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Customer Reviews for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
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Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Model: ICD-P520
SKU: 8231282
UPC: 027242711006
Record important lecture notes or dictations on this excellent digital voice recorder without having to worry about carrying around tons of tapes.
Average Customer Rating:
4.1
out of 5
(18 Reviews) 18
Rating Snapshot 18 reviews
5 stars
7
4 stars
6
3 stars
5
2 stars
0
1 star
0
89% of customers would recommend this product to a friend
(
16 out of
18)
Customer Reviews for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Review 1 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Excellent!! Everything you need. Great Price!
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Sound Quality
5.0
Reliability
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
What's great about it: Date/Time, Voice Activated, Convert to MP3/CD files
What's not so great: Nada
Hey, this DOES have an 'off button'. On the right side, slide the switch up. This puts it in 'hold' mode, and turns it off to save the batteries.
This recorder is all you need. Buy it and don't look back.......z
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 2 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
I pick 3-3/4 stars if possible
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: TheGhost
on 02/20/2008
What's great about it: Easy to use, good amount of memory, digital download capability
What's not so great: no off button, frail plastic body
Overall, this recorder is nice, as it has the ability to record digitally and lets you upload your recordings to a PC. I'm in law enforcement and I use this recorder to record inteviews with victims, witnesses, suspects, etc when I'm out on patrol so I can talk with them and minimize the amount of note taking I have to do in the field. It works great and the directions are pretty simple to follow. I recommend a lapel mic for law enforcement use unless you are going to sit it on a table. Having it in a pocket without a lapel mic causes it to record a little extra noise as you move, especially if you're wearing a jacket. For $60, I would have liked the body of the recorder to be more solid. Either a thicker plastic like a TV remote control or thin metal body. The thin plastic body feels fragile, like you could crush it in your hand. It also does not have an "OFF" button. If the batteries are in, the display is on. This is unusual, even for something that uses 2 AAA size batteries.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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Review 3 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Gets the job done
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: youlovejlove
from MD
on 02/10/2008
Images for this Review
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What's great about it: Sound reception/quality, build strength
What's not so great: Doesn't work with Macs, batter life
Overall a good device. I would have expected it to be a bit cheaper (60 when I purchased it) though.
I use the device to record lectures in college. I usually sit 3-5 rows from the front and this picks up the speaker with ease. I assume it would work farther away too, depending on the type of speaker (or if they are using a mic).
Be aware though, that the device is COMPLETELY INCOMPATIBLE with Apple computers. I thought this meant just the software, which I have grown to accept as a Mac user - but I was wrong. When I plug the device in via USB the computer (MacBook, 10.5) doesn't even recognize that something was plugged in. Very weak design in this regard.
The software does look pretty good though, if you're a PC user.
Overall it's a good recorder. It gets the job done..
I use the device to record lectures in college. I usually sit 3-5 rows from the front and this picks up the speaker with ease. I assume it would work farther away too, depending on the type of speaker (or if they are using a mic).
Be aware though, that the device is COMPLETELY INCOMPATIBLE with Apple computers. I thought this meant just the software, which I have grown to accept as a Mac user - but I was wrong. When I plug the device in via USB the computer (MacBook, 10.5) doesn't even recognize that something was plugged in. Very weak design in this regard.
The software does look pretty good though, if you're a PC user.
Overall it's a good recorder. It gets the job done..
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 4 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
clear quality sound
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: AndyP
from Washington
on 01/27/2008
What's great about it: Settings modes, clear quality sound, USB, sony software
What's not so great: None
I use it to record lectures from teachers when I cant write everything he or she is saying. In the settings you can turn off the button beep sound and turn off the red record light so no one will even know your recording and you won't draw attention to yourself. It has a USB so I can transfer the files to my computer using the sony software supplied. The playback is clear quality sound, I like it alot.
Also in the box
Sony Digital Voice Recorder
• Digital voice editor software
• 2 AAA batteries
• USB cable
Also in the box
Sony Digital Voice Recorder
• Digital voice editor software
• 2 AAA batteries
• USB cable
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 5 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
my purchase experience
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: jerryo
on 01/24/2008
What's great about it: lite, compact, easy to use
What's not so great: does not clealy record in large auditorium area
works well, convenient size
records well in average size room
however not in large auditorium areas
records well in average size room
however not in large auditorium areas
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 6 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Best Voice Recorder
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: VinodDuggirala
from Hyderabad, India
on 11/04/2007
What's great about it: Best Recorder @ Reasonable Price
What's not so great: Nothing
I bought this device around 14 months back, when I was in Richmond, Virginia. It's a fantastic one. Till now, it has recorded around 200 hours of official, technical presentations and around 20 hours of my sweet home memories....
It's the best performer when I take all my electronic items.
It's the best performer when I take all my electronic items.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 7 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
must have
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: buren
on 10/11/2007
What's great about it: easy to use
What's not so great: pretty expensive compared to other recorder-because we're paying for the brand name
I just ordered this product as I find it very helpful to stay with the long lecture hours.most of my classmates use this gadget for our science subjects such as anatomy, physiology and micro that have long lecture hours. i find it very effective because my classmates who has this stuff always get good grades with our hard lecture/lab exams. This is one of the must haves in college!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 8 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Great for Lectures
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: bronze
from Lubbock, TX
on 10/07/2007
What's great about it: size, ability, easy to use
What's not so great: nothing
This is a great device. I use it to record lectures from professors when I cant write everything he/she is saying. It has a USB so I can transfer the files to my computer and even over to my ipod. It really helps catch everything. The playback sound is clear and loud, I am satisfied with it
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 9 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Excellent Product
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: SweetC
from Lenexa Kansas
on 10/07/2007
What's great about it: Easy to use Holds 400 recordings in 4 different folders and you can download them to the computer
What's not so great: I hate replacing the batterys :-)
I would recommend this recorder to anyone. Its easy to use reasonably priced and small so you can hide it if you dont want anyone knowing you are recording. There is no tapes or disks to buy its all on the memory so that saves a bunch. Downloading the messages to your computer is very simple to use and understand. Comes with a usb cord and hooks right into the computer and it can also be set to voice activate. This is my second purchase and I have tried many others. This is far the best. Everyone I have told about this has gone out and purchased one for themselves.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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Review 10 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Great for lectures
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: audball2u
on 10/07/2007
What's great about it: easy to use, links to computer
What's not so great: battery life could be better
I purchased this recorder for my lectures, and so far it has been great. My lectures have been small though, so I'm not sure how it would do in a larger area. Once I have them on the computer you can change the format to mp3 and put them on an ipod to listen to anytime.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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Review 11 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
so-so
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: nobody
on 09/16/2007
Not a bad recorder overall, but folder navigation is a major pain... You have to press and hold the menu button. Then scroll to "folders". Then press play. Then scroll to the folder you want. Then press play. Then press stop to exit the menu. It needs a folder button like the Olympus models.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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Review 12 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Yeap, it is a good one!
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Queiroz
from Austin, TX
on 09/15/2007
I recommend this sony voice recorder to anyone who ask me about it. These are my reasons:
1- It is easy to use!
2- You can transfer yours recorded stuff to your computer using the USB connection.
2- You can record many hours with a pair of AAA bateries (about 10-12 hours depending the kind of them).
3- For the price, is one of the best choices.
4- It is small and you can bring it to anywhere.
5- I use mine to record my classes and it is being great!
1- It is easy to use!
2- You can transfer yours recorded stuff to your computer using the USB connection.
2- You can record many hours with a pair of AAA bateries (about 10-12 hours depending the kind of them).
3- For the price, is one of the best choices.
4- It is small and you can bring it to anywhere.
5- I use mine to record my classes and it is being great!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 13 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Smart Purchase for Advisors
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Pnice
from Cary, NC
on 09/12/2007
Are you a financial advisor or any advisor that needs to record their interviews with clients to refer back to? If so than this is the recorder for you. It's digital and can be uploaded to your computer. Not to mention, it's only 60 bucks! That definitely beats the competition.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 14 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Good Purchase
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Buysstuff
on 09/09/2007
It is a good deal for the price. the only thing is that the sound is not ALWAYS clear . . .depending on the distance, even a few rows away. . . .
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 15 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Another missed opportunity by Sony
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: Electro
from New York metropolitan area
on 09/03/2007
I bought this item for meeting notes and the possibility to transcribe dictation into Dragon Dictate at a future date. Unfortunately, the playback leaves a lot to be desired. It is actually annoying unless the unit is set to the HQ (high quality) mode, and then the playback is only average at best which makes it unsuitable for my needs. I would have expected a business device of this nature by Sony to have been carefully designed and carried forward, but it is very tedious to try to change folders or to change settings by entering a menu and scrolling through choices. I bought the Sony because I had expected the name to indicate quality and I didn't want to get into a comparison game with other models. When I was deciding on which to purchase, I was told by the salesman that there is an Olympus model for the same price that has the same basic functionality but has dedicated buttons for folders and for other obvious functions. It also has about the same amount of memory and comes with comparable software. Perhaps the playback quality will even be better. I think I'll give that a try. Too bad, this Sony unit might have been a lemon but I don't have the time or patience to try another one like it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Review 16 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Great Functionality
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: GradStudent
from Little Rock, AR
on 08/31/2007
This is a great piece of hardware. I really like the ability to transfer my files to pc. The software, as basic as it is, allows me to change the format to mp3 or a number of other formats. This helps in maintaining a compendium of my lectures for future studying and use. Now the reasons for the low score. Mp3 format is great, but you can't manipulate the file in that format. So you have to save to another file, format, then save back to mp3 (all seperate files). Download time from recorder to pc is very lengthy, it's a good time to start reading War and Peace or a Dictionary. The hands down worst part of this recorder is the non-existent battery life. The first pair of batteries lasted all of 3 days worth of lectures. That's a total of 11.5 hrs lecture time plus perhaps 20 minutes of familiarization once I opened the package and possibly another 1.5-2 hrs spent downloading the files to pc. Three subsequent pairs of batteries gave the same results. Other students in my class with the older non USB compatible versions have battery life issues also. I wish I would have done more research instead of picking up the one that looked like it would work best. Overall impression, it works great at the cost of a ton of batteries. I'm going through 2pair of AAAs a week for ~19hrs of class. I would shop around if I were you.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Review 17 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
Great recorder
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: SoCalChick
on 08/13/2007
This is great for recording meetings or for college classes. Picks up sound well. Playback quality is good, could be slightly better.
Love the USB connection so I can save to my pc or burn on a disk. Small, portable, easy to read digital display. I would recommend it.
Love the USB connection so I can save to my pc or burn on a disk. Small, portable, easy to read digital display. I would recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
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Review 18 for Sony Digital Voice Recorder
ICD Net Recorder Excellent!!!!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: BankofTechnology101
from Laguna Hills 92653
on 08/11/2007
The P520 is a nice little recorder to capture the special moments that matter.
Still trying to get an update for the software!
Any links for windows 2000nt
Still trying to get an update for the software!
Any links for windows 2000nt
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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