Specifications
134
Overview of Capsule Specifications
microphone type polar frequency sensitivity equivalent noise level signal-to-noise max. SPL
(MK _ / CCM _) pattern range CCIR*** A-weighted** A-weighted** 0.5%THD)
MK / CCM 2* omni 20 Hz – 20 kHz* 16 mV/Pa 23 dB 11 dB-A 83 dB-A 130 dB
MK / CCM 2H* omni 20 Hz – 20 kHz* 15 mV/Pa 23 dB 11 dB-A 83 dB-A 130 dB
MK / CCM 2S* omni 20 Hz – 20 kHz* 12 mV/Pa 24 dB 12 dB-A 82 dB-A 132 dB
MK / CCM 3* omni 20 Hz – 20 kHz* 10 mV/Pa 26 dB 14 dB-A 80 dB-A 134 dB
BLM 3g hemisphere 20 Hz – 20 kHz 19 mV/Pa 23 dB 12 dB-A 82 dB-A 128 dB
BLM 03 Cg hemisphere 20 Hz – 20 kHz 19 mV/Pa 23 dB 12 dB-A 82 dB-A 128 dB
MK / CCM 21* wide cardioid 30 Hz – 20 kHz* 13 mV/Pa 24 dB 14 dB-A 80 dB-A 132 dB
MK / CCM 21H* wide cardioid 30 Hz – 20 kHz* 10 mV/Pa 26 dB 16 dB-A 78 dB-A 134 dB
MK / CCM 4* cardioid 40 Hz – 20 kHz* 13 mV/Pa 24 dB 15 dB-A 79 dB-A 132 dB
MK / CCM 4V cardioid 40 Hz – 20 kHz 13 mV/Pa 24 dB 14 dB-A 80 dB-A 132 dB
MK / CCM 41* supercardioid 40 Hz – 20 kHz* 14 mV/Pa 24 dB 15 dB-A 79 dB-A 132 dB
MK / CCM 41V supercardioid 40 Hz – 20 kHz 14mV/Pa 23 dB 14 dB-A 80 dB-A 132 dB
MK / CCM 8 figure-8 40 Hz – 16 kHz 10 mV/Pa 26 dB 18 dB-A 76 dB-A 134 dB
MK / CCM 5* omni 20 Hz – 20 kHz* 10 mV/Pa 26 dB 14 dB-A 80 dB-A 133 dB
cardioid 40 Hz – 20 kHz* 13 mV/Pa 24 dB 15 dB-A 79 dB-A 132 dB
MK 6 omni 20 Hz – 16 kHz 10 mV/Pa 26 dB 14 dB-A 80 dB-A 135 dB
cardioid 40 Hz – 16 kHz 11 mV/Pa 26 dB 16 dB-A 78 dB-A 134 dB
figure-8 40 Hz – 16 kHz 10 mV/Pa 27 dB 18 dB-A 76 dB-A 134 dB
MK / CCM 4S cardioid 80 Hz – 20 kHz 12 mV/Pa 25 dB 15 dB-A 79 dB-A 132 dB
MK / CCM 40 cardioid 80 Hz – 20 kHz 18 mV/Pa 22 dB 12 dB-A 82 dB-A 129 dB
MK / CCM 4A cardioid close pickup 3 mV/Pa 31 dB 19 dB-A 75 dB-A 144 dB
MK / CCM 4VXS cardioid close pickup 10 mV/Pa 25 dB 14 dB-A 80 dB-A 134 dB
MK / CCM 41S supercardioid 80 Hz – 20 kHz 14 mV/Pa 24 dB 15 dB-A 80 dB-A 132 dB
Specifications for MK _ capsules with CMC 6 microphone amplifier, and CCM
(When the CMC 6 xt microphone amplifier is used with axially addressed capsules (*) the frequency response extends beyond 40 kHz).
Conditions of measurement:
Sensitivity: measured on-axis in the free sound field with a CMC 6
microphone amplifier at 1 kHz and with a load resistance of 1 kOhm
with standardized powering
Equivalent noise level and signal-to-noise ratio are measured
according to IEC 60268-1 (”CCIR”) and IEC 61672-1 (”A-weighted”).
Maximum sound pressure level (max. SPL): SPL at which the total
harmonic distortion (THD) at the output of the microphone is 0.5%.
The data for boundary-layer capsules (BLM 3g, BLM 03 Cg) assume
an adequately large sound-reflecting area.
Signal-to-noise specifications that follow these standards are intended
to allow comparison of noise floor levels for different microphones.
Unlike signal-to-noise specifications for other types of audio equip-
ment (which give the ratio of a component's clipping point to its noise
floor), these values do not indicate a microphone's entire available
dynamic range. Instead, the values are measured with reference to a
standard sound pressure level of 1 Pascal (1 Pa = 94 dB SPL) even
though the actual maximum SPL capability of any usable microphone
must exceed that reference level substantially. (SCHOEPS microphones
when properly powered can typically handle levels some 40 dB above
1 Pa, for example.)
As a result of this approach, professional microphones can seem to
have rather modest signal-to-noise values even when they have extremely
low noise and very high SPL capability in fact. Ultimately the two other
values mentioned (equivalent noise and maximum SPL) both affect a
microphone's suitability for a given application.
The use of ”A” weighting when specifying the equivalent noise
level of microphones is another often-misunderstood aspect of the
standards. ”A” weighting yields a distinctly lower noise specification
– often by 10 dB or thereabouts – and this figure, of course, becomes
the one most often cited in advertising. But the CCIR weighted noise
level may well be a more accurate indicator of a microphone's per-
ceived noise level in practice.
* Axially-addressed capsule; when used with the CMC 6 xt
amplifier, the frequency range extends up to 40 kHz.
** IEC 61672-1
*** IEC 60268-1