Audix T50K - Line Impedance Matching Transformer (XLR to 1/4'' Jack)
The Audix T50K is more than just a connector adapter; it's a professional audio engineering tool designed to solve one of the most common problems on stage and in the studio: microphone-to-instrument amplifier incompatibility. This device acts as a high-fidelity impedance matching transformer , allowing you to connect any low-impedance (Low-Z) microphone to a high-impedance (Hi-Z) input, such as those found on guitar amplifiers, effects pedals, or instrument inputs on mixing consoles.
Unlike inexpensive passive adapters that merely change the shape of the plug and often result in a weak, noisy, and lifeless signal, the Audix T50K uses a precision internal transformer. This component ensures that your microphone signal is properly converted and amplified (with a voltage gain of +17.5 dB) to correctly drive an amplifier's preamp. Its design includes a robust cable interface that acts as a strain relief, protecting both your equipment's connector and the adapter itself from accidental tugs.
Main features
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Real signal transformation: Converts balanced low impedance signals (microphone) into unbalanced high impedance signals (instrument) without loss of quality.
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Gold-plated connectors: Equipped with a female XLR input and a male 1/4" (6.35 mm) jack output with gold plating to ensure maximum conductivity and corrosion resistance.
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Touring-ready construction: Designed with a rugged molded housing and a 7mm cable interface with strain relief to withstand heavy live use.
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Full frequency response: Maintains the integrity of the sound spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ensuring that the bass has weight and the treble remains crystal clear.
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Noise isolation: The use of the transformer helps to reduce hum and ground noise that often appear when connecting equipment of different electrical natures.
Benefits for the musician and the engineer
The main benefit of the Audix T50K is tone preservation. By matching the electrical impedance between the source (microphone) and the destination (amplifier), it avoids the "loading" effect that often muffles the sound, robbing it of brightness and volume. For the musician, this means that the true character of their microphone is faithfully transmitted to the amplifier.
Furthermore, its physical design with a flexible cable section prevents the weight of the XLR connector and microphone cable from exerting a damaging lever force on the input jack of your amplifier or pedalboard, something very common with rigid one-piece adapters.
Use cases
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Harmonica players: It's the standard for connecting harmonica microphones (like the Audix FireBall) directly to tube guitar amplifiers, achieving that characteristic saturated and "bluesy" sound.
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Experimental vocalists: Allows you to connect a dynamic vocal microphone to a chain of guitar effects pedals (reverb, delay, distortion) before going to the mixing console.
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Instrument recording: Ideal for "re-amping" or for connecting microphones directly to interfaces or portable recorders that only have free line/instrument inputs.
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Presentations and conferences: Perfect emergency solution for connecting a wired microphone to a karaoke system or portable speaker that only has a jack input.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does the Audix T50K allow phantom power (48V)?
No. Because it's a transformer, it doesn't allow the passage of direct current (DC). Therefore, it won't work with condenser microphones that require phantom power from the mixer, unless the microphone has its own internal battery.
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Can I use it in reverse (from Jack to XLR)?
Although transformers are bidirectional, the connector type (XLR Female to Male Jack) is specifically designed for microphone-to-amplifier signal flow. To connect an instrument to a microphone input, you would need a direct box (DI box).
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Is it better than a simple metal adapter?
Definitely. A simple transformerless adapter causes severe impedance mismatch, resulting in a very low signal and loss of high frequencies. The T50K corrects this electrically.
Project description
High-quality in-line impedance matching transformer designed for microphone (low impedance) to instrument (high impedance) interfaces. The device features a gold-plated female XLR input connector and a male 1/4" TS output jack. It incorporates an internal transformer that converts an input impedance of 100-600 Ohms to an output of 10k-50k Ohms, with a voltage ratio of +17.5 dB (Low Z to High Z). The design includes a 7mm thick cable interface with strain relief for mechanical durability and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
