Sennheiser E906

Do you want to buy a microphone ? Choosing one is not easy since you have to take into account several criteria, including what you want to do with it. There are in fact several types of microphones on the market including the wireless lavalier microphone , the ribbon microphone , the gooseneck , the USB microphone , the Boom microphone , HF microphone , etc.

There are also technical terms that refer to each type of microphone. dynamic , condenser or even electrostatic microphones . There are also condenser microphones. To go further in the categories of microphones, know that there is also directivity or polar pattern.

It's directivity that we're talking about when we mention terms like shotgun microphone , cardioid microphone , bidirectional , hypercardioid , supercardioid , etc. These terms can be complicated especially if you are new to purchasing a microphone. There are also many brands, for example Neumann, DPA, Blue Yéti, Rode Nt USB, Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, Axis, and many others.

In this case, how to choose your microphone? Which should you choose? Choose the one that meets your needs and expectations. Each microphone has a specific role. A recording microphone is, for example, intended for vocal recording while an instrument microphone is only suitable for sound reinforcement or recording studio equipment.

If you still don't know which microphone to choose, it's better to rely on tests. For example, we tested the Sennheiser E 906 microphone for you. It is among the most popular currently. See in the following lines whether it suits you or not.

Focus on the Sennheiser brand

Sennheiser is a German brand specializing in headsets, telephone accessories and microphones. It was founded in 1945, after the Second World War. It was founded by Fritz Sennheiser. The latter died out in 2010, but the company continues to produce and market quality products.

Note that this company has already been awarded a technical or scientific Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1987 following the design of the MKH 816 microphone . She also won a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award in 1996 for developments in wireless transmission .

Added to this is a Grammy Award obtained after the creation of the microphones of Georg Neumann GmbH. In short, Sennheiser is a company that has a great reputation because it excels in its field. It is even among the reference brands when it comes to microphones. Among the latest models she designed was the Sennheiser E 906.

The Sennheiser E 906 is a stereo microphone which is intended for sound recording and amplification of instruments such as guitar, bass, percussion, etc. Should you choose it for your instruments? We have carried out a test below and are providing you with a detailed opinion on this microphone.

Sennheiser E 906 Microphone Overview

The Sennheiser E 906 microphone is a perfect model for professionals who use musical instruments. A professional with a microphone of this type can do wonders with his instruments and equipment since it is not an ordinary external microphone .

This model is suitable for most instruments although it was generally created for guitar amps. This is a professional quality microphone. It is robust (although its waterproof index is low), handy and light. You can take it anywhere, without fear of shocks or bulk. It weighs only 140 g and has compact dimensions for ergonomic handling.

The microphone has a flat, streamlined shape which makes it perfect for guitar recording . Meanwhile it has a high output level. It can therefore capture the distortion of guitars. Besides these points, the mic is easy to use . You just have to plug it in using an XLR cable. As an added bonus, it comes with a stand.

Another advantage with the microphone is that you can hang it on the cable by placing it above the guitar amplifier for more flexible use . The mic also features markings for easy installation. There is the word “front” on one side and an evolution logo on the other.

The elements of the Sennheiser E 906 microphone

In addition to the “front” and the evolution logo, there is the “made in Germany” marking and the manufacturer's logo on the Sennheiser E 906 microphone. In addition, there is a 3-way switch . The latter is quite difficult to achieve.

To activate it, you must use a pen or a pointed object. Maybe it's strategic. Perhaps the brand did this on purpose to avoid mishandling during use.

What is the functionality of this switch? It influences the sound. You can put it in the middle position to get a normal sound . You can also flip the switch down to attenuate high frequencies to mute lower frequencies. Flip the switch up to emphasize high frequencies .

Design and ergonomics of the Sennheiser E 906

When you take the Sennheiser E 906 microphone out of its cover, you immediately see that it is a professional microphone . Its aesthetic is simple, but elegant. Its size and compact, robust design make it look like a practical microphone that will last over time.

The design is really very light. There is nothing charging this mic. Given its small size, it is light. So it is easy to transport. You can hold it in the palm of your hand, it's so small.

It will therefore not take up too much space when storing and transporting. The microphone is easy to install since it already has a stand. As for its use, if we forget the fact that the switch is difficult to access, we can say that the microphone is ergonomic. There aren't too many adjustments to make. You also don't need to carry out complex manipulations . You just have to install it and let it do its job.

The Sennheiser E 906 microphone: a microphone for instruments?

The Sennheiser brand presents the Sennheiser E 906 microphone as a microphone for instruments , more precisely for guitar amps . Is this really the case? In fact, to answer this question, you need to check the characteristics of the microphone. Among these characteristics are the directivity, the technology used, the sound pressure and the frequency response.

Technology

When we talk about technology, there are generally 3 microphones including the dynamic microphone , the electrostatic microphone and the condenser microphone or condenser microphone. The dynamic microphone is a model that withstands high acoustic pressures . It is therefore perfect as an instrument microphone. A dynamic microphone is also sensitive.

You can use it for a guitar amp or receiver, percussion, and many more. As for the electrostatic microphone, it is a microphone that does not need an electrical polarization voltage.

Concerning sensitivity, it is there. In addition, the microphone is quite precise. However, it only supports low sound pressure. It is therefore more suitable for singing than for instruments.

Condenser microphones can also be used as instrument microphones as they withstand high sound pressure well , but the only disadvantage is that they require the use of an external power supply such as a phantom power supply for example. . The Sennheiser E 906 is a dynamic microphone. It is therefore suitable for recording instrument sounds .

Directivity

There are several types of directionality when it comes to microphones. There are omnidirectional models. An omnidirectional microphone is capable of capturing sound waves up to 360° . It therefore captures all surrounding sounds. This is the mic to choose if you want to record ambient sounds.

Afterwards, there are other types of microphones, including the cardioid microphone, directional or unidirectional microphone. This is a favorite among singers as this type of microphone generally picks up sounds coming from the front . This is the recommended microphone for instrument sound recording or for singing.

Otherwise, there are also the microphones that pick up sound on the front and back. A microphone of this type is called a bidirectional microphone . It is generally used for instruments such as the snare drum for example.

Other directivities also exist, including hypercardioid and supercardioid. These patterns are almost similar to microphones with a cardioid pattern, but the big difference is sensitivity. Supercardioid mics are more sensitive and pick up sound very well where it is pointed .

The Sennheiser E 906 has a supercardioid polar pattern. This is one of the directivities sought by sound professionals who wish to capture the sound of an instrument easily .

Other guide : You can also check out our guide on the best microphone for karaoke . Discover in this guide: How to choose a microphone for karaoke? Top 10 best microphones for karaoke.

Acoustic and sound pressure and frequency response

Acoustic and sound pressure indicates the maximum pressure the microphone can withstand . It all depends on the power level you need. If you need to push your instruments to the max, you need a mic that can handle the sound pressure . In short, the higher the pressure supported by the microphone, the better.

Then there is the frequency response. This is the frequency range of the electrical signal delivered by the microphone. A versatile model should display a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz on average. The Sennheiser E 906 is supercardioid and can therefore withstand significant sound pressure.

It now has one of the best capsules of the brand . The latter is able to withstand high pressures. In addition, its frequency range is very satisfactory ( 40 to 18,000 Hz ).

In short, the Sennheiser E 906 microphone is therefore a perfect microphone for musical instruments as it has all the characteristics necessary to capture sound. This is an opinion based on the specificities and technical characteristics, but what is this microphone really worth in practical use? To answer this question, we must study the sound quality of the Sennheiser E 906.

Zoom on the sound quality of the Sennheiser E 906 microphone

The Sennheiser E 906 is a perfect microphone for instruments from a technical point of view, but how does it really fare after testing? Compared to models like the Shure SM57 for example, we can say that it is a good microphone whether in terms of midrange, bass or even treble. There is nothing to say about its frequency response curve.

This microphone also has a moving coil compensation which attenuates parasitic noise, interference, parts of the reverberation of the room where it is located (unlike an omnidirectional microphone) as well as hum. It will make you happy.

The E 960 reproduces sound well even at low volume, and even if the amp or preamplifier covers listening with headphones. Once this microphone is plugged in, it does its job well. It is even versatile although initially, the brand designed it for guitar amps . It offers a very satisfactory result with this type of equipment and instrument.

The natural tone is well restored, without any distortion. The microphone being supercardioid type , it perfectly captures the noise towards which it is directed. The sensitivity is very high. It is therefore easy to obtain quality sound reproduction with this model. In addition, there is its switch which allows you to adjust the sound, but also to manage transients and SPL easily.

With this switch which offers 3 settings, you save a lot in terms of microphone, because you therefore have a 3 in 1 microphone . On a drum and toms, the microphone also offers a satisfactory result. The sound of the snare drum is very clear. You can easily hear the click even in a very noisy environment thanks to this microphone.

For the toms, the sound is smooth, warm and resonant. In addition, it is small. It can be brought closer to the drums without the drummer's strikes impacting or damaging it. In addition to this equipment, it is also possible to use the Sennheiser E 906 on a dynamic instrument. While the microphone excels in these instruments, it should be noted that it is not at all suitable for singing.

Its tight polar pattern makes it very sensitive to vibrations . The microphone therefore cannot play the role of a singing microphone (for this, you can consult our guide on the best microphone for singing ). Impossible to hold this mic by hand without causing distortion and annoying noise. The sound is also a little shrill since the microphone is very sensitive.

It's also not suitable for most instruments since it only excels at capturing sounds coming from a fixed direction . Apart from the instruments, note that it is possible to connect it to a mixing desk, to a preamplifier (like the ART Voice Channel) , to recording equipment, to interfaces and other sound sources, etc.

You will not need phantom power (unlike a condenser microphone which needs to be connected to a preamp and therefore phantom power) since the Sennheiser E 906 uses a 3-pin XLR connection and not a classic USB cable.

You won't need connectors or an adapter to adjust the voltage to the usual 48 volts. It is also possible to connect it to a computer associated with an external sound card, a receiver as well as a power supply for example.

The characteristics of the Sennheiser E 906 microphone

The Sennheiser E 906 microphone is presented as a professional quality model . It was designed for a guitar amp, but it is also suitable for percussion or brass. This microphone offers three types of switchable sounds including bright, normal sound and soft sound.

Besides these points, it is equipped with an anti-hum compensation coil. His body, for its part, is metallic. As for the detailed characteristics, we have:

• Nominal impedance: 350 ohms
• Maximum load impedance: 1000 ohms
• Directivity: supercardioid
• Transducer: dynamic
• Sensitivity: 2.2 mV/Pa
• Bandwidth: 40 18,000 Hz
• Connector: XLR-3
• Weight: 140g
• Dimensions: 55 x 34 x 134 mm

The microphone is delivered in a box with a cover, an MZQ 100 clip and instructions for use.

Our opinion on the Sennheiser E 906

The Sennheiser E 906 is perfect as a studio microphone. It was designed for instruments like guitar amps, snare drums and toms. On other instruments, however, you will have to invest in another microphone, the same for vocals. This microphone won't do the job.

After all, it was not designed for this use, but you can still use it for a podcast for example if you are careful not to move the microphone while recording.

The brand clearly states on its site that it is a professional supercardioid microphone for sound recording and amplification of sound waves from guitar, drums and percussion, so don't try it to use it otherwise.

If used correctly, the microphone offers an impressive result. It is also practical, ergonomic and easy to use. Note that it is among the most affordable on the market. If you are looking for an instrument microphone that offers good value for money, this is the model for you. If you are looking for a totally versatile model (instruments, vocals, etc.), go your way.

Let's recap the pros and cons of the Sennheiser E 906 microphone:

Most :

• Perfect for a guitar amp, snare drum, tom and percussion
• Comes with a stand
• Quality sound
• Excellent value

The lessers :

• Difficult to use switch
• Not totally versatile

Our verdict on the Sennheiser E 906 microphone: it's a good microphone that we recommend without hesitation if you want to use it for instruments and not for vocals.

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