Who is the Sennheiser MKE 200 microphone suitable for?
- This Sennheiser MKE 200 microphone Lightweight, just plug in a camera or mobile phone to work
- MKE 200 produces recordings with impressive high sound quality
- Additional mobile kits can be purchased, which include a tripod and phone holder
Smartphones are not just a way to communicate with each other. Mobile phones are now cameras, music studios, editing rooms, and live broadcast equipment. However, the hardware built into the phone is usually not the best, especially when producing high-end content.At that time, companies like Sennheiser will step in to improve the process, for example Sennheiser MKE 200. This small microphone is designed to be used with cameras and mobile phones to greatly improve the audio quality when recording videos.
A huge missed opportunity
This Sennheiser MKE 200 Sennheiser advertises that it is a microphone suitable for smartphones. This is a smart move, especially considering how small and light the microphone is. However, the company made a serious mistake in an effort to make the MKE 200 suitable for mobile devices: the included cable.
There are two cables included MKE 200, They are all 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cables. This is perfect for cameras with a 3.5mm jack, but the unfortunate fact about mobile phones is that the 3.5mm jack is a dying feature in the smartphone space. I don’t even remember the last major flagship product that included that jack, and Apple hasn’t included one in the new iPhone for nearly five years. My wife has an old mobile phone, which is very lucky, otherwise I would not be able to use MKE 200 at all.
Because MKE 200 With the 3.5mm jack, this means that the user cannot listen to the content just recorded without unplugging the microphone from the phone. The MKE 200 does not have an audio pass-through option, and there is no additional jack to plug in a pair of headphones.
Where did you leave MKE 200? Well, creators who use mobile phones to shoot cameras need to get some kind of adapter. Please note that not all adapters can be used because the cheap adapter I bought for $10 does not seem to be able to connect to the microphone when recording video. For products that are so focused on using smartphones, the “mobile kit” even includes a smartphone tripod, you would think it can be used with smartphones out of the box.
Thankfully, those who want to use MKE 200 There should be no problem with DSLR, mirrorless or similar cameras. Assuming that the camera in question has a 3.5mm jack, just plug in the MKE 200 to start recording.
Small and light
This Sennheiser MKE 200 Very inconspicuous. This small microphone is only about two and a half inches long and weighs a quarter of a pound. It can be easily placed on a cell phone or camera without being too heavy or bulky. The microphone is also completely powered by any device plugged in, which means it does not require any additional batteries or other power sources.
There are several design aspects MKE 200 I really like it, some of which I don’t like very much. On the positive side, I like that almost everything in the MKE 200 can be tightened to help eliminate user errors. For example, the cable connecting the microphone to another device has threads at the end of the microphone so it can be tightened. This means that the cable should not accidentally pop out of the microphone and disrupt the shooting. Likewise, the base of the microphone can be tightened so that the MKE 200 will not accidentally fall off the camera or the attached phone clip.
As far as things I don’t like, I don’t like MKE 200The cable is connected to the front of the microphone. This makes the cable hanging in front of the phone screen when shooting in Selfie mode, making it harder to see what is being recorded. When shooting with the phone’s rear camera, the microphone needs to be rotated 180 degrees to better capture the audio of the scene, which means that if the user is not careful, the cable may sneak into the picture. This is a minor annoyance, but definitely still needs to be remembered.
How does it sound?
Oh yes, in all these talks Sennheiser MKE 200We didn’t even improve the audio quality of the microphone. This is where the MKE 200 stands out, because the microphone can capture audio very, very well.
Microphone inside MKE 200 It is a supercardioid setting, which means it is designed as a directional microphone. The microphone has a built-in shock mount and windshield to help reduce unnecessary noise. It also comes with an additional furry windshield that can be slid onto the microphone to maximize wind protection.
When used MKE 200, The sound is loud and clear. The microphone can easily receive loud and soft sounds, because my voice will be loud when holding the microphone on the camera selfie style. At the same time, it also received the keyboard click on the other side of the room.
One disadvantage of recording is MKE 200 It does pick up a lot of unwanted noise. For example, in my test, the air conditioner in my apartment can be heard clearly. In addition, the microphone picks up its own voice when walking around during recording, including the dull thumping sound from the surrounding microphones. It is best to keep movement to a minimum while recording, and install the MKE 200 on its mount as tightly as possible.
This Sennheiser MKE 200 It’s really good in specific use cases. Microphones are great for personal videos or vlog-style content, but should be used in a quieter environment. Recording outdoors or in crowded areas may sound too confusing because of how much the microphone can pick up. I’m not sure if I will use MKE 200 to get more professional content, unless the recording is in a very controlled space.
Mobile kit
although Sennheiser MKE 200 Available separately, Sennheiser also offers a microphone and mobile accessory kit.We have discussed these accessories in our article Sennheiser XS low reviewBut all in all, these are actually super high-quality accessories. The tripod is sturdy and durable, and can be folded up for handheld use. The phone holder has a strong grip and will not become too tight or difficult to open. It can be locked in place to ensure safety or to help shoot at a specific angle. All in all, these accessories are very beneficial and not cheap add-ons.
Final thoughts
This Sennheiser MKE 200 It is a convenient and powerful microphone, but there seems to be an identity crisis. The microphone is clearly designed for smartphones, but does not include the cables required to work on most modern phones. The release of products that require additional hardware, especially for all iPhone users, is a strange way to say the least.
This MKE 200 It really makes more sense as a microphone for a SLR camera or a mirrorless camera. It does not require any additional hardware, assuming the camera in question has a 3.5mm jack. In this configuration, the cable is also easier to manage.
MKE 200 available Approximately 100 USD aloneAnd mobile kit bundle, which includes microphone, smartphone clip and tripod, is Priced at $130.
