Last Updated on July 16, 2017 by Andrew Culture
In time for Summer NAMM 2017 sE Electronics have announced a new condenser microphone, the sE8.
The sE Electronics sE8 has a hand-crafted, gold-sputtered small-diaphragm true condenser capsule. This was conjured up by sE in their very own capsule room, which we imagine looks a little bit like Frankenstein’s lab, albeit with much better acoustics. The capsule has a brand new backplate design, which apparently results in an improved, even, balanced sound and improved transient response. The claim being that the sE8 has a superior response to other small-capsule condenser mics of a similar price.
According to sE’s Product Manager Thomas Stubics, “You can apply any shelving filters or peak EQ without harshness, unpleasant colorations or distorted transients – it just stays natural.” This is accomplished with an extremely short, efficient signal path, without the use of ICs or transformers – and according to Stubics, the sE8 is “one of the quietest SDC microphones available today – and by far the quietest in its class. Sonically, we feel it can easily be compared with mics that retail for more than $1,000 USD per pair.”
The sE8 also includes two low-cut filters (switchable between 80Hz and 160Hz) and two attenuation pads (-10dB or -20dB), which provide it with the highest SPL handling capability and dynamic range in its class.
The chassis of the sE8 is plenty robust, with the same tough paint finish as other microphones in the sE Electronics stable. The XLR connector is gold-plated, so will stand up to any amount of connecting and disconnecting as you stand, stroking your chin and trying to decide where to place the mic in your setup.
The sE8 comes boxed with a newly-designed mic clip, mic stand thread adapter and protective wind screen, as you might expect of a condenser mic of this quality. If you buy the matched stereo pair package you’ll get two of everything, along with a nicely machined stereo mounting bar.
It’s worth noting that if you do buy the stereo set sE don’t just chuck any two mics on the box. Product Manager Thomas Stubics explains, “All matched pairs of sE8s are really matched perfectly – we select them from hundreds of mics to ensure the highest possible consistency.”
The sE8 stereo set ships with a tough looking metal storage case.
sE Electronics sE8 conclusion
The inclusion of the adaptable filters and attenuation is not often seen with SDC at this price point and this looks like a versatile microphone that would be at home on stage as well as in the studio. The hand-finished and tuned capsule is also a welcome sign that SE Electronics are looking to push the boundaries of a fairly crowded market.
Find out more about the sE Electronics sE8 condenser microphone…
