Back Electrets Versus CCCs

[Mark7]

(That's Cheap Chinese Capacitors; in case you hadn't guessed.)

Can anyone here explain why the latter seem to get the nod over the former at least 8 times out of 10 whenever someone asks about cheap condensor mics?

 

[chessrock]

Mostly because Electrets have shorter shelf-lives.


I'm a little fuzzy on the specifics, so this is a very gross generalization: But an electret works similar to a magnet in the way the capsule is polarized. A better analogy might be to compare it to a battery in that it basically has a fixed, stored electrical charge, so to speak.

Once that "battery" runs out of charge, the mic is basically done.

There's another reason why electrets get a bad rap. Some of the very first electrets used a specific type of diaphragm that was very thick. It wasn't untill later that you started seeing electrets with more traditional (thinner) diaphragms. So their heritage basically has a lot to do with their reputation as being inferior, when in fact they are not.

So again, their fixed shelf-life is really the only drawback. No one really knows how long they'll last, but to my knowlege, a lot of the very first ones ever made are still alive and going strong, and technology has suppedly allowed the newer ones to last even longer, so who knows? They're supposed to be good for at least a 25-30 years, I suppose.

 

[Rossi]

I guess there are very good electrets out there, but the truth is that all of the "dream mics" are true condensers. Also there's lots of really bad electret mics, especially among the older models. So the label "electret" is a kind of stigma. About the life expectancy of electret capsules: manufacturers keep telling us that it is not an issue anymore. For all I know that's true; my 15 year old EV BK1 still works (but still is a crappy mic, imho). Yet a the same time the manufacturers often enough try to conceil the fact that a particular mic is an electret condenser, and they aren't willing to issue an extended warranty on their electrets. If they are so sure that their capsules will last 25+ years, they should be prepared to stand by their product and guarantee it. Just my 2 euro cents.

 

[chessrock]

the truth is that all of the "dream mics" are true condensers.

That's probably true, but all of my favorite workhorse / all-purpose types are electrets: Audio Technica 4033, Shure KSM32, the entire earthworks line, etc . . . etc . . .

 

[Mark7]

Interestingly the KSM32 page on the Shure site says nothing about it being an Electret.

 

[Tonio]

Aren't all shure and AT's electret, well most of them ??

 

[chessrock]

Nope.

 

[Tonio]

Chess, you sure. The sm81 is electret, KSM's. I only heard the AT's were, must be a select model group? 3000 series maybe?

T

 

[Mark7]

The following Shure models are Permanently Biased (i.e. Electret) type microphones: SM81, 86 and 87A. KSM32, 109, 137 and 141. Only the SM89 and KSM27 and 44 models are true condensors. It's a pretty safe bet that the PG81 is an Electret as well

 

[Rossi]

The Shure ones sound really good, I think, the new SD mic line in particular. That said, they're not exactly cheap either.

The AKG C451 is supposed to be electret as well, although AKG tries to conceil the fact. But it's a good mic.

In general, a lot of SD electrets are good or okay at least. I'm not so fond of LD electrets such as the AKG 3000B. What's interesting is that almost everybody on this forum loves the AT4033 whereas on German boards it's not very popular.

About Earthworks: I don't think they have a choice. There simply aren't any true condenser 1/4" capsules. At least I don't know of any. Perhaps it's impossible or impractical to build such small true condenser capsules.