A dictaphone is an indispensable device both at the table for business negotiations and at a working meeting and at lectures.
How to choose a voice recorder?
In a good device, the body should be small and light (up to 100 grams), so that it is convenient to carry with you and take it out of wide legs when required.
Of course, it should have a long battery life - the more the better.
A large amount of memory is only a plus, however, even a relatively modest size of 2 GB is enough for many hours of recording.
And the voice recorder can also have a display, a sound switch, and much, much more. Particularly advanced models also serve as MP3 players.
We have collected the best dictaphone models in the rating of 2020, compiled taking into account the reviews and popularity of the models on the Yandex.Market website.
10. Sony ICD-TX650
- number of recording channels: 2 (stereo)
- built-in memory 16 GB
- maximum recording time 15 h
- MP3 playback
- USB connection
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
- weight 29 g (with battery)
- built-in speaker
The rating of voice recorders for work and study is opened by a crumb from the SONY company, which, despite its low weight, is reliably protected by a metal case. The build quality is up to the mark, there is no backlash, no creaks, no flex under the fingers.
The size of the recorder is just such that it can easily fit into the pocket of a jacket or shirt, and a fastener, also metal, will help to securely fix it there.
This is a reliable and solid device for businessmen who care about the appearance of the device and the quality of its work.
pros: build quality, design, functionality.
Minuses: price, no connector for an external microphone.
9. Ambertek VR105
- number of recording channels: 1 (mono)
- built-in memory 4 GB
- maximum recording time 50 h
- USB 2.0 connection
- weight 14 g (with battery)
- use as a flash drive
And from a voice recorder for businessmen, we are moving on to a voice recorder for students. This is one of the most inexpensive devices on our list. Its functionality does not shine, but for such a price it would be a sin to demand more. Writes quite cleanly and well.
This model has a nice feature - a USB-connector, so to process sound files, you just need to directly connect the device to the computer.
pros: small, light, price.
Minuses: build quality.
8. Sony ICD-PX470
- number of recording channels: 2 (stereo)
- built-in memory 4 GB
- micro Secure Digital memory card
- MP3 playback
- USB 2.0 connection
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
- weight 74 g (without battery)
- built-in speaker
- use as a flash drive
A very convenient and high-quality voice recorder, and there is practically no need to set it up - for an excellent recording, there are enough default settings. He has a memory card, a USB port, and two recording channels, which is not so common among SONY voice recorders.
The device has a well thought-out design that can please the owner with pleasant surprises. For example, there is a lock of buttons from accidental pressing, which also allows you to save battery power. And with the help of a system called Clear Voice, noises magically disappear, and only the speaker's voice remains.
pros: recording quality, usability.
Minuses: no screen backlight, “thinks” for a long time before recording.
7. Philips DVT2510
- number of recording channels: 2 (stereo)
- built-in memory 8 GB
- maximum recording time 2280 h
- micro Secure Digital memory card
- MP3 playback
- USB 2.0 connection
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
- weight 79 g (with battery)
- built-in speaker
- use as a flash drive
A distinctive feature of this model is an extremely user-friendly and intuitive interface. Thanks to the large display with an abundance of information (which is also colored, unlike many of its monochromatic counterparts), users no longer have to guess whether the recording is in progress or not, and if it is, how many minutes. There is also an indication of the battery charge and sound quality.
In general, using Philips DVT2510 is simple and convenient, and although it is too large compared to others, the battery will last for more than two thousand hours of recording.
pros: user-friendly display, capacious battery, there is activation by voice or timer.
Minuses: except that the size and weight.
6. Forty 07
- number of recording channels: 1 (mono)
- micro Secure Digital memory card
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
But a modest domestic guest appeared among the foreign guests. This is a very tiny voice recorder, it has no display, no mount, nothing at all except one button. And its dimensions are only slightly larger than a ruble coin. It's amazing how the baby was able to cram a microSD card slot, as well as an activation system for a sound sensor.
At the same time, the body of the recorder is not plastic, but metal. He also has protection against ultrasonic jammers. And also the official conclusion of the experts of OOO NPO Expert Soyuz that the recording from this recorder is suitable for identifying speakers, which gives you an idea of what purposes this baby is usually used for.
pros: sound quality, miniature, configurable on a computer.
Minuses: one single control button, it is impossible to listen to the recording on the recorder itself.
5. Ambertek VR658
- number of recording channels: 1 (mono)
- Max. recording bitrate: 16/48
- built-in memory 8 GB
- maximum recording time 100 h
- MP3 playback
- USB 2.0 connection
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
- weight 15 g (with battery)
- use as a flash drive
This recorder weighs less than a tablespoon of sugar. And this is with the battery! At the same time, the device can do almost everything that its more weighty counterparts: not only write sound, but also play records or MP3 files. True, you will have to use headphones for this, since the Ambertek VR658 does not have its own speaker.
8 GB of memory will be enough for the recorder for a long time, but there is one more convenient feature in it - it is a sound sensor recording. And to make the recording clear and clear, the recorder also has noise reduction. It's nice that you can deal with recordings and delete unnecessary ones directly on the recorder.
pros: dimensions, weight, sound sensor.
Minuses: price.
4. Olympus VP-10
- number of recording channels: 2 (stereo)
- Max. recording bitrate: 16 / 44.1
- built-in memory 4 GB
- maximum recording time 1620 h
- MP3 playback
- USB connection
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
- weight 37 g (without battery)
- built-in speaker
Olympus VP-10 looks more like a cylindrical pen rather than a voice recorder. It is equipped with a convenient clip, with which it can be attached either to a tablet, even to a notebook for writing, or even to a jacket sleeve. Or hide it in your pocket or behind the lapel, if you want to make a note so that the interlocutor does not guess.
The USB connector allows you to charge the device from chargers for phones, computers, laptops, tablets and so on. It's nice that the dictaphone does not need to "warm up" before recording - as soon as they turned it on, so it immediately began to record.
A plus: shape, mount, large battery and USB charging.
Minus: quality of body material.
3. Sony ICD-TX800
- number of recording channels: 1 (mono)
- built-in memory 16 GB
- maximum recording time 238 h
- MP3 playback
- USB 2.0 connection
- weight 22 g (with battery)
- use as a flash drive
The top three are opened by a voice recorder equipped with 16 GB of memory. This is enough for more than 200 hours of recording.Otherwise, this device is impressive: to control it, you no longer have to get up and trudge across the entire room, distracting students and annoying the lecturer - it has its own remote control.
True, unfortunately, Sony engineers missed the mark by not allowing any feedback when controlling via the remote control. The dictaphone is far away, the screen is not visible, so you will have to control it blindly. Fortunately, the Sony ICD-TX800 can also be controlled via an app on a smartphone or via Bluetooth, which is much more convenient.
The second distinguishing feature is excellent recording quality. It will be clear and legible, even if the conversation is in a noisy place (for example, during a busy work meeting). Overall, this is one of the best voice recorders for Android smartphones on the market.
pros: recording quality, there is a control panel, integrated with a smartphone.
Minus: price, no external microphone.
2. Sony ICD-PX240
- number of recording channels: 1 (mono)
- built-in memory 4 GB
- maximum recording time 65.2 h
- MP3 playback
- USB connection
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
- weight 72 g (with battery)
- built-in speaker
The quality of the external speaker distinguishes this recorder from other participants in the rating. The sound is loud, clear, no noise or interference. That allows you to use the recorder not only as a recording device, but also as a lightweight and easy-to-use MP3 player.
Large and easy to press, the buttons are very comfortable for the elderly. So, if you want to make a present for an elderly person who loves listening to audiobooks and wants to do it without headphones, you know which voice recorder to choose.
And if the Sony ICD-PX240 is needed just as a dictaphone, it will cope with this perfectly. It has a large and easy-to-read display, there is an external microphone input for better recording quality, and this model records immediately in MP3 format.
pros: price / quality ratio, recording quality, excellent built-in speaker, there is an external input for recording.
Minuses: very meager instruction.
1. Olympus WS-806
- number of recording channels: 2 (stereo)
- built-in memory 4 GB
- maximum recording time 1040 h
- micro Secure Digital memory card
- MP3 playback
- USB 2.0 connection
- microphone sensitivity adjustment
- weight 77 g (with battery)
- built-in speaker
The best voice recorder, according to the reviewers at Yandex.Market, is a strict and elegant model from Olympus.
Unlike many cheaper models, it does not record sound in mono, but in stereo. And if you want high quality, the memory capacity will allow you to save about 60 hours of calls for posterity. True, all these hours of recording will have to be split into five default folders. And the voice recorder will not allow you to create another one, let alone nested one.
In addition to pure recording, the Olympus WS-806 can also work as an MP3 player, and to have something to play, the device is equipped with a USB connector. You can even, without bothering much, plug the recorder into your computer and safely transfer files back and forth.
pros: comfortable, compact, excellent sound quality.
Minuses: no cover, no new recording folder can be created.