Warm Audio WA273

19

2-Channel Microphone Preamp in British 1073 Style

  • Discrete Class A circuit
  • Carnhill transformer
  • 80 dB gain
  • Incremented potentiometer
  • Tone button for switching the input impedance
  • Switch for phase reversal
  • Low-cut filter 4-step switchable: 50, 80, 160, 300 Hz
  • LED meter
  • 48V Phantom power
  • Integrated 115/230 V power supply unit
  • Build: 19" / 1 U

Connections:

  • 2 Microphone inputs: XLR
  • 2 Line inputs: 6.3 mm jack
  • 2 Instrument inputs: 6.3 mm jack
  • 2 Insert inputs and outputs: 6.3 mm jack
  • 2 Line outputs: XLR and 6.3 mm jack
Available since August 2018
Item number 432171
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Channels 2
Number of microphone inputs 2
Instrument input Yes
Tubes No
Compressor/Limiter No
Equalizer No
De-Esser No
Phantom power Yes
Phase Reverse Yes
External effect loops Yes
Analogue Outputs XLR
Digitale Outputs None
Headphone connection No
Level Meter Yes
Design 19" / 1U
13.390 kr
Free shipping incl. VAT
In stock
In stock

This product is in stock and can be shipped immediately.

Standard Delivery Times
1

19 Customer ratings

4.5 / 5

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handling

features

sound

quality

10 Reviews

B
Great sounding preamp, slight QC issues
Birdy  19.04.2023
This is a great sounding unit.
The saturation goes all the way from subtle to overblown and everything in between.
It's super easy to dial in the right amount of saturation with the stepped gain knobs, and then use the non-stepped output knob to hit your converter (or whatever unit you're plugged into) at the right level.
It's also great for recording matched stereo pairs, or recalling settings.

The high pass filter is very handy to clean the signal and make sure you're not recording any excess noise or rumble.
The tone button is interesting, definitely has an effect on the sound, though it's a bit hard to A/B since it also affects the volume, so you have to record with and without it and level match to decide if you want to record with it or not.

I haven't tried the instrument or line inputs yet, so I can't comment on those, but I expect them to be just as good.
If you're not using them as well, their buttons can serve as a handy mute button.

The unit is impressively heavy, especially for its size, feels high quality.
All of the knobs and buttons feel very sturdy and nice to use.
There's no noise/pops while using it at all.
The way I have it set up now, almost all of the top ventilation holes are blocked by other gear, but to my pleasant surprise, even in this setup after a few hours of use, the unit didn't even get warm.

Now regarding the QC issues, I've read a lot of reviews about this product that mentioned pretty serious QC issues that hurt the functionality of the unit.
My unit functions well, but has some cosmetic issues.
The white buttons on the first channels aren't perfectly aligned, but more importantly, the red gain knob on the second channel is skewed, meaning it always points to the empty spaces between the gain markings rather than the mark itself.
The only reason it even bothers me is because the unit came with a little badge in the box, saying something like "Hand checked and tested by X", and is marketed as proudly hand built.
It's not something I'd return the unit over, but it's disappointing as I expected more at this price point and with this kind of marketing.

Overall great unit, I recommend it for those who are looking for a Neve style preamp, just know it might not be 100% perfect.
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s
Sounds very good but...
shootnix 09.08.2020
But build quality is poor. I've got my item with manufacturing defects: mic input on second channel didn't work. Soldering quality is unacceptable as well. Volume dial makes noise when I trying to change volume. I'm totally disappointed.
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FK
Pretty pretty good
Fred Kash 21.08.2023
I would, If I had the budget, bought the neve 1073 but the Wa273 does an amazing job!
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s
très déçu
smokyjimi 08.01.2019
Utilisé en home studio pour voix, guitares et basses.

Rien à redire sur le son ou les fonctionnalités qui me convenaient bien. Il faisait plutot bien son boulot.
Il parait plutôt solide d'aspect extérieur bien que les boutons ne semblent pas armés pour résister avec le temps.

Par contre à l'intérieur... quelle catastrophe! Je l'ai reçu avec un faux contact sur le canal 2, il fallait légèrement presser le châssis du bout des doigts pour que le signal passe. Du coup je procède à un échange, et sur le 2nd, problème de 48V (toujours sur le canal 2) qui ne fonctionne pas.
Je retourne donc le produit une 2nde fois et, ayant ma claque des aller retour à la poste, j'irais voir ailleurs si l'herbe est + verte.

Je lorgnais sur les micros Warm Audio, ainsi que leurs compresseurs, je suis complètement refroidis par cette marque.
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