The following are the results of the tests done by "Family and Home Magazine" on some Pocket Tape-Recorders on the market now.   Pearlcorder S702 $64   This simple model at the bottom of the Olympus range scored the most points for its excellent quality of recording. Background noise hardly affects the sound and recording from a pocket is perfectly possible, but it doesn't turn off automatically.   Tape length: 30minutes per side. Weight: 240g.   Sony M9   $49.95   Small and very good looking, Sony's latest offering scored most for its appearance. Sounds clear, but there is slight machine noise. The big control buttons are a great improvement on some of the complicated little controls on other tape-recorders. It doesn't switch off automatically, but a red light shows if the machine is still running.   Tape length: 60minutes per side. Weight: 195g.   Sony M400  $115   Lots of little control buttons that make a noise are difficult to use. Recording is good but machine noise loses points. Tape counter and automatic switch-off when tape has finished recording or rewinding are useful.   Tape length: 60 minutes per side. Weight: 230g.   Imperial OEM MC7  $ 29.95   Cheap and simple compared with the rest, but recording is good as long as there is no background noise. Use only its own-make of cassette. No light to show it is on; no fast-forward button and the record button makes a loud noise.   Tape length: 30 minutes per side. Weight: 285g.   Philips 585  $80   Handsome and simple to use, but recording is very poor at more than the recommended distance of 5 cm-designed for dictation. No recording light.   Tape length: 15 minutes per side. Weight: 220g. What disadvantage does only the Imperial OEM MC7 have?
No light shows when it is on. It requires a special cassette. It picks up background noise. The record button makes a noise.