Natural Sounding Passive Ribbon Mic for Guitar Cabs, Brass, and Studio Instruments
The
sE Electronics VR1 is a passive ribbon microphone engineered to deliver exceptionally open, natural, and uncolored sound, making it an ideal choice for capturing electric guitar cabinets, brass instruments, strings, and more. With a hand-tensioned 2.5 µm aluminum ribbon element and a figure-8 polar pattern, the VR1 is prized by engineers for its ability to bring out detailed mids and articulate highs—without harshness or muddiness.
sE Electronics VR1 Competitive Differences
- Hand-crafted aluminum ribbon element for authentic ribbon tone
- Passive design allows use with a wide range of preamps (phantom power protected)
- Detailed and open top-end without sacrificing classic ribbon smoothness
- Figure-8 pickup pattern captures both sides equally—great for room ambience or paired sources
- All-metal housing and gold-plated XLR connector for durability and signal integrity
- Includes shockmount, stand clip, and wooden case for studio-ready protection
sE Electronics VR1 Description
Built for clarity, character, and uncompromising build quality, the
VR1 delivers ribbon mic warmth with added high-frequency extension—without requiring active circuitry. Unlike many traditional ribbons, the VR1 captures detail with impressive transient response, making it particularly effective for applications like electric guitar amps, horns, percussion, and stringed instruments.
Its figure-8 pattern excels at rejecting sound from the sides and capturing room ambiance from the rear, while the robust, all-metal chassis ensures it stands up to the demands of stage and studio work. Designed by CEO Siwei Zou, the VR1 leverages sE’s extensive expertise in ribbon and condenser mic technology.
VR1 Features
- Passive ribbon design—no onboard electronics
- Hand-crafted 2.5 µm aluminum ribbon element
- Detailed, balanced tone with extended frequency response
- Phantom power protected for safe use with any preamp
- Figure-8 polar pattern captures front and rear equally
- All-metal chassis with gold-plated XLR connection
- Includes shockmount, thread adapter, stand clip, and wooden storage box
VR1 Specifications
- Transducer Type: Hand-crafted 2.5 µm Aluminum Ribbon
- Polar Pattern: Figure-8
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 18 kHz
- Impedance: 300 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 1.8 mV / Pa (-55 dBV)
- Max SPL: 135 dB (0.5% THD @ 1kHz)
- Equivalent Noise Level: 19 dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 75 dB
- Connectivity: 3-pin male XLR connector (gold-plated)
- Powering: Not required (phantom-protected)
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 127 x 33 x 20 mm (5.00 x 1.30 x 0.79 in.)
- Weight: 230 g (8.11 oz.)
What’s in the Box
- VR1 Ribbon Microphone
- Microphone Stand Clip
- Thread Adapter
- Wooden Storage Case
- Shockmount
sE Electronics VR1
(sE Electronics VR1-U)
