Konus College 600X Biological Microscope 5302

This Konus microscope is, for the price, a very effective biological microscope capable of being used for basic courses at the college level. The all metal construction makes it a very sturdy piece of equipment, and the moving parts have smooth, uninhibited movement. The microscope focuses very easily and the clarity of the viewing is outstanding. In well lit conditions, there is sufficient light for the scanning (total magnification 60x) and low power lenses (150x), but for the high power lens (600x) an external source of light directed into the mirror is very helpful.

Marantz SA8004 Super Audio CD/CD Player (Black)

• Super Audio CD / CD Player with a front USB(type A) input for music playback with iPod/iPhone digital connection or USB memory
• Rear USB(Type B)/Optical/Coax digital inputs enable D/A converter mode for external music source, Rear inputs support high quality format files USB: up to 96kHz/24bit, Optiacl&Coaxial: up to 192kHz/24bit
• Separate power supply and audio circuit boards, Double-shielded Toroidal power transformer, Discrete Audio circuits with HDAM®-SA2, Audiophile-grade selected components, High performance Cirrus Logic D/A converter CS4398
• Xyron High rigid disc tray, base and precision drive, MP3/WMA playback capability for CD-R and CD-RW discs
• Double layer bottom chassis, Machined chassis-mount analog outputs with zero-impedance copper plate, Copper shielded digital output circuit, Power Standby, Detachable Power Cord, Hand held remote controller

I've been in the "HI FI" industry for 30 years and when my Rega Planet started acting up I replaced it with a Pioneer Elite universal player, which was good, but only lasted 2 years. So when I saw the review in TAS"(The Absolute Sound I kept it in mind, it later won a "Golden Ears" award. This is a great sounding unit. It has the "Slam" of the Pioneer and the Analog sound of the Rega, throw in a USB DAC at this price and how can you lose..... you can't. To say I'm happy with The SA8004 is a under statement. BTW the SA8400 has also won The Absolute Sound 2011 Digital Source of The Year award in the Jan 2012 issue # 219

Buy Marantz SA8004 Super Audio CD/CD Player (Black) Now

I wanted a source that would be the heart of my digital music world, and I was very impressed with this player's predecessor, the SA8003, except that with the older player you could only control your ipod via the player, and as everyone knows, controlling an iAnything with another product is a step backwards in usability.

So I waited for an updated player to be released, and when the SA8004 was announced I first read the online manual to make sure the engineering matched the marketing, then bought this player as soon as it was available.

I've had this CD player for almost a year, and I've been thrilled with it from the start. I connect my iPod, iPhone or iPad to the front USB port, laptop to the rear USB port and desktop to the optical digital in. I typically listen to FLAC files on my computers or Apple Lossless files on my iPod, and I cannot tell a difference at all in the sound from the various inputs. At the very least, the loudness is the same among the inputs. I no longer have to adjust my amp's volume when switching digital inputs on the SA8004.

There are two minor usability issues I have encountered with this player. First, whenever you plug in your Apple device to the front USB port, whatever playlist you were listening to is automatically reset to the first song played. This is annoying for me because playlists are my main way of listening to music, and having a playlist of over 900 randomly played songs reset prematurely means I repeat music more often than I would like. Not a huge problem, and this might be an Apple issue rather than a Marantz issue, but it's there nonetheless.

The other minor annoyance (and this is very minor) is that when you connect the back USB port to a computer, the volume for the player is automatically set to 50%. Again, this might not be a Marantz issue, but it's at least worth mentioning.

That being said, I was surprised at how well the USB connection to a computer works. In the windows world, I don't expect things to just work when you plug them in, but in the case of the SA8004, it did. I didn't have to install anything or even reboot my computer. The speed with which the USB connection is established was also surprising. When I plug in the USB port I'm able to immediately mouse to the volume control and raise it to 100%. It just works, and very quickly.

Other than the two usability issues, this player is flawless. The sound from CDs and SACDs is excellent, this player pulls the digital audio from you Apple device and uses its internal DAC to process the music, the multiple digital inputs make this player very flexible, and the built in headphone out gets you as close to your music as you can reasonably get. It doesn't matter what comes out after this player, the SA8004 will always be good in an absolute sense.

There are many ways to connect your digital music world. Some like to use streaming devices, but those devices are often limited by whatever codecs they happen to support. Some like their CD players to act as mere transports and use an offboard DAC as the core of their system. But why buy a high quality CD player and only use half of it? Instead, why not use the CD player's DAC for other digital sources? That's the idea behind the SA8004, and it forms the heart of a high quality system. The SA8004 takes away the variability of digital sources, and provides a nearly perfect musical experience.

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I purchased Marantz SA8004 as a replacement for Marantz SA8003 since the new model has optical and coaxial inputs and also has a USB input to connect to PC. It also has a headphones output (I use it with Sennheiser HD800, not sure how it works with other headphones). It makes the player almost universal device. I use it in several regimes periodically switching between the modes:

1)As a SACD/CD player. The sound is great (and better than SA8003). The device is absolutely quiet (no any mechanical sound while playing).

2)To play music/DVD movies on a computer. When SA8004 connected to a computer via USB cable, PC installed drivers automatically. By some reason the default settings give no sound when DVD movies are played (using Windows Media Player). However it is can be corrected easily: in the Control Panel->Sound-> SPDIF Interface->Advanced please deselect the "Exclusive Mode" options.

3)As an intermediate device between a (cheap) blu ray player and headphones (blu ray player and SA8004 are connected using an optical cable). My computer monitor accepts HDMI connection to the blu ray player but speakers quality is not very good. The device gives only stereo sound (not multichannel) but is is exactly what is needed for headphones.

4)With a thumb USB drive connected to the front panel. PC always creates a lot of noise while using SA8004 with a USB drive gives much better listening experience.

Finally I sold an expensive headphones amplifier (which was connected to a PC) and use SA8004 as a primary sound device and I am very pleased. Negatives of SA8004 are relatively high price and that it is not universal as a player.

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The audio quality of this unit is clearly better than any other that I have had. It is quiet to the extreme (mechanically). I love listening to it both as an SACD and CD player. It has never failed to play any CD that I have made in .wav or mp3 format. It plays well from the USB ports both front and rear. The audio from a computer when listening to a radio station website seems to be as good as I could expect. The headphone output has its own level control which is a plus. The remote is very well laid out and can be aimed in any, I mean any direction. It instantly starts playing a different track via the remote number buttons. I mean instantly.

The bad news is the display. In largest digits can not be read at any illumination value further away than nine feet. the smaller text not further than three feet. The track numbers get blurred by tiny text objects sitting above the numbers. All the text and numerals are much too small. The largest numbers and letters are six millimeters compared to nine millimeters on my Yamaha receiver and the Yamaha display is much brighter also. The timing digits are very hard to read because the colon looks like a #1. There is NO provision for Album, artist, or song title. I thought my unit was broken, but Marantz confirmed that it was engineered that way. Sorry!

All in all I am glad that I have this SACD player because I like being able to play the SACD layer of my collection. And after all its main purpose is to provide excellent sound and it surely does that. But, for $1000.00 it should have a readable display. I think SACD as a format has run out of gas. The iPod generation rules the market now.

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4.5 Stars!

The DAC in this unit is as good as the reference grade Benchmark DAC1. I have done extensive comparisons between the two with output levels matched and I couldn't tell the difference between the two both on optical/coax. I have tried many other DACs that couldn't touch the Benchmark's performance but this one did. Amazingly resolving and non fatiguing DAC. Benchmark as headphone amp is tiny bit better than the head phone amp on the Marantz. Over all in any case, it is a very very close call between the two. Bottom line is you are getting an excellent SACD/CD player for free for the same price as Benchmark DAC1. Great job Marantz!

The iphone USB performance is pretty good. I read some where that the front USB/IPOD uses its own DAC and not the main DAC based on the Cirrus Logic CS4398. But the performance was very good. YMMV depending on the quality of the source material. With the front ipod connector, you are also getting the itransport feature similar to Wadia 171i Transport.

Ipad wouldn't work with the PC usb port on the back via camera kit. Complains about accessory using too much power. Ipad however works with the usb port on the Peachtree Decco2 sometimes.

I take away 0.5 stars for the slightly slow reading of the TOC of CD/SACD discs. Not too bad but slow compared to the speed king OPPO BDP-83.

I'm yet to see a product that can do some many things so well at such a price. Not chump change but you get a lot for what you pay for it. Highly recommended.

Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black)

My initial impression of the Sony HDR-CX560V wasn't satisfying. Upon opening the factory sealed Sony Handycam box I was met with a small, plastic, piano black camcorder. Funny how it looked so much heftier on websites. Coming from the line of Sony MiniDV camcorders I've shot on for over a decade this lightweight contraption I held in my hands looked & felt more like a toy than a high end Sony Handycam. Perhaps it was a mistake to sell off one of my older MiniDV camcorders in favor of this new flash-based model. Maybe I had let consumer marketing mislead me about the new line of HD camcorders. At least that's what I thought...before using it.

For anyone even somewhat interested in camcorders & video editing software it's inevitable to catch wind of the ongoing battle against flash memory & MiniDV. Since its arrival in 1995 the DV format has proven itself reliable among both novices & professionals in the video scene. Although long rumored to capture video in an uncompressed format, MiniDV is actually compressed using DCT compression. This is a lossy compression algorithm a la MPEG-2 at a bit rate of 35 Mbit/s. That 35 Mbit/s is comprised of about 25 Mbit/s for video, 1.5 Mbit/s for audio and 8.5 Mbit/s for error correction. This still makes for a very powerful master copy which proves very convenient in post production editing. This combined with the dependability of a sixteen year track record makes MiniDV quite the heavyweight.

Taking all this into consideration it's important to note that Sony no longer develops MiniDV Handycam camcorders. Perhaps this subtle hint is an early warning sign for the potential fate of MiniDV technology altogether? Regardless, the argument at this point in time is compression issues with flash-memory camcorders. Are the bitrates as high as MiniDV? How many Mbit/s do they use? Are the AVCHD files as hard to work with in editing as reported? Well, let's take one thing at a time.

Flash-based camcorders have made a quantum leap from where they were just a few short years ago. I think we can all agree DVD & HDD camcorders were a bad idea, fading from the scene almost completely. However flash-memory camcorders have not only stuck around, they've evolved considerably. One doesn't have to look far to witness what is quickly becoming an electronic epidemic. Flash-based camcorders are everywhere & spreading. The technology is in iPods, smartphones, pocket camcorders, racing cams and even key chains. But popularity doesn't always mean better quality. In all honesty it often times just means hype. This is not the case with the Sony HDR-CX560V, however. After getting past the overall plastic feel of the unit I was impressed with it's performance.

No, the Mbit/s on this model aren't as high as MiniDV. As mentioned earlier MiniDV uses a total of 35 Mbit/s 25 of which are dedicated to video. The HDR-CX560V uses a maximum of 28mbps on the 60p setting. After shooting an hour long sunset (see attached video) on this recording level I accumulated an AVCHD file of just under 12GB. For those wondering the MiniDV footage I've used over the years would be anywhere between 10 to 15GBs per hour upon uploading to my computer. As you can see the Sony HDR-CX560V is literally neck & neck with MiniDV footage in terms of megabytes. Quite impressive. Even after the footage was rendered three times & sped up to compensate for time the video still looks decent (as demonstrated in the attached video).

It should be noted, however, AVCHD files recorded at 60p have no real output source other than viewing on a PC. At the current time Blu-Ray & even AVCHD discs themselves don't support the 1080 60p files. What does this mean in plain English? Basically if you're planning on burning a Blu-Ray disc with 60p files you'll have to render them down first. Using Sony Vegas Pro 10 I have no trouble importing these files then rendering them onto Blu-Ray in 60i. I then save the original 60p file to an external hard drive for an optimal master copy. Of course the CX560V gives you the option to shoot in several different modes. These include:

FX Mode: Approx. 24Mbps (1920x1080)

FH Mode: Approx. 17Mbps (1920x1080)

HQ Mode: Approx. 9Mbps 1440x1080)

LP Mode: Approx. 5Mbps (1440x1080)

STD HQ Mode: 9Mbps (720x480)

The Sony HDR-CX560V also gives you the option of shooting in 24p (to replicate film) with a 1920x1080 pixel ratio. I've played with this option a little but don't personally care for it. To me the finished product simply has a slo-mo effect, not really a film-like effect. However, this is a personal preference, others may disagree & enjoy using it. Recording time on internal 64GB memory is as follows:

PS Mode: 5 Hours & 15 Minutes

FX Mode: 6 Hours & 10 Minutes

FH Mode: 8 Hours & 25 Minutes

HQ Mode: 11 Hours & 20 Minutes

LP Mode: 21 Hours & 30 Minutes

STD Mode: 14 Hours & 25 Minutes

Picture quality is very decent. Keep in mind I'm burning to Blu-Ray discs so the picture quality is expected to look good. For what it's worth my final cuts on Blu-Ray look twice as sharp as anything I've shot on standard definition MiniDV & rendered to DVD...but again, this is to be expected. I'm still quite a fan of the HDV files that other HD MiniDV camcorders produce and understand why serious editors wouldn't want to stray from that medium. The AVCHD generated by the CX560V files seem bulky in comparison, not so much in file size but in overall horsepower to run them. I'm running a quad CPU with a dedicated graphics card so it's not so much a problem on my end but is something I wanted fellow consumers to be aware of.

Battery life is decent when using the NP-FV100 battery (sold separately; of course) and is right on par with the estimated life expectancy on the package (roughly 6 to 8 hours depending on how you`re shooting). The unit comes supplied with a NP-FV50 which might give you an hour of recording time if used sparingly. I've found it's more convenient to use this battery as a backup. Shooting primarily on the NP-FV100 & keeping the fully charged FV50 in my bag for those "just in case" moments while on the road. It's always struck me as unfair when companies skimp on their included camcorder batters, but I suppose by now we all now the routine. Getting a new camcorder? Add a battery that actually runs the unit to the list of mandatory accessories.

There has been a lot of praise over the USB transfer system on the HDR-CX560V as opposed to traditional firewire (realtime) uploads. Simply drag & drop the files from your camcorder to your PC without having to play back the entire shoot. Well, that works well in theory, but the only problem is when transferring AVCHD files (especially the ones shot in 60p) it will literally take just as long to transfer on the 2.0 USB system as it would during a playback firewire upload. Case in point, the hour of footage I mentioned earlier took one hour to transfer from the CX560V to my computer.

The most common complaint about this unit is the lack of manual controls that can be used together & the unresponsive touchscreen. Being able to control only one element of exposure at a time might be frustrating to some who like to be at the wheel fulltime. One review mentioned "if you set the shutter speed to 1/60 you loose all other control. It is possible to set the shutter speed and then assign AE shift to the control dial which gives some control, but the camera decides what to do with gain and iris." Something to keep in mind. *see update at bottom

In regards to the touch screen, (which is 3.0') I personally haven't found it any more difficult to use than any other of the Sony touchscreen camcorders I've used in the past. Sometimes it takes one or two extra presses to get a response, could just be me not pressing hard enough the first time though.

The Sony CX560V is capable of taking still pictures of up to 12.3 mega pixels, although it's not a feature I use at all & is designed to be expanded with (I believe) up to 32GB of internal flash card memory. This feature is accessible with both SD cards & Sony Memory Sticks. It also has a GPS feature (which seems unnecessary to me) allowing you to view a map of where certain scenes were filmed on the unit's 3.0' LCD screen.

Equipped with a Sony Wide Angle G-Lens the CX560V has a superb range for capturing true widescreen footage. Finding a lens hood to accommodate it is a different story though. Don't be fooled into purchasing a lens hood advertising compatibility with the CX560V unless you read the reviews thoroughly. A lot of websites will list a 37mm hood as universally compatible with any 37mm lens camcorders. Translation: the lens hood ring will mount to the 37mm lens but because of the wide angle captured by the CX570V the hood will be visible around the edges of the shot.

Shooting in low light settings has often been bothersome for me. The HDR-CX560V has a 1/2.88" (6.2mm) Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS Sensor for just this problem. Videos result in twice as much clarity as I'm used to with my old DCR-HC48 in dim atmospheres. Also if shooting in the dark the unit comes with a night shot infrared system, which means footage will have a green tint but at least it's there if you need it. Of course what Handycam would be complete without the image stabilizer which is also included, on this model, to reduce shaky video.

Overall I'm very pleased with the Sony HDR-CX560V. Converting to Flash from MiniDV was a cautious step for me, but from what I've seen the technology is only trailing by a nose. Although I'm still holding onto my Sony HDR-HC9 for reassurance (or paranoia) the CX560V has really impressed me with what it can accomplish.

Some specs of interest:

Scene Modes:

Auto

Twilight

Twilight Portrait (Photo Mode only)

Sunrise & Sunset

Fireworks

Landscape

Portrait

Spotlight

Beach

Snow

Convenience Features:

Quick On (Powered On By LCD)

Auto Lens Cover

Red Eye Reduction

Cinema Tone (To Deepen Color & Recreate Film-Like Color Tones)

10x Optical Zoom (14x Extended Zoom)

120x Digital Zoom

Wind Noise Reduction

What's included in the box? Here you go:

Rechargeable Battery Pack (NP-FV50)

Component A/V Cable

CD-ROM (with Handycam Application Software)

AC Adaptor

A/V Connecting Cable

Remote Control (RMT-835 with Battery)

Power Cord

USB Connection Support Cable

Operating Guide

*Update: (04/19/2012) It has been mentioned on other websites & consumer reviews that holding down the center button inside the focus ring for two seconds will allow the user to select which manual setting they want to change. For example: hold the center button down for two seconds then select your IRIS value, hold it down for another two seconds and you should see the message "IRIS control set". Press & hold the center button down for an additional two seconds to select whichever other setting you want to set.

I want to start off by saying this is an excellent camcorder. I absolutely love the video and audio quality that is produced. The setup is pretty straight forward but I find myself referring to the manual when I want to do special things like change the scene. It's supposed to do this automatically but I have yet to see my device change its setting from default automatically. The software guys did an excellent job with separating out all of the different functions. You can almost get away without ever using the user manual if you just want to do simple things. I am also very impressed with the Optical steadyshot feature. If you're going to be walking around or recording a live sporting game then this is a must have feature.

A few of the things I didn't like about this camcorder is that sometimes the touch screen can be unresponsive at time. I find myself pushing the same button a few times before the camcorder register it. This is not a major concern but it does happen from time to time. When shooting in very low light situations, I was not impressed with the Back-illuminated "Exmor R" CMOS sensor. Maybe I was expecting to capture footage beyond 8 feet but it works great if your subject is less than 8 feet away. I'm new to the camcorder world so maybe 8 feet is excellent. I don't know.

A word of caution for Mac users, you will be hard pressed using this device. As you know, the CD that comes with this camcorder is not compatible with a Mac. Furthermore, the certain video formats is not compatible with imovie either. You would need another program to convert these files if you want to use/view them in imovie. However, this is such an excellent camcorder that overcoming these drawbacks is well worth the superior video footage you get.

Overall, this is a top notch product. Anyone wanting to record their own events would be happy with this device. Items that I wish were included would be a Mini HDMI cable. Without this cable you will be forced to use the component video for playback on HDTV sets. If recording in 24p is not something you really need, then I would suggest going with the HDR-CX550

Buy Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black) Now

I purchased the Sony HDR-CX560v on March 30th and received it April 1st. When I got it, I started using it immediately to film some home movies of our new child (6 weeks old). I did tons of research on cameras before purchasing and I made the decision between this, the Canon Vixia HF21, and the Panasonic HDC-TM700K.

I wanted the following attributes in a new camera: HD, low lux capabilities, ease of use, shake reduction and large amount of flash memory.

Mostly all of my videos so far have been indoors. Our home tends to be dimly lit in most of the rooms and the camcorder has done exceedingly well in those conditions. Playback on our 56" bigscreen in HD looks brilliant. It captures sound wonderfully and it files the vidoes nicely for playback. The camera is also quite easy to use. I am by no means a professional videographer and I can point and shoot wonderful vidoes with just a push of the "record" button. I also love the built-in USB. It makes is easy to hook up to my computer and transfer the vidoes. Also, I tend to be quite shaky while filming and the vibration reduction in this camera is wonderful.

Some cons of this camcorder are: The screen can be a little touchy to use. I have smaller hands and even I sometimes have to push on the screen icons a few times to get them to "select". Also, I wish this model, like the 550v would have the view finder. The screen can be hard to see in the glare. Also, I would highly recommend purchasing a larger battery. The FV50 does not last an extremely long amount of time. I am averaging about 2.5 hours of HD record time with it and this is considering it is brand spanking new.

Overall, I rate this camera a 4 star. I knocked it a little due to the screen, the view finder and the stock battery. To do over, I will still purchase this camera in spite of those cons.

With your purchase I highly recommend a larger battery, a case, an HDMI Cable with ethernet A-C type (this enables you to easily hook up the camcorder and play it back on your HD devices and is NOT included in the box from the factory) and the sony Shooting Grip (once again, I have small hands and am shaky and it helps out tremendously).

Read Best Reviews of Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black) Here

I got the camcorder 1 week ago.

The video quality is amazing. I played it on my 52" 1080p Sharp and the quality is stunning.

It is an upgrade to me fro 7 year old Sony DV and Flip HD. So I haven't compared it with the latest models from the leading brands.

I have decided to get this one as the wide angle is very important for shooting videos inside the home (which is what I mostly do).

I use Mac and there are some tradeoffs with how Mac handles 1080 60p. With 1080i or 24p iMovie works well. For 1080 60p I use Toast.

Overall the material quality of the camcorder, the LCD screen and the ease of use are superb.

I don't plan on using it for still shots, but one caveat is that you can't do stills with 1080p and you'll need to switch to lower video mode. That wasn't an issue for me.

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This camera and the Sony HDR-CX700V, are basically the same, the difference being the 700 has zebra lines, peaking, rear viewfinder, and maybe something else. I plan to record the 24p to an external recorder, so the rear viewfinder would not be on in that case. Get a viewfinder loupe to see a better image from the screen. To me that offsets the zebra and peaking upgrade.

The camera shoots an excellent image. Low light is fantastic for this class camera, best I have seen, and 24p clinched the deal for me. Best of all, you can shoot at the sun, headlights, streetlights, and not get the amateur star filter look on anything bright, including reflecting windows and chrome on cars. It shoots bright objects better by far then the Canon HF40 line, and Panasonic TM700 series. This camera also shoots a little on the warm color side, not to big of deal for me as I will capture the raw HDMI 8bit 4:2:2 externally, and color correct the rich data later. I do not like AVCHD, it's very bitty, but this is the best camera I have used in it's implementation of the codec. The Panasonic TM900, SD600, and TM700 series are also very good at this as well.

Initially the lack of full manual control outside of changing "exposure", which does not tell you anything about shutter, F stop and gain, is an operational drawback, it's the camera is doing stuff and you can just tell it lighter or darker, with a fixed exposure, but not shutter speed of F stop with fixed exposure.

This is a pricey camera, and the Sony HDR-CX700V is even more. It is to me the best picture, even with its exposure manual madness, I have seen in a compact form camera yet. Picture quality 5, manual operation 3, so 4 stars. If Auto is your style, I can recommend it as the best I have used. I also recommend using the "P" progressive modes, it's why it's top dollar, otherwise buy something much cheaper.

COBRA DIGITAL DVC960 1-Touch Video Camera

Got 2 from staples. Very good for this price. It is easy to use, easy to replace battery and SD card and small size. AVI format is good for almost every PC without any other code-decode media player, you can watch directly. Anyway, it is good for a "dummy" user with such price.

At Walgreens online, I purchased what is a different 'brand' called "Living Solutions" that appears exactly the same as the Cobra Digital Camera.

I got it on sale at Walgreens for even less, but for an inexpensive video camera, it is a good deal (at $49).

Pro: LOW COST

SO SIMPLE A CHILD COULD USE IT

DECENT QUALITY IMAGES

TOOK A 4GB MEMORY CARD AND WORKS FOR 1 AND A HALF HOURS OR MORE IN AVI FORMAT

HAS A DECENT SIZE SCREEN AND SPEAKER FOR IMMEDIATE VIEWING

Con: VERY CHEAP PRODUCT DON'T EXPECT QUALITY/DURABILITY (but it's ok).

AA BATTERIES RUN OUT FAST AND THERE IS NO WAY TO POWER IT VIA CHARGING CORD.

ZERO FOCUS/ZOOM/QUALITY OR ANY OTHER OPTIONS. IT'S RECORD AND STOP RECORD. THAT'S IT.

HAS A DECENT SIZE SCREEN WHICH DOES DRAIN THE BATTERIES FAST WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RECORD W/SCREEN OFF.

It may not be the exact same product under a different 'brand' but I can not see any difference and it works as a very very simple (basic to the extreme) camcorder that takes decent sound videos.

Buy COBRA DIGITAL DVC960 1-Touch Video Camera Now

Very easy to use compact nice sound Ok video great to have on hand but can easily be turned on by accident needs a different power button just a suggestion thanks Daryl

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Nokia 2610 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black)

This is a great, simple phone for those who just want a phone for making and receiving calls and text messages. Reception is quite good and battery life is great -I go days and days and days between recharges. However, the plastic cover over the display is tinted and mirrored so that it is virtually impossible to see the display outdoors in the daytime. Most phones, especially basic ones like this, are difficult to see in daylight conditions, but this one is impossible. It is so bad that am going to be getting a new phone, even though I will have to pay big bucks to do so. This is my fourth (or fifth?) Nokia phone and the first one that has disappointed me.

The 2610 had all the promise of a great upgrade that improved some of the issues I had with my GREAT 3120 and 3220 previous, and almost perfectly enjoyable, Nokia phones. But, alas they blew it with a couple of stupid and totally unnecessary killers.

First the GREAT things did with the 2610. They allow you to customize(assign)the navigation(arrow)keys to functions of YOUR choice. not theirs. They added a needed center button to the navigation keys. They replaced the infuriating proprietary NOKIA POP-PORT combination USB and HEADPHONE access port with separate STANDARD USB and HEADPHONE jacks. And they expanded the number and length of info that can be added to each addr book contact.

The killers for me? The USB port is not a PC Sync port. It CANNOT be used with Nokia's PC Suite sync software, or any other mfgs, to back up personal contact, etc info you so laboriously put into your phone. Nokia, if your reading this, without an IR or Bluetooth wireless connection on this phone, how is one to BACKUP their data on this otherwise excellent phone you put a USB port on??? Second, why to heck would you reduce the readeability of this phone in daylight by removing the ability to remove wallpaper(increases contrast) behind contact lists, remove the ability to choose a list in place of stupid miniuature unreadeable wallpapered icons in Menus, then add insult to injury by then decreasing the readeability in daylight with a non-removeable shade over the display.

FIX these things PLEASE so I can come back to you and this otherwise excellent phone.

Buy Nokia 2610 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Now

Pros:

Simple Phone, not a lot of bells and whistles.

Good battery life.

Sound quality good, although, occasionally, you do hear your own echo faintly.

Comes with speaker phone which is an important feature for me.

Customizable top two keys. I've set it to alarm clock, so my most useful feature is right on the home screen.

Predictive text typing is good. Remembers the non-dictionary words you used in the past and uses them, so a self-learning vocabulary.

Lightweight and Slim, so it fits nicely in the pocket.

Displays day and date along with the current time on the home screen (if configured). A useful feature.

Customizable Navigation Key assignments. You can assign whatever function you like to use when you press one of the navigation keys from the home screen.

Sending SMS text messages to multiple recipients with a single message.

Cons:

Impossible to see the display in the outdoors during the day. (BIG flop)

4-way navigation keys are cumbersome. Top and down is okay but for going left or right, the keys are buried between other keys and very hard to press, you almost have to resort to using the nail on your thumb to press it. Also the center navigation key is noisy and makes this cheap plastic clicking sound when you press it. It is the most frequently used key, so you have to settle for some noisy key operation. (During a meeting you can't text your friends to tell them how bored you are, because it will be too noisy, for example.)

Although this phone has the feature of Multimedia Messaging (MMS), if you buy it unlocked, this feature will not work with AT&T service. Everything else works e.g. SMS, Call Waiting, Call Conferencing, switching between calls etc.

There is a mini USB port on this phone, between the charger and the headphone jacks, but this USB port is for maintenance personnel, and cannot be used to sync data between your phone and your PC.

Read Best Reviews of Nokia 2610 Unlocked Cell Phone--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Here

I'd never recommend this 2610 because of the single issue that the display is unusable in daylight & barely marginal for inside viewing. It's a shame because the sound is good. Maybe that's why AT&T gives them away free hoping to get rid of them!

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Nothing fancy about it but, that's what he wanted. It's a great phone. Simple operation, which is also what he wanted.

Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording

This ematic 4gb player is so cool. I got this for my work outs specialy, I have used this instead of my bulky old player. The Usb Cable was great. just Plug And Play. It was perfect all my file folders opened and i started placing my music on it right away. I put about 150 songs on it. 9 albums and 4 list. It came with the cd to install. Tha Packaging was very easy to open. I like the light weight of it.

The package came with:

1 usb wire

1 video cable

1 stylus

1 install mini cd

1 cool comfy ear bud

1 microfiber cleaner for the screen.

Over all it was very easy to use.

I even used the web cam feature as well to skype.

This is more than a MP3 its a All in 1

I would recommend for any one who likes great priced and easy to use products.

Bought this for my soon to be 13-year-old son. He wanted a "touchscreen" mp3 player for Christmas, but no way are we in the market for an iPod. He is thrilled with this. Touchscreen, takes photos and videos and plays music. Also has Minesweeper game included and a notepad/drawing feature. A good little device for the price.

Buy Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording Now

This was a gift for a teenager. Very glad that they loved it! Good price and features, especially since this is considered "disposable technology" because new model/versions are created several times a year.

Read Best Reviews of Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording Here

My granddaughter got one of these for her birthday last year and it worked fine for about 5 months and then died and would not turn back on. Seems very unreliable. I wouldn't recommend it.

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Sounded perfect for my son, but the touch screen stopped working. The company said that after 90 days, I would have to pay 40 dollars to get it repaired/replaced. I asked their representative, why they list their warranty as being for one year, he said between 90 days and 1 year they would replace the Ematic E6 8GB for $40.00. On top of all this my son was constantly having to reset it and even though it has 8GB of memory built into the device, that memory is worthless because it get's wiped when you reset it the E6, so you are stuck with keeping everything on your purchased separately microSD card. Why would anybody want to pay $40 to replace an item that costs $40-$60 to buy new, and I would have to pay shipping and handling both ways, what a bargain. I absolutely DO NOT RECOMMEND the Ematic E6 8GB MP3 Video Player or purchasing any of this company's products. The telephone customer service representative did not seem surprised that it did not work or that I was unhappy with Ematic's products, this not a good company or product. F.Y.I. Ematic and XO Vision are the same company, so don't let them trick by slapping another name on the same bad product.

Besides all that there isn't a 16GB E6 and even under "Product Features Technical Details" right on this page it says.

"Flash Memory 8 GB, stores up to 3000 songs, or 34 hours of video or thousands of photos"

Samsung Q2 Flash Memory 8 GB Portable Media Player (Black)

• MP3 Digital Media Player with 8GB Capacity

I purchased the Q2 on the suggestion of a friend and as a usable way to make my .wma music library portable. I am finding that Samsung makes some very cool products and this player is an affordable example. The touch controls are fairly easy to use even for a fat finger like me. It is somewhat limited in its shuffle ability. I have not used the EmoDio support software much. I have synced it to Windows Media Player and imported music, created playlists, etc. My only real regret is not spending a few more dollars and getting the 16 GB.

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this is a great Player for the price. Has great sound with earbuds or with my powered speakers, i still am getting used to the touch screen so some times my big fingers hit the wrong function but thst is minor if you want a great MP-3 at a great price get tthis one

Read Best Reviews of Samsung Q2 Flash Memory 8 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Here

I got mine 2 years ago it being my first mp3 player it's awesome, the sound quality is amazing through my Panasonic monitor headphones, connect it to your sound system at home and it sounds even better. The touch controls are easy to use and to charge you just connect to your PC, the battery life is pretty good and you can store all of your music, video, photo files on the large 8GB hard Drive. Excellent player.

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I got this unit at a flea market for $30. Very pleased with it. I have been a wedding DJ for many years and needed something to use for playing music for the ceremony and coctail hour when a seperate system is needed.Now all I do is use this unit with a powered speaker and life is good!!! My only gripes are you have to remember to bring the volume up on the unit and the unit does need to be charged pretty much afer every gig. Minor issues for sure. Once you play with it a bit before using it in a live application you'll be very happy.Highly reccomended for DJ's that do weddings.

JVC Everio GZ-HD10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

I had to buy a camera for my video production class at college. My teacher told us we had to get a DV camera, but i previously have had difficulty with tape so that was my last choice. I put hours of research in to find a tape alternative that worked with Final cut pro and Adobe Premiere Pro. This is that alternative. It shoot great looking HD video and is an ease to edit using those two programs. The still images on it is nothing to write home about, but come on lets be serious. You don't buy a camcorder to take stills, you buy a camcorder to record videos. After my class was over my teacher changed his requirements in a camera after seeing the quality of video i shot with it.

(***please note it works with Final Cut Pro 6, 7, and Final Cut Express 4 ONLY***)

(***please note it works with iMovie '08 and '09 ONLY***)

(***please note it works with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, CS5, Adobe Premiere Elements 7 and 8 ONLY***)

I included which versions support this cameras AVCHD format. It will save you hours in order to figure it out.

This review is written on 5/25/2010 so i would think that products after this review will support AVCHD

After much research and going back and forth with a non-HD Sony Handycam, we got this camera last week and so far it has really made a difference when viewing videos on our 50" HD TV screen on HDMI. It is pretty user friendly (although I found the Sony Handycam more user friendly). If you're in the market for an HD (Hi-Def) camcorder, this is the value winner.

The Everio HD takes decent stills, but definitely takes a backseat to our Canon point & shoot. On that note, our Canon 800IS P&S takes comparable quality videos to the Everio when you see them on a computer (you're just limited to 1.5 min. clips if it's holding pictures too).

The clarity (esp. outside) is excellent. The only downside is that you need a steady hand to operate b/c the "anti-shake" technology needs a little work. I suppose you win on picture quality on the flipside... unless you're willing to shell out another $300 for more steady images on top of picture sharpness. If you get an HD camera, be prepared to get a bigger battery b/c it sucks up power more quickly than a regular videocam.

I got this mainly to record our 1 year old, beginning with her birthday party coming up.

Buy JVC Everio GZ-HD10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom Now

I recently bought this camcorder to record a friend's wedding and was impressed with the quality of this little camcorder. It is not heavy and fairly easy to use. Indoor recording is okay. I used a high LED light in order to record decently, but outdoors it looks very crisp.

One huge downfall for me is the battery life. If you make this purchase, you most definitely want to also buy an extra charger and battery. The camcorder sucked the life out of my battery and I spent most of my time standing next to an outlet in order to record the wedding, which made it difficult to move around freely.

I love the HDMI port and the x.V.Color option as well.

**Mac USERS**

If you have a Mac, you will have some issues downloading to your computer. With most JVCs I have owned, they are not very Mac friendly. I used a Wondershare Video Converter to download all my video clips from the camcorder to my Mac (I had to download the converter from the internet for about $21 but it's worth having). So please be advised about that IF you are a Mac user.

Otherwise, a great camcorder for the price.

Read Best Reviews of JVC Everio GZ-HD10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom Here

Total Fun

The video looks so so good. It's really easy to use. Spend time reading the instructions and less than an hour

you could be shooting video. Toggle thru the menu and if you get lost just hit menu

and start again. The battery that is included last only about 1 hour.

I bought 2 three hour batteries which can be found here(amazon) for around $34 $39 plenty of prices to choose from.

The instructions will tell you which batteries you can use for replacement.

If you have imovie 09' it is so easy to upload the video. I use an Imac with the imovie 09' and it works perfect.

I did my research and looked for what camcorders are compatible with imovie 09 and Imac.

I found a list of all that will and will not work with my computer setup.

Whether your going to use it for making movies or not do the research.

What i have recorded for the first month since owning this camcorder and using the imovie software

my video has total life. Again research people and look up youtube and see how awesome

it is to use this camera with imovie 09 or Final cut express 4 or whatever software you want to use.

Bottom line this camcorder works for what i need and if i could show you my video

you would think you are watching a hollywood or indie movie made with this camcorder.

No Joke!

None of us are here for a long time so lets have a good time.

Capture life and share your life with your love ones and gracefully grow old with memories.

Hope this was help for those who want to have fun and enjoy making movies

from Hollywood to indie type or just memories...

Enjoy -

Want JVC Everio GZ-HD10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom Discount?

I bought this to record my daughters basketball games. After the first half, if I dont find an outlet, I am out of luck.

"Fortunately" JVC sells additional batteries for almost half the price of the camera ($79 and up depending on the size). That is a cruel trick.

The video is good, but the camera should not be dieing so fast.

Aaargh!

Disney HM600D Hannah Montana DVD Player

• DVD video and CD audio compatible
• Supports CD, CDR, CDRW playback
• Supports Picture CD, DVDR, DVDRW
• Dolby Digital (AC3) digital audio output
• Dolby Digital (AC3) audio decoder: 2 channels
• Dolby Digital (AC3) stereo down mix output
• 10 Bit video D/A converter
• NTSC video output

I bought this for my 12 year old daughter and so far she loves it. It works great and the star design is awesome and unique.

Buy Disney HM600D Hannah Montana DVD Player Now

I bought this product entirely because of a misunderstanding in the following Product Description: "Repeat A < > B, repeat one / all Connection jacks" . . . Now here's the deal, I thought that meant the DVD would keep playing for my happy cat! I still have no idea what "Repeat A < > B, repeat one/all Connection Jacks" means, but it sure doesn't make the DVD automatically repeat! P.S., my cat likes watching the Three Stooges DVDs while I'm away.

Read Best Reviews of Disney HM600D Hannah Montana DVD Player Here

My daughter loves this! It goes so cute with the matching TV! We didnt even know it connects to the TV with the star on top! Amazing product and Super Fast delivery!!!

Aiptek DV5100M 5 MP Pocket Digital Camcorder

Here is a raw video clip of a dark dance room from my Aiptek DV-5100M:

-Video and Audio tracks are exactly synchronized (i.e., audio talking matches video of talking).

-Audio microphone is very quiet, and does not have any hum or hiss noise (like some other small camcorders).

-Accepts highest memory of 2 GB Compact Flash (SanDisk Ultra II and Kingston Elite Pro), and video records for about 3 and 1/half hours.

I ordered this camcorder and gave it a test drive for a couple of days. I sent it back to Amazon because the sound was awful. It picked up a narration from the camera operator, but anything from a dog's bark to a conversation five feet away...forget it. Saying the sound was muffled isn't strong enough. The other reason I returned it is because it was obviously previously owned. The box had been opened, the batteries had been inserted, and, the biggest clue, it had someone else's Christmas movie on the internal memory. So if you order this (don't) and yours comes with an out-of-focus silent Christmas tree and a long shot of someone's bathroom, that's the one I sent back.

Buy Aiptek DV5100M 5 MP Pocket Digital Camcorder Now

I got this for my 13 yo daughter, who really wanted a video camera to play around with. The Aiptek seemed to be perfect; simple to use and not too expensive. Well it's not particularily easy to use: The picture was very difficult to get into focus (manual focus that doesn't seem to make much difference). It is faily inexpensive, but you will want to expand the memory (Compact Flash) which now is fairly cheap, but you will need several at 64mb. Sound is barely audible. If your budget is tight and this is all you can afford; wait a year until better products fall into this price range. You will be much happier and won't have to dispose of this unit. Our solution was to buy a well rated low end dvd unit for around $400. This is for the family, but she can use it. She's happy with the "awsome unit", and I was able to upgrade from my 8mm unit, so it's a win-win. (With her using it, her being a teenager and all, I got an extended, free replacement type warrantee, however.)

Read Best Reviews of Aiptek DV5100M 5 MP Pocket Digital Camcorder Here

It's OK if you own a PC computer running Microsoft software. It should have been plainly stated in the description that the video file won't download and run on a MacIntosh.

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I bought mine in the summer of 2005. With a 2 GB CF card, I can take a 3 to 3 1/2 hour video. The still pictures come out as clearly as digital cameras costing 4 times the cost of this unit, and this camcorder is smaller than most digital cameras. Of course the video quality is not as good as a larger, much more highly priced camcorder, but the videos come out well. It comes with accessories, which, for this price I'd not have expected, i.e., the carrying case and tripod. I don't know if they changed tripods, because someone posted about the long plastic screw: my tripod has a very short metal screw. All in all, considering price, ease of use, and quality, I have to give this 5 stars.

Konftel 300 Conference Phone (840101059)

These are excellent conference phones. They can twin USB VoiP on PC and Analog and it works very well. Noise cancellation on these phones is excellent and they are built to last

2 Pack Foscam FI8918W Wireless / Wired IP Camera - White

The picture quality with this camera is very good and the remote controls work reliably well. The sound quality is poor but OK if you were just going to use this as a baby monitor rather than to hear a conversation. Connects well in an internal home network or wireless network.

The problem with this product is that it will not connect as an internet camera. Unlike other products that provide connections through an external website maintained by the manufacturer this camera has no such support. You cannot connect to the camera from outside your own home network. The instructions provided do not resolve this unless you can subscribe to a service assigning you a static IP address. The instructions are helpful they simply do not work if you wish to connect to this camer over the internet. Lots of other IP cameras will do so, so you should shop for those if this is important to you.

I could not get the software to install properly. The seller was a great in trying to help me, but it is hard passing emails back and forth. I did get the camera to work, had great picture. But could not utilize other features because of the installation.

Buy 2 Pack Foscam FI8918W Wireless / Wired IP Camera - White Now

KiSS DP-600 Networkable DVD Player

• Progressive-scan DVD player compatible with DVD-RW, DVD+RW, MP3, WMA/Windows Media 9, and JPEG image files
• Also processes DivX (3.11, 4, and 5), ISO MPEG-4, and XviD video and Ogg Vorbis open-source audio format
• Networking ability lets you hook the player up with your PC or broadband Internet modem for streaming media playback
• PAL/NTSC video outputs; Internet-upgradeable firmware
• Measures 17 x 3 x 11.5 inches (W x H x D)

Picture Playback Excellent

Sound Level Excellent

Range of Features Excellent

Durability Excellent

Value for Money Excellent

Advantages: Plays Anything, Wireless Streaming, Quick Set up, PC Link

Disadvantages: Can't think of any

Recommend to potential buyers: yes

The Kiss DP-600 is unreal. I have seen negative reviews on this product but I still went ahead and bought it because I thought even if these reviews were correct that the offering was too good to miss.

The negative reviews stated the following

1) The DVD drive gives out a constant whine that is so loud you can hear it over the TV

2) The PC link software is rubbish it doesn't work and they had to use windows media connect.

3) The box will crash on occasion and you have to power cycle it.

4) The wireless capability is limited you need to have your access point right next to the DP-600

5) It has no Hard drive

In answer to 1

I suspect that this person had a faulty drive,Tinitus or is using it as a pillow because I can't hear anything lout of the ordinary let alone over the tv.

In answer to 2

I had my Kiss DP-600 up and running and streaming content from my PC Over wireless using PC link in under 10 minuts. It was very easy I didn't even read the instructions. If you are having problems with PC Link download the latest version from the Kiss site and make sure that your firewall is not blocking it. If you are using Win XP SP2 remember that windows firewall is on by default.

In answer to 3

This box has played everything that I have thrown at it. Things that my old DP-500 couldn't play. If you put something in to the DP-600 that it can't handle and it crashes powere cycle it and either look for an update or don't play unsupported formats. remember also that the people who encode the media that you are downloading don't always know what they are doing. I had this problem with my old DP-500 but I would power cyle and not play that file. I'm sure that you will have the exact same issues on other similar products. For the price I can live with it.

In answer to 4

I live in an old Victorian house my TV is in one room and my Wireless router another, there is probably 15 meters between the Router and my DB-600 and a Brick wall. I have 95 % signal strength. need I say more.

In answer to 5

If you are streaming content why do you need a hard drive? it has wireless and an ethernet port. But if you are that fussed about it, there is also a USB port so you can connect an external Hard drive if you want to

I love this product, I loved the DP-500 and Old as it was it still out performed any of my firends dvd players. The DP-600 is light years ahead of the DP-500 which to my mind and from my personal experience makes it the best that you can buy for the money.

Ease of Use Very Easy

Ease of Installation Very Easy

Remote Control Excellent Quality

Instructions Very Helpful / Very Easy to Understand

Buy it you wont be dissappointed

Buy KiSS DP-600 Networkable DVD Player Now

Don't listen to the negative review below: the item hasn't shipped yet. I saw a prototype at NAB last week, and I was very impressed with the picture quality. They were showing WMV-HD DVDs (German pressings), so it will play those at full res. Not only will it do 1080i, it will do 1080p, according to the brochure, and the salesperson: the first consumer device to support it. Check this out for yourself when it ships in the summer! ( I know I will...)

Read Best Reviews of KiSS DP-600 Networkable DVD Player Here

This thing has been vaporware for as long as I can remember and now if it comes out this summer, it won't have near the options it should have. It doesn't have SMB support (windows directory sharing), it can't show GIF images, it has no Linux support, no FLAC support, no AAC support, no playlist support (i.e. m3u, asc, etc), no confirmed multiregion support (albeit someone will probably figure it out). It has some redeeming features like tv listings and games (who would want to play games on their tv anyway?). For the kind of money you'll have to pay for this thing (selling for $435 in the UK right now), the feature list falls quite short. Do yourself a favor and look into the competition (Zensonic z500) which provides (shipping internationally from AU or from US in July 2006) all the above support and more minus the TV listings (not that you'd use that anyway because you're really using this to watch time shifted programs from your server computer anyway right?).

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The device was announced with the feature to play not only 480p, but also WMV-HD DVD's with 720p or even 1080i. The product description does not say it can do that, so be warned: you might get a good DVD-Player, but don't expect it to feed the DVI-Connector of your Flatscreen-TV with WMV-HD in 1280x768 Pixel Resolution and progressive scan. It is max. 480p = 640x480 Pixel in progressive scan.

Shuttle RO-RP1015T Thumb DVR Personal Surveillance Model with Micro SD Card

I used this for a quick tour of Notre Dame and the south shore of Lake Michigan today. It worked well enough for my travel archive. Because it uses FAT formatted cards, the maximum video size is 2GB. The camera happily closes one file when it reaches that point and starts another if you have room on your card, so it's only a very minor issue. Battery life is more than adequate. I filled a 4G card and after a brief rest, made it through another 800MB of video before I stopped filming. There is still battery left, but without an indicator, you never know when it will stop recording. Overall, I'm very happy with it and may buy one or two more for traveling. At $30, I don't mind too much if I break or lose one.

Marantz PMD661 Portable SD Recorder

Update Notes: 10/2010: Another buyer asked me to look into the power draw for battery usage reasons. After using the TWO independent battery conservation modes on the 661 (turn off the leds and minimize the big display from 5 rows to just one row of data) the jumpy current waveform settled down to 315 mA DC +/15 mA. For battery usage, you can use a 315mA draw for conservative recording power usage estimates. So that perspective users of the 661 can get a feel for it I've uploaded 5 most often seen sample screenshots with notes in the pictures section above. The notes cover what each screen does and how the function keys work. The instruction manual shows you how to wire pushbuttons and resistors to the 4 terminal remote plug which is VERY hard to find (most are 3 terminal left/right/ground) you can use the 3 terminal because the only 2 points you need are ground and the tip, but here is the 4 pin version for $0.28 on amazon 6FT 3.5 mm to 3 RCA AV Camcorder Video Cable Sony JVC 6 with this cable and the instructions in the manual you can build your own remote with LEDs and extended switches beyond the marantz remote from the PMD660 Marantz RC600 Mic Mount Remote Control which could be operated by computer or other automated systems. Basically the 4 terminal plugs are becomming more common now. The resistor values chosen for pushbutton operation are common values and easy to find.

UPDATE 8-2010:

I've put alot of hours on my PMD661, made a custom case for it, and now I must report a MINOR negative about a whole class of products (the 661, the H4n, certain flashlights, etc)

While doing flashlight testing on the Fenix TK-40, 'Menace' pointed out that it seemed to drain AA batteries without being used AT ALL while a similar light, the TK30 did not. I confirmed his findings using an inline ampmeter a small amount of power was flowing with the light turned off. As I measured other products that used the AA NiMH cell, the problem proved to be a bigger issue than just one flashlight.

This "trickle" power is just like your car leave it in a garage at the airport for 30 days and don't expect the battery to be full when you return. The amount is small, but placing a plastic strip between a battery and the spring then routing it out of the battery compartment will stop the power from flowing. The "off" power is higher on the PMD661 because it has a timer and can turn itself on for play or record functions with preprogrammed times which other recorders can not do.

Update 9-12-2009 I just returned from a cruise ship using the 661. I used a Canon hs-10 avchd camera for capturing the main stage video and the 661 to plug into the ship's mixing board for audio. The ship's audio engineer was excited to see the 661 and hapily pulled out an XLR patch cord set to give me the house mix line level out, which was recorded in the same lossless format (24bit/48 khz) used by the camcorder audio making synchronization in adobe premiere pro a breeze. The final benefit was hearing the show audio as it left the mixing board to the amps instead of being picked up by the camera set on a tripod in the audience full of echo and laughter, clapping etc. The final production to blu-ray disc sounded like I was right on stage with the camera. The marantz ALC circuit performed better than expected and prevented digital clipping while maximizing dynamic range. End of edit.

[ACTUAL PRODUCT REVIEW BEGINS HERE]

When Marantz added a line level XLR input that bypassed the microphone preamps as opposed to just a mic level input in the 660 (prior model) I finally jumped at it. Since I work alot of mixing boards I have access to the final stereo mixdown at line level voltages. Whats the big deal? Recording at line level gives you 20dB more signal to noise thats 100 times better for those who don't speak dB compared to mic level xlr inputs. Also recorders that put an attenuator in front of microphone amplifiers tend to be noisy marantz is not built this way (the H4n I use for MIC level recordings is it is not well suited to line level input because it must attenuate the signal to 0.8% before recording it) If you look at your dvd player at home all the outputs are line level simply to get rid of noise. With such a fabulous recorder, why in the world would you want 100 times more noise in your recordings?

There are many other factors Marantz did that made the 661 the optimum professional recorder to get the display is bright and easy to read under all lighting conditions, they used a 1/4" headphone jack so the little 3.5mm headphones wouldn't pull out at the worst moment (another pro move) and they improved the case quality. There is also a digital input for people who are 100% digital already, however it stops at 44.1/48 KHz sampling.

Given these features, the PMD-661 sits head and antlers above all the other compact recorders out there offering professional connectivity at an economical price. It's also fully customizable the bright display is dimmable through 8 steps for indoor club use at night, and it features dual rca line level outputs for analog playback. About the only thing I would like to have seen would be a worldclock input for synchronizing analog recordings to digital cameras, but the size of the bnc connector would have nixed that option in this handheld product.

Prices are starting to drop I bought in early but you can save 50 bucks off the original price. Good job Marantz (from a former dedicated tascam fan!)

PROS:

+2 levels of power saving (dual VU meter cutoff and 5 line down to 1 line OLED display) both are independent of each other

+runs on AC power through a 5V converter and also runs off USB power when doing file transfers

+Easy to create multiple folders and levels within them using the 4-way rocker buttons for character selection in fact naming your settings is also easy.

+remote control is customizable with just resistors and switches if you know how to solder and need to operate it by computer or other external devices

+XLR ins are well designed and quiet compared to other products on the market.

+1/8" line level TRS input as well lets you use a 3.5mm trs male to male jumper for recording computer outputs

+digital input as well [COAX] I purchased a Cables to Go 40019 Optical to Coaxial Digital Audio Converter (Black) when needed for $13

+2 ea built in mics as the 4th source

+tripod mount

+pre-record buffer captures 3 seconds of audio prior to entering record

+standard SD card format can be ejected and read on a pc quickly instead of doing USB transfers

+easily updates firmware when improvements are made

+12 hour runtime on 2700 mah nimh cells with full power conservation recording mp3 from XLR in (tested)

+When batteries are exhausted it closes all files and shuts down politely.

+internal stereo speakers can be used to monitor recordings or 1/4" headphones

+rugged, well built design including the battery door which has a large latch to prevent accidental opening or loss

+ALC design is well engineered and not noticable in recordings seems like it uses fuzzy logic to prevent clipping.

+coaxial manual level adjustment allows for separate l/r level difference and ganged level adjustment of both simultaneously

Cons

-timer based recording draws more "off" power inserting an insulator made from a plastic battery case easily prevents draining batteries until you need to start if you do not use the timer functions.

-can not entirely shut off the display most minimal power usage is to shut off LED vu meter and just have one line of text in the OLED window with essential data on it.

-lacks a 1/8" mic in but has a 1/8" stereo TRS line in instead so all mic level voltages must go in via XLRs

-4 input sources but only 3 personalities means one input won't be used without reconfiguring (usually digital in)

-lacks digital out (other than USB and removing SD card)

Yes, the price on this baby is steep. You can get a pretty good Marantz HT receiver for this money.

But what you get for the price of two Edirol HDs is a leap in sound quality, build quality, and ease of use. Build quality may or may not matter in your situation. The way my stuff gets hit in the field, it's important for me. Camera tripod mount is great for this unit--it sets it apart from the mics on mic stands and helps others to notice the piece of high-end gear on the stand and try to be careful around it.

Data dumps are a breeze in Mac and Windows. I've had no file misreads yet, anywhere.

Line-in XLR allows full low-noise field mastering in a multi-mic stereo setup.

hi-res lossless is the selling point for many at this price level. There is simply nothing else at this price point that can do this resolution.

And because of the XLR line ins, your hi-res lossless recordings will have an exceptionally low noise floor.

None of the mid-level digital recorders can do this, and this is why I ponied up.

It sounds so much better than its lower-priced competition that it belongs in this price category beyond them.

If you want Edirol quality sound, Marantz makes the 620 for you, a thoroughly competent unit in its price class.

But if you have significant audio to record and you are willing to spend an extra 300 bucks to get far better audio quality, this unit will make you happy.

Buy Marantz PMD661 Portable SD Recorder Now

I'll be brief; First off I will state that I am very particular, and hard to please. I have been in the audio/music/broadcast business about 40 years

I have not used any of the other flash recorders. Prior to purchasing I did heavy research and the PMD661 fit my needs. This has the features I want, and the sound quality is amazing. I have used it with a Rode NT4 stereo mic, a Sennheiser shotgun mic, a Sennheiser broadcast headset, and direct from the console via spdf digital. All produced great recordings.

The internal mics will do in a pinch, but are not the best, and the preamp for the internal mic is noisy. The external mic preamps are clean and quiet. At first I though there was a lot of noise, but it turns out to be from the headphone amp. The actual files sound great.

Transferring tracks is a breeze

The design and build quality are fantastic

cons;

Headphone amp is VERY weak seriously. I would pay for a mod.

Software included is for Windows only

Internal mics pick up a lot of handling noise.

No timecode sync

Cost a bit high but then well you get what you pay for. This is suitable for professional work.

My purchase through Amazon was quick and easy as usual.

Buy one. You will not be disappointed

Read Best Reviews of Marantz PMD661 Portable SD Recorder Here

I'm from Brazil and I bought this item because i'm coordinating a sound bank project

here, in the context of a sound design school. The school bought zoom H4n with directional Akg mics

My setup is a Rode Ntg-1 Rode NT4, Rode Blimp and Marantz PMD661.

Some considerations:

1 The recorder is very good, very easy to use. Mutch better than Zoom in terms of sound quality

and built quality. Zoom though, comes with some very nice features, like a swiss knife.

Limiter is one of them that Marantz doesen't have and can be very usefull.

Other like a metronome is useless for me, but can be nice for bands or musical groups that want to record rehearsals.

2 I did some recording of the cheering for the first Brazilian match in the world cup with North Korea in São Paulo, with the NT4 and the internal mics. The difference is huge.

The Nt4 gives us a very nice sound stage. Since i was in a neighbourhood with lots of residential buildings we can here a lot of sounds coming from everywhere and NT4 delivers it.

The internal mics not. So, not good for ambience and similar sounds.

3 Well, I did a lot of research and MaRANTZ seem to be the best for me, considering i use it for also different purposes. I needed something with good quality for ambience and foley

and also internal mics that could be usefull(not like those of the Fostex Fr2-Le for instance). So i'll use the

internal mics just for rehearsals and interviews (i'm also a musical director for a theater company).

They are ok for that purpose.

4 When you use just one entrance in stereo recording mode, like a directional mic on L, the other Chanel (R) sounds very noisy in the headphone.

So using just one entrance you are obligated to use the true mono recording feature.

But on the other hand it's very nice, because you don't need to ocupate useless space in the sd card.

Well i loved it, i bought also the Marantz Carry case, it fits the unit perfectly and it has a lot of openings for the cables

and the entrances. But it just fits the unit, anithing else, like extra batteries and cables must be carried

in a extra bag.

Best Choice

Oh and excuse me for my English.

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I've owned this unit for a few weeks and I must say that Marantz really hit one out of the park with this one. I had previously owned a PMD660 and it was a nice enough unit, but I could never understand its wild popularity. It had a cheap feel to it and the sound was mediocre. The 661, on the other hand, is a tank. Think of the 660 as the rough draft for this finished product. Just about everything is done right this time and the sound through the improved preamps is significantly cleaner. I've read some comments that it may be a little large, especially considering how compact much of the competition is nowadays, but I think the size is perfect. You can easily hold it in one hand and the display is big, bright and easy to read at a glance.

The only improvement I can think of offhand, possibly in a 2nd generation unit (are you listening Marantz?) would be a color display. As easy as this one is to read it would be even easier if record mode glowed with a red "rec" and pause with a green "pause."

Highly recommended.

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Supersonic Supersonic Sc-709 Portable Mp3/cd Player With Cassette Recorder, Am/fm Radio & Usb Input

Great boombox! This was my first Supersonic, but won't be my last. Great sound and excellent quality. Highly recommend it.

The description sounded great, but when I plugged it in the CD player did not work and the tape player door would not open.

Buy Supersonic Supersonic Sc-709 Portable Mp3/cd Player With Cassette Recorder, Am/fm Radio & Usb Input Now

Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-P42X1 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

• 42-inch plasma 720p HDTV with three HDMI inputs
• 600Hz Sub-field Drive produces crisp, focused images for sports, dramatic action, and all other fast-moving scenes
• VIERA Image Viewer lets you share your digital photos with friends and family directly from SD cards
• Lets you control your compatible Panasonic DVD recorder, Blu-ray Disc player, home theater sound system and HD camcorder, with a single remote
• Contrast Ratio: 30,000:1 Native, Infinite Black Panel

I purchased this from Amazon.com, with the scheduled delivery from CEVA. Ordered last sunday, delivery was one week later. Having the option of sunday delivery was great, and the delivery was very professional and definitely white glove.

Two people brought the TV in (carrying properly as this is a plasma), opened the box, put the TV on the stand, powered the TV on and waited for me to check whether there is any problem with the TV. They also offered to remove packaging if I wanted to get rid of it. Sometimes you cannot even get such good service when you pay $100+ for shipping. Given that shipping was free, I was thrilled.

TV is awesome, right out of the box. It looks great, works great. Picture is top notch. I put in an HD-DVD version of Transformers and was amazed at the picture quality. This is my first plasma TV and I believe it is much better than LCD. I had a Samsung 4061F before, and this TV has better picture than that one, despite the Samsung being 1080P and this being 720P. There's no motion blur whatsoever on this TV.

Checking on the web a little, I made the settings to be: pic mode custom, contrast +78, brightness +57, color +53, tint -9, sharpness +29, everything else off, black levels light and temp normal. These settings turned out to be perfect for the TV.

Five stars for the TV, purchasing experience and the delivery service.

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Currently, I have 4 HDTVs in my house. Sony Bravia LCD (less than 1 year old and it is a 1080P), Sony HD Cineza (1080i) in my theater room, Panasonic Plasma EDTV (about 9 years old which I pay a lot of money for it when Plasma first came out) and the newly purchased Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-P42X1 (720P). I can tell you that this Plasma is much better than the $1499 Sony Bravia LCD 1080P. The picture is super clear even just connect it with cable and Satellite. DVD is incredible and you do not need a Blue-Ray player becasue regular DVD is just as good as Blue-Ray on this one. I have all the technologies, cable/DirecTV, Toshiba HD-DVD player, Sony PS3 Blue-Ray, DVD recorder all connected to this set. So far this is the best $800 plasma you can buy. My old Panasonic Plasma which just was an Enhanced Definition and it is about 10 years now and the picture is still looking good. I never had any problem with Panasonic TV and it is a better brand in Japan than Sony. Go get one, you will be pleased!

P.S. The sound quality on this set is also above what other brands can offer. You have to hear and see it!

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic VIERA X1 Series TC-P42X1 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV Here

So I wont write a book about this TV, but I'll share my experience best I can.

I spent months deciding on a TV. Did I want LCD or Plasma? 50" or 40"? Panasonic, Sony, or Samsung? Etc etc. I even went to a couple stores and looked at them, that only helped to further confuse the situation.

So after lots of reading online and researching specifics like 720p vs 1080p and LCD vs Plasma, I decided to go with this one. Between the customer reviews, the specs, and the price....I couldn't find anything better.

The color is absolutely perfect! The 42" screen is exactly the right size for my room (couch is about 8-10ft away and its mounted above the fireplace). I mainly watch movies or play xbox 360, and I really had a hard time finding reviews on TV's from people with 360's. I just want to clarify that all my games look awesome! COD4, COD5, Assassin's creed, Fallout 3, all of them look incredible. The only issue is that some times it judders the picture. Not often, and not enough for me to worry, but it does happen once and awhile.

I hooked this TV up to a Onkyo 7.1 surround sound system, and mounted it on the wall with a mount from monoprice ($50 mount that swivels, tilts, and moves away from the wall). Everyone that has come over and seen it loves it. I finally have the perfect setup for myself!

And ordering from Amazon was a pleasure as always. The box did come with a big rip in it, but I wrote the info down on the delivery guys paper and took a chance. TV has zero problems and is packed well from the factory to take abuse.

Ease of install 10

Aesthetics 10

Picture quality 10

Price 10

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I already have a Sharp Aquos 46" and a Panasonic 42" Plasma--both 2 years old--and I love them both. I bought the Panasonic Viera 42" X1 about two weeks ago for $, and you can now get it for $ at a couple of places (like one of the other reviewers, I was able to use the ). The new X1 is definitely better than either of the other TVs I own in terms of black levels, lack of blurring, and power consumption. Connectivity is excellent, with 3 HDMI inputs. The SD card slots are nice, too, although I consider the SD card stuff to be a fringe benefit and not a core reason to buy this set. I had read a couple of expert reviews stating that it's not possible to tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on sets less than 46", and my own experience bears this out. Since I look at high resolution images for a living, I am probably as picky as you can get about image quality and resolution. For me, the Panasonic X1 is definitely the best 720p unit out there, and you don't need to waste money on a 1080p unit that is only 42" or less. I spent many weeks comparing picture quality side-by side on Panasonic, Samsung, Vizio, Sharp, and Toshiba, among others, at several different stores and in every case the Panasonic was clearly superior.

The picture quality right out of the box is excellent, but I used the settings described elsewhere in these reviews and in on-line columns and the picture is even better. It took less than 5 minutes to do this because the Panasonic menu is clear and intuitive to follow. Picture quality on non-HD channels is also excellent.

Sound quality is noticeably better than on any of the other brands in the same price range, though if you're going to connect it to a surround-sound system this feature won't make a difference to you. The hum mentioned in a previous review is clearly a one-off thing, and probably due to non-TV electrical interference issues in the reviewer's apartment.

I love the richness of colors on an LCD set, but when you are watching fast-action stuff like sports, the 600Hz X1 is far less blurry than any LCD TV within $[..]of this set--just look at a baseball or hockey game and try watching the ball or puck on an LCD (even the new 240Hz ones) vs. the Panasonic X1 plasma and you'll see what I mean. Glare, even in daylight in a room with lots of windows, is minimal although I would give the edge to my Sharp Aquos LCD in this regard.

If there is a drawback to the Panasonic X1 it is the lack of PC connectivity, but with a cable and adaptor available from most good electronics stores (like You-Do-It Electronics in my area) you can overcome this issue as well. Another potential drawback is that the response time is rated at 8ms, which some gamers would find slower than ideal, but since I don't use the TV for games I could care less. Again, to find a set with a 4ms response time requires spending a lot more $$.

I agree with other reviews that the remote is relatively basic and could use a backlight, but this is par for the course in TVs in this price range, and I found the response time of the remote was excellent (ie, pressing a button resulted in an immediate effect with no lag). Since like most people I use my cable remote to handle everything, the TV remote just sits near the set unused once I set the TV up and adjusted the picture settings.

For me, this is by far the best value in a 42" HDTV.

I did a pretty large amount of research into HDTV before I chose this unit. I have been in the IT business for about 30 years now, and I have seen everything from CRT to LCD for small/medium/large/incomprehensible stuff. One thing about LCD screens is that no matter how one tunes the output, many of them produce obvious ghost lines (look carefully -the straight lines usually stand out, and ghostly seam is about 3 millimeters to the right of the picture). I decided to go with plasma because they are brilliant emitters, and because the picture itself never has the ghostly seams.

The VIERA I got does things that are amazing. Black on this unit is black -any blacker and there would be a singularity involved. I waited until 6/24 to activate HD programming, and made a quick comparison of Spongebob Squarepants. In standard definition, the picture has artifacts in it, but you have to work to find them because of the 600hz subfield processing of the picture. Anyway, in high definition, the picture has no artifacts at all, every line in the cartoon looks like it was drawn right there on your screen! I really could go on and on.

Color is no more brilliant, but the overall quality of the picture is much, much higher than on older sets. With this unit, watching HD is like watching Kodachrome move. You really have to see it. Sound is not bad. Only 720p native; but it does an accurate job of down-converting 1080p. Even so, this thing is like a geyser of cool mountain water in the Sahara.

Despite its bulk, it can be single-handedly mounted on a VESA mount. Use as many extenders as possible -otherwise the cord yard is unmanageable without taking the unit off the wall. Also, with the picture on full brightness, the screen is only as warm as a handshake (back in the 80's, touch sensitive plasma terminals usually got uncomfortably hot to the touch). Picture has excellent visibility from about 12 feet at nearly any angle. A trio of 100W equivalent compact about 4 feet away interferes with the picture, however, the anti-glare coating works. The bulbs reflect as bulbs on the screen, but only about an eighth of the screen is overwhelmed by their light, and the rest of the screen is not reflecting back much, if any at all.

Complete CCTV Surveillance Package of 16 Channel H.264 DVR with 16 x 1/3" Sony CCD Aluminum Dome Ca

mid-grade quality, fast, will order again /// semi-pro awesome super fast shipping great price to quality ratio. product required about 20 Hours of networking tech time to get the DVR to be internet viewer, phone ready

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