AudioChainsDB
Sennheiser

MD 421-II

microphone

$399

Used market: $310*

Find at ThomannManufacturer datasheet

Specifications

5 of 7 values have a recorded source
Connectors
XLR 3-Pin Male·
Has Built In ADC
no·
Transducer Type
Dynamic Moving Coil✓
Sensitivity dBV
-54✓
Output Impedance ohms
250✓
Phantom Power Required
no✓
Connection Architecture
XLR-Only✓

Expert Audio Engineering Commentary

Tonal Profile

Pressure gradient cardioid, 30 Hz to 17 kHz, with a five-position bass rolloff on the collar. Electrical impedance is 250 ohms - higher than the 150 ohms of the Shure dynamics, which matters on long cable runs into low-impedance inputs.

Gain Staging Advice

Sennheiser publishes 2 mV/Pa, which converts to -54.0 dBV/Pa. Same neighbourhood as an SM58, 5 dB above an SM7B: the 421 is not the gain-hungry mic its price bracket suggests.

* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~78% retained value). · checked on 8/5/2026