Microphone Suggestions

[Jimmy Gilmore]

If a 416 seems too expensive consider the 416T used on eBay or a reputable reseller. Don't ever buy a 416 shipping from China. There are a lot of counterfeits out there. If the deal on a 416 is too good to be true, it is.

As far as a less-expensive cardioid solution, Christopher brought a AKG 460B to a job and I later bought two I liked them so much. They sound more like a Schoeps than a Sennheiser, but different. With the 460 and 480 you can change the capsules from Omni, Cardioid, Hyper and shotgun.

Octava MK 12 is a cheaper solution as well but I personally don't like it as much. I've heard a lot of good things about the Audix mic but have no experience with it.

As far as the Sennheiser ME solution, I own a couple and my opinion is they have a higher noise floor. They stay in the emergency box.

 

[Akin A]

If a 416 seems too expensive consider the 416T used on eBay or a reputable reseller. Don't ever buy a 416 shipping from China. There are a lot of counterfeits out there. If the deal on a 416 is too good to be true, it is.

I saw those 416s from China on eBay and I was tempted. I didn't know there were counterfeits out there.

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

I saw those 416s from China on eBay and I was tempted. I didn't know there were counterfeits out there.

Just the surface of the problem:

https://thecounterfeitreport.com/product/563/Sennheiser-416-Microphones.html

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?306646-Real-or-Fake-Sennheiser-MKH-416

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6454afe8-b9a7-11e2-9a9f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3KqfrbsIR

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/sennheiser-anti-counterfeit-china/

http://en-us.sennheiser.com/about-sennheiser-at-a-glance-counterfeit

 

[Akin A]

Just the surface of the problem:

https://thecounterfeitreport.com/product/563/Sennheiser-416-Microphones.html

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?306646-Real-or-Fake-Sennheiser-MKH-416

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6454afe8-b9a7-11e2-9a9f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3KqfrbsIR

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/sennheiser-anti-counterfeit-china/

http://en-us.sennheiser.com/about-sennheiser-at-a-glance-counterfeit

Damn. Thanks. I'll just roll with my NTG-3 for now.

 

[Will Keir]

Me either.

I saw those 416s from China on eBay and I was tempted. I didn't know there were counterfeits out there.

 

[Jimmy Gilmore]

The location sound equivalent of the Reduser marketplace is the for sale section of jwsoundgroup. You most likely won't run across counterfeit gear there. Like here, just make sure you buy from someone with a decent reputation who isn't a brand new profile. I've also got some decent deals on eBay from Bexel.