Which type of microphone requires external power to operate effectively?

A condenser microphone requires external power to operate effectively. This is primarily because condenser microphones utilize a diaphragm and a backplate to create a capacitor that converts sound vibrations into electrical signals. In order to maintain the charge across the capacitor, they require an external power source, typically provided by phantom power supplied from audio interfaces, mixers, or dedicated power supplies.

The need for external power distinguishes condenser microphones from dynamic microphones, which operate using a moving coil system and do not need additional power to function. The term "converter" does not directly pertain to a specific type of microphone but could refer to devices or circuits that process audio signals. Similarly, "matched" is not recognized as a standard microphone type. Thus, condenser microphones are the clear choice when discussing microphones that require external power for operation.