Is the Tascam DR-10L Pro Worth the Upgrade? Honest Thoughts

Is the Tascam DR-10L Pro a worthy upgrade from the beloved original DR-10L? It boasts several enhancements like extended battery life, 32-bit float recording, and optional Bluetooth functionality. But are these features truly worth the extra cost?

In this review, we explore the practical benefits of these enhancements. While the Pro model can power a lav mic for over 20 hours and offers 32 bit float audio capabilities, in my professional experience, the original DR-10L's 10-hour battery life and -12dB backup recording have been more than sufficient for preventing lost audio due to clipping.

Adding the AK-BT1 Bluetooth adapter does offer the convenience of starting and stopping recordings remotely, but its limited range and necessity are questionable. Moreover, despite Tascam's promising inclusion of the iZotope RX Elements Audio Repair Bundle—a fantastic tool for noise reduction—I've faced disappointing challenges with software installation.

Ultimately, if you often encounter ultra-long recording days or extreme audio environments, the DR-10L Pro might seem worthwhile. However, a significant improvement to the microphone itself would have been a more impactful upgrade. We're curious about your experiences, though—have you found the DR-10L Pro to be a worthy upgrade? Share your thoughts in the comments!

🎵 Music:
● Intro by Meridian Media

📷 Equipment Featured:

🤝Connect with Us:

😁 Free Downloads:

🌎Business Inquires:

🫶 Support Our Channel:
Some links in our video descriptions are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them.
Let us know what type of content you'd like us to make next!

[TexpatOTG]

I use the DR10x -- as you said, no clipping issues. The only time I ever had a problem, I traced it to user error. Never a problem again. The 10x is a little bulky with the 3.5mm to XLR adapter on it, but I am usually just plugging it directly into an interview mic. My first upgrade to 32-bit float will probably be my field recorder. Cheers -- good show!

[jonathanvogler]

I loved the dual-record option from the older version. This new version doesn't seem to offer dual-record. Is that not necessary with the 32 float feature?

[MeridianMedia]

Hey everyone! Tascam just dropped the price on the DR-10L Pro by $50 USD, so it currently costs $149.00. At this price point, I do think the value proposition is a lot stronger and certainly worth paying an extra $24 over the original DR-10L.