421 vs 604! HELP

Third Story · 31st August 2006

ok i know i post alot of stuff on this site but i am buying alot of mics soon so i just need opnions!

ok well heres the deal i own one senn. md421 but its one of the vintage ones i got it on ebay its in great shape! but i have not used it one toms yet. should i get on of the new ones and pair them on toms or will they sound too different or should i just get some 604's? what the sound diff between 604 and 421? does anyone prefer the 604 over the 421's? why?

thanks guys!

mrbowes · 31st August 2006

Quote:

but i have not used it one toms yet. should i get on of the new ones and pair them on toms or will they sound too different or should i just get some 604's?

why don't you just test it out and see?

buy a new 421 and some new 604s from a reputable dealer with a return policy and see what floats your boat the best.

we can't tell you the answer.

AlexLakis · 31st August 2006

I've got both, and have worked with both the vintage 421s and the newer ones on toms.

First of all, I don't think there's any difference in the sound between the older ones and the newer ones. I think the only difference is that the newer ones have some more options on them. The newer ones might have a little more gain on them, but I could be wrong about that...

I think the 421s handle transients better than the 604s. They also have a more clear top end than the 604s, in my opinion. I find their bottom end to be a little "rounder" than the 604s as well.

The difference between the two is kinda like the difference between the tambourine sample in the VTB-1 vs. Germanium thread.

That being said, they are both excellent candidates. I use the 604s a lot in my project studio because I only have one 421 there. If I had 3 421s, I'd probably be using them. Sometimes, I'll use the 421 on the floor tom and 604s on the rest.

Bottom line, you can get great results with both. The 604s are cool because they're discreetly sized, and they can take a HELL of a beating. They sound good on brass instruments too. The 421s are cool because they can be used for electric guitars, bass cabs, and vocals with great results, and they're also built like a brick (although the mic clip suuuuuuuUUUUUUUUCKS!)

Roland · 1st September 2006

The 604 is a good bang for the buck mic, the 421 is a class act (this is demonstrated by the number used in top facilities all over the world). I use 604's on pa work sometimes for convience/size, but I much prefer the 421 as it is a more "refined" mic. I haven't had any problems using ones from different vintages, though it is possible auditioned AB there could be small differences.

Regards

Roland

Third Story · 1st September 2006

which ones are acutally considered vintage? anything besides the mkII?? are the u5 considered vintage? i looked at the manual with mine today and the one i have is called the n version! its white and has a touchel cable with it! but i was reading the manual and the u5 matches up to it in everything like dB range and stuff its just black and uses a regular xlr! so i guess as long as i get on of the u5 they should sound the same!( i hope)

drBill · 1st September 2006

I'd get 2 more 421's. Toms sound different and the minute difference the mics may have won't make any difference. It's not like you're using them as a matched pair. They will be fine and are my prefered tom mic as well.

Third Story · 1st September 2006

thanx man yea i would eventually like to have 4 or 5 but right now the budget only allows for one more to add and have 2 for toms i only record with 8 channels anywho so i try to avoid people using more than 2 toms!thumbsup

nathanvacha · 1st September 2006

well... 3 new 604's are the price of one new 421, correct? I think that should have a big impact on what you buy... both because this is low end and because you get what you pay for sound-wise.

If you can afford the better and it meets your needs, get the better.

my advice would be to buy one more 421, but get another used one. You can snag them on ebay for 150-200 if you time it right... sometimes a little more.

buuuuuuuuut.....

if you're in a really home studio situation and you just need something that will work and work and work and never be un-useable until you replace the clip for it

... the 604's are a more convenient/flexible mic that sacrifices some of the sound of a 421.

don't try to mic up a live set w/ 421's though. not a bunch of fun. (yes, i know it's been done for years... watch the concert for bangladesh

)

dasoundjunkie · 2nd September 2006

Dude try the Audio Technica atm-25. (I've got md 421s and I find that they pick up way too much of the surrounding stuff). For my money they smoke pretty much everything in their price range and then some! Really tight pickup pattern and great tone! Plus they are almost impossible to destroy!
Good luck

31st August 2006	#1
Third Story Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 161 Thread Starter	421 vs 604! HELP ok i know i post alot of stuff on this site but i am buying alot of mics soon so i just need opnions! ok well heres the deal i own one senn. md421 but its one of the vintage ones i got it on ebay its in great shape! but i have not used it one toms yet. should i get on of the new ones and pair them on toms or will they sound too different or should i just get some 604's? what the sound diff between 604 and 421? does anyone prefer the 604 over the 421's? why? thanks guys!

1st September 2006	#8
nathanvacha Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,231	well... 3 new 604's are the price of one new 421, correct? I think that should have a big impact on what you buy... both because this is low end and because you get what you pay for sound-wise. If you can afford the better and it meets your needs, get the better. my advice would be to buy one more 421, but get another used one. You can snag them on ebay for 150-200 if you time it right... sometimes a little more. buuuuuuuuut..... if you're in a really home studio situation and you just need something that will work and work and work and never be un-useable until you replace the clip for it... the 604's are a more convenient/flexible mic that sacrifices some of the sound of a 421. don't try to mic up a live set w/ 421's though. not a bunch of fun. (yes, i know it's been done for years... watch the concert for bangladesh )

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
421	Third Story	High end	5	9th August 2006 07:17 AM
Senn 421-2 421-n	fuzzface777	So much gear, so little time!	0	26th November 2005 06:01 PM
SENNHEISER 421	fuzzface777	So much gear, so little time!	6	25th November 2005 04:25 AM
Senn 421?	pixelhead	So much gear, so little time!	29	10th November 2005 05:00 PM
anybody like the e609 or 604?	silencereleven	So much gear, so little time!	16	23rd July 2004 09:44 PM

31st August 2006	#3
AlexLakis Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,631	I've got both, and have worked with both the vintage 421s and the newer ones on toms. First of all, I don't think there's any difference in the sound between the older ones and the newer ones. I think the only difference is that the newer ones have some more options on them. The newer ones might have a little more gain on them, but I could be wrong about that... I think the 421s handle transients better than the 604s. They also have a more clear top end than the 604s, in my opinion. I find their bottom end to be a little "rounder" than the 604s as well. The difference between the two is kinda like the difference between the tambourine sample in the VTB-1 vs. Germanium thread. That being said, they are both excellent candidates. I use the 604s a lot in my project studio because I only have one 421 there. If I had 3 421s, I'd probably be using them. Sometimes, I'll use the 421 on the floor tom and 604s on the rest. Bottom line, you can get great results with both. The 604s are cool because they're discreetly sized, and they can take a HELL of a beating. They sound good on brass instruments too. The 421s are cool because they can be used for electric guitars, bass cabs, and vocals with great results, and they're also built like a brick (although the mic clip suuuuuuuUUUUUUUUCKS!)

1st September 2006	#4
Roland Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2002 Location: St Leonards on Sea, England Posts: 2,133 2 Reviews written	The 604 is a good bang for the buck mic, the 421 is a class act (this is demonstrated by the number used in top facilities all over the world). I use 604's on pa work sometimes for convience/size, but I much prefer the 421 as it is a more "refined" mic. I haven't had any problems using ones from different vintages, though it is possible auditioned AB there could be small differences. Regards Roland

1st September 2006	#6
drBill Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 11,509	I'd get 2 more 421's. Toms sound different and the minute difference the mics may have won't make any difference. It's not like you're using them as a matched pair. They will be fine and are my prefered tom mic as well.

2nd September 2006	#9
dasoundjunkie Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 1,260	Dude try the Audio Technica atm-25. (I've got md 421s and I find that they pick up way too much of the surrounding stuff). For my money they smoke pretty much everything in their price range and then some! Really tight pickup pattern and great tone! Plus they are almost impossible to destroy! Good luck