Sennheiser
Sennheiser MKE 600
Shotgun (interference tube) condenser for video cameras, supercardioid/lobar; phantom or AA-battery powered, switchable low cut
Power Phantom 48 V ± 4 V (P48, IEC 61938) via XLR-3, or one AA battery (1.5 V) or rechargeable (1.2 V).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 2
- Sensitivity
- −33.6 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 15 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 53%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 54%
- Max SPL
- 132 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 26%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 24%
- Rated range
- 40 – 20k Hz
vs 15 shotgun condensers
Quieter than 21% of 15 shotgun condensers.
Each stripe is one shotgun condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 15 shotgun condensers
Takes louder sound than 79% of 15 shotgun condensers.
Each stripe is one shotgun condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet, p. 2.
Graph "Frequency response" in dBV (absolute sensitivity); whether measured on phantom or battery power is not stated. Distance, room and smoothing not stated.
The manufacturer draws absolute sensitivity (dBV/Pa); shifted here by a constant so 1 kHz is near 0 dB.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the spec sheet, p. 2.
Graph "Polar pattern". Each curve drawn on one side only (125 to 1000 Hz left, 2 to 16 kHz right); taken as symmetric. Measuring conditions not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the spec sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −33.6 dBV/Pa (21 mV/Pa)P48 phantom power; also −34.4 dBV/Pa, battery power. Not stated by the manufacturer: Stated as "with P48 powering: 21 mV/Pa, with battery powering: 19 mV/Pa"; converted: 20 log10(0.021) = -33.6, 20 log10(0.019) = -34.4. Measuring frequency not stated. | p. 2 |
| Self-noise | 15 dB(A)P48 phantom power; also 16 dB(A), battery power. "Equivalent noise level A-weighted". | |
| Max SPL | 132 dB SPLP48 phantom power; also 126 dB SPL, battery power. No THD figure given. | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 79 dBre 94 dB SPL, A-weighted, P48 phantom power. Not stated; computed as 94 - 15. | |
| Rated frequency range | 40 Hz to 20 kHzNo tolerance given. | |
| Powering | phantom 48 V ± 4 V (P48, IEC 61938) via XLR-3, or one AA battery (1.5 V) or rechargeable (1.2 V) | |
| Current draw | 4.4 mAP48 phantom power. "Current consumption with P48 powering: 4.4 mA"; no battery current given. | |
| Weight | 128 gwithout battery | |
| Dimensions | 20 × 256 mm"⌀ 20 mm x 256 mm": diameter × length. | |
| Supplied accessories | MZS 600 shock mount; MZW 600 foam windshield; KA 600 adapter cable; pouch"Delivery includes", with the quick guide and safety guide. | p. 1 |
| Art. no. | 505453 | |
| Battery | One AA (1.5 V) or rechargeable (1.2 V); about 150 hours | p. 2 |
| Temperature range | Operation: -10 °C to +60 °C | |
| Construction | Rugged all-metal housing; very good suppression of structure-borne noise | p. 1 |
| From the manual | ||
| Capsule | condenser with interference tubeNot stated by the manufacturer: A shotgun mic: "Due to its high directivity ... effectively attenuates noise coming from the sides and rear". | p. 3 |
| Low cut | linear, low cut"Low Cut" switch: linear frequency response, or "frequencies below 100 Hz are attenuated to reduce wind and impact noise". | p. 6 |
| Switches | battery: on, off"BATT ON/OFF" battery switch; it has no function under phantom power (page 5). | |
| Connector | XLR-3 male"XLR-3 socket (male)". | p. 4 |
| Low Batt indicator | LED lights red below 1.05 V, about 8 hours before the battery is empty | p. 6 |
| Operation indicator | LED: green under phantom power; red for about 1 s at battery switch-on | p. 5 |
| Windshield | The MZW 600 foam windshield attenuates wind noise by approx. 25 dB | p. 4 |
| Shock mount | MZS 600, with a camera flash-shoe adapter | |
| KA 600 cable | Adapter cable from the XLR-3 output to a camera's 3.5 mm jack input | p. 3 |
| Optional accessories | MZQ 600 microphone clamp, MZH 600 "hairy" windshield, KA 600i cable for mobile devices (3.5 mm TRRS) | |
Documents
- MKE 600 Shotgun Microphone, Product SpecificationSP 1302 v1.0
- MKE 600 Instruction manual (Publ. 09/22, 536956/A02), EN
- MKE 600 flyer "Perfect Sound. Perfect Pictures."548756, 09/12
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.