Just recorded the same speech with a RODE PinMic connected the 3 pocket size audio recorder for comparison

* Zoom H1
* Olympus DM420
* Sony ICDUX523

Audio Recorders with Lav Microphone Comparison - YouTube

I think the Olympus sounds the best ...

But to be fair, all three are fine.

I feel that H1 delivers the best sound. Olympus is the worst. Sony is great for the size. :)

Zoom hands down, but the Sony is excellent. I need a mic, must check into the pin mic. I have a Rode lavalier, it's great, but the pin mic is so discreet!

Jeff, it was the RODE PinMic.

RODE PinMic Miniature Omnidirectional Microphone (Long Pin Version) | L.A. Color Pros (http://lacolorpros.com/product/?PINMIC-RODE-PinMic-Miniature-Omnidirectional-Microphone-(Long-Pin-Version))

thanks, saw that in your original post after I posted!

Taky do you run them on auto or how to you set the levels to avoid clipping on a shoot?

The recording level was set to auto. There is no recording level set on the sony too. But set the mic sensitivity to low. Since the lav mic is clipped just on the chest level, its loud enough to use low sensitivity.