The Difference Between Dynamic Microphone And Condenser

Often when we are going to buy a microphone in a store, we are asked back by the seller, “Want to find a dynamic / condenser microphone?” Of course, we who are ordinary people will be confused about microphones asked questions like that. Maybe we also rarely hear the preamp for SM7B which can improve the quality of the microphone itself. In addition to the different uses, here are the differences in physical and technical form.

Physical Difference
The difference between a condenser mic and a dynamic mic, the naked eye can see the difference in terms of the physical shape and size of the mic. The condenser mic looks much smaller, simpler, and lighter, although several types of the condenser are also quite large in shape, such as a gooseneck microphone which is usually used for reception or information desk, while the dynamic mic looks large and a bit heavy.

Technical Difference
Mic Condenser
Condenser mics are generally round in shape with a small size wherein the condenser mic there are two very thin plates as diaphragms, where the two plates will receive any vibrations that come from outside or are caused by differences in air pressure every second so that generate vibrations.

On the condenser mic, the vibration is received by the plate, therefore the condenser mic can respond to distant or high-frequency sounds, the working principle of the condenser mic itself cannot work if it is not given a different voltage than a dynamic mic which can function directly if it is connected to the mic preamp. On the condenser mic, there are positive and negative polarities, meaning that when installing the mic it must not be reversed and must get a direct current supply voltage, even though it requires a voltage supply. The condenser mic is supplied with a small voltage.

Condenser mics cannot be used directly, there must be an additional opamp circuit because the condenser mic must be supplied with a new voltage that can change sound vibrations into electromagnetic.

Dynamic Mic
Mic dynamic or dynamic microphone, the shape is large in which there are coils and magnets, while the diaphragm is made of a thin plastic material that will move the coil inside, in principle, it is almost similar to a speaker if the speaker receives a voltage and converts it into sound vibrations and the impedance is 4.8-16 Ohm. while on the Dynamic mic the impedance is 600 Ohm converts sound vibrations into an electrical voltage which is then sent and amplified by the mic preamp.

Dynamic mics require strong vibrations to move the coils in the magnetic field to produce voltage, so dynamic mics are less sensitive than condenser mics because they require strong external vibrations, therefore the sound produced is more likely to be medium bass. And usually, the distance between the mic and the sound source is close to producing the perfect sound.