sE Electronics RN17 Interchangeable Cardioid Capsule

sE Electronics RN17 Cardioid Capsule: A Screw-On Front-Focused Head for the RN17 System

The sE Electronics RN17 Cardioid Capsule is a bare, interchangeable capsule head for the RN17 microphone body, not a complete microphone on its own. It carries a 15 mm gold-sputtered true-condenser diaphragm in a cardioid configuration, letting an RN17 owner set or restore a front-focused polar pattern. Because it shares the RN17's tonal signature, it keeps your sound consistent while expanding what a single body can do. For anyone building an RN17 kit, it is the simple, precise way to keep a directional voice always on hand.

Interchangeable Capsule Head, Not a Full Microphone

This product is a bare capsule head designed to screw onto an existing RN17 microphone body, so it must be used with an RN17 to make sound. The RN17 separates its capsule from its electronics, and this cardioid head contains only the diaphragm assembly, drawing its power and output connection from the host body once attached. That modular design is why a capsule can be sold on its own as a spare or an addition rather than as a standalone microphone. If you do not already own an RN17 body, this capsule alone will not record; it is an accessory within the RN17 system.

15 mm Gold-Sputtered Condenser Diaphragm

The capsule uses the same 15 mm gold-sputtered true-condenser diaphragm found in the complete RN17. Gold sputtering deposits an ultra-thin, perfectly even coat of gold on the diaphragm so it can hold a stable electrical charge, and the small 15 mm size keeps the diaphragm light enough to respond quickly and accurately to high frequencies. This is the source of the RN17's refined, natural top end and fast transient detail. Fitting this head means your RN17 delivers exactly the high-frequency character sE designed the system to produce.

Cardioid Polar Pattern

This head gives the RN17 a cardioid polar pattern, most sensitive to sound in front and rejecting sound from behind. Cardioid is the standard recording pattern because it isolates the intended source and suppresses spill from other instruments and room reflections, keeping each track clean and easy to mix. Directional capsules like this also produce proximity effect, a bass lift that grows as the mic moves closer, which you can use to add warmth or avoid by pulling back. For overheads, acoustic instruments, and focused sources, the cardioid head delivers tight, well-separated pickup.

Consistent Tone Across the RN17 System

Because every RN17 capsule is voiced to match, adding this cardioid head keeps your microphone's tonal signature consistent whether you use it alone or alongside other RN17 capsules. Matching matters most in stereo and multi-mic work, where a capsule that colored the sound differently would blur the image or make tracks hard to blend. Owning a spare cardioid head also means a single RN17 body can be reset to cardioid instantly or kept working if a capsule is ever damaged. This consistency is what makes the interchangeable system practical for real sessions rather than a novelty.

When to Add a Cardioid Capsule

This capsule is the right choice as a spare or replacement cardioid head, or to return an RN17 to cardioid after using an omni or other pattern. Engineers who record drum overheads, acoustic guitar, piano, and other directional sources rely on cardioid for its focus and isolation, so having a dedicated head ready saves time mid-session. For an RN17 owner expanding a capsule collection, it ensures the workhorse pattern is always available. It is a small, targeted addition that keeps the flexible RN17 system complete and ready for directional work.