Description

Meet The WA73-EQ

Warm Audio has once again hit it out of the park with their amazing and affordable pieces of quality studio gear that sounds great. The WA73-EQ is a single-channel preamp and EQ reverse engineered from Neve’s 1073. The British sound that helped shape the history of recorded music is now at the reach of all engineers. The WA73-EQ is the product of meticulous research and tests, using high-quality components such as tantalum and polystyrene capacitors, custom Carnhill transformers, and Blore Edwards UK made dual-concentric EQ pots. The entire signal path is hand wired and assembled while still meeting the Warm Audio philosophy of accessibility.

WA73-EQ In One Take:

• Tested for sonic accuracy to the original 1073
• Fully discrete
• Hand wired, hand assembled
• +48v
• Polarity switch
• Tone button for impedance switching
• Low-cut filter
• Inductor based 3 band EQ
• Line level inputs
• TRS inputs
• 22 position gain knob
• Output control knob
• Inserts (send and return)

EQ Section

Shape your signal with three bands of classic inductor EQ and a low-cut filter. The filter knob, like the rest of the knobs, is fixed step and can be set to cut beneath 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz, and 300Hz. The low-frequency shelf can be set at 35Hz, 60Hz, 110Hz, and 220Hz. The mid band is a bell shape with frequency choices of 360Hz, 700Hz, 1.6kHz, 3.2kHz, 4.8kHz, and 7.2kHz. Lastly, the high shelf can be set to begin boosting at 10kHz, 12kHz, and 16kHz. Apart from being incredibly flexible and able to accommodate for any microphone and room, the possibilities for tone are infinite, derived from one of the most desired EQs in the world.

Tone Button

The tone button on each channel will make the impedance of the input much lower when engaged, resulting in more coloration. It can introduce an extremely desirable and pleasing saturation that is both warm and lush. Aggressive, punchy sounds that saturate in a very appealing manner are driven by custom Carnhill transformers, at either the input or output of each channel independent from one another. The lowered impedance from the Tone Button is great for ribbon mics, which normally have a much lower output than dynamic or condenser microphones.

Under The Hood

The WA73-EQ has custom UK made Carnhill input and output transformers. With knobs for both input and output, the saturation possibilities are endless, and when cranked, sound punchy and exciting.

The EQ section is made possible by Blore Edwards dual concentric switch potentiometers, also built in the UK. Lastly, tantalum and polystyrene capacitors were chosen for this unit both for their reliability, as well as their high-quality sound. Under the hood are all hand wired, hand assembled components that are the result of an immense amount of research, love, and passion.

Made Out Of Need

Warm Audio has in a 19” rackable unit packed a sound that revolutionized audio engineering for all audio engineers. The WA73 is available in mono and stereo configurations both with or without EQ. This array of ‘73 style recreations will provide engineers of different budgets with a viable Warm Audio ‘73 style preamp. All of these options are available without Warm Audio ever compromising their unit’s sound quality and component quality. Finally, engineers can get classic sounds without the huge price tags.

Specifications:

• Dual Channel, Class A, ’73-style British Microphone Preamp with EQ
• UK made Camhill Transformers
• UK made – Blore Edwards EQ dual-concentric switch potentiometers
• 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
• Inductor based 3 band EQ
• 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
• Additional high band frequency EQ points added (compared to vintage ’73)
• 4 position inductor based hipass filter- 50, 80,160,300 Hz
• XLR mic inputs (front & back)
• Line level TRS input
• TS Send/Receive insert jacks
• XLR & TRS line level outputs
• Direct In, instrument input
• Output control
• LED level indication
• Freq response 20Hz – 20kHz +/-.5 dB
• 19” rackable
• Internal IEC 115v/230v power inlet