I've been using this Sony for recording church services for a couple years now. Obviously, this is not a high-tech operation. I convert the tape into digital format for editing on my PC to create CD's. I've been able to make some great tapes so far and I'm recording in a huge "cathedral" type church. For the size and cost, I think it's great. I don't think I'd use it for listening to music as the microphone is rather "noisey". I recommend this for persons who aren't ready to make a major investment in high-tech recording equipment. Sony TCM-150 Cassette Recorder with Automatic Recording Level Control
The Sony TCM-150 is about the cheapest cassette recorder on the market at this time. For five to ten bucks more you get voice activation, an external microphone jack, a tape counter, and extended play/record. The models with these features are the Sony TCM-200DV (without the tape counter) and the Panasonic RQ-L31. Of course, in all these cases, you're getting a cheaply made recorder intended for lectures, notes and inteviews. If you want something for music or that's built to take some punishment you'll have to pay more.
Last word on the 150: The odds are you're going to need at least one of those extra features - especially voice activation. Pass on this one and pay just a tiny bit more for something better.
This is a terrific tape recorder.
I've always found that bells and whistles like voice activation don't work. This one does. You want it on, you turn it on. You want it off, you turn it off. It's recording quality is very good for this medium. We're not talking digital sound, of course, but no magnetic tape machine will deliver that quality.
I've used probably a dozen recorders over many years, and this is one of the best values out there.
My new car doesn't have a cassette player, not even an option, so I decided to try a portable cassette player and see how cumbersome it would be. It's great! This little Sony T150 stores in my center console, has loud volume if I need to hear it heavy traffic, and it's clear as a bell. Now I carry it back and forth to house and car - just easier than my plug in boom box. the 2 batteries are supposed to last for 26 hours but actually lasted 34 hours in play mode. Am very happy with this Sony.
I WANTED A NOT TO EXPENSIVE CASSETTE RECORDER. I WANTED A BRAND NAME. I SAW THE SONY RECORDER FOR A GOOD PRICE,AND I FOUND IT. RECEIVED PRODUCT VERY QUICKLY. RECORDS FULL LENGTH CASSETTES. EASY OPERATION. PLAY, RECORD, STOP, REWIND AND FAST FORWARD. LARGE SPEAKER, WHICH IS IN THE FRONT, WITH THE CASSETTE WINDOW DISPLAY. THIS HELPS ALOT. SOME CASSETTE RECORDERS HAVE WINDOW ON ONE SIDE, WITH THE SPEAKER ON THE OTHER. WITH THIS RECORDER, YOU CAN LISTEN AND RECORD WITH THE PLAYER ON IT'S BACK. YOU ONLY HAVE TO USE THEBACK SIDE TO CHANGE BATTERIES. RECORDS CLEAR VOICE. PLAYBACK FINE. THANK YOU
Not bad for its price: this recorder works fine and has no annoying drawbacks. Just don't drop yours--I just did and that was enough to break it. My only complaint about its design is that it lacks a clip and, as dorky as these are, if you are walking around the house or doing any other hands-free mobile activity while listening, then you have to find some way to affix the recorder to your body without the clip.
I am quite disappointed with this sony product. It works well but the big drawback is that you hear the motor rumble in your recordings. I wonder if other buyers have this problem or did I get a poor model? Buy cheap and get cheap I should know better.
This product does what it sets out to do, record. How well it does that is a whole nother story. In a lecture hall you have to make sure to sit at or near the front of the hall, otherwise you can barely hear the speaker over the room noise and the noise of the recorder. The recorder itself makes a good amount of noise when recording and when playing back. And when the machine gets cold or has been used a bit, it likes to make a high pitched squel that is very disruptive in lectures. Not the best choice ever.
I own three of these units. The two speed model is similar. They are excellent. AUDIO Tape is a better medium for live recodings as the digital recorders I have used ALL DISTORT on loud passages. This recorder has AGC (auto level recording) which is great for voice recording of classes etc or for recording family history (interview your parents) etc. Be sure to use a decent grade audio tape with this. I recomment the Fugi 90 minute normal bias tapes. Maxell tape has more noise and is prone to defects. Also use fresh (Alkaline) batteries and change them after every two or three tapes. And use a Q tip and alcohol to clean the heads after 10 tapes. This will insure good quality recordings. One a tape recording has been made you can transfer this onto CD if desired. - Voice Recording Devices - Tape Recorder - Cassette Players - Cassette Recorder'
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