Is it possible to replace an electret capsule with a condenser one?

Question

Circuit design

I have a diagram:


if the photo does not open in this circuit, an electret microphone capsule is used, can it be replaced with a condenser capsule? Will the sound be better? Or is it better to assemble another circuit for a capacitor capsule.

Answer 1

1. It is not necessary to oppose electret and condenser ones, because electret ones are a special case of condenser ones. But in electrets, the source of the electric field that polarizes the membrane capacitor is an electret, which does not require a separate power supply, and in capacitors, such a source (in the form of a separate circuit) must be. As a rule, such a scheme occupies a noticeable amount and consumes a noticeable amount of power. Nevertheless, electrets also need power, since they usually have a built-in FET amplifier. However, the power consumption of this field worker and the volume it occupies are quite miserable.
2. In your circuit, the input part (4.7 k resistor and other elements around it) is clearly the power supply circuit of an electret microphone. A condenser microphone connects differently and is more complicated, and different brands have different ways.
3. The answer to your question: a blunt replacement of one for another in the above scheme is impossible, this scheme for such a replacement should be pretty redone. How exactly it is remade depends on what kind of condenser microphone it is.
4. About the sound quality. Yes, capacitors are the standard of quality and are used in the most demanding quality cases. But electret ones are also condenser ones, and the sound quality in them is not much worse (judging by the datasheets).