Sennheiser
Sennheiser MKH 40 P48
Small-diaphragm RF condenser, cardioid; symmetrical push-pull transducer, very low self-noise
Power Phantom 48 V ± 4 V.
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −32 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 12 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 74%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 75%
- Max SPL
- 134 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 33%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 30%
- Rated range
- 40 – 20k Hz
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 88% of 104 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 110 end-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 27% of 110 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
4 of 5; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet (Recording Hacks copy), p. 1.
Graph titled "Effect of switchable roll-off filter". Distance, room and smoothing not stated.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the spec sheet (Recording Hacks copy), p. 1.
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 (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Values in parentheses on the sheet are with the -10 dB attenuator on. | ||
| Capsule | RF condenser, symmetrical (push-pull) transducer | p. 1 |
| Sensitivity | −32 dBV/Pa (25 mV/Pa)free field, no load, 1 kHz. Not stated by the manufacturer: Stated as 25 mV/Pa ± 1 dB (8 mV/Pa with the attenuator); converted: 20·log10(0.025) = -32.0. | |
| Self-noise | 12 dB(A)DIN IEC 651; also 18 dB(A), attenuator on. | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 21 dBCCIR 468-3; also 27 dB, attenuator on. | |
| Max SPL | 134 dB SPL1 kHz; also 142 dB SPL, attenuator on. No THD figure given. | |
| Output impedance | 150 ohm | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmminimum | |
| Rated frequency range | 40 Hz to 20 kHz | |
| Powering | phantom 48 V ± 4 V | |
| Current draw | 2 mA | |
| Low cut | off, on"Switchable roll-off filter to compensate for proximity effects at a distance of approx. 0.5 m"; the graph shows its effect. | |
| Pad | −10 dB"Switchable pre-attenuation". | |
| Weight | 100 gapprox. | |
| Dimensions | 25 × 153 mmDiameter × length. | |
| Finish | black anodised light metal | |
| Supplied accessories | MZS 40 shock mount; MZW 41 windshield | |
| Output | Transformerless, fully floating balanced | |
Documents
- MKH 40 P 48, RF symmetrical capsule condenser microphonedata sheet, Cat. No. 002645
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.