Sony is updating its line of professional-quality portable audio recorders with two new models, the $230 PCM-A10, which is basically a souped-up voice recorder that you could use for recording music or podcasts on the go, and the $500 Sony PCM-D10 which is Sony’s most affordable professional handheld audio recorder in years… as well as Sony’s first with XLR jacks and Bluetooth support.
No, this isn’t normally the sort of gear I write about at Liliputing, but for years I used Sony’s PCM-D50 handheld recorder for radio and podcasting work. Unfortunately it was discontinued years ago. So when some of the buttons on my unit stopped working, I eventually switched to a different recorder rather than buy an even-more-expensive Sony PCM-D100.
So I’m pretty excited to see Sony’s not only back in the game, but that the new model has a bunch of new (for Sony) features.
Sony’s handheld recorders typically offer excellent build quality, high-resolution audio recording with a low noise floor, and a decent headphone amplifier.
It looks like the new model is no exception. It can record at up to 192 kHz/24-bit, has a MAX9723 headphone amp and a physical dial for adjusting recording levels on the fly. The PCM-D10 also has one of my favorite features from earlier Sony recorders: a digital limiter function which records a second track 12db lower than your primary recording and automatically switches to that if the audio input is too loud and then slowly transitions back to the primary track.
While previous Sony recorders had excellent built-in microphones, they only had a single 3.5mm input for an external mic. The new model has dual XLR-TRS jacks, which means you can plug in microphones or other audio sources using XLR or quarter inch cables. The PCM-D10 can also supply 48V phantom power to microphones that use it.
There’s also a 3.5mm mini jack if you want to use it, and the built-in stereo mics are adjustable so they can point inward, outward, or forward.
The new recorder is also the first with a USB Type-C port which you can use to transfer data to a computer or connect an external battery pack (or wall jack). The recorder can also run on four AA batteries.
The Sony PCM-D10 has 16GB of built-in storage and an SD card reader for removable storage.
Measuring 7.8″ x 3.2″ x 1.5″, the PCM-D10 is a little larger than my old PCM-D50 (which measures about 6.1″ x 2.9″ x 1.3″), but if it sounds half as good, the addition of XLR inputs, phantom power, Bluetooth, USB-C, and an SD card reader probably make it well worth the price. I’ve had my eye on the Zoom F4, Tascam DR-100MKIII, and Sound Devices MixPre-3 for my next recorder. But now I’m tempted to pick up a new Sony recorder when it hits the streets instead.
Sony says the PCM-D10 should be available this spring for $500, while the cheaper (and less exciting) PCM-A10 is already available for $230.
How do the headphone amps compare between the D100 and D10? Specs on the D10 state an integrated analog amp. I can’t find specifics on the headphone amp for D100.
How about the built in microphones? The D10 capsules appear to be different from D100 and on a NAMM announcement video on YouTube, the rep touts that they are hi-res with frequency response up to 40kHz whereas the built in mics on the D100 are rated only to 20kHz (https://pro.sony/ue_US/products/portable-digital-recorders/pcm-d100).
Thanks in advance
I still have an Olympus VN-3200PC. It still works for me because I know how to push it’s worn buttons. Someone else could stuggle.
.wma format is an inconvenience.
Good report. Great synopsis. Thanks.
(Do you know about Slant? Platform for tech reviews…?)
Most of the devices on your short list have audio limiters in the digital domain. And also safety options of a “backup” track recording at -12db.
These Sonys have the interesting feature of using that -12db track as a sort of limiter, auto-switching it. (“High S/N” mode)
I’m pretty sure the Sound Devices MixPre series are the only ones with limiters and low cut filters located within the analog pre amp section, accomplishing those functions more cleanly before the A-to-D converter.
> No, this isn’t normally the sort of gear I write about at Liliputing…
I actually like to see write-ups that you consider appropriate because something about the tech really stands out.
I remember when you wrote about… (searching… searching… found it!) “Razer’s $3699 Blade Pro gaming laptop is basically a tower PC in a portable body”. I thought the overall package was amazing from keyboard design to overall specs.
Re: The Sony recorders… don’t often come across this kind of tech (since I don’t follow it) but the write-up was educational.
Thanks. Sony’s previous recorders were top notch in terms of quality, but had weird quirks, like using only 3.5mm inputs. My old model also used the defunct Memory Stick standard for removable storage. This new model is pretty exciting… Although it still might make more sense for me to invest in a device with more than two XLR inputs for my next recorder.