What is a 48V Phantom Power?

48V phantom power is a standard method of supplying 48 volts of direct current (DC) through an XLR microphone cable to power certain audio devices, most commonly condenser microphones.

Condenser microphones require electrical power to operate their internal electronics and capacitor-based capsule. The 48-volt supply is delivered from a mixer, audio interface, or microphone preamp, allowing the microphone to function without needing a separate external power adapter.

The term “phantom” is used because the power travels along the same cable that carries the audio signal without interfering with it. While condenser microphones require 48V phantom power, most dynamic microphones and ribbon microphones do not need it and typically function normally without it.