The directional response is especially well maintained even at higher frequencies, due to the acoustically transparent housing. There is less high-frequency emphasis of off-axis sound than occurs with most small, axial-response cardioids. The MK 4V still sounds somewhat brighter than the MK 4, however, because of its overall frequency response.

The MK 4V was created in answer to requests for a cardioid with its main axis along the side. In addition to its usefulness in the concert hall, this capsule type is of particular value in speech recording, since its slight emphasis around 10 kHz helps to improve intelligibility.