Mic Test MKH 416 vs ME66/K6 vs Azden SGM 1X

Made for my website rolandcomfort.wordpress.com, I compared Best vs Mid vs Economy mics to see how they sound on the net. Note: my new website is rolandcomfort.wordpress.com.

[@chungdha]

Mkh416 sound most natural, the ME66 cutoff bit of the bass and the Azden has too much Bass.

[@soupn2f]

Made up my mind because of this video. Was about to pull the trigger on the MKH 416 but with just a small loss in the low end I could save $500. The 416 is still my white whale. But for now I am thoroughly impressed with the ME 66.

[@ragtop63]

A test of the axis angles of each mic would be great. It's especially important when working in confined spaces.

[@MyPlaceOnYT]

Very good video. Exactly the video I was looking for. Thank you very much, Roland!

[@mikebottiaux5850]

I own the MKH 416, an incredible microphone.

[@praisegugleourmaster]

It is rare to see a pro like this on youtube. Great video

[@JamesELarkin]

wow al the info you put out is great thanks so much :) making it so much easier to choose gear

[@betacam22]

OUTSTANDING MKH416!

[@ZigSputnik]

Thanks for that. Nicely done. I intended buying the ME66 but I was put off after hearing the richness of the 416 here. So I tried some equalization on your recording and managed to get them to sound almost indistinguishable by boosting the bass below 200Hz. So I will be buying the ME66.

[@KulturalnyWilk]

ZigSputnik I tried EQing ME66 for similar results from samples: www.dvinfo.net/articles/audio/tanaka2.php and while I could get similar amount of bass, I didn't get the richness of 416. It appears that we can't EQ something from a recording, that isn't on it ;]

[@savedfaves]

I like the ME66 very much here.

[@WupperVideo]

I bought the ME66 + K6 adaptor on Ebay for 200 €. I'm satisfied with it. =) Much better for booming, than the RODE NTG-2.

[@EdwardRaybould]

Thank you for producing this video. I have a 10-year old Azden SGM-1X and your video shows that you definitely get what you pay for. That microphone just doesn't hold up to the two Sennheiser mics. However, I couldn't really tell the difference between the two Sennheisers.

[@ezbzpop]

Than you for the test, it is clear why the 416 is an industry standard

[@MixYourWay]

Listening on a controlled environment/room with Genelec speakers. I actually own both the ME and the 416. This test is VERY accurate as to what you'll get. ME Sounds thin and hollow. And trust me you won't be able to "rescue" it most of the time if you're doing documentaries or outdoors feature locations. While the 416 may not be the BEST mic out there it is a crazy trusty workhorse and it'll be alive maybe all of your professional life as a sound recordist. And it'll give you this very distinguishable character. EDIT: typho

[@islandboystv]

MKH 416 is the obvious one to pick if price is not an issue.

[@rolandcomfort]

Thanks. The SGM 1X is one of the first mics I bought when I got into making movies about 7 years ago. Had I known better, I would have just bought a good mic to start. I got this MKH 415 on ebay for $550 and then spent another $150 at Sennheiser for a tune-up. Wish I had got a used MKH 416 48volt phantom for about $700. This old 415 uses 12 volt T power. It's a pain. But here's the point. A MKH 416 plus a Sound Devices 302 field mixer ($1,300 new) is pro sound good enough for any work.

[@therealdjfrost]

excellent review thank you

[@onjofilms]

Hey Roland, your test as I saw over on Vimeo and your advice led me to buy an ME66 K6. Waiting on the XLR cable so I can use it, but I'm really looking forward to finally getting some good sound. One just has to look at the good videos here and on KZbin to realize like you say, sound is 50% of the video (if not more).

[@maldonadocorrea]

excelente video, se agradece. otra consulta, segun su criterio cual seria el microfono mas "parecido, ó similar " al mkh416?

[@rolandcomfort]

I think it probably would sound great. I don't know much about recording straight to a computer, however, I just tried it on my Dell i7 using Soundbooth to record. The audio came out sounding good. I guess the computer sound card can digitize the analogue signal coming from the mic; never thought about that before. I converted the XLR mic cord to 1/8" mini using an old Sign Video XLR-Pro box which I used for years to plug external XLR mics into a video camera. It worked great wide open.

[@FILMSHIFT]

Just reccomending you go for the ME66

[@DrShaym]

Are you using the ME66 with the bass roll-off filter turned on?

[@ianchernencoff7968]

30 seconds in i subscribed. Gets to the point and explains the test setup quickly first so that we have perspective to apply while comparing. I wonder how age affects them though, I'm here because my me66 is now probably 15 years old. Do they loose quality just with aging of materials?

[@MauchoProductions]

Excelente, muy útil. No tengo mucha experiencia pero me pareció que el 416 suena excelente, balanceado con buenos agudos y graves. El ME 66/K6 me pareció que captura menos los graves, y el Azden SGM buenos graves pero pocos agudos.

[@zurriagazo71]

Thanks for the video. I think the 416 eclipses the other two.

[@DanielCardei]

In 2014, i saw this clip and i fall in love with that mkh 416. i went to my friend(working on a radio) and ask him if i can get it as a beginner, can i use it for later as mid range? He laughed and said that it will take me to high end. I found one in Germany with original case and all the papers when it was made. There are many videos out there with this mic but they all NEW :) Thank You

[@smolds87]

I think the 416 has the cleanest and widest dynamics, but having a good preamp and recorder makes all the difference as well. The Azden is nice for the price, but I feel like in post production it will show more noise when clearing it up as it is a bit muddy. I think the ME66/K6 is the best way to go if you're trying to achieve the best audio on a budget. My 2cents

[@bbcasting]

I like the ME66 best.

[@Artkidtek]

Hey Roland, I am planning on buying the MKH416 used on Amazon for 699.00. Any advice on what I should ask and what I should look for to make sure that I am not getting a bad mic?

[@rolandcomfort]

I agree, but generally, any mic with the name Sennheiser on it will sound pretty good, especially for KZbin. Thanks.

[@Superfoot]

The Azden sounds sort of like the Sennheiser MKH 50...Younger audiences like that fuller sound. The Azden has some punch to it.

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, buy the Sennheiser product. Don't skimp on a mic, buy a good one. When I first started learning about audio, I bought $100 Azdens and others, but figured out pretty quick that "junk in is junk out". Not to be unkind to Azden and others, I am just saying that the audio chain starts with the mic. For movie making, get yourself a Sennheiser MKH 416 or MKH 60 on Ebay for $700 used. Don't look back. Just do it. You will never be sorry.

[@rolandcomfort]

@onjoFilms Those guys are in an improv group that meets every week. Individually, they do stand up comedy. My best film was "The Big Field" made for the 48 Hour Film Project in 2008. Made it with my rocker buddies. We shot all night out in a farm field. I used the ME66 in that one. Google 48hfp to see when it comes to your town. Here in St. Louis, we're shooting June 3-5 this year. We always get about 70 teams to enter, with the films shown the next week at the local Tivoli theatre.

[@rolandcomfort]

@grispic I'm not an expert, but I think using a field mixer would be redundant except in the case where you wanted more control of a particular mic like at a remote boom. From what I read, the 744 has the same or better mic preamps, etc. Depending on how you are going to use recording, you may want to look at the 542 field mixer with stereo recorder built in. You should probably talk to someone at Sound Devices for advice about which product best suits the way you want to use it.

[@bigshot00789]

If I could get an older 415T like you have, would that be suitable compared to the newer 416? I think vintage are the cheapest smartest choice to go with mics. Like you said, mics don't change much over the years in terms of quality.

[@rolandcomfort]

@onjoFilms I checked out some of your films and subscribed. Your stuff is awesome, especially Aylen Suarez!! You won't be sorry you spent a little extra for a mic that will last a lifetime and will always sound good. Thanks for the view and the positive comment. My next video is about lighting, depth of field, and focus. It will show you how to get good focus in a range of motion on any shot. Thanks again.

[@sundance37]

I thing the Azden has much better pick up of the lower frequencies, give a much warmer, almost condensed feeling.

[@Decenium]

the Azden just sounds very muddy, mkh416 sounds fine, ME66 sounds the most natural and like..real, like you are inthe room

[@grispic]

@rolandcomfort How crucial is it to have a field mixer like the 302 if you were to buy a recorder like the 744T from Sound Devices?

[@rolandcomfort]

The Sennheiser MKH 416 costs $1,200 and is used widely in studios for recording commercials and in the field making movies. The Sennheiser ME66/K6 costs about $450 and works great for anything that you or I want to do on KZbin. Any Sennheiser is a good mic. Thanks for watching.

[@calabeto2012]

Hello, Have you ever test the rode NTG3??, thank you.

[@rolandcomfort]

No, the T power MKH 415 works good with the adapter using regular 48v phantom power. The brand of adapter I use is PSC (professional sound corp.). Oddly though, direct 12v T power from my Sound Devices 302 field mixer does cause humm. It may be worth it for you to send your mic and adapter to Sennheiser for a tuneup. Their service website is misleading as to cost. Call first and talk to a tec. Tell him/her that you only want to spend $100. I got mine tuned up for that plus shipping.

[@grispic]

Have you experienced bad noise when using a t-power mic with phantom power adapter on a recorder, mixer, etc.?

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, it is a great mic. If you are not sure then Google it. You will become a convert as I have.

[@lumixartfilms]

Hi Roland, I didn´t realize a large difference between the 416 and the 66... at least not a large difference that justfies a bigger investment. Am I rigth? What do you think? Thank you!

[@johngullotta3987]

Great clip!!! You really show why the 416(15) is such a good mic. If I am correct the ME66 will pick up more peripheral sound in a noisy environment. Obviously you have a pretty controlled situation in your studio, but have you heard or experienced the ME66 as a less directional mic then the 416. I don't ask about the Azden because I don't like the sound of it at all.

[@rolandcomfort]

I'm not sure about the ME66 rejection, but even though its a Sennheiser, I don't think it is quite good enough for feature film work. However, I've read that the Rode NTG3 at $700 competes well with the 416 and has a wider pick up pattern that may be more forgiving, especially if your sound guy is your neighbor or some homeless person you picked up on the way to your shoot. Ha ha! I'm planning on shooting a feature length horror film with my rocker band buddies this summer, and am thinking about getting one just for that reason. Sometimes 90% all of the time is better than 100% some of the time, if you know what I mean.

[@rolandcomfort]

If you can talk to them ask how it was used and get them to tell you what condition it is in. Has it been checked out by Sennheiser? You have to use your own judgement while looking for clues. A tip about Sennheiser service: If you send it in for a tuneup, just authorize $100 on their form that you print out to send with the mic. Call them and talk to one of the tecs. They are very nice people and will help you if they know that you are a regular person.

[@happyfoxproductions]

How could these sound being recorded from a Zoom h4n?

[@ianchernencoff7968]

was the low cut on or off?

[@smolds87]

I guess one thing to keep in mind about the 416 - they used it in all the transformers movies.....foley and all!

[@parthahalder3322]

sir,,,can you tell me how to make post fader direct out on sd552

[@onjofilms]

@rolandcomfort Thanks. I was laughing at your LARDASS sketch. Darn KZbin lately is loading so slow I never could watch it all. "Tape Worm diet", lol.

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, I used a 30 year old 415 in the movie. However, try to get a later model that uses 48v phantom power, not 12v T power. T power is a pain and is not available on most field mixers. Sennheiser says that the 415 and the 416 are the same. Sound freeks say the 415 sounds "reedier", but that is because the diaphragm changes over time. Foley artists love the 415. I'll sell you my 415 T power for $500 if you want it.

[@TisMeBc]

doesnt youtube mess with the audio upon uploading?

[@bigshot00789]

I have seen that one can just get a small converter from t power to 48 phantom? Is that not possible? I have a bid on ebay for 420. If you can beat that, you got a deal.

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, the MKH 416 is the only mic you will ever need for moviemaking. Notice, however, that I used XLR inputs into the Fostex recorder. I later figured out that you should always use unbalanced, mono 1/4" line inputs into the Fostex and Zoom combo jacks so as to avoid using the preamps in the recording devices. Check out my movie about connecting the Zoom H4N to the SD-302.

[@Astonisher63]

I think unless you're doing a super profesional feature film the Azden will sound almost identical if you EQ it right.

[@skakdosmer]

I can't imagine that the Azden would ever sound anything like the other two. I think it sounds pretty bad.

[@syntheticsolace]

ugh azden is soooooo muddy!!! this is a cool comparison because i just bought a 416 to replace my me66. It sounds so much better.The me66 sounded kinda nasal-ly and thinner compared to mkh416

[@antoineinniss5586]

Sir, was the audio , per microphone, raw and unedited, or were they edited in post , for presentation here?.....isn't a mic test supposed to.be raw audio, straight out of the box ?

[@rolandcomfort]

It is what I said in the first minute of the video. I didn't EQ any of the mics.

[@rolandcomfort]

I have'nt done the comparison using the H4n, but I expect that the higher quality mics would sound better. H4n recordings sound higher pitched, airy, tinny, compared to the deeper, richer sounds that you get from better quality recorders like the Fostex FR 2LE that I used in the movie. Bottom line is that microphone technology has not changed much in 40 years. A $100 mic never did and never will sound better that one that costs $1.000. Buy the best mics you can afford, always.

[@dvamateur]

I don't believe side by side comparisons make much sense. Let me explain. I have two pairs of headphones, the MDR-7506 and HD280. They sound vastly different side by side. Compared to the MDR-7506, the HD280 sounds shockingly muffled when listened to after having the MDR-7506 on my head. However, couple of days later, the HD280 sounded normal. Answer? Human brain adjusts to those differences. So what's the point to compare side by side?

[@ONE20photography]

yes! finally after watching hours of spotty teenage fools, I find this! Questions answered.

[@IronSpiderProductions]

I didn't know Martin Sheen reviewed microphones :D

[@mauditesamours7958]

He doesn't looks like him... come on !

[@Astonisher63]

0:05 lip smackin good

[@shmaehdawlfshmitler2970]

You look like Bill Clinton

[@Astonisher63]

The "spotty teenaged fools" are the ones keeping this site running. This is KZbin not CNET. You're on the wrong website if you're looking for reviews by seasoned vets.

[@dennisonearth]

Final results on KZbin: NO DIFFERENCE! :)

[@skakdosmer]

Get better speakers or headphones.

[@kathodosdotcom]

shit, he looks DRUNK and or STONED