VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Bill Roberts

Has anyone ever seen a Sennheiser 416 box that looks like this, I don’t think the box has changed for the last 20+ years. I could be wrong; it seems like a fake to me, it could be an NEW additional cover box that I have never received in my past purchases.

Thoughts???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-new-Sennheiser-MKH416-P48-U3-Short-shotgun-Microphone-MKH-416-MKH-416-/321256188213?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276
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heyguido · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 5:36 pm Post subject:

Yep. Looks fine. Also, US seller, excellent feedback history. No worries.
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Don Brookshire
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Bish · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 5:54 pm Post subject:

OK... I'll be THAT guy.

Why take the chance with ebay? The 416 lists everywhere at $1,000, and this is $900... OK, that's $100, but if you go to any of the reputable on-line dealers and call them, they'll match that. I did my own investigation a couple of months back and was getting $900 all over the place. Knocking 10% off the top is usually available... but you have to ask for it.

The ebay guy is also selling a new u87ai set for $2,800... now that's the set (with the shock-mount)... which will run you $3,600 anywhere else.

Personally, I wouldn't touch it with Don's Wink

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Bish a.k.a. Bish
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Bill Roberts · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:42 pm Post subject:

I purchased my in L.A. and know it's the real deal, but just wondered about the box, but I do see feedback from some on the fake sellers with no bad feedback. Looks like a few eBay buyers like the sound of the fakes!
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Bish · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 7:03 pm Post subject:

What worries me is if someone inadvertently purchases a counterfeit, has no recourse to remedy the situation, and then tries to pass it off as a legitimate "one careful owner" item. Personally, I would be very careful if not getting one (new or used) from a known (and trusted) source.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Who sells a $900 mic and shows a picture of a cardboard box?

Hmmm?
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

I have heard a fake 416 from China.. they work, and to an untrained ear sound kinda like a 416... thing is, the components are probably crap and the mic may not last a couple of months..

you can ask if the set screw at the base is black like the original or gold like the fake.. what color are the xlr connectors? do the serial numbers on the box or manual match the inside of the base? are there misspellings in the manual? are the staples rusty in the manual? does the lettering on the mic look like its raised and kind of crooked?

if you are buying a mic from China or Hong Kong.. it is probably fake.. thing is, virtually ANY 416 you buy on Ebay these days could be fake...
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

The box is probably sealed so they won't open it risking losing Sealed New In Box status.

jsgilbert · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 6:51 pm Post subject:

I purchase a lot from eBay. When I say a lot, I mean "A LOT".

Seller has been active since 2008. The crooked guys wouldn't be around that long. Not by a country mile.

And if you look, they currently are offering a plethora of new, boxed goods for audio and video. They have a number of Sennheiser branded merchandise.

Could they be liquidating some store that went bankrupt? Perhaps they got these items at auction or who knows, but it seems to be legit.

I might agree however that for the relatively minimum savings you might do better elsewhere. Plus, do you know if there is anything else coming with it?

For example, Sweetwater gives you a windscreen, plastic box and mic clip, which altogether may have a value close to the hundred bucks you'd save buying it from this dealer on eBay.
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Quite possible on the liquidation. I used to do that business with movies, music and videogames and had a lot of product sold on ebay. I bought my ISDN unit from a liquidator of broadcasting equipment.

graemespicer · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 10:34 am Post subject:

That plain brown cardboard box is how Sennheiser 416s are now shipped. I just bought one from Trew Audio last week. The older white and blue checkered box is no longer used, to the best of my knowledge.

Much of the info above in this thread is true. The brass colored setscrew instead of black is a sure giveaway. Also beware of serial numbers that begin with 1115XX. One other certain tell: the label on the exterior blue and white box has a clearly obvious mistake. The model number is MKH 416–P48-3U, when the actual model is mKH416-P48-U3.

Be very careful. The market is flooded with these fakes right now, and even some previously reputable eBay sellers have been trying to pass these off as genuine. I suspect that they realized they got stuck, and as bish said above are trying to mitigate their losses.

If you really want a used 416, consider buying a 416T and purchasing the simple 48V to 12V converter. The T is engraved into the barrel, and therefore isn't likely to be counterfeited.
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