Warm Audio WA73-EQ 1-Channel British Microphone Preamp & EQ  A Single Channel '73 For The Rest Of Us 

If there’s one style of preamp that professional engineers would unanimously agree has defined the tone of pop/rock records for decades, it would most definitely be the venerable '73-style of mic pre. '73-style preamps have been massively used in recording and live applications for many years and are still considered to be the “Holy Grail” of preamp choices today. The Warm Audio “WA73 Family” consists of single and dual channel '73-style preamps (with & w/out EQ), that each pay careful homage to British audio history.

When we at Warm Audio decided to release the WA73-EQ it was imperative that it met vintage expectation in both design and performance. The tone and sweet character that vintage '73-style mic preamps impart is so unique and familiar, that we had only the pure desire to release sonically accurate reproductions. After years of R&D, careful reverse-engineering, and countless hours of auditioning, the WA73-EQ has been born. 

The WA73-EQ is a “Desert Island” boutique preamp, but it can also be classified as a studio and live work-horse. Classic '73-style preamps are known for being versatile tools that work with all kinds of microphones from Condenser, to Dynamic, to Ribbon. The WA73-EQ 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 WA73-EQ can’t handle.

Hand Wired & Hand Assembled

Classic '73-style preamps were often hand-wired and so is the WA73-EQ! Guru’s claim that a portion of the sought after classic British tone can be attributed to the hand-wired nature of the build. The WA73-EQ is hand-wired and hand assembled, including the pcb components that are all populated by hand. 

UK Custom Carnhill Transformers

Enthusiasts unequivocally get excited about the components used in classic '73-style British preamps. The signal transformers are a common topic of conversation. Vintage units used various versions of transformers throughout the years, but the most coveted were the earliest versions. These are regarded as the most desirable choice due to their fluid and forgiving nature. They saturate sweetly when pushed, and have been known to make engineers cry when they hear how beautiful their mixes sound through them! Warm Audio worked closely with Carnhill Transformers of Cambridgeshire, UK, to design faithful reproductions of these most coveted, early version transformers. We at Warm Audio have not yet heard a modern day '73-style preamp sound as sweet and musical as does our WA73-EQ with these beautiful custom Transformers. 

Capacitors & Signal Path

An important part of the classic British circuits not often discussed are the different styles of capacitors and output transistor used. We found it important to maintain 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 '73-style reproductions.​

UK Blore Edwards Switch-Pots

A great sounding '73-style circuit should be just as reliable as it is great sounding. The complex dual concentric switch potentiometers in the EQ sections of the WA273-EQ are made in the UK by Blore Edwards who manufacture military spec switches and potentiometers. The use of Blore-Edwards components is no small inclusion for a '73-style preamp-eq in this price range.

Mogami Gold Studio XLR Male to XLR Female Microphone Cable - 15 ft

This Mogami Gold Studio XLR Microphone Cable is a high quality microphone cable for studio use utilizing Neglex Studio Quad #2534 cabling for better clarity and diminished noise and RF interference. This cable is terminated with black body 3-pin XLR connectors and gold contacts.

Neglex type Quad Cables have been developed for the highest quality recording applications where maximum definition of recorded sound is of critical importance. Special proprietary materials & construction methods make those state-of-the-art mic cables a must for direct to DISC and digital recording. Basic matters of flexibility, microphonics and shielding effect have been designed to meet international professional requirements.

• Neglex quad microphone cable helps alleviate RFI interference problems

  Mogami Gold 1/4" TRS to Same, Straight to Straight, Cable - 10 ft

For outstanding neutral tone and noise rejection, Mogami Gold TRS-TRS is an excellent interconnect cable for any ¼ " balanced line cable. This cable is a very popular choice for lineout into soundboards and powered speakers. 

Features

• Wired with Neglex Studio Quad
• Offers superior clarity and freedom from noise/RF interference
• Terminated with black body, gold contact TRS connectors
• Lifetime warranty

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, reproductive, and developmental harm. For more information, visit

Specifications Warm Audio WA73-EQ 1-Channel British Microphone Preamp & EQ

• Single Channel, Class A, '73-style British Microphone Preamp with EQ
• UK made Carnhill 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 1073)
• 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

Mogami Gold Studio XLR Male to XLR Female Microphone Cable - 15 ft

• Cable Type: XLR microphone cable
• Length: 15' (4.5m)
• Gauge: 4 x 24 AWG
• Shielding: 100% spiral shield
• Connector 1: 3-Pin XLR male
• Connector 2: 3-Pin XLR female

Mogami Gold 1/4" TRS to Same, Straight to Straight, Cable - 10 ft

SPECIFICATIONS

ConfigurationPart No.W2534W2893No. of Conductor4(Quad)ConductorDetails20/0.12 OFC30/0.08 OFCSize(mm²)0.226mm² (#24 AWG)0.15mm² (#26 AWG)InsulationOv. Dia.(mm)1.6Ø (0.063")1.0Ø (0.039")MaterialXLCPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene)ColorsBlue / Clear (Quad)Black / Red / Blue / ClearServed ShieldApprox. 64/0.18AApprox. 73/0.12AJacketOv. Dia.(mm)6.0Ø (0.236")4.8Ø (0.189")MaterialFlexible PVCFlexible PVCColors10 colours available5 colours availableRoll Sizes50m (164 Ft)
100m (328Ft)
200m (656Ft)50m (164 Ft)
100m (328Ft)
200m (656Ft)Weight per 200m Roll11kg7.5kg

ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Part No.W2534W2893DC Resistance at 20°CInner Cond.0.083Ω/m(0.025Ω/Ft)0.13Ω/m(0.040Ω/Ft)Shield0.012Ω/m(0.0037Ω/Ft)0.025Ω/m(0.0076Ω/Ft)Capacitance at 1kHz, 20°C
(Partial C. Value)
See below figure*K065pF/m(20pF/Ft)74pF/m(23pF/Ft)K113pF/m(4pF/Ft)11pF/m(3.4pF/Ft)K24pF/m(1.2pF/Ft)3pF/m(0.9pF/Ft)Balanced
Quad
ConnectionCond.-Cond.97pF/m(29.6pF/Ft)131pF/m(40pF/Ft)Cond.-Shield.110pF/m(33.6pF/Ft)178pF/m(54pF/Ft)Inductance between conductors at 1kHz. 20°C0.4µH/m(0.12µH/Ft)0.5µH/m(0.15µH/Ft)Electrostatic Noise**50mV Max.50mV Max.Electromagnetic Noise**0.15mV Max.0.15mV Max.Microphonics at 50KΩ/ Load**430m V Max.30m V Max.Voltage BreakdownMust withstand at DC 500V/15sec.Insulation Resistance100000 M Ω/ × m Min. at DC 125V, 20°CFlex Life**11,000 cycles26,000 cyclesTensile Strength686N500NEmigrationNon-emigrant to ABSNon-emigrant to ABSApplicable Temperature-20°C‾ +70°C(-4°F‾ +158°F)