Warm Audio WA-47 Tube Condenser Microphone w/ WA12 MKII Black Microphone Preamp

Manufacturer's Description

Warm Audio WA-47 Large-Diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone

Blast from the past 

The WA-47 is an all vacuum tube, large diaphragm, transformer balanced, multi-pattern (9), large condenser microphone, based on the classic ‘47 that has been used on countless hit records for the last 50+ years.  The WA-47 is designed for pro studio, home studio, live, and broadcast applications and sounds great on vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, acoustic/electric bass, drums, piano, strings, brass/woodwind instruments, and an array of other sources.  The classic ‘47 became extremely popular in the 1960’s and is now considered one of the greatest microphones ever made.  The classic ‘47 is still widely used today in professional recording studios but have become extremely rare and expensive to acquire.

Designing the WA-47 to sound like the classic ‘47 was no easy task, especially considering that some of the vintage components are no longer available.  We compared and listened to 2 different vintage ‘47 mics and found that they both sounded amazing but also sounded a little different from each other.  These comparison tests became the benchmark for tailoring our WA-47 sonics to sit right in with these 2 vintage ‘47 mics.  We are pleased to release such a gorgeous sounding classic to the market at a price that’s reachable to more people than ever before.  We are also proud to mention that the WA-47 sounds legitimately indistinguishable to the vintage ‘47’s we auditioned on several sources.

As with all Warm Audio products, we focus heavily on quality components to ensure we release the best sounding product possible.  The WA-47 is packed with top end components that are carefully sourced from many of the top pro audio component suppliers in the world.

True '47 style capsule

The WA-47 utilizes a custom reproduction of the vintage k47 style capsule that was used in the classic ‘47 microphone - designed with the same hole pattern and frequency response.  Every Warm Audio capsule is made in the same small assembly house in a clean-room environment,  and packaged in its own protective jewel case until the moment it is loaded into the microphone.  Each capsule is visually inspected and electrically tested for imperfections.

A large part of any microphone's tone comes from its capsule, and the true k47 style capsule used in the WA-47 is not easily manufactured or typically found in affordable condenser microphones.  We are proud to be using such a faithful recreation of this classic part in an affordably priced '47 style microphone.

A look inside

The Capsule

The WA-47 utilizes a custom reproduction of the vintage k47 style capsule that was used in the classic ‘47 microphone - designed with the same hole pattern and frequency response.  Our version of this capsule (model# WA-47-B-80v) is carefully manufactured by an Australian capsule manufacturer who's precision and repeatability allows us to nail the vintage sonics of the most important sonic piece of this classic style of microphone.

The Tube

A Slovak Republic JJ 5751 vacuum tube is a lower gain, low noise tube that forces much of the sonics of the capsule and transformer to be heard more significantly than some higher gain tubes might allow.  We auditioned 4 different tube brands and fell in love with the JJ 5751.  The frequency response of the JJ 5751 and the way it contributes to the circuit is tonally smooth and vintage in nature.

The Transformer

The WA-47 utilizes an American made TAB-Funkenwerk (AMI) USA transformer with large core imported German laminations.  This transformer helps provide the creamy smooth top end, and the LARGER THAN LIFE bottom end one would expect from a '47 style condenser microphone.

The Cable

One component of a tube microphone often overlooked is the 7 pin cable that connects the microphone to its power supply.  When auditioning the WA-47 and other tube microphones we learned quite a bit about 7 pin cables and how the shielding and wire gauge size can drastically change the sonics of a tube microphone.  We have partnered with Gotham Audio in Switzerland to use their very carefully built top-end 7 pin GAC-7 cable. Using this cable increases top end presence and the overall size of the recorded image in the stereo field, by reducing phase shift and the parasitic effect often found in poorly built cables. Gotham Audio is very expensive and boutique in nature and should not be considered a small addition to the WA-47 package.

The Capacitors

The WA-47 uses a polystyrene coupling capacitor for uncompressed top-end response from the capsule, wima film capacitors throughout, and an imported Solen French capacitor on its output driving the TAB-Funkenwerk (AMI) USA output transformer.

Warm Audio WA12 MKII Black Discrete Microphone Preamp, Cinemag Transformers

Raising The Volume

A lot of preamps on the market do a good job of raising the volume of microphones and instruments, but many pres today are doing only that: raising the volume. These “super clean” designs often leave the signal exiting the preamp sounding much the same as it did entering it, which ends up requiring a lot of work in post-production to get instruments to wake up and sound big in a mix.

If you’re looking for a preamp to actually improve and shape your signal instead, you will most definitely love the WA12 MKII Black. This preamp is designed to transform the tone of plain instruments and vocals into exciting sounds that can stand on their own - so if your mixes lack depth, struggle to sound alive, or are just missing that professional touch you’ve always wanted, the the WA12 MKII Black is the affordable answer.

Packed With Performance

The WA12 MKII Black is a completely discrete, high voltage, dual-transformer microphone preamplifier design with high gain (+71dB), high headroom, low noise, and exciting sonic performance – which makes it an ideal choice for all types of recording applications. A high-quality mic preamp is one of the most critical pieces needed to achieve that elusive ‘larger than life’ sound, and the WA12 MKII Black delivers on that promise every single time.

Premium Components

The WA12 MKII Black is based around the X731 discrete op-amp, which is our own reproduction of the classic Melcor 1731 - considered by some to be the warmer predecessor to the modern 2520-style op-amp. The X731 can achieve vibrant, clean and lifelike tones, but it can also be driven into mild saturation at much higher gain levels. While the effects of that saturation can range from subtle to obvious, they always remain very pleasing to the ear, and because it was designed around the X731 the WA12 MKII Black can accept any discrete op-amp on the market that conforms to the +/-16v, 2520 pinout standard.

Our ears played a big part in the process of designing the WA12 MKII Black, and we didn’t stop tweaking until anything we ran through it sounded better. Using CineMag USA transformers and an all-discrete signal path, we ensured that this preamp would have the building blocks to compete with the best-sounding preamps on the market, and we’re very proud to offer such a robust and professional design in a small and affordable package.

Warm Audio PREM-XLR-15 Premier Series Studio & Live XLR Microphone Cable, 15'

Introducing Premium Cables by Warm audio

At Warm, we always put customers front and center in our decision-making. You are the reason that we put so much time and effort into ensuring that the products we bring to market sound amazing, are as affordable as possible and inspire endless creativity - we’re serious about this stuff!

We’re also serious about recording as an art, and we’re always looking for ways to help our customers achieve their sonic goals. With that mission in mind we partnered with Switzerland-based Gotham AG - Europe’s top producer of premium cable - to provide the cable stock for our entire new line of interconnects, and the results have exceeded our expectations!

Highest Quality Possible

With Warm Cables we knew that we wanted to offer the highest quality possible at a price low enough for everyone to afford, with construction robust enough that we could offer a lifetime warranty. Well known as the original supplier to some of the industry’s elite manufacturers (their 3-conductor wire was known simply as “the Neumann Cable” for decades), Gotham’s cable construction techniques and technology now represent the current state-of-the-art. We couldn’t be happier to partner with them on these new cables, and we can’t wait for you to use them!

Premier vs. Pro

Warm makes two lines of cable - Premier and Professional - in order to offer the largest number of options possible in two different price ranges. Both lines take advantage of Gotham’s state-of-the-art construction, offering absolutely stellar audio performance, near-perfect signal transfer and the ultimate in reliability (which is why they both feature a lifetime warranty!). Both cable lines produce fabulous results, but the Premier line adds above-and-beyond features like gold-plated connectors, four-conductor Starquad construction for powerful rejection of EMI and Double-Reussen shielding for increased rejection of RFI. There simply is no better-sounding or more reliable cable on the planet, and Warm Cables don’t come with a gold-plated price tag - these are wires that everyone can afford!

Warm Audio Premier and Pro cables are offered in XLR, XLR to TRS, TS to TS, and TS to angled TS varieties.

What does “StarQuad” mean?

A traditional balanced cable uses three cores of wire to carry the audio signals: one shielded core for the hot/positive leg, one shielded core for the cold/negative leg (which is wired in reverse polarity to the positive leg), and a plain outer wrap that functions as the ground. A balanced audio system effectively rejects most induced noise encountered along the cable’s length by removing signals that are common to both the hot and cold legs.

StarQuad construction takes that concept even further, by using four cores instead of two: two cores each for the hot/positive and cold/negative legs and a single ground. This helps to further shield the audio from RFI (radio frequency interference) even more than a traditional 3-conductor cable.

What is Double-Reussen Shielding?

Most cable construction techniques use an outer wrap of wire to act as the ground. Some manufacturers braid this wire, while others simply wrap the wires in a highly uniform way to shield the interior wires from interference.

Double-Reussen shielding goes much further than more traditional techniques in two ways: First, the cable is wrapped with not one but TWO separate shields, and second, the outer shield is wrapped in a contrary direction to the inner shield. This creates a stronger and more complete shield from RFI for the internal cores, and can result in an astounding reduction of interference. Double-Reussen shielding is a tad more expensive to manufacture, but for those who will accept nothing but the best it represents the pinnacle of current balanced cable technology.

Specifications

Warm Audio WA-47 Large-Diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone

• Custom true '47 capsule reproduction
• Capsule makeup: Gold sputtered, dual large diaphragm, single backplate, 6 microns NOS mylar (PET film)
• TAB-Funkenwerk (AMI) USA output transformer
• JJ Slovak 5751 vacuum tube
• Gotham 5 meter GAC-7, 7-pin tube microphone cable
• Wima, Solen French, and Polystyrene capacitors
• Polar Patterns: 9 patterns - Cardioid, Omni, figure-of-eight + 6 mixed patterns
• Self-noise: 11dBA
• Dynamic range: 130dBA
• Maximum SPL: 140dB  (<0.5% THD)
• Frequency Range: 20 Hz~20 kHz
• Output Impedance: 200 ohms
• Rated Load Impedance: ≥2kOhms
• S/N Ratio: 82dBA
• Equivalent Noise: 10dBA (IEC651)
• External IEC grounded PSU
• Includes: Microphone, Wood box, PSU, Shockmount, Gotham 7 pin GAC-7 cable, IEC power cable
• Total Weight - 9 lbs
• Mic Diameter: 90mm
• Mic Length: 254mm
  

Warm Audio WA12 MKII Black Discrete Microphone Preamp, Cinemag Transformers

• Utilizes premium-grade input and output transformers from Cinemag USA
• Fully discrete design with a robust 71dB of gain
• Utilizes a discrete 6-pin socketed 1731-style opamp, which can be swapped with other designs that conform to the 6-pin, 2520 footprint +/- 16VDC standard for varying tone and flavor
• 20db pad.
• Tone button - switches the input impedance from 150 to 600 ohms and changes the tone of both the mic and hi-Z inputs
• Mic level balanced input: XLR
• 2 MegOhm true hi-Z input on the front panel which sends the signal through the entire circuit, including both Cinemag transformers and the X731 opamp - great for guitars, bass, keys, keyboards and any instrument with a 1/4” output jack
• Balanced outputs: XLR and 1/4″/TRS
• 48 volt Phantom Power
• LED Meter gain indication
• Output attenuation control (positioned after the Cinemag output transformer) allows for driving the preamp and transformers into saturation
• Switchable 115/230 volt IEC power inlet