Review on 🔍 Enhanced Search-Engine-Optimized OM Digital Solutions DM-20 Voice Recorder and Music Player by Paul Newton

I bought this unit for grad school after learning a tape recorder (a holdover from my college days) and a Belkin iPod tape recorder (new technology not even worth the few bucks that I paid for) had tried on eBay). The tape recorder is still of decent quality but is no longer digital. Tapes are currently cumbersome to purchase, store, and organize. The Belkin iPod recorder was very sensitive to positioning with terrible recording quality. I've been using the DM-20 to record lectures for about 3 months. I use the highest quality (HQ) recording option and typically sit 20-25 feet from the instructor. HQ gives about 8 hours of recording time. At low quality you only hear hiss and loops, so 45 hours of recording is pure hype and marketing. The HQ recordings are decent, but cannot convince during playback. I'm playing files on my iPod and need to listen to them at maximum volume. Playing through the computer speakers under the baseboard - the hissing makes my head hurt (and that's with the noise reduction option). There is an option to use SHQ (super high quality), this only works with a separate microphone that can be purchased additionally (ripping). SHQ reduces the recording time to 4 hours. The biggest plus of this device is the ease of use. It will be recognized by the computer as a disk and files can be copied to the hard drive. The included software from Olympus does not need to be installed (any new software usually starts a bitter battle for dominance with itunes, musicmatch and media player). The buttons on the device are clearly labeled, but I had to read the manual to figure out how to use the different modes. The DM-20 is very thin and light, making it easy to hide. There is a call recorder app that works very well. Other reviewers have mentioned that the batteries die quickly, but I haven't had this issue. While another reviewer suggested looking at the WS series, which is twice the price of the DM series, this device is currently the best buy in terms of features and price, but it's by no means the best.