From: Mike Feldman <>
> Hey Walt and you other MKH'ers out there. This has been facinating
> reading (and listening), and the MKH-80(0) comes across as a very
> versatile mic. But I've got this nagging worry about double-diaphragm
> mics -- MKH-80(0) do have two diaphragms to get all the patterns, right?
> Seems to me they'd be a bit more distorting that the equivalent single
> diaphragm mic. Have you been able to compare an MKH-80 in omni mode
> against an MKH-20? Perhaps an interesting tradeoff between clarity
> and effective noise floor.
The problem with your analysis is the assumption of double diaphragms.
It's not necessary to have double diaphragms. Sennheiser, in all the
series from MKH-20 to MKH-800 use the same general capsule design, and
it's a single diaphragm. They put the diaphragm between two acoustically
transparent plates. They call this a "symmetrical push-pull capsule"
Here's their description from their general discussion of the MKH in
their Microphone Brochure:
"Sennheiser=92s Revolutionary Symmetrical Microphone Capsule"
"The MKH 20 to 800 microphones have Sennheiser=92s unique and
revolutionary symmetrical push-pull capsule. Besides the normal back
plate, this capsule is fitted with an additional front plate, with the
diaphragm being positioned between them. Both plates are acoustically
transparent. Any impedance changes in the air gaps between the diaphragm
and the respective plate are opposite and therefore cancel each other
out, which leads to an unchanging acoustic impedance. This balanced
design produces extremely low distortion figures and a higher capsule
output that gives a much lower noise figure. The result is a microphone
series unmatched in clarity and neutrality."
In the brochure this came with drawings to make it clear.
Note that previous generations of MKH mics did not use this capsule
design. They have the traditional diaphragm exposed in front of the
backplate, and no front plate. This includes the MKH-416, which is still
part of their current available lineup.
The MKH-20, MKH-80, and MKH-800 all have a reputation for high clarity.
I've provided MKH-20 recordings in the form of SASS/MKH-20 numerous
times. I hardly ever use the MKH-20 for nature recording other than in
the SASS. If I was picking the one with greater clarity, then maybe the
MKH-80 is better, but that may simply be that it has double the
sensitivity of the MKH-20. In any case they are very similar. Both are
rated self noise of 10dBA. For any given quiet site the greater
sensitivity of the MKH-80 will result in a lower effective noise floor,
and thus more of the quietest sounds clear. Because of it's side address
design a MKH-80 cannot be put into the SASS housing to compare that way.
Walt
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