Text Box: Condenser Mics 16dBA or lower self-noise
 
        Rob Danielson 08.2008 audio gallery                        
                                     
                                       
Brand Model Self Noise Sensitivity Polar Pattern Power Street Price Ea. Used Price Comments/Notes                      
            USD$                          
Sennheiser MKH-70 05 dB(A) 50 mV/Pa H (super-cardioid/lobar) P48 $1,850.00                          
R¿de NT1-A 05.5 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa C P48 $200.00   11 ozs.                      
Rode NT1000 06 dB(A) 16 mV/Pa C P24, P48 $300.00   Raimund Specht computed self noise at 16dB(A) . Based on my experience this is a generous figure. I'd say above 20 dB(A)                      
Sennheiser MKH-60 06 dB(A) 40 mV/Pa H (super-cardioid/lobar) P48 $1,600.00                          
AKG C 414 B-XLS 06 dB(A) 23 mV/Pa O,C,W,8 P48 $900.00 $750.00                        
AKG C 414 B-XL II 06dB(A) 23 mV/Pa O,C,W,8 P48 $1,000.00                          
Microtech Gefell M 940 07 dB(A) 21 mV/Pa SC P48 $1,500.00   Large Condenser                      
Microtech Gefell M 930 07 dB(A) 21 mV/Pa C P48 $1,500.00   Large Condenser                      
Neumann TLM 103 07 dB(A) 21 mV/Pa C P48 $750.00                          
Rode NT2-A 07 dB(A) 16 mV/Pa C,O,8 P48 $370.00   28 ounces, -5dB & -10dB roll-off and three variable high pass filters                      
R¿de NT2000 07 dB(A) 16 mV/Pa C,0,8 P48 $600.00   28 ounces, -5dB & -10dB roll-off and three variable high pass filters                      
Shure KSM-44 07 dB(A) 28 mV/Pa** C.O.8 P48 $800.00   ** Sensitivity Cardiod 28mv/Pa: Omni:14mv/pa\PA amd Fig 8:16mv/PA Review: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_shure_ksm_3/                      
Danish Pro Audio 4041SP 08 dB(A) 65 mV/Pa O P48 $3,000.00                          
AKG C 4000 B 08 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa C.,O, H P12, P48 $550.00                          
Audio Technica AT3032 08 dB(A)^^ see note 19.9mV/Pa 0 P11-P52 $160.00   ^^Eric Benjamin tested the self noise as below 11dB(A) 9?05                      
Audio Technica AT4047/SV 09 dB(A) 18 mV/Pa C P48 $500.00                          
Danish Pro Audio 4041-T 10 dB(A) 85 mV/Pa O 130 volts $3,000.00   Tube Microphone                      
Neumann TLM 193 10 dB(A) 18 mV/Pa C P48 $1,000.00                          
Sennheiser MKH 20 10 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa O P48 $1,300.00                          
Sennheiser MKH 80 10 dB(A) 40 mV/Pa O, W, C, H (super-cardioid), 8 P48 $0.00 $2,000.00 out of production - replaced by mkh800                      
Sennheiser K6/ME66 10 dB(A) 50 mV/Pa H (super-cardioid/lobar) P48 or B $560.00                          
Sennheiser K6/ME67 10 dB(A) 50 mV/Pa H (lobar, long gun) P48 or B $620.00                          
Sennheiser MKH-800 10 dB(A) 40 mV/Pa O, W, C, H (super-cardioid), 8 P48 $3,000.00                          
Sennheiser MKH-20 SASS Enclos 10 dB(A) 29 mV/Pa* Binaural (quasi) P48     Rig made by Walt Knapp                      
CAD M-177 10 dB(A) 16 mV/Pa C P48 $160.00                          
CAD M-179 10 dB(A) 16 mV/Pa O.C,8 P48 $170.00                          
Schoeps MK 2/CMC6 11 dB(A) 15 mV/Pa O P12, P48 $1,100.00                          
CAD E300 12 dB(A) 20 mV/Pa O, C, 8 P48 $300.00                          
Audio Technica AT3035 12 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa C P11-P52 $180.00                          
Neumann TLM 49 12 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa C P48 $1,800.00                          
Neumann U 87 Ai 12 dB(A) 28 mV/Pa O, C, 8 P48 $2,700.00                          
Sennheiser MKH 40 12 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa C P48 $1,350.00                          
Sennheiser MKH 50 12 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa SC P48 $1,600.00                          
Studio Projects B1 12 dB(A) C P48 $120.00                          
Telinga Pro 5 / DAT Stereo 12-13 dB(A)   parabolic, stereo, PZM multicapsule                              
Brauner VM1 13 dB(A) 28 mV/Pa O, C, W, H, 8 Special Power Supply $5,800.00                          
Brauner VM1S Stereo 13 dB(A) 28 mV/Pa O, C, W, H, 8 -In stereo Special Power Supply $11,000.00                          
CAD Vx2 13 dB(A) 18 mV/Pa O, C, 8 P48VX2 analog power supply   $1,500.00 Large Tube Mic - No Longer in Production                      
Microtech Gefell M 294 13 dB(A) 17 mV/Pa C P48 $1,600.00                          
Microtech Gefell M 295 13 dB(A) 17 mV/Pa C P48 $1,500.00                          
Microtech Gefell M 990 13 dB(A) 28 mV/Pa C P48 $3,300.00   Tube Condenser                      
Neumann TLM 50 S 13 dB(A) 20 mV/Pa O P48                            
Sennheiser MKH 30 13 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa 8 P48 $1,400.00                          
Sennheiser MKH-416 13 dB(A) 25 mV/Pa H (super-cardioid/lobar) P48 $1,300.00                          
Shure KSM32 13 dB(A) 16 mV/Pa C P48 $550.00                          
AKG C480B/CK-61 13,11,17 40, 20, 6.3 C P48 $1,100.00                          
AKG C480B/CK-62 13,11,17 40, 20, 6.3 O P48 $1,100.00                          
AKG C480B/CK-63 13,11,17 40, 20, 6.3 H P48 $1,100.00                          
AKG C460/CK61 14 dB(A) 7 mV/Pa C P48     The C460 preamp is no longer in production                      
AKG C426B 14 dB(A) 11mV/Pa M-S, X-Y Stereo; C mono P12,P48 $6,000.00   no longer in production                      
Audix SCX-25 14 dB(A) 31 mV/Pa C P48 $600.00                          
MBHO 603a/KA100DK 14 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa O P15-P48 $720.00                          
Microtech Gefell MT 711S 14 dB(A) 13 mV/Pa C P48 $900.00                          
Microtech Gefell UMT 70S 14 dB(A) 13 mV/Pa O,C,8 P48 $1,600.00   No longer in production                      
Microtech Gefell UMT 800 14 dB(A) 13 mV/Pa O,W.C.H.8 P48 $2,800.00                          
Microtech Gefell M 296 14 dB(A) 15 mV/Pa O P48 $1,600.00                          
Neumann TLM 170 R 14 dB(A) 8 mV/Pa O,W.C.H.8 P48 $2,800.00                          
Shure KSM27 14 dB(A) 28 mV/Pa C P48 $300.00                          
Telinga EM-23 14 dB(A) 10 mV/Pa O PIP     Primo cap outfitted with FET 2SK170. May no longer be in production                      
Sennheiser MKH 418 S 14 dB(A)* 25 mV/Pa* M-S (cardioid Lobar/Figure 8) P48 $1,600.00                          
Telinga EMKS-23 14dB(A)** 10mv/Pa O PIP (as low as 1.35vdc) $350.00   ** Estimated from comparison with MKH-40                      
Microtech Gefell M 92.1 S 15 dB(A) 19 mV/Pa C P48                            
CAD VSM1 15 dB(A) 22 mV/Pa C VSM 1 analog power supply     No longer in production                      
Danish Pro Audio 4006 15 dB(A) 10 mV/Pa O P48 $1,650.00                          
Danish Pro Audio 4051 15 dB(A) 30 mV/Pa O P48 $1,600.00   Compact: 16 mm (0.6 in) pre-polarised condenser                      
Danish Pro Audio 4052 15 dB(A) 30 mV/Pa O P48 $1,600.00   Compact --features a hardwired, rear-exit cable that is ideal for applications that require hanging.                      
Danish Pro Audio 3552A 15 dB(A) 30mV/Pa O P48 $3,400.00   1.5 x .63" (38 x 16mm) 2-4052 sold as a matched stereo pair                      
Danish Pro Audio 4003 15 dB(A) 45 mV/Pa O 130 volts $1,650.00                          
Sennheiser ME62/K6 15 dB(A) 31 mV/Pa O P48 or B $450.00                          
Sennheiser MKH 110 15 dB(A) 20 mV/Pa O B (8V, pos ground)     no longer in production                      
Sennheiser MKH-110 SASS Enclos 15 dB(A) 24 mV/Pa* Binaural (quasi) B (8V, pos ground)                            
Neumann KM 150 15 dB(A) 20 mV/Pa 0 P48 $1,500.00   A redesigned M50 tube mic with state-of-the-art circuit technology and correspondingly low self-noise                      
R¿de Stereo Video Mic SVM 15 dB(A) 6.3 mV/Pa C - Stereo X-Y B9v $250.00                          
Audio Technica AT3031 16 dB(A) 19.9mV/Pa C P11-P52 $160.00   5.67" long X .83" diameter; 4 ounces                      
Avant Electroniics CK-1 16 dB(A) 10 mV/Pa O, C, HC P48 $160.00                          
Behringer B-5 16 dB(A) 12.5 mV/Pa O. C P48 $90.00   Self Noise is 16dBA for Cardioid and 18dBA for Omni                      
BPM CR-10 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa O, C, 8 110 /240 volts                            
CAD E200 16 dB(A) 18 mV/Pa O, C, 8 P48 $250.00   no longer in production                      
Marshall MXL2006 16 dB(A) 18 mV/Pa C P48 $100.00                          
Microtech Gefell M 300 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa C P48 $700.00                          
Neumann KM 130 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa O P48 $950.00                          
Neumann KM 131 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa O P48 $1,100.00                          
Neumann KM 183 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa O P48 $800.00                          
Neumann KM 184 16 dB(A) 15 mV/Pa C P48 $730.00                          
Neumann KM 140 16 dB(A) 15 mV/Pa C P48 $950.00                          
Neumann KM 143 16 dB(A) 15 mV/Pa W P48 $950.00                          
Neumann KU-100 16 dB(A) 20 mV/Pa Binaural Dummy Head P48 $6,000.00                          
R¿de NT4 stereo 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa C P12, P24, P48, B9v $450.00                          
R¿de NT5 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa C P18, P24, P48 $300.00                          
Rode NT55 15 dB(A) 16 mV/Pa O, C P48 $360.00                          
Schoeps MK 3/CMC6 16 dB(A) 10 mV/Pa O P12, P48 $1,100.00                          
Schoeps MK 4/CMC6 16 dB(A) 13 mV/Pa C P12, P48 $1,050.00                          
Schoeps MK 41/CMC6 16 dB(A) 13 mV/Pa H P12, P48 $1,000.00                          
Schoeps MK 5/CMC6 16 dB(A) 13 mV/Pa O,C P12, P48 $1,300.00                          
Sony ECM-678 16 dB(A) 30 mV/Pa S-C P12-48 $700.00                          
Studio Projects C4 16 dB(A) 12 mV/Pa C ,0 (dual caps) P48 $150.00   $300 matched pair; Interchangeable capsules; 3.3 oz. High pass filter,                      
Behringer B-2 Pro 16 dB(A)** 19mV/Pa C, O, 8 P48 $150.00   Self noise in Figure 8 pattern is 16dBA.. Cardioid is 17dBA & Omni is 18dBA