Cloudlifter vs FETHEAD 

“Fethead makes it two inches longer” That’s it I’ve decided, thanks!

With out getting too technical, I think your hum issue is due to low Common mode rejection (CMRR) of your pre-amps and less than perfectly balanced interconnects. It is not a "ground loop" because you need 2 sources of ground in the system to create the loop. The cloud lifter or the FETHead MAY make this worse if the outputs aren't perfectly balanced. This is is where it is it is hard to not get technical. For your pre-amps to reject noise (via common mode rejection) the two wires carrying the signal coming into it need to be balanced. This means their impedance (Impedance includes capacitance, resistance, and inductance) to the signal ground needs to be EXACTLY equal. If it isn't, some of the noise that is being induced into the cable, is converted to audio in the pre-amp. This is where good cables come into play. Cables that have precisely balanced conductors help your pre-amps reject that noise. There are some cables that do this better. If you get a quality "Star quad" cable (these have 4 conductors for the signal, 2 for positive and 2 for negative) help reject noise because they are Physically as well as electrically balanced. It is also important to have good connections, you should always use connectors with gold plated pins. these are more consistent in making good connections. I wish that equipment like the Cloud lifter and FETHead had better specs available, like, CMRR of their input, output impedence, and self noise. This would help in making a decision, at least for us engineer types. In the end, If it sounds good, then it is good)

I don't know if anyone also noticed this but he sounds like Jerry Smith, from Rick and Morty. 😅

Whichever one you buy, either of these can make a world of different for most people's setups.

The FetHead is a cleaner setup. No need for extra cables, no extra box to take space on your desk.

What if the cloudlifter is the same as the fethead and they put it in a box for looks. Open it up and see....

Try swapping the Fethead an cloud lifter leaving everything else the same (except for the extra cable needed by the cloud lifter). If the problem moves, it's the fet head, if not it's something in the rest of your setup

Hello, greetings from Danmark (“Denmark”) and thanks for the video. For the time being the Fethead is €69 and the Cloudlifter is €169, so a price difference of €100 (which is $117.54 in early july 2018). And since I already find €69 anything but inexpensive - to me at least - there really isn't much doubt in my mind which one I'll prefer. Also Holland is almost next door.

I also noticed a hum with my RE-320 with both the CL-1 and FetHead. You know what fixed it? Strangely enough, rotating the microphone until it went away. Not sure how the internals work either, but hey, if it works it works! Great vid once again Mike!

Color me crazy, but to me, the microphone on the right (viewers perspective) sounded better than the microphone on the left. Before the Phantom amps were plugged in. Might just be me or a slight difference in distance though.

The Fethead can also be just plugged into the interface/preamp. You dont *HAVE* to put it directly in the mic. Or am i wrong?

4:30 Came for the review. Stayed for the asmr.

This is exactly what I was looking for. A review and comparison of each FETHEAD and Cloudlifter. non belabored and clarified.

Here in Holland, the Fethead can be had for 70 whereas the Cloudlifter is priced at 180. Friend of mine has the Fethead and has crackling problems with it. Also, it occasionally shocks him badly. A quick check on a retailer's website showed me it appears that they make a Fethead WITH Phantom power these days (it mentions it's for condensor mics, does add 10 to the price). To my ears there's no difference whatsoever at regular volume. Great video once again Mike!

I like the sound with the Fethead more. The sound is more thick.

Hi! Are you going to review sE's DM1 "Dynamite" inline Preamp anytime soon :)?

Was hoping you would switch the Fethead and the Cloudlifter to the opposing mics just to be sure the suspected ground hum wasn't part of the set-up you had configured. I'll take your word that it is something that exists in the booth and the Cloudlifter just suppresses it.

As of 2020, both are easily available in German online stores. 70-80€ for the Fethead and 170€ for the Cloudlifter.

Connect the fethead into the cloud lifter and turn it to 11

The mic on the right picks up more nasally nuances to me, the mic on the left has a deeper low end and overall warmer presence "to me". I could be completely tripping out but it almost sounds like the right mic has a slight low end shelf ducking some of the presence, which I know it most likely not the case but that's the best way I think I can explain it. It's ever so subtle, like 1 - 2 db of a cut. I'm listening through ATH-M50 headphones. Excellent content my dude!

6 years since you posted this and this is the best video ive seen about these devices!!! THANKS!!

I got two Fetheads for the price of one Cloudlifter... like the design of the CL better but twice the price is too much of a difference... Based in Europe over here.

Perfect video... Thank you 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷👽👽

Cloudlifter is cleaner sounding than the fethead That's what I'm hearing.I use the cloudlifter on an EV RE20 works very well.I owned a fethead and it stopped working after a year or so purchased the cloudlifter four years down the line still working!!

For me Fethead sounds better because signal is more warm than Cloudlifter.

I think the humming was audible in the cloudlifter as well, but not as loud. Did you tried turning up the gain? (as the fethead provides a little bit more of gain)

The problem with the Cloudlifter is how expensive it is when compared to the Fethead. I do wish Shure would create an updated version the SM7B like the RE27N/D so we won't need one of these anymore.

The Cloudlifter is more RODEworthy? =D =D

Another thing about form factor is, say you're traveling and want a stereo mobile rig using something like a Babyface Pro and a laptop, two Fetheads will fit MUCH better in your bag than two Cloudlifters and their extra cables.

I've a Fethead for my Shure mic. It's been siting behind the mic for at least a year now. No problems to report. It helped to reduce the hiss immensely. The only disadvantage might be that it might not fit on your mic arm depending on the position of the microphone but that's only in rare cases like for Shure 55 or similar vertical mics. In any case you can use 2 XLR cables as well if that is a problem. I would buy another one if I needed it for any reason. Great product. Also thanks Mike for the video.

I have owned both for a long time. I wouldn't agree that the CL is better for a mobile setup. The size and the extra needed xlr cable makes it more of a pain. I have always had a little better luck with the Fethead. Last time I used the CL, it created a lot of extra noise but that sound was coming from a mixer to a PA speaker. So I do not know if it is failing. In the end, they both sound very similar. I just find myself using the Fethead more often because I am mobile. I can see if you need a setup that will stay in a permanent position, the CL would be a good choice.

I am an extreme ear and the cloudlifter sounds way better to me. Cleaner conversion. The signal is much better

Asmr @5:00

Sir I am full beginner. I want to record my written poetry professionally. Suggest me audio interface and dynamic mic. Which gives me professional level quality. Because my room is not sound proof. My total budget is 300 dollars. Tell me such a setup that I will not regret buying.

So you wouldn’t use either on a condenser mic right?? Like a nt1a? This is just for dynamic mics??

Please answer quickly. I have Shure MV7 and it has some noise, so the sound is low. Will it help in this case TritonAudio FetHead Filter ?

I use a CloudLifter with the dbx 286s for the very low gain dynamic mics I have such as the Shure SM7B, Electro-Voice RE20, and so on to improve noise figure and stay away from using high gain levels on the dbx 286S preamp. Not truly necessary because the dbx 286S has a lot of preamp gain available, but it is a little quieter.

It would be more accurate to use ONE microphone and simply not the actual output gain to get both at the same level. PS, I certainly am glad you decided "not to belabor." EDIT!

I keep Fethead plugged to audio interface not mic :) still works like a charm.

Wow, great video. Well, I have a question. I bought a SM7B without knowing how much it needs to have good sound level. And the problem I have is that in my country I can't find these products, so I ask you (or anybody willing to help) if I can use a preamp like the Behringer Tube Ultragain MIC 100 the same way I could use the Cloudlifter/Fethead to connect to my interface (Scarlett 8i6)?

In Europe the price difference is huge. The Cloudlifter costs around 162€ while the FetHead costs 63€.

i use the Fathead on my sm7b since 15+ years. Still the first one.

9:55 Interesting. I would say the opposite, that the cloudlifter has always to be reconnected in both xlr cables which can be annoying when you re on the road. The fethead can always stay inside the microphone but when you have it on a desk the cloudlifter can always stay there on the same place.

Regarding the hum, it is also present in the CL signal, but less loud. Probably due to the set gain making the two signals not equally loud. This was before you adjusted the gain individually. That is why the hiss is also much louder in this section.

Great stuff. Thank you. I use an sm57 and have the same gain issue with focusrite interface. This will help!

FetHead is 88€ (on Thomann, german audio onlinestore) and the Cloudlifter is 166 (also on Thomann) so nearly twice as expensive... The DBX 286 S is even cheaper than the Cloudlifter on Thomann. I think it's funny :D

You don't have to put the Fethead on the Mic itself, it just needs to be attached to the mic cable. so it can connect directly to the Audio Box/Input that has the Phantom Power and it will work just the same. :)

So the cloudlifter is double the price, you need an extra xlr cable and the fethead still ads a little bit more gain. :)

Does anyone notice the remarks about the "placement" of the devices? This is not correct. They are identical, both XLR female and male, so you can put them anywhere in the chain. The Fethead doesn't necessarily have to be mounted on the mic directly. You can also mount it to the pre-amp or somewhere in between using two cables :-) Big plus for all of these devices for my setup is that I can (have to) turn on phantom power for all of my channels (other mics are condensors) without risking to feed 48V to my SM7B. From my Focusrite, phantom power can only be switched on/off in groups of 4, so I always have to fiddle and improvise with the input assignment.

Cloudlifter is much cleaner.

I use the Fethead for >1 year now on Rode Procaster and Shure SM7B without hum or other issues.

hi sir can you please help me? i want to know if h5 can give sm7b enough gain without hiss or not?if not what about adding a cloud lifter?i heard zoom h6 can handle sm7b but it's too much for my needs

I own both, Fethead is nice a portable and both work the same +-

Another option is "DM1 - sE Electronics"

The fethead can not be connected directly to the interface with XLR cable going to mic ? That's strange if it wouldn't ...

I love how, between your videos, there are commercials... and the sound quality of the commercials, compared to your videos??? Not that great. They should be watching as well... Thanks for all the great videos! You make the world a better place. Fo Sho.

Would you chain a fethead/cloudlifter in front of a dbx 286 for some gain hungry mics (like the sm7b)?

I think the ground-hiss may be an exaggeration from ground because of the extra dB the FetHead delevers, but it's just speculation of course. Remember that dB's are a logarithmic scale 3 dB's are approx DOUBLE the volume intensity (if i remember correctly)

That first section with the pre-amps at 100% is givin me some Central Scrutinizer vibes. "He not only dreams imaginary guitar notes, but, to make matters worse, dreams imaginary vocal parts to a song about the imaginary journalistic profession."

I live is Austria and Fethead costs about $69 and Cloudlifter is $182 on Amazon Germany

I noticed your two SM58 microphone sound fundamentally different to begin with. (Edit) Perhaps the tuning of the one on the right right makes it sound ‘warmer’ and more ‘dull’, possessing more low frequency as compared to the tuning of the one on the left which gives it a more ‘airy’ sound that is richer in the higher frequencies which can be heard in the sibilance it picks up and more flat in the lower frequency spectrum; hence, the exaggerated difference in sound characteristic when the two external preamps are attached. That is why the left picks up so much more subtleties than the right.

Can you plug the fethed into the focusrite instead of the microphone? I mean if you are tight for space and you might not want to extend your mic for 2 inches

Swap the mics around?

Booth Junkie! B&H have a brand new Inline preamp (September 2021)! Polsen XP-30D Inline Mic Preamp! +30db gain. NOBODY has reviewed it yet. Just thought I'd let you know to check it out.

My imagination, or does the SM58 on your left (audience's right) have a bit more bass? Before you introduced the gain-boosters, I mean.

Cloud lifter sounds cleaner to me.

I hear the difference. I would choose Fethead. It accentuates different frequencies than Cloudlifter.

My SM7B needs about 99% pre amp gain and about75% output too my compressor. and yes i get the hiss and pop noises all the time. i need to get a cloud lifter or FETHEAD. good video once again Booth.

I still don’t know what to buy I have a Sterling microphone cost about 230-250$ should i get the fet head or the db something that you mentioned at the end for 190

What I dont get is, why dont companies build this tech into their preamps? Why does a focusrite 2i2 not come with a Phantom power AND Phantom gain converter button on it?

so you're surprised you heard more ground hum in the preamp with 8% more db. Brilliant.

I am having a problem with my apollo I record and it don’t mark the voice will I need one of them babies?

SAME !

hello what's interface you use with your sm7b?

FE has a competitive product out now called Dynamite! Wonder how it stacks up. They claim to have +28db of clean gain. It is shaped much like the FetHead.

11:11 Shouldn't you reverse the cables so that the short cable sits between the microphone and the CL-1? I read elsewhere that doing so reduces the chance of interference in the pre-pre amplified source. Try it?

Me: Tries to hear the hiss Also me: *Remembers that he has tinnitus and can hear hiss even if he plugs both of his ears*

Come on man. The fethead is just an extension of your cable and is much better for the road then the cloudlifter. Its also half the price so there is only one choice.

Another thing, and we've tested this on our show - the Fethed, when used in a studio vocal booth, colors the sound a tinge. The Cloudlifter CL1 remains clean and uncolored.

The two mics sound different. I have a problem with my hearing where listening to certain frequencies through my Samsung Note 8 speaker makes a vibrating sound in my ears. The left mic did not do it where the one on the right did. I even tried closing my eyes and could tell when you switched mics. This happened before and after adding the units.

Hi thank you by the video. We buy feathheadand work very well, we use SM7 B and the gain now works well. Greetings from Brazil Ricardo Beccari

If the cloud lifter just wasn't so expensive.. I was thinking about buying dbx 286s instead, but I know I won't get as clean signal as from cloud lifter or fethead :-/ I'm still not sure what to buy, especially when dbx 286s has a lot of features, but then who wants to listen to noisy audio.

This was very helpful. Thank you. I don't know if its a difference in the microphones but I prefer the "meatier" sound of the Fethead

The Cloudlifter sounded a bit better I think, at least for your voice. Here in germany the cloudlifter is twice the price (167$$) of the Fethead (69$$, ehhhh), so I think the choice is obvious. I couldn`t see myself spend twice the amount of money for maybe a couple % better audio, might be a different story if I did pro voice-over work and made my money with that.

Does anyone else think that if you close your eyes you are listening to George Clooney?

So very helpful. Legend. Thanks for the upload

I find my Zoom H5 is very noisy at anything over 50% gain

Or buy a DAI with better preamps...?

yo- your video editor was drunk doing those titles.

why dont you test the klark teknik cm-1 pre amp?

Switch preamps to isolate the problem.

Exactly the information I've been looking for. Thank you!

Mike...what were those dynamic microphones connected to, before you connected the fethead and cloudlifter

Fethead sounds better.

Do you have to connect the fethead directly to the mic or can it be plugged to the phantom supplier, then the XLR cable which connects to the mic?

He sounds like narator in a game..

Excellent comparison, thanks. Was thinking of boosting my studio RE-20 with a FetHead (or either one). Actually I already run it through a dbx (a 266) which does great on the gating but I still have to floor the mixer.

Fethead sounds pleasing and soft but the cloudlifter is harsher and has slight saturation.

I use the fet head germanium it's nice

Mike, really impressed with your knowledge, sound and presentation. Maybe most impressive is your willingness to share it with us. Thanks! I have learned a considerable amount in a very short time.