Warm Audio Wa273 Microphone Preamp

Warm Audio WA273 Microphone Preamp (WA-273)

The legendary 1073 wrote the book on characterful mic preamplification. This venerable circuit helped define the punchy sound of '70s rock — and countless recordings and live concerts ever since. Today, this coveted tone can be yours for a song, with the Warm Audio WA273 mic/line/instrument preamp. In both design and performance, the 2-channel WA273 pays homage to the revered British console lineage that started it all. Throughout the audio industry, the 1073 is considered the holy grail of preamps, with a rich, sweet, and bold tonality that's ideal for making audacious statements with your music. After years of R&D, painstaking reverse-engineering, and countless hours of listening, Warm Audio captured the sonic essence of this classic perfectly in their boutique WA273. With 80dB of gain and a fully discrete transformer-balanced signal path, the sound is a revelation: harmonically rich bottom end, focused midrange, and slightly resonant highs.


FEATURES

• Handwired, hand-assembled 1073-style preamplifiers
• Fully discrete, Class A, transformer-balanced circuitry
• UK-made Carnhill Transformers
• 80dB of gain handles any type of microphone, including low-output ribbons
• Resistor-stepped rotary gain switches for easy recall
• Tone buttons change input transformer impedance for mic optimization and tonal shaping
• Polarity switches
• 48V phantom power
• 4-position inductor-based highpass filters, selectable for Off, 50, 80, 160, or 300Hz
• XLR mic inputs
• Line-level TRS inputs
• TS Send/Receive insert jacks
• XLR and TRS line-level outputs
• DI instrument inputs
• Output level controls
• LED level indication meters
• Rugged 19" rackmount chassis
• Ground lift switch
• Internal IEC 115V/230V power inlet

SPECIFICATIONS

Preamp Type: Class A Solid State
Number of Channels: 2
Phantom Power: Yes
Polarity Switch: Yes
EQ: Highpass 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz, 300Hz
Analog Inputs: 2 x XLR (mic), 2 x 1/4" (line), 2 x 1/4" (Hi-Z)
Analog Outputs: 2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4"
Channel Inserts: Yes
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (±0.5 dB)
Rack Spaces: 1U
Power Source: Standard IEC AC cable
Width: 19"