Sennheiser
Sennheiser MKH 70
Long shotgun (interference tube), RF condenser, supercardioid/lobar, with switchable pad, roll-off and treble emphasis
Power Phantom 48 V ± 4 V.
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 2
- Sensitivity
- −26 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 5 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 97%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 97%
- Max SPL
- 124 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 9%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 7%
- Rated range
- 50 – 20k Hz
vs 15 shotgun condensers
Quieter than 100% 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 7% 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 quick guide, p. 2.
One graph under "Polar pattern and frequency response", with the legend "Effect of switchable roll-off-filter" and "Effect of switchable treble emphasis" (both dotted). Relative dB, 0 dB at 1 kHz. 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 quick guide, p. 2.
Titled "Polar pattern and frequency response". 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 quick guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Values in parentheses are with the -10 dB pre-attenuation on. | ||
| Sensitivity | −26 dBV/Pa (50 mV/Pa)free field, no load, 1 kHz; also −36.5 dBV/Pa, pre-attenuation on. Not stated by the manufacturer: Stated as "50 (15) mV/Pa ±1 dB"; converted: 20 log10(0.050) = -26.0, 20 log10(0.015) = -36.5. The older instructions give "50 mV/Pa (15 mV/Pa) ≙ -28 dBV (-38 dBV)" (page 13), which does not match its own mV figures. | p. 2 |
| Self-noise | 5 dB(A)DIN IEC 651; also 13 dB(A), pre-attenuation on; also 8 dB(A), older instructions, DIN 45 500 curve A. The 2004 product sheet agrees; the older instructions say "8 dB (15 dB)" (page 13). | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 16 dBCCIR 468-3; also 24 dB, pre-attenuation on; also 20 dB, older instructions, DIN 45 405 / CCIR 468. The older instructions say "20 dB (26 dB)" (page 13). | |
| Max SPL | 124 dB SPL1 kHz; also 132 dB SPL, pre-attenuation on; also 123 dB SPL, older instructions. No THD figure given. The older instructions say "123 dB (133 dB)" (page 13). | |
| Output impedance | 150 ohm"Nominal impedance". | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmminimum | |
| Rated frequency range | 50 Hz to 20 kHzNo tolerance given. | |
| Powering | phantom 48 V ± 4 VThe older instructions: "phantom supply as per DIN 45 596", 44 to 52 V (page 13). | |
| Current draw | 2 mA | |
| Pad | −10 dB"switch for preattenuation", marked "-10 dB". The older instructions: "Pre-attenuation 10 dB, defeatable" (page 13). | p. 1 |
| Connector | XLR-3"XLR-3 connector". | |
| Weight | 180 gapprox. | p. 2 |
| Dimensions | 25 × 410 mm"⌀ 25 x 410 mm": diameter × length. | |
| Supplied accessories | microphone clamp"In the box" shows the mic, a clamp, the quick guide and the safety guide. The 2004 product sheet says only "Delivery includes: 1 MKH 70". | p. 1 |
| Phantom wiring | 6.8 kΩ feed resistors per leg, or 3.3 kΩ to a transformer centre tap | p. 2 |
| From the spec sheet (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
| Capsule | RF condenser, symmetrical (push-pull) transducer, with interference tube"Symmetrical transducer technology ensures extremely low distortion"; "long gun" "interference tube microphone"; the older instructions: "pressure gradient / interference receiver" (page 13). | p. 1 |
| Finish | black anodised light metal"Black, anodised light metal body". | |
| Variants | MKH 70 P 48 (cat. no. 003149, the 2004 product sheet); MKH 70-1 (article no. 003149, the 2019 quick guide) | |
| Output | Transformerless, fully floating balanced | |
| UsesSennheiser | Difficult conditions: high background noise and distant mic positions | |
| Construction | Rugged and weather-proof | |
| From the manual (Recording Hacks copy) | ||
| Low cut | off, on"Roll-off filter: additional 3 dB attenuation at 70 Hz". The quick guide calls it the "switch for roll-off-filter" (page 1); on its graph (page 2) the dotted line is about 5 dB below the solid one at 70 Hz. | p. 13 |
| Switches | treble emphasis: off, on"Presence filter: 5 dB emphasis at 10 kHz". The quick guide calls it the "switch for presence filter" (page 1) and "switchable treble emphasis" (page 2). | |
| Low-cut filter | 18 dB/oct below 50 Hz (built in, always on) | |
| Optional accessories | MZS 20-1 shock mount (pistol grip), MZW 70-1 basket windshield, MZH 70-1 windshield cover, MZQ 40 clamp, MZS 40 shock mount, MZW 71 foam windshield, MZA 14 P 48 U battery supply | |
Documents
- MKH 70-1 Quick GuidePubl. 09/19
- MKH 70 P 48 product sheetCat. No. 003149
- MKH 70 P 48 Gebrauchsanleitung / User's Guidemultilingual, scanned
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.