MAONO Microphone Preamp, 30dB Mic Preamp, Professional Mic Booster Activator Preamplifier, Ultra-Clean Gain for Home Studio, Podcasts, Streaming, Recording Compatible with Shure SM7B (MA100)

First off I did not test MIC PREAMP using any hardcore instrument measuring device - I am NOT a sound engineer but I do enjoy the usual podcast and occasional voice over recording. I do not own the SMB7 but I do own several dynamic microphones. Using a MOTU Ultralite MK5, the preamps for the mic inputs on that interface is very good already. Normally, I’d have about 40dB gain on the mic inputs to be able to sound comfortable. I don’t think I would need an external microphone preamp at all; but this Maono is legit - instead of buying the typical “CloudLifter” at more than 50% the price of this one, I thought I’d try this out and it does deliver. Noise is so low already using the Motu interface, but using this external preamp, I’m able to set my MIC input to around 13dB for normal recording. Like I said, I usually set to about 40dB but with this Maono, I’m only using around 13dB! Noise is not an issue at all it’s imperceptible and if you’re looking for a mic preamp booster, this one will do just great.First off I did not test MIC PREAMP using any hardcore instrument measuring device - I am NOT a sound engineer but I do enjoy the usual podcast and occasional voice over recording. I do not own the SMB7 but I do own several dynamic microphones. Using a MOTU Ultralite MK5, the preamps for the mic inputs on that interface is very good already. Normally, I’d have about 40dB gain on the mic inputs to be able to sound comfortable. I don’t think I would need an external microphone preamp at all; but this Maono is legit.Instead of buying the typical “CloudLifter” at more than 50% the price of this one, I thought I’d try this out and it does deliver. Noise is so low already using the Motu interface, but using this external preamp, I’m able to set my MIC input to around 13dB for normal recording. Like I said, I usually set to about 40dB but with this Maono, I’m only using around 13dB! Noise is not an issue at all it’s imperceptible and if you’re looking for a mic preamp booster, this one will do just great.I look at it from a normal (non-audio engineering) perspective - I need something to help boost my microphone gain without gaining noise, this really does help and in my case maybe overkill. But if you do use something like an SMB7, dynamic mics really need that power. So rather than spend 50% more, you should try this Maono one out first. Even in a setup I have with my PS5 playing MW2, the clarity of my voice is super and every party member can hear me so clear it’s like a live podcast while playing. The only drawback is now I have to use non-clicky keys so my mic doesn’t pick up everything in the background!

Sounds great .I felt that for me the sound quality was best when simply using it for play back.When I used it through an audio interface connected to my laptop and recorded audio through it, it lacked every so slightly and wasn't as clear as just simply using it for simply playback.Don't get wrong it still sounded good, but for me the best sound was for simply playback.I felt the included cable also helps with the sound which is good.Like the cable was built around it and for this unit and helps bring out good sound.I used one of my own high end cables (Xlr 100$ cable) hoping the audio would sound even cleaner then the included cable in the box and it did not.It sounded worse,so I put back the included cable back on and The included cable helps make it sound good.So make sure you use it.Boost gains were great30db in most cases.Item is well built and designed and audio quality is good on both playback and recording, but for me i felt recording was ever so slightly less then simple playback or even playing through this unit.Overall a really good unit.I was hoping that recording was going to be studio quality ( as in very High end) not just high end and for me I think I was hoping for more then what it can do or deliver.It's not there fault, but more mine.I was hoping for more then what it's designed for....This won't fix all your recording problems, but will definitely help your recording sound better and boost the gains levels up to 30 db...Remember it's not the one stop magic box that solves all your problems, ( u need an array of multiple items to do that.)But this item does tackle the reason it was built for---- quite well, I will give them that.So just giving my honest review and hope this helps someone else.I am well pleased with itIt has some weight to it even for being small.

I've been using budget audio gear for years, and I've finally gotten a real microphone (Shure SM58). Many microphones (like the SM58, SM57, and the iconic Shure SM7B) need a preamp to boost the gain of the microphone before going into an audio interface. Without something like this, your mic will sound pretty quiet in your recording or stream. You'll have to use post processing of some kind to give yourself a boost, which could also introduce noise. This keeps that signal at a much better volume.This MAONO microphone preamp is a great because it's less expensive than the Cloudlifter. I've used several MAONO microphones before. In fac t, I still use my first MAONO USB microphone at work from time to time. In my opinion, their stuff is better than FiFine.

I am not really a sound guy, but needed something simple to use with my little powered speaker. Normally, I plug a standard mic directly into my powered speaker for simple PA type announcements and the volume on the speaker has to be all the way up, and often times its just not loud enough. I basically just installed this inline between the mic and the little powered speaker I use and OMG, it works so great. Now, I can get plenty of volume out of it. In fact, I can't run it on max anymore because it would probably blow out my speaker. I don't know how it works, but it does. I'm now running the little speaker at about 60% volume and its about twice as loud as before. Since I'm not a sound guy really - I can't speak more on what else this little unit can do, but for what I tried, it worked perfect. If I was ever in a similar situation again, I'd definitely reach for one of these sooner and give it a try. I didn't rate "no cancellation" because I didn't use that feature, and/or it wasn't applicable on the setup I tried.

Nice quality 30db amp for microphones. Highly recommended.