The Warm Audio WA-273EQ is a dual '73 style microphone preamp and EQ. The WA273EQ is a versatile work horse that works well with all microphone types and equally on a wide variety of source material such vocals, guitars, bass, drums and much more. To achieve that loved vintage tone the WA 273EQ has fully discrete, class A circuitry with custom made UK Carnhill Transformers.
Enthusiasts unequivocally get excited about the components used in classic '73-style British preamps. The signal transformers are a common topic of conversation. Vintage units used various versions of transformers throughout the years, but the most coveted were the earliest versions. These are regarded as the most desirable choice due to their fluid and forgiving nature. They saturate sweetly when pushed, and have been known to make engineers cry when they hear how beautiful their mixes sound through them!
Warm Audio worked closely with Carnhill Transformers of Cambridgeshire, UK, to design faithful reproductions of these most coveted, early version transformers. We at Warm Audio have not yet heard a modern day '73-style preamp sound as sweet and musical as does our WA273 with these beautiful custom Transformers.
An important part of classic British tone not often discussed are the different styles of capacitors and output transistor used in '73-style circuits. We found it important to maintain integrity to early British designs by using tantalum and polystyrene capacitors in the signal path and an output transistor choice that is much smoother in the high gain settings than what is typically found in modern '73-style preamps.
Classic '73-style preamps were often hand-wired and so is the WA273! Guru’s claim that a portion of the sought after classic British tone can be attributed to the hand-wired nature of the build. The WA273 is hand-wired and hand assembled, including the pcb components that are all populated by hand.
Dual Channel, Class A, '73-style British Microphone Preamp
UK made Carnhill Transformers
Hand wired, hand assembled
80dB of gain - resistor stepped gain switch
Fully discrete
TONE button - Changes input transformer impedance for varying tone
Polarity switch
48v phantom power
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
XLR mic input
Line level TRS input
TS Send/Receive insert jacks
XLR & TRS line level outputs
Direct In, instrument input
Output control
Led level indication
19" rackable
Ground lift switch
Internal IEC 115v/230v power inlet
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Email us now for tailored advice, bespoke quotations, and solutions that respect your budgetary considerations. sales@giraffeaudio.com
