The Sennheiser MD 409- worth it?

[Maggieo]

Sennheiser MD 409 goes for around $800.00US. That's seems like a lot of money for a dynamic mic.

Any one have experience with these? Are the newer versions better or worse? Is this just because James Murphy uses one?

[øøøøøøø]

I'd say "no, it's not worth it at that price for most people/applications"

It's not all that similar to the newer e609 or e906 except the shape/form factor.

It's a unique dynamic mic that's historically been somewhat useful on electric guitar, but I don't think it's "better" in that application than the more widely-available 421, 441, etc. It's just pretty rare, and a little bit unique... so if you really want exactly that one thing, you kind of have to pay the going rate.

If choosing between an old MD409 or a new MD441, I'd get the 441. If it were between an old MD409 and a pair of used M160s, I'd get the pair of used M160s every time, you know?

There are two circumstances under which I'd pay the going MD409 rate: 1) a commercial studio who wants a comprehensive mic locker for freelancers, and 2) if I already had a deep working relationship with it (and wanted exactly what it did).

Moving-coil dynamics for recording electric guitar are a bit like overdrive pedals, in the sense that most attributed "magic" is projected by the user. There are several different flavors, and most of them will get you somewhere close to what you're after. The electric guitar isn't super hard to record. No "holy grail" MC dynamic is worth spending an inordinate amount of money, in my view, when there are very good options for sensible prices.

Now if you want to get into condensers on guitars, that's a different story. A U47 or U67 can be glorious on a great guitar and amp.

But if I need a moving-coil dynamic for electric guitar (particularly distorted guitar), a lowly SM57, MD421, M88 will do the job for me most times. 441, SM7, also fine... even an EV 635a omni can be great and is cheap as chips. Ribbons? A Royer R121 would be far more useful to me than an MD409, and for only a little bit more money.

[øøøøøøø]

On the "budget but awesome" tip, look out for an old Beyerdynamic Soundstar X1.

Very, very similar to a vintage MD421 (might even be the same mic in a different housing) for usually a fraction of the money.

[Maggieo]

Thanks, Brad! I think I'll stick with my SM57 and Okatvamod M212.

On some forums, the MD 409 is the Klon of dynamic mics.

[øøøøøøø]

Thanks, Brad! I think I'll stick with my SM57 and Okatvamod M212.

On some forums, the MD 409 is the Klon of dynamic mics.

Yeah, sometimes you read that stuff and can't help but wonder whether half the people have ever actually used the thing (versus just having read a lot about using it).

[northern_dirt]

Thanks, Brad! I think I'll stick with my SM57 and Okatvamod M212.

On some forums, the MD 409 is the Klon of dynamic mics.

The AKG D20 then is the Dumble

[northern_dirt]

Thanks, Brad! I think I'll stick with my SM57 and Okatvamod M212.

On some forums, the MD 409 is the Klon of dynamic mics.

Yeah, sometimes you read that stuff and can't help but wonder whether half the people have ever actually used the thing (versus just having read a lot about using it).

All the NS10 love by kids make me think the same thing

[tdbajus]

FWIW, I still love my 20 year old MD421 mics. I don't think they count as vintage, but have reliably given me results I have been very pleased with.

Still prefer my beta56 ( I've heard Pete Townsend was a fan) the 421 most of the time. I would poorly describe it as being a higher fidelity sm57. Has a little more bite than my sm7, 421, etc.

[øøøøøøø]

Thanks, Brad! I think I'll stick with my SM57 and Okatvamod M212.

On some forums, the MD 409 is the Klon of dynamic mics.

Yeah, sometimes you read that stuff and can't help but wonder whether half the people have ever actually used the thing (versus just having read a lot about using it).

All the NS10 love by kids make me think the same thing

At least there are objective data supporting that the NS10 is special in at least one way (time domain performance)

I love NS10s and find them useful. A colleague of mine calls them “work lights for audio” and I think that’s pretty on-the-mark. I’d never use them for pleasure listening or to impress a client, but they are damn good at showing you what’s going on in the critical midrange.

[fortytwo]

No, yes, worse and no.

I have one working, two non working, and a Grundig GDSM 200 which is the same capsule.

it's a great mic, but not THAT great, and for $800 I'd look for a Beyer 160 instead.
Heck you can even get an 160 and a Sennheiser 609 for that kind of money. Does the 609 sound as good as the 409, no, but it sounds just as "great" as a 57.

[mikeymike]

I'd say "no, it's not worth it at that price for most people/applications"

It's not all that similar to the newer e609 or e906 except the shape/form factor.

It's a unique dynamic mic that's historically been somewhat useful on electric guitar, but I don't think it's "better" in that application than the more widely-available 421, 441, etc. It's just pretty rare, and a little bit unique... so if you really want exactly that one thing, you kind of have to pay the going rate.

If choosing between an old MD409 or a new MD441, I'd get the 441. If it were between an old MD409 and a pair of used M160s, I'd get the pair of used M160s every time, you know?

There are two circumstances under which I'd pay the going MD409 rate: 1) a commercial studio who wants a comprehensive mic locker for freelancers, and 2) if I already had a deep working relationship with it (and wanted exactly what it did).

Moving-coil dynamics for recording electric guitar are a bit like overdrive pedals, in the sense that most attributed "magic" is projected by the user. There are several different flavors, and most of them will get you somewhere close to what you're after. The electric guitar isn't super hard to record. No "holy grail" MC dynamic is worth spending an inordinate amount of money, in my view, when there are very good options for sensible prices.

Now if you want to get into condensers on guitars, that's a different story. A U47 or U67 can be glorious on a great guitar and amp.

But if I need a moving-coil dynamic for electric guitar (particularly distorted guitar), a lowly SM57, MD421, M88 will do the job for me most times. 441, SM7, also fine... even an EV 635a omni can be great and is cheap as chips. Ribbons? A Royer R121 would be far more useful to me than an MD409, and for only a little bit more money.

This. Nailed it.

[northern_dirt]

Yeah, sometimes you read that stuff and can't help but wonder whether half the people have ever actually used the thing (versus just having read a lot about using it).

All the NS10 love by kids make me think the same thing

At least there are objective data supporting that the NS10 is special in at least one way (time domain performance)

I love NS10s and find them useful. A colleague of mine calls them “work lights for audio” and I think that’s pretty on-the-mark. I’d never use them for pleasure listening or to impress a client, but they are damn good at showing you what’s going on in the critical midrange.

We tossed pallets of them (had them in 5 rooms). Mixing TV on them 8 hours a day tear out your ears. I think we may still have a pile of Bryston amps in storage somewhere..

[øøøøøøø]

Make me a good deal on a 4B or 2B?

And yes, they can be fatiguing. Especially if you turn them up loud.

I’d never listen as loud as, say, 85dB C-weighted (which is my target level on the big ATCs)

[Jonesie]

even an EV 635a omni can be great and is cheap as chips.

The word's getting out on the 635A's. I got my first for free and my second for $50. Now they're going for $150. Did the someone start talking about them or something? I love mine as secondary acoustic mics and as drum overheads. I find them to be close-ish (I use that VERY generously) to the Coles that I used to have access to, in the way that they're pretty warm and really pick up the space you're in. Obviously the Coles are way way way better, but for $50 I'll take it.

[Maggieo]

even an EV 635a omni can be great and is cheap as chips.

The word's getting out on the 635A's. I got my first for free and my second for $50. Now they're going for $150. Did the someone start talking about them or something? I love mine as secondary acoustic mics and as drum overheads. I find them to be close-ish (I use that VERY generously) to the Coles that I used to have access to, in the way that they're pretty warm and really pick up the space you're in. Obviously the Coles are way way way better, but for $50 I'll take it.

Holy cow, that's the mic I had plugged into a Superscope cassette recorder for radio interviews when I was in college.