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SupercardioidSennheiser Electronics Corporation MKH 50

Supercardioid Pencil Condenser Microphone

The Sennheiser MKH 50 is a supercardioid end-address pencil condenser. It is part of the MKH 20/30/40/50 family of fixed-pattern, RF-condenser-based microphones.

Sennheiser’s RF Condenser technology gives the MHK 50 high sensitivity (25 mV/Pa) and very low self-noise (12dBA).

The capsule used in these microphones has a 20mm diameter, with a 15.5mm diaphragm made of 3.5-micron Mylar.

The mic’s polar pattern is a textbook Supercardioid below 2kHz. The pattern narrows slightly at higher frequencies, but retains its characteristic shape, and the ±120° nulls that one would expect, through 16kHz. This means the mic does not have off-axis coloration, for its frequency response is relatively even across the audio spectrum.

The mic’s frequency response is nominally flat from 50–20,000 Hz with a smooth 2dB rise from 3–10kHz.

Two switches on the mic enable a pad (-10dB) and high-pass filter (-1dB/octave below 400Hz) — provided to compensate for proximity effects for sources within 0.5m. An internal, non-switchable filter attenuates subsonics below 30Hz.

Dan Brockett - 2008
The Sennheiser has a different sound than the other high-end microphones tested, which I found refreshing. To my ears, the Sennheisers present a slightly “darker” sound with considerable low end without boominess. I find this sound appealing for many projects and subjects.

The mic ships with the MZS 40 shockmount, and MZW 41 foam windscreen.

The Sennheiser Electronics Corporation MKH 50 is also known as: MKH50.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Supercardioid (25 mV/Pa; 40 - 20,000 Hz)
  • Pad: -10 dB (Via Switch)
  • Filter: HPF @ 400 Hz 1dB/Oct (Via Switch)
Capsule Dimensions Impedance SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 15.5mm
Capsule diameter: 20mm
Diaphragm gauge: 3.5 microns
150 Ohms (Low) Max SPL: 142 dB
Self-noise: 12.0 dB(A)
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
100g (3.53oz) 153mm (6.02'') 25mm (0.98'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications
  • Requires phantom power
  • Phantom voltage: 48±4v

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