The sE Electronics RNR1 is a premium active ribbon microphone developed in collaboration with legendary engineer Rupert Neve, and it sits at the very top of sE’s microphone lineup. It is designed to deliver the natural smoothness of a ribbon mic but with an unusually extended frequency range (20 Hz – 25 kHz), making it far more detailed and open than traditional ribbon microphones. In real-world use, it sounds extremely natural, deep, and realistic, capturing sources like vocals, acoustic instruments, drums, and room ambience with a very “uncolored” character—almost like hearing the source in the room itself.
Key Features
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Premium active ribbon microphone – Developed in collaboration with legendary engineer Rupert Neve
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Ultra-natural ribbon sound – Very smooth, musical, and detailed midrange with extended high-frequency response (rare for ribbon mics)
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Custom Rupert Neve transformers – Built-in transformers and circuitry enhance clarity, low-end depth, and extend frequency range
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Active design (phantom powered) – Unlike traditional ribbon mics, it uses 48V phantom power for stable output and higher headroom
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Wide frequency response (20 Hz – 25 kHz) – Extremely broad for a ribbon mic, giving condenser-like detail
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Figure-8 polar pattern – Captures sound from front and back, perfect for room and stereo recording
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Very high headroom & low noise – Clean recording even on loud sources
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Premium build quality – Heavy-duty body with precision-machined design
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Includes shockmount + flight case – Studio-ready professional package
Specifications
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Type: Active ribbon microphone
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Transducer: 2.5 µm aluminum ribbon
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Polar Pattern: Figure-8
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Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 25 kHz
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Sensitivity: ~25 mV/Pa (-32 dB)
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Max SPL: ~135–137 dB
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Self Noise: ~15–17 dB(A)
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Output Impedance: 200 ohms
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Power Requirement: 48V Phantom Power
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Connector: 3-pin XLR
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Weight: ~860 g
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Length: ~268 mm
Best For
- High-end studio vocals
- Acoustic guitar & piano (very natural tone)
- Drum overheads & room miking
- Orchestral recordings (strings, brass, woodwinds)
- Electric guitar cabinets
- Professional mixing/recording studios
