Warm Audio WA273-EQ

If there is one style of preamplifier that professional engineers would unanimously agree has defined the sound of pop/rock records for decades, it would surely be the venerable '73-style microphone peramp. The '73-style preamplifiers have been used heavily in recording and live applications for many years and are still considered the holy grail among preamplifiers. Warm Audio's WA73 family consists of single- and dual-channel '73-style preamplifiers (with and without EQ), each of which pays careful homage to the history of British sound. When Warm Audio decided to release the WA273-EQ it was imperative that it meet expectations in both vintage design and performance. The sound and sweet character that the '73-style vintage microphone preamps impart is so unique and familiar, we will only have the pure desire to deliver sonically accurate reproductions. After years of research and development, careful reverse engineering and countless hours of auditioning, the WA273 was born. Classic '73-style preamplifiers were often hand-wired, just like the WA273! The WA273-EQ is a Desert Island boutique preamplifier, but it can also be classified as a workhorse both in the studio and live. Classic '73 type preamplifiers are known to be versatile tools that work with all types of Condenser, Dynamic, and Ribbon microphones. The WA273-EQ shines equally on all types of microphones and sources, including vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, percussion, orchestras, keyboards, and even as a sound modeling tool for performing partial or full mixes. With 80dB of gain and a fully discrete Carnhill Transformer balanced signal path, there is no recording, mixing or engineering task that the WA273-EQ cannot handle.

Features

• Two-channel, Class A, British '73 style microphone preamplifier with EQ
• Built in UK - Blove Edwards two-pot EQ with concentric potentiometers
• UK-built Carnhill transformers
• Wired and assembled by hand
• 80dB gain - gain switch with stepped resistors
• Fully discrete
• Tone button to change input transformer impedance and vary sound
• Polarity selector switch
• 48V phantom power supply
• 3-band inductor-based EQ
• Low Band Boost / Cut - 35, 60, 110, 220Hz
• Mid Band Boost / Cut - 360, 700, 1600, 3200, 4800, 7200Hz
• High Band Boost / Cut - 10, 12, 16kHz
• Additional high band frequency EQ points (compared to vintage 1073)
• 4-position hi-pass filter based on inductor 50, 80, 160, 300Hz
• XLR microphone inputs (front and rear)
• TRS line input
• TS Send / Receive input jacks
• XLR and TRS line outputs
• Direct In, Instrument input
• Freq response 20Hz - 20kHz +/- 0.5dB
• 19 rack mountable format
• Internal IEC 115V / 230V input