After the video launched Synco Sent me the following: We promise that customers can return goods without giving a reason in 30 days. If they test the mic and think it‘s a lot worse than 416, please contact our Facebook (facebook.com/syncomicrophones/) and offer the purchase information. They will get a full refund. BTW, SYNCO Mic-D2 is out of stock now. If your viewers would like to purchase one. they could buy it on bit.ly/2peU8th. Momanplay is our official dealer. SYNCO Mic-D2on Momanplay is only $219 USD until December 1st.
How much gain do you need for this mic? I'm looking to improve my signal chain by using a mic that needs less gain than my dynamics that need 50+ dB gain.
Mike, I can’t decide if this review cost me $249, or saved me $750. ; ) Either way, thank you very, very much! I’m extremely happy with my Synco Mic D2.
This reminds me of back in the '80s when people used to choose "GUESS" jeans over "LEVIS" because "the quality was superior." Leave it to an audiophile to NOT want to admit when a new kid on the block is just as cool as the "popular kid." Bottom line: If you would have used only the Synco and never said the name, no one would be able to tell it wasn't the 416. Great job, Mike and great job, Synco.
I already commented on this video once but I'd really like you to see this: Please do a video on how you pick a mic for a particular job, i.e. why don't you just use your favorite or best (CAD e100s?) for everything and what types of mics someone who's starting out should look for to build their mic locker.
Last night on his live stream, Curtis Judd said he would give this Synco D2 to the first person who emailed him, for just the price of shipping. I was the lucky winner. No gigs lately but my kit is that much happier today! Thank you for your great reviews, Mike. I trust you. Cheers!
In my opinion the sound-difference is definitely there and audible. Every time you switch to the MKH 416, the highs were much crisper, than with the Synco Mic D2, but overall they are very close to each other (soundwise) while the price difference is huge. So well done Synco Mic D2 :-)
Yeah, crisper highs. On the other hand the 416 was that much noisier as well, so equating the sound would be a simple high shelf boost to make them match, I imagine
JanneAirDotCom exactly. My current sm7b sounds pretty muddy with no EQ but a small boost in the mids and bass roll of is all it takes to make it fit my voice perfectly.
The 416 has a slightly brighter and crisper high. But for $250US, I am putting the D2 on my research list. I NEVER considered a shotgun for voice-over and narration situations. This has completely opened my mind up to other possibilities.
MK416 has more presence. And the low end is less 'muddy' - which is the most important part (clarity). You can add presence in processing. And frankly, you're often better off adding presence later if you know what you're doing. But adding clarity to the low-end can be a bit more difficult. I prefer a flat response. I like this Synco mic a lot. I think I'll pick one up. Thanks for the review!!
My Thoughts: The 416 has much more clarity in the 2-5k range, which will make all the difference when you add a music bed to your VO. Also, watch the video from 6:08 and you'll see the spectrogram reveals quite a bit of frequency variation between the two mics. Finally, the D-2 has (to me) an unpleasant, "tinny" (or metallic) sound that becomes more and more obvious as the video progresses. That being said, does it matter for most people? Probably not. Save $750 buck and get yourself the D-2. Then take that $750 and invest it in a Grace 101 mic pre ;)
But 416 sounds basier and a little cleaner, doesn't it? At least on my K712 pro's. And I'm still not sure which one was with the gray dot but that one was basier and cleaner. But not $750 different, that's for sure!
I picked up a Synco D2 recently in a store-damaged outer box for $50 last week! Best value purchase ever... it even gives my TLM103 a severe run for its money! Mostly using it for cartoon voice acting, imitating commercial-style promo ad parodies. We couldn't be more pleased with it!
I contacted Synco to find out if it's water resistant and RF biased. Update: It is weather resistant and RF interference resistant. Sounds like it'd work just as well.
@@dylanj8676 A couple of notes: RF resistant is not the same as an RF-bias microphone design. The brass body of the microphone should help prevent RF interference but the microphone likely would NOT hold up as well as the RF-bias Sennheiser MKH-416. Weather resistant is also not the same as the benefits that the RF-bias offers when recording in very humid conditions. Weather resistant usually means that the circuit board is protected from damage by water but this does not mean that the microphone will continue to produce good, undistorted audio when water condenses on the microphone capsule. It does mean that you can dry the mic out for a day and it will still work. This is not to say that the Synco D-2 is not a good microphone, especially for voice over work indoors, just that it probably wouldn't perform as well as the 416 in really rough, humid conditions.
@@curtisjudd A little late here, but the answer I was given was that it was RF biased and weather resistant. Whether it's properly RF biased or just resistant because of the heavy brass body, I couldn't tell ya. My S-Mic 2 is going back because it doesn't have enough detail in the high end for me. So I'd say it's actually better as a location mic than a close voiceover mic. The cheap end address VO mic to get IMO is an Oktava MK-012.
@@curtisjuddwell a blimp with a shock mount would easily take care of the problem for $300. So going with the Syncho than buying the blimp would still be less than just having the 416 Sanheiser.
ever since I saw and heard mk416 in your videos I wanted one for myself. Realistically speaking, I can't afford sh*t, but Synco definitely moved this dream $750 closer to me 😌 Thank you for the review!
I had never heard of Synco either until I saw this. I could hear a difference in the two, the MKH-416 has smoother highs and a bit more presence in the lower frequencies, but the D-2 still sounds like a very impressive mic for the price and especially as the MKH-416 is expensive and can cost too much or be hard to justify for some people, it could be quite a good alternative. I have a 416 and wouldn't change it for anything else for talking head and voice overs, but if I didn't own one, and saw your review, I'd seriously consider the D-2.
Dave's Nature Productions you're right, it's definitely in the highs. Listen to the sibilants and sh sounds and while the 416 generally makes them smooth and airy, the D2 breaks up pretty easily. That said you have to be listening carefully and in the context of bgm etc not sure how much you'd hear it. I'd say buy depending on budget, the 416 will keep its resale value too.
More HF in the 416, seems obvious to me. I'd be interested to hear the Synco with a high shelf boost to see if it takes it nicely. Both sound good though - I might buy a synco
My take is that due to their different cardioid patterns the two mics sound quite different once screens were in place. The D2 almost sounds like volume level dropped (but still excellent). Without screens the difference is very small and should be easy to compensate in post if desired.
Thanks for the demo, however, it would've been cool to hear the Synco pop filter on the Sennheiser as well. The fact that I can hear such an audible difference with its use over a UA-cam recording is quite telling.
As others have mentioned I also hear a bit more highs from the 416 but I actually think I prefer the sound of the Synco. Anyway, the difference is negligible. Synco makes some good stuff. When I need a shotgun mic this will be definitely be on my shortlist.
Hey Mike, I love the channel and you’re the reason I bought a TLM103. Oddly enough I didn’t realize that I’ve been listening to you for years on the No Sleep Podcast! Thanks for creating these videos!
For me the synco sounds more dull and bassier, they sound almost exact the same but i still like the mkh 416 better cause it sounds more clear in my ears. Great video love it man! what an intro too !!!!!!!!!!!
I had the Synco for a while. Tooted its horn. But something felt just a bit muddy. Was ok, not bad. At last I upgraded to the 416 and couldn’t be happier. Solid pre-post output.
I was hoping you’d get “up nice and close and really eat the microphone” to compare the richness of both. However, that being being said another top shelf awesome video with Mike on mic action. Thank you sir!
Honestly can never get enough of your videos. Something about how passionate you are about audio is so much fun to listen to. Hope you keep making videos.
ye the D2 loses lots of crispness and highs with their foam, wish you had used the 416 foam on that D2, without the foam, they sound very close, with foam, the D2 suffers a bit bad design on that foam, too dense, try D2 with 416 foam :-)
Sold! Just ordered one. I use a TLM103 for my VO work, but for UA-cam videos in front of the computer it picks up too much ambiance. Was googling tests for the 416 and this came up. Yes I can hear the difference pretty clearly with good headphones going through a good DAC, but from my monitor speakers with my eyes closed it's almost unnoticeable. For paid VO work the difference would matter a lot. But for youtube videos? Not in the least.
Listening through an SSL2+ and a pair of Yamaha studio monitors there's QUITE a difference is sound. That said for 250 they sound absolutely amazing. That THAT said, in my opinion and to my ear NOTHING beats the 416. It has both quality and character. Precision highs and rich mids. I'm still saving up for the 416, but that Synco sounds great.
Great job comparing these mic's! Thanks for bringing the Synco D2 to our attention. As recorders we get into the various applications and sound quality of equipment. What I know is the average client can't tell the differences we focus on. If the project is done well and they get the needed response "you're their person!" That being said, my opinion is the 416 is clearly cleaner. You can hear the bass roll off is smoother and a bit more presence in the mid highs. The D2 sounds great for the price point, but the low end is more present and the mid highs aren't as present comparatively. The pop filter helps over the windscreen. I'll definitely pick up the D2 for now. I'll let my projects determine when and if I need to upgrade. I'm an advocate of letting projects pay for equipment and upgrades. Thanks again!
Yes, I noticed. The "puh" sounds are not present when using the Sennheiser but when using the Synco the "puh" sounds are present. But the noise floor and the timbre of your voice was otherwise, to my ears, identical. Thank you for the review! Huge thumbs up and like!
Just got one. Yes, your vid affected my wallet. Got it a week ago and couldn't be happier. I produce corporate sales and leadership training videos and host a daily zoom call in a very nice but completed untreated office/ studio. My neighbors love their lawnmowers a d leaf blowers so I've been using various dynamics because of the noise rejection. For years i've been using a Sennheiser e935 which is really fantastic. But I move around a lot, very animated when I speak so the dynamic keeps me tethered to the front of the mic restricts my natural movement. I've tried other condensers and they sound amazing but I was picking up birds and all kinds of sounds from outside I didn't even hear with my ears, but there they were in my recordings. So with some hesitancy I picked up the Synco, concerned that it, being a condenser would be too sensitive and I've got to say, this thing is incredible. It picks me up with incredible sound quality, perfect intelligibility, full dynamic range and all the rejection I was getting from a dynamic. I Love this mic. It's sensitive enough that I can now be as animated as I want to be when I'm recording or in front of an audience or camera and it gets everything with a beautiful low end, full mids and crisp top end. For years, I wanted an RE20 - not any more. This is my personal end game mic. Thanks Mike!
i can hear the difference, though its very small. The 416 is a bit cleaner up top and there's a bit more presents. but is that a 750 dollar difference? NOPE i was considering the diety S-mic, but not anymore
I definitely noticed the switches. The D2 sounded veiled or muffled to me. The clarity/presence of the 416 was noticeable. That's a quality that can be a blessing and a curse at times, but I prefer it. Sure, the D2 is much cheaper than a brand new 416, but I imagine the actual components and build quality are significantly lower, despite the fancy-looking packaging. Plus, a factory reconditioned or respectfully used 416 can be found *significantly* cheaper than a new one with identical quality. It's well worth the price and the wait, if you need to save for it.
That's a lot of assumptions. The Sennheiser is like any other retail brick and mortar audio product such that it is subject to high markup so that the retailer gets their cut. This can easily be half the retail price, so $1000 becomes $500. Take out higher Made in Germany labor costs and general overhead for a large company and you're in Synco territory. Factory-direct products like the Synco (Momonplay is linked to the company IIRC) have such low overhead and labor costs that they can offer these prices. As for build quality and components, sure, it's likely the Synco is not as durable overall but to achieve these kinds of specs (if accurate) means the internals are good quality. It's a heck of a lot easier to achieve extremely low noise floors in audio products now vs even 10 years ago. And the lowest I've seen a used 416 on ebay is $600 including tax and shipping. I got the Synco all in for $208. So I could get two if I'm really paranoid about longevity and STILL come out ahead.
Thanks for doing this video, it's a huge help. I've been looking for weeks (months?...) for a mic to get started on VO and was starting to go crazy. A lot of popular mic reviews I either just haven't liked the sound, or couldn't afford it. Was just about to finally pull the trigger on getting the AT4033's, and this video popped up. Apparently I forgot I watched it like a month ago, not sure how I didn't jump on this the first time. Out of all the reviewers I've watched, you've got to be the closest to myself in terms of deeper voices, and I really liked how the D2 sounded. So I'm going to order one of these along with the AT and see what happens. Also fun fact! I was listening to your Narration demo on your website, and the article you read mentions the town I grew up in (Phoenixville)! Not really here nor there, but was just kind of cool hearing... sorry for this dissertation-sized "comment."
I'm just waiting for Mike to come back with a "Gotchya" follow-up, telling us that in fact he played another trick and that the dot was really the other way round, and all the commenters who rallied behind the 416 were really talking up the Synco! 😁
The 416 was the gray dot, it still showed when the mics were labelled and the MKH416 was being used. I actually didn't like the gray dot one as much (which I know is the 416), the low end is boomy, and the high end is a bit too much (yes it's super clear, but it's also really sharp, and there are a lot of people who DON'T like it for voiceover because of that).
after watching this review atleast 6 times and finding it on sale at a price that made it necessary to purchase this afternoon ($169.00) looking to get into vo , thank you for this review
Damn, very nice. Though I will say the 416 is a tiny bit clearer, likely due to the presence boost. Is it $750 clearer? Up to you I suppose. For $250 that's still a great sound.
WOW!!!! I wasn't expecting that!!!! I've used and loved the 416 for years and find this Synco extraordinarily close in sound! Like you, I can't tell a difference!!!! If you have any problem with exterior sounds leaking into your booth, a shotgun mike like this is terrific in reducing that background noise! I'd buy this Synco D2 in a heartbeat!!!
I don’t know how you have these set up. But I have owned both microphones. I started off with the D2. Finally saved up enough to get the 416. My jaw dropped at the quality difference between a 416 and the D2 there was no comparison in my opinion.
Mike, I definitely hear a difference. It's not night and day, but the 416 is cleaner and a touch brighter than the Synco, which is a bit muddier in comparison. Is it a $750 difference? In my opinion--NO! Well done, Synco! I'm also a photographer, and I'd compare you to what Godox has been doing in that world with speedlights and strobes-- quality products at a much cheaper price!
Pretty amazing. One thing I noticed was a pretty big sonic difference...in the Sennheiser's favor...of how crisp it still was, while the Synco sounded a bit muddier. Even with the windscreen option. Very cool though. I'll let the budget-minded know about it!
Don't. Two friends have returned it. I can not find any EQ that would make this mic usable for VO, much less sound anywhere close to a 416. This video is either terribly misleading or he received a unique version. The Synco is horrible, unless you need something to call for help if you've been kidnapped and held in a cave.
Thanks for this video! I purchased the Synco based on this video :) testing out a shotgun mic in my studio without having to spend $1000 on a mic that I know will deliver :)
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Buying now! Much love from Brazil. I work with dubbing and it will fit perfectly.
The Synco sounds great and has a mostly flat response. However there is a boost in the 500Hz range that makes it sound a tad bit tinny if not EQ'd. Great mic for the price!
Much like Deity Microphones, so far besides a shotgun mic Synco only has lavalier and on-camera mics (like the Rode VideoMics). I'm pretty sure this is because the large diaphragm condenser and small diaphragm condenser market is already full of super cheap mics, so it's not worth the R&D costs when every company and their mother who makes a cheap condenser is using the Schoeps circuit or the U87 circuit and the same capsules usually. The only one worth getting for voiceover (and at all IMO) is their shotgun mic. I'm sure their other mics are good for the price, but I rarely think in-camera video mics are any good for a professional recording, and the same goes for most lavalier mics. The cheapest mic I'd even consider for videography is the Oktava MK-012. But for a $250ish shotgun mic this one is phenomenal. The fact that it's so close to an MKH416 is crazy, and frankly even if it didn't sound nearly identical (IMHO I prefer the S-Mic 2) to the 416 with the features it has it'd still be a great mic.
@@dylanj8676 I should have looked at their website before commenting. Yeah I probably wouldn't go for their other mics. Am really looking into getting this one though.
It's hard to tell a difference at first because your voice is so well-controlled. But I started noticing a strong muddiness in the Synco. You could probably EQ a good chunk of that out, but I've never had the best of luck with that. The Synco is absolutely great to get started with if you can't find any great deals on a 416.
FYI for anyone watching this now, the prices on these have come down from where they were when the video was made. I just bought one on Amazon for $170, making it an even more insane deal.
Hey Mike, love it when you compare mics. Booth Junkie is great when making financially sound decisions for our VO business. While we're on the subject, have you tested the Audio-Technica AT875R? Would love to see a comparison of the AT875R, RODE NTG5 and any other shotguns you'd care to throw in the mix. Thanks for all the great videos! Keep the content coming!
What did you end up getting? I bought the AT875R used a year ago and knowledgeable clients like it. This Synco is on it's way to me. I think it's gained recognition, and Sound Speeds did a video dunking it in water. It lived!
Great comparison, thorough & complete without any bias. I absolutely love my current mic but certainly am considering the Synco d2 as a backup, I need a backup just in case? Thanks Mike for keeping us up with the latest gear out there
TOTALLY worth getting the Synco and saving all that extra money in the price gap. That being said, I do hear a slight difference the further into the video I get. I don't know if it's a mental thing now that I can see the switching, but even when I wasn't looking I thought I heard the switch and I tabbed back over and backed up the video to check and it switched when I thought it did. The Sennheiser is just a pinch more crisp in the high end. At least to my ear, in the headphones that I'm currently using. Take that with a grain of salt, since I didn't notice the switching at the start before you were illustrating it. So it may either be just in my head (even though I noticed it when not looking), or it may be that my headphones exaggerate the difference because of their frequency response. Either way, I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference without A/B testing like this. I'd bet you could use the Synco slightly out of shot (so all you see is the windscreen) in a video and say it was the Sennheiser, and nobody would question it. The switch at 11:05 was where I noticed it the most when I wasn't looking at the video. Just for reference.
@@SYNCOMicrophones You guys certainly made a fantastic mic, and at a price that's hard to believe. I wish you guys lots of success if you keep up this kind of quality!
The "DOT" is clearly the MKH416, has noticably more presence, the difference is very easily recognizable. But if you didn't point it out, I'd probably not notice and the listeners too.
I noticed in D2 sound changes with distance a lot, 416 is more robust to distance, in 416 sound is more even and there is more definition in bass, mids and highs.
hey i have the mkh416 p48u and a quartet, but i cannot get this type of clarity without post. What would be some of the settings I would be looking for
On the noise test waveform there was a visible low frequency on the Synco. Shotgun mics are not intended for voiceover though, and not intended for use indoors. Both sounded ok in this test because it appears to be an acoustically deadened room, but anybody using a shotgun indoors to overcome room acoustics is going to be disappointed.
Oh Mike thank you so much for showing this mic. I’ve been using the sm7b for a year and love it for voice over and always pined for the mk416 and wanted a mic for film use and vo for youtube vids and this D2, damn I’m ordering it this weekend.
@@SYNCOMicrophones Any idea when you're replenishing your Amazon stock? There was only 1 in stock when Mike's video dropped today, and it's been snapped up already!
Vocal Talent search for the Synco store on amazon not the moman one cos I was in the same boat last night pondering the purchase with 6 in stock it now shows 2-3 weeks. But Synco has stock if in UK I just got one
I felt that your voice sounded thin at times - less low-end presence - noticed it almost immediately. I was doubting myself, because sometimes I heard it, sometimes not. After catching on to your "trick", I saw that the thin sound corresponded to the D-2.
The differences are definitely more pronounced with the included wind protection on - Synco is darker through that foam/velvet stuff, but could be easily EQ'd.
I'm kinda furrowing my brow at some of these comments. It doesn't matter if someone can hear *any* difference; this isn't a static measurement. Two 416s a few years apart in age with slightly varied positioning will probably give discerning ears an audible difference. However, can you hear a difference that puts the 416 head over tails better than the D-2 in a way that couldn't be compensated for with a bit of DAW savviness? Or where you couldn't get the result you want because of the D-2's limitations? I've actually seen a few videos about the D-2 and in a few of the takes (not every takes) from each video I've preferred the D-2.
I can hear the difference between them and more so once they have the different wind blocks on them. The D2 does have less high end. The Sennheiser has a presence bump and it comes through better than the D2. I think it could be a great first mic. I'm listening through a Yamaha XG12 XU and no processing with Sennheiser HD380 Pro.
I kinda like the synco more. It sounds natural and the m16 feels kinda tinny. Of course based on this video, my opinion might change when I use it in real life or something like that.
Merry Christmas to me!!! As my family doesn't know what to get me for Christmas and I tend to get checks, I decided on Christmas morning to pick up a Synco D2 mic. That's after getting a Stellar X2 last week. I'm looking forward to setting up my booth in my photography studio and having some fun experimenting. Darn you Mike!
Thanks for the review Mike! Just bought using your genius link. Getting a similar mic for 1/4 of the price is a no brainer! Excited to see how it sounds for my purposes!
Thanks for your support, Lucas. We promise that customers can return goods without giving a reason in 30 days. If you test the mic and think it‘s a lot worse than 416, please contact our Facebook (facebook.com/syncomicrophones/) and offer the purchase information. You will get a full refund.😎
Hi Mike, I'm looking to get into voice work, but more as a character voice actor. Does the setup you discuss in your videos work for both Voice over and character acting? How do you manage the different levels as you have to emote into the mic?
After the video launched Synco Sent me the following:
We promise that customers can return goods without giving a reason in 30 days. If they test the mic and think it‘s a lot worse than 416, please contact our Facebook (facebook.com/syncomicrophones/) and offer the purchase information. They will get a full refund.
BTW, SYNCO Mic-D2 is out of stock now. If your viewers would like to purchase one. they could buy it on bit.ly/2peU8th. Momanplay is our official dealer. SYNCO Mic-D2on Momanplay is only $219 USD until December 1st.
Hm. Momonplay specs seem a little different from Synco website specs, or am I mistaken?
@Surrounded byCowards wat
For some reason I can't hear you in any of your videos and i don't know how to fix it
Glad I grabbed mine right after this video was uploaded. Will compare it to my Deity S-Mic 2 at some point.
How much gain do you need for this mic? I'm looking to improve my signal chain by using a mic that needs less gain than my dynamics that need 50+ dB gain.
Mike, I can’t decide if this review cost me $249, or saved me $750. ; ) Either way, thank you very, very much! I’m extremely happy with my Synco Mic D2.
This reminds me of back in the '80s when people used to choose "GUESS" jeans over "LEVIS" because "the quality was superior." Leave it to an audiophile to NOT want to admit when a new kid on the block is just as cool as the "popular kid." Bottom line: If you would have used only the Synco and never said the name, no one would be able to tell it wasn't the 416. Great job, Mike and great job, Synco.
I already commented on this video once but I'd really like you to see this: Please do a video on how you pick a mic for a particular job, i.e. why don't you just use your favorite or best (CAD e100s?) for everything and what types of mics someone who's starting out should look for to build their mic locker.
Last night on his live stream, Curtis Judd said he would give this Synco D2 to the first person who emailed him, for just the price of shipping. I was the lucky winner. No gigs lately but my kit is that much happier today! Thank you for your great reviews, Mike. I trust you. Cheers!
In my opinion the sound-difference is definitely there and audible. Every time you switch to the MKH 416, the highs were much crisper, than with the Synco Mic D2, but overall they are very close to each other (soundwise) while the price difference is huge. So well done Synco Mic D2 :-)
BKMorpheus exactly - noticeable difference.
Thanks, BKMorpheus. We are going to improve the high frequencies of new models. 😎
Yeah, crisper highs. On the other hand the 416 was that much noisier as well, so equating the sound would be a simple high shelf boost to make them match, I imagine
JanneAirDotCom exactly. My current sm7b sounds pretty muddy with no EQ but a small boost in the mids and bass roll of is all it takes to make it fit my voice perfectly.
@@JanneAirDotCom Thanks! I will send your opinion to our technicians. 😎
The 416 has a slightly brighter and crisper high. But for $250US, I am putting the D2 on my research list. I NEVER considered a shotgun for voice-over and narration situations. This has completely opened my mind up to other possibilities.
The 416 is a tad brighter than the Synco. That being said, when you factor the cost, I would pick the synco over the 416.
StringStorm noticed that too.
And also could a slight eq boost in post on the Synco make the sound almost identical? because if so, then bam you've saved around $750.
Yeah the 416 seem to be slightly brighter, the Synco sound a tad muffled, but as you say, that doesn't justify the 400% cost hike :)
@@SinisterSkip A little bit of compression really opens the Synco Mic D2 up. I mean like 1.5-2 on the wet signal slider in Reaper's compressor.
@@dylanj8676 Did you try it out with those settings on your Reaper comp? 'cos if that really works, then I'm sold for good.
MK416 has more presence. And the low end is less 'muddy' - which is the most important part (clarity). You can add presence in processing. And frankly, you're often better off adding presence later if you know what you're doing. But adding clarity to the low-end can be a bit more difficult. I prefer a flat response. I like this Synco mic a lot. I think I'll pick one up. Thanks for the review!!
My Thoughts: The 416 has much more clarity in the 2-5k range, which will make all the difference when you add a music bed to your VO. Also, watch the video from 6:08 and you'll see the spectrogram reveals quite a bit of frequency variation between the two mics. Finally, the D-2 has (to me) an unpleasant, "tinny" (or metallic) sound that becomes more and more obvious as the video progresses.
That being said, does it matter for most people? Probably not. Save $750 buck and get yourself the D-2. Then take that $750 and invest it in a Grace 101 mic pre ;)
Love my Grace! Good call Jon!
I ordered the Synco Mic D2 a couple months ago, and I absolutely love it - my audition videos have never sounded better!
Nice comparison Mike, thanks!
Any chance of seeing a location sound test in the future?
@@mathewwhitebay9915 Yes.
@@curtisjudd Awesome!
You got me with the dot, I was thinking "Why no comparison" then 2 seconds later you lay it on me. I'm sold.
But 416 sounds basier and a little cleaner, doesn't it? At least on my K712 pro's. And I'm still not sure which one was with the gray dot but that one was basier and cleaner.
But not $750 different, that's for sure!
The MKH416 is the gray dot. I actually like the D2 a bit better here.
Same - "basier and a little cleaner" - on my mh751's, too.
I picked up a Synco D2 recently in a store-damaged outer box for $50 last week! Best value purchase ever... it even gives my TLM103 a severe run for its money! Mostly using it for cartoon voice acting, imitating commercial-style promo ad parodies. We couldn't be more pleased with it!
Sounds good to me! Amazon has a 10% discount on this mic today - $224.
I've got it on my list. I'll definitely be keeping a beed on this mic!
Just ordered the Synco. My first XLR shotgun mic. Thank you for this showcase test Mike!
I'd be interested to see how the D-2 fairs on a location shoot. That's what really makes the 416 a great mic.
I contacted Synco to find out if it's water resistant and RF biased.
Update: It is weather resistant and RF interference resistant. Sounds like it'd work just as well.
@@dylanj8676 A couple of notes: RF resistant is not the same as an RF-bias microphone design. The brass body of the microphone should help prevent RF interference but the microphone likely would NOT hold up as well as the RF-bias Sennheiser MKH-416. Weather resistant is also not the same as the benefits that the RF-bias offers when recording in very humid conditions. Weather resistant usually means that the circuit board is protected from damage by water but this does not mean that the microphone will continue to produce good, undistorted audio when water condenses on the microphone capsule. It does mean that you can dry the mic out for a day and it will still work. This is not to say that the Synco D-2 is not a good microphone, especially for voice over work indoors, just that it probably wouldn't perform as well as the 416 in really rough, humid conditions.
@@curtisjudd A little late here, but the answer I was given was that it was RF biased and weather resistant. Whether it's properly RF biased or just resistant because of the heavy brass body, I couldn't tell ya. My S-Mic 2 is going back because it doesn't have enough detail in the high end for me. So I'd say it's actually better as a location mic than a close voiceover mic. The cheap end address VO mic to get IMO is an Oktava MK-012.
@@curtisjuddwell a blimp with a shock mount would easily take care of the problem for $300. So going with the Syncho than buying the blimp would still be less than just having the 416 Sanheiser.
ever since I saw and heard mk416 in your videos I wanted one for myself. Realistically speaking, I can't afford sh*t, but Synco definitely moved this dream $750 closer to me 😌
Thank you for the review!
I had never heard of Synco either until I saw this. I could hear a difference in the two, the MKH-416 has smoother highs and a bit more presence in the lower frequencies, but the D-2 still sounds like a very impressive mic for the price and especially as the MKH-416 is expensive and can cost too much or be hard to justify for some people, it could be quite a good alternative. I have a 416 and wouldn't change it for anything else for talking head and voice overs, but if I didn't own one, and saw your review, I'd seriously consider the D-2.
Dave's Nature Productions you're right, it's definitely in the highs. Listen to the sibilants and sh sounds and while the 416 generally makes them smooth and airy, the D2 breaks up pretty easily.
That said you have to be listening carefully and in the context of bgm etc not sure how much you'd hear it.
I'd say buy depending on budget, the 416 will keep its resale value too.
More HF in the 416, seems obvious to me. I'd be interested to hear the Synco with a high shelf boost to see if it takes it nicely. Both sound good though - I might buy a synco
My take is that due to their different cardioid patterns the two mics sound quite different once screens were in place. The D2 almost sounds like volume level dropped (but still excellent). Without screens the difference is very small and should be easy to compensate in post if desired.
Thanks for the demo, however, it would've been cool to hear the Synco pop filter on the Sennheiser as well. The fact that I can hear such an audible difference with its use over a UA-cam recording is quite telling.
As others have mentioned I also hear a bit more highs from the 416 but I actually think I prefer the sound of the Synco. Anyway, the difference is negligible. Synco makes some good stuff. When I need a shotgun mic this will be definitely be on my shortlist.
Wow that's impressive ! I tried listening with good headphones, and through studio monitors I could not hear a difference except with the foam cover.
I actually prefer the Synco here. The 416 has a bit too much low end for Mike's voice IMO, it actually made my headphones resonate a bit.
This one puzzled me yet again.. was quite sure I'd go with a Audio-Technica AT4053B...
Hey Mike, I love the channel and you’re the reason I bought a TLM103. Oddly enough I didn’t realize that I’ve been listening to you for years on the No Sleep Podcast! Thanks for creating these videos!
My pleasure! Glad you enjoy the podcast!!!
For me the synco sounds more dull and bassier, they sound almost exact the same but i still like the mkh 416 better cause it sounds more clear in my ears. Great video love it man! what an intro too !!!!!!!!!!!
I do think the 416 sounds a bit more crisp, but it’s super subtle. Kind of insane that synco could get this close on that budget
I think your voice would sound amazing no matter what! You're so talented.
Great video. I got it for $200. It's arriving on Monday. Can't wait to use it, especially after your review:)
I have one over 2 years working every week. Best solution for my voice :) Thanks
I had the Synco for a while. Tooted its horn. But something felt just a bit muddy. Was ok, not bad. At last I upgraded to the 416 and couldn’t be happier. Solid pre-post output.
I was hoping you’d get “up nice and close and really eat the microphone” to compare the richness of both. However, that being being said another top shelf awesome video with Mike on mic action. Thank you sir!
Honestly can never get enough of your videos. Something about how passionate you are about audio is so much fun to listen to. Hope you keep making videos.
Outstanding comparison! I ordered one during the Amazon Black Friday sale for $199.
ye the D2 loses lots of crispness and highs with their foam,
wish you had used the 416 foam on that D2,
without the foam, they sound very close, with foam, the D2 suffers a bit
bad design on that foam, too dense, try D2 with 416 foam :-)
Sold! Just ordered one. I use a TLM103 for my VO work, but for UA-cam videos in front of the computer it picks up too much ambiance. Was googling tests for the 416 and this came up. Yes I can hear the difference pretty clearly with good headphones going through a good DAC, but from my monitor speakers with my eyes closed it's almost unnoticeable. For paid VO work the difference would matter a lot. But for youtube videos? Not in the least.
I don't own the 416 but I do own the MKE600, I will definitely buy the D2. Great video Mike and great job Synco!
Listening through an SSL2+ and a pair of Yamaha studio monitors there's QUITE a difference is sound. That said for 250 they sound absolutely amazing. That THAT said, in my opinion and to my ear NOTHING beats the 416. It has both quality and character. Precision highs and rich mids. I'm still saving up for the 416, but that Synco sounds great.
Great job comparing these mic's! Thanks for bringing the Synco D2 to our attention. As recorders we get into the various applications and sound quality of equipment. What I know is the average client can't tell the differences we focus on. If the project is done well and they get the needed response "you're their person!"
That being said, my opinion is the 416 is clearly cleaner. You can hear the bass roll off is smoother and a bit more presence in the mid highs. The D2 sounds great for the price point, but the low end is more present and the mid highs aren't as present comparatively. The pop filter helps over the windscreen.
I'll definitely pick up the D2 for now. I'll let my projects determine when and if I need to upgrade. I'm an advocate of letting projects pay for equipment and upgrades. Thanks again!
Mike, what about a shootout between the D1 and D2?
Yes, I noticed. The "puh" sounds are not present when using the Sennheiser but when using the Synco the "puh" sounds are present. But the noise floor and the timbre of your voice was otherwise, to my ears, identical. Thank you for the review! Huge thumbs up and like!
Just got one. Yes, your vid affected my wallet. Got it a week ago and couldn't be happier. I produce corporate sales and leadership training videos and host a daily zoom call in a very nice but completed untreated office/ studio. My neighbors love their lawnmowers a d leaf blowers so I've been using various dynamics because of the noise rejection. For years i've been using a Sennheiser e935 which is really fantastic. But I move around a lot, very animated when I speak so the dynamic keeps me tethered to the front of the mic restricts my natural movement. I've tried other condensers and they sound amazing but I was picking up birds and all kinds of sounds from outside I didn't even hear with my ears, but there they were in my recordings. So with some hesitancy I picked up the Synco, concerned that it, being a condenser would be too sensitive and I've got to say, this thing is incredible. It picks me up with incredible sound quality, perfect intelligibility, full dynamic range and all the rejection I was getting from a dynamic. I Love this mic. It's sensitive enough that I can now be as animated as I want to be when I'm recording or in front of an audience or camera and it gets everything with a beautiful low end, full mids and crisp top end. For years, I wanted an RE20 - not any more. This is my personal end game mic. Thanks Mike!
i can hear the difference, though its very small. The 416 is a bit cleaner up top and there's a bit more presents. but is that a 750 dollar difference? NOPE
i was considering the diety S-mic, but not anymore
I definitely noticed the switches. The D2 sounded veiled or muffled to me. The clarity/presence of the 416 was noticeable. That's a quality that can be a blessing and a curse at times, but I prefer it.
Sure, the D2 is much cheaper than a brand new 416, but I imagine the actual components and build quality are significantly lower, despite the fancy-looking packaging.
Plus, a factory reconditioned or respectfully used 416 can be found *significantly* cheaper than a new one with identical quality. It's well worth the price and the wait, if you need to save for it.
That's a lot of assumptions. The Sennheiser is like any other retail brick and mortar audio product such that it is subject to high markup so that the retailer gets their cut. This can easily be half the retail price, so $1000 becomes $500. Take out higher Made in Germany labor costs and general overhead for a large company and you're in Synco territory.
Factory-direct products like the Synco (Momonplay is linked to the company IIRC) have such low overhead and labor costs that they can offer these prices. As for build quality and components, sure, it's likely the Synco is not as durable overall but to achieve these kinds of specs (if accurate) means the internals are good quality. It's a heck of a lot easier to achieve extremely low noise floors in audio products now vs even 10 years ago.
And the lowest I've seen a used 416 on ebay is $600 including tax and shipping. I got the Synco all in for $208. So I could get two if I'm really paranoid about longevity and STILL come out ahead.
You have negatively affected my wallet Mike!!!!!
So glad to see another Booth Junkie video so quickly!!!
Thanks for doing this video, it's a huge help. I've been looking for weeks (months?...) for a mic to get started on VO and was starting to go crazy. A lot of popular mic reviews I either just haven't liked the sound, or couldn't afford it.
Was just about to finally pull the trigger on getting the AT4033's, and this video popped up. Apparently I forgot I watched it like a month ago, not sure how I didn't jump on this the first time.
Out of all the reviewers I've watched, you've got to be the closest to myself in terms of deeper voices, and I really liked how the D2 sounded. So I'm going to order one of these along with the AT and see what happens.
Also fun fact! I was listening to your Narration demo on your website, and the article you read mentions the town I grew up in (Phoenixville)! Not really here nor there, but was just kind of cool hearing... sorry for this dissertation-sized "comment."
I'm just waiting for Mike to come back with a "Gotchya" follow-up, telling us that in fact he played another trick and that the dot was really the other way round, and all the commenters who rallied behind the 416 were really talking up the Synco! 😁
The 416 was the gray dot, it still showed when the mics were labelled and the MKH416 was being used. I actually didn't like the gray dot one as much (which I know is the 416), the low end is boomy, and the high end is a bit too much (yes it's super clear, but it's also really sharp, and there are a lot of people who DON'T like it for voiceover because of that).
after watching this review atleast 6 times and finding it on sale at a price that made it necessary to purchase this afternoon ($169.00) looking to get into vo , thank you for this review
Damn, very nice. Though I will say the 416 is a tiny bit clearer, likely due to the presence boost. Is it $750 clearer? Up to you I suppose. For $250 that's still a great sound.
Absolutely a little more top end clarity on the 416. The other one will need some EQ to bring it to life, but yeah, pretty good for the price.
WOW!!!! I wasn't expecting that!!!! I've used and loved the 416 for years and find this Synco extraordinarily close in sound! Like you, I can't tell a difference!!!! If you have any problem with exterior sounds leaking into your booth, a shotgun mike like this is terrific in reducing that background noise! I'd buy this Synco D2 in a heartbeat!!!
Are both of these condenser
WOW!!! I had no idea that you were switching mics!!! I'm convinced and will be getting one! Unbelievable!
I don’t know how you have these set up. But I have owned both microphones. I started off with the D2. Finally saved up enough to get the 416. My jaw dropped at the quality difference between a 416 and the D2 there was no comparison in my opinion.
Mike, I definitely hear a difference. It's not night and day, but the 416 is cleaner and a touch brighter than the Synco, which is a bit muddier in comparison. Is it a $750 difference? In my opinion--NO!
Well done, Synco! I'm also a photographer, and I'd compare you to what Godox has been doing in that world with speedlights and strobes-- quality products at a much cheaper price!
Pretty amazing. One thing I noticed was a pretty big sonic difference...in the Sennheiser's favor...of how crisp it still was, while the Synco sounded a bit muddier. Even with the windscreen option. Very cool though. I'll let the budget-minded know about it!
Waiting for my new Synco D1 arriving... can't wait 👍
Nice review... But I would really like to see how it compares with side rejection of the 416...
*I already have a Senn 416, but this would make a great back-up mic !!!*
Don't. Two friends have returned it. I can not find any EQ that would make this mic usable for VO, much less sound anywhere close to a 416. This video is either terribly misleading or he received a unique version. The Synco is horrible, unless you need something to call for help if you've been kidnapped and held in a cave.
The Sennheiser is definitely brighter.
I can tell when you're on the Synco. Weird, plosive-like air noises. good sounding mic tho. I have one. Need to stay off-axis.
Thanks for this video! I purchased the Synco based on this video :) testing out a shotgun mic in my studio without having to spend $1000 on a mic that I know will deliver :)
Buying now! Much love from Brazil. I work with dubbing and it will fit perfectly.
The Synco sounds great and has a mostly flat response. However there is a boost in the 500Hz range that makes it sound a tad bit tinny if not EQ'd. Great mic for the price!
For a channel dedicated to microphones and audio recording booths the camera and lightning quality are stellar
I would love to see you take a look at their other mics if they have them
Much like Deity Microphones, so far besides a shotgun mic Synco only has lavalier and on-camera mics (like the Rode VideoMics). I'm pretty sure this is because the large diaphragm condenser and small diaphragm condenser market is already full of super cheap mics, so it's not worth the R&D costs when every company and their mother who makes a cheap condenser is using the Schoeps circuit or the U87 circuit and the same capsules usually.
The only one worth getting for voiceover (and at all IMO) is their shotgun mic. I'm sure their other mics are good for the price, but I rarely think in-camera video mics are any good for a professional recording, and the same goes for most lavalier mics. The cheapest mic I'd even consider for videography is the Oktava MK-012.
But for a $250ish shotgun mic this one is phenomenal. The fact that it's so close to an MKH416 is crazy, and frankly even if it didn't sound nearly identical (IMHO I prefer the S-Mic 2) to the 416 with the features it has it'd still be a great mic.
@@dylanj8676 I should have looked at their website before commenting.
Yeah I probably wouldn't go for their other mics. Am really looking into getting this one though.
I just watched an ad with your voice in it!! It was about the Whisper Room portable isolation room
It's hard to tell a difference at first because your voice is so well-controlled. But I started noticing a strong muddiness in the Synco. You could probably EQ a good chunk of that out, but I've never had the best of luck with that. The Synco is absolutely great to get started with if you can't find any great deals on a 416.
Great video. I bought the D2 on your recommendation last year.... and love it!
FYI for anyone watching this now, the prices on these have come down from where they were when the video was made. I just bought one on Amazon for $170, making it an even more insane deal.
Hey Mike, love it when you compare mics. Booth Junkie is great when making financially sound decisions for our VO business. While we're on the subject, have you tested the Audio-Technica AT875R? Would love to see a comparison of the AT875R, RODE NTG5 and any other shotguns you'd care to throw in the mix. Thanks for all the great videos! Keep the content coming!
What did you end up getting? I bought the AT875R used a year ago and knowledgeable clients like it. This Synco is on it's way to me. I think it's gained recognition, and Sound Speeds did a video dunking it in water. It lived!
@@mamandapanda185 bought the SYNCO D2 and a Octo-842S pop filter. Both work great!
@@JohnM_intheCreek Nice! Thanks!
I am starting to like your videos more and more. Thanks for all your work and the kindness that comes through.
already had the 416 but needed a second mic and bought the Synco Mic D2 based on this and other reviews. Definitely an excellent mic thus far.
Great comparison, thorough & complete without any bias. I absolutely love my current mic but certainly am considering the Synco d2 as a backup, I need a backup just in case? Thanks Mike for keeping us up with the latest gear out there
TOTALLY worth getting the Synco and saving all that extra money in the price gap. That being said, I do hear a slight difference the further into the video I get. I don't know if it's a mental thing now that I can see the switching, but even when I wasn't looking I thought I heard the switch and I tabbed back over and backed up the video to check and it switched when I thought it did.
The Sennheiser is just a pinch more crisp in the high end. At least to my ear, in the headphones that I'm currently using. Take that with a grain of salt, since I didn't notice the switching at the start before you were illustrating it. So it may either be just in my head (even though I noticed it when not looking), or it may be that my headphones exaggerate the difference because of their frequency response. Either way, I doubt anyone would be able to tell the difference without A/B testing like this. I'd bet you could use the Synco slightly out of shot (so all you see is the windscreen) in a video and say it was the Sennheiser, and nobody would question it.
The switch at 11:05 was where I noticed it the most when I wasn't looking at the video. Just for reference.
Thanks for your support. We are committed to provide professional, premium products and services for all consumers. 👊
@@SYNCOMicrophones You guys certainly made a fantastic mic, and at a price that's hard to believe. I wish you guys lots of success if you keep up this kind of quality!
@@niclastname Of course, we will. 👊
The "DOT" is clearly the MKH416, has noticably more presence, the difference is very easily recognizable. But if you didn't point it out, I'd probably not notice and the listeners too.
I noticed in D2 sound changes with distance a lot, 416 is more robust to distance, in 416 sound is more even and there is more definition in bass, mids and highs.
hey i have the mkh416 p48u and a quartet, but i cannot get this type of clarity without post. What would be some of the settings I would be looking for
On the noise test waveform there was a visible low frequency on the Synco. Shotgun mics are not intended for voiceover though, and not intended for use indoors. Both sounded ok in this test because it appears to be an acoustically deadened room, but anybody using a shotgun indoors to overcome room acoustics is going to be disappointed.
I can definitely hear a difference. baby, it's just because my current headset is particularly responsive in a range that microphone is.
Oh Mike thank you so much for showing this mic. I’ve been using the sm7b for a year and love it for voice over and always pined for the mk416 and wanted a mic for film use and vo for youtube vids and this D2, damn I’m ordering it this weekend.
Thanks for your support, ObservantJim. 😎
@@SYNCOMicrophones Any idea when you're replenishing your Amazon stock? There was only 1 in stock when Mike's video dropped today, and it's been snapped up already!
SYNCO Microphones no problem I bought one an hour ago
Vocal Talent search for the Synco store on amazon not the moman one cos I was in the same boat last night pondering the purchase with 6 in stock it now shows 2-3 weeks. But Synco has stock if in UK I just got one
I felt that your voice sounded thin at times - less low-end presence - noticed it almost immediately. I was doubting myself, because sometimes I heard it, sometimes not. After catching on to your "trick", I saw that the thin sound corresponded to the D-2.
The differences are definitely more pronounced with the included wind protection on - Synco is darker through that foam/velvet stuff, but could be easily EQ'd.
I'm kinda furrowing my brow at some of these comments. It doesn't matter if someone can hear *any* difference; this isn't a static measurement. Two 416s a few years apart in age with slightly varied positioning will probably give discerning ears an audible difference. However, can you hear a difference that puts the 416 head over tails better than the D-2 in a way that couldn't be compensated for with a bit of DAW savviness? Or where you couldn't get the result you want because of the D-2's limitations?
I've actually seen a few videos about the D-2 and in a few of the takes (not every takes) from each video I've preferred the D-2.
I just got the mic a few days ago. It’s so good!
I can hear the difference between them and more so once they have the different wind blocks on them. The D2 does have less high end. The Sennheiser has a presence bump and it comes through better than the D2. I think it could be a great first mic.
I'm listening through a Yamaha XG12 XU and no processing with Sennheiser HD380 Pro.
with a boost in the high you can match these mics in post
Yup. I ordered one just now. Canadian price waay more. But, that's the way of the world Looking forward to trying it out on audiobooks. Cheers!
I kinda like the synco more. It sounds natural and the m16 feels kinda tinny. Of course based on this video, my opinion might change when I use it in real life or something like that.
I can't wait to try Synco for my VO and narration and voice acting. I'm a deep voice VO Actor/ Artist. So ya I think it'll be perfect for me
Wondefull Synco Mic D2... And affordable price! Thank you for review Booth Junkie :) I even can use this for my Hot Wheels reviews
I love the tone... and the price.
Merry Christmas to me!!! As my family doesn't know what to get me for Christmas and I tend to get checks, I decided on Christmas morning to pick up a Synco D2 mic. That's after getting a Stellar X2 last week. I'm looking forward to setting up my booth in my photography studio and having some fun experimenting. Darn you Mike!
I got the synco D2 too. Great mic
Synco vs Deity?
I love the reviews as usual. I find myself holding my breathe when you're checking the sound floor like I'm in front of the mics....lol
Thanks for the review Mike! Just bought using your genius link. Getting a similar mic for 1/4 of the price is a no brainer! Excited to see how it sounds for my purposes!
Thanks for your support, Lucas. We promise that customers can return goods without giving a reason in 30 days. If you test the mic and think it‘s a lot worse than 416, please contact our Facebook (facebook.com/syncomicrophones/) and offer the purchase information. You will get a full refund.😎
Hi Mike, I'm looking to get into voice work, but more as a character voice actor. Does the setup you discuss in your videos work for both Voice over and character acting? How do you manage the different levels as you have to emote into the mic?
Hey Mike would you recommend this or the Deity s mic 2?