Cloudlifter CL-1 vs FetHead: Inline Gain for Dynamic Mics
Both take phantom power from your interface and use it to add roughly 20 to 25 dB of clean gain before your preamp, which is what makes a low output dynamic microphone such as an SM7B usable on a modest interface. The FetHead is far smaller and cheaper and screws directly onto the microphone. The Cloudlifter is a box in the cable run with a slightly different character.
Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 mic activator
Check current price
Check price on AmazonAt a glance
| Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 mic activator | Triton Audio FetHead inline microphone preamp | |
|---|---|---|
| Gain added | Around 25 dB | Around 27 dB |
| Power | Phantom power from the interface | Phantom power from the interface |
| Form | Small box in the cable run | Screws onto the microphone connector |
| Extra cable needed | Yes, a second XLR | No |
| Impedance loading | Fixed high impedance | Fixed high impedance |
| Works with condensers | No, it consumes the phantom power | No, it consumes the phantom power |
Choose the Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 mic activator if…
Choose the Cloudlifter if you want the unit out of the way of the microphone, which matters on a boom arm where every gram of hanging weight counts, or if you already own the extra cable. It is the more commonly recommended of the two, largely because it came first. Functionally the two do the same job and neither is dramatically quieter than the other.
Check Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 mic activator on Amazon
Choose the Triton Audio FetHead inline microphone preamp if…
Choose the FetHead if you want fewer things in the signal path and less to carry. It screws straight onto the microphone, needs no second cable, costs less, and disappears into the setup. The trade is that it adds weight at the back of the microphone, which on an already heavy microphone on a marginal arm can be the thing that makes it droop.
Check Triton Audio FetHead inline microphone preamp on Amazon
Related
- Condenser vs dynamic microphone
- How to record vocals at home
- Gain staging calculator
- Cloudlifter CL-1 review: when 25 dB of inline gain is necessary and when it is not
- Shure SM7B review: the 60 dB gain requirement that catches most buyers
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need one of these at all?
Only with a low output dynamic microphone on an interface that runs out of clean gain. If your interface supplies around 60 dB and your recordings are quiet but not noisy, you may not need one. Turn the gain up fully with your microphone connected and listen to the noise floor: if it is hissy at a usable level, an inline booster will fix it.
Can these be used with a condenser microphone?
No. Both consume the phantom power to operate, so no 48 volts reaches the microphone behind them and a condenser will not work. They are for dynamic and ribbon microphones only. Connecting one to a condenser will not damage anything, it simply will not produce a signal.
Are they safe with ribbon microphones?
Yes, and this is one of their better uses. Ribbons are typically very low output and many are sensitive to preamp loading, so a device that presents a consistent high impedance and adds clean gain suits them well. Confirm that the specific ribbon tolerates phantom power reaching the booster, which is normal, but the ribbon itself should never receive phantom power directly.
Do they add noise?
Much less than turning a modest preamp to maximum does, which is the whole point. They add their gain with their own low noise circuitry so your preamp can sit in a comfortable range instead of at its limit. They are not noiseless, but in practice they lower the noise you hear rather than raising it.
Working out your own room and signal chain? The Home Studio Build Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.