Sennheiser MKH 8050: Is This Shotgun Mic Worth £800?
The Sennheiser MKH 8050 is a professional broadcast shotgun microphone used in film and television production worldwide. Here's who it's for and whether the price is justified.
The Sennheiser MKH series is the professional broadcast microphone standard. Pick up a major film from the past thirty years and there's a reasonable chance some of the dialogue was recorded on an MKH microphone. The MKH 8050 is a supercardioid condenser in the RF-biased tradition (more on what that means in a moment), designed for high-quality sound pickup in demanding outdoor and broadcast environments.
At £809 from Wex, it's a professional tool at a professional price. This review explains what you're paying for and who should consider it.
What "RF-biased" means and why it matters
Most condenser microphones use an externally polarised capsule - a fixed electrical charge is applied to the capsule diaphragm from the 48V phantom power supply. RF-biased condensers (which Sennheiser calls "MKH" technology) use a fundamentally different approach: a radio-frequency oscillator inside the microphone is modulated by the capsule, and the resulting signal is demodulated to produce an audio output.
This sounds like an engineering curiosity, but it has practical consequences that matter in professional applications:
- Exceptional humidity resistance - RF-biased capsules are largely immune to the moisture condensation that affects conventional condensers in humid environments or when moving from warm indoors to cold outdoors. For location recording in the UK (where the weather is rarely cooperative), this is a significant advantage.
- Very low noise floor - RF-biased condensers typically achieve lower self-noise than equivalent externally polarised capsules, which means cleaner recordings in challenging acoustic environments.
- Extended frequency response - The MKH 8050 is flat well beyond 20kHz, which is useful for post-production processes that use frequency information above the audible range.
Sound character
The MKH 8050 is a super-cardioid microphone, meaning its pickup pattern is tighter than a standard cardioid - it focuses more directly on the source in front of it and rejects more from the sides and rear. It also has a rear rejection null, meaning sources directly behind the mic are most effectively rejected.
The frequency response is very flat and extended. There's no "presence boost" in the upper mids to make voices sound more flattering or intimate - what you get is an accurate representation of the sound source. This is what broadcast and film applications require (the sound mixer controls the frequency shaping in post), but it's different from what most podcasters or musicians think of as a "good sounding" microphone.
Who should buy this?
The MKH 8050 is appropriate for:
- Documentary and news filmmakers who record dialogue in varied outdoor environments
- Music recording engineers who need a high-end overhead or room microphone
- Broadcast facilities that need absolute reliability and consistency
- Sound designers working with foley or effects recording where extended frequency range is useful
It is not appropriate for home podcasters, bedroom musicians looking for a "pro" mic, or anyone whose budget would be better spent on room treatment and a competent interface.
Comparison with competing professional shotgun mics
| Microphone | Type | Self-noise | Price | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser MKH 8050 | Supercardioid condenser | 13dB-A | £809 | Humidity resistance, low noise |
| Schoeps CMC 6 MK41 | Supercardioid condenser | 14dB-A | ~£1,200 | Flat response, excellent build |
| Rode NTG5 | Supercardioid condenser | 10dB-A | ~£380 | Affordable, very low noise |
Buying at the right price
The MKH 8050 has a fairly stable retail price - Wex, Thomann and Sennheiser's own UK store typically offer it at similar prices. Wex regularly has this available with competitive pricing and their after-sales support for professional equipment is strong. B-stock versions occasionally appear and represent good value if you're confident the capsule hasn't been damaged (Wex's B-stock grading is reliable).
The MKH 8050 in a stereo pair
The MKH 8050 can be purchased in a matched stereo pair for classical music recording, natural sound recording and archival audio work where stereo accuracy is important. Sennheiser matches pairs to tight tolerances, and the MKH series' consistent capsule characteristics make them particularly well-suited to stereo coincident technique (XY and MS recording).