recordinghacks

Sennheiser Electronics Corporation MD 441U

Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone

The MD 441 is a premium supercardioid dynamic mic, a studio standard for many years due to its natural sound and “nearly textbook perfect” supercardioid polar pattern.

The moving-coil cartridge is shockmounted to reduce handling noise. A humbucking coil reduces EMI.

Two switches on the mic configure its frequency response:

• A five-way high-pass filter is built into the collar around the XLR jack. The “M” for Music setting is the flattest response, with a flat response down to 65Hz. Four more settings provide progressively higher and steeper rolloffs, the most extreme attenuating at 12dB/octave below 500Hz.
• A “brilliance” switch on the microphone body enables a broad 5–7dB boost from 2.2kHz–20kHz.

As a passive dynamic microphone, it withstands very high SPL without overload or distortion.

The microphone body is all metal, with a “simulated leather finish.” The grille is nickel plated.

The fact that the body is square (in cross-section) is part of the reason for the relatively high cost of the microphone; cylindrical bodies are easier to manufacture.

The Sennheiser Electronics Corporation MD 441U is also known as: MD441, 441, MD441U.

The mic was released in 1971.

Specifications

Frequency Response - SupercardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Supercardioid (1.8 mV/Pa; 30 - 20,000 Hz)	Filter: Brilliance (Via Switch) Filter: 5-position HPF (Via Switch)

Coil Diameter	Impedance	SPL/Noise
n/a	200 Ohms (Low)	SPL n/a

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
450g (15.87oz)	270mm (10.63'')	36mm (1.42'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications

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