Sennheiser
MKH 8020
Small-diaphragm condenser · Omnidirectional · 10–60,000 Hz
- 10 Hz to 60 kHz — the widest published range in this library, and more than an octave and a half above human hearing.
- 25 grams of capsule. The MKH 8000 series splits the microphone from its output stage, so the part in the air is tiny.
Frequency response
No response curve yet.
MicSense only draws a curve redrawn from a graph the manufacturer publishes — it never estimates one from the microphone’s class. No published graph has been redrawn for the MKH 8020 yet, so the numbers are in the spec table below.
Polar pattern
Generated from the first-order directivity formula for omnidirectional. It illustrates the pattern type — it is not a measurement of this individual model.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Sennheiser |
|---|---|
| Model | MKH 8020 |
| Type | Small-diaphragm condenser |
| Form factor | Stick / pencil |
| Polar pattern | Omnidirectional |
| Frequency range | 10–60,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | -30.0 dBV/Pa |
| Max SPL | 138 dB SPL (THD not stated) |
| Self-noise | 10 dB(A) |
| Impedance | — not published by the maker |
| Connector | XLR3M |
| Powering | Phantom 48 V |
| Weight | 25 g |
Specifications: Sennheiser specifications page · last checked 2 Oct 2026. These are the maker’s published figures for this model. A dash never means zero: “not published by the maker” means the maker’s documents give no figure; “not yet checked” means MicSense has not confirmed one yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.
MicSense notes
| Price tier | Premium |
|---|---|
| Introduced | — not recorded |
Price tier and “a rider regular” are MicSense’s own judgement, not the maker’s.
What it gets used for
- Overhead
- Choir / ensemble
- Acoustic instrument
MicSense tags microphones by the job on a live stage, not by studio category — so you can filter for “kick in” or “monitor vocal” instead of working backwards from “large-diaphragm condenser”.
MKH 8020 alternatives: closest in published specs
Based on published specifications only — always listen at soundcheck. These are the microphones in the MicSense library whose datasheet figures sit closest to the Sennheiser MKH 8020’s for the same live job, with the reasons. It says nothing about how they sound.
Not compared for the Sennheiser MKH 8020: response curve not redrawn yet.
-
sE Electronics
sE8 omni
- Same job: overhead, choir / ensemble, acoustic instrument
- Same type: condenser (small diaphragm)
- Same omnidirectional pattern
- Same form: stick / pencil
- Max SPL as high or higher (141 vs 138 dB SPL)
- ≈ 4 dB less output — add about 4 dB gain
-
Sennheiser
MKH 8090
- Same job: overhead, choir / ensemble, acoustic instrument
- Same type: condenser (small diaphragm)
- Same form: stick / pencil
- Max SPL as high or higher (142 vs 138 dB SPL)
- Wide cardioid instead of omnidirectional
- ≈ 4 dB less output — add about 4 dB gain
-
Shure
Beta 181
- Same job: overhead, choir / ensemble, acoustic instrument
- Same type: condenser (small diaphragm)
- Switchable pattern — set it to omnidirectional
- Max SPL as high or higher (149 vs 138 dB SPL)
- Side-address — aim it from the side, not the end
- ≈ 16 dB less output — add about 16 dB gain
Compare it against the alternatives.
MicSense lets you put up to four microphones side by side — spec table, overlaid response curves and polar diagrams on one screen. Free with a free Squaresmile account.