If you’re looking for a microphone, then you have undoubtedly discovered that your options are many. Microphones for instruments, vocals, broadcasting, and all the niches in between have flooded the market within the past few years, and the quality and range just continues to skyrocket. It can be a tedious job to sort through all the specs, features, and reviews of every microphone you need to consider, but we’re hoping to cut into that process with this Sennheiser e835 review.
The Sennheiser brand has a variety of options in terms of microphones, but this particular model, the e835, is the highlight today for a multitude of reasons. Not only is it a popular microphone to have in your arsenal, but it is also an affordable option for beginners as well.
What Is the Sennheiser e835?
As we mentioned above, this Sennheiser e835 review covers the important aspects of this microphone. This will help shed some light on why it is so popular and why it may be a good option to add to or even start your audio studio collection.
This budget friendly microphone focuses on vocals, especially for presenters, announcers, and other speaking arrangements. It is forgiving and easy to handle and figure out, and it can still produce clean sound for its price range.
If you’re looking for a microphone that can be simple to use on stage or in your studio, this is a good option to consider, especially if you’re just starting out in your audio studio. This is a well-rounded and forgiving microphone and definitely worth a look for beginners in particular.
Product Specs:Â The Sennheiser e835 Review
Sennheiser E835 Dynamic Cardioid Vocal Microphone
- Gentle presence boost to even tonal response ensures clarity and projection
- Minimal Proximity effect provides consistently clear bass end performance when singing closer to or further from capsule
- Cardioid pick-up pattern provides good signal isolation and feedback rejection, enabling higher sound levels to be obtained
- Metal construction and internal shock-mount system minimizes handling noise
- Frequency response 40-16,000 Hz, Impedence 350 Ohms
We’ve given you a rough idea of what the Sennheiser e835 can do and what areas it can be useful in, but let’s dig a little deeper and get into the specs of the model.
Pick-Up Pattern
This is a cardioid microphone, meaning it has a wide pick-up pattern. This is part of what makes the microphone so forgiving, as proximity doesn’t affect its sound as much as another pattern would. This will allow your vocalist (and vocals) to not be so concerned with the microphone placement and its resulting quality.
Sound Quality
This is a bright and bold microphone. For its price range, it performs well, though a more experienced musician may notice some issues with high-end transparency and a little bit of muddiness.
It has a well-balanced low end, which baritones will appreciate, in particular, and it handles speech very well. Overall, the sound quality fares pretty well, for this price point especially.
Build
While you may not need a rough and tumble kind of microphone, it’s still nice to know it won’t fall apart after a handful of uses or after taking a fall. This microphone is built to last through a few drops and spills, though we would recommend handling it with care. It is much lighter than other models, which can make handling easier, but it also makes it feel a little less durable.
Pricing
There is a very wide price range for microphones starting as low as $50 and reaching to over $1,000. This is a Sennheiser e835 review though, so let’s focus in on this particular model. While prices are always shifting, you can typically find this microphone for around $100.
As we conclude the Sennheiser e835 review portion of this article and introduce the comparison section, we want to clarify the prices for the products to come. As prices are always changing, we want to cater more towards a budget than a specific price point, as that is more likely to remain accurate. To do so, we’ve opted to abbreviate pricing as follows: from $80 to $200 is $; $200 to $400 is $$; finally, $400 to $700 is $$$. We tried to pull from various price points to cater to different needs and function as well as a budget.
How It Compares: The Sennheiser e835 Review and Comparison
In order to really grasp where the Sennheiser e835 review left you feeling about this microphone, we’ve pulled in some other options to not only see where they all fit into the audio studio ranking but also to give you other options to pursue if you decide the e835 is not the right fit for you.
We want to make this comparison as straightforward and non-biased as possible. In order to do that, we are using the following grading criteria: price, ease of use, sound, design quality, warranty, and pros and cons. We found these to cover the important and unique features of each option as well as bring to light any concerns or shortcomings users have experienced.
- Neumann KMS 105 MT Condenser Microphone
- Shure SM58 Cardioid Vocal Microphone
- Electro-Voice RE320 Vocal and Instrument Microphone
Ease of Use
As we mentioned during the Sennheiser e835 review section, this microphone is simple and easy to use, which is why it makes a name for itself for beginners especially. Not only is it simple in external design, but it is also simple for vocalists to use without being too familiar with microphones and their various pick-up patterns, as a cardioid pattern is broad and more forgiving.
Sound
For the price point of this mic, its sound quality is surprising. There is a strong presence and fairly natural sound for speech, in particular, with a well-balanced low end as well.
There are some things to consider here, though. Transparency could be improved overall, as could the mic’s feedback which can be a bit heavy on stage. Its high ranges can be harsh as well.
Design Quality
There are some unexpected pros in this area, like the light weight of the microphone – even when compared to its higher-end siblings. It also has a quality internal shock-mount which is surprising for this price point but definitely well appreciated. It is sturdy enough to handle a couple of drops, but the lighter weight feature does play to its demise if continually dropped.
Warranty
There is a 2-year limited warranty for parts and labor should there be any malfunctions or if the product comes with any manufacturer errors. It should be noted that this does not include the microphone breaking if dropped, so it is important to maintain care for the mic. however, this is an extended warranty compared to other brands.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Broad pick-up pattern
- Well-balanced low end
- Strong presence
CONS
- Transparency could be improved
- High ranges are harsh
- Can have heavy feedback on stage
Neumann KMS 105 MT Condenser Microphone
We are taking a jump in price to bring in this microphone, but it has been a player in the audio game for a while now. It’s known for being able to handle acoustic and vocal resolution very well and is transparent enough to handle a range of music styles. This is also a cardioid microphone, and it excels in live stage performances.
Ease of Use
The cardioid pattern helps with ease of use here, as more unfamiliar artists and musicians can still get great results from it. It is lightweight as well, which makes the physical use much easier. The microphone itself comes unscrewed to let you clean the filter inside, which will help the mic last longer.
Sound
This microphone excels with jazz and acoustic sound. The degree of noise isolation makes it a great choice for loud stages as feedback is reduced. Audio is neutral as well , so no worries about your voice or sound being altered. Its high SPL gives it the ability to handle instruments like snare drums as well as vocalists.
The downfall in sound here is in its versatility. While it does really well with acoustic and jazz, it fares less well with rock and pop sounds. Those needing to work with those specific genres will probably find a better performing microphone elsewhere.
Design Quality
It is built to last through a couple of tumbles and has a durable steel grill as for added protection. Being able to unscrew the mic to clean it is definitely a great feature to have as well since this will extend the life of the microphone as a whole. This microphone is also lightweight, so long runs on stage don’t end up being a workout.
Warranty
There is a 2-year warranty for parts and labor that will cover the typical issues: manufacturer errors and any malfunctions that occur during that time. While this is a solid warranty for the price of the microphone, we would expect something a bit more far-reaching.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Solid cardioid pattern
- Great for acoustic and jazz
- Can handle instruments and vocals
- Handles loud stages well
CONS
- Pricey
- Not built for rock or pop music
Shure SM58 Cardioid Vocal Microphone
This microphone is built for vocals, and it is a popular one at that. You would be hard-pressed to never see one of these on a stage, as it performs well for live vocals and easily functions with most audio equipment, making it a smart and well-performing choice for vocalists and stage managers. To top it off, it is fairly durable too, so it is an easy choice for those on the road.
Ease of UseÂ
This microphones ability to play nice with a variety of different audio equipment make it an easy and simple choice for both beginners and more advanced vocalists. Its cardioid pick-up pattern aid in giving vocalists the cushion they need while the mic also gives a strong presence and works to cut unnecessary feedback.
This is not the lightest microphone on the market (or in this comparison), so those wanting something for extended stage time may find this to be a bit too heavy given its materials and build.
SoundÂ
This microphone works well with extended lows and clear, lush mids. Its presence peak for the highs could be a bit cleaner, but for the price, it’s a good option. It also responds well to EQ, and it aids in making EQ more usable with the mics overall versatility.
It’s one let-down is its frequency response, which doesn’t go below 100 Hz and still performs well. If that is a range you need, we would suggest jumping up to the next model or looking through other brands.
Design Quality
Of the options so far, this microphone is the most durable. It offers replaceable steel mesh that can definitely handle some drops and falls, and its overall build is fairly sturdy, especially for the price. The built-in shock mount system is a great addition to the design as well to decrease handling noise.
The downfall is that the added durability increases the overall weight of the microphone which we have mentioned before, so take that into account depending on your stage presence and style.
WarrantyÂ
Again, we have the 2-year limited warranty for this microphone. This will cover manufacturer errors and malfunctions to ensure that the normal intended use of the microphone is not impaired.
PROS
- Durable
- Strong presence
- Good lows and mids
- Works well with equipment and EQ
CONS
- Doesn’t perform well under 100 Hz
- Heavier
Electro-Voice RE320 Vocal and Instrument Microphone
This microphone is well-suited to studio use. It is a favorite among broadcasters and is versatile enough to be used for vocals or instruments. It can be used for live broadcasting as well though, so it’s not restricted to only recording or studio use.
Ease of Use
The biggest difference between a vocal microphone and a broadcasting specific microphone (in this section at least) is its set up. This will take a little longer to set up as it’s not meant to just be held or put on a stand. There is a specific stand the mic comes with that must be used that requires a desk or something to grab onto.
Sound
There is a switch on the microphone to shift between vocal and instrumental sound pick-up, and both are done through cardioid pattern pick-up. There is good noise suppression and feedback rejection for both modes which will also help for live sessions too. It works well with lows, mids, and highs and offers natural sound.
Design Quality
This is a durable microphone, however, it is also fairly heavy. It’s a little bit bigger than expected for a broadcasting-type microphone too, though that may or may not influence your taste for it.
Warranty
There is a standard warranty included for manufacturer error and any malfunctions you come across. Users haven’t had many issues in these areas either, so you can rest easy.
PROS
- Handles vocals and instruments
- Durable
- Feedback and suppression systems
CONS
- Heavy
- Big
- Requires a stand
Conclusion: The Sennheiser e835 Review and Comparison
Well, we’ve concluded the Sennheiser e835 review, and now we’ve gone through a comparison to see where it falls. So, where exactly did it end up? Unfortunately, we can’t tell you if the e835 is the right fit for your individual needs, but we can give out own take on it.
Given the price and the offered features, we feel that the e835 is a solid beginners’ option that will probably be a long-lasting addition to your audio arsenal. While it’s not perfect, we feel it is deserving of a final rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and we can definitely recommend it to vocalists, especially.
