ZOOM H1e Essential Vs. ZOOMF3

There is a debate, from time to time, about the PIP Plug In Power connection at about 5 volts, compared to the Phantom Power connection at 24-48 Volts. I did a practical test, to actually see what the difference can be between one and the other connection system. I used two recorders of the same brand, but of different price ranges, the Zoom H1e Essential and the Zoom F3, both with 32-bit resolution. The F3 has superior quality microphone preamps, which bring the recorder to a noise level of -127 dB; on the other hand, the preamps inserted inside the H1e give a signal that, on paper, is noisier. I have not yet seen a test online relating to EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) for the H1e, but it is reasonable to assume that it is roughly the same as that of the H1n model that preceded it, that is -112 dB. We therefore have a difference of 15 dB in favor of the F3. It is reasonable to expect a notable difference between what is recorded with the two recorders that I have put to the test.
Listen to the test and try to give your impression, the file is freely downloadable.

As a personal opinion on this very quick test I feel like saying that, despite the difference in features between the two recorders, and if we want also in price, in the end for a soundscape type recording in a not too silent environment like in this case, the differences fade to such an extent that it is not easy to distinguish one recording from the other.
In conclusion: better to have with you a recorder, even if small and cheap, and carry out the recording, rather than not having one at all! But this is a rule that applies to everything |

PS – I could have used a recorder that allows you to record from the XLR socket and the PIP simultaneously, such as a Sound Devices Mix Pre II, but I wanted to take the test to the extreme by adding a different level of microphone preamps to the different type of connection.