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Warm Audio

WA273 Two Channel 1073-Style Solid State Mic Preamp

SKU: # 517279   |   Model: # WA-273   |    Product Reviews2 Reviews  Write a Review

WA273 Two Channel 1073-Style Solid State Mic Preamp

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WA273 Two Channel 1073-Style Solid State Mic Preamp
WA273 Two Channel 1073-Style Solid State Mic Preamp
WA273 Two Channel 1073-Style Solid State Mic Preamp

Product Videos :

YouTube Video L&M @ NAMM 2018: Warm Audio 73-Style British Mic Preamps
Your Price: $1,559.00 CDN
or from $129 CDN/mo

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If there's one preamp that professional engineers would unanimously agree has defined the tone of pop/rock records for the last 50+ years, it would most definitely be the venerable 1073. The 1073 has been massively used in recording and live applications for decades and is still considered to be the "Holy Grail" of preamps today. The Warm Audio "WA73 Family" provides single and dual channel re-creations of this classic British preamp (with & w/out EQ), that each pay careful and humble homage to the original circuit.

The WA273 is a boutique, 2 channel "Desert Island" preamp, but it can also be classified as a studio and live work-horse. The classic 1073 was known for being a versatile tool that works with all kinds of microphones from Condenser, to Dynamic, to Ribbon. The WA273 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 can't handle.

Hand Wired & Hand Assembled

The classic 1073 was hand-wired and so is the WA273! The WA273 is hand-wired and hand assembled, including the pcb components that are all populated by hand.

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 has maintained 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 1073-style replicas.

Specifications:

• Two Channel, Class A, 1073-Style British Microphone Preamp
• UK made Carnhill Transformers
• 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
• 4 position inductor based hipass filter - 50, 80, 160, 300 Hz
• XLR mic input
• Line level TRS input
• TS Send/Receive insert jacks
• XLR & TRS line level outputs
• Direct In, instrument input
• Freq response 20Hz - 20kHz +/-.5 dB
• 19" rackable
• Internal IEC 115v/230v power inlet

Media


L&M @ NAMM 2018: Warm Audio 73-Style British Mic PreampsWatch Video
Youtube video product demo

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Reviews


54.173.214.79
claudebot
Amazing 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features  
Quality  
Value  
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Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Saskatoon South, Saskatchewan
Impressive preamp indeed. Vary clean and clear
Posted by anonymous on Dec 13, 2020
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Exceptional product 7 of 7 customers found this review helpful
Features  
Quality  
Value  
Overall  
Product Experience   I own it
Closest Store   Edmonton Whyte, Alberta
I bought this preamp based on the reviews I had read, hooked it up and... did not use it for quite a while (during that time I worked mostly with ribbon mics for which I employ the excellent AEA TRP). Then one day I decided to try the WA273 "for serious" - and still cannot stop using it! I caught myself several times working on recordings for the sheer pleasure of using this unit. It is like enjoying a favourite dish for the umpteenth time without getting fed up. The WA273 has beautiful, clear, very subtle and unobtrusive tone which makes everything - everything - sound great. The combination of Gain/Output Control is deadly: they complement each other beautifully and let you set all levels appropriately; the WA273 is impressively quiet and handles a lot of gain without any hassle and without hurting the overall quality of your recording (not much high gain hiss). The Polarity and Tone switches are a welcome feature, as is HPF offering four options: 50 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz, 300 Hz. I could go on and on, but will only give one advice instead: do not hesitate to experiment, to play with this unit and the available options. (Personally, I did not want the more expensive EQ version of this preamp, as I EQ and master within my DAWs - Logic/Studio One. With the pure tone the WA273 has I simply do not see any need to EQ anything while using it.) This preamp is so good it belies its relatively affordable price - you'd have to spend two-three times more for similar units offered by other brands (that’s right!). It is worth every penny and I have to say I do not regret at all living cheaply for a while after having bought it.
Posted by Piotr Grella-Mozejko on Jun 19, 2019
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Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty

A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.

Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.

How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
  • Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
  • Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
  • No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
  • Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
  • Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
  • Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
  • Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
  • Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
  • Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
 

Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.

Purchasing additional years of coverage

Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.

If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:

  • NEW products: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
  • USED products: 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. 4% for each additional year.
  • GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
  • BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.

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