MD 421 II vs. MD 421 U5 - Shootout
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- This is a shootout between the new production MD421 II and the vintage MD421 U5 on electric guitar. The more I listen to it, the more I actually prefer the new one! Let me know which one sounds better to you!
This is the way A/B's should be! Well done!
Now that’s how you do a mic comparison vid. No downtime between the two. Perfect, thanks.
Vintage is more open, I like it better. Modern has some frequency that is fatiguing to me. Also more nasal. Thanks for the test, have to check Reverb now.
Man that modern one is a nice flavour. I think Sennheiser nailed it with this new version.
As usual the answer is a cler BOTH
I like how the u5 reacts to the dynamics in the distorted sound. I feel like the sounds has a bit more attack. Am i the only one?
the u5 has that vintage dark sound, the II is a bit harsh on the highs.
I'm surprised everyone is preferring the U5. Personally thought the MKII killed it! Much fatter sounding, yes less top end but put on a 57 as well and blend the two... Perfection.
100% agree with your thoughts in terms which one sounds better, and when. I am wondering though if the low end that is more present in the modern 421is something that pleases the ear more so in solo vs. in the mix. When I listen to it on here, I really DO like the low end better, but I'm wondering if that's something that I am going to end up cutting out or trying to control later, when mixing. Just some thoughts... Anyway, lovin' this series keep it going! I know it requires more work, but perhaps you could do a solo vs. in a quick mix comparison? Just re-amping 2 different takes? Im sure you can come up with some simple riff, lay down some bass and maybe even use so midi drums just to save time, but give us a much more of an applied comparison. Thank you for making these, cheers!
I'm enjoying this new-vs-vintage series. Thanks for sharing your results. I'm with you on the cleans, but for the dirty tones, out of context, I might have preferred the vintage. Transients seemed softer and smoother - sort of reminded me of the "Times Like These" intro.
I’m always trying to get MORE transient out of electric guitars. Like I said in the description, the more I listen to it the more I’m preferring the modern one! But of course it’s all out of context, “it depends” and so on.
keep on bringing these Cut to the chase comparison vid's series,i hope to see a whole lot of chapters like this. I also don't like the harshness of the Mid's/hi-mid's but this is what this model is known for and for that purpose i must admit the vintage one will cut through the mix better.the same reason it is a preferred mic for tom's,they lack this mid range so this mic makes it a more focused punch .glad to see you solved the 90deg angle flowing "problem" from the 57 vid' :) cheers
Vintage best in all tones! thanks
The thing with 421's though is they are just one of those Mic's where you could have like ten 421'II's , or U5's etc, and most of them would all sound different. I have four 421-II's, and two U5's.
With the II's, I have two older one's, and two newer one's that are from the same batch, and the older II's sound a lot different than the newer II's, and quite different from each other, while the two newer II's sound much closer to each other, but still noticeably different. With my two U5's, apart from Obv sounding much different than all the II's, still sound quite hugely different from each other. So while different versions Def have "a thing", they are just such an inconsistent Mic. I know a dude who said he's had like fifty 421's in his life, and he literally told me that pretty much every single one sounded different. Sounds crazy, and it's not like I'm saying the differences are always so big that a certain model won't still have a signature, and sound like a 421, but there just seems to be pretty huge differences in a certain part of the frequency range, even in the same model. The best way to say it would be that they are like guitar speakers. You could have 20 different V30's or Greenbacks from different years, and they would all sound different, but still sound like that speaker.
Original is better I would be doing too much eq with the mk2 When I just could have used a different mic altogether
I agree with your findings sir
It almost sounds like you had the roll off on position 1 activated on the vintage one
Thanks for the comparison
I think both sound great, but I think the II is probably the better of the two since you could probably get it to sound pretty darn close to the U5 with a some low-cut, and few tiny bumps in the high frequencies. I think it would be a bit more difficult to get the U5 to sound like the II, thought you honestly could probably get it close. I just prefer to cut frequencies rather than boost them, if I can.
what pickups are on that gibson trad? regular burstbuckers 1/2? I really like that DI, sounds very clear
Sorry this took me so long to respond to this, those are a Lollar Low Wind Imperial (bridge) and Seymour Duncan Jazz (neck)
Super test
good review !
I find that the U5 has more punch (proximity effect?), dimension and definition, while the MkII sounds bland, smeared and one-dimensional. The difference in frequency response doesn't really mean much to me personally. EQ fixes that easily. Especially in a full band mix, I find that a guitar track recorded with a U5 usually sits better than a 57 or 421 MkII. I'm curious to see if you'd change your mind if you matched the frequency balance between the two with EQ and/or put these tracks in a full band mix.
It’s very possible! These tests I’m doing are just general first impression tests. I’m sure there are situations where each mic shines. That’s why I have both. Haha
Absolutely. It's not uncommon that I combine a U5 on rack tom with a MkII on floor tom because they just work together that way. If it sounds good, it is good :)@@RecordingLounge
In my experience the MDII is dished and has a bit of hype on the Low mids. Sounds good on clean . U5 is more Classic Rock/Roots rock midrange. Sadly I have 2- u5 ( one has a rattle when you put it on any drums). My MDII has a terrible rattle. Senn heiser will replace it for around 275.00 last time I talked to them so you save 50.00 instead of buying a new one. If someone could rehab the U5s that would be cool.
have you noticed a difference in level between the II and the U5 (U5 is weaker than the II)?
If I recall correctly, yes
Looking at the chart the difference is so small that it’s probably just sample variation; no two mics are identical. So generally speaking there’s no difference, I think, although there is a little difference between your particular mics. In other words, if I went out and got these mics, the result might not be the same.
(I already own two of the U5, so I'd only have to buy the modern one. But I think I'll pass - it isn’t cheap).
You make a good point, Lau. One thing is for sure - they’re both totally usable and great mics, and if someone claims one sucks and the other doesn’t, they probably just got a dud. Haha
I like the U5 better on both 🤔
how much do a MD421-U-5 cost like street price
The U5 for distorted, The MKII for clean. What roll off setting were you set to with the U5?
No rolloff on either
What method did you use for frequency analysis (and what analyzer is that)? Pink noise with the mic right at the monitor?
II