Considering that many beginners don’t understand the difference between condenser and dynamic microphones, leading to various misconceptions about these two types of microphones, this article lists some of the most common claims on the market and provides a detailed explanation of whether they are true.
The differences between dynamic and condenser microphones mainly stem from the working principles of their electroacoustic transducers, which are unrelated to the microphone’s directionality. Therefore, the claim about one type of microphone having stronger directionality than the other is incorrect.
This misconception largely stems from the stereotype that recording equipment is delicate because both types of microphones are commonly seen in recording studios or live concerts. It’s often assumed that if such precise equipment is dropped, it will likely be damaged. However, this is not the case. Both types of microphones are designed with the expectation that they may be used in various complex environments. Additionally, condenser microphones are generally lighter than dynamic microphones, which means that dynamic microphones tend to hit the ground harder when dropped.
In most cases, condenser microphones indeed have higher sensitivity. Higher sensitivity allows the microphone to capture more sound details, making it more suitable for quiet environments such as recording studios. Therefore, it’s essential to select the microphone that best suits your specific usage environment.
Typically, condenser microphones can handle higher sound pressure levels (SPL). The key factor here is the maximum output handling capability of the condenser microphone's preamp capsule. Tests have shown that the maximum SPL produced at a singer’s mouth can reach up to 150 dB. If you have two microphones with sensitivities of 1 mV and 10 mV (output level at 94 dB re 20 μPa SPL), their peak outputs would be 0.63V and 6.3V, respectively! At these levels, a wired input would be necessary for processing; otherwise, the signal would need to be attenuated.
If it concerns a passive dynamic microphone connected to a very low terminal impedance, this statement is actually true. (Please note the following rule: a microphone should be terminated by a terminal load of at least 5 to 10 times the microphone’s output impedance. This is due to the physical properties of dynamic microphones. A heavy load (= low Ω) functions somewhat like a short circuit and can reduce the microphone's low-frequency output. Ultimately, high frequencies may also be reduced. This issue typically only arises when the mixer is very poorly designed. However, passive signal splitting—where one microphone is split into two or more inputs—can cause the same problem.)
