Sennheiser ME 36 Capsule Head Black (Supercardioid/Lobar, Condenser)

Product Overview

The Sennheiser ME 36 is a supercardioid/lobar condenser capsule head in black finish for use with Sennheiser MZH IS series gooseneck microphones. The lobar polar pattern is the tightest directional pickup in the ME capsule range, providing maximum rejection of off-axis sound and delivering the highest level of noise isolation among the IS series capsule options. It is the preferred choice for government chambers, legislative assemblies, and demanding conference environments where strict isolation between adjacent microphone positions is required. Available in both black and white (ME 36 W) finishes.

Product Description

The ME 36 is Sennheiser's lobar capsule head for the IS series — the most directional capsule available in the ME range and the highest-performance choice for applications requiring maximum noise rejection and inter-channel isolation. The lobar pattern provides a very tight forward pickup angle, rejecting off-axis sound from adjacent microphone positions, audience areas, and room reflections with far greater effectiveness than either the cardioid ME 34 or supercardioid ME 35. In government assembly rooms, legislative chambers, and large conference facilities with multiple simultaneous speakers, the ME 36's tight pattern allows each microphone to pick up only the speaker directly in front of it, minimising cross-talk and providing clean, intelligible audio from each channel. This is critical in conferencing systems where automatic microphone mixing or multi-channel recording is used. The ME 36 is a condenser transducer providing the clarity and detail required for voice intelligibility. It attaches to all MZH IS series gooseneck tubes and is available in complete IS series bundles pairing the ME 36 with specific gooseneck lengths (I15-L, I40-L, I42-L, I30H-L). The black finish suits dark wood and metal conference room furniture and formal installation environments.

Key Features

• Lobar (Supercardioid/Lobe) Polar Pattern — Tightest directional pickup in the ME capsule range for maximum off-axis rejection and inter-channel isolation.
• Optimised for Multi-Microphone Conferencing — Tight pattern minimises cross-talk between adjacent microphone positions in multi-channel systems.
• Condenser Transducer — Clear, detailed voice reproduction for speech intelligibility in conferencing applications.
• IS Series Gooseneck Compatible — Attaches to all MZH series gooseneck tubes.
• Black Finish — Suits dark conference room furniture and formal AV installations.
• White Version Available — ME 36 W for light-coloured installations.

Typical Applications

• Government and legislative assembly rooms with multiple simultaneous speaker positions
• Large boardrooms and conference facilities requiring strict inter-channel isolation
• Formal public hearings, council chambers, and court rooms
• Multi-channel conferencing systems with automatic microphone mixing
• Installed-sound environments with high ambient noise levels

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the ME 36 lobar and the ME 35 supercardioid pattern?

The ME 36 has a tighter, more focused pickup pattern than the ME 35 supercardioid, providing greater rejection of off-axis sound. The ME 36 is preferred in applications where maximum isolation between adjacent microphone positions is required, such as multi-seat conference and government chamber installations.

Is the ME 36 appropriate for single-speaker podium use?

Yes. While the ME 36 is particularly valued in multi-speaker installations, its tight pickup pattern is also effective for podium use in reverberant rooms or noisy environments where maximum rejection of ambient sound is needed.

Does the tight lobar pattern require more precise microphone positioning?

Yes. The ME 36's tight pattern requires that the capsule be aimed more precisely at the speaker's mouth. In fixed installations, this is typically managed through gooseneck tube positioning, which allows the capsule to be angled toward the speaker's position.

Is the ME 36 available as part of a complete gooseneck system bundle?

Yes. Complete IS series bundles pairing the ME 36 with specific gooseneck lengths are available: I15-L (15cm), I40-L (40cm), I42-L (dual-flex 40cm), and I30H-L (ceiling hang 30cm).