SE Electronics sE7 Microphone Review: The best way to get crisp stereo sound

If you do your own audio recording, there are a few go-to microphones you really need, and I’m hoping my SE Electronics sE7 Microphone Review will convince you that this stereo pair should be on your list. These small-diaphragm, pencil-style condenser microphones look unassuming, but sound and feel surprisingly good for the price. I used my pair to record a variety of sources, including a quick rehearsal demo with my band, some close-miced acoustic guitar work, and even some quick field recordings. Read on to learn how they fared.

Getting good quality stereo sound is a hallmark for any at-home studio, because it allows you to record acoustic instruments naturally and delivers a nice sound stage for drums or percussion. As I reviewed the sE7 microphones, I was listening closely for this stereo nuance, and I’m happy to say it delivers. Previously, most of my true stereo recording was done using a Zoom H4n handy recorder, which works well enough. But tapping into my preamps of my Behringer U-Phoria audio interface, and recording directly into my DAW was a great step up.

Now the quality of the sound itself was also a bit of a surprise. The sE7s are firmly in the mid-tier as far as home studio microphones go, and even though all the sound recording forums were trying to have me believe that the noise floor would be too noticeably, and I was going to have to shell out for the sE8s, this really wasn’t the case. There was also a rich, nuanced feel for the mid-range that was quite pleasant when close-micing my Larrivee acoustic. I’ll add a sound example below so you can hear what I mean. You’ll really notice the nuance if you listen through some high quality headphones such as the Sonos Ace or the HiFiGo Defiant earphones. All in all, these microphones will easily be a sonic cornerstone of my home demo recording for acoustic instruments moving forward.

One of the things you get as you start to climb in price in the condenser microphone space is quality and durability. If it isn’t clear so far in my sE7 Microphone Review, I really like how these things sound for the money. But you can definitely buy a cheaper pair of condenser microphones from other brands like the decidedly budget Behringer or MXL, but what would you be sacrificing? Obviously, the sound quality will be lacking, but in my 20+ years of home recording experience, I can say that durability is the very next thing you’ll notice.

I’ve got MXL and even entry-level AKG microphones that I loved for years, but suddenly stopped working one afternoon (naturally right when I was inspired to record). So stepping to this low/mid tier of microphones the sE7s occupy actually buys you some peace of mind. These microphones feel extra durability with a strong, all-metal build that has heft and weight to it. SE Electronics has also made the call to recess the toggle switches inside the microphone chassis so that you’ll be less likely to twist, mash, or snap them off in transit.

The design is also something to note here. The mostly black build means these mics will recede nicely into a scene without standing out. This can be great if you want to use them to mic up a video set or use them during a performance without drawing a lot of attention. The bright red SE badge does break that streamline a little, but it also has its own iconic look that could be in line with your studio as well. I personally like the red accent grills you’ll see on SE’s dynamic microphones, so having this SE branding can actually feel positive.

This is the category that really shines for these microphones. Whether you opt for a single mic or you pick up the stereo pair, you’ll get a ton of bang for your buck. For comparison, I picked the sE7 microphones up for just around $200, only a little bit more than Rode’s version of this pair. And in spec comparison, the build and sound quality at play here is much more impressive than even that miniscule price increase would imply. 

One tip I’d give when buying any music, audio, or pro-sumer equipment is to go with a retailer that is willing to work with you on price. Sweetwater is one of my favorite places for this, because they assign you a dedicated sales rep whom you can call or email when you have questions. They are almost always able to shave at least 5% off the price for me just by asking. I know this is true for other retail sites like Guitar Center or Musician’s Friend, as well. So, the moral of this story is not to buy it with a single click from Amazon, but rather reach out to a category-specific retailer!

I’m giving middling marks to the sE7 microphones in this category. Here’s what you get with your purchase: A pair of stereo-matched microphones, each with its own simple windscreen and microphone clip. That’s it. Now on the one hand, that’s definitely enough to get you going outside the box, as you can just use a couple stands and get micing.

What’s missing is any sort of carrying or holding case, more substantial windscreens, and stereo-paired mounting brackets. I only bring this up, because the slightly more expensive sE8 model does come with some of this stuff and will feel like a more substantial package. Now those microphones go for more than double the price, but it’s worth noting that this is somewhere that the sE7s do cut some corners.

When you pick these up, I highly recommend considering a stereo bracket. This not only allows you to put both microphones onto a single microphone stand, but it often also gives you some configuration options for pivoting the microphones to different stereo formations. You should also consider some larger, more protective windscreens if you plan to use these microphones in a field recording setting. The simple, flat windscreens that come baked in will only offer a small degree of wind clipping protection.