iAudio vs. iRiver (or others)

[CoffeeGeek]

Hi Folks.

Does anyone know any technical details about the iAudio product lineup (specifically the U2, G3, etc) vis a vis the popular iRiver devices for recording voice audio? Specifically, do they have a pre-amp as well?

My g/f has an iAudio U2 1gb mp3 player, and I'm not sure if it has a problem or not, but when I plug in my Sony ECM-MS907 microphone to it, the audio level is very low, even if I dial in the "recording" volume to maximum, or 10. Kind of turned me off considering a portable device like this as a recording medium (although the built in mic is not too bad).

I do however like the look and functionality of the iAudio lineup a bit more than iRiver's offerings, so if they have a similar recording system on one of the players (ie, preamp, other niceties), I'd go for it.

Anyone have any real techie dirt on the iAudio lineup?

Mark

[boneheadz]

Okay I know its an old thread but why start a new one.

I have been looking at the little 256 iriver with line in. Can't get them here right now so I bought a rca lyra with line. But the line in jack is very small. Is the iriver the same and I need an addapter, or is the iriver a stardard size?

bone

[richpav]

Most MP3 players that have a "Line In" jack that needs an external power supply. You can order one from www.soundprofessionals.com and other places. Small ones are available that run off a 9V battery.

The iRiver 7XX and 8XX series have a setting that turns the Line In jack into an External Mic jack. In other words, it increases the power to the jack so external mics will work without an external power supply.

Quite a few of the MP3 players I've seen have a line in jack that's smaller than 1/8 in. so in addition to an external power supply you'll need an adapter.

I use an iRiver 799 with a pair of binaural mics and I'm quite happy with the setup.

[boneheadz]

Hey thanx for the quick responce. I have looked at he 799 and the 790 they seem similar. I don't need much, in fact I doubt I need an external mic. I do like this flash players because the can be used at a portable drive. I am going to try the build in mic on the RCA. (it is expandable to 1.25 gig)

Bone

[audiocollective]

We have the 895 and an 899 and are soon upgrading to binaural mics but now just use a mono lavaliere mic. It will rock your socks off… we looking into getting a mic preamp for our minidisk recorders because they were only line it and found out that it is cheaper to get the iriver than to get most of the mic preamps that are out there!
Good luck!
-dave

[richpav]

The power supply I was going to buy was only $45. Unfortunately he has stopped accepting orders.

http://www.good-audio.com/products.html

Somewhere on soundprofessionals.com there's something similar. I can't find it right now.

Try here too. They have similar products.

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/

But I've heard their mini plugs don't fit the iRiver 7XX's well. Probably not a problem with the 8xx series because the jack is on the side of the unit instead of the end.