Sennheiser
Sennheiser MKH 8090
Small-diaphragm RF condenser, wide cardioid; modular MKH 8000 series (microphone head on the MZX 8000 XLR module)
Power Phantom 48 V ± 4 V (P48, IEC 61938).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Wide cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −34 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 69%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 79%
- Self-noise
- 13 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 67%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 68%
- Max SPL
- 142 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 73%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 71%
- Rated range
- 30 – 50k Hz
vs 75 end-address condensers
More output than 66% of 75 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 79% 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 77% 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.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet, p. 2.
Graph "Frequency response" in absolute dB (sensitivity, dBV/Pa: the 0° curve is near -34 dB at 1 kHz); 20 to 100 kHz shaded on the graph. 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.
Each curve drawn on one side only (125 Hz to 1 kHz left, 2 to 32 kHz right); taken as symmetric. Measuring conditions not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the spec sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | RF condenser, symmetrical transducer"Symmetrical transducer technology ensures extremely low distortion". | p. 1 |
| Self-noise | 13 dB(A) | p. 2 |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 22 dBalso 23 dB, 2026 manual. The manual gives "CCIR-weighted: 23 dB" (page 104). | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 81 dBre 94 dB SPL, A-weighted. Not stated; computed as 94 - 13. | |
| Rated frequency range | 30 Hz to 50 kHzNo tolerance given. | |
| Powering | phantom 48 V ± 4 V (P48, IEC 61938) | |
| Current draw | 3.3 mA | |
| Finish | non-reflective Nextel coating | p. 1 |
| Supplied accessories | MZQ 8000 microphone clip; MZW 8000 windshield; transport case"Delivery includes". The current manual leaves out the case (page 14). | |
| Art. no. | 506294 | |
| Output | Transformerless, fully floating balanced | |
| Modular design | Microphone head on the MZX 8000 XLR module; with the MZD 8000 digital module instead it becomes a digital microphone | |
| Operating temperature | -10 °C to +60 °C | p. 2 |
| Climate | Extremely weather-proof due to the high-frequency (RF) circuit | p. 1 |
| UsesSennheiser | Main microphone where less room sound is wanted; support microphone for larger groups of instruments | |
| From the manual | ||
| Sensitivity | −34 dBV/Pa (20 mV/Pa)also −44 dBV/Pa, with the MZF 8000 II filter module. "-34 dBV/Pa (20 mV/Pa)"; "-44 dBV/Pa (6.3 mV/Pa) with MZF 8000 II filter module" (that module has a -10 dB attenuation switch, page 109). The spec sheet gives the same. | p. 104 |
| Max SPL | 142 dB SPLwith and without the MZF 8000 II filter module. "Sound pressure level limit: 142 dB SPL with and without MZF 8000 II filter module". The spec sheet: "Max. SPL 142 dB", with filter module "142 dB"; no THD figure given. | |
| Output impedance | 25 ohmrated. "Rated impedance 25 Ω". Not on the spec sheet. | |
| Rated load impedance | 2000 ohmminimum. "Min. terminating impedance 2 kΩ". | |
| Connector | XLR-3 (on the MZX 8000 XLR module)"Connect the XLR-3 socket of the microphone cable ... to the XLR-3 socket of the microphone"; page 70 shows the microphone head and the XLR module. | p. 71 |
| Weight | 55 gapprox., with the MZX 8000 XLR module; also 25, microphone head alone. "approx. 25 g", "approx. 55 g with XLR-Modul MZX 8000". | p. 105 |
| Dimensions | 19 × 75 mmapprox., with the MZX 8000 XLR module; also [19, 41], microphone head alone. Diameter × length: "approx. 19 mm"; "approx. 41 mm", "approx. 75 mm with XLR-Modul MZX 8000". | p. 104 |
| Windshield | MZW 8000 changes the sound only slightly; attenuates wind noise by approx. 30 dB | p. 72 |
| MZF 8000 II filter moduleoptional | Low-cut -3 dB at 16 Hz; switchable roll-off -3 dB at 70 Hz; switchable -10 dB attenuation; adds 1 dB(A) noise (4 dB(A) with the attenuation) | p. 109 |
Documents
- MKH 8000 Series, MKH 8090, Product SpecificationV1.1
- MKH 8000 series instruction manual, v1.4, 03/2026PDF export of the HTML manual
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.