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Warm Audio WA73-EQ Microphone Preamp & EQ
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Warm Audio WA73-EQ Microphone Preamp & EQ F U G
Warm Audio WA73-EQ 1-Channel British Microphone Preamp / EQ
| Product Available For Rent | No |
|---|---|
| Brand | Warm Audio |
Details
The 1073 Legend Lives in Warm Audio's Splendid WA73-EQ
The legendary 1073 wrote the book on characterful mic preamplification and EQ. These venerable circuits 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 WA73-EQ mic/line/instrument preamp. In both design and performance, the WA73-EQ 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 and EQs, 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 WA73-EQ. 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.
Handcrafted with top-quality parts
Boasting weapons-grade build quality with discrete, handwired Class A circuits and top-drawer parts such as UK-made Carnhill transformers and Blore Edwards mil-spec, dual-concentric switch pots, the WA73-EQ has 80dB of gain on tap so you can capture subdued sources with your favorite ribbon mic. Your ribbons and condensers will sound heavenly; you'll even be gobsmacked when you hear how authoritative your dynamic mics sound. Cranking the input stage and backing off the output gain enhances your tracks with tasty vintage-style coloration. Topping off the feature set is an instrument jack, polarity reverse, 48V phantom power, and switchable impedance for tonal variation and to optimally match a variety of microphones.
Optimize every source — and microphone
There is no source that doesn't sound amazing through the Warm Audio WA73-EQ. With judicious mic selection and placement, drums are larger-than-life; DI bass and keyboards sound massive and synths become trance-inducing; electric guitars soar; vocals rule. Pianos and acoustic guitars are resplendent. Orchestral instruments — strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion — achieve ineffable lushness and dimension. You can even use the WA73-EQ as a tone-shaping tool to run stems or complete mixes through. Hear what the WA73-EQ can do for your own recordings. It's transformative.
Definitive British EQ
The EQ section of the WA73-EQ adheres to the classic 1073 circuit topology. The vintage 1073 is the holy grail of EQ, and the WA73-EQ nails its sonics and behavior (complete with its fabled harmonic distortion). It's a three-band affair, with HF shelving at 10, 12, and 16kHz; midband peaking with selectable center frequencies at 360Hz, 700Hz, 1.6kHz, 3.2kHz, 4.8kHz, and 7.2kHz; and LF shelving, selectable at 35Hz, 60Hz, 110Hz, and 220Hz. A highpass filter, selectable at 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz, and 300Hz, lets you trim your signals of unwanted low end. If you've never worked with a 1073-style EQ before, all we can say is: you're in for a serious treat. It's worth noting that the original 1073 offered only a fixed 10kHz shelf, and the additional high-frequency flexibility afforded by the WA73-EQ is most welcome.
Warm left no stone unturned
A vital yet not-often-discussed component of these classic British circuits is the different types of capacitors and output transistors used. To maintain the integrity of the original circuits, Warm decided to use high-quality tantalum and polystyrene capacitors in the signal path and an output transistor choice that delivers smoother results at higher gain settings than what is commonly found in today's 1073-style preamps. All considered, Warm Audio's monumental effort to design a no-compromise product has paid off handsomely. You'll appreciate this every time you plug into the WA73-EQ and hit record.
Warm Audio WA73-EQ Mic/Line/Instrument Preamp and EQ Features:
- Handwired and hand-assembled, single-channel 1073-style preamp/EQ
- 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 switch for easy recall
- Tone button changes input transformer impedance for mic optimization and tonal shaping
- Polarity switch
- 48V phantom power
- 4-position inductor-based highpass filter, selectable for Off, 50, 80, 160, or 300Hz
- Inductor-based 3-band equalization
- Low-band boost/cut at 35, 60, 110, or 220Hz
- Mid-band boost/cut at 360, 700, 1600, 3200, 4800, or 7200Hz
- High-band boost/cut at 10, 12, or 16kHz
- Additional high-band frequency EQ points added (compared to vintage 1073)
- XLR mic input
- Line-level TRS input
- TS Send/Receive insert jacks
- XLR and TRS line-level outputs
- DI instrument input
- Output level control
- LED level indication meter
- Rugged 19" rackmount chassis
- Ground lift switch
- Internal IEC 115V/230V power inlet
Tech Specs
- Preamp Type:Class A Solid State
- Number of Channels:1
- Phantom Power:Yes
- Polarity Switch:Yes
- EQ:Low (35Hz, 60Hz, 110Hz, 220Hz), Mid (360Hz, 700Hz, 1.6kHz, 3.2kHz, 4.8kHz, 7.2kHz), High (10kHz, 12kHz, 16kHz), Highpass
- Analog Inputs:2 x XLR (mic), 1 x 1/4" (line), 1 x 1/4" (Hi-Z), 1 x 1/4" (return)
- Analog Outputs:1 x XLR (line out), 1 x 1/4" (line out), 1 x 1/4" (send)
- Rack Spaces:1U
- Power Source:Standard IEC AC cable
- Width:19"
- Manufacturer Part Number:WA73EQ
More Information
| Product Available For Rent | No |
|---|---|
| Brand | Warm Audio |
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