I’m going to be honest, I pretty much live with my Sony digital recorder by my side. I use it for dictating my novels, but it’s also handy when you need to brainstorm or set reminders for yourself.
I chose the Sony ICD-PX370 after doing some serious research. For the price tag, it’s tough to beat the quality. I made that purchase in September 2021 and used it every day, throughout the day, for a full three years before it stopped responding when I plugged it into my computer. Since I replaced it with an identical recorder six months ago, I’m well prepared to give you the scoop.
Specs
- Price: $74.99.
- Dimensions: 1.51 inches wide x 4.49 inches high x 0.76 inches deep.
- Weight: 2.61 ounces.
- Built-in memory: 4 GB.
- Battery life: 55 to 62 hours.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Outstanding battery life.
- Built-in USB connector.
- Lightweight and durable.
Cons
- No built-in rechargeable battery.
- Mono-only recording.
- Screen is not backlit.
Sony ICD-PX370 Mono Digital Voice Recorder
First Impressions: The Unboxing
The Sony ICD-PX370 comes in a slim package that has everything you need. You’ll get:
- The recorder.
- Two AAA batteries.
- Small user guide.
- Warranty card.
The lean, minimalistic packaging approach made it easy to open. From there, you’ll just need to pop the batteries into the compartment on the back and switch it on.
You’ll be prompted to set the date and time, and I highly recommend taking the few extra seconds to do that. When you pull your recordings over to your computer, they’ll be stamped with the date and time each file was created, which helps you track down files later.
What’s Good: Performance in the Real World
After four years, I find myself constantly recommending this recorder to people. Here are some of the reasons I regularly sing this recorder’s praises:
Ease of Use
The Sony ICD-PX370 is fairly easy to use — you simply press the Record button and start talking. I pair it with the Sony Compact Stereo Lavalier Microphone, which I can clip to my seatbelt in the car for dictating on the go.
The recorder has some not-so-user-friendly aspects worth noting, though. The screen isn’t backlit and, to be honest, sometimes it’s hard to see the digital readout on it. It also took me a while to find the settings screen.
Recording Quality
When I was shopping for a recorder, I was torn between this model and the Sony ICD-PX470, which records in stereo. I wondered if it would be worth spending another $20 for the stereo version, which boasts focus and wide-stereo recording. But, the transcriptions come through perfectly (most of the time) on the mono version, and it does seem to filter out background noise.
After four years, though, I will say that occasionally the recorder just fails me. I’m not sure why. I’ll play back the audio and it didn’t record a thing I said, even though I did nothing differently. It happens every 100 recordings or so, making it not a huge deal, but I’ve taken to limiting my recordings to 15 minutes. If one fails, I won’t have lost too much.
Battery Life
The Sony ICD-PX370 promises 57 hours of battery life and that sounds about right. I typically record at least an hour a day, but most people won’t use it as often. That means you can expect to get a few months out of each battery change. It takes two AAA batteries.
Connectivity
If you’re buying a recorder with a built-in USB connector, chances are you’re going to need to move it to your computer. I have a MacBook Pro with a USB-C port, so, of course, the USB-A connector won’t work. You’ll need a USB-A to USB-C connector in this case. I have Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, which also allows me to connect to a projector on the rare occasion I need to.
Built-In Memory
The recorder comes with a 4 GB memory card, and you can add up to 32 GB, thanks to the micro SD slot. As a heavy user of this recorder, I can say that 4 GB will likely be fine for most people. Even with regular use, I don’t bother with extra memory. I simply go through the procedure to erase the recordings when I get the warning that I’m running out.
To clear the 4 GB of memory, you’ll follow these steps:
- Make sure you’ve moved all your recordings over.
- Hit the Home button.
- Hit the right arrow once to go to settings.
- Press the Play button to open settings.
- Press the down arrow twice and choose Common Settings.
- Choose Reset/Format.
- Choose Format Built-In Memory.
- Choose Yes to erase all data.
Portability
Weighing only 2.61 ounces, this recorder travels well. I’ll shove it into one back pocket and my phone into the other, then head to my car. You can also lift up on the power button to freeze the front panel, making it impossible to accidentally shut off your recording while you’re walking around. Since I tend to use a lavalier microphone, that feature comes in handy for dictating while doing chores. The recorder also fits easily into a laptop or purse pocket.
What’s Not-So-Good: A Few Little Annoyances
No piece of technology is perfect, and the Sony ICD-PX370 is no exception. Here are a few pesky things to consider before you buy.
No Rechargeable Battery
Some customers complain about the lack of a rechargeable battery on this recorder, but I have to say I see a benefit to the non-rechargeable option. I sometimes dictate my books on road trips, and the stress of having to ensure it had enough charge to last would be a little much. It’s much easier to have some spare AAAs on hand in case the recorder dies en route. Of course, you can always buy rechargeable AAA batteries if you want that feature.
No Stereo Recording Option
This recorder is perfect if you’re using it to record audio and transcribe it. However, if you’re recording music and want immersive sound, you’ll likely want to opt for the ICD-PX470.
No Backlight
Yes, I mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating: The screen on this recorder isn’t backlit, and it can be tough to see it sometimes. I often find myself shifting it to better see it in the light. But, there is a red light that lets you know when it’s recording, and that red light blinks when you put it on pause.
Clunky File Management
The recorder saves each recording as an mp3 file, which is fine for my use. But in 2025, it’s a little odd that the only way to get files from the recorder to your computer is by using a USB connection. I think we’ve all gotten used to moving files with cloud technology, so this old-school tech is a little inconvenient.
Customer Service and Warranty
Fortunately, I haven’t had to use Sony’s customer service yet. I bought my recorder on Amazon, and if it failed fairly early, I could’ve sent it back. It didn’t. I still have the packaging just in case, though!
The ICD-PX370 comes with a one-year limited warranty. This covers only the hardware components. For the first 90 days, Sony will cover labor and even replace the recorder if it proves to be defective.
Sony ICD-PX370 Mono Digital Voice Recorder
The Final Verdict
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love the Sony ICD-PX370 recorder. If you’re looking for a relatively affordable digital recorder for interviews, personal voice notes or meetings, this is a great choice. You might miss some bells and whistles, but for the price tag, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything as reliable or useful. Not only do I recommend it all the time, but when my first one wore out, I bought the identical recorder and I use it every day. Do I still wish it had a backlit screen and seamless cloud sync with my laptop? Sure. But for the price, I’m happy with it exactly as it is.
