Description

The classic "73 style preamp" has been heard on countless pop/rock recordings over the years and is a first choice for many recording technicians. The Warm Audio WA73 is equipped with UK custom built Carnhill transformers which are a big part of the classic tone of a "73-style preamp".

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 with these beautiful custom Transformers.

Capacitors & Signal Path
An important part of classic British tone not often discussed are the different styles of capacitors and output transistor used in '73-style circuits. We found it important to maintain integrity to early British designs 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 preamps.

Hand Wired & Hand Assembled
Classic '73-style preamps were often hand-wired and so is the WA73! 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 is hand-wired and hand assembled, including the pcb components that are all populated by hand.

Specifications

• Single channel, class a, '73-style British microphone preamp
• UK made Carnhill transformers
• Gand wired, hand assembled
• Tone button: Changes input transformer impedance for varying tone
• Polarity switch
• 4 position inductor based high-pass filter:  50, 80, 160, 300 hz
• TS send/receive insert jacks
• Direct in, instrument input
• Output control
• LED level indication
• Ground lift switch