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The 9 Best Sennheiser Microphones for Stage and Studio

sennheiser microphonesIn the world of sound, and all things related…

Anyone who is anyone knows the name Sennheiser.

And if you play music, either live or in the studio…

Chances are good you already have some of their microphones in your setup.

But because they make SO MUCH awesome gear…

Chances are also good you’re missing out on stuff you haven’t heard of up til now.

So for today’s post, I’ll show you 9 of the most popular Sennheiser microphones currently on the market.

And hopefully among them, you’ll discover at least one to bring your game to the next level.

Now let’s begin.  First up…

1. Sennheiser E835

sennheiser e835The most popular mic in Sennheiser’s amazing e800 series of handheld vocal mics…

The Sennheiser e835 sits among the top industry standards for live performing…

And is often compared to the most popular mic of all-time: the Shure SM58.

Just like the SM58, the e835 has an internal shockmount design to minimize handling noise on-stage.

It works great in the studio as well, and can be used on a wide variety of other instruments besides vocals.

Because of its versatility and low price, many people own several in their collection.

NOTE: There are 5 variations of this mic in the e800 series.

  • The e835 is the standard dynamic cardioid version.
  • The e835S adds an on/off switch.
  • The e845 has a super-cardioid polar pattern.
  • The e845S has both a super cardioid pattern and on/off switch.
  • The e865 is a condenser mic.

Below I’ve included links to each model:

Up next…

2. Sennheiser MD421

sennheiser md421 iiWhile it may not be as popular today as the e835…

The MD421 is quite likely Sennheiser’s best selling microphone of all-time…

As it has been widely regarded as one of the top industry standards for many decades now.

The main reason being…it sounds great on almost anything.

It’s used in radio, tv, podcasting, field recording, live recording, and especially studio recording.

In fact, you’re unlikely to find a single pro studio on this planet that doesn’t have at least one MD421.

And the best part is…it’s one of the few pro mics that’s still affordable on an average home studio budget.

If there is one Sennheiser mic on this list that you MUST have no matter who you are, it’s this one.

Check it out:

Up next…

3. Sennheiser MD 441 U

sennheiser md441u

While it’s virtually unknown to the home studio crowd…

Among top industry professionals, the Sennheiser MD441 U is every bit as legendary as the MD421.

One look at its price tag and you’ll know why.  It’s easily one of the most expensive dynamic mics currently in existence.

But then again…it’s also regarded as one of the most accurate and versatile dynamic mics money can buy.  So you get what you pay for.

Noteworthy features include:

  • 5-position bass roll-off
  • 2-position hi-freq switch
  • super-cardioid pattern

Check it out:

Up next…

4. Sennheiser MK4

sennheiser mk4Despite being one of the top microphone manufacturers in the world…

You’ve probably noticed that Sennheiser isn’t really known for their condenser mics, are they?

In fact, the Sennheiser MK4 is actually the first large diaphragm condenser they’ve ever made.

No surprise…it’s gone mostly unnoticed so far.

However…

According to those who have actually used it, the MK4 deserves far more recognition than it currently gets.

Despite the low price aimed at today’s budget conscious home studios, it can easily be compared to similar mics in the same category costing several times as much.

While I probably wouldn’t put it in the same class as some other top studio vocal mics, for the price, it’s definitely worth a second look.

Check it out:

Up next…

5. Sennheiser e609

sennheiser e609If you play electric guitar or know folks who do…

You’ve probably already heard of the Sennheiser e609.

More than any other mic, the e609 is undoubtedly the name most synonymous with guitar cabinet miking.

And that’s because…

Its design is pretty much tailored for that one job alone.

Some noteworthy features include:

  • High SPL – which can easily handle the loudest guitars without distortion.
  • Midrange presence – which captures the sound of the electric guitar perfectly while rejecting the top and bottom.
  • Super cardioid pattern – which allows for precise mic positioning and good isolation on-stage.
  • Flat grill design – which allows for extreme close-miking of the speaker cone.
  • Clipless mounting – which allows you to hang the mic over the guitar cabinet, thus saving space on-stage.

Check it out:

As you notice, I’ve also included a link to the updated version of the e609: the Sennheiser e906.

The e609 comes from Sennheiser’s original e600 line of instrument microphones, while the e906 comes from their updated e900 series.

Now most guys agree that there isn’t a HUGE difference between the e600 and e900 series…

So for the next three e600 mics on this list, which each have clones in the e900 series, I included links to both versions.

Up next…

6. Sennheiser e604

sennheiser e604

One look at this microphone, and you can probably guess what it’s for…

Drums.

More specifically, toms, and other percussion instruments.

And here’s why:

  • High SPL – which is capable of handling extremely loud playing, even with close-miking.
  • Convenient mounting – which allows you to clip the mic directly to the rim of the drum.
  • Low handling noise – which makes it resistant to both stick strikes and drum shaking.

This unique combination of features also happens to work well on brass and woodwinds.

But before you buy one, it’s worth noting that while the e604 is damn near perfect ON-STAGE…

For the STUDIO, you might find that there are other better options.

Anyways, check it out:

Up next…

7. Sennheiser e614

sennheiser e614Of all the mics on this list, the Sennheiser e614 is quite likely the least well-known.

And no surprise there, because Sennheiser is not typically known for their condenser mics in general.

So why include it then?

Because any well-rounded list deserves a little some thing for everyone, and right now, it’s Sennheiser’s only small diaphragm condenser under $1000.

While I personally wouldn’t choose it over some other more popular options…

There’s still plenty of folks who say that this mic is amazing.

Check it out:

Up next…

8. Sennheiser e602

sennheiser e602 iiWhen comparing the top bass/kick drum mics in the industry…

Few people would disagree that the Sennheiser e602 is as good as anything out there.

But honestly…

There really isn’t much more to say about this mic, except that…

It sounds really good on kick drums, bass cabinets, and pretty much any low frequency instrument you can think of.

Pros use it.  Amateurs use it.

And if don’t have a bass mic yet, you might want to consider using it as well.

So check it out:

And finally…

9. Sennheiser e901

sennheiser e901

To conclude this list, I’d like to show you the most unique mic of them all…

The Sennheiser e901.

With no previous equivalent in the e600 series, the e901 is an entirely new addition to the e900 series…

With an unusual design that many people have never seen before.

Most likely based off the design of the Shure Beta 91A…

The e901 is “half-cardioid” condenser mic that mounts on a flat surface such as a wall, table, or stage…

And is frequently used as a “room mic” for speeches and conferences.

For music though, it’s used for ONE instrument in particular: kick drums.

Here’s how it works:

You simply lay it on the pillow inside the kick drum, and when used in combination with a standard kick drum mic such as the e602, you get a beautiful tone unlike any other.

I highly suggest you try this one out, as it is a secret that top recording engineers don’t often share.