Many engineers may have a box full of high-quality mics, but finding the one that’s “just right” is often difficult. Of course, many factors come into play when choosing a mic. Sometimes it is relative to the register or timbre of the singer, sometimes the venue size plays a role, or it may just be what’s available at the time.
Getting the lead vocal to sound clean, clear, and full may be a challenge in some situations, but it is incredibly important so that the artists sound their best. Having great mics also means that they will hear themselves better in their monitor system — whatever type that may be. Sennheiser recently introduced their e965 condenser microphone that, while priced higher than some, delivers an audible improvement to nearly any lead vocal reproduction.
The Gear
Right out of the box, this mic is pure Sennheiser. It has their signature dark gunmetal color and deep metallic finished body with a slightly blue cast basket that also houses the switches for the various settings on the microphone. It has a very solid feel without being too heavy at just under a pound and, at just under eight-inches, it is roughly a half-inch longer than an e945 (dynamic microphone). Until the e965 arrived, the earlier e865 model was one of the smoothest condensers in its class, however; and with Sennheiser’s remarkable 50-ohm impedance (compared to e865 at 200 ohm), this dual diaphragm’s large one-inch capsule is surprising. The sound is extraordinary, whether you are listening at mix position, wearing personal monitors or with traditional stage monitors. While there is not as much “sizzle” as the Neumann KMS-104/105 (also 50 ohm, but with a smaller diaphragm), the e965 delivers its sound without as much bite at 3kHz and 5kHz, but with more “sweetness” at 8kHz to 10kHz.
The Gigs
Testing the e965 in a variety of venues with both male and female vocalists was impressive on many levels. On stage with Country/Rock artist Amber Leigh, her vocal range and subtle inflections came through beautifully in a nightclub setting. Leigh reported that she was able to “push” less vocally overall and the audience members actually commented that they were in awe of the sound quality of her voice (without knowing that we were testing the microphone).
Moving to a larger venue with LifeChurch.tv and a more substantial EAW P.A. system with Aviom personal monitor mixers on stage, the e965 showcases the stronger, deeper male vocal as well. Worship Pastor for LifeChurch.tv/Wellington Campus (on lead vocals, guitars) Chris Rogers, reported “I could not only hear better, but it took less effort to sing with the e965. The sound is huge, natural, and captures all of the subtle things that let me focus on what I’m singing, not how I’m singing. Our personal monitors sound better, I don’t have to think about anything but being in the moment.”
In both venues, the bands were all using Future Sonics Ear Monitors or Atrio personal monitors with all performers indicating how much they enjoyed the lead vocal sound once they pulled back the level just a bit since the e965 came up a bit hotter in the mix.
The audio quality of the e965 is outstanding, incredibly smooth, and peeks through the mix naturally with an accurate representation of the singer’s voice. While such a beautifully broad sounding mic captures a richer, fuller sound for the lead vocal, it may be more than what most will need for the background vocals. The e965 peeks through the front-of-house mix with detail, warmth, and plenty of peripheral rejection from either of the selectable cardioid or super-cardioid patterns. Additional features include a low-cut switch, pre-attenuation -10dB pad switch, very low handling noise, a maximum SPL of 142dB (152dB with pre-attenuation), plus a ten-year warranty. The build quality is excellent and offers a solid feel without being too heavy. Both construction and finish survived a six-foot drop without any change in audio quality thanks in part to the Sennheiser capsule shock mount.
Priced with an MSRP of $878 and an average street price of around $699, it is an investment, but one that is well worth it if you want studio-quality vocals from a live performance. In much the same way that investing in an instrument or amplifier has value in producing “your sound,” vocal microphones are equally important, if not more so. Consider your investment in your guitar, bass, or keyboard rig; then, as a singer, what microphone will you use? Sound is everything. The e965 can easily replace all other lead vocal condenser microphones in this price category, or any other. This is truly a favorite and Sennheiser raises the pro-audio industry’s bar, yet again, with an outstanding product.
