soundhaspriority wrote:

I stand corrected on the issue of the backplate. However, your assertion
that equally good microphones are made by either method is not supported by
this Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone I quote:
Though electret mics were once considered low-cost and low quality, the best
ones can now rival capacitor mics in every respect apart from low noise..."
The article says that electrets can be made that are the equal... but also,
ARE NOT made that are the equal in terms of noise. The article does not
explain why quiet electrets cannot be made, but it quite unequivocally
states that they are not.

You obviously didn't read the item very well. It says under electrets " While
few electret microphones rival the best DC-polarized units in terms of noise
level, this is not due to any inherent limitation of the electret "

Note *few* btw. Many electrets are economy mics not designed for ultimate
performance.

Graham