TritonAudio FetHead

611

Microphone Preamp

For dynamic and ribbon microphones
Extremely low-noise Class A JFet amplifier
27 dB gain (@3 kOhm load)
XLR 3-pin female to XLR 3-pin male
4 Coordinated JFets

Note: Requires 24 - 48 V phantom power and does NOT transfer phantom power to the microphone.

30 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee 3 3-Year Thomann Warranty

Channels 1

Number of microphone inputs 1

Instrument input No

Tubes No

Compressor/Limiter No

Equalizer No

De-Esser No

Phantom power No

Phase Reverse No

External effect loops No

Analogue Outputs XLR

Digitale Outputs 0

Headphone connection No

Level Meter No

available since May 2018

Item number 439143

Design Adaptor

$66

The shipping costs are calculated on the checkout page.

1 Sales Rank

A discreet in-line amplifier

The TritonAudio FetHead is a miniature in-line preamp specifically designed for microphones which have a low level-output, such as ribbon and dynamic mics. It works in the simplest possible way: You simply insert it into the signal path between your low-output microphone and an XLR cable in order to boost its signal along the way to a signal-processing device – a further preamp, for example. Accordingly, the FetHead has exactly one input and one output, both of which are on XLR sockets – and while its appearance is inconspicuous, the boost of up to 27 dB it provides certainly are not!

Phantom power required

The TritonAudio FetHead is a low-noise, Class A JFET amplifier – characteristics which will appeal to the experts. It features four junction-gate field-effect transistors (JFETs) which boost the signal both accurately and musically, thus operating in a similar fashion to the FET amplifiers that are commonly found on condenser microphones. Unsurprisingly therefore, this in-line preamp requires 24-48 V of phantom power to operate – but it cannot pass on this phantom power to the connected microphone, so your ribbon mics are always safe from damage. Condenser mics, however, will not work with the FetHead, since these also require phantom power. For such applications, Triton Audio has developed the FetHead Phantom (article no. 439148) which, as its name suggests, has the same circuitry and lets phantom-power through.

A preamp’s preamp

The TritonAudio FetHead is particularly suited to dynamic and ribbon microphones whose output signals are too weak to be later processed without adding background noise. The FetHead greatly improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone concerned by adding a “clean” boost to its output, thus lessening the load on the main preamp. It can also be used to help pick up particularly quiet sources (where a regular preamp might also add unwanted noise at high gain settings) and amplify the signal to a usable level while retaining a clear sound.

About TritonAudio

The Dutch manufacturer TritonAudio is committed to producing pro audio equipment with great innovative potential and quality. Alongside a great selection of microphones, products range from in-line microphone amplifiers and phantom power stations to in-line attenuators and decoupling feet for near-field monitors – in other words, a whole array of helpful tools for any sound engineer. Incidentally, all units are assembled by hand in the Netherlands, and are often within a customer-friendly price range - the FetHead mini-amp being a prime example.

Home studio and live operation

The FetHead can be used, for example, to plug your mic straight into your audio interface – without having to resort to its on-board preamp to bring the signal to an adequate level – and thus provide noise-free amplification. As previously mentioned, it is also useful for raising the signal level of passive ribbon microphones, and, more generally, for limiting the amount of hiss certain preamps might produce above a certain threshold, by providing a “free” transparent boost. Last but not least, the FetHead also provides an uncomplicated solution in live situations where the microphone preamp that is to be used produces too much noise once a certain gain level is exceeded – a common occurrence for bands and artists who have to adapt to different conditions from one night to the next, mike up quiet instruments, and feed the signal into mixing boards of varying quality.

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4.8 / 5

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It turns my SM7B into a Beast

Gunso 28.01.2021

Title pretty much sums it up.
The gain boost makes a night & day difference on my Shure SM7B.

Comparing it with the same mic but without the FetHead, I'd have to keep my microphone gain on my Scarlett 2i2 on max. volume just to get the same amount of gain that I'd get at around 35-40% with the FetHead on the same interface.

If you have a Shure SM7B and you're looking for that extra gain, I can't recommend the FetHead enough. It's a must have.

Although keep in mind that you can't plug it into the interface, you have to plug it into the microphone directly, otherwise you'll have a lot of noise. Not sure if it's a FetHead thing or a Scarlett thing.
Also, not sure if worth mentioning but since the SM7B is a dynamic microphone, you'll have to turn on Phantom Power on your interface after putting on the FetHead.

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None intrusive

MrDevlin1964 04.11.2021

Yes you could pay double for a cloudlifter, but for me the none intrusive style of the Fethead did it for me.

I use this with my Shure Sm7b, whoa that girl is gain hungry, but the Fethead handles it like a boss, be it connected to my audio interface or straight into the mic, it really doesn't matter it feeds that mic with the gain it needs.

My preferred connection is straight into the Sm7b then xlr to audio interface, people just don't see it as it looks just like some fancy xlr, that's what I mean about none intrusive, there is seriously minimal white noise, even at the highest levels.

I would pick a Fethead over any other, for me it's a no brainer, if you want to see it in action find me on YouTube "The Restless Natives" you will see how the Fethead just blends in.

Should you buy it, my opinion is, you would be silly not to.

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Getting +25 dB Gain with RODE Procaster + Rodecaster Pro

Dr D 15.11.2019

Before I had the TritonAudio Fethead connected to my Rode Procaster microphone, I had to set the pre-amp gain to + 35 dB on my Rodecaster Pro interface. Now with the Fethead between the mic and the audio interface, I have the gain set to just 10 dB. Overall the sound quality is virtually the same. I can barely hear the Noise Gate activation with the Fethead attached, however the EIN floor is -130 dBu with the Fethead, as opposed to the Rodecaster Pro EIN of -125 dBu. Therefore, I have slightly better SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) as the signal is stronger at lower pre-amp gain, plus the noise floor is lower, by around 5 decibels. The sound quality is extremely clean when recorded directly into my computer using Adobe Audition. So, I am very pleased with this product - it improves my input noise and means that I need very little audio interface gain to get a decent sound output.

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Makes my mic's better, and no noisy preamp!

TonmeisterDK 28.11.2021

I have used these on extremely low volume recording on my muted piano and even the room mics. Everyone always asks how did you do it, well Fethead is the answer. I also used it with the Shure SM7B, so 5 stars from me!

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