Sennheiser MKH 8018 Stereo Shotgun Microphone

So far so good! MKH 8018

As someone who has relied on the MKH 30/40 MS setup since the late ’80s, I approached the Sennheiser MKH 8018 with a healthy mix of curiosity and cautious optimism. The appeal was immediate—capturing a high-resolution stereo image with a single mic, in a compact and field-friendly package. What stands out right away is the practicality. Unlike the classic 30/40 combo, the 8018 doesn’t require a bulky suspension system. It’s lighter, less cumbersome, and allows me to slide a simple Rycote windsock over the capsule without wrestling with a windshield blimp. This kind of flexibility matters in the field, especially when working in sensitive environments where setup speed and discretion are key. Performance-wise, it’s what you’d expect from Sennheiser—clean, detailed, and reliable. The 8018 delivers a wide stereo field and excellent imaging, with a natural tone that holds up well in a variety of acoustic spaces. For soundscape work, especially when recording immersive environments where directionality and spatial accuracy matter, it’s a strong contender. That said, I’m still putting it through its paces. I’ll be conducting humidity tests and evaluating its behavior in quiet setups over the coming weeks—particularly important for field recordists working in challenging climates. So far, the MKH 8018 has shown promise, but I’ll reserve final judgment until it’s seen some real-world adversity. For ongoing thoughts and comparisons with the MKH 30/40 rig, keep an ear on The Listening Planet—I’ll be posting updates as testing continues.