Sony ICD-UX71 Digital Voice Recorder with 1GB Flash Memory

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 1.4 x 0.5 inches ; 1.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B001RB1XW0
• Item model number: ICDUX71
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,002 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 28, 2009

Product Description

Combining digital voice recording, USB storage, and MP3 and WMA music playback, the ICD-UX71 digital voice recorder is the perfect companion in the office, classroom or on-the-go. It has 1GB of built-in flash memory and can store up to 287 hours of voice-quality audio in LP mode or almost 18 hours of your favorite MP3 and WMA music. There's even direct USB connectivity to your PC or Mac®, while drag-and-drop file transfer makes it a breeze to move files between devices without the need for additional software. This lightweight voice recorder includes stereo headphones.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Sony recorder for once!, August 10, 2009

By 

R. P. Holmes (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony ICD-UX71 Digital Voice Recorder with 1GB Flash Memory (Office Product)

I have no idea why there are so few reviews for this one - as it's a really great machine and I am a pretty fussy customer too.

I picked it up in Singapore a couple of months ago and it's just what I want - something that records very high quality sound and can be plugged straight into the PC's USB port without requiring any cable or software. And it records in MP3 format! I need to give recordings of sessions to clients, so they must be MP3 without requiring time-consuming conversion (like my last Sony recorder) and quality is very desirable too.

Of course this might not be perfect for everyone. First, the high-quality files get pretty big, but if you want high quality (i.e. the top 192kbps setting), that goes with the territory. The 128k setting is 2nd best quality and still perfect for voice so I will use that and save some memory as I only bought the 1Gig version. Down to 48kbps and 32kbps and then 8kbps I guess if you need to record the stated 287 hours maximum of sound.

The menus are a little fiddly and delete is not convenient at all, having said that you can delete easily from your PC when it's plugged in. Some software for manipulating files would have been great, but I'm happy with a machine that isn't giving me headaches.

Oh yes - the manual seems to say that with the model with 1 gig of memory, you can get a maximum of 11 hours at top quality recording and 17 hours with the 128kbps quality. More than enough for me, though remember you can pay more for the versions with 2 Gigs and I think 4 gigs.

In short - an excellent product! Only downside - the clunky menus, but in the end I only use the recording options and then drag all the files on the PC. So it's great for that.

Final tip: Using the "Hold" button seems to conserve battery life too.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great sound, yes, but a few glitches and frustrations, December 27, 2009

By 

Andrew Gottlieb (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony ICD-UX71 Digital Voice Recorder with 1GB Flash Memory (Office Product)

First of all, this has great sound in a tiny package for a good price. Clear as a bell stereo sound, when played back on the computer. So for sound I'd give it 5 stars.

The frustrating aspects include a microscopic display that for these 50 something eyes, require reading glasses. Confusing menus.

But most of all, a tiny and tinny speaker makes this impossible to use except to download recordings to the computer. I used my old Panasonic digital voice recorder to keep track of ideas and things to do, and would replay them in my car, while walking, etc. The Sony has such low tinny volume that I doubt I will be able to do this. I know it is small, but my iPhone has such a better speaker!

Anyway, if you plan on only recording and downloading to the computer then this might be ideal, and you can't really beat the price for stereo high quality mp3 recording.

If you use it on the fly, then buy something else.

Five stars for sound, but only 3 stars overall.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good quality, September 12, 2009

By 

kBen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony ICD-UX71 Digital Voice Recorder with 1GB Flash Memory (Office Product)

I am using the sony ICD-UX71 to record solo piano and vocal solo with piano accomp. for review and analysis of the performed pieces. It records well, is easy to use, and is small and light weight. I've been using it fairly frequently in the last two weeks and the battery is still good. Easy transfer of files from the recorder to my pc. Recordings do have a slight static sound, like you would hear from playing a tape, when the piano was playing softly. I bought a condenser stereo mic and it doesn't seem to make a difference. Overall, very happy with the quality of the recorder.