The 10 Best Balanced XLR preamps (2023 reviews)

We consider a balanced xlr preamp to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your needs from all the best available products in market today.

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Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Triton Audio Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For podcast: Buy: IK Multimedia Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best With exception Of The Mac Pro Line: Buy: Saramonic Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For home Studio: Buy: ART Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For The money: Buy: Cloud Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For musicians: Buy: Comica Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best With Condenser Microphone: Buy: Nicama Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For stream: Buy: Coda music technologies Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For voice: Buy: Rodyweil Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best For Professional singer: Buy: Windlim Balanced XLR Preamp READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Triton Audio Balanced XLR Preamp

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The triton audio balanced xlr preamp is capable of outshining several other preamp featured in this list in overall features. The Triton audio fethead Phantom model, which does NOT block the voltage, is the one to use. It plugs right into the mic and into the preamp, and works just as well either way using the Shure SM7B. It has one big drawback plus does the job pretty well. The preamp is nestled in a small draw string bag, with the Triton logo printed on it.

The preamp would not work without phantom voltage, which the solo provides, so all is well. The sound is clean and full. The fit and finish is very good and the tactile feel, the way it solidly clicks in place releases, is excellent. The fethead is an amazing purchase if you need the extra boost in gains without sacrificing too much in terms of audio quality.

• Perfect tone and no background noise at all
• Must have for acoustic only instrument with dynamic mic
• Adds more than enough db for any dynamic mic

Best For podcast: IK Multimedia Balanced XLR Preamp

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Not everyone likes to purchase preamp for their daily usage, but the ik multimedia balanced xlr preamp would be an anomoly. Whether you have iphone, ipad, or android devices, this recording interface will work on all (even with digital cameras), and make your vocals and instruments shine. This is designed for an XLR input from a microphone. It's readily recognized when paired and the connecting cable feels designed for long, reliable use.

The iRig Stream also supports "Loopback" which acts like virtual cable to send your system audio into your recordings when enabled. This can also supply Phantom Power to Condenser style microphones. It allows adjusting the microphone input levels. There are bright lights on top of the unit so you will always know when it is on, and when Phantom power is engaged. It works well for simple recording (using it from your phone as interface with a good microphone) or even streaming.

• Excellent audio quality and compact design
• A great portable, versatile interface with good sound quality
• Works great with clubhouse, instagram, zoom and many more top apps

Best With exception Of The Mac Pro Line: Saramonic Balanced XLR Preamp

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The saramonic balanced xlr preamp is specially designed for your regular usage and has all useful features. The cable is designed to go into a combo headphone and mic Jack as found on phones, tablets and laptops that have only one combo Jack. It is great for capturing audio for your video or live stream from your phone. It uses any iOS app that allows audio in, BUT you will need an App that allows real-time monitoring to use the headphone output. It can recieve a tons of audio from where it’s coming with proper audio cable.

This unit plugs into the ear phone port on your phone and xlr port to a microphone/ musical instrument or a sound board. It has three rings instead of two on it so that it will work with an ipad or other Apple device. It is great with so many mics giving you pro sound. It is, it tends to work best as a "hands free" device since it has connection rings for recording and audio out.

• Perfect for use with the mevo or just better sound for phone videos
• Useful albeit clunky piece of kit
• Economical way to connect a balanced microphone to ipad
• Great option for good sound for vidro

Best For home Studio: ART Balanced XLR Preamp

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Not everyone likes to purchase preamp for their daily purpose, but the art balanced xlr preamp would be an anomoly. The center rotary switch allows you to dial in the tone you would like in a manner similar to an equalizer but with that sound only a tube can give the voice or instruments for you musicians out there. It will give you some warm tube boost to a guitar tube amp or warmth/boost to a non-tube amp as well as giving mic warmth. The adjustment knob lets you tailor the color of the sound based on what you are recording. You can use this in your signal chain as a tone enhancer for your vocals.

It’s a good preamp for sure, it doesn’t take a lot of electricity so your electric bill won’t suffer and with a good mic can deliver great results, only con is no on/off switch. The sound quality is great and it's really solid. It's controls allow setting of gain and output, and it will supply phantom power to the mic. It is a very fine, well-made product.

• Input/output is versatile on the art
• Very powerful tune saturator tool for home recording, especially for bass and vocals
• Great product for those who requires amplify a dynamic mic
• Great for turning mic volume up and down

Best For The money: Cloud Balanced XLR Preamp

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The cloud balanced xlr preamp should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. Paired with the Shure SM7B it is a powerful tool for creating lush tight vocals. It is made for equally high-end studio sound systems with monster pre-amps. The Sound through the CloudLifter is very clean. It works with dynamic mics only. Long story short, it makes your quiet mic louder without adding a bunch of background noise and yes, it’s worth the money.

The Cloud Lifter adds 25 dB of gain by itself, and it is STONE silent. It allows the mixer to "read" every nuance of detail coming out of that mic. It is compatible with tube, battery, or power supply driven microphones. If you really need extra gain, this will do the trick.

• Absolute must for dynamic mics in the studio
• One of the new comers and featured product

Best For musicians: Comica Balanced XLR Preamp

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The comica balanced xlr preamp is satisfactory and appropriate and fits well with your daily usage. The mini portable comica linkflex ad2 microphone preamp conforms to the human body design, which is easy to carry and easy to operate to give you greater convenience. It provides phantom power for the mics that need it. It works on any phone that has 3.5 mm output.

The Comica LINKFlEX AD2 audio preamp adapter supports XLR/6.35mm interface input devices and 3.5mm interface audio output devices. It is designed for cell phone use and has a 4 connector 3.5mm male connector. It comes with a gain control knob, which is easy to adjust the volum and sensitivity of the audio input. It is good for someone that uses it for a top tier mic and an iphone.

• Can also be applied to sm7b microphone
• Easy to use and worth the money
• A very smart and inexpensive audio preamp
• High quality audio input for mics or instruments

Best With Condenser Microphone: Nicama Balanced XLR Preamp

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention nicama balanced xlr preamp for daily purpose. This Nicama unit is one of many you can buy to adapt XLR mics for use with such devices. It may look and feel like a dinky lil plastic toy, but its sound quality is honestly comparable to many higher end gadgets. The Nicama V2 is an easy solution to connect any professional microphones to your iphone, ipod touch, or ipad and guitar and android device, dslr cameras canon, nikon, and sony mirrorless cameras. It's built-in switch adapts to either a phone/tablet or standard camcorder/DLSR input, offering much-needed headphone monitoring of your audio so you don't have to guess at what it will sound like later.

Using this for a Sony directional mic to a Sony A7III camera, it powers the mic, gains control, and is a nice deal. It does everything needed to record using high quality mic on your camera or phone. If you're using a phone, this supports audio-pass through using the same jack, offering much-needed headphone monitoring of your audio so you don't have to guess at what it will sound like later. It is great with clubhouse, instagram, zoom and many more top apps.

• A good tool to step up your audio game
• Delivers what they promise

Best For stream: Coda music technologies Balanced XLR Preamp

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Compared with other preamp in this category, the coda music technologies balanced xlr preamp has a convenient design. It is a beast of an alternative to the cloud lifter. It will reduce noise while adding microphone clarity. It will only work on dynamic or ribbon microphones, not condenser ones. The stealth microphone preamp is compact and has a matte black finish that pairs perfectly with industry. It provides 28db of clean gain. It can introduce electronic noise into what should otherwise be clean input.

It is easy to install and overall well made. It is a bit thick so it gets in the way of the rode psa100 scissor mount at certain mounting positions.

• Fantastic inline preamp that is clean and adds extra juice to sm7b
• Stealth in-line mic preamp, active booster for dynamic and ribbon microphones
• Reduce noise and add clarity to your podcast or livestream, by coda music technologies
• Standard microphones for a minimal and stealth aesthetic

Best For voice: Rodyweil Balanced XLR Preamp

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The rodyweil balanced xlr preamp's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. The black metal shell of this mic preamp not only makes it sturdy but also enables it to effectively eliminate most emc interference, resulting in low noise. It is perfect for home studios and professional studios, vocal recording, podcasting, and live streaming. It comes with its unique full balanced circuit design, this microphone preamp produces super low noise and clean sound without adding any coloration to your sounds. It has a 3.5 line and 3.5 mic output for a live streaming device. It has very clear sound, it can be a large number of times the expansion of the sound, the main sound is still native, installation and carrying are very convenient, the most practical purchase.

The Sound is great, output has limited feedback and it is compact in size. It is easy to carry and store. It can be used for mic and karaoke speaker. It is great for beginners and a great value for your money.

• Well built, solid, look forward to really putting it thru its paces
• Very clear sounding, and enough gain to abuse for nefarious purposes
• Very nice useful entry level preamp with phantom power
• Super clean gain for both dynamic and condenser mic

Best For Professional singer: Windlim Balanced XLR Preamp

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Compared with other preamp in this category, the windlim balanced xlr preamp has a convenient design. If you’re a podcaster or radio brodcaster, a simple one-channel preamp could meet your needs. It is a device that takes the output of a microphone (low in terms of nominal level) and amplifies it to line-level, a standard used by pretty much all professional audio gear. By amplifying the mic's signal, the mic preamp maintains the natural sound of your microphone. It provides +25 db of clean, transparent gain for studio-quality sound.

This mic booster works great with no additional noise. It is suitable for all passive dynamic microphones and ribbon microphones with no transfer of phantom power. The dynamic microphone amplifier is well built and once you plug in your xlr cables (not include), a microphone preamplifier will link to the output side, the hiss of any kind or audio illusion are significantly reduced. It is designed for professional singer, podcaster, composer, public speaker and even music enthusiast.

• 25 db of clean gain boost
• Safe for all passive dynamic& ribbon microphones
• Good brand reputation