RN17 Mic

RN17 Mic


Designed with Mr. Rupert Neve, the RN17 redefines the capabilities of an SDC.

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.

According to Siwei, "The SDC's problem is that they have a very clear sound - the SPL is high, but the sound is very cold, not like with a large diaphragm. The quality of the transformer can make the sound much, much better - but with a small transformer, nobody can do it."  "Rupert told me, 'I want THIS transformer.' I said, 'That transformer is too big. This is a small-capsule microphone. Impossible.' He said, 'I want the impossible to be possible.'"

With a 15mm diaphragm (the world's smallest production gold-sputtered diaphragm), the transient response of the RN17 is unparalleled.  Such a small capsule reacts extremely quickly, and is therefore adept at picking up the most delicate of high-frequency content.

However, a tiny diaphragm usually results in a lack of low-frequency response. How to counter this?  A massive transformer!  The RN17's transformer is substantially larger than the norm. This full-scale transformer was custom-designed by Rupert Neve specifically for this microphone - and nobody has been designing audio transformers longer (or better) than Rupert Neve.


The RN17 is sold individually, or is available as a stereo pair.