I went to the mic gettin' place the other day and asked for a 906, because a few people at TapeOp told me that it was a good alternate to the SM57 (which I don't hate).
The guy said "you mean a 609?"
I thought dyslexia must have set in on me, so I said "probably" and took one home.

So there is a 609...and a 906. They look the same too.
Bad marketing on Sennheiser's part. I can't be the only dumbass to have made this mistake.

I've combed the forum in an attempt to avoid a brutal kick in the Kerbals, but I can't find what I'm looking for.
What's the difference in these mics. Do any of you have a preference? I can bring the 609 back, but should I?

Thanks
-A

that's kerballs

The 609 and 906 are both variations on the old 409. IIRC, the 906 is supposed to be more like the 409. I have a 609 that I use for guitar frequently, I think it's an excellent mic, and very cheap. I don't know if there'd be that much difference between them really, except the 906 has an ugly as sin silkscreened 'e' on the grille.

The 906 has three settings for different sounds. The 609 came in two varieties, black and silver, for different sounds. The 906 costs about twice as much. There's a great deal of debate whether any of them actually sounds like teh vintage mic they are supposed to, and whether any of them sounds good at all.

The 906 has switchable patterns, the 609 does not.

I own two 609s and would say that they are most definitely my favorite "cheap" microphone. They're idiot-proof. Sound good on guitar cabs and snare drums.

I say keep the 609. Maybe pick up a 906 later.

The 906 has a switched filter, not switchable patterns. Interestingly, according to their literature the 'roll-off' position is actually flatter than the 'flat' position. I seem to remember Sennheiser telling me that the original 609 was changed to the 609 silver in conjunction with an effort to make it more like the 409. I think the original version is now the 606. They should really come up with some new numbers, because the situation really is confusing.

The e609 silver is the one I have. And I'll say again that it is a good mic.

tarandfeathers wrote:The e609 silver is the one I have. And I'll say again that it is a good mic.

Seconded.

the silver 609 is great for guitar cabs in a live setting (ie: it's not a 57). or perhaps i just love the fact that excitable guitarists knock it over less often...

I have used the 609- the black one - to good effect for guitar amps, congas/toms, etc. In a live music setting...haven't recorded with them.

i use a silver 609 on rack toms on occasion, for some reason i really didn't like it on the last electric gtr amp i tried it on...i have owned mine for a about 3 years and it sees regular use and i am under the impression it is still 100%, so to me that says it is built well. have you had it long enough to form an opinion about it alex?