{"product_id":"warm-audio-wa73-eq-single-channel-mic-pre-eq","title":"Warm Audio WA73-EQ Single Channel Microphone Preamp\/EQ","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen Warm Audio decided to release the \u003cstrong\u003eWarm Audio WA73-EQ\u003c\/strong\u003e Dual Channel Mic Pre\/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 Warm Audio had only the pure desire to release sonically accurate reproductions. After years of R\u0026amp;D, careful reverse-engineering, and countless hours of auditioning, the WA73-EQ was born!\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIf 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 \u0026amp; w\/out EQ), that each pay careful homage to British audio history.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe 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 80 dB 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.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eUK Custom Carnhill Transformers\u003c\/h3\u003e  \u003cp\u003eEnthusiasts 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!\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eWarm Audio worked closely with Carnhill Transformers of Cambridgeshire, UK, to design faithful reproductions of these most coveted, early version transformers.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eCapacitors \u0026amp; Signal Path\u003c\/h3\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAn important part of classic British tone not often discussed are the different styles of capacitors and output transistor used in '73-style circuits. To maintain integrity to early British designs, Warm used 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 preamps.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eUK Blore Edwards Switch-Pots\u003c\/h3\u003e  \u003cp\u003eA 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 WA73-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.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eHand Wired \u0026amp; Hand Assembled\u003c\/h3\u003e  \u003cp\u003eClassic '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.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch3\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/h3\u003e  \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eSingle channel Class A '73-style British microphone preamp with EQ\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eUK made Carnhill Transformers\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eUK made Blore Edwards EQ dual-concentric switch potentiometers\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHand wired, hand assembled\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e80 dB of gain, resistor stepped gain switch\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eFully discrete\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eTone button - changes input transformer impedance for varying tone\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003ePolarity switch\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e48 V phantom power\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eInductor-based 3-band EQ\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLow band boost\/cut - 35, 60, 110, 220 Hz\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMid band boost\/cut - 360, 700, 1600, 3200, 4800, 7200 Hz\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHigh band boost\/cut - 10, 12, 165 kHz\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eAdditional high band frequency EQ points added (compared to vintage 1073)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e4 position inductor based hi-pass filter - 50, 80, 160, 300 Hz\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eXLR mic inputs (front and back)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLine level TRS input\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eTS send\/receive insert jacks\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eXLR \u0026amp; TRS line level outputs\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eDirect in, instrument input\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOutput control\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLED level indication\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e20 Hz - 20 kHz ±5 dB frequency response\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e19\" rack mountable\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eInternal IEC 115\/230 V power inlet\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Warm Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44450388410471,"sku":"114958","price":899.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/8848\/5479\/files\/warm-wa73-eq_114958_1_adf06a90-3fa9-4c98-9511-ea94296db57f.jpg?v=1787092860","url":"https:\/\/vintageking.com\/products\/warm-audio-wa73-eq-single-channel-mic-pre-eq","provider":"Vintage King","version":"1.0","type":"link"}