Sennheiser 416 Review: A Voice Actor's Perspective

Why I Chose the Sennheiser 416 Microphone

I got it just in time for APAC (Audio Publishers Association Conference). I’ve been using the AKG Perception 420 for years and it’s a fantastic microphone, but I wanted a mic that’s easier to transport and has more of a “commercial” sound, if that makes any sense.

Here’s the 416 all brandy-new in its case.

It’s full name is the Sennheiser MKH 416-P48U3. To quote the Sennheiser website:

The venerable MKH 416 is a compact pressure-gradient microphone with short interference tube, highly immune to humidity due to its RF condenser design. Featuring high directivity, low self noise, high consonant articulation and feedback rejection, the MKH 416 can handle difficult exterior filming and reporting conditions without any difficulty. Supercardioid/lobe pattern, matte black finish, supplied with the MZW415 windscreen.

And no, I don’t pretend to understand what all that means.

Being someone who isn’t a techno-file, I don’t know much about microphones. However, my comic book partner and recording studio owner Angelo Panetta of Panetta Studios certainly does. When I told him about my new mic, he suggested I bring it to his studio and have a “mic shootout”.

What is a "Mic Shootout?"

In our mic shootout, I tried out my microphone in his studio along with some other mics and compare how they sound.

That’s me at Panetta Studios with the 416.

I grabbed some copy and read using four different microphones. FYI the links below take you to Amazon with whom I'm an affiliate partner. It doesn't cost you any more but I may get an itty-bitty commission.

1. AKG C414 XLS @$1,074.99 in 2016, about $850 in 2025

2. AKG C535 EB @$349.99 in 2016, no longer in production but you can find it on eBay

3. AKG C1000 S @$199.00 in 2016, almost $300 in 2025

4. Sennheiser 416 @$1,249.00 in 2016. under $1000 in 2025
   

Click on the link to hear them in order: https://soundcloud.com/tom-dheere/sets/sennheiser-416-mic-shootout

My Final Verdict: Is the Sennheiser 416 Worth It?

The old adage, “You get what you pay for” seems to apply in this case. The Sennheiser 416 and the AKG C414 sound markedly better than the other two.

I do think the Sennheiser 416 edges out the the AKG, though and not just because I own it. To me, it sounds a bit fuller & richer. It also seems to work well with my voice.

BTW the 416 was recommended by multiple veteran voice talents both male and female. I recommend it, too!

NEWS AND NOTES

Part 2 of my Voice Over Xtra article about APAC is up! Click here to check it out. If you missed Part 1 of the article, click here.

HAPPY HAPPYS

Happy Turtle Day and Towel Day! And remember; DON’T PANIC.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

You just gotta figure out who you are and be that, for better or worse. Dave Chapelle

From my village to yours; this is Tom Dheere…

Tom Dheere is a 20-year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a voiceover business consultant known as the Voice Over Strategist, and is currently writing & producing the comic book “Agent 1.22”.