Sennheiser MKH 416
The MKH 416 is a no-compromise XLR shotgun and a genuine film/VO industry standard with decades of broadcast pedigree, requiring 48V phantom power. For all that reputation it's overkill for many: the data itself notes an NTG5-class shotgun covers most of this for roughly half the cost. Choose it when the legacy name and proven sound matter; first-mic budgets should look at that NTG5 class instead.
Specifications
| Spec | Value | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| mic type | shotgun | high confidence |
| connection | XLR | high confidence |
| phantom power required | yes | high confidence |
3/3 specs sourced. Amber rows are unverified — we show them as reported, not confirmed.
Best for
- The film/VO industry-standard shotgun — decades of broadcast pedigree
Who should skip this
- First mic budgets — NTG5 class covers most of this for half the price
Compatibility
No platform-specific compatibility requirements — this works in any standard photo / video setup.
Upgrade path
Outgrow it and the Sennheiser MKE 600 is the natural next step up in microphones. See it →
Sources (4 · 3 high-confidence)
Report an issue with this data →Every product carries its receipts. Field-level sources pin individual specs; flagged fields say so instead of guessing. Sources last retrieved 2026-06-12.
- primarySennheiser — MKH 416 product pagemanufacturer · high
- productSweetwater — MKH 416, $999 (was $1,049)retailer · medium
- connectionXLR-3, P48 phantom (it's in the model name: P48U3)manufacturer · high
- mic_typeShort shotgun interference-tube mic per Sennheisermanufacturer · high