What plagued the machine like most other recorders no matter their format back in 1960, was the low fidelity (read: Cheap) insensitive microphone that came included with the unit.. Back in the 1950's and 60's, a half decent microphone was big money.. The technology to manufacture such a microphone inexpensively, simply didn't exist.. Even the cheapest microphone of today would run performance circles around the average included microphone of the early 1960's... Upper end roll off of the included microphone began at a dismal 3.7 KHz, which was ok for voice and only slightly better than early telephone equipment that used "carbon pile" microphone technology.... Substitute the original mic with a much better performing microphone of today, and the fidelity nearly doubles to a high end of about 6 KHz... - still not in the league of what could even remotely be considered hi-fi, but nevertheless, a vast improvement...