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Living Culture · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:29 am Post subject: MD 421 II vs MD 421 U4

I'm looking at 2 used MD-421's. The MD 421 II and MD 421 U4. I don't have a chance to test them, but wondered if there is any sound difference between them. The MD II doesn't have a bass roll-off, but I don't think thats a problem as that can be done in the pre.
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

Get the 421 U4 or a U5.

The 421II have been re-voiced and not for the better.

And if you have any problems with a U4 or U5 capsule and you send it to Sennheiser, they replace it with NOS capsules.
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todd ellis · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject:

did the sennheiser folks do something recently to the 421 MDII? i don't have one anymore, but i've has as many as three in the past and found them to a dandy all-round mic. admittedly - it's been a while.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I had a MD421mkII in 2005-2006: it was terrible and I never used it for a single session - I kept trying to get it to sound good but I couldn't trust it: it was like sandpaper above 2kHz and was thin below it. Their new bottom of the line E series dynamics that go for nothing are actually better (yeah, the e822s that I got as a freebee from Guitar Center is actually better). The higher end e935 and e945 are excellent.
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Living Culture · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I'm getting the sane opinion in searches. It seems 421II'snew voice is a bit honky in the mids. Pity, as the u4 has been sold. So, I should stay clear of the II and wait?
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:55 pm Post subject:

YES stand clear, of a MD 421 II.
Some info:
http://www.coutant.org/md421u4/index.html

Another Sehnnheiser I love is the MD441. Some say it's too smooth but I like it.
http://www.coutant.org/md441u/index.html
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Living Culture · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

Thanks. I'll either wait or add on other mics so long.

The 441 seems nice, but also appears to be a bit of a hen's teeth mic in terms of availability.
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

"evilBay"
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Living Culture · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:23 am Post subject:

I held out and finally got a 421 U. But I am curious where it fits into the timeline. Its a straight "U", not a U-4/5 or mkII, but its not one of the original beige/cream U's. Does anybody have any idea when these were made?
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:03 am Post subject:

There are a few different types of MD 421, the main difference between them being the type of connector fitted. These models are:

MD421 N
The MD 421 N is fitted with a 3-pin plug according. This microphone is fitted with a roll-off filter.

MD 421-2
The MD 421-2 has a large 3-pin Tuchel plug; preferred by most European Broadcasters which is also wired symmetrically. The 421-2 is a low-impedance microphone. A roll-off filter is not provided with this model.

MD421-U
The MD 421-U is provided with a 3-pin Cannon plug (XLR). It is also a low-impedance microphone which is symmetrically wired. A roll-off filter is provided. There are two versions of the MD 421-U available: MD 421-U-4 with adapter for 3/8-inch threads and MD 421-U-5 with adapter for 5/8-inch x 27G threads. The MD 421 N and the MD 421-2 are available in light grey heavy-duty finish. The models MD 421-U-4 and MD 421-U-5 feature a mat-black housing.

These mics were put into production in the 1960's.
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Living Culture · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:15 am Post subject:

Maybe my thinking is wrong here.

Mike Sommer · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:25 am Post subject:

The "4" and "5" just refers to the type of clip/adapter used for it.
4 = 3/8 inch adapter
5 = 5/8-inch adapter

I've seen few 421-U's, but they always had a the 5/8's adaptor. Which could indicate that this is the newer of the 421-U's which is mostly what is use in the States. But that's just a guess. So as long as you have the U that's all that matters, that is the mic with the original yummy capsule.
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Living Culture · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:26 am Post subject:

oh!! OK!! Got it now. Thanks Mike! This is US thread and not Euro. I'm sure I have read the info on Coutant, but just glossed over this all important detail!
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