for daily practice because I don't want to use my high end Schoeps mics, GML mic pre and computer set up, or my beloved Sound Devices 702 for such daily application. First, the size of it isn't very compact which I could live with. Then the make quality of it is just poor, the plastic buttons are not well designed and weak as well as the level control is like from a cheap toy. And I hate the fact that after the recording, I have to go through pressing the exit button, the folder button and enter button (3 steps) just to replay the recording track I just made. In the other word there is not dedicated play button! I Usually I trust Japanese product as they deliver solid quality such as my Canon L lenses. None of the above bothers me as much as its sound quality. I first tested it on my Schoeps, boy the preamps of this Marantz are just nowhere near what they called it "professional", then I connected it with my mic preamps and it did not deliver good result by missing detail and adding artificial mid range. My violin sounded like a viola (maybe this one is because of me :), but I didn't hear that through my Sound Devices 702). As I mentioned before my purpose for a compact recorder is for frequant daily practice and its mobility, my decision on it mainly depends on the onboard mics. They are just a joke! Not even as good as my iPhone's mic. First I thought maybe because its poor headphone output, but I played the files on my Mac computer with a pro sound card and they still sounded flat missing lots of detail. It's so bad that I thought I got a defective machine. So I went to a New York City retail store to hear it, finding out they sounded the same. Should have heard it before I ordered mine. I gave this piece of equipment a fair 2 weeks of trial and several hours of recording and listening and then returned it. I ended up getting a Sony PDM-D50 which is cheaper, smaller, much better designed, and most importantly better built-in mics.

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