# Zoom F3 vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Zoom F3 (Zoom) and Sound Devices MixPre-6 II (Sound Devices) among field recorders. Zoom F3 is the cheaper of the two at $329.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Zoom F3 | Sound Devices MixPre-6 II |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $329.99 | $1150 |
| Brand | Zoom | Sound Devices |
| Released | 2022 | — |
| Xlr inputs | 2 | 4 |
| Max tracks | 2 | 8 |
| Max bit depth bits | 32 | 32 |
| Max sample rate (kHz) | 192 | 192 |
| Thirty two bit float | Yes | Yes |
| Phantom power | Yes | Yes |
| Built in mics | No | No |
| Storage type | microSD | SD |
| Display type | mono-LCD | color-touch |
| Power source | AA | AA |
| Battery life hrs | 8 | — |
| Weight grams | — | — |

## Key differences

- Xlr inputs: Zoom F3 2 vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II 4
- Max tracks: Zoom F3 2 vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II 8
- Storage type: Zoom F3 microSD vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II SD
- Display type: Zoom F3 mono-LCD vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II color-touch

## What reviewers say

**Zoom F3** — Only one whitelisted hands-on tester, Sound on Sound (Matt Houghton, Nov 2022), reviewed this exact model. It highly recommends the Zoom F3 as a tiny, low-noise 32-bit two-channel recorder that is exceptionally easy to operate, faulting only its playback navigation. No whitelisted source published lab-measured figures for this model. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Zoom F3: https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/field-recorders/field-recorders/f3/ (zoomcorp.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Sound Devices MixPre-6 II: https://web.archive.org/web/20250421120635/https://store.sounddevices.com/product/mixpre-6-ii/ (web.archive.org, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/field-recorders/zoom-f3-vs-sound-devices-mixpre-6-ii/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Zoom F3 ($329.99) vs Sound Devices MixPre-6 II ($1150) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/field-recorders/zoom-f3-vs-sound-devices-mixpre-6-ii/
License: CC BY 4.0.