sE Electronics sE2200 Review (2017 Model)

sE Electronics updated their $300 large diaphragm condenser microphone in November 2017. They updated the internals a little, added additional attenuation and high pass options plus include their Isolation Pack (shockmount + pop screen) in the deal.

I got a chance to put it through its paces and the results are in this video:

 

And here are the script notes:

Thanks sE Electronics for sending the sE2200 my way for this review. It’s a classy looking microphone that comes with shockmount and pop screen accessories. How does it sound? Let’s take a listen right away!

The drums and cymbals sounded great to me. My drums aren’t great but that’s how they sound and the sE2200 captured them quite nicely. Onto some guitar samples.

Whoa, whoa whoa. If you’re thinking Adam WTF is up with all the noise? Well, the guitar player had one of those instruments with built in digital effects. Now, I’m about to play the same tracks with noise reduction turned on which unfortunately takes most of the presence and high end out of the signal.

OK, now onto acoustic guitar.

Finally, the samples you have all been waiting for: vocals. Now, the release of this video was delayed for a few weeks because I’ve been trying to record a female vocalist and a nicer sounding drum set. Unfortunately I couldn’t make that happen so you’re going to have to settle for this…

Those songs sound like hits to me! Somebody sign that girl to a record deal before Warner Brothers does! Seriously though, here are the rest of the vocal samples.

Go right to looking at sE’s web site.

Final thoughts.

Record vocals on and off-axis (45 degree angle and out of the path of wind blasts). Also, with pop screen on and off.
Classy looks
Solid build. Switches don’t feel cheap.
Shock mount made it easy to position. Hard to twist knob sometimes when fingers were sweaty/greasy. Came with extra band.


Be mindful of the pop filter ridges. The sE logo should be facing out or it won’t go in properly.
Reminds me of an AT4040 but less harsh.Did not like it on my voice. Did not like the Proscreen XL with it.

I really wanted to love this microphone on vocals. If you boom it and use a dark/muddy mic preamp it works better.

Great clean guitar mic

Great for finger picked acoustic guitar. May be too harsh for picked.

Great for drum overhead or room mic. It has a lot of transient detail and low end so it should be fine for kick drum as well.

Couple it with a dull sounding preamp for best results. It did not go well with the Audient pres.

Author: Adam

Adam is a professional photographer, videographer and audio engineer. He started Real Home Recording back in 2011 and in 2017 launched Don't Go to Recording School.