SV-SR100 - One customers experience.

Author's Rating:

Pros: Compact. Easy to use. Easy to understand operating manual. Comes with A/C power supply.

Cons: Only records in Panasonics "AAC" format, not MP3 or WMA. No SD Card included.

The Bottom Line: 
Make sure it is what you want and that the features will meet your demands... does not record in MP3 and WMA... it only plays those files!

Author's Review
I was looking for a way to capture audio digitally from a line source. There aren't many options for portable digital recorders that will accept line level inputs. Well, after looking around and not liking the reviews I read concerning many online-discount stores. I decided to purchase directly from Panasonic via www.soundcenter.net. (an authorized Panasonic Dealer) The price was a little higher than other places, but after talking to their sales team I felt extremely confident with the transaction... and it went very smoothly and I received shipment in timely matter and the unit came packaged as advertised.

Here's why I returned the item. It will do everything it says it will do, however, I thought I could record and save files as MP3 or WMA...it only plays MP3 and WMA files. (read the fine print dummy) The SV-SR100 only records in Panasonic's proprietary "AAC" format. I tried transferring the file over to my "Sound Forge" editing software, but it can't recognize the AAC file... crap!

So basically, to record digitally, your option is to capture then playback your recording in "real time" over to your editor... but we were doing that already with a tape machine and wanted to be able to transfer the file electronically, thus saving time in the capture and editing process... no can do.

But, if you are looking for a way to capture audio from a line source or music from a CD to an SD memory card to play back on this unit... it works well. I even shook it (a little) to test the 45 second buffering... and it never skipped a beat. Make sure you order an SD memory card as it does not come with one.

As I look back at the online info, I have to admit it never claimed to record in MP3 or WMA... but I believe it was a little misleading and I didn't realize that it only records using AAC format... lesson learned: READ THE DISCRIPTIONS CAREFULLY!

The only glitch I found was that I had to power the unit on with a CD inserted before it would recognize that there was a CD loaded... before I tried that all I got was a "No CD Inserted" warning.

I would also note that the unit is very small and seemed EXTREMELY fragile... dont drop this little guy!

All in all, it worked and did what it said it'd do ... but it didn"t work the way I needed it to.

Now my only question is if SoundCenter.net will give me my refund. I kept all the wrappers, twisty ties... everything... and repackaged it as it came. I took digital pics to confirm I had everything back in the box as I had received it (in case they try to say something was damaged or missing). They gave me a return code (gotta get one from them or they dont receive it back) and I mailed it with insurance and payed for a confirmation thru USPS. The package got to them and now I am just waiting for my credit card to be credited with transaction... keep fingers crossed.

Panasonic or someone, please make a portable unit that will record and save file in MP3 and WMA formats... then I will buy it! If you know of a unit like this, please add a link with that info!