XLR input noise compared with Zoom H4n

C

cwoodhou

Active member
I have read a lot of discussion about the 'noisy' Zoom H4n preamp and so decided to conduct a little experiment:

I connected a Rode NTG3 to both H4n and HMC151, using Phantom Power, and set the gains so that a reference tone was -12dB on each. In a quiet room, I then swathed the mic in sound deadening material and recorded the background noise with each device.

I put the audio signal back into FCP and also Audacity and measured the noise floor with each. The Zoom H4n was about 8 dB lower than the HMC151, which was a little surprising. (I also experimented with batteries vs. plug-in PSU, with inconclusive results).
 
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Thanks for posting. These things are often mysteries until someone goes and tests them out. I've found the Zoom to be a handy little recorder, although battery life with phantom power engaged dies quicker than whales in space.
 
I have since sold the Zoom and bought the Marantz PMD661. The noise is lower still but more importantly, the sound from condenser mikes with phantom is better sounding. (Less harsh) I have found a link that measures high distortion on the XLR inputs on the Zoom and that might account for it. The zoom is a very handy package though.
 
Yes, the hmc 150 is noisy. The zoom is a bit harsh. Best to get an edirol or sound devices recorder if you care about eliminating the noise floor and having a great pro audio quality. But the zoom and hmc150 are great for many things without going that route.
 
Good choice. I have a PMD661 too. Based on some tests I heard, I think it's about 95% of a Sound Devices recorder at a much lower price. Definitely a lot of bang for the buck there.

I think your test also underscores the fact that even if you are shooting on a video camera with XLR inputs, a good dual system sound setup is still going to sound better.

I wonder how, say, the AF100 mic preamps compare to the PMD661?
 
Just ran a little test myself tonight. I connected my shotgun AT897 into my MixPre and ran it into the HMC150 via Mic2 set for Line in. I then recorded myself talking with the built in mic. I had set the audio levels using the MixPre 1k tone. This set the audio levels at approx. mid point of the dial. I then switched the HMC150 to mic in and recorded myself. I then switched to the AT897 run through the MixPre into the HMC as line in. The recording level was dramaticallly better ( did I need to set the tone by the internal tone and bars setting? Was this an erroneous test? I figured 1k should be 1k), better through the MixPre. Levels were higher and more pleasing, less need to boost gain to get the proper volume level. But more importantly, there was virtually no hiss compared to the built in mics. This leads me to assume that mixing through the Mixpre is going to give me radically better sound quality under all conditions. Have I ignored some simple situation? I could probably have checked volume and hiss levels with just the AT897. It still doesn't perform as well in low light as my 7D, but it is a much better video camera overall, given that I have far greater control over the input/outputs. Heck, I wish the 7D just had a line in switch for the mic input!

mixpre and hmc15.jpg
 
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