Zoom H2

Price: $179

Good:

• least expensive of all recorders to date
• offers recording with several mic options (90 and 120 degree X/Y, 4 channel surround)
• very small, lightweight
• decent quality audio
• records to common SD cards
• can double as a USB audio interface for direct recording to your computer
• comes with lots of accessories - AC adapter, windscreen, handheld mic mount, tabletop stand, cables, ear buds, memory card

Bad:

• none really, a great value
• maybe not as high quality audio as recorders twice the price...
• See the review below for detailed information...

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/09/13/review-zoom-h2-surround-recorder.html

Tascam DR-1

• Retails for $299
• Rechargeable, yet removable lithium-ion batter
• overdubbing capabilities -- good for adding narration to existing recordings
• tuner and vocal cancel features
• moveable microphones

Check here for more specs.

Zoom H4

$299 retail

Good:

• Provides phantom power to external microphones
• XLR mic inputs
• built in microphone
• multitrack capabilities

Bad:

• larger size than the others, feels fat
• the buttons feel cheap and plasticy

• coming soon

M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 II

Price: $199

Good:

• 2nd generation product
• Phantom powered mic inputs (requires XLR to balance 1/4" adapter or cables)
• Digital and analog inputs

Can be good or bad:

• internal rechargeable battery -- good because it lasts long, bad because it's not easily or quickly replaceable, expensive to replace too.

Bad:

• has mic that plugs in which is not built into the body of the unit. This makes it easy to lose and easy to break
• records to CompactFlash (older, larger, becoming less-common media)

Purchase the Microtrack II from Sweetwater call Mark Madgich at

Edirol R-9

Price: $399

Good:

• Slim, compact design
• built in mics
• high quality recordings

Bad:

• No USB audio interface function, only USB transfer
• expensive for the number of features

Marantz PMD-620

$399 retail

Good:

• editing features onboard

Bad:

• expensive for the features included

Korg MR-1

Price: $699

Good:

• Features 1 bit recording, which will be the next standard in recording technology -- VERY high quality recording.

Bad:

• 1 bit recordings require special software to convert audio files to standard 16 bit files
• expensive

coming soon

Sony PCM-D1

Price: about $1800

Good:

• nearly 30kHz frequency response
• professional quality
• titanium enclosure for strength
• nice LCD display with comprehensive recorder status indication and menu selection
• Four AA nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries and charger (supplied) Battery life at 96kHz approximately 4.0 hours with rechargeable AA batteries
• 4 GB built in memory, expandable with Sony Memory Sticks

Bad:
• EXPENSIVE
• WAV recording file format capability (no MP3 recording)
• Weight 18.5 ounces (with batteries) -- pretty heavy