Radial MCBOOST - B Stock

A Radial booster designed for microphones that need more headroom

The Radial McBoost is rooted in the tradition of the Canadian brand, renowned for its reliable, rugged audio tools designed for professional environments. Here, the goal is clear: to offer a serious solution for microphones whose output level puts certain preamps to the test, whether they are reference dynamic models or ribbon microphones that are more demanding to use.

In many setups, microphone quality alone is not enough if the preamp lacks sufficient usable gain or if cable length weakens the signal. The McBoost is designed to fill that gap. It acts as a discreet gain-boosting interface, capable of restoring body and clarity to the signal before it reaches the main preamp stage. Its positioning is therefore highly relevant for anyone looking for a high-end solution that is easy to deploy and built to last.

A choice tool for the studio, broadcast and stage

The McBoost is aimed at sound engineers, podcasters, content creators, broadcast technicians and musicians who use microphones with demanding gain requirements. It is particularly useful with models valued for their character but known to require more preamp headroom. In this context, it delivers a more comfortable, precise and easier-to-process signal right from the recording stage.

In the studio, it helps get the best out of ribbon or dynamic microphones on vocals, guitar amplifiers, brass instruments or percussion. In broadcast, it promotes clearer, more present speech with widely used vocal microphones. In live and event applications, it becomes a real asset when it is necessary to compensate for losses caused by long cable lengths. Its compact format and steel chassis make it perfectly suited to mobile racks, production stages and tours.

Clean gain, useful controls and genuine versatility in the field

The Radial McBoost is built around a Class A FET circuit with dual calibrated and matched JFET transistors. This architecture enables it to deliver up to 25 dB of variable gain, with additional level settings for half-power or full-power operation. The benefit is twofold: the unit's behaviour can be adapted to the microphone being used, as well as to the preamp that follows it. The result is a stronger signal without unnecessarily increasing the system's noise floor.

Another key feature is the 3-position impedance selector, which allows the frequency response to be optimised according to the microphone and the application. The McBoost also features a highly practical 3-position high-pass filter for attenuating unwanted low frequencies, vibrations, handling noise or certain proximity resonances. This type of control makes a real difference when aiming for a cleaner recording at the source, without multiplying downstream corrections.

Its integration is deliberately straightforward: it is placed between the microphone and the mixer, preamp or audio interface using two XLR cables, then powered via phantom power. This quick setup, combined with excellent dynamic range and extremely low distortion, makes it as reassuring for critical recording as it is for mobile configurations. For anyone looking to open up the sound of a dynamic microphone, use a ribbon microphone with greater ease or secure a long audio connection, the McBoost is a musical, practical and rugged solution.

Technical specifications

Category	signal buffer	Frequency response	below 7 Hz to over 30 kHz
Number of channels	1	Controls	gain, impedance selector, output level selector
Digital conversion	no	High-pass filter	3 positions
Technology	passive	Low / medium / high input impedance	600 / 2.7 k / 30 k
Circuit	Class A FET	Output impedance	220
Power supply	phantom power	Inputs	XLR
Gain	variable from +4 dB to +25 dB	Outputs	XLR
Full / half gain	+26 dB / +20 dB	Dimensions	70 x 108 x 44 mm
Maximum input level	26 dBu	Weight	500 g
Dynamic range	116 dB	Highly robust construction	steel chassis
THD	0.005 percent at 1 kHz