Does the Zoom H6 have the same line input problem as the Zoom H4N?

J

jbuckwitz

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I'm not totally sure how to word this, but I am a Tascam DR-40 owner, and I remember when looking at the DR-40 versus the H4N people had said that there was a problem with the H4N's line inputs. The Zoom H6 look like it would be a nice, small upgrade for me, but I was wondering if anyone knows if it has the same issue as the H4N. I know it's only available for preorder currently so it might not be known yet.
 
I can't find the H6 specs at this time.
If someone can find the maximum line input level spec, and if it's close to, or over +20dBu, a nominal +4dB input signal will work.
To find if it just has a built-in pad, which attenuates the signal back down to mic level and just goes through the preamps anyway (like many budget recorders), it's much more difficult to find a schematic or block diagram.
 
jbuckwitz said:
I'm not totally sure how to word this, but I am a Tascam DR-40 owner, and I remember when looking at the DR-40 versus the H4N people had said that there was a problem with the H4N's line inputs. The Zoom H6 look like it would be a nice, small upgrade for me, but I was wondering if anyone knows if it has the same issue as the H4N. I know it's only available for preorder currently so it might not be known yet.
Click to expand...

The H6 won't be shipping for at least another 2 months, so no one can know this.
 
The new Zoom H6 has a switchable built-in 20 dB pad for every input, which is specifically designed to deal with LINE level signal input. So LINE level signals won't be a problem with the H6.
 
As I recall, the zoom h4n problem with line levels is it only takes -10db consumer line level. I had to figure that out the hard way when I managed to find a 2.5 plug to xlr so I could plug the h4n to the mix pre d tape out =\

But if the h6 does take +4db pro line level, then i may just get one myself when it comes out!
 
Typically, mic level is a 50dB difference from line, so a 20 dB pad by itself would not be enough for (nominal) +4 operation. Nor would it be a true line input bypassing the preamp.
Of coarse until we see the specs and a schematic it's all speculative.
 
Rick R said:
Typically, mic level is a 50dB difference from line, so a 20 dB pad by itself would not be enough for (nominal) +4 operation
Click to expand...

This is NOT a LINE to MIC level pad, but rather a Zoom specific 20 dB pad.

The Zoom H4n pre-amps can handle a maxium signal strength of -10 dB, so adding a 20 dB pad should enable them to handle a professional +4 dB LINE level signal.
( assuming the H6 pre-amps function like the H4n pre-amps do )
 
Today I just tested a SD Mixpre-d to an H6, the -20db pad (line in) sounded really good to my semi-trained ears. Without the -20db pad is a complete no-go; it clipped/distorted around -12dbs on the H6 meters.

I also tried mic-in, and had to turn off the pad and boost all the way to 8~9 on the h6 gain knobs to get the 1k tone to -12dbs. Didn't sound terrible, but the line-in sounded the best.

I'm going to do a comparison using our new SD664 against the Mixpre-d/H6 combo soon.

I'm not an audio professional, even though I've done a few gigs mixing/booming, and have some experience, but my ears aren't completely trained like some here. Just my initial observations.
 
One of the issues with the H4n is that it is oriented toward plugging in a guitar pickup - so it's over-sensitive even for consumer -10 line level. And there's no pad or other passive attenuation ahead of the first active stage, so clip city.

The H6n starts with a less sensitive input and adds the 20 dB pad. I'm expecting it to work with mixer tape outs and I'll be testing that scenario in the next couple of days.

Fran
 
I just did a quick test yesterday between the Tscam DR-60D and the Zoom H6. I do love the feature rich of the zoom but sadly, recorded audio through two shotgun mics renders louder noise than the Tascam. I will keep both for now as I do have applications for both.
 
Yes, I just had to bump up an old thread.
So have anyone used the Zoom H6 at many concerts trying to get audio from the audio board with a line output? Did the built in -20 pad helped?Was their any situations in which you needed something in between the H6 and the audio board like you sometimes do with the Zoom H4N? I've been using a Zoom H4N for years but I might be upgrading to something like the H5 (I'm assuming it should be just as good as the H6) once I'm able to afford to. It's currently at $270 so not too bad.
 
I have recorded around 80 segments (~20 minutes each) of a TV show with an H6 where we needed 4 separate tracks from the four round-table participants. I used ordinary TRS cords to take the Direct Out from the four channels of the mixer (Mackie 1604) directly into the combo jacks of the H6. It worked just fine for us. Now, if you are dealing with really hot signals (like +10dBu) that may be pushing what the H6 can deal with.
 
The H6 manual states for inputs 1-4: "maximum allowable input level +22 dBu (PAD ON)" which would be an improvement over the H4n, which had a max input level of just +2.0dBu I think (-10dB nominal or there abouts), via the 1/4" TS jack input. I don't know if the H6 L/R inputs can be used with external mics or just the on-board mics.
 
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