--- In micbuilders@yahoogroups.com, Rob Danielson <type@...> wrote:
>
> At 10:21 AM +0000 7/1/09, picnet2 wrote:
> >Hi,
> >Throwing open a discussion here which is probably a bag of worms,
> >but are there any electret capsules with a self noise around 16 dB
> >or less? Best Ive seen so far are those from Primo Mic. But
> >something like the EM158 still is > 22 dB - Idealy Id like to find
> >something around 16dB for a dummy head platform thats been evolving
> >over the last few months. - if thats not possible it'll be time to
> >start hacking at an NT4 - although the capsules are rather large for
> >ear use.
> >
> >-Mike.
> >
>
> Hi Mike.
> Small diameter for head mounting, none I know of. The variants of
> the EM-23 that Scott and others on this list have made and the
> electret capsule in the AT-3203 are all under 14dB(A) but they're
> bigger. Seems like the ~6mm diaphragms aren't capable of much lower
> noise output.
>
> Might take a listen to this high gain/quiet setting comparison test
> before you disassemble your NT-4: http://tinyurl.com/6zhyxx (The
> input noise on the Hi-MD recorder used is well below the required
> 10dB separation between the mics' self-noise).
> Rob D.
>
> --
>
It's not rocket science just the basic physics. A Primo capsule and good FET
work fine PIP at even .5V at near the noise limit. It is not difficult to
achieve the thermodynamic limit on noise if that is all you want.