Need suggestions new line-in field recorder under $150.

[techspark]

I had a zoom h1 previously. It no longer works and doesn't boot at all.

I had one main issue with the zoom h1 :
It could never take in line-level input from mixer (Rca tape out ports). The signal was always too hot for it and it use to always record distorted audio even though the digital meters showed that the audio was well in the acceptable range.

So i want the new recorder to take line-level input and even work well with hot signal from the mixer board. I do not want to use a attenuator or any other device in between.

I did some research and found tascam dr-2d which has line input and mic input as seperate ports and from the specifictaions it looks like the line input port will be able to deal with hotter signals compared to the mic input.

The dr-2d is about $170, i want to know if there are any other cheaper options avaialble for less which have a dedicated line-level input port.

All replies will be appreciated, thank!

[budwzr]

I recently switched from a Zoom H2 to an iPhone interface device. Check out iRig. Same price as an H1, but you can use any mic. It has a gain wheel you can use to lower the input. It has a dedicated line input. Check the specs though. I don't know what the lowest level is.

It's designed for a musical instrument 1/4 plug, but you can adapt it.

[turk690]

I used Zoom H2 previously and now H2n. Both have 3.5mm line inputs, independent of mic inputs and the internal mics as well. But even with a dedicated line input, the digital attenuator does not actually lower the input level; what is just varied is the input to the recorder, so really hot line levels can distort, even with the recording levels all the way down. Because of this I use an external powered active attenuator that I made myself.
The H2 and H2n makes wonderful recordings; they can rightfully take the place and do more than an 80s high-end cassette deck or even a DAT deck for a good price. I don't let the issue with input attenuation rule my day. I see nothing in Zoom's capabilities that would have corrected this with subsequent f/w and model updates (H2 to H2n) but that they deliberately choose not to subtly means they want to emphasize the use of the built-in mics for recordings, not the line input. After all, their promotion does heavily hinge on the mics; for the H2n, for example one can now make genuine mid-side (M-S) recordings because of how the internal mics are arranged.

[budwzr]

Check out Practical Devices. Their product is billed as a headphone amp, but you can use it as an inline level adjustment too. I personally own and use the XM4, and the amp is very clean.

You won't find any recorder under $150, but this amp is $135 OTD. Don't think of it as an attenuator, think of it as a conversion device to make your line level variable.

Also, this way you don't have to toss your H1.