Cloudlifter CL-1
Up to 25 dB of transparent gain for passive dynamic and ribbon mics
Best for: Podcasters running low-output dynamic mics like the Shure SM7B, Electro-Voice RE20, or any ribbon mic into an interface or recorder with weak preamps
Check price on AmazonThe Cloudlifter CL-1 is an inline phantom-powered mic activator that adds up to +25 dB of clean gain to any passive microphone. It draws its power from standard 48V phantom power without passing that voltage to the mic, making it safe for ribbon mics. The rugged steel chassis houses a Class A JFET circuit built in Tucson, Arizona, and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Key features
- Up to +25 dB of gain for passive microphones
- Draws power from standard 48V phantom power
- Does not pass phantom voltage to the mic - ribbon-safe
- 3 kohm input impedance, Class A JFET circuit
- Rugged solid steel chassis with XLR in/out
- Handcrafted in Tucson, Arizona; limited lifetime warranty
Our take
The Cloudlifter CL-1 solves a specific problem cleanly: the Shure SM7B and similar broadcast dynamics need roughly 60 dB of clean gain to hit a healthy recording level, and many interfaces and portable recorders cannot deliver that without audible noise. The CL-1 inserts between the mic and the preamp, provides up to 25 dB of transparent gain, and eliminates the noise floor problem. It is essential hardware for anyone running an SM7B into a consumer interface or a portable recorder. The only caveat is that it requires 48V phantom power from whatever it is plugged into, so phantom-powerless recorders need not apply.
Pros
- Essential fix for low-output dynamics like the SM7B on underpowered preamps
- Ribbon-safe - blocks phantom power from reaching the capsule
- Transparent gain character with no audible coloration
Cons
- Requires 48V phantom power from the downstream device
- Single-channel only - two mics need two units
- Adds an extra XLR connection in the signal chain
