crystal microphone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, historical
Quick answer
What does “crystal microphone” mean?
A type of microphone that uses a piezoelectric crystal to convert sound waves into electrical signals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of microphone that uses a piezoelectric crystal to convert sound waves into electrical signals.
A vintage or legacy microphone technology known for its high-impedance, bright but sometimes brittle sound quality, commonly used in early telephones, public address systems, and amateur radio equipment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the same term.
Connotations
In both varieties, it strongly connotes vintage, lo-fi, or historical audio technology. May be associated with the mid-20th century.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, found primarily in technical/historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “crystal microphone” in a Sentence
The [noun] used a crystal microphone.He connected/plugged in the crystal microphone.The signal from the crystal microphone was weak.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crystal microphone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The setup was crystal-miked for a period effect.
- We need to crystal-mike the announcer's box.
American English
- They crystal-miked the interview to get that tinny sound.
- The engineer suggested crystal-miking the cabinet.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in niche retail of vintage audio equipment.
Academic
Used in historical or engineering discussions of transducer technology.
Everyday
Very rare. Most speakers would simply say 'old microphone'.
Technical
The standard term for this specific microphone type, detailing its operating principle.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crystal microphone”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crystal microphone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crystal microphone”
- Pronouncing 'crystal' as /ˈkraɪstl/ (like 'cry') instead of /ˈkrɪstl/.
- Confusing it with a 'condenser' microphone.
- Using it as a general term for any clear or delicate-looking microphone.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are fundamentally different. A crystal microphone uses a piezoelectric crystal to generate a signal, while a condenser microphone uses a charged capacitor diaphragm.
Rarely. Their use is mostly limited to specific vintage applications, niche lo-fi music production, or as historical curiosities. They have been superseded by more reliable and higher-fidelity technologies.
The piezoelectric materials used (like Rochelle salt) can have a pronounced, non-linear high-frequency response and are prone to distortion, leading to a sharp, sometimes harsh or 'brittle' sound character.
They typically have a very high output impedance, which means they lose signal strength and high frequencies over long cables unless connected to a matching high-impedance input or a preamplifier very close by.
A type of microphone that uses a piezoelectric crystal to convert sound waves into electrical signals.
Crystal microphone is usually technical, historical in register.
Crystal microphone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪstl ˈmaɪkrəfəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪstl ˈmaɪkrəfoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CRYSTAL ball used to hear voices from the past; a CRYSTAL microphone is the old-tech device used to capture those voices.
Conceptual Metaphor
TECHNOLOGY IS A GENERATION (e.g., 'old-school', 'first-generation').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary transducer element in a crystal microphone?