Triton Audio Fethead Broadcast

A FetHead Variant Designed for Live Conditions

Within the Triton range, the FetHead Broadcast stands out with a live and broadcast-oriented approach: the goal is not just to add gain, but to do so as close to the microphone as possible, before the signal travels through cables prone to picking up interference and noise (lighting, mains power, multicore cables, etc.). This version emphasizes stability, low output impedance, and the use of phantom power for reliable operation without external power supplies or batteries.

Who Is It For and What Are Its Uses?

The Triton FetHead Broadcast is aimed at live sound engineers, stage technicians, broadcast control rooms, theaters, houses of worship, mobile studios, as well as content creators working with "studio-like" setups (distant microphones, long cables, electrically noisy environments). It is especially useful if you use dynamic microphones with low output levels (spoken voice, interviews, reporting, podcasts, streaming), or if you want to secure a microphone signal before a long run to the console.

In practice, it allows you to reduce the demand on the gain of the mixer/rack preamp, which helps lower noise and improve intelligibility, particularly for vocals. With ribbon microphones, it can also enhance the sound by providing a better impedance match and a livelier transient response, as long as your chain is safely configured regarding phantom power.

Key Features and Audio Benefits

Gain Before the Cable: Cleaner Signal at the Destination

The principle of the FetHead Broadcast is simple and highly effective: boost the microphone signal as early as possible. This way, the "strengthened" signal is less vulnerable to electromagnetic interference picked up along the cable, improving the overall signal-to-noise ratio. The result: clearer vocals, more comfortable gain headroom, and better consistency when long cable runs are required on stage.

Class A JFET Amplification: Low Noise, Dynamic Feel

The FetHead Broadcast relies on an extremely quiet Class A JFET amplifier. This architecture is appreciated for its ability to provide clean and stable gain, ideal when you want to preserve the character of a microphone (dynamic, ribbon, or condenser) without adding harshness. In typical stage and touring setups, it often delivers a sensation of a "more responsive" microphone and a more usable frequency range, especially on vocals and moderate sources.

Power and Phantom: Integration Made for Broadcast

Another advantage in professional conditions: the FetHead Broadcast requires no external power supply or batteries. It uses the phantom power from the preamp/console to power its circuits and, depending on the configuration, can also pass sufficient phantom power to feed a microphone that needs it. This makes it a very practical tool when switching between dynamic and condenser microphones on the same type of XLR chain, while maintaining quick deployment in the field.

Field Reliability: Metal Chassis and Protections

Designed to be connected directly to the microphone or inserted anywhere between the mic and preamp, the FetHead Broadcast features balanced XLR connectors and a robust metal chassis. Protections (overvoltage, polarity reversal) enhance reliability during performances, where quick connections, power strips, and patch bays can put equipment under stress.

Technical specifications

Gain	25 dB (3 kOhm load)	Input impedance (Z-in)	680 ohms
Specified amplification	23 dB	Frequency response	40 Hz - 100 kHz (+/- 1 dB)