MK 4 Microphone Review - Reviews - Music Tech Magazine

The MK 4 is a side-address condenser with an edge-terminated one-inch capsule. Huw Price marks it up.

Price: £299.00
Manufacturer: Sennheiser
Website: http://www.sennheiser.com

MK 4
Manufacturer Sennheiser
Price £299
Contact Sennheiser 01494 551551
Web www.sennheiser.com

Although the Sennheiser company has been making all types of microphone in Germany since the end of World War II, it’s probably fair to say that its most iconic designs (like the 421 and the 441) are moving-coil dynamics rather than condensers. However, the company produces several high-end condenser microphone systems.

The MK 4 is described as a ‘large-diaphragm true condenser microphone for professional studio recordings’. Although it promises ‘outstanding sound quality’, it’s priced to sell to ‘professional project studios’ and home recordists. As such there are no ‘little extras’, instead, Sennheiser’s designers concentrated on creating a microphone that could produce great results in any situation with the minimum of fuss.

Gold standards
A quick peek through the head basket reveals an AKG-style edge-terminated capsule rather than the centre-tapped design we might have expected from a company that’s so closely linked to Neumann. The capsule itself is a 24-carat gold-sputtered 1-inch true condenser based on the acoustic characteristics of Sennheiser’s e965 flagship hand-held vocal mic.

Apparently, Sennheiser learned that this live mic was being used successfully in recording studios, so the company decided to make a proper job of it and adapt the capsule technology to create a general-purpose recording mic. It’s made in Germany, in the same clean room where all of Sennheiser’s high-end capsules are assembled.

On board there’s a solid-state transformerless preamp; quoted figures for the MK 4 include self-noise of 10dB(A) and a maximum sound pressure level of 140dB. This is just as well because there’s no attenuation pad or bass roll-off. In fact, the only items that ship with the MK 4 are a nylon pouch and a plastic stand clip with an adjustable angle bracket.

To withstand the rigours of studio and stage use the MK 4 has a metal housing and the capsule is elastically mounted. Although the capsule suspension helps to minimise transmitted noise, even better results can be achieved by using the MK 4’s suspension mount. It’s an elegant open-fronted design that allows the mic to be placed extremely close to sound sources, but it is an optional extra.

Vox pop
Maybe it’s attributable to the MK 4 capsule’s origin in a vocal mic that it handles plosives with ease – you almost have to be eating the mic before popping becomes an issue. The elastic suspension does its designated job too, because we couldn’t get much low-frequency noise to transmit through the stand, so maybe that optional suspension mount isn’t necessary after all. The cardioid pattern does a fine job of rejecting rear sounds, but the capsule’s on/off-axis response remains very consistent. So, the MK 4 will most likely be forgiving to vocalists who find it hard to keep still.

Vocal tests revealed a highly detailed sound with a well-rounded and refined midrange, clear treble and a general sense of neutrality without blandness. Moving to acoustic guitar highlighted a slight lift in the upper midrange and low trebles, but there’s no harshness or edginess. In fact, the MK 4 captured a truer and more natural recording of this particular guitar than several other microphones we used for comparison – some costing considerably more. We also discovered that close-mic’ing presents the MK 4 with no problems because there’s relatively little proximity effect.

There’s really nothing to criticise on the sonic score, but potential purchasers will need to consider if the fixed cardioid pattern and the lack of attenuation and bass roll-off switches compromises the MK 4’s usefulness. If you plan to work only in cardioid and your preamp already has a HPF switch, you’ll probably be more than happy. MTM

Verdict
WHY BUY
Refined sound quality
Very low noise

WALK ON BY
Suspension mount not included
No HPF or pad switches
No case/box

Despite the frugality of kit, the MK 4 is one of those easy-to-use mics that almost does your job for you.
★★★★★★★★ (8/10)

Score: 8

This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 99
Filed under Home, Microphones, Reviews, Sennheiser Microphone Reviews

/mtm/reviews/mk-4

New users, please register here

Please enter your details below to set up your new account. Fields marked with a red asterisk * are required.

Your name
*First name:
*Last name:
Job title:
Company:

Account settings
*Email address:
	Please make sure your email address is correct, as we will send you an email with a link to activate your account.
*Username:
	Choose a username between 7 and 100 characters in length, without spaces or unusual characters. You may use your email address as your username, but note that it may appear in community areas of the site where others can see it.
*Password:
*Confirm password:
	Choose a password between 7 and 100 characters in length, without spaces.
	Remember me on this computer

Your address and contact info
Address 1:

Town or city:
County or state:
Postcode or ZIP:
Country:
Telephone:
Fax:
Website:

	By registering to use the Music Tech website you agree to allow us to contact you with our Music Tech email newsletters featuring news, competitions, exclusive content and special offers, as well as with communications from our carefully selected music technology retail and manufacturer partners. If you provide phone and post details we may contact you by those means as well with special offers relating specifically to Music Tech Magazine and our other publications. WE WILL NOT PASS YOUR DETAILS TO ANY THIRD PARTY. If at any time you wish to stop receiving our email newsletter, simply follow the Unsubscribe instruction on our newsletter. Contact us by email of post if you wish your post or phone details to be removed from our database.

MTM 111	FXpansion BFD Eco Review For those who don’t want to go the whole hog and dish out for the full version of BFD 2, BFD Eco brings you many similar features...	MTM 108	Brainworx Vertigo VSC-2 Review Brainworx’s latest plug-in is modelled on a £3,600 German-built VCA compressor. Mark Cousins finds a head for heights.
MTM 108	Yamaha 01V96i Review The latest incarnation of Yamaha’s new digital console continues the evolution of the 01V. Mike Hillier takes to the stage.	MTM 107	25 Tips for Mix Processing There is a multitude of mixing tools and features to be found in every DAW, but how and when should you use them? Liam O’Mullane takes you through the options.
MTM 107	Control for Live Performance Marrying technologies old and new with the traditional aspects of live performance, controllerism is one of the fastest-growing arenas, both in terms of music itself and the kit we use to make it. Hollin Jones reveals how you can get a slice of the		Music Tech Focus - Ableton Live 2012 MTF Ableton Live 8, 2012 edition is on sale now featuring 132 all-new pages of Live 8 Workshops, tips, features and interviews - buy online now
	Music Tech Focus - Synthesis 2012 MTF Synthesis 2012 is on sale now featuring tutorials for Arturia, Cubase 5, Logic Pro 9, Massive, Reason 5, Razor, FM8 and more	MTM 106	25 Pro Tips for Kick-starting Composition Initial ideas that spark the songwriting process must inspire you enough to see it through to completion. Liam O’Mullane explains how he gets the fire going...

Sennheiser MK 4 Microphone Review

Sign in to download this article

New users, please register here

See also...

Menu