Pretty, isn’t it? The Rupert Neve sE RNR1. I’ll let the sE Electronics press release handle the introduction.

The sE/Rupert Neve collaboration Ribbon is the first of several mics being readied for production in this Rupert Neve Signature sE series.

The RNR1 offers revolutionary performance, courtesy of a unique blend of discrete circuits and purpose designed, transformers from Mr. Rupert Neve, and the best capsules and chassis design that Siwei Zou and sE have to offer.

The RNR1 mic has all the qualities engineers love in the very best Ribbons … warm and silky lows and incredible depth and air to mid frequencies, but with a clarity and impact in high frequencies that reveals vital harmonic information normally missing.

Legendary audio engineer Rupert Neve adds,

I have worked for some time on the designs for this new range of microphones – the concepts of which are actually already being implemented in our own Rupert Neve Designs 5088 Console – namely utilizing Discrete Single-Sided Circuits and my custom designed transformers.

This new approach to analogue sound processing has required extreme care in its manufacture and meticulous alignment of the embedded discrete opamps and the delicate microphone elements.

I am delighted with the early fruits of this collaboration and look forward to the series of revolutionary products that will follow.

Siwei Zou, renowned classical musician and sE Electronics founder says,

This collaboration has been a dream come true for me. I have known Rupert for many years, and have discussed with Rupert many times his theories regarding microphone development and design. To get the opportunity to couple Rupert’s exemplary and time tested approach to electronics design with my own passion for excellence in sonic reproduction and acoustics, has been incredible. I think that the results speak for themselves.

A ribbon microphone designed by Rupert Neve, with dual-transformer amplifier circuit architecture, one between the ribbon transducer and the amplifier circuit, to optimize the impedance loading of the ribbon, and another on the output of the amp circuit.

Is this the perfect jazz trumpet microphone? I think it may be time to find out.