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Roughly the dimensions of 'a flattened Snickers'.

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• Review

With the RNR1, sE Electronics challenged the ribbon mic norm and extended the intrinsically limited frequency range with some clever design and a Rupert Neve-designed active preamp circuit.

Their VR1 and VR2 take the same road but this time with a little voodoo in the physical/acoustical realm, and with a reduction in both size and cost.

No clones

Like the RNR1 the two Voodoo Range mics present a modern aesthetic that seems to have as much to do with function as it does with a resolute break with tradition - these are no RCA clones.

The most striking features are their size and weight, especially the VR1 which has similar dimensions to a flattened Snickers. The VR2 is about 50% longer due to the housing needed for the active (phantom powered) electronics.

With regards to mounting, both mics come with a standard mic clip (in the wooden case) and a full shockmount.

The design focus of the VR mics is a response (or resistance) to the general acceptance of the high frequency roll off that goes hand-in-hand with the pressure gradient element Vs housing relationship of the ribbon mic topology.

Without going into the physics of it (though it's well worth researching), the designer must finely balance the front-to-back dimension which defines the high frequency resonances and the space between the ribbon and the housing grilles which define the structure of the low frequency 'lift' necessary to flatten the response curve. Phew!

Alongside this, sE have created a housing and baffle design to combat the high frequency roll off and thus 'extend' the effective range, and that's the bit that has patents attached.

The holes in the housing are divided by a solid central section that effectively blocks the on-axis path to the ribbon and, in conjunction with layers of internal baffles and meshes, allows for a response biased towards diffuse (mostly HF) rather than direct (mostly LF & MF) acoustical pressure.

The VR1 is a classic passive design and relies purely upon the preamp it is connected to for any amplification. The VR2 joins the new breed of phantom powered ribbon mics that started with the Royer R122 which have been designed for several purposes.

Firstly, it stops users being twitchy about the mostly erroneous belief that phantom power kills ribbons. More importantly it amplifies the naturally low output sensitivity of the ribbon mic to a level equivalent to most condensers, thus requiring less pre gain and incurring less noise.

Extended chocolate

The VR mics immediately reveal their extended HF range, especially when placed alongside other ribbon mics. In fact they would stand out less in among a set of condensers. In the majority of cases this difference is positive, though subjectivity is difficult to remove from this consideration.

The VRs exhibit the smooth clarity in the lows and mids that is the hallmark of good quality ribbons. In direct comparison, this range response is closer to the Coles 4038 than the more 'mid-forward' Royer R121, both of which we used in side-by-side tests.