Need a large diaphragm condenser microphone? We rank the top 14
Below you’ll find the most popular large condenser microphone amongst podcast hosts. The rankings aren’t subjective. We collated endorsements from currently-active hosts to calculate the popularity of each mic. This means you’re not getting our wayward opinion, but a solid reflection of the popularity of each mic in the wild.
Guide to buying a large diaphragm condenser microphone
If you don’t have a degree in sound engineering or a deep passion for recording equipment, there’s a good chance you’ll be bamboozled by all the different types of microphones on the market, and the diversity of their specifications.
In this article, we’ll help you understand what a large diaphragm condenser microphone is, what makes them different, and we’ll deep dive into their pros and cons.
Hopefully, we’ll arm you with all the knowledge needed to choose one that’s right for you. For a more detailed examination of each model of microphone, visit the landing page of any of the mics, above.
Looking for a new microphone? Start by looking at the models of some of the more popular brands, like Avantone or MXL.
What is a large diaphragm condenser microphone?
Starting with a bird’s eye view, there are two predominant types of microphones available on the market these days: condenser and dynamic. There’s a good chance you’ll buy one or the other.
All microphones have one important function — to convert raw sound waves into an electrical signal for recording and reproduction — and it’s how that process is technically conducted that differentiates each type of mic.
Both species of microphone (condenser and dynamic) rely on an internal diaphragm to perform the sound-to-electrical-signal conversion task, but in a condenser mic that diaphragm is attached to an internal capacitor plate, whereas in a dynamic mic it’s attached to a wire induction coil, which is harnessed within a magnetic field.
As an extension to this explanation, the diaphragm used in a microphone can vary in size, with the variation impacting on the sound it outputs. Generally speaking, in a “large” diaphragm condenser microphone, the diaphragm itself is normally at least one inch in diameter, whereas in a “small” diaphragm condenser microphone, the diaphragm itself is normally less than half an inch in diameter.
Assuming you’re not here for a technical lesson, and you just want to know why you’d buy a large diaphragm condenser microphone over any other type, let’s now move onto dealing with the pros and cons of the former.
The advantage of a large diaphragm condenser microphone
Knowing what a large diaphragm condenser microphone is technically speaking is great, but what is the advantage of buying one if you’re a podcast host?
The short answer is noise performance. The noise performance of a microphone is judged in reference to its self-noise level, which is measured in A-weighted decibels (dB(A)). In simple terms, mics with low self-noise levels are good and mics with high self-noise levels are bad, and a mic with a large diaphragm has a lower self-noise level than a mic with a small diaphragm.
The cons of a large diaphragm condenser microphone
Funnily enough, large diaphragm condenser mics are big. They have to be, to house the one-inch (or larger) diaphragm and capacitor plate. We’ve included this as a con because oversized mics can be cumbersome to operate, difficult to travel with, and a physical nuisance if you don’t have ample recording space to work in. That said, if you prefer physically larger mics, this will come down on the pro side of the ledger.
Beyond their size, large diaphragm condenser mics don’t have as consistent a pickup pattern as their smaller counterparts, and will capture less sound at higher frequencies. This is more of an issue if you’re using the mic to record music, and should be of no concern to podcast hosts.
Should you buy one?
We’re of the view that large diaphragm condenser microphones are great for podcasting because, generally speaking, the noise input is consistent (there are no transient peaks) and they have a well-founded reputation for making voice sound wonderfully rich and full-bodied.How much should you spend on a large diaphragm condenser microphone?
This, unfortunately, is one of those, ‘How long is a piece of string?’ questions. As you may already know, there are many variables that impact on the quality and, therefore, price of microphones available on the market, and its diaphragm size is but one of those. While this advice may be just as helpful as no advice at all, we have two very strong but opposing opinions on how much you should spend on a microphone:- 1. Don’t overcapitalise if you don’t need to.
- 2. Invest for the future.
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