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Re: New Sennheiser mic test

Subject: Re: New Sennheiser mic test
From: Lang Elliott <>
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 18:08:48 -0500
MKH 418 S

http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/category.asp?transid=cat34



Is this a ME or a MKH design?





"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg 


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>From   Tue Mar  8 18:26:45 2005
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 18:09:35 -0500
From: Walter Knapp <>
Subject: Re: New Sennheiser mic test

From: Lang Elliott <>

> 
> Bernie:
> 
> Well, if you have the 418S, and they haven't improved the design, then
> you're dealing with 14dbA Mid internal noise and 22dbA for the Sides. That
> doesn't seem quiet to me, at least compared to the 10dbA figure for many of
> the other MKH mikes.
> 
> Have they told you that the internal noise levels are now lower? Have they
> modified the mike in some way to improve the specs?
> 
> Lang
> 

I corresponded with someone who had tested a early version of this mic 
in Europe a while back. Or at least got to do a few test recordings and 
look at it. Report at that time was the mid was the MKH-416 capsule. And 
he was not all that happy with sound quality as a result.

I have a pdf on it I downloaded from Sennheiser a while back dated 10/02

In that the polar patterns of the mid closely resemble the ones of the 
MKH-416. The noise figures are as you report. The S mic only has a 
sensitivity of 10 mV/PA vs the mid's 25 mV/PA.

It would not be hard for Sennheiser to improve it. Just use the MKH-60 
capsule and electronics for the mid. And the MKH-30 side. That would 
give a mid sensitivity of 40 mV/PA, self noise 6 dBA  and a side 
sensitivity of 25 mV/PA, self noise 13 dBA. I know that combo is good, 
and it can be fit into the standard Sennheiser suspension/windscreen for 
the MKH-60. A MKH-80 capsule/electronics for the side would net you 40 
mV/PA sensitivity and 10 dBA self noise for the side. That would be a 
real killer combo. That's probably the combo that should be used to 
benchmark this new mic if it's going to claim to be better. Bernie do 
you have those two available?

When I first looked at the MKH-418S it was a disappointment as a result 
of the poor specs, so I've kind of ignored it. I'd love it if they saw 
the light. Will be very interested in what's found.

Walt





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