sE Electronics RN17 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

A Rupert Neve and sE Electronics collaboration, the RN17 small diaphragm microphone offers the benefits of small diaphragm design without the drawbacks.

The second product of the sE / Rupert Neve collaboration, work on the RN17 began with a discussion between Rupert and Siwei Zou on the merits and problems of small-diaphragm condensers. They decided on a 15mm diaphragm (the world’s smallest production gold-sputtered diaphragm), giving the RN17 unparalleled transient response. Such a small capsule reacts extremely quickly, and is therefore adept at picking up the most delicate of high-frequency content.

Tiny diaphragms usually result in a lack of low frequency response. To counter this the RN17’s transformer is substantially larger than normal, allowing the RN17 to produce astonishing clarity across all frequencies – not just the highs. The midrange is detailed and forward, the lows are full and accurate, and the whole microphone has a balance and headroom unlike any other small-capusle microphone.