Memorex MB2180S Personal Micro Cassette Recorder

Product Review

Memorex's MB2180 personal microcassette recorder doesn't have many features that set it apart from the crowd, but it's a solid unit that gets the job done. It's also one of the few microcassette recorders we've tested that's truly useful out of the box, as it comes with one blank tape.

The unit is powered by two AA batteries or via the 3-volt DC jack. It doesn't come with a power supply, but we had no trouble getting it to run with a cheap universal adapter purchased at the local electronics store. A large red LED protrudes from the side of the recorder and stays lit as long as the unit has power. It's garish, but considering how important it is to know when the recorder needs batteries, it's a practical addition. We were somewhat disappointed with the MB2180's controls, as the buttons are narrow and extremely stiff, which made using the fast-forward/rewind cue switch less than enjoyable (and also less than precise).

Recording can be done either manually or turned over to the automatic voice-activated circuitry. We were impressed with the quality--especially on the full-speed setting. Recordings were clear, and the built-in microphone did a great job of recording only what it was pointed at. The sound quality gets a little muffled on the half-speed setting, but it's still adequate for making personal recordings or conducting close-up interviews if you need as much recording time as possible. There's also a headphone jack if you don't want to listen to playback through the unit's decent integrated speaker. The MB2180 isn't the most feature-rich recorder we've ever tested, but it does its job well and its low price belies its overall value. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Comes with everything you need to start recording (except batteries)
• Good recording quality
• Relatively inexpensive

Cons:

• Low-quality buttons
• Not the smallest recorder on the market

Amazon.com Product Review

Take the compact Memorex MB2180S microcassette recorder with you to meetings or interviews for easy, quality recording. VOX (voice activation) allows you to record hands-free, and you can record manually at two speeds to save tape. Other features include a headphone jack, tape counter, and built-in microphone. This recorder weighs only 9 ounces, comes with one blank microcassette tape, and has a 90-day warranty.

Customer Reviews