If a recording device has balanced inputs but lacks phantom powering, it may be possible to add 12 Volt powering rather easily by using a supply voltage that is already present internally.

In most cases 48 Volts would need to be generated with a voltage multiplier circuit, which is more difficult to implement. That is why we recommend the Schoeps CMC 6, which works with both 12 V and 48 V phantom powering so long as the relevant standard is followed.

If it is certain that 48 Volt phantom power will be available in all foreseeable recording situations, the CMC 5 should be fully satisfactory. In addition to the CMC 6's dual-voltage circuitry versus the CMC 5's single-voltage circuitry, the two amplifiers differ in their response at the very bottom of the audio frequency range. The CMC 5 rolls off below 30 Hz, while with digital recording in mind, the CMC 6 is essentially flat to 20 Hz.