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todd ellis · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:59 pm Post subject: 416 vs. 416 p48

i've used a sennheiser 416 many times in other studios & have decided to add one to my own. reasonably priced - great sound, etc ...

what's the difference between the 416 & the 416 p48

i assume the p48 requires 48v phantom power - the other does not???

frankly, i'm too tired to do the research right now & you guys here in the gear department know a lot.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 12:54 am Post subject:

Both do. The earlier model requires a different sticky-in-the-endy-adaptor type thing. I believe the earlier model is the 416 T. For awesome up to dateness get a MKH50. All the wonderfulness of the MKH416 P48 but smaller with added addy things.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sennheiser-MKH50/173822308488?hash=item28789df088:g:ZzwAAOSwmo1cUVek

graemespicer · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 5:46 am Post subject:

The 416 and the 416 P48 are the same thing. All 416s are 416 P48s. They require 48v phantom power.

The T-powered version that Phliip refers to is the 415T. T-power is 12v, I think, and Philip is quite correct when saying that you require a phantom-to-T power dongle thingy for the 415T to work.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 6:37 am Post subject:

Yeah, I'm a real "go to tech guy"! Main point of my pointless, inaccurate post - Get an MKH50

Bruce · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 8:28 am Post subject:

Also interesting is the stubby little MKH 8040 is that our Anthony Mendez has used as the narrator for dozens of episodes of Jane the Virgin so far. And they only charge an extra $80 in honor of removing 7 inches of length from the 416.

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todd ellis · Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 3:01 pm Post subject:

that's cuz they have to jam all that magic into a smaller space.

oh - and thanks for the input!
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

When I was still doing field audio I had the pleasure of having a free MKH50 in my studio for a year.

It's amazing. Used it all the time for VOs out on production shoots.

It has more low end to it than a 416. My Rode NTG3 sounds more like an MKH50 than a 416 below 3kHz.

Some people say the Rode is too boomy, but the point is you don't eat the mic like one often does with a 416. You can hang back on it, and it has a hotter output.

And that 8040 Anthony Mendez is wonderful. The MKH60, which was built to replace the 416, is excellent. I prefer the MKH60s to the 416s.

But, it's what we're all used to, I get it...
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Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Been thinking for a while and wondering if there was another alternative to the 416. I've been using the 416 for over 20 years off and on, but I've had something of a love-hate relationship with it. For example, it's not the quietest mic in the locker is it? The esses, if not sibilant, can be rather exaggerated. And it can get a little crunchy sometimes, can't it? But, almost all of my most referenced demos and best work has been recorded on it.

For some reason, I've acquired both the regular 48v and the T-powered version. They sound pretty much the same, but maybe the T version is a little darker (in a good way).

So, short story: I'm trying an MKH60 this week. I've read so many good things about it, but don't know anyone who use one for v/o on a daily basis. If it's helpful, I'll try and post some A/B comparisons.
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Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

It arrived and I've done a few jobs with it yesterday and today.

My goodness, what a lovely mic the MKH 60 is. Noticeably smoother and more refined than the 416 but still plenty of punch and clarity. Bass forever too. Seems a tad easier to work than the 416 - not quite so fussy. I like the presence switch engaged but I can't wait to try it flat on Emma's voice (if I can ever prize her off the U87)!

You know how it is when you're trying new gear, it's easy to fool yourself and get carried away, so I'll resist the urge and revisit the sample recordings I made next week. But.... I'd say the verdict is a great big K for Keeper at the moment.
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georgethetech · Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:30 pm Post subject:

Yes, the MKH50, MKH60, and MKH80xx series mics are newer designs, and more expensive. If you have to buy a mic to replace the 416, those would be the next step.
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:40 am Post subject:

Just futzing around I found this info:

Sennheiser MKH416 sells retail for about $999, used ones as low as $440

The shorter MKH50 - $1,200

The stubby MKH8040 - $1,200

The medium length MKH8060 - $1250

Just in case you're developing your holiday wish list.

B
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Watch out for the used ones under $600. Some of them are counterfeit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj0PxuyeiiI
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iannyc · Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 12:34 pm Post subject:

I bought a p48 first and it was useless— hissing or something.

iannyc · Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 12:37 pm Post subject:

Oh actually it was the ‘T’

Jack Daniel · Cinquecento Joined: 23 Jun 2016 Posts: 585 Location: SoCal

Sennheiser was kind enough to send me a couple of their newer mics--the 8040 and the 8060--to try for a few months. I did so, carefully, esp. since Anthony strongly recommends the 8040; but I couldn't get either to sound nearly as good as the 416. I invited others to try it at my studio as well but none of us sounded as good on the new mics as on the 416, even with an engineer fiddling with knobs and such.

My takeaway: newer does not equal better.

In any event, I rarely use the 416 except when on the road, since I've moved over to what I consider my go-to mic for everything: the Vanguard v13. The smoothness of a high-end Neumann, the incisiveness of the 416. And less innately compressed sounding than the 416.

I've used the Vanguard on trailers, network narration, commercials, promos--no one has complained about my lack of 416-ity and all seem pleased.

Of course, not all mics work the same for every voice and room/chain. But I'm sold on my V13, which sells for $750 full boat. The fact that you can try on for free for 2 weeks (in the continental US) is a major plus as well.

I don't work for Vanguard, just a happy customer. I see the 416 in 90% of studios I go to in LA, and most of my peers use it; I'm just digging on my Vannie.

Also, I've yet to try the MKH50, but look forward to doing so soon.
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