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Sennheiser Electronics Corporation MKH 800

Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone

The MKH 800 is an RF condenser microphone with a pair of back-to-back small-diameter capsules. The output of the two capsules is combined by the mic’s amplifier circuitry according to the 5-way pattern-selection switch on the body; the mic can produce omni, wide cardioid, wardioid, supercardioid, and figure-of-8 responses.

A second switch on the microphone body enables a -6dB or -12dB pad.

A third switch enables a fixed high-frequency EQ circuit, which can add +3dB or +6dB at 8000 Hz.

A fourth switch is a high-pass filter; it attenuates the low-frequency response by -3dB or -6dB at 50Hz.

The pad, presence, and HPF circuits can all be bypassed via a 3rd position (“0dB”) on each switch.

As an RF Condenser, the MKH 800 has low self-noise of 10dBA. Read more about RF Condensers.

The mic’s capsules measure roughly 3/4'' in diameter. Sennheiser documentation describes their sound as neutral, without exaggerated highs or proximity effect when worked close.

The published frequency-response plots bear out this description; the Cardioid-pattern plot shows the mic’s response to be within 1dB of flat from 20Hz - 20kHz.

All five plots are drawn out to 50kHz, and all show a +5dB peak at about 35kHz.

The MKH 800 ships with a shockmount (p/n MZS 80) and a foam windscreen (p/n MZW 80).

MIX, 2002

In all patterns… the mic does an exemplary job of imparting a smooth airiness to upper frequencies, especially on harmonic-rich sources such as hammer dulcimer, grand piano and orchestral bells. Interestingly, the three cardioid-variant patterns are nearly ruler-flat to 20 kHz, while the omni pattern shows more HF color in the 10kHz-and-higher bands than the cardioids.

The Sennheiser Electronics Corporation MKH 800 is also known as: MKH800, MKH 800 P48.

The mic was released in 2002.

Specifications

Frequency Response - OmnidirectionalClick Graph to Compare!
Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!
Frequency Response - BidirectionalClick Graph to Compare!
Frequency Response - SupercardioidClick Graph to Compare!
Frequency Response - Wide CardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Omnidirectional (40 mV/Pa; 30 - 50,000 Hz) Cardioid (40 mV/Pa; 30 - 50,000 Hz) Bidirectional (40 mV/Pa; 30 - 50,000 Hz) Supercardioid (40 mV/Pa; 30 - 50,000 Hz) Wide Cardioid (40 mV/Pa; 30 - 50,000 Hz)	Pad: -6dB (Via Switch) Pad: -12dB (Via Switch) Filter: HPF: -3dB @ 50Hz (Via Switch) Filter: HPF: -6dB @ 50Hz (Via Switch) Filter: Presence: +3dB @ 8kHz (Via Switch) Filter: Presence: +6dB @ 8kHz (Via Switch)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 12.5mm Capsule diameter: 19mm	150 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 142 dB Self-noise: 10.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
135g (4.76oz)	176mm (6.93'')	27mm (1.06'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 48 ± 4v

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