A few months back, I took the Sennheiser e935 dynamic vocal mic for a spin and definitely came away impressed. All in all, it was a great all-around mic and a standout piece of gear in a market crowded with quality stage mics. Compared to the Shure SM58, the e935 offers much more definition and clarity, not to mention an overall smoother feel. This means that it will show off a much truer representation of your natural voice (the good and the bad). With that in mind, I got curious about it's bigger brother, the e945. While they share many of the same specs, the e945 is definitely a different type of mic.

The Build

Like the e935, the e945 features a solid metal body and top-quality construction. The rugged metal casing is further enhanced by a Sennheiser designed shock mounted capsule system, meaning this mic should easily be able to withstand multiple drops and keep on going with nothing more than a few scratches. While there's a decent weight to the mic, I wouldn't call it heavy, coming in at a little less than a pound. Overall, the build is great and shows all the hallmarks of a mic that is made to last.

The Features

At its core, the Sennheiser e945 boasts a supercardioid polar pattern, giving it a tighter pickup angle than mics equipped with the more-standard cardioid design (such as the e935 or the SM58). In practice, this gives the mic superb noise reduction and reduced side bleeding. It does, however, mean that the mic is a little more sensitive to sound coming directly behind it. Pattern aside, the e945 features a good slate of specs including a nominal impedance of 350 ohms, an excellent frequency response (40-18,000 Hz), a standard XLR-3 connector, a Neodymium ferrous magnet, and a hum-compensating coil for reduced hum. It also comes with a storage bag and clip.
e945-02Sennheiser e945 Dynamic Vocal Mic @ $219.95 The e 945 is a super-cardioid lead vocal stage microphone specially designed to perform under pressure while exhibiting a naturally smooth response. Made for the working musician. Excellent sound results guaranteed, day to day, 365 days a year. First choice for rental companies. Dynamic super-cardioid vocal microphone with a narrower pick-up pattern. Powerful and rich in detail. The ideal choice when the vocals really have to cut through. Low handling noise. 100% metal casing for tough stage use.
 

The Sound

All in all, the e945 sounds amazing. Like other Sennheiser mics, the e945 sounds absolutely pristine. Not only is the response loud, clean and clear, it also has a nice overall smooth feel and definitely brighter than your standard dynamic mic. Compared to the e935, the e945 is a touch darker and doesn't sound quite as natural due to the more pronounced proximity effect. Regardless, it still makes a great lead vocal mic and will easily cut through the mix with ease. Better yet, the excellent side rejection and very minimal feedback make the e945 a superb choice for backup singers. And like the e935, it's a very sensitive mic so you'll definitely need to spend some time getting used to the little intricacies of its response if you're coming from the SM58.

The Verdict

If you're tired of the industry standard or are simply looking for a high-quality mic that can deliver a clean, clear and powerful response, look no further than the Sennheiser e945. While it might not sound as natural as the e935, it offers superior feedback rejection making it a great choice for players that tend to play in tighter or louder settings. Overall, the e945 is well worth every penny.