Agreed, the ICD-UX560 is also nice, I have several. Zoom makes several slightly larger recorders that capture better audio though, the H1 and H2n are great. T

Agreed, the ICD-UX560 is also nice, I have several. Zoom makes several slightly larger recorders that capture better audio though, the H1 and H2n are great. They can record in 24bit (higher dynamic range, easier to capture both soft and loud sounds) and 96KHz, and run on ordinary NiMH AA batteries (the Sony's have internal LiIon). The Sony recorders are 16bit/44.1KHz. However if you're recording to MP3 and just want to capture voice that may not matter as much since the quality will be reduced anyway. The smaller size of the Sony's may matter as well, they will easily fit in a pocket with little bulk whereas the Zoom's will be somewhat uncomfortable in a pocket (though they'll fit). If you're trying to be inconspicuous the Sony's look less like a recorder, the Zoom's very obviously look like recorders with prominent microphones or a mic grill screen.