Soyuz Microphones is expanding its flagship 017 Series with the Silver 17, a large-diaphragm tube condenser that preserves the weight, rich midrange, and scale of the 017 TUBE while adding greater presence, clarity, and natural top-end extension. Built around the company’s first edge-terminated capsule, the Silver 17 offers a more open and articulate version of the Soyuz sound.
The Silver 17 brings the full-bodied character of a tube microphone into a more open and immediate tonal balance. Vocals remain forward without becoming sharp, acoustic instruments retain their harmonic depth, and transients stay defined without sounding rigid.
The New S17E Capsule
The defining component of the Silver 17 is the S17E, a newly developed edge-terminated version of the original Soyuz S17 capsule. This hand-machined, gold-sputtered 34 mm design was developed entirely in-house and represents a major change in how the capsule responds.
The original S17 draws from K67-style geometry and contributes to the dense low end and substantial midrange associated with the 017 Series. For the Silver 17, Soyuz redesigned the capsule with new acoustic resistance, revised backplate mechanics, and new diaphragm tensioning.
The electrical charge is applied directly to the diaphragm and routed through the mounting ring. Removing the centre screw from the diaphragm’s most sensitive area allows it to respond more freely, producing a smoother balance of colour, openness, and detail across the frequency range.
Weight Meets Air
The Silver 17 shares the larger-than-life low end and rich midrange of the 017 TUBE, but its upper range is more open and expressive. A smooth lift through the presence and high-frequency regions brings out detail without pushing the microphone into brittle or exaggerated territory.
This voicing gives vocals a clear, intimate quality while maintaining body. Acoustic guitars, strings, and keyboards gain a stronger sense of space without losing harmonic weight. Drums and percussion benefit from defined attacks and smooth shimmer, while voice-over and broadcast sources retain both intelligibility and authority.
The result is a microphone that can sit naturally in a modern mix with less need for corrective equalization. Sources remain substantial, but they do not feel buried or overly dark.
A Tube Circuit Built by Hand
The Silver 17 follows the same hands-on manufacturing approach as the rest of the Soyuz range. Its body is turned by hand, the capsule backplate is cut and polished in-house, and each diaphragm is tensioned individually.
Soyuz also winds the transformer internally and uses true point-to-point wiring throughout the circuit. A military-grade 6ZH1P tube, selected for its role across the 017 lineage, remains the active foundation of the microphone.
This construction gives the Silver 17 its own identity. It is not positioned as a copy of a vintage design. Instead, it combines selected ideas from classic microphone architecture with Soyuz’s own capsule, transformer, mechanical, and circuit work.
Where the Silver 17 Fits
The Silver 17 is especially well suited to lead vocals that need intimacy, presence, and scale. It can help a voice remain forward in a dense arrangement without adding the hard upper-midrange edge that often becomes more obvious after compression.
On acoustic guitar, strings, and keys, it captures detail while preserving harmonic density. On drums and percussion, it offers clear transient response with a controlled top end. For voice-over and broadcast work, its combination of weight and articulation can reduce the need for extensive processing.
It is also a strong choice for any source that needs depth and space but risks sounding too dark or distant through a more traditionally voiced tube condenser.
Technical Specifications
The Silver 17 is a cardioid large-diaphragm condenser with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. It has a self-noise rating of 20 dB A-weighted, a dynamic range of 120 dB, and a maximum sound pressure level of 140 dB.
Sensitivity is rated at 40 mV/Pa, with an output impedance of 270 ohms. The microphone weighs 630 grams and measures 55 by 226 mm. A dedicated power supply is included, along with a custom shockmount and a handcrafted oak suitcase.
A Distinct Addition to the 017 Family
The Soyuz Silver 17 extends the flagship 017 Series in a clear new direction. It keeps the depth, scale, and rich midrange that define the 017 TUBE, then adds more presence, articulation, and top-end openness.
For engineers who appreciate the authority of a tube microphone but need greater clarity for modern productions, the Silver 17 offers a carefully balanced alternative. It sounds full without becoming veiled and detailed without becoming aggressive.