The True Phantom® chip from Prema Semiconductor
is the new way to supply phantom power.
The True Phantom® is a high impedance phantom power with a servo-regulated output voltage of 48 Volt. This changes the load for your microphone considerably.
The result is:
- 4~10 dB lower harmonic distortion of every condenser microphone.
- noisefloor 6 dB lower
- complies to the IEC standard 61938, P48.
Why?
Standard phantom power (P48) creats a load for the microphone and the bigger the load, the bigger the distortion.
When you feed a typical microphone with the PR2301 chip, the harmonic distortion decreases by 3.6 % with a 1 kΩ load and by 14 dB with a 5 kΩ load.
Two recordings with True Phantom, Schoeps MK2, 38,4 cm distance.
How does it sound?
The sound source is closer and there is more ambient sound.
Compare identical sound sources (a pianola). True Phantom first, second standard phantom.
Music box. True Phantom first than the standard phantom power.
See the difference and klick here
Acoustic guitar. First file True Phanton next standard phantom power.
Human voice with True Phantom and standard phantom
Standard phantom gives a muffled sound compared to True Phantom !
“In an ideal world all phantom power supplies really should be built this way”
Hugh Robjohns, Sound On Sound, July 2018
The benefits are:
- less distortion of the microphone due to the lower load
- lower noise floor due to the better separation to the 48 Volt rail
Independed measurement reveal that standard phantom power adds odd
harmonics to your recording.
With the True Phantom® you get a 7 dB reduction of the unplaesant
3th harmonic!
Standard in blue, True Phantom in red
Recording with the True Phantom® of the Amsterdam Corelli Collective
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oo7rwyn0y8dk2av/14%20Adagio.wav?dl=0
Recording with the True Phantom®
Gerard Beljon - Eli, Eli - Hollands Vocaal Ensemble
More information
Phantom Sound B.V.
Olympiaplein 39
1077 CM Amsterdam
+31 206 734 956 cell phone: +31 654 668 723
The Netherlands
More information
Triton Audio
Willem Hedastraat 49
1816 KC Alkmaar
+31 725 318 434
The Netherlands
The True Phantom®
The True Phantom® is a alternative phantom power supply.
The standard for phantom power exsists for 50 year, but there is room for improvement within the boundaries of the standard.
Condenser microphones are fed by 48 Volt and two resistors of 6800 Ohm. These resistors are a load for the emitterfollowers in the microphone. When you feed the microphone with a high impedance supply the distortion is lower, the noise level is lower and headroom will improve. This is what happens when you use the True Phantom® and still the True Phantom® complies to the standard P48.
The True Phantom® will be made in two forms:
1. A stand allone device is made by Triton Audio ( 399 € )
2. As a chip for mixing consoles, preamps and converters.
Testimonials
Hi Erwin,
my apologies that this took forever, but anyway today i was able to do some tests and it was actually a big
surprise for me.
I´m not into magic boxes and vodoo-cables but the True Phantom really
makes a difference.
I´m not able to do double blind tests here but based on my findings I
would give the unit to one of our customers to have a listen under
real-world conditions.
I used a matched pair of MG M930 Mics and tested them with the antelope
audio Zen Studio - I understand that the TruePhantom makes the most sense
with preamps like that i.e. onbard preamps in an interface where not much
money and thought went into the design of the phantompower circuit.
One mic using the Zen´s 48V and the other using the true Phantom.
the noise of the TruePhantom powered mic was subjectively lower - and this
is already a low noise mic.
But the real surprise was that the TruePhantom powered mic sounded totally
different in the LMF Range especially within close proximity. Much clearer
and less distorting.
I´m trying to do some measurements but I don´t know if that makes much
sense because when you remove the mic from the setup it might not show any
differences.
Best Regards,
Arne Kohlscheen
(Systemtechnik / Reparatur)
Digital Audio Service GmbH
Neuer Kamp 30
20357 Hamburg
t+ 49.40.4711 348-12
f+ 49.40.4711 348-19
ak@digitalaudioservice.de
digitalaudioservice.de/triton-audio-true-phantom.html
"....I´m not into magic boxes and vodoo-cables but the True Phantom really makes a difference...."
"...the real surprise was that the TruePhantom powered mic sounded totally different in the LMF Range especially within close proximity. Much clearer and less distorting......"
"...the noise of the TruePhantom powered mic was subjectively lower - and this is already a low noise mic..."
True Phantom:
Standalone high end, low THD, 48V Phantom supply.
Our opinion: The only real update on the now standard Phantom powering scheme, the advantages of this 48V supply are easily heard and works with any P48 microphone. Literally a breath of fresh air when used with any such mic. We like the enhanced detail and clarity of the low end especially. Note: This device does not affect the frequency response of the microphone but lowers the mic output's THD significantly. |
http://www.nohypeaudio.com/tritonproducts.htm
"....I´m not into magic boxes and vodoo-cables but the True Phantom really makes a difference...."
"...the real surprise was that the TruePhantom powered mic sounded totally different in the LMF Range especially within close proximity. Much clearer and less distorting......"
"...the noise of the TruePhantom powered mic was subjectively lower - and this is already a low noise mic..."