Buy Sanyo Icr-xps01m Icr-xps01m Xacti Sound RecorderSanyo Icr-xps01m Icr-xps01m Xacti Sound Recorder Product Description:
Product Description
2 GB microSD Card - LCD - Portable
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
Amazing for it's size
By Lotus-Seven
I've had the Xacti ICR-XPS01M for a week and have used it to record (3) live classical music events. Too bad that Amazon's reviews only allow (5) stars. The Xacti deserves at least (10)!The tiny mics in the Sanyo have surprisingly low noise considering their small diaphragm size. They're also pretty clean with no obvious distortion and/or frequency anomalies. So far, all of my Xacti recordings have been at the PCM (WAV) setting (44.1kHz/16 bit). With a 8GB Kingston Grade-4 micro SD card, the unit will record for 12.5 hours (WAV)or 136 hours (MP-3). Files are limited to 2GB each (about 3 hours) which is a limitation of the card file format used. The supplied 2GB memory card will store 3 hours of high quality WAV audio or 36 hours of MP-3 (128 kbps) audio.Sound via the (2) built-in omni mics is clear with little harmonic distortion. The internal mics' frequency response rolls off below 60 Hz and, although Sanyo specs. the device at 20kHz, the sound seems to be slightly "dull" indicating no excess high-frequency response. I expect to make some actual response measurements using the external input and output jacks to evaluate the recorder independently of its microphones. Sanyo rates the frequency response using the external input as 40 to 21kHz for WAV recordng and 40 to 15kHz for MP-3 (128kbps).The back lit (red) LCD screen is easy to read as long as you're not "farsighted", and the level meters (-45 dB to "0" db) are fast responding and have a peak indicator and a bright overload LED so it's easy to set levels. There are two mic coarse-gain ranges ("high" and "low" with a 30 dB gain increase using "high". Within each range there are 30 gain steps available. The "high" range is very sensitive and can easily pick up a normal conversation several feet away. I recorded a small classical chamber ensemble at a distance of 10 feet and used the "low" mic gain range and a gain setting of 26 for a recording that peaked at approximately -6dB. In addition, there are (3) gain ranges available for the external (3.5 mm stereo) line input.I had absolutely no problems reading the recorder's memory and transferring files to either a Windows XP machine or several Macintoshs running OS-X 10.4.11 through 10.6.2. Sanyo does include a special 12 inch long micro USB cable for computer interfacing. The recorder is recharged via the USB port. No external power supply is provided, and the unit will fully recharge in about 3 hours, providing enough energy for at least 14 hours of WAV recording (23 hours if you turn the display off). The battery is removable and is easily replaced so anyone needing more than 12 hours of recording can always carry a spare.No audio editing software is supplied with the Xacti, but I had no problem at all importing the WAV files into "Logic Studio", "Pro Tools", "Garage Band" and/or "Audacity" for editing and normalization before burning them to CD.At its 44.1kHz/16 bit setting using the built-in mics, the Xacti is capable of making recordings that are comparable to a Tascam DR-100, which is a lot larger and costs three times as much. The DR-100, will, of course, record at 96K/24 bits, but that high resolution is really only needed when using an external input source, not the Tascam's built-in mics.Other thoughts: The Xacti is far more than "just" a great digital audio recorder. It includes a FM receiver (you can easily record FM broadcasts) and is also a basic MP-3 player. The FM receiver is strictly "analog" (It does not receive HD FM) and has only moderate sensitivity but sounds quite good given a strong station. The earphone cable doubles as the FM antenna so cable placement is critical to receiving a clean signal.The unit is supplied with a set of earbud phones. They sound OK but are relatively large and have a rough textured outer edge, so are, by far, the most uncomfortable of the dozens of earbuds I've tried over the years. Plug in a good set of real headphones (Sony 7509's work well) to really hear what this device is capable of. There is also a tiny speaker mounted to the back surface of the Sanyo. It's really only usable to determine if you've actually recorded something, or to play back voice recordings. As noted in another review, Sanyo does make a docking & charging station that contains (4) small speakers. As of this date, the docking station does not seem to be available for sale in the US.The Xacti is a well-finished, precision device and looks very elegant. Its elegant design includes a polished metal edge, which looks great, but can make the device seem slippery and easy to drop. The back of the recorder does have a slot and pin arrangement clearly designed to attach a wrist strap like those supplied with just about every small digital camera, but Sanyo does not supply a strap or offer one as an option. I found a small camera strap the fits and works perfectly at Amazon.com for a few dollars and installed it right away.Also, so far, Sanyo does not supply a case for the recorder. I found the ESME recorder case sold on Amazon by Senyx to be a perfect fit for the Xacti recorder. The ESME case is made from heavy "Cordura nylon" fabric and will hold the Sanyo plus a set of earbuds and a few extra micro SD cards. Its soft lining protects the recorder from scratches and minor shocks. This is the case that Sanyo should have supplied with the recorder.Anyway, for now I'm VERY impressed with this device. Where else can one find a good quality stereo digital audio recorder with a built-in, 5-band graphic equalizer, (2) quite decent microphones, a FM radio receiver and a tiny MP-3 player for just over a hundred bucks and sized so two of them can easily fit in a shirt pocket?The recorder is supplied with a clearly written, detailed manual (180 pages) which I'd strongly advise reading before trying to use the recorder. There are so many user set functions that it takes (6) pages just to graphically show the user menu structure. Sanyo wisely supplied the manual in a paper, hard-copy form as well as a PDF on the supplied 2GB micro SD card. Since the paper manual does not open to a "flat" configuration (It's like a paperback book), it's MUCH easier to use the on-screen PDF manual when learning how to perform some operation. The first thing one should do is to copy the PDF manual to your computer because it will be lost if you perform a "format" operation on the memory card.IMHO, Sanyo has hit a "bases-loaded homerun" with this one. It's a real gem!********** (10-stars)
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Sweet, Tiny, Slick, High Fidality Stereo Recorder
By L. Batchelder
This is one sweet unit. Slicker than all get out. I decided to trade in my Boss Micro BR for this unit because I found myself wanting to do simple stereo microphone recordings and with the Micro BR that meant attaching an outboard microphone (the internal one is mono) and then choosing several items from the menu system to make a simple recording. Don't get me wrong, the Boss is a great unit, but just not a great fit for my applications. So, leaving the Micro BR behind I decided to pick up the Sanyo Xacti ICR-XPS01M.First - could they make the name LESS memorable? Nothing wrong with Xacti except that Sanyo has many, many products in the Xacti line - most of them video camcorders. It needs a name that doesn't sound like a license plate number.Aside from the name, this unit is really fantastic. I, like most people, pondered the merrits of this as compared to a few competitors, namely the Zoom H2, H1, an Alesis unit, a Yamaha, an Olympus, Tascam and a few others. My brother just got a Zoom H2 and was bragging to me about all the great recordings he was making. I almost went the Zoom H2 route until I came across the Xacti. After reading several reviews I decided to go with the Sanyo. I'm so glad I did.For my first project I recorded a Steinway M grand piano for a client. Recording a grand piano is one of the most difficult types of recordings you can ever make. This unit did a wonderful job without even breaking a sweat. Now, I have a full digital recording studio with a Hard Disk DAW and thousands of dollars worth of expensive studio microphones. I have a pair of high end condensers that I use for piano all the time. They cost $600 each. I'm not saying that this Sanyo compares to that set up, but for the difference in portablility and cost I was absolutely blown away. The sound was totally natural, not hyped, not artificial in any way. The piano sounded simply stunning. Beautiful stereo image, all in all a wonderful and super easy recording session. Just a tip - I went to the music store and bought a spring clip type microphone holder, the kind that sort of looks like a chip clip, but is made to hold a handheld type microphone. It cost me $5. With the jaws of the clip spread wide it makes a perfect holder for the Xacti and the unit will then fit on any mic stand.Next project, I wanted to record my daughters conversation with me while we were riding in the front seat of my car. I put the Xacti on a laniard, hung it around my neck, used the "scene" settings and set it to "Lecture". It captured every word of the conversation flawlessly, in spite of car noise, etc. When I listend back over the car stereo I found myself checking my signal light to make sure it wasn't on, because the recording of our conversation picked up when I used the turn signal so realistically.The Sanyo Xacti ICR-XPS01M is a fantastic unit. Professional quality recordings for sure. My wish list would only be to add some type of stand mount, but my $5 solution works great and allows me to position it anywhere.I will be doing a side by side comparison with my brothers Zoom H2 soon to see how they compare, my feelings are that the Zoom will be a little different sounding, but not better or worse, just different. We'll see. If the Sanyo comes out way better my brother's going to be mad!!!!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
A concert hall in a thimble
By Samuel Chell
First of all, the Sanyo Exacti is mislabeled above. It's far more than a "voice recorder." I was sent this latest piece of consumer technology, perhaps the smallest and lightest high-end personal digital recorder ever, to review, but found myself too short on time to give it the thorough and comprehensive analysis it deserves. I sent it back regretfully and only because I sensed it offers a slight learning curve to those of us who are older, in a hurry, not especially at home with all the digital gear coming at us from all directions (I don't even own a smart phone).Suffice it to say that you can't possibly appreciate how tiny this thing is, how ingenious and intricate the design and construction are, until you have the product in hand. Just as the Canon Elf SD-780 broke all records for incorporating a 13 megapixel camera and HD camcorder in a container the size of a pill-box, Sangean has pulled off a comparable, record-breaking feat with this particular stereo recorder-player-FM receiver. Moreover, it's inarguably attention-getting in its form factor, flexibility, and functionality. Originally pegged to go on the market at a significantly higher price, the release of the Zoom H-1 no doubt forced Sangean to release it at a more competitive price. It definitely is a "contender" in the personal digital audio recorder market, and should be considered seriously--especially by younger audio fans who are quick learners and intuitive about small and intricate technology and by PC users (the company lists it as a PC compatible machine, though in my brief time with the machine, I was able to get a file onto my Mac with little problem).Comparing it with the Zoom H-1 may not be entirely fair. The Sanyo comes with more attention to style and micro-technology along with the capability of integrating it with an accompanying, form-fitting stereo speaker system. And with its FM receiver, it can be used much like an Apple Nano 5 except as part of a complete system. Store the recorder in its appointed place between the custom-made speakers on your nightstand, and take only the recorder with you for listening to or recording high-quality stereo recordings--compressed MP3s or full-fidelity wave format.I didn't judge the fidelity of field recordings to be quite as close to CD quality as the Zoom, with its XY adjustable mic pattern. It struck me as closer to a comparably priced Tascam or Edirol--but noticeably smaller. It also has features lacking on many machines. For example, you can speed up playback without altering pitch. Also, it has onboard memory--plenty of it for recording compressed files. And once you've mastered the miniature controls, Sangean has made operation a no-brainer. No need to learn specialized jargon. Simply set it for "voice" to exclude unwanted low and high frequencies, or "music" for full-frequencied sound. And there are similar descriptive categories to choose among for playback equalization. The auto gain control operated flawlessly for me. To listen to the music coming from this weightless micro-device is a stunning experience--whether it's music recorded from a line-in source, the onboard mics, or the FM receiver.The system is suggestive of a fine piece of jewelry, not something for rough and ready use, though it may be more rugged and durable than it would appear to be. The owner who treats it with respect is likely to be rewarded for years to come.To see this little gem up close and in action, take a look at the Sanyo site: usdotsanyodotocom. Under Consumer Items, click on "digital recorders," then on Xacti ICR-XPSO1M. Be sure to see it nestled in the complementary speaker system specially made for it.
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