Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The EVISTR L53 is a newcomer in the PCM audio recorder market, being just released in December of 2016.
Its audio quality exceeds what you'd expect from a device priced at a modest $55. However, its two stereo microphones' self-noise becomes conspicuous when increasing their gain beyond conservative levels.
Quality control does seem to vary between one example and another. My particular recorder tended to record its left channel of audio at a greatly reduced volume in contrast to its right. This became observable when later reviewing its recorded audio files. In fact, the brief sample of its line-input recording capabilities needed to have its left channel amplified in great measure during the editing phase to compensate for this.
Much cannot be expected from a sub $75 audio recorder. Still, in many respects, the EVISTR L53 surprised me with its quality, construction, and qualifications. Serving not only as a mere field recorder, it has the capacity of accepting an external microphone, line-level devices (such as a CD player, audio mixer, etc.), or landline telephones as audio inputs.
The telephone recording functionality can be expanded upon by enabling the voice activated recording and track separate capabilities found within in its menus. Whenever a telephone call is placed or received, the device will record without manual intervention. At the culmination of the call, the recorder will automatically create a file of that call and then prepare to do the same thing once more. All the calls will be recorded as separate files complete with time/date metadata. It is in this manner that one could quite possibly use this as a fully automated call recorder. Of course, this functionality isn't exclusive to recording telephone calls!
Presenting an example of its noise reduction capabilities slipped from my memory during the editing stage; it isn't anything remarkable in performance. The end result is akin to Audacity's noise-reduction filter being used with its default settings.
In closing, consideration should be made to the mention of Six valence chromium CR(VI), otherwise described as Hexavalent Chromium, being present in the unit's "shell and structural" parts. According to the manual, the levels of CR(VI) +6 used exceed the limits of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive set forth by the European Union for the explicit purpose of preventing and restricting the inclusion of these and similar dangerous chemicals from appearing in everyday products. Take from that what you may.
The EVISTR L53 is a newcomer in the PCM audio recorder market, being just released in December of 2016.
Its audio quality exceeds what you'd expect from a device priced at a modest $55. However, its two stereo microphones' self-noise becomes conspicuous when increasing their gain beyond conservative levels.
Quality control does seem to vary between one example and another. My particular recorder tended to record its left channel of audio at a greatly reduced volume in contrast to its right. This became observable when later reviewing its recorded audio files. In fact, the brief sample of its line-input recording capabilities needed to have its left channel amplified in great measure during the editing phase to compensate for this.
Much cannot be expected from a sub $75 audio recorder. Still, in many respects, the EVISTR L53 surprised me with its quality, construction, and qualifications. Serving not only as a mere field recorder, it has the capacity of accepting an external microphone, line-level devices (such as a CD player, audio mixer, etc.), or landline telephones as audio inputs.
The telephone recording functionality can be expanded upon by enabling the voice activated recording and track separate capabilities found within in its menus. Whenever a telephone call is placed or received, the device will record without manual intervention. At the culmination of the call, the recorder will automatically create a file of that call and then prepare to do the same thing once more. All the calls will be recorded as separate files complete with time/date metadata. It is in this manner that one could quite possibly use this as a fully automated call recorder. Of course, this functionality isn't exclusive to recording telephone calls!
Presenting an example of its noise reduction capabilities slipped from my memory during the editing stage; it isn't anything remarkable in performance. The end result is akin to Audacity's noise-reduction filter being used with its default settings.
In closing, consideration should be made to the mention of Six valence chromium CR(VI), otherwise described as Hexavalent Chromium, being present in the unit's "shell and structural" parts. According to the manual, the levels of CR(VI) +6 used exceed the limits of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive set forth by the European Union for the explicit purpose of preventing and restricting the inclusion of these and similar dangerous chemicals from appearing in everyday products. Take from that what you may.
