REVIEWED: Sony ICD-UX560 digital voice recorder
This CD-quality digital voice recorder out-performs a phone thanks to its excellent microphone and shirt pocket-sized design
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Do you need a dictaphone? If you travel to a lot of lectures, seminars, meetings, conferences, or interviews, you’ve probably been relying on your phone’s voice recorder to make recordings. So why buy the Sony ICD-UX560 voice recorder?
Minimalist design
The smallest voice recorder around, it measures just 36 mm x 101 mm and weighs just 51 g, but that’s not why we like it. The Sony ICD-UX560 voice recorder’s microphone is a level of magnitude better than your phone. Thanks to a number of different near and wide scene select modes that tweak the microphone sensitivity and directionality, very clear recordings can be made in various scenarios. It even powers-on in less than a second for making instant recordings.
Built-in storage
With 4GB of built-in storage that’s good for about 60 hours of voice recordings made at 128mbps MP3 files, there’s almost no need for its microSD card slot. However, it can also record in lossless linear PCM, which musicians will love. There’s even an output for attaching an external microphone, a headphones jack, and a catch for a lanyard so it can be worn around the neck.
Playback options
If you insert a microSD card loaded with MP3 files, the ICD-UX560 also acts as a basic digital music player. That might not be a core use, but headphones are required for playback since the unit’s built-in speakers are tiny, and poor quality.
File transfers
While its recording options are handy and usability is impressive, it’s how files are transferred to a laptop that we like most. The ICD-UX560 voice recorder has a flip-out USB connector on the bottom that plugs straight into a computer for easy file transfer (PC users can use the Sound Manager software pre-loaded on the unit).
Built-in battery
Unlike most voice recorders that rely on AAA batteries, the ICD-UX560 voice recorder has a built-in lithium battery that can be charged-up for an hour’s recording in just three minutes (again using that flip-out USB connector).
Versatile voice
Small, simple and well designed, the Sony ICD-UX560 voice recorder excels for making audio recordings in all kinds of scenarios, and its recording options and connectivity make it versatile and easy to use.
Price as reviewed: £70 / $74