Zoom - H5 Handy Recorder

I’m new to sound equipment and did some research before making this purchase. In the end, I was stuck between the H4 and H5 as I understood these to be some of the more common in the industry for professional field recording. I’ve been using the H5 for over 6 months now and am very pleased with the crisp, high quality sound it records. I love popping in my headphones and just listening to the enhanced reality surrounding me as I’m recording. Feels surreal, like being in the IMAX. When held close, it captures your voice nicely and is great for audio notes. A bit of a podcast tone to it. The rubber-like material around the grip is great and keeps it from slipping or moving around in your hand. It’s also a slimmer and sleeker build compared to the H4. Light weight and easy to grab with you on the go. I’m very happy with the purchase. While I don’t have personal experience with the H4, I’d say if you can afford it, go for the H5. It’s been improved to offer a more comfortable experience for the user, although I believe the sound itself is highly comparable. The H4 has been used by professionals for years and is too a great investment for a smaller budget.

Been using this device to record audio for my videos. The sound quality is great, plus I love the versatility of the device. The only bummer is that it does not accept 64GB card, only 32 GB.

I am a professional speaker and use this device in the room to record my presentations. It has great sound quality and picks up well even when my back is to the device. Comes with good editing software. I am very pleased.

I already own and love the Zoom H2. It has been my "go-to" recorder for rehearsals, live gigs and as a quickie USB DAW interface. I was drooling over the Zoom H4, and had the opportunity to audition one for a weekend. The inability to balance hyper-sensitive direct inputs with the on-board stereo mics was a deal-breaker. The H5 addresses those issues, plus provides the flexibility of the interchangeable mic and direct input modules. I would give this 5 stars, except the stereo mic capsule that it ships with does not sound as good to my ears as either of the stereo capsules on the H2. I did not test the H5 mics extensively, nor have I tried any of the optional capsules. Further use and investigation of optional capsules could provide a better impression. Honestly, if I could give it a 4.5 star review, I would. The mic capsule is not my highest priority. The quality of the direct inputs, ease of use as a USB DAW interface is. So far, those functions have been 5 star. Mic pre-amp phantom power is sufficient to power a Shure 87A. To my ears, sound was clear with more than enough headroom for my recording purposes (vocals, stringed acoustic instruments). USB DAW functions are SO much faster and easier than navigating all of the shenanigans required to get anything done with my M-Audio Delta 1010, PreSonus FirePod, Focusrite Saffire and Saffire Pro24 DSP. Call me a technophobic wimp, but DAW software interfaces prevent me from getting from power-up to recording tracks in a reasonable amount of time and effort. The H5 is an instant gratification breeze in comparison. The headphone amp is sufficient to power my AKG K-240S headphones, which are fairly power-hungry. The H5 is an awesome Swiss Army Knife device that may be the only recorder you will ever need. Yes, it's that good.

Thus far, I can't say enough good things about the H5, which I use for voiceover work. It's hefty and easy to handle, produces great audio and is easy to warm up to. It requires a bit of a learning curve (I thought the manual could have been more instructional), but the more time you spend with it, the more its good features come to light and become intuitive (oh, I get it). My first impression upon seeing it promoted in an online blog was something akin to "no, I need the real deal, not a gadget." But the H5 has earned its spurs with me. I truly enjoy working with it.