Sennheiser md421 vs md421 mkII ??

[mslim]

I am going to look at used black body Senn MD421 that the seller says was made in the '80's. I have an older gray tuchel plug European model that I like, that sounds different from the newer models.

What is the sonic difference between the older 421's and the newer MkII's? Is there a physical difference that would delineate an older black body 421 from the MkII's?

[The True Buck]

The mkII has hyped highs and is brighter than the previous versions, something I personally don't like very much. The grey one is still the king imo.

[Doublehelix]

I used to hear a lot that the older MD421s were so much better than the new ones, so I bought a couple of the older U5 models, and had them refurbished by Sennheiser. I love them!

But... now I have heard a lot of folks say that the difference between the older ones and the MKIIs are really not noticeable, but I have never actually used one of the newer ones, so I cannot comment.

I guess my point is that it is really easy to get caught up in all the internet gossip and rumor mills, and then make decisions without knowing the *real* facts and who is giving you the advice, and what their *real* experience with said product is.

I am not saying that The True Buck doesn't have the experience, just that you need to make decisions on your own. I wish I had before I spent the big bucks on the U5s and then the cost to refurbish them. Maybe I would have made the same decision, but I did so on rumor, not any real facts, and now I hear those same "facts" contradicted a lot. So what is real???

[warhead]

The newer models have a peak around 3k that is noticeable, and are somewhat brighter. The originals had a smoother overall sound to them. Both sound ballpark overall, but for a smoother response I'd check out an older one.

War

[mslim]

There is a difference between the old and new. I just did a session w/ the mkII's on rack toms and my old gray one on the floor toms. The old one did sound better to my old ears.

[Han]

This has been discussed a number of times before, search and you'll find.

The MK2 sounds brighter because it has an aluminium coil where the MK1 has a copper coil. There are more differences tho.

[mslim]

What about visible differences in the older black bodies vs. the newer MKII's? Do the older black bodies have the M/S switch?

[BLueROom]

If there is anyone who prefers the new one to the older one for the 3-4k bump, I'll trade you!

[lakeshorephatty]

old all the way.. was night and day difference to my ears. Its sort of a real vs hyped kind of thing. I'm glad i have a pair of the older style!

Russell

[petsematary]

Time to wake up an oldie, I have a question about this too. I heard a mk2 MD421 recently and did not like it. Granted, it was hooked up right after another mic and the mid bump made the compressor work overly hard which created a very unpleasant saturated mids sound that sounded, well... congested somehow. Probably would've been different with a lower comp setting but overall, it was too much in your face in a bad kind of way. Very curious about the old ones though. Does anyone have a response chart for an oldie?

[smutbasket]

You didn't get the memo? Of two pieces of gear, the older of the two is always better. If it weighs more that's better too, and if you had to pay more for it that raises the bar even higher. If it's all the above AND it's rare, it's the best that ever was. If a newer piece of gear is ever found to be better than it's older counterpart, the newer one must be destroyed.* (i*What were you doing with a newer one in the first place?)

Anyway, I like the new 421s better than the old ones, especially for guitar cabs. They have a more clear voice. There's nothing harsh about these mics. Harsh sources maybe, mismatched sources, sure. If I want smoke and haze I whip out my old Unidyne III 57s. They have more nicotine (and assorted other) glaze inside them than the marlboro man.

[sloper]

I've used them both side by side. I find the new ones didn't mix in as well with a 57 on the guitars tracks i was recording. I think the new ones would be better for toms but it's just a guess. More snap...

[ivansc]

Until recently I had some XLR versions of the Mk 1 with a black body. U-5 I believe. This was as far as I know the last of the old version MD421 made.

The newer MkIIs were less expensive because they updated the manufacturing method to make it cheaper to build. At the same time they also changed the frequency response. If you look at the little chart that comes with every 421 you can see the difference between the 2 mics.
The only reason I sold my 421s was because I no longer used them for anything.
All electric drums and DI bass nowadays.

But if I had to have one it would HAVE to be a pre-Mk2 model regardless of colour or connector.