If there’s one style of preamp that professional engineers would unanimously agree has defined the tone of pop/rock records for decades, it would most definitely be the venerable ’73-style of mic pre. ’73-style preamps have been massively used in recording and live applications for many years and are still considered to be the “Holy Grail” of preamp choices today. The Warm Audio “WA73 Family” consists of single and dual channel ’73-style preamps (with & w/out EQ), that each pay careful homage to British audio history.
When Warm Audio decided to release the WA273-EQ it was imperative that it met vintage expectation in both design and performance. The tone and sweet character that vintage ’73-style mic preamps impart is so unique and familiar, that Warm Audio had only the pure desire to release sonically accurate reproductions. After years of R&D, careful reverse-engineering, and countless hours of auditioning, the WA273-EQ was born!
The WA273-EQ is a “Desert Island” boutique preamp, but it can also be classified as a studio and live work-horse. Classic ’73-style preamps are known for being versatile tools that work with all kinds of microphones from Condenser, to Dynamic, to Ribbon. The WA273-EQ equally shines on all types of microphones and sources including; vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, bass, drums, percussion, orchestras, keyboards, and even as a tone shaping tool to run partial or complete mixes through. With 80dB of gain and a fully discrete Carnhill Transformer balanced signal path, there’s no recording, mixing or engineering task that the WA273-EQ can’t handle.
UK Custom 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-EQ with these beautiful custom Transformers.
Capacitors & Signal Path
An important part of these classic British circuits not often discussed is the different styles of capacitors and output transistor used. Warm Audio found it important to maintain integrity to the original design 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 reproductions.
UK Blore Edwards Switch-Pots
A great sounding ’73-style circuit should be just as reliable as it is great sounding. The complex dual concentric switch potentiometers in the EQ sections of the WA273-EQ are made in the UK by Blore Edwards who manufacture military spec switches and potentiometers. The use of Blore-Edwards components is no small inclusion for a ’73-style preamp-eq in this price range.
Hand Wired & Hand Assembled
Classic ’73-style preamps were often hand-wired and so is the WA273-EQ! 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-EQ is hand-wired and hand assembled, including the pcb components that are all populated by hand.
Prompt Delivery and Professional Packaging
Our long-standing partnership with UPS FedEx DHL and other global carriers lets us offer a range of shipping services. Our warehouse staff is extremely skilled and will package your items according to our precise and exact specifications. Your goods will undergo an extensive inspection and be safely packaged prior to being sent out. Each day, we ship to thousands of customers in many countries. The fact that we are committed to becoming the biggest online retailer in the World is clear. These warehouses are in Europe in the same way as they are in USA.
Note: Orders that include more than one item are assigned a processing period depending on the item.
Before shipping, we will inspect thoroughly the items you have ordered. Most orders are shipped within 48 hours. Expected delivery time is between 3-7 days.
Returns
Stock is dynamic. It's not entirely managed by us since we are involved with multiple entities, including the factory and the storage. The actual stock can change at any moment. It is possible that your order may be out of stock once the order has been placed.
Our policy lasts for 30 days. We cannot exchange or refund your order if it has been 30 days from the date of purchase.
For your item to be returned it must be in its original packaging, unopened and in the condition you received it. The item must be in its original packaging.
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