What facilitates the operation of a condenser microphone?

A condenser microphone requires a power source to operate effectively, and that power source is known as phantom power. This type of microphone operates on the principle of capacitance; it has a diaphragm that vibrates with sound waves, and these vibrations create a varying capacitance between the diaphragm and a backplate. Phantom power supplies the necessary voltage to the microphone, typically around 48 volts, which allows it to convert sound waves into electrical signals.

Without phantom power, a condenser microphone would not function because there would be insufficient electrical energy to enable the diaphragm's movement to be translated into an audio signal. The other options do not provide the necessary electrical energy that a condenser microphone specifically needs to operate, which is why phantom power is the critical element in its functionality.