Free field microphone
Free-field microphones are typically used for acoustic measurement in an anechoic chamber or far away from reflecting buildings, etc. Another area for free-field microphones is general electroacoustic purposes like loudspeaker and microphone measurements.
Free-field microphones are designed to have a flat frequency response in a free field. At higher frequencies, reflections and diffractions cause a pressure increase in front of the diaphragm. If not corrected for, this would result in an increased output voltage from the microphone, free-field optimization means that the frequency response of the microphone has been designed in such a way that a flat free-field frequency
response at 0° angle of incidence is achieved.