Comparison Philips DVT 7110 vs Philips DVT 4110

The built-in microphone type determines the mode (number of channels) in which the voice recorder records sound.

— Mono. The simplest option: one microphone that records sound in mono format, i.e. without separation into left and right channels. It is impossible to provide a "surround" sound with such a recording, however, in the case of voice recorders, this is not decisive, because. usually in such a recording it is not the volume of the sound that is important, but the intelligibility of speech — and it is fully provided by a monophonic microphone.

— Stereo. In this case, a pair of microphones is usually used, spaced apart on the sides of the case; the sound is recorded in stereo, and the volume of the sound is achieved due to the difference in the sound reaching the left and right microphones. Considered somewhat more advanced than mono, although it does not provide better speech intelligibility by itself.

— Built-in. In this case, it is understood that the recorder can only use its own built-in microphone when recording; Connectors for connecting an external microphone are not provided. This reduces the size of the device, simplifies the design and eliminates the confusion with wires. At the same time, built-in microphones usually provide slightly worse recording quality than external ones.

— Built-in / external. Such a voice recorder can record both from its own built-in microphone, and from an external one connected to the appropriate connector. This expands the possibilities of using the device: when compactness and maximum convenience are important, you can use the built-in microphone, and if the high quality of the recorded sound is critical, an external one is connected, which usually provides noticeably better volume and intelligibility. An external microphone is usually not included; on the other hand, it gives you the opportunity to choose a model for specific needs.

— External. Dictaphones without a built-in microphone with the ability to connect an external one. This allows you to choose the right type of device for specific needs and change them as needed. Refers to professional activity.

Separate input for connecting an external microphone. See "Connecting an External Microphone" for details.

— MP3. The most common digital audio format today, supported by the vast majority of digital audio devices, regardless of size. Provides medium quality compression and medium sound quality. When saved, it compresses information with loss of quality, but these losses are almost imperceptible to the ear, especially when recording speech from a non-specialized microphone.

— WMA. Format developed by Microsoft. It surpasses MP3 in terms of data compression capabilities, providing good quality at a low bitrate and, as a result, a small file size, but is less popular, in particular, due to sensitivity to errors in the file. At the same time, it is very common in digital audio equipment, it can be reproduced on computers without problems (it is a standard audio format of Windows OS).

— WAV. Technically, it is not a format, but a "container" into which you can "pack" sound processed by any codec; however, it is most commonly used to store uncompressed PCM audio. Thus, WAV provides the best sound quality comparable to Audio CD, however, such files, usually, take up much more space than in the above-mentioned formats. It also plays on a computer without any problems.

— Own. Some voice recorder models record audio in their own format, which is different from common standards. Technically, a proprietary format can provide a good r...atio of recording quality to file size, however, listening to such materials often causes inconvenience: you either need to listen to it on the recorder itself, or install a special player or codecs on your computer, or convert it into one of the "generally understood" formats with possible quality loss.

— Connecting to a computer. The ability to connect the recorder to a computer, usually via a USB interface. Such a connection can be used to save recorded data on a computer, update the recorder's firmware, and some models allow using them as USB drives and even card readers (if there is a slot for memory cards, see above).

— Smartphone control. The ability to control the device remotely from a mobile device. First of all, the function is necessary for recorders that can be installed out of reach of your hands and any movement, pressing a button on the case can adversely affect the recording. But at the moment some new hit can be written.

— Lock buttons. The lock prevents the voice recorder from reacting to accidental button presses — for example, when carrying in a tight pocket or purse with a lot of things. By turning it on, you don't have to worry that accidental contact will start recording and drain the battery, erase files, etc. This feature is usually turned on and off by a slider, by pressing multiple buttons at the same time, or in some other way that eliminates the possibility of accidentally unlocking.

— MP3 player. The ability to use the recorder as an MP3 player to listen to music. Technically, almost all models with MP3 support have this capability (see “Recording Format”), however, some voice recorders have a separate “Player” pro...gramme mode that makes listening more convenient. Typically, the player function requires a headphone output (see below).

— FM tuner. The tuner allows you to use the player as an FM receiver — in this range today the vast majority of music radio stations broadcast. Some models with a tuner have the function of recording from the air.

— Built-in speaker. On the voice recorder with its own speaker, you can listen to recorded materials without using additional equipment (headphones) or connecting to a computer. It can also be used to play music and FM radio (if available); however, the sound quality of such a speaker is usually not high, and its main purpose is to listen to the actual recordings.

— Headphone output. A connector that allows you to connect headphones to the recorder. Their purpose is generally similar to the built-in speaker (see above), however, the sound quality of even inexpensive headphones is often significantly higher. As a result, it is quite possible to comfortably listen to not only recordings, but also music, radio programs, etc. through headphones. (if available). In addition, headphones are well suited for noisy environments. even open models still provide some sound insulation.

— Li-Ion battery(lithium-ion). The most common type of battery for portable electronics today. Such batteries have good capacity, are not subject to the memory effect (reduction in capacity when charging an under-discharged battery) and are easy to use, because are equipped with their own control circuits. From the point of view of the average consumer, they have practically no disadvantages, because They are associated with specialized maintenance and long-term storage. The fundamental disadvantage of any built-in battery is the impossibility of quick replacement; The only option is to charge the battery, which sometimes takes a significant amount of time.

— Li-Pol battery(lithium polymer). In fact, they are a modified version of lithium-ion batteries (see above). They have the same advantages, in addition, they are more compact (from 1 mm in thickness), which allows them to be used in miniature models. At the same time, lithium polymer batteries do not perform well in the cold.

— AA battery(or several batteries). Powered by a regular AA battery(s), commonly known as “finger-type” batteries. The advantage of such power supply is the ability to quickly replace a “dead” battery: if you have a spare one, this operation is performed in a few seconds, and buying additional batteries in reserve is usually not a problem - they are sold everywhere. The main disadvantag...e is the need for financial expenses to purchase batteries, while high-capacity ones are expensive, and cheap ones quickly run out. On the other hand, there are rechargeable batteries in the form of AA batteries; If the voice recorder is used frequently and a lot, the purchase of such batteries may well pay off.

— AAA battery (or several batteries). Powered by a battery or AAA batteries, commonly called “pinky”. They are smaller in size than “finger” AA (see above), making them better suited for portable equipment, incl. voice recorders, otherwise completely similar.

— Coin-cell battery. Powered by a replaceable compact battery shaped like a tablet or button. Such batteries are the smallest option available today, which makes it easier to create compact devices for them. In general, they are similar to AA and AAA (see above), but they have a number of differences, except for the actual form. In particular, there is no single standard for “button” batteries - there are a great variety of them, in different sizes and voltages, which can cause difficulties when finding a replacement for a “dead” battery. In addition, they are much less common.

An indicator showing the state of charge of the voice recorder's battery. Most often, along with the indication itself, a separate low-charge signal is provided — this allows you to take measures in advance (recharge the battery or prepare a replaceable battery) so that the recorder does not turn off at the most inopportune moment.