Customer Reviews

Sony ICD-P520 Digital Voice Recorder with 256 MB Built-in Flash Memory and USB

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

For a small recorder, this does a good job, I think that this is a good deal. The price was good and the quality of the unit is better than I was expecting.
I use the recorder to record an open meeting and the pickup is great, I can record someone from across the room as well as someone close by. The software is easy to use and this permits burning to a CD a snap

I bought this recorder as a quick replacement after I lost my Olympus on a trip. The Olympus was so much better for my use. As a student, I like to record lectures and notes and burn CD's to review as I drive. The trouble with the Sony is the complicated software that comes with it. Sony corp is so concerned about music rights that they have made it a nightmare for the user to burn CDs from recordings that they have made themselves. Forget drag and drop into your your preferred software(like the Olympus.)With the Sony you must bow three times, kiss the ground and use their proprietary burn program and format--with no guarantees that the CD will play back on you chosen CD player. On the up side, the sound quality is very good for such a small recorder. Its just a real clunker once you try to do anything more than record. I just ordered another Olympus.

I bought this to record my lectures and I was pleasantly surprised! It can hold up to 130 hours on the LP setting and 24 hours on HQ setting, which is nice if you go to lecture a few times a week.

I find that the recorder is very sensitive, so you might want to put a notebook or jacket underneath it - otherwise it'll pick up noises from you moving or someone walking by.


The recorder has 4 folders, which I use for separating my classes (that way you know which lecture is in which folder). The menu gives an option to display the time, date, how much recording time is left, or how many minutes you've recorded.


Also, the recorder comes with software and USB cable that's very easy to install and use. All you do is install the program, hook up the recorder to the PC and it'll download all your files! You even have an option of converting the files to mp3 wav. files.

One thing about the software, though: it doesn't run on Macs.

The battery that comes with the recorder will last for a while but if you use it a lot, I'd recommend rechargable batteries.

Overall, it's a very sturdy, neat recorder and it's very easy to use!

The recorder is of a nice compact size and manages to pick up a decent range of sound (i.e. I can record lectures from the 5th row, rather than placing it up on the podium next to the professor). However this product is in no way shape or form compatible with Mac. That should be in big bold letters under the product description. I had to load the software and recordings onto my roommate's computer.

I bought this recorder after reading positive reviews of the product on Circuit City's website.

I like the small and discrete size, fits easily on the half desk prominent in most colleges and into my bag. The software is very easily and quick to install and use, windows only I believe. The four folder function is nice for the number of classes the average students take and for organizational purposes. I already have rechargeable batteries so battery consumption is not a problem for me. Audio playback is good on both the product's speakers and using headphones, probably best when downloaded onto the computer though.

I can record a lecture in a large 200+ people auditorium from the very back of the classroom (literally) on HQ mode! Although it should be noted that the professor has a microphone but the speakers are location in the front of the room and the speaker is very soft spoken. I would recommend the Sony ICD-P520 DVR.

This dvr is used primarily for recording my sermons. I use it with a lapel microphone, and the quality is very nice. I have it record in the highest quality available.

I start recording early in the services, and cut down the file on the fly--very easy. It links to my computer effortlessly, and there is more edits that can be done through the software.

Battery life is suitable, maybe I'll use rechargable batteries in the future. The size is perfect to fit in my pocket. I've got no complaints.

Over the year's Ive used just about every VOX operated recording device that was available. Ive even used High Quality VCR's to make audio recording's, but this little gem is T H E E very best recorder I could ever dream of. I do alot of recording's of what our local law enforcement officer's deal with during the over night hour's on my scanning radio's, and the most amazing capability of this Sony is in VOX mode it doe's NOT miss a single nanosecond of what's spoken.... The older micro - tape recorder's were notorious at not being responsive / sensitive enough when operated in this mode. Quality wise.... the Sony's audio reproduction is wonderful again. I literally opened the box, installed batteries, and away I went, it's that simple and intuitive to operate. I think approx 4-5 day's passed before I read the manual, and I only did that out of boredom in the "B-Room" if you get what I mean. Fit and finish is as alway's for anything Sony does from TV's to this little "P520" recorder....NOTHING BUT NICE. I whole heartedly feel very comfortable telling anyone looking for a very nice personal recording device that the Sony ICD-P520 IC recorder will NOT dissapoint anyone, I hope this review find's all of you and your families in good health and spirits....Respectfully, Frank in CT.

Pros: Easy to use, Recording Quality good, Recording time very good.
Long life on batteries. Good mic sensitivity. Able to download voice to computer files. Good price / value. If you need one of these, this is the one to buy, or any Sony brand for that matter.

Cons: No real negatives at this time.

Works great, can hold in hand while driving, voice quality terrific for us and even my non-tech boss can use this - a first! At this low price, we bought one for everyone in the office.

The usual Sony product quality and packaged in a small form factor with easy to understand buttons. Since I use mine at night and in dark situations quite a bit, this is important. I like how I can identify the buttons by shape without looking and the audio tone that precedes play, stop and record events.

Downloads to computer are a snap and I don't see a lot of problems with the recording to CD since any freeware audio program can tap into the audio stream while playing the output and you can do what you want from there.

Great product - a good buy.