sE Electronics sE8 Cardioid Capsule Pair is a factory-matched pair of cardioid capsules for the sE8 small-diaphragm condenser body. The capsules are interchangeable with the standard omnidirectional capsules supplied with the sE8 omni version — swapping requires only unscrewing the existing capsule and threading on the cardioid. Each pair is selected from hundreds of individually measured units so that sensitivity and frequency response are virtually identical across the full bandwidth — the prerequisite for accurate stereo imaging and phantom center stability.
Capsule design and its effect on sound
Each sE8 capsule is a true condenser (not back-electret) with a 3-micron gold-sputtered diaphragm, handbuilt and individually tuned by technicians in sE's own factory. The precision backplate design with an optimized electrode geometry produces a consistently smooth off-axis response — sources recorded from the side or at an angle do not take on a dramatically different tonal character than those on axis. A gentle presence lift around 5–8 kHz adds clarity to instruments without the hardness associated with the cheapest small-capsule designs. Self-noise of 13 dB(A) places the capsule among the quieter small-diaphragm condensers in its price class; max SPL of 139/149/159 dBSPL (no pad/–10/–20 dB) covers everything from quiet room recordings to close-miked cymbals and percussion without switching hardware.Application and sE8 body integration
The sE8 cardioid pair is primarily used in directional stereo techniques — XY, ORTF, NOS — where the stereo width derives from angular difference rather than time delay. The low 13 dB(A) self-noise is particularly useful in choir and orchestral recording, where signal-to-noise ratio is critical at large working distances from the source. The sE8 body (sold separately or as part of a complete stereo pair package) provides two switchable high-pass filters (80 Hz and 160 Hz, 6 dB/oct) and two attenuation pads (–10 dB and –20 dB), all accessible via a miniature screwdriver — all four settings function with any sE8 capsule regardless of polar pattern. The sE8 body circuit is transformerless discrete Class-A with no integrated circuits.KEY FEATURES
- Factory-matched cardioid capsule pair — selected from hundreds of units for identical sensitivity and frequency response
- True condenser (not back-electret) with 3-micron gold-sputtered diaphragm — handbuilt and individually tuned
- Precision backplate design — smooth, consistent off-axis response across the polar pattern
- Self-noise 13 dB(A) — among the lowest in class for small-diaphragm condensers
- Max SPL: 139 / 149 / 159 dBSPL (0 / –10 / –20 dB pad) @ 0.5% THD
- Interchangeable with sE8 body — thread-on, no tools required
- Compatible with sE8 body's 80/160 Hz filters and –10/–20 dB pads
- Applications: XY/ORTF/NOS stereo recording, orchestras, choirs, acoustic instruments, drum overheads, acoustic guitar, piano, brass, woodwinds
- Power: 48V phantom (via sE8 body)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Capsule type: small-diaphragm true condenser
- Polar pattern: cardioid
- Diaphragm: 3 µm gold-sputtered
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 25 mV/Pa (-32 dBV)
- Max SPL: 139 / 149 / 159 dBSPL (0 / –10 / –20 dB pad, 0.5% THD @ 1 kHz)
- Self-noise: 13 dB(A)
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 81 dB
- Contents: 2x sE8 cardioid capsule (sE8 bodies sold separately)
