Sennheiser HMD 26-II Professional Broadcast Headset

Lightweight Broadcast Benchmark: Sennheiser HMD 26-II

The Sennheiser HMD 26-II broadcast headset is the industry standard for sound engineers, sports commentators, and broadcast journalists requiring exceptional voice articulation and all-day acoustic comfort during live transmissions.

Built with closed-back on-ear cups to attenuate outside environment noise, the HMD 26-II combines Sennheiser’s broadcast transducer technology with a high-performance dynamic microphone. Available now in our Sennheiser pro audio store catalog, this modular headset ensures crystal-clear speech reproduction, user safety through ActiveGard peak limiting, and seamless customization across any broadcast cable standard.

Key Features & Pro-Level Advantages

• Noise-Compensated Hypercardioid Microphone: Dynamic BMD 424 capsule isolates the commentator’s speech from stadium noise, crowds, and ambient studio control room bleed.
• Swiveling Earcup for Single-Sided Listening: Allows operators to quickly flip one earcup back for direct open-air conversation and ambient awareness.
• Switchable ActiveGard Hearing Protection: Protects broadcast engineers against sudden volume spikes and acoustic feedback bursts above 105 dB without distorting audio.
• Ergonomic Split Headband: Two-piece automatic headband cushion system eliminates crown pressure for maximum wearing stability during long commentary shifts.
• Flexible 360-Degree Boom Arm: Reversible microphone boom arm can be positioned on either the left or right side with precise click-stop adjustment.
• Modular Cable Architecture: Compatible with Sennheiser’s Cable-II series (XLR-3/1/4″, XLR-4F, XLR-5M, or open leads) with integrated coiled decoupling to eliminate mechanical handling noise.

Key Technical Specifications

• Device Type: Professional On-Ear (Supra-Aural) Closed-Back Broadcast Headset

• Headphone Transducer Principle: Dynamic, Closed-Back

• Headphone Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 18,000 Hz

• Headphone Nominal Impedance: 600 Ohms (HMD 26-II-600) / 100 Ohms (HMD 26-II-100)

• Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 115 dB SPL (1 kHz / 1 mW) / 128 dB Max SPL

• Passive Ambient Noise Attenuation: Up to 18 dB

• Microphone Type: Dynamic, Noise-Compensated (BMD 424 Capsule)

• Microphone Polar Pattern: Hypercardioid

• Microphone Frequency Response: 40 Hz – 16,000 Hz

• Microphone Output Voltage: 0.4 mV/Pa at 1 kHz

• Hearing Protection: ActiveGard (Switchable On/Off, > 105 dB peak limiting)

• Special Feature: Swiveling Earcup for Single-Sided Monitoring

• Weight (w/o cable): Approx. 200 g (7.0 oz)

• Color: Black

Compatibility & System Integration

• Broadcast & Intercom Integration: Easily interfaces with OB truck consoles, commentator units (RTS, Riedel, Glensound, AEQ), field production mixers, and camera control units via appropriate Cable-II configurations.

• Modular Cable Options: Uses Sennheiser Cable-II system—choose from Cable-II-X3K1 (XLR-3M + 1/4″ TRS), Cable-II-B4 (4-pin XLR female), Cable-II-B5 (5-pin XLR male), or Cable-II-0 (bare ends).

• Replacement Parts: User-replaceable soft ear cushions, headband padding, MZW 26 foam windscreens, and quick-detach connection leads.

• Box Contents: 1x Sennheiser HMD 26-II headset, 1x foam windshield (MZW 26), 1x cable clip, quick start guide. (Note: Cable-II sold separately or bundled per variant).

• System Expansion: Browse matching Sennheiser wireless receivers, beltpacks, and studio monitoring gear on our dedicated Sennheiser Brand Store.