I bought the sE8 matched pair specifically for acoustic guitar, and they were exactly the right call.

My reference points were a pair of Rode NTKs, which I love on vocals, and an older MXL small diaphragm condenser. On acoustic guitar, the NTKs were too "false bright" sounding, and the MXL was less bright but also less rich and less satisfying overall. The sE8s landed right where I wanted them detailed, natural, and musically convincing without that exaggerated top-end gloss.

I tested them with a Taylor 814ce, and the result was gorgeous right away. Clear, balanced, and honest. The guitar sounded like itself rather than like a microphone imposing a point of view on it. That was the whole goal.

I am running them through a MOTU 8pre-es, and the combination is excellent. I also experimented with using the sE8 pair alongside a Rode NTK for live singer-songwriter recording, and the overall quality of all three mics together was impressive. The sE8s held their own easily and gave me exactly the kind of acoustic guitar capture I was after.

At this point, I do not feel any urge to chase a more expensive small diaphragm condenser. These sound that good. For my use, the sE8s were a great decision.

Very close to the KM184. A nice upgrade for my drum overheads.

I bought these to use with my high school choir for our concerts this past year. We don't have the ability to hang mics and the acoustic situation makes the use of anything omnidirectional fraught, so cardioid small-diaphragm condensers are the best solution for us. I have two ensembles, one with 16 singers and another with 25–30 singers. Our auditorium is an acoustic mess, but I was impressed by the quality and clarity of the sound from these two mics. The sE8s made it easy to hear the choir's consonants and harmonies more clearly in the hall. I have tried XY and AB stereo configurations and had success with both.

The mics themselves are solidly constructed and include two high-pass filters to take the load off your mixer's built-in EQ. There is also a switchable -10dB/-20dB pad that I have not yet had to use. The included stereo bar is a nice touch, and the flight case gives me peace of mind when students carry the mic between my classroom and the auditorium. My orchestra colleague was also able to use these to mic his string section and was quite pleased with the results.

I'm sure there are better mics out there, but at this price point, this is meeting my needs and then some. Overall, this is a great option for choir!

I was looking for a new pair of overhead mics for my drums. My sales engineer Tad recommended the SE8 mics by SE. I wasn't sure if they were what I was looking for but Tad was persistent and I am glad he was. These mic's sound great and punch well above their weight class for the price. Full sound with minimal mixing needed. Great buy. Thank you Tad

I've been using these primarily mandolin, uke, and some acoustic guitar. They really do a fantastic job of translating the performance and are super clear without over-emphasizing pick and strum transients. The sense of space even in a small treated studio space is also outstanding (more than I expected given the constraints I'm recording in).

So far only used these for a singer/songwriter session with these on acoustic guitar, but they sounded great. Really captured the unique sound of a unique acoustic guitar (a no-name, pawn shop special, parlor sized guitar that sounds crazy good). Can't wait to use them some more!

I got a pair of the sE8 to use with a Zoom F3 for an easy mobile and field recording rig. Over the past year-and-a-half, I've recorded a variety of sources, from a wide array of percussion to live performances both outdoors and in clubs. It really shines with the percussion; everything from shakers to bowed cymbal to waterphone came out crystal clear and natural sounding. Even without the pad, there was plenty of headroom to capture difficult things like jangling keys without distortion. Many of the percussion sounds I record are heavily manipulated after the fact in ways that often amplify flaws in the recording, and I haven't encountered any issues with excessive noise or anomalies from my recordings with the sE8.

I recently recorded live jazz in a small noisy club. The recording turned out great, with all the vibe and nuance captured with such detail that it feels like you're sitting at the end of the bar listening to the band. Very satisfying. I did some outdoor recording at a festival this past August and a solo flute performance turned out especially good. The flutist ran the instrument through a bunch of effects and a looper and accompanied herself with layers of sound, that was then out thru the big PA. The sE8s captured it (from probably 40 feet away with ORTF arrangement) with an intimacy that would almost sound like a studio recording, if not for the occasional wind noise. And wind noise is the only issue I'd say I've encountered with these mics so far; they seem quite prone to it. I will need to invest in some kind of serious fuzzy windscreens to really use them well outdoors, because the included foam windscreens aren't very effective. I would consider this more a characteristic typical of this kind of small diaphragm mic than any sort of flaw.

I was initially disappointed trying to use a single sE8 as a voiceover mic. The proximity effect was boomy at unflattering frequencies for my voice, and the high pass filter didn't seem to help at all. Then, I used my brain and pulled the mic back a foot or two. Voila! Clear natural sound without any unpleasant coloration. Though, this might not be the best situation if you're dealing with a noisy or echo-y room. This wouldn't be my first choice as a vocal mic, but it can work well if you're looking for a naturalistic sound and keep it far enough away to avoid too much proximity effect.

These mics are a good choice for when you want a "clean slate" recording. They have none of the harsh or plastic-y sound I've experienced with cheap mics, and the overall sound is on par with Neumann, etc... I sometimes use KM184s in my day job, so that is my typical reference for small diaphragm pairs like this, and the sE8 hold their own well enough that I've lost any motivation to get a pair of KM184 for myself (rather get several more sE pairs for that price!). I also often use a few pairs of Shure KSM141, and I'd say I prefer the sE8 over them, though the Shure pair includes the superb A27M stereo mount (the best ever stereo mount for XY and ORTF!). Fortunately, you can buy the A27M alone, which is what I did, and it is my default mount for the sE8 pair. It makes for a compact setup that's easy to place even in a crowded small club.

I highly recommend the sE8 for anyone looking for a clean neutral pair at any budget. In addition to the sound, the build quality is also on par with some of the best microphones I've used over the years.

After extensive research across many threads and forums combined with my own use of these mics for a few days before returning them, I have concluded as others that these mics produce significantly more self noise than the advertised 13db.

I cannot say exactly what the self noise rating is but I would guess it's closer to to 16-18db range.

I also experienced one of the mics in my matched pair was producing significantly less signal than the other, requiring me to almost double the volume on one that particular stereo channel to get them the same volume. I am guessing this flaw was due to a fluke/flaw in these particular mics/mic however, as I did not come across any complaints in my research of this problem.

I returned them for a pair of Shure 137s which have much less self noise. Also consider the Audio Technica 4021's as they also have much less self noise than these, although I have not yet actually tested the AT's.

I got these to mic up a small orchestra section (two woodwinds, two brass horns) and they are absolutely perfect for the application! They're very sensitive, so I love having the dedicated cut switches on the mics themselves. It really adds to the versatility. They are also incredibly clear--as transparent of a mic as I've ever seen, so they're super easy to mix in the grand scheme of the band. Might even pick up another set for our drum overheads or to replace our other room mics.

Will also be picking some up to keep for home studio and gigging!

I received a pair of these through the sE 7 piece drum kit set and I am always pulling these mics out of that kit for stereo area mics and recording. They are truly exceptional. Really low noise floor, really great sensitivity. Clarity is spot on. If I play these back through my nice studio headphones, it sounds like I'm really there. One of these days I'm going to need to record and set up overheads. That will be a difficult day.

I went on a search for a pair of good recording mics for my classical guitar last year. I tried a variety of mics in the $100 to $600 each range. Then I borrowed a friend's vintage Neuman KM184 which quickly spoiled me with its smooth, warm, clear sound. However, I didn't want to pay for a pair of their replacement model, the Neumann KM184, if I could avoid it, so based on good reviews I bought these sE8 mics to check them out. I found the sE8's to be overly crisp, less clear, less deep, and less pleasing than the Neumanns. So I returned the sE8's, bit the bullet, and bought a pair of the KM184's. I love the KM184's!

These aren't bad mikes, and if you aren't really attached to the subtleties of the music they'll do an ok job, but if you are a stickler for detail and you can afford it I suggest looking elsewhere.

For me, the sE Electronics sE8 microphone sounds as if an AKG 460 and an AKG 451 had a child. The result is a full bodied sound that never gets harsh or brittle. These mics give a very, very honest representation of whatever instrument you are recording and/or amplifying. At their price point, these are killer mics. I have zero buyers remorse.

I plan to use these to record small choir songs. I've only used them on my (baritone) voice so far. They sound pretty dark at first. With some simple EQ (reduced lower frequencies, and slightly boosted high frequencies), these sound more clear and open. They aren't the absolute best-sounding mics ever, but they do sound good. The high-pass filters and pad switches are nice, but not easily accessible without tiny slim object.

I have a more expensive microphone (almost twice the cost of this bundle) which sounds much better than these. However, for 2 good-quality mics, accessories and a nice case, this is an amazing bargain.

A very true to life stereo pair. I use as an ORTF stereo array for nature recording. The low noise (13DBa) and flat respose with a slight boost brings nature to life.

I am using these lovely condensers in XY configuration 35" above my snare drum and they are doing a fantastic job of capturing one pair of hihats, 11 cymbals, and 7 toms. I don't use overheads as cymbals-only mics. They are capturing the entire set with an amazing amount of detail and nuance that I've never heard before. My ride cymbals, 2 20" flat rides and one 22" K ride, are being captured so faithfully. They come with a nice case, and the stereo bar is a nice touch! Highly recommended. And, thank you Chris for another superb buying experience! Ordered them on a Thursday and they came that Saturday! Bravo!

Brought these after a reading a lot of reviews on mics in the same price range.Completely blown away by the clarity these bring in. Primarily used on different types of percussion.Total value for money!

I was very excited to pick these up after searching high and low for the right value/price point for my home studio's first set of small-diaphragm condensers. They are tonally balanced, have very low self-noise, and the included stereo bar is a nice touch. I have been very impressed with their quality for this price point, as their performance is on par with microphones that cost considerably more than them.

They are small, maneuverable, and with the HP filter and pads, incredibly flexible. I would love to get an omnidirectional set of capsules at some point, but these are already fantastic and fully featured for this price point.

If you're looking for a well-made stereo pair of small-diaphragm condensers, I would highly recommend looking at the sE8 stereo pair. I've primarily been using it on acoustic guitar, and it does a wonderful job capturing it faithfully, and I have no doubt it would well as a set of overheads on drums, or for use with a piano.

These mics are sounding great on my acoustic guitar ... accurately reproducing what I hear in the room. I'd read a few reviews elsewhere that claimed these are substantially noisier than their specs claim, but I'm not detecting any self-noise issues at all with them, so I don't think that is a concern. An absolute steal for what you get, in my opinion.

I bought this SE8 matched pair from Lindsey Becker (always very helpful) here at Sweetwater. Ordered them yesterday and they arrived today. I purchased them primarily to record solo fingerstyle guitar. I am blown away by the build quality, sound quality, and and how quiet they are. I am always concerned when
I make a purchase of something I haven"t seen or heard.

After a couple 100 hours with our matched pair of SE8s, I"ve found them to be capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our matched pair of Neumann KM184s in many situations. Plus, the SE8"s 80Hz/160Hz high pass filters and 10dB/20dB pads enable the SE8s to be tailored more readily to a variety of conditions.

That"s not to imply the KM184s aren"t superb. They are, especially when coupled with a world-class pre. Nevertheless, at $499 for a matched pair of SE8s vs. $1600 for a matched KM184s (prices as of 12/2018), it"s easy to imagine the cost/performance proposition of the SE8s must have raised eyebrows in Berlin.

Thanks to my Sweetwater Sales Engineer, Caleb Lowery, for guiding me to the SE8s and getting them to us so quickly.

These are awesome.
I had been wracking my brains out trying all kinds of different things to
capture the natural tones, nuances and sustain of my acoustic guitar with no luck.
These really did the trick and it only took a few minor tweaks with an eq and a de-esser to nail it.
I hear the same thing in the headphones as I do in the room with no mic.

Pros: Great Sound - 1. Transparent 2. Great Low End Response
Match Pair Availability
Great Build
Compact Design
Great on OH's, HH, Ride and Acoustic Instruments

Cons: Wanting a Second Pair

For the first time I've been able to record the sound of my guitar as it really sounds to me when I'm playing. I'm extremely impressed with these microphones - the sound is accurate, true and kind on the ear.

I wasn"t sure what to expect from these microphones. I purchased them to record acoustic guitar. For years I recorded my guitar with a single microphone and I got good results but it never sounded exactly like the real thing. I got the sE Electronics sE8 Stereo Pair in last week but I just got a chance to give them a try today. I set them up as a coincident pair (X - Y) and hit record and played my martin acoustic for a couple of minutes. On playback, with a flat signal, it was the first time my acoustic sounded exactly like itself. It was one of those WOW moments. It just doesn"t get better than that.

Thanks for the help Sweetwater!!!! I actually called to purchase another product but David Merkosky was involved in asking how and what I was trying to accomplish and he suggested the sE8 pair. We connected these last night and blown away at how well they worked. Super impressed and the choir sounds fantastic!!

Thanks again to David Merkosky for giving proper guidance.

David Weldon,RCDD

I'm just starting to put together a home studio so I'm not too experienced in the SDC area. That being said, these really blew me away. I've used them to mic up a drum kit and my guitar cab (both in a less than ideal room) and still was super pleased with what came out of them. On the guitar cab they have a lot of warmth and a great replication of the source, as overheads the cymbals sounded fantastic for the room I'm in. I'm not certain how other mics stack up against them in this price range but from what I've heard there tends to be an artificial sound to them, I can say I know what that sounds like and these fellas don't give off that vibe at all. Definitely would recommend these to others looking for a really solid set of mics that won't break the bank.

This is the first time I"ve bought a pair of small condensers for myself, and I"m very pleased with the result. At the moment I"m using these to pick up a multi percussion setup for an electro-acoustic piece. The setup ranges from triangle to timpani, so I needed mikes that could pick up a clean signal in highs, mids, and lows, and these didn"t disappoint.

I run these through an ART MPIII DUAL Preamp. I installed a matched set of uber quiet Goldlion tubes in the MPIII. These mics sound fabulous throw the MP, then into ProTools. I took off .5 star because I could only get that high dollar by using the MP. Righteous sound with Mogami mic cables!

I am really impressed with these mics. Shortly after they arrived I recorded 4 singers, acoustic guitar and cello in a live filmed session. I used this pair as well as a pair of sE4400 mics in a Blumein configuration for my stereo imagery. I used both to compare the differences. The sE8 pair was very "natural" and pleasing. No high-end harshness or brittleness that I have found in some "budget" small condensers. In mixdown I found myself favoring the sE8 over the sE4400 for this application. I am by no means dogging the sE4400 microphone. It is a gem for most occasions, but here the sE8 had the clarity and detail I needed.
Well done once again sE!

Just bought this new set of mics, I have the Se5 matched pair to compare, also I used the Paired Newman 184. Immediately I noticed a completely different sound to the overly bright set of SE5. The SE8 has a flatter frequency response which at the beginning sounds darker, then you notice that the sound is richer, less metallic and, overall, more musical. They have more info in the mids, and comparing with the SE5 these now sounds harsh and empty, they gave you the illusion that they have more definition but that is because of the design and the eq frequency response peaking at 12k.
Recording acoustic guitar with a Martin D18GE with new strings, this new sets of mics sound very good and the se5 sounds now artificial, canned, it seems they only capture the highs and peaks but not the essence of the instrument, the SE8 sounds closer to the musicality of the KSM 184, great set of mics, didn't like the fact that they cheapen the stands, I liked the shock mount of the SE5 a lot better.