Royer Labs dBooster In-line Signal Booster for Ribbon and Dynamic Mics

*Delivery will occur in a week, barring any unforeseen circumstances that might cause delays.

“Overall, I found the dBooster to be a very fine mic booster indeed. It’s about as transparent as it’s possible to be, with a very quiet noise floor and extremely clean and neutral sound character. The dBooster takes a far more elaborate approach to the task than most cascade preamps, and consequently costs rather more. But it is also more versatile and performs exceptionally well. I’ve not measured many cascade preamps, but I have used a variety of them and the dBooster is easily the best I’ve used to date. Very impressive indeed!” – Sound On Sound

“So there you have it, folks. With the dBooster I’m able to jam my dynamic and ribbon mics into any preamp, with my choice decided by the vibe of the track rather than the technical limitations of running low output mics into vintage preamps. Along with my coffee maker, it’s one of the best bang-for-buck appliances in my studio.” – AudioTechnology

The Audiophile Mic Lifter

The Royer dBooster is a game-changing gain booster, setting itself apart from standard inline lifters. With design and performance specs akin to a high-end preamplifier, the dBooster enhances the sound of low-output passive microphones, allowing them to perform at their best. It more than doubles your mic’s output, and with the simple press of a button, it can quadruple it — bringing out the full potential of any mic.

True Class-A input stage

Extreme RF protection

Crystal clear gain with virtually no noise or self-distortion

Enormous amount of headroom – will not break up!

Low impedance output handles splitter cables and long cable runs beautifully

dBooster: Not just louder – better.

In 2002, Royer Labs made history by introducing the world’s first active ribbon microphone — the R-122, a phantom-powered version of the iconic R-121, delivering condenser-like output levels. This groundbreaking innovation has since been embraced by many audio manufacturers, offering a much-needed power boost to low-output passive microphones.

Over time, stand-alone inline devices were introduced to increase the output of non-powered dynamic and ribbon mics, though most relied on repurposed, decades-old technology. These devices often perform inconsistently, depending on the mic and preamp combination being used.

Assembled in the USA, the dBooster is a dream tool for audio professionals, combining simplicity with advanced engineering. It features an internal regulated power supply for true electrical isolation, a sophisticated actively balanced line driver, and a premium dual op-amp design, ensuring consistent gain and headroom regardless of the components in your signal chain. Its low-impedance output keeps the audio path pristine, making it ideal for demanding studio, podcasting, and live stage applications. The dBooster excels in driving long cable runs, handling tough loads like mic splitters and vintage-style preamps with no loss of gain or added distortion.

Features

• 12 dB and 20 dB gain stages
• High input impedance
• Low output impedance
• Rugged case construction
• Ultra-low noise performance
• Ultra-low distortion
• Wide frequency bandwidth
• Safe for use on all ribbon mics
• Increases headroom at the preamp
• Provides true electrical isolation
• Protects ribbon mics from phantom-power
• Minimizes mic loading
• Capable of driving difficult loads, such as mic splitters and vintage style preamps, without increased distortion or loss of gain

Specifications

• Gain: 12 dB or 20 dB switchable
• THD+N: @ 20 dB Gain = .0015%, -25 dBu input signal,
• 1.3Vp-p output signal; @ 12 dB Gain = .001%, -6Bu input signal,
• 3.66Vp-p output signal
• IM Distortion: @ 20 dB setting, <.002% @ 800 mV output,; @ 12 dB setting, <.005% @ 2.6 volts output
• Self-noise: referred to -48 dB re 1V/pa, 20 dB setting <11 dBa, 12 dB setting <15 dBa
• Headroom: referred to -48dB re 1V/pa and 4mV/pa, 20 dB setting: 127 dB, 12 dB setting: 120 dB
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz ±0.25 dB
• Input Impedance: 3.6K-Ohm
• Output Impedance: (at 20 dB setting) 300 Ohms
• Current draw: approximately 5 mA at zero signal and 7.5 mA at full output
• Input and output connections: Balanced XLR: (Pin 1 Ground, Pin 2 Signal Hot, Pin 3 Signal Cold)
• Power: 48-Volt phantom
• Dimensions: 3.62” (92 mm) L X 2.0” (51 mm) W X 1.62” (41.3 mm) W
• Weight: 70 g

*Please note that pre-orders are non-cancelable, so make sure the item you are ordering is correct.