sE Electronics sE2200a II C Reviews

4.8/5.0 based on 14 customer reviews

Sweetwater Advice

Charlie Davis

The sE Electronics sE2200a II C is such a great all-around mic. I have one in my home studio and it works great for tracking my guitars, as well as vocals. The main feedback I get from customers who buy this is that it sounds more expensive than it costs, and who isn't a fan of great bang for the buck?

Kenny Bergle

What a GREAT mic! I love selling these as people just FREAK when they hear it in their own studio and thank me profusely! If you don't have a great condenser mic in your arsenal, you need an sE Electronics sE2200a II C !!!!

Patrick Schaefer

When I was looking for a great mic to track demos and didn't have a large budget, I added the sE Electronics sE2200a II C to my collection. I was impressed with the versatility that this mic had to offer. I use it to mic both my Gibson J-200 and vocals. It gives me all the clarity and presence that the J-200 deserves. I would recommend this as a great addition to any mic locker, big or small.

Stuart Niven

The sE Electronics sE2200a II C is a fantastic mic for the home studio on up! It's built like a tank and the quality can be seen and felt striaght away. It sounds like a much more expensive mic (they even hand-tension the capsule, just like the way vintage mics were made!) If you have a home/project studio, get the eE2200a II C!

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Customer Reviews

Dan
from Nb, Ct
April 3, 2013Music Background:
student

Great

Just bought this badboy. I put it up against my akg perception 220 and this mic overpowered it in everyway when comes down to vocals. The clarity is outstanding. I couldnt have been any more satisfied then with this purchase.

Franki Micheo
from Spring Hill, FL
January 30, 2013Music Background:
Audio Engineer, Pro Musician

Impressive!!

For the price, the first thing that came to my mind was the average quality of mics in this price range, but!!!!! When I started to record, noticed how I didn't have to EQ almost anything! Clarity, presence, bottom and sensitivity are really impressive in this mic. Having used the U87, U67, C414 among others, I have to say that, with a good preamp and converters of course, this mic fits on the top league!

from
January 3, 2013

Great Mic

Excellent! The quality of this mic, used for vocal recording, is well beyond what one would expect at this price point.

Anthony
from Denver
November 12, 2012Music Background:
Home Studio Recording

Amazing sounding mic!

Seriously great quality sound from a seriously affordable mic. Excellent build quality

Keith Jackson
from Los Angeles
August 25, 2012Music Background:
Composer/Producer/ Engineer

You won't be disappointed

I've always heard great things about the SE brand, and the sE2200A in particular. Not sure if its true, but I heard this was Amy Winehouse's go-to mic? At any rate, I could see why because this thing sounds like a $1000+ microphone.

It has the up-front character you've probably been over-compressing to get, with all of the high end sheen of a Nueman.

I've just gotten mine recently and have only have a chance to use it on a few vocalist, however I'm curious to hear how it will sound on other sources such as acoustic, or hand percussion. My gut tells me it probably won't be a very good room, or drum mic, but I can live with that as this thing is Sizzling on Vocals.

One word of advice, Be light on the compression on your front end because this mic naturally sounds like it has a 2:1 compression built in.

I think this mic ex cells, at Hiphop vocals, rock, pop, and r & b, vocals. Not super beefy on the bottom end, but once in a mix, vocals soar with very little work.

GREAT JOB SE!!!

from Austin, Texas
August 5, 2012

U87 ish?

We had someone come from Neve/sE to my school to talk to us about some products and design. My school is in Austin and Neve/sE is in San Marcos only 30 mins away. We took this mic into the tracking room and threw it up against an Neumann U87. Both ran through SSL pres on our Duality board. We were all blown away by what we heard. There was only a slight difference in presence (The U87 having better) but everything else sounded pretty similar. Everyone was shocked by how great the 2200a II sounded, even Tristian from Neve was a little surprised. Obviously the U87 sounded a little better, but with that big of a price difference it would be dumb not to get this, our source was an acoustic guitar. My next mic to add to the locker.

Bennie Shipley
from Nashville, TN
June 21, 2012Music Background:
Voice Actor

sE Electronics sE2200a II c Microphone

Before purchasing this from Sweetwater, I had a feeling this would be a good mic. It surpassed my expectations. I would compare the quality to my Neumann TLM 102, only a tiny bit brighter sounding. I would definitely
recommend this mic. If you're a voice actor, like myself, you won't be disappointed.

Bob Williams
from Spokane, WA USA
June 13, 2012Music Background:
Recording Engineer, Hobbyist Musician

Fantastic!

Picked this up as my first higher caliber vocal microphone. Running it through a UA 710 preamp. So far, nothing I have done with it has sounded bad. Takes are sounding great with the microphone's HPF enabled. I have not yet had the opportunity to try the mic on any instruments. The build quality seems solid - It's heavy. The mic DOES currently include a free pop filter. No need to buy an extra if you purchase this mic like I accidentally did.

F!ction
from United States
May 30, 2012Music Background:
Home Studio, Student

Stands up to that of a $400 Mic, easily.

Recently, my brother purchased the Baby Bottle microphone from Blue. Absolutely beautiful microphone - nice presence, tone, and no real EQ needed except for some to help slide the vocals into the mix (for his voice anyways).

When I tried the Baby Bottle out, I was amazed as well. My voice sounded good, compared to my microphone I used before - Shure SM58. Granted, the SM58 is a cheap microphone compared to the Baby Bottle, but the pure presence and up-front feel the mic offered far surpassed the mid-rangey SM58 sound produced when I sang into it.

Now, having worked with the Baby Bottle and the SM58 for a good while, I purchased this sE2200a ii C to use. I was absolutely blown away. This microphone accentuates the perfect features of my voice - helps add presence on the lows and evens out the mids nicely to avoid the nasal sound that I found ever so present in the SM58 (which, the nasal could be because of my faulty vocal technique.... shh).

If the sE2200a II C was blind tested with the Baby Bottle, I believe the two would be very difficult to tell apart. However, both are very solid microphones. For my voice, the sE seems to be a better fit.

Overall, extremely satisfied with the mic. Nice upfront sound, solid presence. The shock mount is solid. The means in which the microphone and the pop filter are inserted into the shock mount are genius. Comes in a nice box (no case), but I'm going to use the box as a case xp.

Buy this, for 250 its an absolute steal. =]

P.S. First purchase from Sweetwater and would definitely shop here again!

Erik Parise
from Columbus, OH
May 30, 2012Music Background:
Recording Engineer, Producer, Pro Musician

Amazing Quality Clean Warm Mic

When Amy Winehouse used a 2200a series as her main vocal mic for her 'Back in Black' album that say something. Got it today and even the foam that is used to protect it inside the box is quality stuff. sE really does take care of their mics hand built mics. It even came with a QC Pass ticket with the date it passed inspection. Can't believe how nice the overall solid body is and it came with a shock mount and pop filter. I ran it straight through an apogee duet 2 and it has been the cleanest low noise warm mic I have used for vocals. Best investment for the price and it's nice to know the 2200a series has been used on a multi-Grammy album.

Ryan Pugh
from United States
March 1, 2013Music Background:
Voice Over Talent / Pro Tools User

Great on Vocals / Voice Over

Really great, warm mic for an amazing price point! Very happy!

George Piazza - Fly Studio
from Metairie, La. USA
July 7, 2012Music Background:
Musician, Professional Recording Engineer, Mastering

Revised from previous review

Following up on my previous review, after trying the sE200a II C through various preamps, I must say how impressed I am. Nice even yet full response, a touch of air, good solid mids and highs.... great build. Far and away a great value for price and in league with my best mics (AKG 414 XL II, modded Rode NTK, Audio Technica 4050, Shure KSM32).
My first review was based on trying the mic through just one preamp (Avalon 737sp); that preamp has an unusually low impedence load of 850 ohms. Then I tried it through my Hamptone JFET, Demeter tube pre and modded Studio Technologies. The mic opened right up!
You might want to make sure that the pre you use with this mic has a high impedence load, as it seems to have a more noticable effect than some other mics.
Forget those mics that use chinese capsules selling at this price point and get on of these beauties. You won't regret it.

Jim Lionberger
from Hermleigh, TX USA
April 2, 2013Music Background:
Singer, Songwriter

Nice Mic

I bought this mic as a step up from the condenser mic that I had. I was not disappointed. I have not used it alot yet, but I have noticed that my vocals are up front and my recordings require alot less work in the mix. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase.

George P. - Fly Studio & Tabula Rasa
from New Orleans, La.
June 30, 2012Music Background:
Recording Engineer, Mastering,Pro Musician

Decent for the money

In all fairness, I only tried this mic once or twice, and haven't recorded anything yet with it; also, haven't tried it on a variety of preamps (just the Avalon 737). Also, everyone has different preferences and voices, so take this with a grain of salt.
I bought this mic during the Sweetwater May mic deal, as it was all I could afford at the time.
I have a few other inexpensive condenser mics, as well as a few pricier ones (AKG 414-XLII, AT 4050 & modded Rode NTK).
I was a little less than impressed by this mic, given the recent hype over sE mics; the sensitivity is just not that great (i.e. when you move back a little, the sound gets small real quick, even with compression); also it doesn't have much body or 'air'. Of course this could be good for getting a 'neutral' sound.
On the other hand, it displays a more even frequency & transient response than the M-Audio Solaris & mics in that league; in fact it is very smooth in some respects. It is also rugged and the rubber padding & shock mount are very nice. It might be real good on elecrtic guitars, but I haven't tried that yet.
You could do worse for this price range, but don't expect airiness or extra fullness, and use good mic technique with vocals.
If your focus is vocals & you have a choice, go with the AT 4033 - a much nicer mic; or the AKG 214; both are in the same price range ballpark and have a better 'soundstage'. Meanwhile, I hope to check it out more and the higher end sE stuff.
Pros: Even, if underwhelming frequency & transient response; rugged build and excellent accesories.
Cons: It won't blow your socks off if you have a thin voice or want to get a big roomy sound.