If you ever A/B tested an old Sennheiser MD421 against the current "II" version you know there's no coming back. As some of those vintage models still pop up for sale sometimes, there's a chance of grabbing it even for a reasonable price, but the reason behind that price is usually the microphone being the "N" version, thus having a DIN3 connector, also known as Kleintuchel, or Small Tuchel (and you don't want to know how a Großtuchel looks).
Other manufacturers like Beyer had used this connector too (it's not uncommon to find an M201 with it) so, if you're about to try some vintage German microphones, a DIN-XLR adapter might be a useful, if not necessary, thing to have at hand.
While the DIN3 connector bears some visual similarity to XLR, essentially looking like a mini version of it, the pinout is different (and the key is in a different place too). So, if you were unlucky enough to get the microphone without an adapter cable included, but still lucky enough to source a proper Kleintuchel locking connector, here's the diagram for wiring it right.
NOTE. If you have trouble finding that rare and fancy screw-locking connector but need to hook up the microphone right away you can get a standard female DIN5 connector (the same type as used for MIDI, old IBM PC XT/AT keyboards, or Cold War era European audio connections but, again, the socket version) and use the left, center, and right pins. Sure, it wouldn't hold in place firmly, lacking that screw lock, but what can't be fixed with some masking tape?
Here's the diagram in two versions, one with connector front side facing the viewer, and the other with the solder side for your convenience.
You'll obviously need a female DIN connector, a male XLR, and some length of balanced microphone cable. From my experience, I recommend making the adapter cable about 2 meters long because you wouldn't want the connected XLR(m)-XLR(f) pair to dangle mid-air and exert extra pull on the microphone with its already not very reliable mounting clip.
(clickable full-res direct image links below)
So the pinout correspondence is:
If the adapter is wired wrong, aside from getting no signal, you might possibly damage your microphone in case you inadvertently turn on phantom power on the preamp, so take extra care to double-check everything.
Even if your new (old) microphone just came in the mail with an adapter cable included, it's always a good idea to take a multimeter and check the cable for correct pinout.
If you noticed a fatal mistake in the diagrams (or maybe want to say hi) please contact me.
Cheers,
G
Latest page revision: 04.06.2026 (typos)
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