CAD E100S

CAD e100s Microphone Review / See All ZenPro Audio Reviews Here: Review Page

I don’t mind telling you that I’m the guy who for 2 years had been pushing CAD to bring back a unique MADE IN USA offering. As a fan of their (now discontinued) VX2 I knew what potential they had when enlisting their designers to break some performance barriers. Early 2009 I get the call: “ Warren, we’re doing it!” and I’ve been eagerly anticipating the e100s ever since. Now that I have my hands on them and have done a few sessions on various sources, I can tell you that the e100s is not only unique in SOUND but it is unique in several other areas (including lack of sound due to the lowest noise floor you can imagine at 3.7dBA).

The e100s has that classic “Equitek” sort of look to it, and the shock mount is unique and very cool (and effective). I love mics that stand out in looks, they inspire artists more than we care to admit as people who are only supposed to care about sound. There is a 1” nickel diaphragm which is very rare in the world today. The pattern is supercardioid (very tight) and has a hi-pass filter (80hZ) as well as pad (-10dB) on the face. The build quality is just superb, seriously nice feeling mic and comes in a nicer than usual wooden box.

First of all there just isn’t any real self noise to hear compared to anything you’ve likely ever heard. The first impression I get is not only is this mic dead quiet (quiet as a mouse pissing on cotton) but that lack of self noise already gives recordings this SPACE that is absolutely unique. Sound sits in a black hole of space, the eery silence just adds a more 3D sound to what you’re actually recording. The pattern is very tight, and off axis sounds are smooth and very pleasing. This can be viewed a few ways: make better recordings in less than stellar rooms OR simply back it off to allow more room in. This isn’t crazy tight beyond a cardioid mic in my experience, but I welcome the directionality of the e100s.

The low end response of the e100s is more like a balled up fist, it remains tight and punchy in delivery without getting all wooly and sub-bassy. The low mids punch right along with it, very present in this range. The midrange response is smooth and sounds very linear and real to my ear. High frequency response is ever so slightly subdued, a welcomed characteristic in today’s digital recording age. Seriously, top end like this is just not common among today’s under $1k mic crowd. This is one of the few mics I would describe as delivering punch and “butter” smoothness too, nicely wrapped in that black hole of space I mentioned. I have tried on acoustic sources like drums and ac gtr, as well as voice. The e100s is the answer to those who suffer screechy top end or “hard” midrange sounds.

Conclusion: Using components sourced in the USA and abroad, I am proud of CAD for bringing manufacturing and design back to their Ohio USA firm. This is not some kind of “me too” product, it is unique and stands alone in many ways in sound (lowest self noise, using nickel instead of gold diaphragms, supercardioid vs standard cardioid) and looks (not your standard appearance run of the mill type). While I have not been able to use on everything yet I seriously can’t tell you anything I think the e100s would not excel at delivering in a rich way. Highly recommended.