Warm Audio WA273 User manual
WA273
DUAL CHANNEL BRITISH MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIER
THANK YOU!
Thank you for purchasing the Warm Audio WA273 Dual Channel British Microphone Preamplifier. We
feel this product offers the best in terms of the sound, function, and vibe from the classic era of analog
recording. We don’t cut corners when it comes to what goes into our products, and the WA273 is no
exception. The WA273 uses the highest quality custom input and output transformers made by Carnhill
Transformers UK. Classic ‘73-style preamps were often hand-wired and so is the WA273! 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 WA273 is hand-wired and hand assembled, including the pcb components that are all
populated by hand and class A signal path throughout. We are confident you will love recording with
the WA273.
WELCOME BACK TO THE WORLD OF ANALOG
Though digital technology and software have made great strides in their performance
in recent years; we still feel that nothing compares to the level of articulation, depth, realism, and
responsiveness of a well-built piece of analog gear. When you hear the bottom end presence and top
end detail of quality analog gear, the difference can be astounding. The cost of most boutique analog
equipment is financially out of reach for many recording artists. Our mission is to change this, and
introduce as many people as we can to recording and mixing with real, dedicated hardware. Whether
this is the first piece of outboard gear you’ve ever purchased outside of a recording interface, or merely
the first in a long time; we thank you, and welcome you back to the world of analog.
Bryce Young
President
Warm Audio
Liberty Hill, Texas USA
REGISTER YOUR WA273!
Before we begin, please take
you receive proper and uninterrupted warranty support for your product, please register your unit within
14 days from purchase.
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the time to visit www.warmaudio.com to register your product. To ensure
WARRANTY STATEMENT
Warm Audio warranties this product to be free from defect in materials and workmanship for one
year from the date of purchase, for the original purchaser to whom this equipment is registered. This
warranty is non-transferrable.
This warranty is void in the event of damage incurred from unauthorized service to this unit, or from
electrical or mechanical modification to this unit. This warranty does not cover damage resulting
from abuse, accidental damage, misuse, improper electrical conditions such as mis-wiring, incorrect
voltage or frequency, unstable power, disconnection from earth ground (for products requiring a 3
pin, grounded power cable), or from exposure to hostile environmental conditions such as moisture,
humidity, smoke, fire, sand or other debris, and extreme temperatures.
Warm Audio will, at its sole discretion, repair or replace this product in a timely manner. This limited
warranty extends only to products determined to be defective and does not cover incidental costs
such as equipment rental, loss of revenue, etc. Please visit us at www.warmaudio.com for more
information on your warranty, or to request warranty service.
This warranty applies to products sold in the United States of America. For warranty information in any
other country, please refer to your local Warm Audio distributor. This warranty provides specific legal
rights, which may vary from state to state. Depending on the state in which you live, you may have
rights in addition to those covered in this statement. Please refer to your state laws or see your local
Warm Audio retailer for more information.
NON-WARRANTY SERVICE
If you have a defective unit that is outside of our warranty period or conditions; we are still here for you and
can get your unit working again for a modest service fee. Please visit us at www.warmaudio.com
to contact us about setting up a repair or for more information.
With the proper care, your Warm Audio gear should last a lifetime and provide a lifetime of enjoyment.
We believe the best advertisement we can have is a properly working unit being put to great use. Let’s
work together to make it happen.
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The Warm Audio WA273 is one of the highest quality microphone preamplifiers on the market in its
price range. It uses custom made components similarly found in preamplifiers with much higher price
tags. Home-based musicians and professional studios alike will find the WA273 to be an extremely
powerful, versatile and fully professional piece of gear that is capable of warming and shaping both
input signals and mixes in a way that is very pleasing to the ear.
The information contained in this manual is written to help you get quickly started with
using your WA273.
TECHNICAL SPECS
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1. +48V Switch
The 48 volts feature provides power for condenser mics and any other devices requiring continuous
phantom power through the XLR input. This power is supplied at a constant level to prevent any
degradation of audio quality. The adjacent LED lights when phantom power is active.
2. Polarity Switch
This feature inverts the polarity of the signal. Use the polarity switch when recording with more than one
open microphone to combat phase cancellation between microphones.
3. Tone Switch
The control switches the input transformer configuration from a 1:2 (step up) turns ratio to a steeper 1:4
(step up) turns ratio, drawing out a greater degree of coloration and impact from the input transformer.
When engaged, the input impedance of the WA273 is 300 ohms. When disengaged, the input impedance of the WA273 is 1200 ohms. This feature will make a noticeable tone change to most microphones. The 1200 ohms impedance setting is recommended for condenser and dynamic microphones,
and 300 ohms is recommended for dynamic and ribbons. This switch is labeled “Tone” for a reason;
most listeners will find the unswitched setting to be more open and natural, with the engaged setting
to be more punchy, aggressive, or thick. We strongly suggest you experiment with both settings on all
sources to find the best possible tone for your recordings. As with all things, let your ear be the final
judge on which setting to use for any given situation.
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