Product Comparison: Tascam DR-100mkII vs Zoom H5

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Best Pick

Tascam DR-100mkII 2-Channel Portable Digital Recorder

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Zoom H5 Four-Track Portable Recorder

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General Specifications

Brand

Tascam

Zoom

Model

DR-100MKII

Origin

China

About the Product

The rugged TASCAM DR-100mkII offers high-end recording features for musicians and engineers who demand more from their portable recorder. It features four built-in microphones - two cardioid and two omnidirectional - for great sounding recordings. A pair of XLR connectors accept microphone level signals with +48V phantom power for pro-grade condenser microphones, or balanced line-level signals (a new feature on the mkII). The mkII version also adds a S/PDIF digital input, locking connectors and more.

Our products are constantly evolving to meet the needs of the creators who use them. With the H5 Handy Recorder, the tradition continues. The H5 provides four tracks of simultaneous recording and, like our flagship H6, it can use all Zoom interchangeable input capsules, allowing you to choose the best microphone for every recording situation. The flexible and powerful H5 provides everything you need to create multitrack recordings, audio for video, and state-of-the-art podcasting, broadcasting and electronic newsgathering.

Key Specs

Maximum Recording Time

5 hours

15 hours

Voice-Activated Recording

Frequency Response

20Hz to 40kHz

Recording Quality

96kHz, 24bit

Number Of Recording Modes

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Tascam DR-100mkII 2-Channel Portable Digital Recorder

I use this to record orchestra rehearsals and it does an excellent job. Once I figured out the settings I was able to get good quality reference recordings. I recorded a couple of concerts as well, and though it is not as good as a professional recording it is actually quite acceptable.
I use the Tascam DR-100 MKII for piano recordings. It has not only met but exceeded my expectations and I can recommend this unit without reservations. You can also connect other microphones.
This recorder is amazing: it is so small, but it is so powerful! Great quality and sensitivity; a lot of audio standards are covered; the embedded speaker feature is also very powerful. Recommended!
Very nice product. I'm impressed by how much is provided at this price point. Recording quality is excellent. Using XLR inputs. Easy management of files through UI.
Likely the best single piece of recording equipment I've ever purchased. And, no, this ain't my first rodeo. Thank you Tascam. Your teac 3340 lives on!!!

Zoom H5 Four-Track Portable Recorder

I recently purchased this H5, and it sounds amazing. The quality is close to my recordings with my condenser microphones.
I can't always multi track so the H5 is exactly what I need to get a matrix recording. The XY pattern mics also get a great ambient recording. This is great for movie audio recording as well.
I bought the Zoom - H5 Recorder for mobile recording and the sound quality is astounding. I appreciate the ability to interchange mic recording systems and the ability to record up to four tracks at once.
Also has 4-track recording capability, and with included DAW software is very powerful. Received it before it was promised.
Professional level audio, but really easy to use. The external mic catches room tone, while the XLR input gets the direct feed, so you can work with several channels.

Size & Weight

Height

6.02 in.

7.77 in.

Width

3.15 in.

2.63 in.

Depth

1.4 in.

1.66 in.

Weight

10.2 oz.

9.52 oz.

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Tascam DR-100mkII 2-Channel Portable Digital Recorder

If you are looking for a hand held device, this is the one to choose. Light, easy to use, and able to handle many tasks this it the one.
Its powerful and good sound and music,just the size is so huge,but indoor use this size is acceptable
It doesn't fit in your pocket, but it does have a nice carry pouch, and it is very lightweight
I would say they are roughly equivalent in fit, finish and general build
The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it's a little too big to fit in my shirt pocket.

Zoom H5 Four-Track Portable Recorder

Audio was super clear, the battery lasted for the entire session (better part of a day on and off), and it was super easy to carry around. Can't wait to try it out on some other projects.
The Zoom H5 is a fantastic little recorder. It feels great in the hand, and works really well as in the field.
It comes with a protective plastic shell case, which is nicely sized to the device and not overly bulky.
I am really quite impressed with this little unit. Not only does it have a solid look/feel, the size is reasonable, and the resulting sound/recordings are well within my expectations.
The size is perfect to toss in your bag and always have pro audio available.

Features

Display Type

128×64 pixel graphic LCD with backlight

Backlit LCD

Computer Compatibility

Yes

Cue Marker Function

Yes

1-Touch Recording

Yes

Supported File Formats

WAV, MP3

WAV, MP3, BWF

Integrated Speaker

Yes

Interfaces

EXT MIC/LINE 1/L and 2/R terminals (XLR/TRS), SD card slot, MiniUSB, Remote jack, Line out 3.5mm jack, Line in 3.5mm jack, Headphone 3.5mm jack

Line out 3.5mm jack, Phone 3.5mm jack, SD card slot, Remote jack, MiniUSB, XLR / TRS combo jacks

Extras

Independent left/right adjustable large rotary input volume knob, Rugged aluminum body for use in extreme conditions, Digital input connector for lossless connection from playback devices, Mechanical switches allowing for simple and sure operation, Tripod attachment screw-hole built in to the unit

Compatible with all Zoom input capsules, Four-track simultaneous recording, Protective "roll-bar", Built-in effects, MS decoding, Normalize, Divide, and Trim editing, Up to 99 marks per recording, Mounts directly to tripod, mic stand or DSLR

Integrated Speaker
Cue Marker Function

What customers say about "Features"

Tascam DR-100mkII 2-Channel Portable Digital Recorder

The control layouts are very intuitive although that differs by individual
Volume adjustment wheel, which gives much smoother control, and doesn't make really loud clicking noises every time you adjust the volume (the DR-40 only has button
The DR100MkII has good gain on the mic preamps; I only had to use the "Mid" gain setting. This allows the loudest possible piano playing to be captured without clipping. Thanks to the low noise floor, one can use the same gain setting for softer piano passages and still get great quality results.
One of my favorite features (besides the XLR input) is the ability to put the device into record standby. One press of the record button causes it to flash, waiting for the final go-ahead to record.
When you playback recordings through this device's native speaker, it will sound like your talking up/down a "drain pipe"

Zoom H5 Four-Track Portable Recorder

Adjusting the input volume involves using actual knobs, which gives a nice, tactile feel. Navigating through the menu is easy, but a little strange with the button that is provided.
It's very simple to use and has a myriad of inputs for adding microphones.
H5 is very handy and great quality. It comes with everything you need to start right out of the box, even batteries and an SD card.
The Zoom H5 is so easy to use. I pair it with my T5i and get clear audio. A must have
Battery life is great, and the preamps work well for the price. Having physical knobs makes this well worth the purchase.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications

FCC, CE

Other Information

Manufacturer

Link

Manual

Download