Sennheiser e 845-S Dynamic Supercardioid Microphone: Buying Guide

The Sennheiser e 845-S is a handheld dynamic vocal microphone from the evolution series. It has a supercardioid pickup pattern, and the S in the name means it has an on/off switch. It is an analog microphone with an XLR output, so it does not plug straight into a computer or phone. This guide helps you decide whether it fits your setup before you buy.

Start with the intended use

A microphone choice depends more on where and how you use it than on the model name. Answer these questions first:

• Where will you use it: a stage with monitor speakers, a rehearsal room, a home studio or a desk for streaming and video calls?
• What will it connect to: a mixer, a PA system, a recorder or a computer through an audio interface?
• Will you hold it, put it on a stand or mount it on a boom arm?
• Can you stay close to the microphone, or do you need it to pick up sound from further away?
• What result do you need: a live vocal sound, a recorded track or clear speech in calls?

A handheld dynamic supercardioid works best when the source is close and directly in front of it. If you want to sit back from the desk, move around freely or capture several people with one microphone, this type of microphone is a poor match, because the level drops quickly with distance and the sides are deliberately less sensitive.

Features that matter

Supercardioid pickup pattern

A supercardioid pattern is narrower at the front than a standard cardioid and has a small rear pickup lobe. Its least sensitive points sit toward the rear sides rather than directly behind. On stage, this affects where floor monitors should go, so check the manufacturer's placement guidance. The narrow front also means you need to keep the microphone aimed at your mouth; turning away changes both level and tone.

Dynamic design

A dynamic microphone does not need phantom power or batteries. Dynamic microphones generally produce a lower output signal than condenser microphones, so your mixer or interface must provide enough gain, especially for quiet speech.

On/off switch

The switch lets a performer mute the microphone between songs or during breaks. Some sound engineers prefer switchless microphones so nobody mutes a channel by accident. If you do not want a switch, Sennheiser also offers the e 845 without the S suffix. If the microphone ever seems silent, check the switch before anything else.

Background noise and close placement

Directional rejection reduces pickup from off-axis sources, but it does not remove background noise that reaches the front of the microphone. Speaking close to the grille gives the best ratio of voice to room sound. Like other directional microphones, it boosts low frequencies as you move closer, so keep a consistent distance for a steady sound.

Datasheet figures such as frequency response, sensitivity and impedance are useful for comparing microphones and matching equipment, but they are not a quality score. Read the current official datasheet rather than relying on figures quoted in listings.

Check compatibility

Connector and cable

The e 845-S needs an XLR microphone input on a mixer, PA, recorder or audio interface, plus a balanced XLR cable. Check the package contents in the listing to see whether a cable and microphone clip are included, and whether the clip fits the thread on your stand or boom arm.

Using it with a computer

To use it for recording, streaming or video calls, connect it to an audio interface or a USB mixer. Your operating system and apps will show the interface as the input device, not the microphone itself. Select the interface as the input device and your headphones or interface outputs as the output device. Set the input level with the gain control on the interface first, then fine-tune in software. If a call app also applies automatic gain, test whether it fights your manual setting.

The sample rate and bit depth are set by the interface and your recording software, not by the microphone. Match the interface sample rate to your project or app settings to avoid errors or resampling.

Gain and power

Before buying, confirm that your interface or mixer has enough clean gain for a dynamic microphone. If it does not, an inline microphone booster is one option; check its power and gain requirements with your equipment. Phantom power is not needed for this microphone, so you can leave it off on that channel.

The microphone itself stores nothing. Recordings and call audio are handled by your interface software, operating system and apps, so review their storage, cloud upload and permission settings separately.

Build a shortlist

If most of these statements match your situation, the e 845-S is a reasonable candidate:

• You will speak or sing close to the grille and can keep the microphone aimed at your mouth.
• You want tighter side rejection than a typical cardioid, for example on a loud stage or near other instruments.
• You have, or plan to buy, a mixer or audio interface with an XLR input and enough gain for a dynamic microphone.
• You want an on/off switch, or you have decided the switchless e 845 suits you better.
• You have a stand, boom arm or handheld plan, with a compatible clip and an XLR cable.
• Your recording or call software lets you choose the interface as the input device.

Look elsewhere if you need a plug-and-play USB microphone with no interface, want to speak from a distance, or need one microphone for several people. If you tend to move around the microphone, compare it with a cardioid dynamic model, which is more forgiving of off-axis positions.

Before ordering, confirm the current specifications, package contents and warranty terms on the official product page or the retailer's listing.