That slightly darker tone was exactly what I was hoping for, 'shaving off' the excess of the II model (Just ordered one!). Thanks for the awesome review!
After filming everything and listening back, it started to grow on me that the top end crisp of the ii is what i really didn't like about that mic. This one definitely remedies that. Thanks for checking it out!
@@meistudiony It does, but relative to a 421 U4/U5, it might overshoot the smoothness mark slightly and lose some definition relative to those vintage mics. But a touch of 4-5k EQ lift, and all would be well. I'd definitely gravitate toward these Kompakt's for live use. But it would be good to wait to see how reliable they are, when used extensively in the wild.
Love me some U4's. That clip though... over engineered for no reason other than they wanted a weird body shape. The capsule design could have lent itself to an RE20 lookin mic, but we were given the Hindenburg. Thanks for checking it out!
Thanks for checking it out! I agree its a different sound and I think they could probably gain more ground by callling attention to that instead of claiming its the same as the 421ii.
Great video! Great comparison! Thank you for measuring the size of the mic for us! It seems like the Kompakt sounds a little more modern… whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is probably personal preference, but I personally have never heard a 421 that I wanted to use on anything ever, so this might be a big improvement for my applications.
Thanks for the input, i really appreciate it and it helps to make the videos more informative for everyone! I agree, the 421 isn't really my first choice for things, but I do know a lot of people that the 421 is THEIR mic. I like the darkness of it and i thought it sounded good on the rack tom and the bleed was really good as well. Thanks again!
Thanks for posting. It’s helping me decide on new mics for drums. I’m thinking the MD421 Kompakts on rack toms and an EV ND46 on floor. I like my RE20 in the kick and an AT 4060 at the end of blanket tunnel outside the kick. Right now I have a pair of AKG 391’s for overhead but think I may get a pair of 414’s. Depending on the snare being used, I will use SM57 or an AKG shotgun mic on top and a 57 or AT2020 on the bottom. Thank again, I just hit the Subscribe button ! - Joe
Those all sound like really good options. If you havent gotten the nd46 yet, the Nd44 actually had a bit better low end response (i did a video on that series a while back). 414s rock anywhere you put em. Pretty bright but sounds sooo good. Thanks for the sub and welcome!
Good effort from Sennheiser. Marked improvement over the MD421-II sound. On floor tom that initial transient "thwack" is much more less pokey. The balance on the original U-4 is simply perfection though, and the U-4 sounds much more "open" in the sustain. The Kompakt seems to have a little bit more muddy low end, which you can see in the louder sub-bass on the graph. I guess that probably comes from the bass tube adding some resonance in the low end without the same air volume. To my ears it doesn't quite touch the U-4 for toms, but sounds great on guitar and bass. The improved top end makes it night and day better than the 421-II. I don't know that I would use it on metal guitars where that bite and hair is essential to the tone, but on bright strats and warm overdrives it's an easy win.
Sorry i missed your comment earlier. Yeah! My thoughts on the bass tube they tried to keep things as close as they could but physics kind of took over and said 'Nah'! lol. The space just isn't there in the mic to keep the bottom together the same way, and that notch at the top end, is just kind of odd, but does work on certain applications.
I'm still undecided if i like it or not. The presence, or lack thereof, is a sticking point. Part of me likes its rolled off, another part says "that aint right". Thanks for checkin it out!
Interesting, I heard it that way too, it's a darker tone, that to me comes across as the mic sounding smoother, deeper and a bit cleaner. I hear it as more similar sounding to the U4/U5 than the II, but it doesn't sound exactly either of them. I actually prefer the Kompakt to the II, for floor tom or bass guitar, and probably even electric guitar. As to my favourite 421, based on sound rather than convenience, I'd choose the happy middleground option a U4/U5, which has slightly more definition than the Kompakt. But, I would be totally happy to use a 421 kompakt, and maybe EQ back in some 4-5k definition, to taste. As for more affordable Royer R121 alternatives, I love my Beyerdynamic M160s, and they are good for drum recording too, on overheads, or as stereo room mics. For guitars, the Cascade Fatheads are worth searching out, if you can find good ones.
Fatheads are on my long list. I just picked up an amazing american made boutique ribbon thats reasonably priced. Sound is fantastic on. Should be releasing that vid in the next couple weeks. The U4/5 are my faves for the 421. Wish theyd just reissue those and charge a few extra bucks for it. Totally worth it. The ii has a weird nasal tone to me that i find just needs more work at the board than the new kompakt or U’s (or even the N/HN). Thanks for checkin it out!
@@meistudiony I just got my Beyerdynamic M160s and love them. But I love them both on overheads, drum room AND guitar cab. So yeah, I'll be looking around for Cascade Fatheads for guitar cab use. While I also save up for a Royer R121 much later. In the meantime I also quite like my pair of cheap large ribbon GAP R1As. Good on vocals, good on drum room in Blumlein configuration, quite good on guitar cab too.
@@meistudiony Oh, and check out the British made boutique ribbon mics made by Extinct Audio. They are also masterpieces, and about half the price, or less, of a Royer R121, at least over here.
@@meistudiony Great stuff. To be honest, for me, I'm thinking I might get one of the Extinct BM, Royer 121 is a stretch for my, and I think like how these sound equally, just different. Could almost get a stereo pair for the price of one Royer 121.
Very cool review. For the most I like the MK II better thant the others (on guitar especially and for its rejection of bleeding instruments). The fact that the new compact is darker add a new color in the products line but it laks in frequencys that I usally boost in the mix in about every instrument that you tryed, so not the best for me.
thanks for that! I'll pass.. but it's a step in the right direction. I'd drill some holes in that case... open it up a bit (but then you mentioned the 5k deal and I backtracked lol-agree with you on why it's so 'muffled'). That old one is fine for me... lots of sonic details. I'm of a mind that the more frequency information you can bring in.. the easier it is to mold it to what you want. IDK if I'm right (prolly not) LOL. Cheers from Bugtustle!
Listening back to this it doesnt sound like a 421 but a repackaged e609 🤔. Its lost those upper mid thing 421s typically have. On that get a 609 and make it easier to mic in the process.
Not feeling it. Crazy how different they are. E904 sounds more like a mini 421 to me… this thing is way too muddy and the rest of the mic just sounds meh… makes the MK II sound way better than I thought. I love my U5 for toms. But also have an Old N that’s amazing even on vocals. My how these are all different. Thanks for jumping on this!
Thanks for checkin it out. The u4/5 are my faves. The older N/HN are starting to deteriorate (mine are at least). Its definitely a different flavor. Im still trying to figure out if i like it or not.
Youre right, over 60 years now and counting. They have come out with newer designs with other models, but im guessing since this keeps selling, they keep making it. I would love to see them make their capsules a little more like they used to with less of a contoured sound. I've always found that the older, more flat response mics lend themselves to more creative shaping in post. Thanks for checking it out! Appreciate it!
They did it with the MKII in the 90s. Not for the sound, but to simplify its manufacturing and thus have a lower price on the market. Today the 421 would be closer to 1000 dollars than 500 if they had not changed it. With the MD441 they couldn't do that, due to the characteristics of that microphone and that's why that microphone is so expensive. The md409 is another microphone that cannot be produced cheaply and was taken out of production. Successors like the e609 and e906 don't have much in common with the old 409, but they are cheaper.
Almost everything I dislike about a 421-II now removed, but the sound now I like even less, sounds dull, never loved 421's anyway and nothing changed. For $300 (maybe $200) I think CAD M179 is a better deal for similar applications. For live music you go ATM's or e604's and get the full pack for the same $.
Glad they finally dumped that worthless mic clip. No more duct tape on the mic! But, is the new short one any good? This idea of the inbuilt European adapter bugs me.
That slightly darker tone was exactly what I was hoping for, 'shaving off' the excess of the II model (Just ordered one!). Thanks for the awesome review!
After filming everything and listening back, it started to grow on me that the top end crisp of the ii is what i really didn't like about that mic. This one definitely remedies that. Thanks for checking it out!
@@meistudiony It does, but relative to a 421 U4/U5, it might overshoot the smoothness mark slightly and lose some definition relative to those vintage mics. But a touch of 4-5k EQ lift, and all would be well. I'd definitely gravitate toward these Kompakt's for live use. But it would be good to wait to see how reliable they are, when used extensively in the wild.
I'm definitely hanging on to my MD-421-U mics, but might also pick up some of the new Kompakts. Love the new (standard) mic mount.
Love me some U4's. That clip though... over engineered for no reason other than they wanted a weird body shape. The capsule design could have lent itself to an RE20 lookin mic, but we were given the Hindenburg. Thanks for checking it out!
Love this! Answers the questions i had about this mic. Great job! It definitely sounds different, but also not bad at all!
Thanks for checking it out! I agree its a different sound and I think they could probably gain more ground by callling attention to that instead of claiming its the same as the 421ii.
Great video! Great comparison! Thank you for measuring the size of the mic for us! It seems like the Kompakt sounds a little more modern… whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is probably personal preference, but I personally have never heard a 421 that I wanted to use on anything ever, so this might be a big improvement for my applications.
Thanks for the input, i really appreciate it and it helps to make the videos more informative for everyone! I agree, the 421 isn't really my first choice for things, but I do know a lot of people that the 421 is THEIR mic. I like the darkness of it and i thought it sounded good on the rack tom and the bleed was really good as well. Thanks again!
Hey, great job on this video. This is how comparison videos should be. Perfect.
Thanks for checking it out and the kind words! Appreciate it!
Thanks for posting. It’s helping me decide on new mics for drums. I’m thinking the MD421 Kompakts on rack toms and an EV ND46 on floor. I like my RE20 in the kick and an AT 4060 at the end of blanket tunnel outside the kick. Right now I have a pair of AKG 391’s for overhead but think I may get a pair of 414’s. Depending on the snare being used, I will use SM57 or an AKG shotgun mic on top and a 57 or AT2020 on the bottom. Thank again, I just hit the Subscribe button ! - Joe
Those all sound like really good options. If you havent gotten the nd46 yet, the Nd44 actually had a bit better low end response (i did a video on that series a while back). 414s rock anywhere you put em. Pretty bright but sounds sooo good. Thanks for the sub and welcome!
WOOOOOOO
HOOOOOOO
Great video as usual
Thanks for checking it out!
Good effort from Sennheiser. Marked improvement over the MD421-II sound. On floor tom that initial transient "thwack" is much more less pokey. The balance on the original U-4 is simply perfection though, and the U-4 sounds much more "open" in the sustain. The Kompakt seems to have a little bit more muddy low end, which you can see in the louder sub-bass on the graph. I guess that probably comes from the bass tube adding some resonance in the low end without the same air volume.
To my ears it doesn't quite touch the U-4 for toms, but sounds great on guitar and bass. The improved top end makes it night and day better than the 421-II. I don't know that I would use it on metal guitars where that bite and hair is essential to the tone, but on bright strats and warm overdrives it's an easy win.
Sorry i missed your comment earlier. Yeah! My thoughts on the bass tube they tried to keep things as close as they could but physics kind of took over and said 'Nah'! lol. The space just isn't there in the mic to keep the bottom together the same way, and that notch at the top end, is just kind of odd, but does work on certain applications.
Was hoping they sounded identical to the 421 II, I will stick with the 4 I currently have...
Wow, I didn't expect them to sound that different. Unfortunately I actually dislike how the kompkt sounds, U4 is the best one, mkII is ok
I'm still undecided if i like it or not. The presence, or lack thereof, is a sticking point. Part of me likes its rolled off, another part says "that aint right". Thanks for checkin it out!
Interesting, I heard it that way too, it's a darker tone, that to me comes across as the mic sounding smoother, deeper and a bit cleaner. I hear it as more similar sounding to the U4/U5 than the II, but it doesn't sound exactly either of them. I actually prefer the Kompakt to the II, for floor tom or bass guitar, and probably even electric guitar. As to my favourite 421, based on sound rather than convenience, I'd choose the happy middleground option a U4/U5, which has slightly more definition than the Kompakt. But, I would be totally happy to use a 421 kompakt, and maybe EQ back in some 4-5k definition, to taste. As for more affordable Royer R121 alternatives, I love my Beyerdynamic M160s, and they are good for drum recording too, on overheads, or as stereo room mics. For guitars, the Cascade Fatheads are worth searching out, if you can find good ones.
Fatheads are on my long list. I just picked up an amazing american made boutique ribbon thats reasonably priced. Sound is fantastic on. Should be releasing that vid in the next couple weeks. The U4/5 are my faves for the 421. Wish theyd just reissue those and charge a few extra bucks for it. Totally worth it. The ii has a weird nasal tone to me that i find just needs more work at the board than the new kompakt or U’s (or even the N/HN). Thanks for checkin it out!
@@meistudiony I just got my Beyerdynamic M160s and love them. But I love them both on overheads, drum room AND guitar cab. So yeah, I'll be looking around for Cascade Fatheads for guitar cab use. While I also save up for a Royer R121 much later. In the meantime I also quite like my pair of cheap large ribbon GAP R1As. Good on vocals, good on drum room in Blumlein configuration, quite good on guitar cab too.
@@meistudiony Oh, and check out the British made boutique ribbon mics made by Extinct Audio. They are also masterpieces, and about half the price, or less, of a Royer R121, at least over here.
@@compucorder64 Ive reached out to extinct. Going to try and set something up for the beginning of 25 with them.
@@meistudiony Great stuff. To be honest, for me, I'm thinking I might get one of the Extinct BM, Royer 121 is a stretch for my, and I think like how these sound equally, just different. Could almost get a stereo pair for the price of one Royer 121.
Very cool review.
For the most I like the MK II better thant the others (on guitar especially and for its rejection of bleeding instruments).
The fact that the new compact is darker add a new color in the products line but it laks in frequencys that I usally boost in the mix in about every instrument that you tryed, so not the best for me.
thanks for that! I'll pass.. but it's a step in the right direction. I'd drill some holes in that case... open it up a bit (but then you mentioned the 5k deal and I backtracked lol-agree with you on why it's so 'muffled'). That old one is fine for me... lots of sonic details. I'm of a mind that the more frequency information you can bring in.. the easier it is to mold it to what you want. IDK if I'm right (prolly not) LOL. Cheers from Bugtustle!
Same here. I love flat non hyped sounding mics. Id rather mold the sound than have to undo something the mic is doing on its own.
Tense AND hard
Been there
I knew I could count on you to pick up on that.
My vote for MK2. Most natural tonality
Listening back to this it doesnt sound like a 421 but a repackaged e609 🤔. Its lost those upper mid thing 421s typically have. On that get a 609 and make it easier to mic in the process.
Not feeling it. Crazy how different they are. E904 sounds more like a mini 421 to me… this thing is way too muddy and the rest of the mic just sounds meh… makes the MK II sound way better than I thought.
I love my U5 for toms. But also have an Old N that’s amazing even on vocals. My how these are all different.
Thanks for jumping on this!
Thanks for checkin it out. The u4/5 are my faves. The older N/HN are starting to deteriorate (mine are at least). Its definitely a different flavor. Im still trying to figure out if i like it or not.
The 421 is a very old design and it's time Sennheiser went back to the drawing board and introduce a completely new model.
Youre right, over 60 years now and counting. They have come out with newer designs with other models, but im guessing since this keeps selling, they keep making it. I would love to see them make their capsules a little more like they used to with less of a contoured sound. I've always found that the older, more flat response mics lend themselves to more creative shaping in post. Thanks for checking it out! Appreciate it!
They did it with the MKII in the 90s. Not for the sound, but to simplify its manufacturing and thus have a lower price on the market. Today the 421 would be closer to 1000 dollars than 500 if they had not changed it. With the MD441 they couldn't do that, due to the characteristics of that microphone and that's why that microphone is so expensive. The md409 is another microphone that cannot be produced cheaply and was taken out of production. Successors like the e609 and e906 don't have much in common with the old 409, but they are cheaper.
Almost everything I dislike about a 421-II now removed, but the sound now I like even less, sounds dull, never loved 421's anyway and nothing changed. For $300 (maybe $200) I think CAD M179 is a better deal for similar applications. For live music you go ATM's or e604's and get the full pack for the same $.
Glad they finally dumped that worthless mic clip. No more duct tape on the mic! But, is the new short one any good? This idea of the inbuilt European adapter bugs me.
Agreed on both sentiments!
.chin mullet