sE Electronics Gemini II Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone Reviews
A tube mic - but even better! sE Electronics puts its own spin on the classic tube mic with the Gemini II. We've all heard tube mics on some of the most famous vocal recordings of all time, but you've never heard a tube mic like this. The Gemini II puts a cool spin on the traditional tube mic, using both a 12AX7 at the input stage and a 12AU7 at the output stage. Two tubes, huh? You might think this would put too much tubiness in play, but in actuality it gives you the body and warmth of a tube mic coupled with the top-end response of the "best of the best" solid state condensers. How could you go wrong? Many things promise to give you the best of both worlds, and few really do. The Gemini II delivers, and how! Give your mic locker a kick in the pants with the Gemini II. You won't be sorry!
Earn $85 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $71/month with 24 month financing*
$85 Earn $85.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $71/month
with 24 month financing*
See all payment options
(Hurry, limited quantity available)
Customer Reviews
Customer Added Media
This product doesn't have any review media yet!
Sweetwater Reviews
Carson McClain
Share Your Thoughts
Help other music gear aficionados by sharing your opinions of gear you've purchased.
Questions about the Gemini2?
Or call us at (800) 222-4700
Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. They are available to offer you personalized product advice any time you need it.
Highest Rated Reviews
AMAZING Mic!!!
I couldn't say enough positive things about this mic! It is not cheap but is well worth the price!
It is my favorite microphone out of all of the ones I had (I have about 10 microphones).
This one is my go to for vocals, it is warm but at the same time I feel like it is super crisp, cuts great through the mix!!!
There's something about it that just gives a great boost to the high frequencies!!
It is a delicate and heavy mic, keep that in mind, you'll want to place it in a big solid stand!!
Overall, I couldn't be happier with this microphone!
AMAZING Mic!!!
I couldn't say enough positive things about this mic! It is not cheap but is well worth the price!
It is my favorite microphone out of all of the ones I had (I have about 10 microphones).
This one is my go to for vocals, it is warm but at the same time I feel like it is super crisp, cuts great through the mix!!!
There's something about it that just gives a great boost to the high frequencies!!
It is a delicate and heavy mic, keep that in mind, you'll want to place it in a big solid stand!!
Overall, I couldn't be happier with this microphone!
Amazing mic!
The sE Gemini II is an amazing mic. I'm not gonna say "for it's price" because this is truly an awesome valve studio mic that fits in the category of top mics! I have used it on acoustic guitar as well as vocal sources. I get a great sound right off the bat and don't have to work hard to get it sounding great as the recordings sound great already!
Great and big sounding mic
The biggest sounding mic I ever tried on acoustic guitar! Full of clear detail, a great doze of tube sound but not in an exaggerated way like some mics do and kill the detail and strangely the most 3 dimensional sounding mic I ever seen after using many mics that cost triple the price of this one.
Perfect for vocal
i just test this beautiful lady for baritone and tenor vocals.. just amazing! one of the best mic for vocal i ever seen
Poor Man's M 149
A few friends and I did a shootout between the Gemini II, a M 149 Tube and a TLM 103. First off, the M 149 was hands down the best. However the Gemini II sounded unbelievably similar. We were all floored by how this beastly microphone seemed to transcend the price barrier and provide AMAZING results for the money. The Gemini was a little more heavy in the low end, the M 149 was a little clearer all around. However at a little over 3K less than the 149, this mic sits so incredibly close to the sound quality of the M 149 you won't be dissatisfied. After not mentioning the TLM 103 (which I love as well) I still feel I don't need to mention it. If you want a mic that gives you smooth vocals, warm acoustic guitars and just leaves you satisfied from the moment you turn up the gain on this beast, look no further. Pair this with the SE Reflexion Filter for great results!
SWEETEST MIC i EVER USED
i used this mic to record vocals and acoustic guitars its so crisp and clean and it picks up every single detail no much eq needed perfect for lead vocals..
This mic is awesome
i have this mic like 6 months now at first i thought it sounded a little high in the mids fq but after adjusting my mic pre it sounded perfect great buy very warm and upfront sounds great on lead vocals
Great Mic
This is a beautiful, full sounding mic that gives you the clarity and a smoothness to vocals that rivals many top mics for a fraction of the cost.
Was a huge fan then & a huge fan now!
Came across this mic when I was at Full Sail. Got the chance to demo it a couple of times & now I finally got my hands on it! If you're looking for a great tube sound I would look into this!
Never Used Anything Like This Before
I've been using the Gemini II now for about 4 months. My previous experience with beefy tube mics has typically been the upper-realm of Neumann offerings, so I was hoping this may play on the same playground as the M-149 or the U87 and in some ways it does, but with something else added to it. The Gemini definitely gets the clarity and warmth of the low end and mids of your source, but it also has a super crisp capture of transients. It's that high-end crispness that you don't have on other tube mics that I'm familiar with. Is that a bad thing? Kinda...but also no. The only reason it's bad is that I find that on some vocals and most voice-over reads, this mic needs either slight high-end roll-off or a De-Esser to smooth out the transients. Usually, that's all it takes. So, the downside being that you either EQ the mic on the way in, or use up a plug-in slot. Now...that being said, having a tube mic that can grab that high-end glass is pretty amazing when using the mic on acoustic guitar or as a room mic.
Indulge
Used this at SAE, the school i graduated from, to record vocals on a project of mine through and SSL J9000. It pics out nuances that you wouldn't expect from a tube. Adds a bit of tone, but is extremely clear. We did a song for and Indie Rock/ Blues band. It was amazing. Tried it as a KICK OUT mic and see what you get. Ready to see what else it can take care of.
