Phantomvirtalähde

Phantomvirtalähde, often translated as phantom power, is a method used to deliver direct current (DC) power through microphone cables to the internal electronics of microphones, particularly condenser microphones. It is a common feature on mixing consoles, audio interfaces, and microphone preamplifiers. The phantom power is typically supplied as +48 volts DC, although other voltages like +12V or +24V have been used historically. The "phantom" aspect refers to the fact that the power is delivered on the same balanced audio signal lines as the microphone's audio output, without the need for separate power cables. This is achieved by applying a positive DC voltage to both audio signal pins (pin 2 and pin 3) of an XLR connector, with pin 1 (ground) serving as the return path. This design ensures that dynamic microphones, which do not require phantom power and can even be damaged by certain DC voltages, are generally unaffected as the DC voltage is common-mode and cancels out at the input transformer of a balanced microphone. However, some older or improperly wired equipment might be susceptible. Phantom power is essential for the operation of most professional condenser microphones, providing the necessary voltage to polarize the microphone capsule and power its internal active electronics.