Cloudlifter CL-1
Inline preamp that adds about 25dB of clean gain for quiet XLR dynamics like the SM7B.
Tracked 2026-10-19. The retailer listing is the price you pay.
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Our take on the Cloudlifter CL-1
The Cloudlifter CL-1 is an inline booster for quiet passive mics, adding gain before the signal reaches your interface. At a tracked $129 it sits at the top of its $127.29 to $129 range since July 2026, a spread of under $2.
The listing says it adds up to 25dB of clean gain using phantom power, which suits low-output dynamic and ribbon mics. It needs a source of phantom power, such as an interface, to run. It does not replace an interface or a mixer. Rated 4.7 across 3,993 retailer ratings. Skip it if your mic is already loud enough.
- Adds up to 25dB of gain to quiet mics
- Rated 4.7 across 3,993 retailer ratings
- Safe for passive ribbon mics per the listing
- Needs phantom power from your interface
- It only boosts gain, it is not an interface
- Price is tracked at its high of $129
Where it fits in a build
Gets an XLR mic to the PC and adds mixing, faders, and effects. Skip it if your mic is USB. See every interface / mixer pick
| Inputs | 1x XLR boost |
| Connection | XLR inline |
Compared against
Same job, other budgets
Alternatives worth comparing
Cloudlifter CL-1
$129Tracked 2026-10-19
Buy links are affiliate links: we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are tracked estimates, not live prices. Full disclosure
We do not lab-test hardware. Ratings and review counts come from the retailer listing and are labelled as such; stream-quality figures are conservative planning budgets from our published model. Prices are tracked at build time, not live, and were last refreshed 2026-10-22. How the numbers are derived: methodology. How picks are chosen: editorial policy.