Review: sE Electronics V7 & V7x
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- A comparison and review of the sE Electronics V7 and V7x supercardioid microphones. Are these the best dynamic mics for podcasting on a budget? Any budget? Comparisons to Rode Procaster, Shure SM7B, Dark Side DSB-1, Beyerdynamic M201TG ...Please like, share and subscribe!
0:00 Introduction (V7x)
0:47 Introduction (V7)
1:32 Frequency range (V7x)
2:37 Frequency response curve (V7)
3:17 Frequency response curve (V7x)
3:46 Sound differences (V7)
4:35 Plosive handling (V7x)
5:14 Mic comparisons (V7)
6:07 V7x
6:31 Rode Procaster
6:55 DSB-1
7:23 Shure SM7B
7:47 Beyerdynamic M201 TG
8:13 Final thoughts
Soundcloud Audio Review (HQ):
/ se-electronics-v7-v7x-...
Equipment list in this video:
Golden Age Project Pre73 MKIII Preamp: www.goldenageproject.com/outboards-2/pre-73-mkiii/
Antelope Audio Zen Go Synergy Core: en.antelopeaudio.com/products/zen-go-synergy-core/
sE V7: www.seelectronics.com/se-v7-dynamic-microphone
sE V7x: www.seelectronics.com/se-v7-x-dynami…ent-microphone
Shure SM7B: www.shure.com/en-GB/products/microphones/sm7b
Beyerdynamic M201 TG: europe.beyerdynamic.com/m-201-tg.html
Rode Procaster: www.rode.com/microphones/procaster
Useful Links:
Anton Browne's Video on V7 / V7x:
• sE V7X & V7 Swapping G...
Jimmy Reid's Alienation Speech in full:
www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_167194_smxx.pdf
Check out these links:
Website: darksideofthemic.co.uk
Twitter: / thedarksidemic
Facebook: / thedarksidemic
Soundcloud: / thedarksidemic
Instagram: / thedarksidemic
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/thedarksidemic
Interesting comparison! Appreciate the thoughtful quotations you choose for these tests too.
Which I prefer seems to depend on the voice... really liked the X on your and Anton's voice, but found it muddy on Audio Haze and Bandrew's voices. Guess there's not much to do but run my own comparisons!
Criminally underrated review, thank you so much for your work, I loved the comparison with the same text, excellent job!!
Well great review! Thank you!
V7 (5:48), V7x (6:12), Procaster (6:35), SM7B (7:28), M201 TG (7:53). I think Procaster sounds least good sounding, and SM7B is nice and warm but borders on being muddy with slightly less detail. Also, I think V7 is easier to listen to (it's warm and pleasingly airy, and neutral/transparent and natural sounding) than V7x, or SM7B (which I find to be a bit too dark and head-pounding--but this very characteristic makes it easier to listen to when I'm not listening through a headphone). My top 2 picks are M201 TG and V7. Lastly, sound quality/profile will also depend on which audio interface or mic preamp is used with a mic. Thank you. A great, helpful post!
Thanks for commenting. Sometimes I think the comparisons are unfair on SM7B since you’re right, it does sound muddy in a shootout. It takes a while for ears to adjust and it can be especially jarring jumping back and forth. It is probably just too dark, rolled off to be optimal for my voice without any processing. V7 is deal of the decade, if SE brought out a broadcast style version, that would sell like crazy - for a lot of people a handheld mic sadly isn’t “cool-looking” enough.
Thank you bro.. really really good review
I got this V7x, very nice design. I purchased it to test against my Senheisser e935. The main issue I experienced is very sensitive to plosives & proximity effect.
Have you tried v7 grille on it?
@@Tomijee No, is there any V7 grille sold separately?
thanks for the review
How do you feel it affects the sound, does it dull the high end any ? Ive been using one of those grill wrap pop filters, which are neutral but you still have to be careful.
@@thedarksidemic from what i can hear right now, i don't think so; at least it doesn't change it enough to be audibly different, still the same full sound from the v7x but a lot less plosives
@@MyNameIsHops great then, the shure windscreens are usually good, one thing that may improve the plosives is if you pull the A2wS back a bit so it doesn't sit directly on the grill - creating that extra space helps the air dissipate a bit more.
@@thedarksidemic yep! made sure to make it as far back as possible similar to how it was setup on the sm57 before, sounds really good so far!
@@MyNameIsHops its a great deal IMO, and an extra $15 for a windscreen is a great option to make it work as a vocal mic. its very smooth and warm sounding.
v7x sounds very clear. For my ears its even better than procaster and sm7b. Very clear sound-i can understand what talking about even in very loud room. Really this mic add crispness on voice, and podcast mics add softness-that i dont like.
Yep I think if you are looking for a bit of darkness the v7x is outstanding. The low end is very well balanced, and the top end smooth and not harsh. Not sure about crispness, IMO generally you want a podcast mic that’s going to be comfortable to listen to over long periods, that’s why the SM7b is legendary - it’s an easy mic to listen to, but the I think the v7x offers a similar experience.
@@thedarksidemic What a nice, considered response to a commenter...
There is a slightly more expensive variant of V7, the V7 MK, which has the V7X capsule and V7 body, so you get the V7 handling and plosives with V7X sound.
yeah thats actually awesome i found out about that one recently. i will for sure order that variant
Is v7 MK body really same as v7 and not v7x?
@@Kobrar44 Yeah, hard to tell since there isnt any side by side photos.. Mayve v7mk got v7 grille.
Awesome comparison, exactly what I was looking for. I was thinking about buying a V7X for spoken words but your review made me go back and reconsider the V7. I find it smoother and more pleasing to the ear. I even prefer it over the SM7B. Just curious, what's your top 3 for speech?
Yep, listening again, I think the v7 is ever so slightly softer, more balanced, it’s subtle but it’s there. In terms of top 3, this changes week to week, but on my voice I like the M201TG which has that high end extension but very warm and smooth low end. Then maybe V7, especially with some EQ. Lastly I love the darkness of the SM7B but perhaps I need a low cut or slight presence boost on my voice. When you do comparisons with it, it’s probably the most ‘different’ sound and it makes it difficult for your ears to adjust in a shootout. Something special about the richness and fullness of the sound on its own, it has more body than the other mics and still very soft up top.
@@thedarksidemic Would you try to swap the top cap V7 to V7X or try V7 MK version? I personally like the sound of V7x with V7 cap.
@@NuEnGKetoDaddy it’s essentially the same thing apart from the cosmetic difference. The MK uses same capsule as V7x and same headbasket of the V7, so whatever you could get cheaper would be my preference. Anton Browne did a great video swapping the headbaskets and it made a huge difference :)
@@thedarksidemic Thank you bro... Now, it's too many choices. I cannot decide. hahaha
Great review!
I have two RadioShack 3300128 before I know the sE V7.
They look and sound very much alike, especially the grill. Can it be from the same manufacturer?
As far as I know sE make their own capsules, but you never know these days. The RadioShack mic has an on and off switch so that’s a extra bit of electrics inside. The grills look similar though.
Nice review. I considered the v7, but ended up buying a Lewitt MTP 550 DM. I am happy with it but I still find myself wondering if I picked the right one. Quick question, I like how you overlayed the frequency waveform (?) on your photo. Is there a tool you are using for that?
The lewitt is meant to be decent, but I haven’t tried it. I’d like to try a 840DM too. Yes, check out musicvid.org it’s a free service that lets you upload an audio file and it will allow you to design a graphical representation. Lots of templates to choose from or you can start from scratch. I’m using a luma keyer on the file the provide once it’s in FCPX.
@@thedarksidemic thanks! I am looking forward to playing around with that resource.
How about instrument use (guitar amp mostly) and some lead vocals? is V7x okay, maybe change v7 grille on it?
No idea about mic'ing guitar amps, although i play acoustic (badly) this is not something i've tried. BUT it should be grand for that in theory given the extended frequency response. For vocals i would just add a pop filter as i think that would be more effective (and cheaper) than changing the grill. This is a 'great' mic, a total bargain and you can easily make it work for vocals. The SM7B will still pop if you're not careful so if you nail execution with help of a thicker windscreen or pop shield, it will be great.
I liked the M201TG best in this test.
yep its my fave of all time :D
So you like it even better, on your voice, than the MKH 416? (I do.)
@@sinocelt yep for me, I’d lean towards the M201TG, mainly because it ‘helps’ my voice, makes it sound a bit smoother, but there’s also a hint of saturation and sheen. I still think the 416 is fantastic for what it does, it’s very musical and more open sounding but the stronger presence boost does not play nice with my voice at times :)
The MKH 416 makes for very dynamic recordings. I recorded the same text once -- a trailer narration, as a test -- with the MKH 416 and the MD 441, and the 416 really gave that trailer vibe, while the 441 softened the edges so that I sounded more like an enthusiastic university professor giving a lecture.
I think you'd like the 441 on your voice, for audiobook-type work. It's been called the most condenser-like dynamic microphone, but it should really be called the most ribbon-like dynamic microphone. And I mean that as a compliment.
I've read some people on forums say they prefer the M 201 TG over the MD 441, but the use wasn't narration, and I haven't compared them myself. I should have bought a 201 from Thomann when they sold for $178, around July. Now they sell for $244. That's ... quite a price hike, in such a short time!
To conclude, I'll mention two other mics I'd like to try: the Beyerdynamic M 160 and the Earthworks Ethos. (Well, there are more, but these two and the M 201 TG are currently at the top of my wish-I-could-try list.)
@@sinocelt yep I’m tempted by an M160 aswell! Might try and pick up a 441 though, a ribbon vibe is good! Of the earthworks ones, I think the SR314 sounds amazing from what I’ve heard.
AKG D5 for me
Still need to check that one out!
Are these Also Good For Singing?? and How's the Noise Floor when it is not Processed yet?..
The V7 would be the most common one to use for singing, although many use the v7x for more low end and change the headbasket to avoid plosives. Very clean in terms of self noise. Check out videos by Anton Browne who does singing demo on both mics. 😀
@@thedarksidemic thanks.. yeah i saw that video already, but i'm still struggling if there's a huge difference between that two beside with the "sensitive plosives probs" with the v7x..
@@user-yc3pt3om1d v7x definitely has more bass and low end with proximity, it feels fuller. As singer you could probably play with that for effect. The V7 is more neutral all round
@@thedarksidemic noted, do you have any idea how's the noise floor when in bedroom recording? and isolation when on stage?
@@user-yc3pt3om1d so theoretically a dynamic mic will have no self noise, but the noise you hear will be generated by your preamp, not the mic. because dynamics typically need a lot of gain to reach good level this is where noise is introduced. So on my V7x here i give it about 50db of gain on my AA Zen Go (decent preamps) for spoken word (im not a loud talker!). Singing will need way less than that. At 55db I hear very slight preamp hiss - its really good, for singing it will be even better. So what preamp do you have ? This is key question for using a dynamic.
SM 7B all the way!!!
Tough decision between these two
Yeah the extra bass is really tempting on the X model, but the V7 is more brighter I think.