 |
Well, considering that there was caustic battery stuffing leaked all into the device — hey, s**t happens — it actually went on to function pretty well. I'm guessing this is ca. something around 2002-2005; haven't looked. So, it should function as well as any expensive one would from the 1990's. No need to shoot for an older Sony just because it looks sleeker and blacker, like something Marty McFly would have owned. Marty McFly would know that the styling of the Panasonic RQ-L31 is superior due to its retained inner aesthetics — like the perfectly-square speaker perforations, nearly-squared viewing window, etc. — being balanced by slightly rounded outer edges, tastefully adding ergonomics to the handheld device. The low-profile, two-part microphone adjustment is smart and effective. The device can be held to the speaker's face in LO mode, or sit upon a conference table in HI mode. The sound quality is adequate. With a Type I tape, spoken word is clear and concise. On a Type IV, it's immaculate. The recording head is clean— probably barely used — and, for Type I tapes (at least), it can over-record previous voice recordings, with no discernable artifacts left over. This recorder is perfect for the format, and perfect for personal recording use. There are some caveats. I know not whether this is due to the device having been left with batteries inside it long enough to rupture, or if this is due to the device having sat in new-old-stock for so long that the rubber belts being held oblong have solidified into an elliptical preference, but: The device drags considerably with REW and FFWD. At first, it also needed "help" with playback. Once the rollers had broken-in a bit more, this issue resolved itself. However, REW and FFWD (particularly press-and-hold operation, while the device is still playing/recording), I see the device struggling to advance the tape as expected, despite seeming able to produce enough torque for the job. I attribute this up to the rubber belts, which can easily be replaced with mere O-rings of similar diameter. Let me be clear that the torque issue hasn't shewn itself during recording or playback. Only the hi-speed functions. The VOX — or, "VAS," as Panasonic seems to call it (uhm, why?) — works. IT's pretty quick, too. You don't get as much of that mmmmrrrrwwwwwssssssspeeading-up effect as you might with, say, a RadioShack recorder (although I'm suspicious that the base of this Panasonic recorder has been used in a few RadioShack models; it just seems all-too-familiar, LOL) . Haven't tested the Mic-in jack. Don't really care about it. I suppose it'd be good for ripping music, since it'd be a direct connection instead of the good-old-days of sitting the recorder right next tot he Hi-Fi speaker. I'll save the jack for if/when the built-in Mic pops. Pressing STOP while the recorder is inactive will display the battery level. The battery indicator lights are bright as heck, and I was pleasantly surprised. Be careful witht he PAUSE function— it seems to simply cut power to the system while holding the buttons in place. This could leade you to believe the device has stopped working altogether— it hasn't. The PAUSE button is actually a slider on the front fascia (an excellect decision), so keep that in mind. Don't go crazy, swapping-out batteries, tearing your hair out — like I did. I bought some crappy Panasonic headphones to pair with this device. They're matching silver. Panasonic's continuity is top-notch, and the silver of this 2005 tape recorder is the same exact silver they're using in cheap headphones today. That's a sign of quality, that kind of design continuity. On the earphone-out jack itself, I'm pleased with both the power and quality. When recording whilst having headphones plugged-in, they become monitors. You hear wha tthe MIC is picking-up. What an excellent addition! 3x slowed recording — similar to SLP for VHS — is surprisingly effective and suffers little recording quality, (as long as we're talking about voice memos). If you're using a Type I tape, recording your own voice for notes, etc., and need to turn 45 minutes of tape into 135 minutes, you're golden with this device. On the format itself, you're going to be entering a world in which demand exists for supplies and items that are no longer manufactured. It's comparable to being into typewriters. Fortunately, both typewriters and audio cassettes were produced by the sheer hundreds of millions. If you're comfortable with spending $15 on a single cassette, or perhaps $50-80 on eight or ten cassettes, they'll last you a lifetime. They're fantastic for both quality and archiving, and you can use them without ever touching a computer. The only problem with Type IV tapes, to give you a ehads up, is that they have to be ERASED. This'll require you to buy... somethign that can erase Type IV tapes. As for Type I tapes, this very samer ecorder is capable of erasing them itself during recording. I recommend. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Amazing number of features. Records, more than one speed, different sensitivity for recording, monitor recording, VAS, battery life indicator, can use power or battery, earphone and mic jack. Good sound for cassette. Only disappointment was that package states power jack included but is not.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
nice unit, easy to use and no computer to play back voice
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Recorder has a clicking noise while recording and playing
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Works fine.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Dictaphones & Voice Recorders
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Dictaphones & Voice Recorders
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
