What Is a Microphone’s Sensitivity and Why Is It Important To Know in an Industrail handset?

Question: What Is a Microphone’s Sensitivity and Why Is It Important To Know in an industrail handset? 

Answer: Knowing how to read/compare microphone specifications will get you much closer to achieving the sound you want, which is the ultimate goal in capturing audio. Of these specifications, sensitivity (output) is one of many important factors to consider when selecting the correct microphone to use for any given application.

In microphones, sensitivity is the amount of output for a given input.

In most modern audio equipment, microphone input impedance is substantially greater than that of the microphone itself. This input impedance is often 10 times the output impedance of the microphone, and thus may be regarded as an “open circuit.” Audio-Technica typically rates a microphone’s sensitivity using this open circuit output voltage, which is the output the microphone will deliver with a stated sound pressure level (SPL) input. This makes the open circuit voltage measurement very useful when comparing microphone sensitivity, maintaining a consistent standard, and achieving accurate

sensitivity measurements. For the open circuit output voltage measurement, Audio-Technica uses a reference sound pressure of 1 Pa (Pascal), which is equal to 94 dB SPL. The microphone sensitivity is therefore stated in dB (decibels) as it compares to this reference level.

Because the reference level used is well above the output level of the microphone, the resulting sensitivity specification will be a negative number. The closer this number is to zero, the greater the signal provided to the input terminals. Thus, a microphone with a sensitivity rating of -40 dB is more sensitive than -55 dB, and -55 dB is more sensitive than -60 dB.

Condenser microphones typically have a higher-than-“normal” sensitivity, at least as they compare to dynamic microphones, which usually have a much lower sensitivity. Higher-sensitivity (condenser) microphones can be helpful in lower-SPL applications, such as recording dialogue or vocals. Microphones with higher sensitivity are more commonly used in broadcast applications, including television production and sporting events. 

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of sensitivity and why it is important to consider when selecting a microphone. As always, feel free to contactYuyao Xianglong Communication Industrial for more information.