sE Electronics X1 D Condenser Mic

The X1 D microphone brings the renowned quality of sE Electronics’ X1 series to a mic specifically designed for use on drums and percussion. The hand-crafted titanium-sputtered diaphragm is much stiffer than the company’s gold-sputtered capsules, which makes for a much quicker transient response. This is especially important when recording instruments that create fast transients and attack, as it enables the mic to maintain clarity and deliver exceptionally accurate performance. The X1 D is well suited for recording kick drums, overheads, and vibraphones, along with the hammer action of piano and bass guitar, whose strings are often played with percussive techniques. 

The Sound on Sound  review says, “When we think of kick mics, dynamic models usually come to mind first (or very exotic tube capacitor models), but the sE X1 D gives a great balance of lows and detail at around the price you might expect to pay for a dynamic kick mic.”