Sennheiser e835 (Switchless) Reviews

D. Hardin
from Spartanburg, SC
March 30, 2013Music Background:
Producer, Recording and Live Sound Engineer

AWESOME MIC!

Purchased these microphones for the church! All I can say is that it changed the whole atmosphere! I recommend this mic to all live performers.

Bobby Brodeur
from Westfield Ma USA
February 20, 2013Music Background:
Hobbiest,bass player and rhythm guitarist

Great mic, Great price

A slight but noticeably warmer sound than the popular mics I've been using for 25 years. I replaced all my band vocal mics (6 mics) with these. Can't beat the price for the quality you are getting

Bryan
from New Jersey
September 2, 2012Music Background:
Live Sound Engineer, Pro Musician (Singer, Guitar)

Great Mic for the Price

These mics are just great. I have been using them for about 5 years now and purchased them in a 3 pack. At the price of the 3 pack, they are practically giving them away. They blow away Shure Sm58's, which i had used for years prior to that, but was always a bit disappointed with the sound. Since using the e835, my entire band has switched to them, about 4 other musicians that I work with from time to time have switched, and now I am looking at the e945. I will never use anything other than Sennheiser for a live vocal mic again. For this price range, these are as good as it gets and then some.

Fred
from Renton, WA
August 28, 2012Music Background:
Engineer

Sennheiser great mics!

I have been using the e835's and have been pleased with their performance which is slightly higher than the industry standard Shure SM58.

Jon Bertsch
from Burlington ND USA
January 1, 2012Music Background:
Weekend Warrior Musician

Can you say KILLER

These mikes have an awsome reponse and clarity and I recommend them to all bands.

The Restoration Band
from Tillamook, OR
August 22, 2011Music Background:
Singer, guitar player

A must have.

A solid, low noise mic with a very crisp response. I will not buy any other type mic for live play.

tmfcovers
from
December 25, 2010Music Background:
Recording engineer/producer/artist

Incredible vocals

I received an e835 (along with a Samson C03 and an interface) as a gift from my dad a couple years ago, as I was interested in starting a project studio. He researched for a very long time the microphones he selected, reading tons of reviews and listening to samples and videos all over the internet, and he certainly made the right decision. The e835 is a stunning microphone for vocals, and it even saw use for drum overheads for a while and it pulled that off pretty well. It sounds clear and full, exactly what I want for my vocal sound. I occasionally run into problems with sibilance and have to use a de-esser (depends on how I EQ it), so that's something to watch out for. Also, I have almost no experience using it for live performances, so I don't know how well it rejects feedback, but for studio recording on a budget and for small acoustic performances, I am extraordinarily satisfied with my e835. It's an incredible vocal microphone.

J Thompson
from Harrisburg PA
April 25, 2010Music Background:
live sound engineer, synth/sequencing engineer, remix guy...

THIS should be the standard.

This mic has a clarity and response that kicks the 58's butt. It's durable, and requires less massaging than mics like the 58. I know Shure talks a good game, and the talking has worked for them, but the e835 should be the live handheld standard.

mike
from Windsor, Canada
May 28, 2009Music Background:
Singing and recording for about 10 years.

Clear Sound

Shure SM 58 and SM 57 don't even come close to this mic. If the company Shure was selling this mic, they would probably sell it for $995.00 plus shipping.

Dan Benson
from Centralia, WA
May 30, 2008Music Background:
Long time live sound engineer and producer.

Kick the SM58

I have always believed in the sm58 as the standard for durability meets quality sound never really blaming it for having to crank my highs on the board to 3 o'clock. On a whim switched to the e835 and started with all knobs at 12 o'clock raised the high to 12:30....low to 12:30 and got a perfect sound from both my voice(bass) and my wifes(suprano)! Insane quality, clarity, and durability. Just pick one up and you'll fall in love.

Mike
from Mission Hills, CA
August 9, 2007Music Background:
Praise Team Drummer, Songwriter, Audio and Recording Engineer

Outstanding!

I bought one of these mics for my wife who is the lead soprano of our churches praise team. She was tired of the handling noise associated with the mics owned by the church which included a bunch of Samson's and a couple of Shure SM58's. I was tired of her vocals being muddied up by the Samsons. The e835 seems to have absolutely no handling noise and the audible difference in the portayal of her vocals is way beyond the capabilities of the Samson's and warmer than the SM58 (and I have always been a fan of the SM58). She loves the look, the feel and the sound of the microphone and the other members of the praise team line up to use her microphone when she is not available to sing. When recording the praise team using my Roland VS2480, I find the quality of the vocals recorded using the e835 to be comparable with my AKG C3000 (and a lot less expensive). By the way, we recently purchased Audio-Technica AT892 MicroSet Headworn microphones to use with our new Sennheiser wireless system. My wife is more than willing to give up her headworn mic to another praise team member in favor of using her e835!

BlackSoultan of California soul
from Los Angeles, CA
March 24, 2007Music Background:
Recording Artist, Executive Producer, Emcee

ALWAYS BRING YOUR OWN MIC!

I have never seen a better mic than this. I'm an L.A. emcee and I gig a lot of places in the underground scene. Many locations have their own mics which have been used over and over and over again by people who don't know how to hold a mic or treat a mic, so usually, they smell god awful and are busted up or something. At this particular venue in Silver Lake, I have been given the opportunity to do shows with sure sm58's and lesser models, so I have used both the industry club standard and the others.

When I was warned that you can possibly catch cold sores from these mics being spit on all night before I get on as a headliner, I decided to shell out no less and no more than 100 dollars for a mic at the local music store on Ventura by the studio. I copped it just before my set and I never knew I could sound so good. It almost picked up the flaws in my show. If I forgot a word or two, you heard it. No chance of covering it up in the lack of clarity because there wasn't any. none. I got amped, jumped down off the stage and was dancing around in front of the subs and what not before remembering that that would be a bad idea...

NOT ONE BIT OF FEEDBACK. NONE.

If you have 100 dollars to spend on a mic, damn the sure. This is every bit as sturdy, and the clarity is unparalleled.

Markos A.
from Lebanon
May 16, 2013

Great Mic, a little better than the standard SM58

Only thing that is taking getting used to is the fact that it's a flat end as opposed to the bulbous end of the SM58. Great mic though

Ricky B.
from Aberdeen, MS.
January 6, 2013Music Background:
Pro Musician

Sennheiser e835 top notch

I have used the SM58 for yrs its been my go to road mic but, the e835 has better high end response without giving up any low end. Its now my new go to. Try it for yourself. You'll see!

Lucian Clewell
from Salem, OH
December 19, 2012Music Background:
Audio Engineer

Great Road Mic

I only gave it a 4.5 because I personally don't like the shape of the mic. But it works great - better response than the Shure SM58 and seems to take a beating better also. I would recommend this for all you live sound guys who work for more than one band.

from Hales Corners, WI
October 17, 2011Music Background:
None

Nice!!!

We're just starting with sound and have a lot of hand me downs. The hand held mic we had was from an electronics store left everything to be desired. When I plugged the Sennheiser e385 in for the first time I was very impressed. Excellent pickup, beautiful, clear sound and a price that fit our budget beautifully.

Eric Kaeding
from Fort Wayne, IN
July 22, 2011Music Background:
Live Sound Engineer

Great Mic

I have 3 e845 and this was on sale at Gear Fest and the price was right so I figured I would give it a try. I both the e835 and e845 over the SM58 and Beta58. The mids and highs are a lot more crisp and clear

Jack Fanning
from Sarasota County, Florida
July 5, 2012Music Background:
Pro musician

Sennheiser mics - what more can I say?

I've used Sennheiser products before and found, for the price, they are more than adequate for live performances.

Pier Giacalone
from New Hope, PA
January 19, 2009Music Background:
Musician, Producer, Engineer (Live and Studio)

Good mic, tight pick up pattern

I just started a new live sound gig where the house has a bunch of these mics. I'm both running sound through the PA and recording the performances. The sound of this mic is truly excellent. It doesn't have the midrange peak of an SM58 which in general is a plus as far as I am concerned.

My only problem with it is that the pick up pattern seems more hyper-cardioid than cardioid. Singers really have to be "on mic" or they completely disappear. I've had a few singers who are used to working a 58 a certain way and it doesn't come off with this mic. That said, I also have had zero feedback issues so take your pick. I think singers in general probably prefer 58s but engineers will prefer this mic.

Again, when the singer is properly on mic the sound is truly great. Better than a 58 in my opinion.

I still have yet to audition the Audix stuff, but it's all hypercarioid stuff too and I'm really leaning away from that these days. A wider pick up pattern sounds more natural. If the monitors are properly rung out it shouldn't be a problem.

Interesting that Shure has released cardioid versions of basically all their mics from beta 58s to even the beta 87.

Igor
from St.NIcole,Macedonia
September 5, 2006Music Background:
Hard Rock Singer and sloppy bass player:)

e835 is 2nd e865 is no.1!!!

Neglect Shure like some "don`t wanna have step child" because this is your proffesional and only choice for pro and beginners!Try singing axl rose`s songs on shure?NOT POSSIBLE!!David coverdale uses this EXCALIBUR so you dont need more questions..Its flaws are hardly any cause this baby makes your voice sound like a opera frontmen singin in Iron Maiden:) Imagine that..Simple its Awesome.But comparing to its younger brother e865..he is only older:) I can now sing everything:G`N`R,Whitesnake,Maiden,purple,zeppelin you name it! and sounds realy great!.The gigs are now my dream come true,no more SHURE NIGHTMARES!!My oppinion for shure:ONLY for weadings!:)Thank you sennhizer.Long live sennheizer

Jim Villa
from Los Angeles, CA
February 24, 2013Music Background:
Pro Sound Engineer and Musician.

Sound Great, but don't last

This mic sounds great - excellent clarity. The windscreen and body are very durable - they do not show wear easily. Compared to a 58, they sound better and hold up better aesthetically.

My main gripe - I have owned 5 of these for about 5 years, and have had two simply stop working. Meanwhile the 58's that I have that are all beat up and look like they were bought in the 70's are still working great. I am going back to 58's to replace the e835's that go out.

Ray
from Honolulu
March 16, 2011Music Background:
Live Sound Engineer, Electronics Technician

Broke after one use

The microphone failed after a single use. The mic dropped from a height about 5 feet from the mic stand to the stage floor. No apparent damage to the outside of the mic but we found the internal coil near the diaphragm "opened" and unrepairable. Can't beat the Shure SM58 for durability.

Zach
from Rochester, WA
July 1, 2004

Forget anything else

Absolutely the best starting level professional mic I've ever used, and ridiculously under-rated. I'd say there are a trifecta of microphone companies that rule the roost right now, as far as live applications go, and in my opinion, those are Shure, Audix, and Sennheiser. Each of those companies has their standard start-level mic. Shure has the "industry standard" blah blah SM58. Don't get me wrong, this mic is absolutely bulletproof, and definitely sounds better than several other mics for under $100. Feedback rejection? Not really. Muddy? Absolutely.

Audix has the OM2. A step up with feedback rejection and clarity... BUT...

Sennheiser has the e835. In my opinion, there is no better mic for $100. Amazing feedback rejection, excellent clarity (for a cardioid dynamic) and absolutely invincible all metal design. Let me give you an example of a show that covers all the bases...

I have the wireless version, so I run all over the place. Just last night, I jumped offstage, in front of the big mains and only got a slight squeal of feed back when I ran by 4 feet in front of the main with the side of the mic facing the speaker. I turned and faced the main, and it stopped. That's great rejection. After the show, my bandmates told me they could actually hear me clearly and loudly. That's great clarity.

Obviously comparing these mics to anything higher up (i.e. beta58, OM5-6-7, e865) simply isn't fair. But at this level, Sennheiser wins.