The Zoom H2 is definitely not the best recorder on the market, there’s no doubt. It’s plastic casing is a little flimsy, and you can feel that you need to be careful with it if you want to keep it for a few years (I recommend changing the case/bag: the original one doesn’t protect it at all!). Plus it’s not reparable so once it stops working it’ll go straight in the trash.

But at 199 euros, it has enough performance for a musician not looking for a pro recorder. The mics are more than adequate , recordings of our rehearsals seemed to be very good and clean. A very nice point: the front/rear mics gave a nice ambient sounding recording in 360° mode.

In addition, it’s menus are simple and it’s easy to record in different formats on the same SD card. No time is lost with the H2. A few seconds are all it takes to modify some parameters. Its ergonomic design was well thought out and you can easily place the device on the ground.

If your looking to buy a good recorder without going bankrupt, the Zoom H2 is the perfect solution. On the other hand, keep in mind that it wasn’t made for pro recordings.

Value for the Money
360° Recording Mode
Ergonomic Design
MP3 Capabilities
Manual is very complete

Fragility
"Disposable" aspect of the device, since it can’t be repaired