Seiko SQ50-V Quartz Metronome

Excellent metronome. Readable dial (once I have my glasses on!); choice of higher- and lower-pitched click, plus volume control. Fits comfortably in the had while changing the speed. Sits stably on piano.

for an inexpensive metronome, this little seiko is ideal. i didn't know quite what to expect when i ordered this, but i love it! the other positive reviews about this are absolutely correct. this metronome uses a 9 volt battery (i don't know how long the battery will last, because i've only owned this for a couple weeks, but it seems ok), a really convenient front dial to adjust the beat timing (just turn it, it turns smoothly), and two tones to choose from. the tones are sort of alike, and changed by a little switch on the side; the first is a clock-like tick, the second is a wood-like sound, which i prefer, but neither tone is at all bothersome. nobody is going to start yelling at you to turn the thing off (unless you're married). the metronome has both a volume control on one side, and a light that illuminates the beat at the top...you can turn the volume down and just use the light, or turn up the volume..it gets pretty loud....i use it turned way down and it's plenty loud enough. the beats are numbered, so you can find the setting you want easily. the numbers are kinda' small, but you don't need to squint. this is a perfectly designed, easy to use little metronome, and, no, i don't own any stock in the company. in fact this is the second product review i've ever written on amazon (the other was a dvd movie review). already my guitar playing is better...i am going to buy another one of these after christmas, it's just so useful. a great little product!

My violin teacher recommended this type because the ones that are credit card size are not loud enough. This is loud and excellent quality! Works Perfect!

If you must have a metronome, this one is very good. It is easy to use and accurate. It also has a volume control, a switch to toggle between two different pitches for the "tock" sound, a 3.5 mm earphone jack, a fold-out wire stand for additional stability, and a flashing light that operates whether or not the volume is set for audible clicks. The unit feels solid and well built. There are some things that could be improved: (1) The battery compartment is a bit difficult to open and close, and the connectors to the included 9-volt battery are somewhat hard to attach. (2) The white-on-red numbers on the front dial are not easy to read, especially in low-light conditions -- better contrast and an intermittently illuminated dial would help.

The problem I've always had with battery powered metronomes is that they are way too loud and the wood block sound can be harsh. for my own practicing, I do not like for the metronome to be any louder than what I'm playing. So, having a volume control dial that goes from very loud to silent is essential for me. For my students, the ones learning to use the metronome for the first time can raise the volume as loud as they'd like to assist in keeping with the steady beat. The loudest setting is quite loud. However, more advanced students can set the volume wherever they'd according to their needs, etc. For most metronomes in this class, a volume control dial seems to be absent. Also, the price is much more competitive than the Wittner, which is also almost twice as expensive at the moment, and having used (and liked very much) a Wittner previously, I also prefer the wood block sound of the Seiko. Great deal and is quite accurate and durable.

There are plenty of free metronome apps with way more features than this physical device but that's not the point. The beauty of the SQ50 is that it is so simple and immediate. No fussing with apps or buttons. Simply switch on and rotate dial to the desired tempo.I was taken aback by the price and so also bought the Sondery ProBeat to compare as it was half the price of the SQ50... but I'll be returning the ProBeat. While it was perfectly fine and has a few more features... there is something zen like about using the seiko and so I'm happy to pay more for it.

Our son learns violin and needs a metronome to help with rhythm. This does the job nice. Very easy to use, has a flash to signal the beat in addition to the sound. It can be louder but we can make do with the maximum volume. Will recommend.

PROS+ Has a volume control+ Quartz metronomes with dials are the fastest/easiest to use+ Has two sounds to choose from (in theory)+ Small form factor+ At around $25, affordableCONS- Mine arrived with only 1 sound for both switch positions (defective)- Timing was inconsistent vs. two other metronomes (possibly defective)- I found the white numbering on red background harder to read than other units with black on white- The dial pointer is very hard to see compared to competing similar productsNEUTRAL- No beat accents. I don't really use those very often so not a big deal to me, but you should be aware.SUMMARYThis would be a decent metronome for the price IF you receive one that works right. I didn't. The print on the dial favors young eyes, and they chose a "pointer" that isn't very obvious, or I'd have probably reordered a replacement and tried again. I rated 3 stars based on features not working and the usability issues of the dial design. On the plus side it's the cheapest quartz/dial metronome with a volume control, and at least for me, a volume control is a highly favorable feature. You could do worse at this price point. But I prefer the Matrix MR-600 (w/ volume control) or the Wittner 50 (no vol control but readable).