This question is inspired by a thread with more general title on lowering small condenser mic noise where the Sennheiser e614 was mentioned as an alternative to the mic being discussed (Lowering SD Condenser noise, Pearl CMR-55H / CR-55.), and the black NT1 circuit mods performed by @kingkorg which successfully lowered the self noise of the NT1, even though the black NT1 is already nearly silent with 4.5dB self noise! That thread can be found here: Rode NT1 Kit (the black one) Mods
Firstly, the e614 is a fairly noisy mic with 24dB self noise. It's also not very sensitive, which requires higher gain settings on the interface or recorder. This mic was designed for use primarily as a drum overhead, but has also been successfully used on guitar and other instruments with sharp transients. It responds very quickly. However, it also sounds great for vocals due to its super smooth neutral frequency response (similar to the black NT1 with a less pronounced low end - see chart below). In the following shootout video, it held its own even up against a more expensive Neumann KM185, and much more expensive U87, dare I say. The guy misspeaks and says the mic is extremely quiet, where he really meant "not sensitive" - at least how I typically would understand and use those terms:
Given all those factors and flexibility, I bought it just to have an affordable ($169-199 new) but neutral super-cardioid mic on hand without spending a fortune since I didn't have a clear constant use for it. The mic's self noise in the real world isn't that terrible, but I'm interested to see if any improvements can be made making it more suitable as an indoor dialog mic. If not, I'm not at a loss, since it's a great mic as-is for instruments and up close field recording particularly with loud sources given it's max SPL of 139dB. It fills a nice usage gap between my NT1 and Deity S-Mic 2S (an excellent short version of a shotgun mic with a sound signature similar to the Sennheiser MKH416). At the time of my initial purchase and use, I had a Zoom H4n Pro which has notoriously noisy preamps, so I used a Triton Fethead Phantom which dramatically helped the Zoom, enough to create a basis for pretty dramatic noise reduction results with some very mild reduction in iZotope RX. But of course, the Fethead Phantom only benefits a noisy preamp, not a noisy microphone (correct me if I'm wrong). I have since moved on to a better recorder with professional preamps (Zoom F3), so the Fethead will go, but I really want to hang onto the e614 and get more use out of it.
All that said, for reference, I've attached the specs and frequency response curve for the e614 from the Senneiser spec sheet (https://assets.sennheiser.com/globa..._1207_v1.1_e_614_Product_Specification_EN.pdf), as well as pictures of my e614's body and PCB including a closeup of the circuitry. Perhaps someone here can recognize something. Surface mounted components just like the NT1, but most are of the smallest size. At face value it seems like a lost cause, but I'm curious enough to ask.
I'd also be curious regarding an all out PCB/circuit replacement, though the overall cost/time would really need to be worth it.
Another question is whether or not any of that self-noise comes from the capsule as opposed to primarily/only the circuitry? Not sure how feasible a capsule replacement is, and what sort of frequency response I would end up with, but I'm open to any suggestions. I'm ultimately here to learn.
I'd hate to go immediately down the path of replacing everything, but never say never...this little mic has a solid brass body if I recall correctly, so it's definitely nice. Very heavy and sturdy.
Cheers--
Firstly, the e614 is a fairly noisy mic with 24dB self noise. It's also not very sensitive, which requires higher gain settings on the interface or recorder. This mic was designed for use primarily as a drum overhead, but has also been successfully used on guitar and other instruments with sharp transients. It responds very quickly. However, it also sounds great for vocals due to its super smooth neutral frequency response (similar to the black NT1 with a less pronounced low end - see chart below). In the following shootout video, it held its own even up against a more expensive Neumann KM185, and much more expensive U87, dare I say. The guy misspeaks and says the mic is extremely quiet, where he really meant "not sensitive" - at least how I typically would understand and use those terms:
Given all those factors and flexibility, I bought it just to have an affordable ($169-199 new) but neutral super-cardioid mic on hand without spending a fortune since I didn't have a clear constant use for it. The mic's self noise in the real world isn't that terrible, but I'm interested to see if any improvements can be made making it more suitable as an indoor dialog mic. If not, I'm not at a loss, since it's a great mic as-is for instruments and up close field recording particularly with loud sources given it's max SPL of 139dB. It fills a nice usage gap between my NT1 and Deity S-Mic 2S (an excellent short version of a shotgun mic with a sound signature similar to the Sennheiser MKH416). At the time of my initial purchase and use, I had a Zoom H4n Pro which has notoriously noisy preamps, so I used a Triton Fethead Phantom which dramatically helped the Zoom, enough to create a basis for pretty dramatic noise reduction results with some very mild reduction in iZotope RX. But of course, the Fethead Phantom only benefits a noisy preamp, not a noisy microphone (correct me if I'm wrong). I have since moved on to a better recorder with professional preamps (Zoom F3), so the Fethead will go, but I really want to hang onto the e614 and get more use out of it.
All that said, for reference, I've attached the specs and frequency response curve for the e614 from the Senneiser spec sheet (https://assets.sennheiser.com/globa..._1207_v1.1_e_614_Product_Specification_EN.pdf), as well as pictures of my e614's body and PCB including a closeup of the circuitry. Perhaps someone here can recognize something. Surface mounted components just like the NT1, but most are of the smallest size. At face value it seems like a lost cause, but I'm curious enough to ask.
I'd also be curious regarding an all out PCB/circuit replacement, though the overall cost/time would really need to be worth it.
Another question is whether or not any of that self-noise comes from the capsule as opposed to primarily/only the circuitry? Not sure how feasible a capsule replacement is, and what sort of frequency response I would end up with, but I'm open to any suggestions. I'm ultimately here to learn.
I'd hate to go immediately down the path of replacing everything, but never say never...this little mic has a solid brass body if I recall correctly, so it's definitely nice. Very heavy and sturdy.
Cheers--
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