Zoom H5 Reviews

Very versatile and worth the money

I wanted to primarily record foley for use in music (sounds in nature or everyday objects etc.) but I ended up using it to also record band rehearsals and to record some friends' music performances (with the built in XY mic or with the SSH-6 - purchased separately). I have it for approx. 1 year and a half now and over time while getting used to it, its functions, workflow and its limitations I can say that it is a great device.

The sound is quite decent and the XY mic definitely delivers better sound than built-in mics from mobile phones or tablets. The amount of versatility this device brings is also quite astonishing. Being able to use it as a portable audio interface and having XLR/TRS connectors already brings a lot to the table.

The biggest downside is the high preamp noise which can be worked around if you sucessfuly sample a second or two of pure silence and then remove the noise in post production. The other downside is that when recording it produces quite a lot of handling noise if you're not super still. That's why I mostly use it on a stand.

Semi pro

i bought this product to start a sound journey from a long passion for the nature harmonies but also for the consequence sounds of man made invensions.

i have little to no experience with audio recorders but i can tell that the Zoom h5 seems semi pro for the way is built and for the way the sound recorded is clean.

it is entusiastic for me to have this recorder because i can grow with it, with the numerous microphones i can buy for it and be able to record up to 4 tracks, separately.

Versatile portable audio device for numerous applications

We bought this audio device for our NGO to capture audio on the go for our videos, interviews, podcasts and also in a booth to record voice over using XLR inputs. And for this price we just could not find anything that would match zoom h5 in its usability, audio quality and portability. As of right now you probably won't find anything better!

Nonetheless, it has its shortcomings. For example...

- when you push the gain dial on a XLR input over 6~7, self noise of preamps will become apparent (can be mitigated if you use something like a Fethead/Cloudlifter)

- attenuated backup recording available only for XY capsule. If you are recording using XLR inputs you have to stick to only one file.

- device is powered via 2xAA and battery life is significantly shorter if you use phantom power. Fortunately it can be power also via power bank or usb to wall plug adapter. So if you are shooting indoors you can pretty much forget about the battery life. If you don't have access to electricity, make sure to have spare batteries in your pocket.

So for the recap...

Pros: audio quality, portability, use applications, possibility to use as an audio interface for your PC

Cons: self noise when your exceed that 6-ish mark on a gain knob, battery life when using phantom power, only digital limiter

As I already mentioned, it is a great audio recorder and if your needs are similar to ours, I am sure you will love it!

Great device

It does exactly what it should. It's made of plastic, which makes it very light, but feels a bit cheap in my opinion. Besides that, great thing.

Very easy to pick up and use

This device has a simplicity unmatched by other recorders I've used in the past and the audio quality is stand out as well. Very glad to have this device as part of my main setup.

Pros:

Ease of use

Audio Quality

Start up time

Cons:

Plastic case can creak when being held in hand which could be picked up by a mic (hence the 4/5 on handling), this could be mitigated by use of the remote (not included) and/or a small stand for it. It has a tripod head mount which could be used for this purpose.

Great little recorder!

This is the first recorder I've bought. I'm using this for voice over work instead of using an interface. Just like the review videos on YouTube I really like and recommend this recorder. Loving all the little features that this product offers. For what I'm wanting to do the Zoom H5 is a great buy!

Stunning recorder!

Amazing recording quality with convenient Phantom power on board. Battery life is pretty short when using Phantom power but it's absolutely obvious. You can easily use an external USB power supply or battery pack if you need to extend the battery life when using onboard Phantom power. I love the simplicity, build quality, user interface is very simple and quick to learn.

Surprisingly Easy To Use

I read manuals before using a product, but I was slightly confused by the multi or stereo recording functionality - however, following the instructions fixed this immediately. Overall I'm finding it easier to work with than the H4N - press the record button and it records! Guessing that was something Zoom listened to customers on. The onboard mic isn't that great but is definitely workable.

PROS (compared to H4N): Lightweight; Very quick start; Menu navigation much quicker; I like the protected potentiometers on the front - much easier to adjust than the side dial; Easy card access - instead of going through battery pack, dedicated slot.

CONS: It's plastic, so does pick up noise if handheld - would seriously recommend getting the microphone stand converter as that will reduce 90% of your handling noise (can also be used with all Zoom recorders, so worthwhile); If you're not familiar with Zoom recorders could be tricky to learn everything; The stereo mic that it comes with seems focused at a slightly odd angle - the pickup angle is definitely not a perfect arc.

I've been surprised by how good this is - and the quick start (32GB card, about 5 seconds compared to around 40 seconds for H4) makes it a no-brainer for me.

One big super combo!

This device really suprised me. For everyone that need a device for recording into which you can stil plug in extra microphones if you need them, this is the best choice I know. A huge advantage is an option of battery-powering, which makes it portable and ready to use also outside, where you don't have electricity.

One of the reason I like it so much is also that you can use it in audio interference mode.

I would say that it is really one big combination of quality features and a very good piece of equipment for anyone who doesn't need super expensive studio equipment, but still wants to do some recordings of good quality.

Fast to deploy, excellent sound quality

Despite the many features, the most important thing I needed was a recorder that you could switch on and start recording with right away. It's excellent. Switch on, select microphones (there should be some way that this happens by default, but I haven't found it), press the record button and you're going.

The sound has been excellent and the stereo image convincing. Works right out of the box – five stars.

only a consumer focused recorder

For no budget projects its a decent recorder but zoom's "H" series is known for having bad preamps.

Zoom 5 is great

It has a great amount of pros. The interface is nice. The sound is great. It has so many different purpuses. It has very intuitive UI, I've always found what I was looking for without any problems. The only thing I dislike about it, is that it feels a bit bulky, but for a machine of this kind of power it is expected.

Great stuff.

das paket hat am richtiger tag angekommt

der rekorder ist licht und geb es ein wunderbach ton.

fur ein professionell rekorder es ist sehr praktich und

auch super einfach dann mann eine mit kann nehmen

arrived on the right day

the recorder is light and gives it a wonderful sound.

For a professional recorder it is very practical and

  super easy take one whith you

 chegou no dia certo

o gravador é leve e dá um som maravilhoso.

Para um gravador profissional é muito prático e

super fácil de leva-lo contigo

Superb portable audio recorder

I am very satisfied. Audio recordings quality is outstanding. Device is very well built, except maybe the door of batteries compartment, we will see how long it will last. The battery life is completely enough to record the whole day, excellent.

A nice little recorder

I'm using that recorder on the field on videos and short films and it gets the job done. I'm using it with an external microphone most of the time and as a primary external recording device.

Best choice for the price!

The unit is the perfect size for a portable recorder! Smaller and much lighter than the H6 (also because it uses only 2 batteries compared to 4 for the H6).

Sound quality is top notch of course. The included mic is good and works well even for live bootleg recordings, and the XLR inputs have excellent quality.

Would not think twice about choosing this again!

perfect

Zoom H5 is just perfect with the sound quality and easy to use. one of the function I like is auto backup recording. I am recommending Zoom H5

Awesome recorder

This is a great product, highly recommend it!

Excellent Product

The best handy recorder you can buy. Cannot beat at this price point..

You will not go wrong with this ...

Certain improvement over H4

I've extensive experience with H1, H4-n, H5 and H6, and I must say that H5 is my favorite.

Pros:

External mic preamps are very quiet, much better than H4

Handling noise is minimized thanks to the matte surface

Detachable internal mics makes it compact and much easier to use it for booming applications

I love the protective metal over the gain knobs

Works as an interface

Cons:

The internal mic quality is still disappointing (not a significant improvement over H4). You gotta turn the nob to around 8 most of the time to get a decent sound but taht introduces an awful hiss. Also, I find the high frequencies quite harsh, almost distorted even in medium gain settings.

Internal mics are way too frail, I broke a plastic part already when it fell from only half a meter height

Interface is tedious

No internal memory

Only 44 and 48 kHz operation when using it as interface (no 96)

Get this if you will mainly use external mics, the preamp quality is worth the upgrade from H4 ,and it's very affordable. If you don't need the extra inputs, I find H6 redundant, because sound quality is very similar if not the same. If you'll only need the internal mics, I'd recommend Sony D100, but that's in another price range. I'm afraid Similar units like Tascam won't be a big of a difference in that manner as an alternative.