Zoom H4n Pro vs. Tascam DR-40X

If you’re looking for an entry-level portable audio recorder that has XLR inputs — and let’s face it: you are — there are two models you should definitely consider: the Zoom H4n Pro and the Tascam DR-40X. In this post, I compare them closely, show you what makes them different and what features they share, and suggest which model better suits different kinds of people. It will be fascinating and surely blow your mind. You = 🤯.

NOTE: This post is about the current versions of these recorders, I have a separate post that compares the older Zoom H4n and Tascam DR-40.

If you just want a quick answer as to which recorder to get and don’t have time to read this article (because that will take you five minutes), I’ll break it down like this:

So, tell me a little bit about these recorders…

Both of these recorders are compact handheld devices, but they’re a bit too bulky to comfortably stick in the pocket of your pants. The main job they perform is to record audio digitally, but they have lots of other features and capabilities. They’re not purpose-built for a specific task, such as being the ultimate portable podcast-making machines, but rather, they try to be many different things to many different people. Which means they’re flexible, but have a lot going on in their menus and controls.

Both of these models have been around for almost a decade, but they were updated to newer versions in the past couple of years. It took a long time for them to get updated, so if you buy one soon, don’t feel like they’re going to come out with a new and improved version a week later. They probably won’t. The Zoom H4n Pro and Tascam DR-40X will remain the same for a nice, long time.

What’s different about these recorders?

Max SD Card Capacity: The Tascam DR-40X is compatible with up to 128GB SD cards. The Zoom H4n Pro is only compatible with cards up to 32GB. That’s a big difference, but in audio 32GB gives you plenty of recording space. 128GB gives you an insane amount of recording space.

Inputs: Both of these recorders feature 2 combo 1/4 + XLR inputs, but they’re not the same. The combo inputs on the Zoom H4n Pro have Hi-Z instrument inputs on their 1/4″ sockets. This means you can plug an electric guitar or bass straight into them. Both recorders feature built-in guitar tuners, but on the DR-40X the guitar tuner only works when you use its built-in mics. That’s kinda lame. The Zoom H4n Pro also has a stereo 1/8″ input (which the DR-40X lacks). This means you can plug mics like the Rode VideoMic NTG directly into it. The combo inputs on the DR-40X are made by Neutrik, which are high-quality parts. Tascam gets points for that detail.

Line-Level Signals: If you ever need to record a line-level signal, such as the feed from a DJ mixer or a sound board, the DR-40X features a physical switch that converts all of its external inputs to line-level sensitivity. The Zoom H4n Pro cannot do this. In fact, the XLR inputs on the H4n Pro cannot handle line-level signals without distorting. The only way to record line-level signals with the H4n Pro is to plug into its 1/4″ inputs, and these inputs are unbalanced, making this even more of a compromise.

Built-in Effects: Both of these recorders have built-in effects, but they are not equal. The DR-40X only has one effect: reverb. There are a few different presets, like Hall, Plate, Studio, and Room, but that’s it. The Zoom H4n Pro has many different kinds of built-in effects, from guitar amp and cabinet modeling, to compressors, limiters, phasers, tremolos, delays, and more. There are around 50 effects presets in the Zoom H4n Pro.

Battery Life: The battery compartment of the Tascam DR-40X holds 3 AA batteries, while the Zoom H4n Pro only holds 2. This gives the DR-40X an advantage in battery life. Depending on how you’re using the recorder, your battery times will vary, but in general the Tascam DR-40X provides longer operational time compared to the Zoom H4n Pro.

Microphone Preamps: One of the big upgrades from the old Zoom H4n and the current H4n Pro are the microphone preamps. The H4n Pro has the same preamps found in the higher-end Zoom H5 and Zoom H6 recorders. They have less self-noise, and provide slightly cleaner sounding recordings. The preamps in the Tascam DR-40X are the same ones found in the older DR-40. They’re not bad, but the preamps in the H4n Pro are subtlety better.

Built-In Mic Positioning: Both of these recorders feature built-in stereo condenser microphones, but they are not equal in how they can be positioned. The mics on the Zoom H4n Pro can be swiveled to either capture a tighter 90° area or a wider 120° area. Personally, I find this a bit lacking. The microphones on the Tascam DR-40X physically flip outward from a tighter X/Y position to a wider A/B position. These are far more useful and effective in my opinion. The X/Y position is better for recording stereo sounds that you need to be tighter and more adaptable to mono, the A/B position is better for capturing true stereo ambiance.

Materials: The top of the Zoom H4n Pro is made of metal, and the microphones feel like they have an aluminum exterior. The Tascam DR-40X is almost entirely plastic, with the exception of the metal bars that protect its plastic microphones, and the metal XLR locks on the bottom. The body of the H4n Pro has a rubber-like grippy texture. The body of the DR-40X has a purely plastic texture.

Locking XLR Connectors: One thing that made the old Zoom H4n and Tascam DR-40 different was that the Zoom didn’t have locking XLR connectors. This has been changed on the Zoom H4n Pro. The XLR inputs now have locks. Zoom did a nice job of designing the locking connector area of the recorder, as it can stand up perfectly when resting on its base. The DR-40X leans forward a little when resting on its base, because the locks stick out a bit.

Included Accessories: In the old days recorders like these would ship with included SD cards, but they no longer do. The DR-40X only comes with 3 AA batteries, and they’re about the worst, most useless batteries you’ll ever encounter. They die within minutes of using them. They’re terrible. To its credit, the Zoom H4n Pro doesn’t include any batteries. But it does include a fitted plastic case. It’s the same case the H4n has also come with, and it’s wonderful. Zoom gets extra point for that one.

Another thing that’s different about these recorders is how they manage files. The Zoom H4n Pro forces you to use folders to store the audio you create. It even has a hardware button labeled “Folders.” There are 10 folders, and the idea is that you should intentionally choose which folder you’re going to put files into as you record. This seems like a decent workflow for very specific types of recording tasks, but as a forced default, I find that it adds unnecessary complexity. I often need to hunt for files, rather than being able to find them quickly.

The file structure of the DR-40X is pleasantly straight forward. You make some recordings, you pop the SD card into your computer, and boom, there is a single folder on the card named “MUSIC” and the files you recorded are inside of it. Yes, it’s a silly little thing to complain about, but I’ll tell you, when I’m trying to get work done and Zoom makes me go hunting through 10 folders to find something, it adds stress to the process.

What’s similar about the H4n Pro and DR-40X?

Price: The amount these recorders sell for tends to fluctuate throughout the year, but in general, the Zoom H4n Pro is always a little bit more expensive. Sometimes it’s only $10 USD more, sometimes it’s a bit more than that.

Size and Shape: These things look like each other. They have almost the exact same height and width, they’re pointy on the top and squared off on the bottom. The Zoom H4n Pro is a bit heavier, though. With batteries and an SD card installed, it weighs 347 grams. The Tascam DR-40X with batteries and an SD card weighs 289 grams.

More stuff in common: Let’s do a rapid-fire list because this is taking forever:

• They both have built-in speakers
• They both have metal 1/4-20 female tripod threads on their backs so you can mount them
• They both have blue back-lit screens, but the screen of the Zoom H4n Pro is a little bigger
• They both can record four tracks simultaneously using their inputs and built-in mics
• They both have little ports where you can connect a wired remote control
• They both have lights around their Record buttons, but the Zoom H4n Pro has more lights in general
• They both can set up to be used as USB microphones for computers

They also can be used as audio interfaces for computers. The reference manual for the DR-40X states that it can be used as an audio interface for Apple iOS mobile devices as well, if you use an official Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter. You won’t find a word about this in the Zoom H4n Pro manual, but according to the Zoom Support team, it can also be used as an interface with Apple devices using the same official adapter.

So the Zoom H4n Pro is the better choice, right?

You might be thinking, hmmm, better sounding preamps, better metal and rubber-like build materials, 50 effects as opposed to 1, an extra 1/8″ input, the Zoom H4n Pro is better in every way!

Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. The DR-40X flat out beats the Zoom H4n Pro in some ways. The ability to record line-level signals with both its XLR inputs and 1/4″ inputs is a big one, but there are more.

Boot-up time is important with a portable audio recorder. If you’re shooting a video and you need to start recording right away, the amount of time it takes to power up your audio recorder and start recording matters. It takes the Tascam DR-40X 6 seconds to power on and start recording. It takes the Zoom H4n Pro 19 seconds to power on and start recording.

The rubber-like grippy coating on the H4n Pro may seem like it’s definitely better than the plain plastic body of the DR-40X, but even this isn’t always the case. I own a discontinued recorder called the Edirol R-09-HR, which also has a rubber-like grippy coating. I thought it was nice until it started mutating into a sticky-like material. Now that recorder is yucky to pick up and hold. I’ve owned the H4n Pro for a couple years now, and it’s fine, but there is a review on Amazon from a person whose H4n Pro went from grippy to sticky. There were also several people complaining about this issue in the YouTube comments of the recently announced Zoom H8 audio recorder:

Choosing between these two models isn’t a clear-cut thing. Both choices have their pros and cons, and there isn’t an all-out clear winner.

It comes down to personal taste

I own both of these recorders, and when I need to make a recording, I more often pick up the Tascam DR-40X. Why? I prefer the controls. Some of the controls are a bit odd, for example, there’s no On/Off button or switch, you hold down the Stop button to turn it on and off. But besides that, the controls on the DR-40X make a little more sense to my brain.

One of the major controls on the Zoom H4n Pro is the click-wheel on its right side. You move the wheel up and down to scroll through on-screen menus, you push it to select, and press a separate Menu button on the right side to go back. They are the exact same controls that were on the old Zoom H4n. I didn’t like using them on the old machine, and I still don’t like using them today.

Does that mean the Tascam DR-40X is the better choice? No. There is one major problem with the DR-40X. For some reason it struggles with dynamic microphones. Dynamic mics are commonly used in live music, for example, the Shure SM58 is one of the most common microphones used on the stages of music venues. Dynamic mics like the Shure SM58 are also excellent for recording podcasts. You can plug a dynamic mic into a DR-40X and make a decent sounding recording, but if you listen closely, you will hear some noise in the signal.

To hear audio samples of the Tascam DR-40X with dynamic microphones, be sure to check out my In-Depth Review of the Tascam DR-40X.

The higher-quality preamps in the Zoom H4n Pro are a significant advantage over the Tascam DR-40X, even if when you’re not using dynamic mics. I published a separate post about how to use a single microphone with the Zoom H4n Pro and Tascam DR-40X, and at the end I included an audio recording sample that compares the sound quality of both recorders. You should check out that post and give it a listen.

Here’s the thing: neither of these recorders are bad. You cannot make a bad choice. In fact, it’s kind of silly that this blog post even exists.

My advice to you is to pick the recorder that appeals to you more. If you’re leaning toward the Zoom H4n Pro, go for it. If you think you like the Tascam DR-40X more, then go pick one up.

At the beginning of this post I recommended specific recorder for specific types of people. Let me elaborate on that a little as we wrap this thing up.

Musicians: If you need a recorder primarily for music production, the H4n Pro is the better choice. It’s got much more elaborate built-in effects, the instrument tuner is more useful, and it even has a metronome with a virtual cowbell.

Filmmakers: If you need a recorder primarily to record sound for your video productions, I think the DR-40X is the better choice. It’s slightly cheaper, and filmmakers like to save money, it can be set to record Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) files, which are good for video shoots, it has a Dual function where it makes a second copy of the audio at a lower level in case the main recording gets overloaded, and it has a built-in tone generator, which is useful for syncing sound to picture.

🌊 What’s a Broadcast Wave Format file? A BWF file is similar to a regular .wav audio file. It has the same .wav extension, and can be used like a regular .wav audio file. What makes it different is that a BWF file stores metadata that’s useful for video production. For example, the DR-40X has a “Mark” button on it. When you press this button during a take, it leaves a marker timestamped on the file. Other software compatible with BWF files, such as Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere, and Pro Tools can later use these markers.

Podcasters: Because the Zoom H4n Pro records a cleaner sound with dynamic microphones, I think it’s the better choice for podcast producers. Dynamic mics are inexpensive, and if you position them properly and set proper levels, they sound great in podcasts. If you want to hear dynamic mics being used in a podcast, we use a Shure SM58 and an Audix OM-1 on our show, give it a listen.

If you record line-level: Duh. The Tascam DR-40X handles line-level better. I feel like this topic has sufficiently been covered in this post.

If you want to hear how the Zoom H4n Pro handles line-level signals, be sure to check out my In-Depth Review of the Zoom H4n Pro.

So that’s pretty much it. Thanks for checking out this blog post! If it was helpful, you can help me by using the links below when you make a purchase. I get a tiny commission when you click on them and buy something, even if you’re just getting a new swimsuit.

👉 One last thing to consider… Even though the current versions of these recorders are slightly better, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a used model of the previous generation of these devices on eBay. The old Tascam DR-40 sells for between $90 to $130 USD, and the old Zoom H4n sells for between $85 to $130 USD. They both sound and perform nearly as good as the new ones. See, I told you your 🧠 would 🤯.

Purchase Links

Zoom H4n Pro – Amazon, B&H Photo

Tascam DR-40X – Amazon, B&H Photo

Grab a used, older model Zoom H4n – eBay

Get a used, older model Tascam DR-40 – eBay