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The Secret Behind Phantom Power: Why Pro Audio Equipment Depends on It
In professional audio equipment, phantom power is a very important technology. It provides DC power that can be applied simultaneously to the signal line in a balanced microphone cable, allowing microphones with active circuitry inside to operate. While it's best known for providing a convenient power source for condenser microphones, many active direct boxes also rely on it. In addition, phantom power is widely used in many situations where power supply and signal transmission are required on the same cable at the same time.
Phantom power was first used in telephone service in 1919, followed by the first commercially available phantom-powered microphone in 1964.
Phantom power has a long history and was first developed for traditional telephone system needs. Since then, it has become an indispensable part of professional audio equipment. The operating principle of this power supply is simple and effective: DC voltage is applied to both signal lines in a balanced manner and connected to ground. This allows the same type of balanced microphone cable to be used for both condenser and dynamic microphones, which was a breakthrough in the early days of the power supply. This is not possible with existing microphone power supply technology.
Standards and technical information
Phantom power is typically supplied at 12V, 24V or 48V, according to standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The most popular standard today is 48V, which can provide a maximum power of 240 milliwatts. The technical architecture behind it makes the microphone grounding and signal communication very stable.
During phantom power supply, the signal voltage difference will not affect the dynamic microphone that does not require power because the current is supplied in a balanced manner.
New generation mixers and preamplifiers are almost always equipped with a switch to turn phantom power on and off. This provides users with flexible operating options to avoid introducing unnecessary malfunctions or equipment damage. Proper use of phantom power is an essential skill for professional sound engineers, and understanding its operation principles and potential problems is particularly important.
Notes
Although phantom power is widely used in the professional audio field, some warnings should be noted when using it. Some microphones allow the user to choose between internal batteries or external phantom power. When using external power, it is recommended to remove the internal battery to avoid leakage or corrosion during use.
If the required current is not supplied, the performance of the microphone will be affected, with common results including loss of its maximum sound pressure level capability and reduced sensitivity.
Equipment that is designed to work with phantom power must be selected with care; improper connection of dynamic or screen microphones may result in damage to the equipment. This not only has an impact on the microphone itself, but may also damage the connected preamplifier circuitry. In addition, hot-swapping long microphone cables may cause transient current to flow due to poor contact, which may damage the device. At the same time, channels with transformers or blocking capacitors can effectively prevent such problems.
Digital phantom power and other options
In recent years, with the development of digital audio technology, phantom power designed for digital microphones is also supplied at a voltage of 10 volts, which not only improves the performance of the microphone but also increases the amount of its power supply. People continue to explore new power supply technologies, such as T-power supply and plug-in power. Although these technologies are relatively less used, they also provide different application scenarios.
The combination of phantom power and audio equipment is undoubtedly an important breakthrough in solving the problems of sound quality and power supply. As technology advances, we will see more innovative power supply methods and devices emerge in the future, which will not only improve the performance of microphones, but also bring new challenges and opportunities to audio work. Have you ever wondered what other potential innovations there are in current audio technology?
