The long-reach end of Sennheiser’s classic MKH shotgun

The MKH 816 T is the extended interference-tube, 12-volt T-powered version of the famous MKH design philosophy — built for maximum directionality, extreme reach, and precise off-axis rejection. Developed for film, broadcast, and field recording, it was intended for situations where distance, noise control, and intelligibility were non-negotiable.

OPTICAL CONDITION

very good condition. The long interference tube and slotted section show no dents, bends, or visible wear. Finish is uniform, with sharp, intact slot edges

TECHNICAL CONDITION

Fully tested, stable, and operating exactly as intended. Output is clean and quiet, with No instability, dropouts, or noise issues .

THIS ITEM INCLUDES

• Original wooden presentation case

BUILD & DESIGN

The MKH 816 T uses an extra-long interference-tube body, significantly longer than the MKH 416, designed to achieve extremely narrow lobar directivity. The extended slot pattern along the tube enhances phase cancellation for off-axis sound, resulting in exceptional side and rear rejection.

Capsule

RF-biased (high-frequency biased) condenser capsule
Supercardioid / Lobar polar pattern

Sennheiser’s RF condenser principle makes the MKH 816 T highly resistant to humidity and temperature changes — a key reason these microphones became trusted tools for outdoor and location recording.

Circuit

The MKH 816 T operates on 12 V T-Power (Tonaderspeisung).

• Legacy powering system used in professional film and broadcast environments
• +12 V applied across pins 2 and 3
• No reference to ground, unlike phantom power
• Requires a dedicated T-Power to P48 adapter for use with 48 v

Sennheiser produced T-powered and phantom-powered variants of the MKH series to match the requirements of professional recorders of the era, including Nagra and similar systems.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: RF-biased condenser
• Polar Pattern: Supercardioid / Lobar
• Frequency Response: 40 Hz – 20,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: Comparable to other MKH long-shotgun models
• Impedance: Approx. 200 Ω
• Output: Balanced (12 V T-Power)

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Frequency Response:
40 Hz – 20,000 Hz

• Strong presence emphasis in the upper midrange for long-distance intelligibility
• Smooth, controlled high-frequency extension without excessive sharpness
• Low-frequency attenuation below ~60–80 Hz to reduce handling noise and environmental rumble

SOUND CHARACTERISTICS

The Sennheiser MKH 816 T is all about reach and precision. Its long interference-tube design produces an exceptionally tight pickup pattern, making it highly effective for isolating distant sound sources in challenging environments. On-axis sound remains focused and articulate, while off-axis material is strongly attenuated, helping dialogue and targeted sources stay intelligible even in noisy or reflective spaces.

The midrange is firm and forward, optimized for speech clarity and definition at a distance. High frequencies remain detailed and controlled, avoiding harshness while preserving intelligibility. The low end is restrained by design, contributing to clean results when used on booms or at long working distances.

Usage examples:

• Long-reach boom microphone for film and broadcast dialogue
• Outdoor dialogue recording where distance and background rejection are critical
• Spot microphone for distant acoustic sources or environmental detail
• Specialised recording situations where extreme directionality or isolation is required - with mojo

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