Senal SCM-660

Senal SCM-660 (includes shock mount as shown and hard case, 3 switchable patterns, low-cut filter and 10 dB pad, 18.480 oz./524.0 g, $150 complete), bigger or fill-screen. I got mine at B&H.

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Introduction

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

The Senal SCM-660 is a New York City-designed, Chinese-made multi-pattern large-diaphragm condenser microphone optimized for careful studio use.

It has about the same size, weight, operating principles, features and specifications as the world-standard Neumann U87Ai, for one-eighteenth the price. This mic, complete with case and shock mount, sells for half of the price of just the U87 shock mount alone.

For about the same price as this mic, you might also be looking at the AKG P240 or Audio-Technica AT2050, and if you only need the cardioid pattern, see the SCM-600 cardioid version.

This microphone has a slightly elevated top end which adds brightness and more air to vocals, like the Neumann U87Ai and AKG C414 XL II (which is the brighter version of the AKG C414 XLS). I prefer this for my use, since I'm often not looking directly at the microphone or will be using it in stereo pairs where neither mic is pointed directly at a single main source of sound.

I got my two SCM-660s (for stereo) at B&H.


Front. bigger.	Back. bigger.	included shock mount. bigger.

The diaphragms are both gold. They look the same front and back, but look different here due to the different ways the lights were positioned.

Format, Connections & Interfaces

I got my two SCM-660s (for stereo) at B&H.

This is an analog 48V phantom-powered microphone with a low-level balanced low-impedance output via a three-pin gold XLR connector on the bottom for use with an XLR mic cable (not included), mixing consoles and/or outboard mic preamps or pro XLR mic inputs on video gear.

To use it digitally, you'll need your choice of USB audio interface. I use the state-of-the-art Apogee Duet (see my review of my older model Apogee Duet 2), and the less expensive interfaces work great as well.

To connect to an older iPhone's 3.5mm audio jack for mono-only input, use an analog preamp (the ART USB Dual Pre works fine), a 3.5mm male-to-male cable and a 3.5mm standard mic to Apple 3.5mm adapter so the phone recognizes the external mic.

To use it with a modern Apple lighting connector, use the same analog preamp (the ART USB Dual Pre works fine), a 3.5mm male-to-male cable and a 3.5mm standard mic to Apple 3.5mm adapter, and also use Apple's 3.5mm lighting adapter — or just use the Apogee Duet, which also works with the lighting interface. I use the Duet just because I can, but Apogee is pro-level studio gear that costs more than this microphone.

Using the mic at about 12" from my mouth with the ART USB Dual Pre, I set the mic preamp gain to 30dB, the headphone output to entirely preamp and the headphone level to 10:30 o'clock and use a dual male 3.5mm cable to connect the preamp's headphone jack to the 3.5mm input of the contraptions above. From 5" (13cm) away I set the preamp's headphone output to about 10 o'clock. You should use the dedicated 1/4" line outputs from that preamp, but I was too lazy to find the correct 1/4" to 3.5mm cable.

Specifications

I got my two SCM-660s (for stereo) at B&H.

This SCM-660 is a true (non-electret) condenser microphone with dual diaphragms. Like all these multipattern mics, the three patterns are obtained by applying polarizing voltage only to the front diaphragm (cardioid), both diaphragms (omnidirectional), or by reversing the polarizing voltage to the rear diaphragm (figure 8).

bigger or fill-screen.

Sensitivity @ 94dB SPL (1 Pascal), cardioid / figure-8 / omni: -33 / -39 / -38dBV ±3dB = 22.4 / 11.2 / 12.6 mV.

Senal SCM-660. bigger or fill-screen.

Gold-sputtered 1.3" dual-diaphragm capsule provides 3 patterns. bigger or fill-screen.

I measured the capsule, and its outside diameter is 1.3" (34mm) and what looks like the active area of the diaphragm is 1" (25mm) in diameter.

Price

December 2019: $150 on holdiay special, complete system with case & shock mount.

September 2019: $200 at B&H.

MSRP looks to be about $259.

Optional Accessories

I got my two SCM-660s (for stereo) at B&H.

Auray PFNY-6 pop filter.

Auray TT-6220 tabletop telescoping stand.

Auray MS-65HD telescoping boom stand (not shown below)

Senal SCM-660 with included shock mount on Auray TT-6220 stand with Auray PFNY-6 pop filter. bigger or fill-screen.

Unboxing

I got my two SCM-660s (for stereo) at B&H.

The case is shrink-wrapped, inside a printed paper sleeve with data and specifications. Remove these to see the case:

Senal SCM-660 included hard case. bigger or fill-screen.

Open the case and you get:

Senal SCM-660. bigger or fill-screen.

Here's how it fits in the case. Put the shock mount in upside-down as shown for it to fit best:

Senal SCM-660. bigger or fill-screen.

Performance, Usage & Recommendations