Tritonaudio FetHead - Studio Preamplifier

Product Information

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

Some of this mics need upwards of 60dB and for many pre-amps this is just outside of the quieter part of the gain stage. But how do these two mic activators hold up in practical application? Well, we have run some tests to determine the noise floor and frequency response of each device. Oggi vi presentiamo il FetHead della Triton Audio, preamplificatore da +27db per microfoni dinamici bilanciati Xlr. Robust, quality components, made in the US and considerably cheaper than the CL-1, the Durham is a great alternative to a Cloudlifter. AVVERTENZE! Non siamo responsabili in caso di uso improprio di qualsiasi prodotto, che venga messa per inscritto o tramite video, anche se non espressamente dichiarato, da parte vostra e/o terzi che possa causare danni a persone o cose. Siete sempre invitati a leggere il libretto di istruzioni e le normative di sicurezza prima di utilizzare qualsiasi oggetto per una migliore esperienza complessiva.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. The frequency response test will be carried out by playing pink noise into the Procaster and measuring the results using Room EQ Wizard (For a full tutorial see How to Test Microphone Frequency Response). You’ll have probably noticed that both of these options are the two at the lowest price points. That’s because all of the alternatives we’ve covered do largely the same thing – provide clean, transparent gain. The only reason to go for something more expensive than the Durham MKii or the FetHead is if you need either more gain or want additional features. Frequently Asked Questions Is a Cloudlifter necessary?

Due to their age, some ribbon microphones cannot handle phantom power. Although the Fethead uses phantom power to power up its circuitry, this does not pass to the microphone so your ribbons will be kept safe at all times. Specifications Much like the CL-1, the FetHead circuitry relies on phantom power to work. The amplification provided is super low noise, and with a frequency range from 10Hz – 100kHz, the boost received is incredibly transparent. The low noise amplification means that when using a sensitive microphone, the usable dynamic range is extended ensuring any quiet vocals retain high audio quality. Key takeaway: The FetHead has a simple design and solid all-metal construction with a small size that fits seamlessly in mic setups. Gain and Noise Levels I’d like to make a casual reference to the MartiAudio Booster, Royer dBooster, Sanken HAD‑48, and a handful of other options that could have qualified as a viable alternative to the CL-1. Your Fethead Phantom will latch straight onto any XLR equipped microphone, or anywhere else in the signal path between microphone and preamp/mixer.The electronics are housed in a robust metal chassis with a balanced female XLR input and a balanced male XLR output, rugged enough for use at home, in the studio or on tour.

You could use an outboard preamp instead of a mic activator but unless you can find a used bargain, it’s likely that a mic activator will be more cost effective (and are more portable). The frequency response range of the FetHead is larger than the CL-1. The FetHead is also, by and large, the flatter of the two responses, meaning that although this additional gain does bring up the noise floor somewhat, the gain is more transparent overall. The load switching option adds to this flexibility and allows you to change the input impedance to see how your mic reacts to each one. Choose the one which works the best with your microphone. The aim of the FetHead is to boost the signal cleanly by up to 20dB before hitting the mic-pre so you can use less gain and have a cleaner recording. It does this by using double jFET configured as a double class-A amplifier which is super clean and is conveniently powered by the phantom power from your pre. Phantom power is not passed through the FetHead and so you can use it safely with ribbon microphones (a phantom version is available if you want to use a FetHead with a condenser)

sE Electronic Dynamite DM-1 is powerful, compact, and can comfortably handle low-output mics for podcasting and recording. Most mics don’t need the 28 dB of gain, and frankly, 20 dB works fine with an SM7B too. However, if you have mics that need extra gain, the DM-1 is a no-brainer. 3. Radial Engineering McBoost (Best Premium) Weighing just over half a pound (.25 kg) and designed to attach right to your microphone, the FetHead’s compact design makes it versatile. This lightweight construction does not sacrifice power or durability. Compact amplification with a direct-to-mic design that provides protection for older passive microphones. Another way to compare these two in-line mic preamp choices is by asking yourself a series of questions about your gear, process, and ideal price:

Warranty Info

We explore this topic more in our dedicated article Is a Cloudlifter Necessary? Mic Activators Explained. Is a Cloudlifter a preamp? The FetHead is a popular Cloudlifter alternative because it provides a similar amount of additional gain a lower price point and it does so without needing an additional XLR cable. With the Cloudlifter, you need to plug your mic into it and then run another XLR cable from the output port into your mixer or audio interface. It’s still inline but perhaps less convenient than something like the FetHead which plugs directly into your microphone. Made in Canada, the McBoost is constructed with a 14-gauge steel I-beam inner frame and uses high quality, batch-sorted components so from a robustness point of view, there’s little to worry about. The gain boost is provides is typical of the mic activators we’re looking at coming in at +25db. As mentioned above though, there are different level options to choose from via the switch which adds a little more flexibility.