A phantom power supply sits between a condenser microphone and a recorder, mixer or interface that cannot provide 48 volts on its own. Units differ in channel count, whether they run from a battery or an AC adapter, and whether the voltage can be switched.
The six below cover a rechargeable single channel unit, a 9 volt battery or adapter model, two dual channel boxes and two compact switchable supplies. Specs come from each listing page. We have not used these products ourselves, and noise claims are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Channels | One channel feeds one microphone; two channels feed a pair |
| Power source | Battery, rechargeable cell or AC adapter decide where you can use it |
| Voltage | Some units switch between 12V and 48V for different microphones |
| Build | Metal cases suit travel; check the connectors are XLR |
Specs at a Glance
| Unit | Channels | Power | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xvive P1 | 1 | Rechargeable battery | 48V or 12V switch; 145 g; maker says up to 40 hours |
| Mackie M48 | 1 | AC adapter or 9V battery | XLR in and out; power and low battery lights; 12.8 oz |
| ART Phantom II Pro | 2 | 9V battery or external supply | Aluminum case; 370 g; FCC and UL listed |
| Radial StageBug SB-48 | 2 | 12V input per listing | 12V or 48V switch; stainless steel |
| Behringer Micropower PS400 | 1 | 12V DC adapter included | Selectable 12V or 48V; 14.4 oz; 3 year warranty program |
| StudioMan PS200 | 2 | 12V 1A adapter included | 12V, 24V or 48V switch; DIR bypass function; desktop |
The 6 Best Phantom Power Supplies
1. Xvive P1 Rechargeable
A compact black metal box that runs from an internal rechargeable battery rather than the wall. The maker says it lasts 30 to 40 hours after a 2.5 to 3 hour charge, offers a 12V and 48V switch, and measures about 1.7 x 1.3 x 4.1 inches. One dimension field in the listing reads 39.57 inches, which looks like a typo.
Suits: field recording away from outlets. Strengths: rechargeable, light at 145 grams, switchable voltage. Weaknesses: a single channel and a messy dimension field. Skip it if you need two mics at once.
View Xvive P1 Phantom Power Supply 48V 12V Switch Rechargeable on Amazon
2. Mackie M48
A single channel 48 volt supply with XLR input and output, powered by the included AC adapter or a 9 volt battery. It shows power and low battery indications, uses an alloy steel body, weighs 12.8 ounces and measures about 3.4 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches.
Suits: a simple studio or stage helper. Strengths: two power options and indicator lights. Weaknesses: one channel and no 12V mode. Skip it if you want a rechargeable cell.
View Mackie M48 48V Phantom Power Supply on Amazon
3. ART Phantom II Pro
A two channel unit in an extruded aluminum case with XLR connectors for balanced inputs and outputs. It runs on a standard 9 volt battery, with alkaline recommended, or from an external AC supply, and the battery compartment is accessible from outside. The listing gives 370 grams and FCC and UL listings.
Suits: a pair of condenser mics. Strengths: two channels and a rugged case. Weaknesses: the external adapter is listed as optional. Skip it if you only ever use one mic.
View ART PHANTOM2 Pro Two Channel 48volt Phantom Supply on Amazon
4. Radial StageBug SB-48
A two channel supply with a 12V or 48V switch, housed in a stainless steel case measuring about 6.4 x 4.15 x 2.95 inches. The listing is short, giving the channel count, the switch and a 3 pin XLR connector type, with a 48 volt input noted in the specs table.
Suits: stage and travel rigs. Strengths: switchable voltage and a metal body. Weaknesses: sparse listing detail. Skip it if you want a detailed feature list before buying.
View Radial StageBug SB-48 Phantom Power Supply on Amazon
5. Behringer Micropower PS400
An ultra-compact supply with a selectable 12V or 48V output and a 12V DC adapter included. The listing says ultra-low noise and a 3 year warranty program, and gives a 14.4 ounce weight. Its output wattage field lists 1800 W, which cannot be right for this unit, so we have not repeated it.
Suits: a compact desk or bag unit. Strengths: adapter included and switchable voltage. Weaknesses: a wrong-looking spec field. Skip it if you want battery operation.
View Behringer MICROPOWER PS400 Ultra-Compact Phantom Power Supply on Amazon
6. StudioMan PS200 Two Channel
A desktop two channel supply with dual XLR input and output, a 12V, 24V or 48V switch, a 12V 1A adapter, a power switch and an LED indicator. A DIR function passes the signal through when a mixer already supplies phantom power. The case is metal and plastic and measures about 6.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches.
Suits: a two mic desk setup. Strengths: three voltage settings and a bypass mode. Weaknesses: AC powered only. Skip it if you record away from outlets.
View StudioMan PS200 Professional 2-Channel Phantom Power Supply on Amazon
Setup Notes
- Check your microphone manual for the voltage it accepts before choosing a unit.
- Connect the supply between the microphone cable and the preamp input.
- Use balanced XLR cables on both sides.
- Keep a spare 9 volt battery if the unit uses one.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying one channel when you record a stereo pair.
- Assuming every unit has a battery option.
- Repeating a spec field that looks like a typo.
- Skipping the voltage range in the microphone manual.
Phantom Power FAQ
Which units have two channels?
The ART Phantom II Pro, the Radial StageBug SB-48 and the StudioMan PS200.
Which one is rechargeable?
The Xvive P1 lists an internal rechargeable battery.
The Short Version
For a rechargeable unit, the Xvive P1. For a simple single channel, the Mackie M48. For a battery dual channel, the ART Phantom II Pro. For a metal switchable pair, the Radial StageBug. For a compact adapter unit, the Behringer PS400. For three voltages, the StudioMan PS200.
