A three-microphone setup gives the Olympus DM-620 superior flexibility for balanced recordings in a broad range of situations. The interface is a little challenging for those who aren’t technically inclined, but the great sound quality and 55-foot range of the built-in mics give this voice recorder serious value for capturing meetings and tackling transcribing.

The Olympus VN-702PC is a great general-purpose voice recorder. Because it only supports MP3 and WMA formats, it can’t deliver the same audio quality as higher-end recorders. However, its overall ease of use and portability earn it high praise among those who want a basic but reliable voice recorder for capturing lectures, personal notes and the like.

Excellent performance and powerful features make the Samson Zoom H4n a standout among high-end voice recorders. Its ability to capture music, voice and sound effects makes it ideal for film projects, professional broadcasts and podcasts, and more. Features include dynamic adjustable stereo microphones and four-track recording capabilities. It’s very expensive, but those who value its features say it’s worth it.