Sennheiser AVX - ME2 and MKE2 Comparison 

I agree with what a lot of the commenters are saying about your review. It's very clear when you switch between the two, the volume changes dramatically. The MKE2 is recording at a much lower level. All this aside, the quality of your voice on both mics was nearly identical to me and does not justify the +$400/$250 cost increase. The size is a nice benefit of the MKE2 if you're trying to hide the mic on talent, but with that said -- the ME2 is already fairly small enough to hide in most places. Thank you for the review, however. I wasn't as concerned about the background noise as you were in your review. I was more concerned about how your voice changed between the two. I honestly couldn't tell the difference, and as a result I can't justify spending the extra money for Sennheiser's overly-spendy mic.

Note that Me-2 has 4 times higher sensitivity than MKE-2 (20mV/Pa vs 5mV/Pa) so comparing background noise is unfair. You can lower signal from Me-2 for times or 12dB (for example in SK100 transmitter) and you will get same signal level and noise, ME-2 should be a litter better since its noise per spec is lower. What I have learned from your video is the significant size difference.

Both of these are omnidirectional mics. No matter what you think, they don't block background noise. If one sounds quieter than the other one, it is mostly because you recorded it quieter. If you want to tune out background noise, you need a directional mic.

Thanks for doing this, Tomas! Very helpful.

Thank you for the review Shia.

soooo helpful. thank you. also thanks for showin the accessories, helpful to keep track of whats supposed to be in the kit

Awesome video and amazing comparison!! The ME2 was outstanding in performance.. Excellent work and job well done.

Thanks for the comparison!

Just got my MKE2 on Friday. Awesome system.

Bro your comparison was awesome. I can actually hear the difference in your video. Thanks for doing this!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the test on live location. it makes it easier to make choices

Man I need this kit haha dope AF. awesome as always bro

the difference is incredible. hopefully I can talk them into sending me an mke2

Keep doing an amazing job on those reviews

Thanx a lot! I like your down to the importance - style...no self promoting, just very sympathetic style... Go on, I check out your other videos... THX

Superb video sir!

Great review & testing in the different environments!!! Keep rocking.

Solid review brother, thanks!

Thanks for the comparison.

Great comparison. Personally i don't mind the ME2 cause for my videos i might need that extra loudness pick up

Great comparison - thank you so much!

Hi my question im a truck driver and im make it video when im driving big rig so i have a lot noise so im looking for good mic whats your advise about that thank you very much

Thank you! I will definitely put the MKE2 on my wish list! Also, I thought it was funny that when you said you were standing next to the freeway wearing the ME2 there were little cars that passed. haha. Thank you!

Thank you very much Very helpful review

Are you CERTAIN you had any & all audio auto-gain disabled? Even in editing? Were you using any end caps on the MKE2? (those are not "miniature screens"... they are EQ endcaps for giving a slight EQ to the mic due to acoustic chamber cancellation. You probably should have had both mics equipped with "ball" windscreens, since the ME2 had one. Outdoors, by the highway, Something in the system was absolutely adjusting gain dynamically... I ran the audio track into my audio editor, and at the beginning of every clip, the first syllable was always high level, immediately dropping off and stabilizing in level within 150-200ms. There was also auto-leveling happening mid-speech... if there was a slight pause in your words, the next loud syllable would start loud, then drop... then level-off (clear example at 4:31 "... the BACKGround noise") From an engineering perspective, it would have been better (for comparison purposes) to "normalize" the levels of both mics in your editing. (once you figure out what was doing the AGC/ALC, and disable it.) That way you can do a truly fair comparison... but as it is, the MKE2 "background noise" levels sounded lower (more controlled)... simply because that microphone has lower overall gain. Once I did manual normalizing, the background noise between mics was almost identical. My results: First comparison: I had to add 6dB to the MKE2 to normalize to the speech level of the ME2. This brought the MKE2 background noise level up to the same as the ME2. HOWEVER... I noticed something else here. The frequency response of the ME2 roledl-off your voice above 4kHz. I believe the windscreen is responsible for this. It shows a low-end cut-off frequency below 60-80Hz, pretty appropriate for voice. The MKE2 high frequency response roll-off had a nice, gradual curve - with voice roll-off above 5kHz. It had a low-end cutoff around 40-50Hz... great for instruments, maybe a bit too low for voice as it allows more low frequency rumble, which can falsely trigger auto-gain reduction. Second comparison: I had to add 7dB to normalize the MKE2 up to the ME2 level. The background noise levels became the same... nearly identical. Third comparison: I had to add 9dB gain to the MKE2 to normalize the speech to the level of the ME2. At that point, the background noise level was within 1dB of the MKE2... again, nearly identical (once normalized). NOTES: My tests (as well as the original recordings) are obviously impromptu (not done in an anechoic chamber), and as such, are only moderately useful. The noise level spectrum in the room changed, apparently the air-conditioning came on between mic tests. When normalizing the audio during editing (making the audio levels the same), it would be important to make note of how much gain you needed to add to the lower-level mic, and report that in the final comparison results. In real-life use, the lower level mic should be compensated for in the wireless microphone system, by adding raw mic gain in the transmitter. (assuming you use a professional wireless mic system that has mic gain control)

Thanks for the info. Saving my pennies to buy either but agree the AKE2 sounds great.

But the me2 is much louder then the mke2

Nice! Thanks!

Thanks for this video.Very helpful

Thank you Tomas :)

Thank for making this kind of videos.!!!

idk, is this comparison fair? I just hear ME2 more backround noises, right, but the more quiet MKE2 is not so loud on voice instead. MKE2 speach sounds much quiter.

You did a great job bro thanks

I'm trying to adjust the levels on my ME2 to not hear breathing noises. Do you think the MKE2 is better for cutting that noise out? Thanks for the review.

Want one of these kits so bad!

Nice comparison Tomas.. Can't wait to see you get use to using this and fine tuning it to your liking. I'm sure that's what you would do after trying it out for a while, unlike this first test, which people should have realized when you started this video that it was a NEW product for you. Instead they might act as if their knowledge is something everyone just can't live without and must be told in the most I'm better than you comment. I liked that you DIDN'T adjust the video in post to make one sound better over the other or make each one sound almost identical. Some of us who aren't engineers can see what extra editing might be needed in different environments. But then again, I'm just a guy who is trying to learn these things right along side you and yes constructive critics are certainly welcome, small novels trying to make yourself sound smarter than everyone in the world can just come across rude. BUT, no one could possibly be that obtuse? NAH... Awesome work T...

Love the durango!

Excellent. Thank you.

Sorry for all the thumbs down man! Your video helped me alot! Thanks!

Thanks for the demo. Just curious, it sounds like the audio is much louder on the ME2 which would make it naturally pick up much more background noise. If both mics were recording at the same volume (pull the levels back on the ME2), I wonder how much the difference would be. Thank you again for doing this, it really helps a lot. Love how clean the audio sounds from the MKE2 btw.

The MKE2 sounds better! But you should have matched the recording levels of the mics before comparing. Noise floor is also dependent on gain. Very helpful review anyway!! Thanks.

Can you please do a video on how to attach to your shirt?

Nice job 👍

Since the MKE is less sensitive it's clear that it will have less pick up of extraneous sound. Turn up the gain so the RESULTS of the volume is equal and my guess is the the off axis rejection between the two would be negligible. Of course, we don't know that for sure, because it wasn't tested. :-(

Thanks Thomas.

很细致的对比，很明显，谢谢。

Love this. My fav, sound man. I use ME2 and there is tons of "car" in my films... maybe its time to try the MKE2 - however what camera is this as your camera seems to have no AGC issues. GH4 no agc - did not know you could switch that out.

will the mke2 work with rode wireless go?

Do either of them suppress background noise if there isn't any foreground noise? Thanks for the comparo in multiple environments!

Useful review, but next time compensate for the difference in amplitude. Bring the two signals in an editor and try to volume match them. And only then present them side-to-side.

The ME 2 was more sensitive ! If you reduced the the sensitivity of the ME2 to be equal with the MKE2, it will get less ambient noise !

Great comparison man! I'm guessing the difference in amplitude on the audio, is due to the ME2 is more sensitive the MKE2. The MKE2 sounds great! I wonder how an Audio-Technica, Sanken, or DPA Mic equivalent compares. I personally use the AT899. :)

Can you connect this one to your PC or only to camera? Thanks

where do u connect the other side of the mic to ?

Do you have suggestions for microphones that handle rain better?

Looks like you picked up some Kryptonite on your front tire. Thanks for the mic comparison!

the MKE2 sound clearer, but I dont hear less background noise...

are these microphones condensor microphones ? or dynamic ?

+Thomas Villegas I just bought this microphone after wanting it for years. I was wondering what transmitters and cables I need to buy to make it work properly?

Hi, i got both mics but if i set the sensivity to -24 with the me2, to get the same level with the mke2 i have to set the sens to -12 or even less, is this normal?

That special effect at the end of the video made me jump. Too loud bro! Even so, the video was pretty decent! Thanks

will the Me2 work with ECM~AW4 by Sony?

Thanks for this video Tomas. Quick question. I'd be running this mic in Rode System which has 3 gain settings: 0, 10, 20db If I normally run an ME2 (-34db sensitivity) at 0 gain Would I need to boost to the max of 20 for the MKE2. I ask because alot of what I do is live with no post processing so I'm trying to get a sense of how much juice I need to give this puppy for a normal volume level. Thanks

I like that u ask for thumbs down and recommendations,that's very smart ,first time I see a person doing there .

Would like to hear MKE 1 compared to this :)

I found there was the difference of volume level between ME2 and MKE2 If you did blind test, I couldn't distinguish ME2 to MKE2 I think both have good performance to normal user like me not professional MKE2 is so expansive. so ME2 is better thanks for making your video

Hey Tomas, Not sure if you already have a comparison video, but how do you feel the Rodelink system fares against these Senn AVX's? Is the audio quality worth the jump in price for the Sennheisers?

was the vu levels on the mics equal roughly> seemed kinda like the mke was a lower gain level?

I think that the MKE2 has to point up to your mouth since is directional... here it's pointing down so the omnidirectional one obviously will sound louder

Can you please let me or show me how to connect Sennheiser Dual Microphone Clip with Sennheiser MKE 1

Couldn't tell a difference between the two. MKE2's gain level was for sure lower so both microphones need to have the same loudness to really figure anything out...

Its nice to see a comparison but the volume is hugely higher with the ME2 so of course, so will the background noise.

Can I buy only MKE2 Lav (without transmitter and receiver) and plug it into Canon 80D, use it as wired microphone?

Hello guys, do you happen to know if the mke2 ew gold or the mke2-4 for shure (changing the plug for a 3.5 sennheiser compatible) work well on a rode wireless go II? I appreciate much your knowledge.

Hello This microphone produces a noise between the transmitter and the mic, and I can solve that problem? When approached the mic ME2 to body tranmitter buzz noise occurs, that's normal?

i think that me2 might be good for studio environments with live crowd.

Just got the mke2, And must be doing something wrong. I already have the me2, came with my g3. Anytime I touch the wire on the mke2, there is a rubbing noise that gets picked up by the mike. What am I doing wrong? Lots of movement noise. If I sit still, or don’t move, all is good, but I never sit still

i'm new to lavalier mics so forgive me if this is a dumb question. can these mics plug directly into your camcorder or do you have to buy a wireless dongle jaunt to use them?

Them MKE2 kills alot of the background noise definitely makes a difference another outstanding video T!

Did you get any noise from the mke2 when anything rubs on the wire?

wait.. so the only difference between me2 and mke2 is the mic itself? the receiver/transmitter is the same?

No way man, I live just a few miles away from you. Oddly enough you're the second RU-vidr I've found who lives on South Mountain.

Thumbs up

the MKE2 gold is different with MKE2 lav that comes with avx... its -6 dB difference

To untrained ears and novices the MKE2 might come out ontop in this particular video... But you didn't make any effort to match them in gain, thus the ME2 may have sounded like it had a higher noise floor. The ME2 is much more sensitive (which I personally like, means I don't need to drive my preamps as high on my recorders), in terms of actual audible quality, these mics are identical. I would argue the only difference is the size (which matters a great deal for Lavaliers), and accessories that accompany each mic. However, in the end I would agree that the MKE2 is better. Not SONICALLY, but in terms of it's size, and accompanying accessories. In other words... It would NOT be worth switching from the ME2 to the MKE2, unless of course you ABSOLUTELY require a smaller lav, and the accessories it comes with. An "Okay" review overall, but completely for naught due to the mismatched gain settings... Next time be sure to note any differences in sensitivity/gain requirements.

ME2 is louder during all tests, adjusting volume, I think ME2 did a good job.

стоило бы провести нормализацию звука, было бы идеально.

Damn dude how much post processing did you do on that ME2.

Were they both on the same settings....as the ME2 just sounds that much beefier

hello tomas!i am a photographer videographer i want good sound for interviews i don't know so much about sound i am thinking about avx sennheizer you think its right for me?thanks!

Bro, thanks for the recommendation. I feel like every other RU-vidr is AFRAID to make a recommendation and opt for pleasing everybody with the "Well, that's up to you." THANK YOU

The MKE2 comes out very low.

Ermm.. the ME2 level is set consistently louder on your voice, so impossible to say if background noise is just louder for the reason that the level is higher.

That the MKE2 is significantly smaller than the ME2 while maintaining the same audio quality as the ME2 is the true benefit of the MKE2 over the ME2 in my opinion.

Dude - what do I buy they dont sound amazingly different no? The G3 comes with the Me2 but not the Mke2... aaaaaaaaaaa the ME2 has a warmer and louder gain no?

I'm and +Ahmed Alkzaz the only one who see that the mic lvl completely different and if you match the level the background noise is more or less the same?!?

Idk if it's just me but Mke2 sounds very muted and kind of unrealistic compared to the old version of ME2 which kind of balances all ranges.

Sennheiser ME2 price is?

At 5.25. It was not suppressing just the background, it had less gain either way. It was hard to hear you as well.

Of course the MKE 2 doesn't recording all the background noise, because the volume gain is not put on 0db. If you do, you will see that actually the MKE2 take the background noise as same as the ME2. And the 200 € of difference between these both microphone, is unfair. I will buy the ME2 ! But, thank you very much for your review, except that there is an big probleme with that gain level, which is not allow us to compare properly.