Warm Audio WA73 Single Channel British Style Microphone Preamp

Few preamp designs have shaped more pop and rock records than the ’73-style British console preamp, and the Warm Audio WA73 puts that sound in a single rackmount channel. Built around UK-made Carnhill transformers and a fully discrete Class A signal path, the WA73 delivers the thick low end, forward midrange and smooth top that engineers have chased for decades, at a price that fits project studios as well as commercial rooms.

Gain is set on a resistor-stepped switch with 80 dB of range, so settings are repeatable from session to session. The Tone button changes the input transformer impedance for a second flavor of the same circuit, while the four-position inductor-based high-pass filter (50, 80, 160 and 300 Hz) cleans up rumble before it reaches the converter. XLR mic, TRS line and front-panel instrument inputs cover vocals, DI bass and keyboards from one box, and send/return insert jacks let you patch a compressor or EQ into the chain.

Every WA73 is hand wired and hand assembled, then tested in Austin, Texas. Polarity reverse, 48V phantom power, a ground lift and LED level metering round out a channel strip that works just as well on stage as it does in the studio.

Features

• Single-channel, Class A, ’73-style British microphone preamp
• UK-made Carnhill input and output transformers
• Hand wired and hand assembled, fully discrete signal path
• 80 dB of gain on a resistor-stepped gain switch
• Tone button changes input transformer impedance for a second voicing
• 4-position inductor-based high-pass filter: 50, 80, 160, 300 Hz
• Polarity switch, 48V phantom power and ground lift
• Send/receive insert jacks for outboard processing

Technical Specifications

• Channels: 1
• Inputs: XLR microphone, 1/4″ TRS line level, front-panel 1/4″ instrument DI
• Outputs: XLR and 1/4″ TRS line level
• Insert: 1/4″ TS send and receive
• Gain: 80 dB, stepped
• High-pass filter: 50 / 80 / 160 / 300 Hz, inductor based
• Metering: LED level indication
• Output control: yes
• Form factor: 19″ rackmount, 1U
• Power: internal IEC inlet, 115V / 230V switchable
• Shipping weight: 9.5 lb

What’s Included

• Warm Audio WA73 microphone preamp
• IEC power cable