If anyone knows the music artist with the best microphone and wireless system, it is Adele, whose system of choice is Sennheiser. She is not alone: at the recent Grammy Awards, Sennheiser was used by such heavyhitters as Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys and Miranda Lambert, among many others.
In a recent statement, James Berry, the monitor engineer for Bruno Mars, explained the artist’s choice of the SKM 200 transmitter and the MMD 945-1 capsule; “We did a shootout with a ton of mics and this was definitely the best choice for Bruno. This combination really made his vocal sound fantastic both for his own IEMs and for Front of House.” He calls the 200 series of IEMS “rock solid” and citing the “great” sound quality produced.
Miranda Lambert’s monitor engineer, Chris Newsom, echoed Berry’s enthusiasm, calling the combination of the SKM 200 and the MMD 935-1 a “fantastic” choice to complement Lambert’s voice. He said, “Miranda’s voice sounds really smooth, and that’s exactly what we are looking for.”
Image via Pop Dust
John Harris, a 20-year veteran music mixer for the Grammys said the sound of Mars’s and Lambert’s performances “jumped out” at him and actually caused him to look up. His sentiments were echoed by all of the sound professionals involved in this year’s Grammy Awards.
While average people don’t have much need for the equipment Mars and Lambert were outfitted with, they are able to take advantage of the company’s great sound, thanks to their “Momentum” headphones, which have been getting rave reviews. With Beats by Dre and other high-end headphones becoming widely popular, spending money on quality headphones has become common for many people. Sennheiser’s pricetag may cause some jaws to drop (“Around-The-Ear” headphones cost $199.95), but with a company that is widely considered the best by those who know sound, there are some who will find the price well worth it.