Sennheiser e 835 dynamic microphone: features and spec-based rating

Sennheiser’s e 835 is a cardioid dynamic microphone with XLR connection.

A dynamic microphone is tough and picks up little surrounding sound. It suits streaming and recording vocals at home in a room whose echo is a problem.

In this article we rate it on 4 criteria using only the specifications the manufacturer publishes, and show how it ranks among the 17 dynamic microphones we compare.

Disclosure: This site takes part in affiliate programs. Specifications are as of the date we checked them and can change.

Figure: SoundBounty

Summary

Among the 17 dynamic microphones, e 835 is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5) gives 3.3.

Strengths

• Ease of getting enough gain (2.7 mV/Pa, 5 points): Even an entry-level audio interface is unlikely to run short of level.

Things to keep in mind

• Features (1 of 5, 2 points): The features of the body are simple.

Who it suits: judging from the specifications, it suits people who want to record without gain trouble, even with an entry-level audio interface.

Main features of e 835

Presence that brings the voice forward, and little proximity effect

This is a dynamic microphone for vocals, with the upper midrange lifted slightly so the voice comes forward. The swelling of the low end when you put your mouth close (the proximity effect) is small, and the lows are said to stay stable as the distance changes.

Resistance to feedback and noise

It is a narrow cardioid, so the sound changes little even if the microphone points slightly off, and it is said to resist feedback. It also has a coil that cancels electrical hum and a capsule suspension that reduces the noise of holding it in the hand.

A metal body and accessories

The body is metal and the design is German. A microphone clip (MZQ 800) and a pouch are included. A model with a switch (e 835-S) is also available.

Video: “Beyond Vanilla: Meet the Sennheiser e 835 | Sennheiser” (official Sennheiser YouTube channel; narration in English) Watch on YouTube

Where it is useful

• Recording cover songs or singing with a guitar
• Live streams where you sing with speakers playing
• As your first dynamic microphone for vocals

Rating by criterion

Ease of getting enough gain: 5 / 5

Whether you can get a good level without turning the gain knob of the audio interface up too far. USB models raise the level inside the microphone and get full marks.

e 835: 2.7 mV/Pa. That is a high rating among the products we compared. Even an entry-level audio interface is unlikely to run short of level.

High-frequency range: 3 / 5

How high a sound it can record (the upper limit of the frequency response).

e 835: 16,000 Hz. That is a standard rating among the products we compared.

Rejection of surrounding sound: 3 / 5

How little it picks up sound from outside the front of the microphone (everyday noise and room echo), decided by the pickup pattern.

e 835: Cardioid. That is a standard rating among the products we compared.

Features: 2 / 5

How many features of the body it has, such as USB and XLR connections, a low-cut and a headphone jack.

e 835: 1 of 5. That is a modest rating among the products we compared. The features of the body are simple.

The gray marks in the figure below (the dotted line on the pentagon) show the average of the 17 products we compared. Price is not part of the score.

How we score (Dynamic microphones)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Ease of getting enough gain	Sensitivity at the XLR output (USB models have a built-in preamp and get full marks)	≥2.5	≥2	≥1.6	≥1.3	<1.3
High-frequency range	Upper limit of the frequency response	≥20000	≥18000	≥16000	≥15000	<15000
Rejection of surrounding sound	Pickup pattern	Supercardioid / hypercardioid	—	Cardioid (unidirectional)	—	—
Features	USB, XLR, low-cut, presence, headphone jack	4 to 5	3	2	1	None

Scored only on the body specifications published by the manufacturer. Price and accessories are not part of the score. "Ease of getting enough gain" answers the common question "do I need a preamp (booster)?". Over XLR, the higher the sensitivity (mV/Pa), the less you need to turn up the gain on the audio interface. Models that can also connect by USB have a preamp inside the microphone, so there is no worry about running short of gain and they get 5 points. Rejection of surrounding sound is decided by the pickup pattern: supercardioid and hypercardioid, which pick up little from outside the front, score highest. Weight is shown in the table for reference.

e 835 connection and getting started

Connection	XLR (3-pin). Connect it to the microphone input of an audio interface or mixer (it cannot connect to a computer directly by USB)
Power	No power is needed (it is a dynamic microphone, so it works without phantom power)
In the box	Microphone clip MZQ 800 and pouch (an XLR cable is not included)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.

Compared with other dynamic microphones

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Before you buy

• It connects by XLR. You need an audio interface or mixer. It is a dynamic microphone, so it does not need phantom power (+48 V).
• Check what comes in the box. The manufacturer lists: Microphone clip MZQ 800 and pouch (an XLR cable is not included). Anything not on that list (a microphone stand, cables and so on) you need to prepare separately.

Read next

• SM7B: features and rating (rank B)
• Procaster: features and rating (rank B)
• SM7dB: features and rating (rank S)
• BETA 58A: features and rating (rank A)