Product Comparison: Tascam DR-05 vs Tascam DR-07

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Tascam DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder, Silver

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Tascam DR-07 Portable Digital Recorder

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General Specifications

Brand

Tascam

Model

DR-05

DR-07

Origin

Japan

China

About the Product

TASCAM’s DR-05 brings high-quality stereo recording to an easy-to-use portable powerhouse with a size and price that anyone can handle. The DR-05 records in MP3 or WAV format – including 96kHz/24-bit high-resolution audio – to microSD or microSDHC media. A pair of all-new microphones handles up to 125dB SPL with the sensitivity to capture every detail. With new recording features like Peak Reduction and Quick Menu, the DR-05 puts album-quality recording in the palm of your hand.

TASCAM's DR-07 brings portable digital recording to an even smaller, more affordable package. A pair of highly-sensitive built in mics captures a wide stereo image, recording in either MP3 or 16/24-bit WAV format. The DR-07 is powered by AA batteries and it transfers files to a computer using a high-speed USB 2.0 connection. The versatile recorder even includes a windscreen, tripod stand mount and 2GB SD card to start recording right away.

Key Specs

Maximum Recording Time

17.5 hours

7.5 hours

Voice-Activated Recording

Frequency Response

20Hz to 40kHz

20Hz to 20kHz

Recording Quality

96kHz, 24bit

48kHz, 24-bit

Number Of Recording Modes

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Tascam DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder, Silver

The built-in omnidirectional mics sound very good--clean, full range and accurate--and easily records sounds throughout the room.
Wav files recorded at 48kHz 24-bits or 92kHz 24-bits sound excellent and process easily in Bias Peak Pro or Apple Logic. For the best sound, guitar and voice tracks need a slight EQ boost in the lower midrange.
Playback through the recorder is possible but better appreciated through external earbuds or a headset. Recording quality was excellent for voice recordings. Because of the sensitivity of the integrated microphones it takes some adjustment on the user's part to achieve an acceptable balance.
The Tascam DR-05 is a great sound recorder. I have used three for over 2 years. It is better than the equivalent priced recorder from Zoom and others. Recordings, in my opinion, sounds even better than the newer Tascam recorder coming out (eg. the more expensive DR-22WL with wifi).
Tascam DR-05 - Great sound, 3 click operation to start, stop, pause. Can be a little confusing, even just setting the levels on the fly. However, the sound quality is a notch above the H1. Its now my go to for recording our band through the headphone mix.
While this is fairly easy to use and to download recordings, the recordings are so quiet that they are hard to hear, and I cannot find a way to increase the volume, even after downloading. I have been online and it says the recordings are very low.

Tascam DR-07 Portable Digital Recorder

The 2GB SD card that it comes with almost has the full capability of file size that this unit can handle, which is 2GB, or ~3hours and 24minutes when recording 44.1KHz/16-bit. The 2GB card holds just over 3 hours, so anyone wanting to max out the recording file size limit will need a 4GB card.
The DR07 exceeded my expectations. All of the buttons and dials needed for recording, playback and searching are on the front or side of the case. Basic operation is very much like using an analog mini-cassette voice recorder.
The stereo 128K MP3 audio quality was fine and the resulting 5-hour file used only about 300MB of the 2GB (2,000MB) SD card that came with the DR-07.
The Tascam DR-07 might not be a big boy in the world of digital recorders, but the audio quality is amazing. I use it mainly for recording voice, but a trip outside with all the noises of the city yielded great results. However, not all is perfect.
A handy device for impromptu recording. The recordings are very good and one can pick either WAV or MP3. I have other Tascam products and find that they are rugged, reliable and have a reasonable price. Out of all the other portable recorders I looked at this one was the best.

Size & Weight

Height

5.55 in.

5.3 in.

Width

2.4 in.

2.2 in.

Depth

1.02 in.

1.1 in.

Weight

4.1 oz.

4.4 oz.

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Tascam DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder, Silver

It's considerably smaller and lighter than the DR-40 and DR-100 MKII, fitting comfortably in my medium sized hands.
The size of the recorder is quite tall. It is bigger than I expected but with the types of capabilities, I am not surprised. It is lightweight but it doesn't include a lanyard or holster for carrying.
The small size lets me attach a lavalier mic and slip the DR into a pocket for recording a subject who is walking around.
The unit may have been a little smaller, but i am not sure why some one would want that. compact size is nice, but too small becomes counter productive.
I love it's size. It fits in the had well and has a good build quality feel to it.

Tascam DR-07 Portable Digital Recorder

It is very lightweight and fits into any pocket. I
This light weight little thing picks up the whole band evenly in just about any position in any given space.
The unit looks classy and well-built.

Features

Display Type

128×64 pixel graphic LCD with backlight

Pixel graphic LCD with backlight

Computer Compatibility

Yes

Cue Marker Function

Yes

1-Touch Recording

Yes

Supported File Formats

WAV, BWF, MP3

WAV, MP3

Integrated Speaker

Yes

Interfaces

Mic/line input jack, Line out 3.5mm jack, MiniUSB, microSD card slot

SD card slot, Line out 3.5mm jack, Mic/line input jack, MiniUSB

Extras

Proven high sound pressure design, Peak reduction function, Self timer recording function, Seamless gain control, Three low cut filter levels, Level align feature, Divide/delete functions, Loop/repeat playback function, Tripod attachment screw-hole built in to the unit

Switchable Low Cut Filter, Analog Limiter and Auto Gain Setting on Input, Variable-Speed Audition Function Slows Down Music Without Changing the Pitch, Built-in Stereo Electret Condenser Microphone

Cue Marker Function
Integrated Speaker

What customers say about "Features"

Tascam DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder, Silver

Features are mainly aimed at musicians but it's also a good general use recorder for dialogue and DSLR audio in spaces where omnidirectional mics are appropriate. I’m pleased with this little recorder: most of the audio quality of the DR-100 MKII but at one third the cost and a much easier carry.
There are many adjustable features, including backlight adjustments which can also affect battery life (5, 10, 30 seconds, continuous or off). The sensitivity of the microphone can be adjusted to pick up the slightest sound or can be used to pick up only the speaker intended.
If you are missing the overdubbing feature, don't despair. Go to tascam's website and look for firmware updates, and also download the manual for the new firmware, or you might not figure out how to get the overdub feature to work.
The mics are pretty good, very sensitive..it's nice to be able to control the level, and the auto feature is really great for recording lectures.
Unit takes some time to learn all the features but overall I like it. The built in speaker is not the best but works well with headphones.

Tascam DR-07 Portable Digital Recorder

As expected, the integral microphones are decent for recording up close, but I would definitely recommend using an external for recording bands, lecture halls, or other roomy areas where the sound source may be some distance from the unit.
Good recorder, but since it has no provisions for the addition of a remote control, I would spend more money and find a model that offers the remote.
I purchased this device to replace a cassette recorder used to record church services. Using the tape device had become cumbersome and I was looking for an inexpensive alternative. The DR-07 filled my needs exactly.
It's easy to set up a recording, all the basic functions are easy to operate. A quick scan of the manual will soon set you on the path to exploring different modes and options.
I also wanted a speaker so others could monitor recordings with me. Since the DR07 does not have a built-in speaker, I bought the Altec Lansing iM237 battery operated speaker to run from the DR07's headphone/line out jack when I wasn't using headphones/ear buds.
The microphones cannot handle the SPL of a rock band in a medium-small rehearsal space. The input levels can be lowered, but since the mics themselves are overloaded it does no good.
Battery doesn't last more than 3 or 4 one hour recording sessions. Plan to have rechargeable batteries or buy an external optional AC adapter

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications

FCC, CE, RoHS

Other Information

Manufacturer

Link

Manual

Download