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Phantom Power Testingwith the MR-PRO
Phantom powering is ubiquitous in professional audio. TheMR-PRO includes special features to continuously monitor
and display DC voltages present at its output. The MR-PRO
may be connected to the microphone input of the mixing
desk and continuously measures the actual effective phantom power with or without load. This application note describes how to test conformity of the phantom power sourcein use according to the relevant IEC 1938 standard.

GeneralMinirator MR-PRO measures phantompower

Phantom powered devices are commonly used in the audio industry. As no additional conductor for power supply is required boththe signal- and power-path share the same connections, thus only
one cable is required, applicable at e.g. microphones and preamplifiers.
Standard IEC1938, covering specifications of audio and video interconnections, also comprises the definition of phantom power
for balanced audio. These specifications, listed in Table 1, determine power and DC-voltage available to the device based on DCload impedance. The phantom power voltage is listed as e.g. P24(= phantom 24 Volt).

PhantomPowerP12P24P48

no loadvoltage Pph0

12V+/-1V

24V+/-4V

48V+/-4V

supplied current upto Imax

15mA

10mA

10mA

R_phantom

680 || 680

1.2k || 1.2k

6.8k || 6.8k

Table 1, Balanced phantom power supply specifications acc. to IEC1938

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Surprisingly often audio phantom power sources can be found notconforming to the standard. This can severely affect performanceof connected devices. Giving some examples:• maximum sound pressure level available in the operating rangeof analog microphones may be lowered, if available output voltage is lower then to be expected from the standard• sensitivity of analog microphones may be changed, if phantom
power impedance is incorrect• frequency response of analog microphones may break down at
low frequencies if the microphones includes capacitive output
coupling and phantom power impedance is lower then given in
the standard• power hungry devices (as some digital microphones) might noteven start to work
• connecting of a P12 or P24 device to a non-standard impedance P48 may damage the device

PhantomPowerP12P24

P48

Umin @ Imax

5.9V

14V

10V

p_load @ Imax

88mW

140mW

100mW

p_max @ Uph0
nominal

106mW

240mW

169mW

I @ p_max

17.6mA

20mA

7mA

Table 2, Characteristic phantom power supply parameters for R&D

Besides others Table 2 lists the minimum voltage Umin @ Imax,
which is available to the remote powered device. It can be measured at pin2 (or pin3) relative to pin1 if the maximum allowed current Imax is drawn and if voltage Uph0 (no load phantom voltage)is at its minimum specified value. In case the DC-impedances arematched between phantom power source and connected device,
the maximum power will be available, thus DC-voltage at pin2 andpin3 will be just half the no load voltage Uph0.
The available power is maximized for P24 and so recommended
by the IEC for new designs. But still P48 is the most widespread
phantom power voltage. This is due to the fact that using P48
with analog microphones circuits allows for maximum available
sound pressure level by less expensive circuits.

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Phantom power measurement with Minirator MR-PRO
The MR-PRO displays the “DC” field continuously including theaverage voltage value of Pin 2 and Pin 3 of the connection. By
moving the main cursor over the “DC” field, a popup panel appears showing the two individual phantom power voltages on pin
2 and pin 3.
Mixing desk

MR-PRO+48V

2 x 6.8kΩ

Phantom power screen
Minirator MR-PRO

2V2R21V3R33XLR					Figure1, Schematics of a typical 48VDC phantom power supply

How to qualify the phantom power source?
Testing the phantom power source consists of two steps:• Measure phantom power voltage at “no load” condition• Measure phantom power voltage at Imax
1. Measure phantom power voltage at “no load” condition
Connect the MR-PRO to the audio input with a balanced XLR cable and switch the phantom power on.
The displayed DC value will slightly differ from the no load voltage.
This is due to the impedance of the MR-PRO which is necessaryto discharge the output AC-coupling capacitor. Table 3 shows therange of displayed DC values (including measurement tolerances)
for which Uph0 conforms to the standard.

PhantomPowerP12P24

P48max. Uph0

13.4V

28.6V

51.4V

min. Uph0

10.4V

19.2V

40.9V

Table 3, Phantom power voltage range meeting specifications at no load conditions
measured by MR-PRO

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2. Measure phantom power at Imax
A defined load has to be connected to the phantom power source,thus drawing the maximum current Imax. For this purpose a test
adapter may be applied. The test adapter shall be connected between the MR-PRO output and the phantom power output, asshown in the drawing below. With an additional Y-cable the MRPRO monitors the phantom power supply during an actual microphone connected.

+48V ±4V10mA

6k85mA

6k85mA

3322R3R211

Test Adapter

DUT with P48		

MR-PRO

Test Adapter simulating maximum load conditions

The resistor values R2 and 19.02.08
R3 Benfor the defined
NTI AGload are listed in19.02.08 M. Lutz
Table 4. With these resistance
theDC-current will be Imax
M. Lutz
19.02.08 values
MR-PRO
07.11.08 M. Lutz
App Note Phantom Power-if Uph0 is at specified minimum.
1/1
Date

Designed:
Drawn:
Version 0000:
Version 0001:
Version 0002:
Version 0003:

Name

Im alten Riet 102, FL-9494 Schaan, Liechtenstein
Phone: 00423 239 60 60, www.nti-audio.com

Project:

Title:
PCB:
Sheet No:Part No:
Revision:

0001

PhantomPower

P12

P24

P48

R2 || R3787 || 787

2.8k || 2.8k

2k || 2k

Table 4, Test resistor values (R2, R3 see schematics)

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The following Table 5 shows the range of displayed DC values atloads according to Table 4 for which the phantom power source
conforms to the standard. The table includes DC-measurement
tolerances.

PhantomPowerP12P24P48

max. Uph0

7.2V

20.2V

12.2V

min. Uph0

5.4V

13.5V

9.5V

Table 5, Phantom power voltage range meeting specifications at max load conditions
measured by MR-PRO

Measurement at mixing desks with multiple phantom power suppliesConformity to the standard should be assured at maximum load
at each phantom power input at e.g. mixing desks. The phantom
power measurement shall be carried out as follows:• Enable all phantom powered outputs and load them with devices for simulation of the worst case conditions or alternatively
insert the described test adapters at each output.
• Measure the phantom power at each channel with the Minirator MR-PRO• Compare the test results with the values listed above

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