Sennheiser ME 4-N any good?

[andromedanwarmachine]

Hello,

as the search for a new high-quality stealth single-point stereo rig continues, I find I have a couple of Sennheiser ME 4-N bodypack radio mic transmitter capsules knocking about.

I don't see alot of Sennheiser gear mentioned on here- does anybody have an opinion on these and powering option also?

Am I right in assuming the "plug-in-power" nomenclature on the side of my Sony RH-1 means the machine itself won't be enough to run them...?

Thanks

JimP

[John Willett]

The ME 4-N is a replacement inexpensive cardioid tie mic. that goes with the Sennheiser evolution wireless systems.

I have plugged the omni version directly into my Olympus LS-10 and it works fine in mono (ie: plug-in power works OK).

You can phantom power by using the MZA 900P adaptor or a cheaper mini-jack to XLR with phantom power adaptor supplied by Canford Audio in the UK.

These are OK mics for the price.

Personally, I prefer something better.

[sunjan]

I have a couple of Sennheiser ME 4-N bodypack radio mic transmitter capsules knocking about.

I don't see alot of Sennheiser gear mentioned on here- does anybody have an opinion on these and powering option also?

Am I right in assuming the "plug-in-power" nomenclature on the side of my Sony RH-1 means the machine itself won't be enough to run them...?

The specs say    80-18000 Hz:
http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/home_en.nsf/root/professional_wireless-microphone-systems_lavalier-mics_ew-300-g3_021202?Open&row=2

Not ideal for concert taping, these seem to have been designed for vocal pickup ad a body/stage mic (Broadway style).
With the current going rate ($135 each), you can probably get better stealthy cards out there for less than $270. That being an explanation why you won't see many on the taper scene.

But if you already have a set, go ahead and try them!
It seems that each mono mic has a TRS (balanced?) 3,5mm + some kind of adaptor (lemo?) for phantom use, as John mentioned.

If you want to plug them into an RH-1, you will probably have to rewire the connectors into a stereo 3.5mm to benefit from any plugin power.

[andromedanwarmachine]

thankyou both...

I thought that due to their intended application the response would be a little more suited to vocal pickup- I might try some analysis between my ECM 121 and them to see what's really going on.

I'd have to unbalance them then to fit them both into a minijack. I wonder if they are wired as a standard larger (1/4") balanced cable would be? They are both terminating on minjacks (3 pole) at the moment...

[andromedanwarmachine]

forget that-

chopping the plugs off reveals unbalanced operation!

[John Willett]

The ME 4-N are *not* balanced.

They are unbalanced - they are connected to tip and sleeve only as standard and are intended for use in an ew series transmitter.  The ring is shorted to sleeve as that is the line-in on the transmitter.