Mackie M48 48V Phantom Power Supply with XLR Input and Output
Plenty of gear needs 48v phantom power to work, and that list keeps growing. Not every mixer, recorder or interface supplies it. The Mackie M48 is the small box that fills that gap: it sits inline between a condenser mic and whatever you are plugging it into, and sends the voltage the mic needs.
- 48v phantom power: suits condenser mics and any equipment that requires the full 48v rather than a reduced voltage.
- XLR input and output: it drops into an existing mic line without adapters or rewiring.
- Transparent, noise-free operation: the M48 passes the signal through without adding character or hiss.
- Two power options: run it from the included AC adapter, or from a 9v battery when there is no socket where you are working.
- Power and low battery indication: you can see at a glance that the unit is live, and get warning before the battery runs out mid-take.
- Built-Like-A-Tank construction: the same rugged approach Mackie uses across its hardware, for a box that gets thrown in a gig bag.
The Mackie M48 does one job and does it without fuss. It supplies 48v phantom power to microphones and equipment that need it, over standard XLR connections, from either the included AC adapter or a 9v battery.
When you need one
- A condenser mic connected to a mixer, preamp or recorder with no phantom power of its own.
- Field and location recording, where the M48 runs from a 9v battery instead of mains.
- An older console where the phantom supply is shared, unreliable or switched globally rather than per channel.
- An active DI or other outboard item that expects the full 48v to perform properly.
Connections and operation
An XLR input and an XLR output mean the M48 slots into a mic line exactly where a barrel connector would go. Operation is transparent and noise-free, so the character of the microphone is what arrives at the desk. Front panel indication covers power and low battery, so you know the unit is running and you get warning before the battery gives up in the middle of a take.
Power from the wall or a battery
The included AC adapter is the obvious choice on a studio or install job. The 9v battery option matters more than it sounds: it means one microphone can be powered anywhere, in a room with no free socket, on a stage where the power drops are already full, or out on location.
Build
Mackie applies its Built-Like-A-Tank construction here as well. This is a utility box that lives in a gig bag, a drawer or the bottom of a rack case, gets forgotten about, and is expected to work when it is finally needed.