The Sennheiser e835 handheld mic is a top-selling microphone that is built for a wide variety of uses. It is an affordable dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern. If you want an economical microphone, you should take a moment to review the details of the e835 handheld mic.
The Sennheiser e835
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The Sennheiser e835 is a handheld microphone featuring a standard XLR-3 connection. This is a dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup, which is the most common choice for live vocals.
With a cardioid pickup pattern, the microphone captures sound from directly in front of the mic and slightly to the sides. Vocalists should have no problem delivering their vocals into the mic without picking up a lot of external sounds.
The e835 handheld microphone was released in February of 2005. During the following 13 years, the mic has only undergone minor upgrades to its design to incorporate the latest manufacturing techniques. These changes do not have a noticeable impact on the quality of the mic for the end user.
For 13 years, the e835 handheld microphone has slowly gained a reputation for providing exceptional value. This finely-crafted piece of equipment comes from a trusted manufacturer and is one of the most affordable mics that still offers professional sound.
Who Is this Microphone Designed for?
The e835 handheld mic is a versatile product. While vocalists enjoy the range of this affordable microphone, the overall quality should suit a wide range of applications.
The manufacturer recommends this microphone for just about everything, including vocals and speech. It is also intended for live sound and studio recording. Churches may also find this to be an affordable option for adding more mics to their sound system.
The e835 provides a great balance of cost and sound, giving novices an affordable entry point for semi-professional microphones. While many professionals also use this mic, they commonly use it as a backup microphone or as an affordable mic for rehearsals.
Basically, the e835 is intended for just about anyone. However, there are microphones that provide better quality for those that have the extra money.
What’s Included?
- Cardioid pickup pattern: Provides good signal isolation and feedback rejection, enabling higher sound levels to be obtained
When you get the Sennheiser e835 and open the box, you will find the microphone and warranty information. The microphone does not come with any other items, which is quite common for handheld microphones.
If you want a windscreen or require a microphone cable, you will need to purchase these items separately. However, you are still getting a great value with the e835 microphone, due to its low price point. The warranty also adds to this value, as Sennheiser backs the quality of the product with a 10-year warranty against loss of sound.
Top Features Of The e835
The main feature that customers love is the price. The Sennheiser e835 handheld microphone is typically available for less than $100. Along with the low price, it offers the following features:
- Weighs about 18 ounces
- Measures 4.8 x 18 centimeters
- XLR-3 connection
- Metal construction
The e835 has a long handle, ensuring that you get a comfortable grip, which reduces the risk of dropping the mic. It also has a solid weight to it, giving it quality balance.
The overall sound quality is also a beneficial feature. While you do not get the best sound compared to some of the higher end microphones, the Sennheiser e835 surpasses the expectations for microphones in the under $100 range.
Customers have described the sound provided by the e835 as clear, big, and transparent. They also notice that the mic has great noise rejection. However, some people have also noticed feedback and distortion when delivering high vocals or loud sounds through the mic.
While the Sennheiser e835 does offer a high sensitivity level, it may not have enough sensitivity for some vocalists.
Another potential issue is the overall durability of the microphone. The outer, metal construction of the microphone protects it against impact when storing or transporting the mic. However, it can still easily get damaged when dropped.
The internal components, including the magnet or coil, may get damaged, knocked loose, or bent if the mic is dropped from several feet. The warranty does not protect against accidental damage.
Alternatives
If you like the Sennheiser brand and have a little extra money, you may want to consider getting the Sennheiser e935 Handheld Mic. It is part of the 900 series of professional microphones from Sennheiser, which is one class above the 800 series.
The main difference is the quality of the internal construction, including the use of a neodymium ferrous magnet with boron, which delivers a slightly superior sound. However, the average price of the e935 is about double the price of the e835 mic.
The e835 microphone is also commonly compared to the Shure Beta 58A microphone. The Beta 58A is a super-cardioid, dynamic microphone intended for vocalists and instruments. The price point places it between the e835 and e935 microphones.
With the Shure Beta 58A, there is less risk of feedback or noise when reaching the limits of the sensitivity level. However, when comparing the Shure microphone to the e835, most people prefer the Sennheiser. The differences are minor, but many people feel that the e835 has a bigger sound compared to the Shure microphone.
Conclusion – Is this Microphone a Good Choice?
The Sennheiser e835 is a wonderful handheld microphone for vocalists on a limited budget. It typically costs less than $100, making it an affordable mic designed for live sound. Despite the lower cost of this mic, you still get clear, pristine sound.
The overall quality of the signal should suit a wide variety of applications, including live vocals, studio recording, rehearsals, and speech. However, the e835 does not quite match the clarity of some of the higher end mics.
The Sennheiser e835 handheld microphone is the best value for your money microphone, providing superior sound compared to other mics in the same price range.
