AudioChainsDB
Sennheiser

MK 8

microphone

$799

Used market: $625*

Manufacturer datasheet

Specifications

1 of 9 values have a recorded source
Connectors
XLR 3-Pin Male·
Has Built In ADC
no·
Self Noise d BA
10·
Transducer Type
Condenser True·
Sensitivity dBV
-37
Output Impedance ohms
50·
Phantom Power Required
yes·
Connection Architecture
XLR-Only·
Updated At
2026-08-05T23:27:57.513Z·

Expert Audio Engineering Commentary

Tonal Profile

Sennheiser's large-diaphragm studio condenser above the MK 4: five patterns, a real low-cut and pad, and a 10 dB(A) floor that is genuinely low for a one-inch capsule. Voicing is closer to neutral than to the scooped modern LDC.

Gain Staging Advice

-37 dBV/Pa is on the quiet side for a one-inch condenser; the 10 dB(A) floor buys that back. Expect to run 5-6 dB more preamp gain than with a TLM 103 for the same source.

What the datasheet actually says

Quoted verbatim from the manufacturer’s own page, with the date we checked it. We state what is printed, not what anyone intended by it.

Measurement conditions
«Sensitivity in free field, no load (1kHz) 14,1 mV/Pa»

One sensitivity and one noise figure of 10 dB(A) cover all five switchable patterns (omni, wide cardioid, cardioid, supercardioid, figure-8). The page names no pattern for either number. A dual-diaphragm capsule changes output level when the rear diaphragm is re-polarised, so the figure can only be true for one of the five.

checked 8/6/2026

* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~78% retained value). · checked on 8/6/2026