Recommendations for SD and CF Cards for SD 6 Series

[dgirtsman]

It's getting harder to find the exact models from the SD approved media list. I'd be interested in hearing where people are getting their media from and what is working well for them. 

 

Thanks!

 

[Axel Mishael]

It used to be any reliable media company within 90mbs-150mbs per second, not more than that, Lexar, Kingston, Sandisk, all worked fine.

[drpro]

B&H frequently has sales

[Philip Perkins]

Still using SD branded cards...(664 @ 12tr x 24/48).

 

[edward chick]

I have been using SD Brand cards for ten years or so. Never failed me. 

[OB1]

SD brands all day long, no issues.

 

If you're weary, just run both slots with a known "approved" CF as backup. Let slot 2 be your tester. I'm still to run into a DIT that doesn't have a CF reader.

[JFtaper]

you gotta test them yourself

 

we tested a bunch of different cards with the mixpre series and many failed when the write rate was maxed out

 

https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=191314.0

 

the mixpre series was quite picky relative to say zoom, but not as bad as some tascams

 

if you follow that thread to the end there is some discussion on using CPDT to look at random write speed as a measure of stability

[Jim Feeley]

Ya, I'm using Sound Devices cards. And ya, I'm bummed about their high prices. Like US$245 for a 64GB card. (I should buy a couple more cards). But I'm taking a better safer and poorer than sorry approach. 😞

 

https://www.trewaudio.com/product-category/expendables/expendables-media/

 

Would love to hear from SD an update of any sort on this topic... Even if it's a "we're not testing SD cards for 6-series and 7-series recorders anymore." 

 

[Tim Norris]

On 8/25/2026 at 11:06 AM, Jim Feeley said:

Would love to hear from SD an update of any sort on this topic...

 

I recall talking to Sound Devices about this a couple years ago... the answer seemed to be "if it's not on the bad list, it's probably good". No one is testing cards, no one is reporting bad cards, and no one is keeping track.

 

From a tech friend... beware of low priced cards. They are likely downgraded larger cards that did not pass testing or have been recovered from the reject bin at the factory. Only buy branded cards from trusted sources.

 

Cheers,

Tim