Sennheiser e609 Silver Reviews

3.9/5.0 based on 25 customer reviews

Sweetwater Advice

Mark Thompson

Low on funds and looking to record your best guitar solo ever? Instead of following everyone else and buying the obvious brand for a little less money, reward yourself with an audio upgrade to the E 609 Silver. Your ears will still love you in the morning.

Matt Adams

This is my go-to microphone for guitar amps. Live or in the studio, the e 609 is THE mic for guitar cabinets. You not only get a great sound every time, but the low-profile design makes it easy to place the mic right in the sweet spot. For great guitar tones, look no further than the e 609.

Jeffrey Green

This is such a great mic for mic'ing guitar cabinets. No cabling connectors stick out to get bumped and the sound is very focused without getting pointy or woofy. The price point makes this sonic-upgrade a hard mic to pass up when comparing it to the long time standard.

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Customer Reviews

Jordan Clay
from Prosper, Texas
April 24, 2013Music Background:
long time amateur musician

great amplifier microphone

This is an amp mic. I've been using an SM 57, but this has a flatter more linear sound, thus less coloration. It's not as versatile is the 57, but for amplifier Miking, it's much better.

Carl Stephenson
from Rochester, MN
March 15, 2013Music Background:
Professional musician

Sennheiser e609 Silver

I wish I hadn't waited so long to buy this mike. I'm a professional guitarist and for decades have used the traditional Shure 57 on a small boom mic.
Not only is the e609 WAY more convenient (no mic stand needed), it has a very faithful sound. My amp comes through the PA more accurately.

Steve (Bandana Sound Production)
from Maryland USA
March 2, 2013Music Background:
Recording and Live Sound Engineer

Much Better Than I Expected

I used this mic doing rythym and lead guitar tracks in the studio. Recorded the same tracks with another popular mic that I have been using for quite sometime. I was quite supprised at the difference in sound comparing both mics during playback. The e609 has a much warmer and less compressed sound than the other mic being compaired.
I hignly recommend you to give this mic a try. I think you will be quite pleased with the results. I may have to add one or two more to my mic box.

Brian Murphree
from Nashville, TN
February 1, 2013Music Background:
Recording, Mixing, and Mastering Engineer

Not a Guitar Mic, but...snare, maybe?

Relatively speaking, the e609 silver should be able to compare with a Shure SM57. It does (well, sort of). It competes in the same sort of range and tonality, but it's very brittle and nasal with even a half-stack amp blasting into it. I tried this mic on several different cabinets, at many different positions and distances. On it's own it just sounded incredibly hyped in the highs. Very shrill and ear-piercing for me. Paired with a Royer, we found some better, but still not 100% useable results. So, personally, I wouldn't use it on a guitar at all. What did, however have great success with was the bottom of a snare drum! Depending on the snare, of course, but paired with an SM57 on the top, some great overheads, and the e609 Silver on the bottom, we found it to really shine exactly where we needed it to! I don't regret buying this mic at all. For the price, it's a great alternative to the 57, and can serve up a little brighter when you need a little more grit.

from United States
January 27, 2013Music Background:
Ammeter Producer/Engineer, home studio owner

Solid, Versitile

Solid mic, good with guitar amp. Has a sound that is as good but distinct from the SM 57. I'm also currently using it on a project to add some punch to a kick drum since the cheap kick mic I had was nothing but bass so it definiitely has other uses around the studio.

Stephen
from Michigan
August 6, 2012Music Background:
Performer, Educator, Recording Hobbyist

Outstanding mics

What a great mic! I use these to mic steel pans from above on a very loud stage. Previously used 57's or 58's placed below. All of our FOH engineers are absolutely blown away by the difference. Less bleed, warmer sound, no feedback issues...you name it. Obviously an industry standard for guitar cabs, and fantastic for this application as well.

Kevin
from Knoxville, TN
May 14, 2012Music Background:
Audio Engineer, Live & Studio

Where squares fit into circles.

Incredible clean sounding microphones tuned perfectly for guitars. The mics are idiot proof and a no brainer. Stickem' on a stand or drape it over the cab, can't go wrong. Sounds great when you put one on the front of the cab and another behind the speaker, just don't forget to flip that phase or you'll be like, "Huh?, that can't be right." Great for horns and trumpets too! This mic will remind you why sm57's are only a standard but not a must have. If you have some extra moolah, add a couple of these puppies to your rig.

from Miller, MO USA
April 9, 2012Music Background:
Pro musician, Recording Engineer

Sennheiser e609 Silver

A great little mic for the money.
Use it on my amp to record my fiddle and it's so much better than trying to record direct. Will recommend it to all my friends.

Robin Vosbury
from
February 8, 2012

Great Mic!

Got this to capture all the body from my Dr. Z Maz 18. Perfect

Donn
from Michigan
December 19, 2011Music Background:
Semi-pro musician

Not only, but also. . .

As a singing drummer I was looking for a very low profile mic I could position in front of my mouth without protruding out and getting smacked with a stick. I also wanted a mic that minimized bleed from the snare, etc. Just for the heck of it I tired the e609 and, with a tiny bit of EQ, it worked surprisingly well. I know it's not marketed as a vocal mic and it may not suit every voice but it sure solved my problems quite nicely.

STinBV
from Buena Vista, CO USA
September 5, 2011Music Background:
Serious Hobbyist

Guitar Amp Mic

I give it 5 Stars because it does exactly what is supposed to and is VERY convenient (No extra mic stand). I can not tell the difference between this mic and the standard SM57. So...Great Mic!

Studio 139
from Kalamazoo, MI
June 14, 2011Music Background:
Recording Engineer

Something to consider

My goal is to get the sound I hear from the amp through the microphone.Close mic'ing will naturally compromise the sound somewhat. Head to head with a SM57 this mic degrades the tone more significantly. But that is a matter of personal taste. This mic can be useful, tracks can sit well in the mix. There are a few things to consider. This mic likes amps that are running "Loud", it does not sound good in the center of the speaker,and the low end bump does not enhance your sound. This mic is easier to set up than any other,
and placement is critical for the sound. ( When is it not?) I do know you
can get good results with this mic, but it is not without issues.

Nick B
from Chicago
February 2, 2011Music Background:
Weekend warrior!

Perfect live mic!

This mic cannot be any easier. Put in in front of your amp, listen, adjust and ignore. I cannot speak to studio usages. My amp sounds like "my amp mic'd" going through the mains! No noticeable coloration. And aweomely, no stand in front of my amp to deal with anymore!

Like all mics the proper placement and EQ'ing is important. I find the amp's sweet-spot usually on the first go and at the board it's a breeze. Start flat, find the proper mic point, and carve out anywhere that's not exactly perfect!

I found problems at first when I didn't realize that if the amp is tilted the mic can move or if the cable has too much memory it can twist. Easy solves! (duct tape)

David
from Portland, OR
January 30, 2011Music Background:
recording engineer / musician

Not a fan

I just don't like the sound of this mic on a guit cab nearly as much as a 57. I also find it easier and quicker to get a good sound out of a 57.

Brian
from Grand Rapids, MI USA
October 5, 2010Music Background:
Professional Recording Engineer and Live sound Engineer

Expected more.

I bought this mic along with some SM57's to have a little bit of variety in my collection. For guitars I'm not all that thrilled by it. It seems to have a nasally tone to it. The 57's have a bit more bite in the high end. I feel that it could do well for rhythm guitar tracks though. I have had a little more luck on drums though. Under the snare worked great and it also worked on a toms pretty well too. It's shape makes it nice for different situations too.

Michael S. Kinser
from Portland, In.
September 4, 2010Music Background:
Home Studio Recordist/Musician

No Wow, But Nice

I read an article in Recording magazine about how to avoid frequency build up in your guitar tracks and the most simple solution was to not mic everything with a SM57. So thus the reason for buying thismic. I did a shoot-out of sorts and ran both through my Grace m101 pre into a Presonus Comp 16. The Sennheiser was better at capturing the lower frequencies, and that was about the only difference my ears could discern. I would buy this mic again because I believe it is simply a different brush with which to paint my musical canvas.

Andy
from Colorado
July 31, 2010Music Background:
Pro Musician, Recording Enthusiast

Andy

The e609 is a good mic. It gets the job done, looks good and is convenient. I think a lot of it's popularity is due to the form factor. Just hang it in front of your grill - no mic stand required - ver rock n roll. However, if you want to upgrade to a great guitar cab mic, spend a little more and get an MD421. Sounds better, more versatile - just don't let your drummer near it or you won't get it back. But, if this is how far your budget will stretch, it will get you heard nicely.

Richard Papa
from Somerville,ma
July 14, 2009Music Background:
musician

this mic has balls!

I just received this mic and put it right to work. Nice clarity, put it right up to the guitar cab and it sounded good you can't compare it to a 57 but it definateley has BALLS.

Rald
from NY
May 11, 2009Music Background:
Live Sound Engineer

A More Convenient 57.

Thats all it is. Doesn't sound any better or any worse.

Brandon
from Seattle, WA
September 28, 2006Music Background:
full time engineer

No MD-409

First, for the price, the 609 silver is an OK mic for certain things.
But just to clear any confusion that this might be the alternative to finding an original MD 409, it is not. (I haven't heard an e906. Maybe it's better.) Just to remind myself, I went back out to the studio to compare them side by side again on electric guitar. Compared to a 409, the 609 silver is nothing like it. The 409 sounded natural, balanced and full. It sounded like my guitar going though my amp. The 609 is voiced quite differently. The low end bump is voiced much higher into the (honky) low mids, and there is a sharp high peak that sounds pretty edgy and unnatural to me. The strangest thing is compared to the 409, and other mics I put up, the tone of the 609 almost sounds like something is partly out of phase. Odd. I went in there trying to like it again, but I just reminded myself why I haven't used it in a while. For even less money, I'd get an Audix i5 if you want something different than your 57's. Or just be done with it and get yourself a Royer! :-)

Brian Bauer
from Quail Valley,CA
July 26, 2006Music Background:
Guitarist, Live and Recording Engineer

Versitile!!!!!!!

Though I've herd pepole say good and bad things about the e609 from sennheiser using it is the real test. It when used close on a cabnit brings great clarity for live sound. And I've used it on kick drums and cajons as well as other percusion, though it would not be my first choice it preformed great with proper setup and a little tunning. This is a great large diaphram mic.

Mike
from Springfield, OH
July 16, 2006Music Background:
Recording engineer, pro musician

Just what I was looking for!

I have previously owned and ran a project studio some 10 years ago and now am getting back into it again. So, I'm in the early stages of aquiring some decent mics. My first project was to find a good mic for guitar amps. In the past I had always used SM57's and found them capable but not exactly the best. I wanted something this time around that wouldn't color the sound as much as an SM57. Well with this E609 I have found just that. It has all that familliar bite and attack of an SM57 but it stays less colored or compressed just like I wanted. So far I haven't had to add any EQ on my guitar tracks with this mic, it is just perfect for my taste. I have mixed it with a condeser mic to give it a more airy feel which worked out great. This is my first experience with Sennheiser mics and after such a great response I got my eyes on some others to check out now.

Kiril
from Salt Lake City, UT USA
June 21, 2006Music Background:
Recording Artist/Producer

SWEET!

It took all but 10 minuets of tinkering to get this mic to sound good. I have read reviews that claim it to be "boomy", or "mid-rangy". I have found that a tiny boost in the high shelf (+2 or 3 db), will bring out the best in this mic. The low end and mid-range can go untouched. Or you can use subtractive EQ to acquire the same effect. It sounds very full, clear and transparent. I cant wait to try it out on some percussion instruments. I am very happy with this mic. I will likely buy one more.

Benjamin L Backus
from Chandler, AZ
July 1, 2005

Versatile and Useful

I am not a big fan of just dropping a 609 down in front of a guitar cab, but I like a bit more space between the microphone and the speakers, just to let it breath a bit. My favorite electric guitar sound is with an Sm57 aimed near the dust cap and the 609 our near the edge to catch some low end depth. Big and full sound!
My favorite application for this microphone is on snare drum. It simply cuts through the mix. Solo the snare and you will be thinking to yourself, "this is just ripping my head off." I have never found it's equal in this application.

Anonymous
June 1, 2005

not for me

This mic is quickly becoming a staple in studios, stages, and amp simulator plugins. Personally, I don't love Sennheiser mics. And this is no exception. In a shootout with 57s, U87 clones,EV Pl6 mics and a bunch of others, this one sounded way midrangy. little bottom. Almost boinky. It can handle the SPLs though. and its it might be just the thing for someone.

Sennheiser e609 Silver

Dynamic Supercardioid Guitar Amplifier Microphone