WARM AUDIO / WA273-EQ

This is a 2-channel channel strip version of a microphone preamplifier developed to target the sound of the legendary vintage microphone preamplifier ""1073"". It achieves excellent cost performance while employing carefully selected parts such as custom Carnhill transformers and hand-wired construction. This is a recommended microphone preamplifier/EQ that delivers superior sound quality with any microphone and source.

■Channel Strip

The ""1073"" microphone preamplifier, which has captivated many engineers and defined the sound of pop/rock records for the past 50 years, remains renowned today as the ultimate microphone preamplifier. WARM AUDIO's WA73 series meticulously reconstructs this classic British preamplifier in a variety of single/dual/EQ versions, paying homage to the original circuit design.

The WA73-EQ is designed with respect to the history of British consoles in both design and performance. Its vintage unit-specific tone and sweet sound character are both distinctive and familiar. Driven by WARM AUDIO's desire to release an accurate replica, the WA-273EQ was born after years of R&D, careful reverse engineering, and countless auditions.

The original 1073 was known as a versatile tool compatible with a wide range of microphones, including condenser, dynamic, and ribbon microphones. Similarly, this unit can be used with all types of microphones and sources. With 80dB of gain, a fully discrete Carnhill transformer-balanced signal path, and a versatile 3-band inductor EQ, there's no recording, mixing, or engineering task the WA-273EQ can't handle.

-Hand-Wired

Like the original 1073, the WA-273EQ is hand-wired and hand-assembled. Some argue that the 1073's classic tone is due to the hand-wired construction.

-Custom British-Made Carnhill Transformers

A common topic of discussion among 1073 enthusiasts is its classic circuit design. Vintage 1073s have used various versions of transformers over the years. Of these, the one we at WARM AUDIO most desired was the early version made by Marinair Radar. Marinair Radar transformers, with their smooth and natural characteristics, are considered the most ideal choice for the 1073. The sweet, saturated sound when the tone is pushed is so impressive that it moves engineers. WARM AUDIO worked closely with Carnhill Transformers in Cambridgeshire, England, to create a faithful replica of the ideal early version of the transformer. Of all the 1073-style preamps currently on the market, we have never heard anything that comes so close to the sound of this early transformer.

-Capacitors and Signal Path

While not frequently discussed, a crucial part of classic British circuits is the difference in the style of capacitors and output transistors. We found that using tantalum and polystyrene capacitors in the signal path, and employing output transistors that provide smoother performance at high gain settings than those found in current 1073-style preamps, was essential for achieving complete consistency with the original 1073.

-Blore Edwards Switch Pot Equipped

A fantastic-sounding 1073-style circuit needs to be equally reliable. The complex dual concentric switch potentiometers in the WA-273EQ's EQ section are manufactured by Blore Edwards, a British company that produces military-grade switches and potentiometers. The use of Blore-Edwards components is rare in 1073-style preamps in this price range.

◎Overseas Reviews

""The WA73 is the best. Powerful, punchy, smooth, silky, and delivers rich sound. On top of that, it's a beautifully hand-wired, tank-like design. Well done, Warm Audio, fantastic.""

-Dante Lattanzi

(HBO, MTV, CNN, Universal Music, Dr. John, Shemekia Copeland)

""Just like the original, it makes the sound big and impressive. I'm going to mount a few of these in my rack."" 』

-Joe Carrell

(Thousand Foot Krutch, Tasji Bachman, Sanctus Real, Pauline Reese)

■Specifications

? 2-channel, Class A, 1073-style British microphone preamp (with EQ)

? Equipped with British-made Carnhill transformers

? British-made Blore Edwards EQ dual concentric switch potentiometers

? Hand-wired, hand-assembled

? 80dB gain resistor-staged gain switch

? Fully discrete

? TONE button - Allows changing the impedance of the input transformer to alter the tone

? Polarity switch

? 48V phantom power

? Inductor-based 3-band EQ

Low band boost/cut - 35, 60, 110, 220 Hz

Mid band boost/cut - 360, 700, 1600, 3200, 4800, 7200 Hz

High-band boost/cut - 10, 12, 16 kHz

*High-frequency EQ points have been added compared to the original.

? 4-position high-pass filter: 50, 80, 160, 300 Hz

? XLR microphone input

? TRL line input

? Send/Receive TS insert jack

? XLR & TRS line-level output

? DI instrument input

? Output control

? LED level meter

? Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz +/- 5dB

? 19"" rack size

? Maximum input: +26dBu (common to all inputs)

? Output impedance: 75Ω@1kHz (at 600Ω load)

? Maximum output level: +26dBu (at 600Ω load)

? Transformer balanced output

? Dimensions: Depth: 27.7cm (excluding knobs/protrusions)

*This product is 100V specification.

*The insert point is immediately after the preamp, and the SEND output does not have a high-pass filter or EQ applied.