The Cloudlifter has a solid fan base and has become one of the go-to gain boosting devices for pairing with a low sensitivity dynamic mic. If you wanted to spend a bit more and get something new, I’d recommend the Golden Age Project Pre-73 MKIII Microphone Preamp. With +80db of gain, it’s enough to power even the least sensitive of microphones and the warm sound it produces will give you great sounding audio. Conclusion Instead, we are left with a glut of entry-level to mid-market audio interfaces, mixers, and mic preamps that offer 50 to 60 dB of gain at best. People who use high-output condenser mics will neither notice nor squirm at this development as these microphones have sufficient gain to produce clean recordings, assuming phantom power is available.

McBoost provides 26 dB of ‘variable clean gain’, which means it has a rotary knob on the front panel to set the level of gain between 100%, 50%, or variable. The circuit and electrical isolation ensure that it does not add any noise or tone color i.e. transparent operation. Mic activators have become really popular in recent years because of their convenience and relatively low cost (in comparison to outboard mic preamps which we’ll cover next). The no-slip pad on the under panel and book-ends on the casing are clever additions to protect the unit and switches. Overall, the high-quality components and engineering finesse are impressive yet predictable, given Radial’s outstanding reputation. Performance When testing various microphones with the FetHead, TritonAudio noticed a significant improvement on every source. When paired with a readily available 57 you'll hear an increase in response and a broader frequency range. However, the FetHead really shines when matched with microphones such as MD441s and Shure SM7Bs. Activators are essentially small inline preamps which takes the 48v phantom power from an audio interface (as dynamic mics don’t need phantom power) and uses it to produce a gain boost for those dynamic mics which need it.

When we record from the camera, we use Rode boom, a condenser, then switch to SM7B, and the volume would be much lower. After recording a few vids like that, I knew I needed a gain booster.

The Triton Audio FetHead is a stylish in-line microphone preamplifier that delivers powerful results at an entry-level price point. Many popular brands of microphones, both dynamic and ribbon, can benefit from attaching a FetHead. Even studio-ready mics such as the Shure SM7 can benefit when paired with this clever device. These questions will help you better determine which mic activator is right for you. Regardless of what type of mics you currently own, your gear and needs can always change in the future. Considering where your audio journey is going is essential when purchasing any new piece of gear. Final Thoughts The direct-to-mic design might bother content creators who find it visually unappealing for close up videos. That being said, it’s hardly an eyesore and smaller than you might expect. This preamp is a great choice for people who want to record the audio content themselves but don’t have the right mic. This is because Cloudlifter is a promising way of maintaining high-quality recording. These mic activators can add a much-needed boost to your noise floor without marring the quality of your output. It’s as simple as plugging in your XLR cable, adjusting the gain, and making sounds! Additional resources:Compact amplification with a direct-to-mic design that provides protection for older passive microphones. FetHead Phantom is an ultra-low noise, high quality, in-line microphone preamplifier. It provides improved sound for condenser microphones. Small, compact, but powerful, Fethead Phantom utilizes tried and true FET technology to deliver up to 18dB of clean boost. No more cranking your mic preamp and adding unwanted noise to get your microphone to an acceptable volume.Boost your microphone! TritonAudio products are made in Holland, and FetHead is advertised as a low noise gain booster or mic preamp with extra 27dB amplification. We noticed an improvement on all tested microphones. A Shure SM57 for instance, sounds more responsive over a broader frequency range. When mated with a high-end dynamic microphone like a Sennheiser MD441, or Shure SM7 our FetHead really shines. Durham is a no-frills mic activator. You simply plug it in and claim your hassle-free +20 dB of clean gain. Compared to the CL-1, it falls 5 dB short, but the price is a lot lower too. In every other aspect, it is comparable to the CL-1.