The Sound of British Consoles, Without the Price Tag
Based off the most recorded preamp in history. The WA73 is Warm Audio's recreation of the 73 circuit, built through years of careful reverse-engineering and countless hours of listening, using premium components chosen to match the original as closely as possible. The result is a great preamp with a harmonically rich low end, focused mids, a smooth high end, at a price that makes owning one genuinely accessible.
Carnhill Transformers and a Discrete Signal Path
Warm Audio worked closely with Carnhill Transformers, the same company that wound transformers for original Neve consoles, to design custom reproductions of early 73-style transformers. The type of capacitors in the signal path mirror the original circuit's component choices, and the output transistor is specifically selected to stay smooth and controlled at high gain settings rather than breaking up harshly. The result is a fully discrete, transformer-balanced Class-A signal path that saturates sweetly when pushed.
Flexible Connectivity
The WA73 covers the full range of studio recording scenarios. Balanced XLR and TRS inputs on the rear panel handle microphones and line-level sources, while the front-panel has a DI input for recording for bass, guitar, and keyboards. An insert send and return loop lets you patch in outboard compression or EQ between the input and output transformers, ideal for building a classic vocal chain. The WA73 features a highpass filter, phantom power, polarity invert, ground lift, and impedance selector. An output level control with five-segment LED meter lets you drive the input transformer harder for more saturation while keeping the output level controlled.
Warm Audio WA73 Features:
- Single-channel Class-A mic/line/instrument preamp
- Hand-wired and assembled
- Fully discrete transformer-balanced signal path
- Custom Carnhill transformers, reproduction of original 73-style designs
- Up to 80dB of resistor stepped gain
- Switchable input impedance 1200Ω / 300Ω
- highpass filter at, 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz, 300Hz
- Balanced XLR and TRS inputs and outputs
- Front-panel instrument input
- Send and return
- 48V phantom power, polarity invert, ground lift
- Output level control with 5-segment LED meter
- Input noise: -111dBu unweighted
- 1RU rackmount
Specifications:
| Rack Height |
1 RU |
| Number of Channels |
1 |
| Inputs |
1 x XLR 3-pin (balanced)
1 x 1/4" TRS (balanced)
1 x 1/4" TS (unbalanced) |
| Outputs |
1 x XLR 3-pin (balanced)
1 x 1/4" TRS (balanced) |
| Phantom Power |
48 V |
| High-Pass Filter |
Off, 50 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz, or 300 Hz |
| Gain Range |
Up to 80 dB |
| Frequency Response |
20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.5 dB) |
| Equivalent Input Noise |
-111 dBu (unweighted) |
| Power Requirement |
115/230 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) |
19.0 x 1.8 x 6.0" / 48.3 x 4.4 x 15.2 cm |
| Weight |
9 lb / 4.1 kg |
| Specialities |
1 x 1/4" TS insert send
1 x 1/4" TS insert return
1 x 5-segment LED metre
Switches for phantom power, polarity, impedance, input source, insert, power, and ground lift |
Usually ships to you within ~2-3 days
