Types of AA Batteries

The Song Meter Mini 2 works with several types of AA batteries, but alkaline batteries provide the most consistent performance.

Alkaline
The most common chemistry for single-use AA batteries. The Song Meter Configurator's battery percentage readout and battery life estimations assume that all AA batteries are alkaline batteries.
Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)

The most common chemistry for rechargeable AA batteries. If you use NiMH batteries with the Song Meter Mini 2, be aware of the following:

  • NiMH batteries will typically last 50-70% as long as alkaline batteries before needing to be recharged. This battery life will decline as the batteries are used and recharged repeatedly.
  • The battery percentage readout in the recorder's Status screen will read lower than the batteries' actual state of charge.
  • Batteries will die much more quickly than the Song Meter Configurator's battery life estimations.
Lithium iron disulfide

A less common chemistry for single-use AA batteries. This chemistry is sold under several brand names, including the following:

  • Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™
  • Ansmann® Extreme Lithium
  • Ansmann Industrial Lithium

This battery is primarily beneficial for devices that draw much more power than the Song Meter Mini 2, but it can also outperform alkaline batteries in freezing conditions. However, if you use lithium iron disulfide batteries with the Song Meter Mini 2, you should be aware of the following:

  • The battery percentage readout in the recorder's Status screen will read higher than the batteries' actual state of charge.
  • Battery life estimations based on the installed batteries will significantly over-estimate remaining battery life.
  • Even dedicated battery testers are unlikely to give reliable measurements of the batteries' remaining life due to the batteries' extremely flat voltage. For this reason, we strongly recommend against reusing any batteries that have been partially used before.
  • At the very end of the batteries' life, the recorder may produce truncated or corrupt recording files, repeated .minidiags files, or it may corrupt its SD card or mark the card as Dirty.