WA273
intermediate
$1,199
Used market: $985*
Specifications
3 of 7 values have a recorded source- Type
- outboard_preamp·
- Added Gain dB
- 80✓
- Input Connector
- 2x 3-Pin XLR Mic + 2x 1/4" TRS Line + 2x 1/4" TS Instrument DI·
- Output Connector
- 2x 3-Pin XLR + 2x 1/4" TRS Line·
- Expert Description
- En: Two-channel Class-A 1073-style preamp on UK-made Carnhill transformers. 80 dB of gain on a resistor-stepped switch, a tone button that changes the input transformer impedance from 1200 Ω to 300 Ω, a four-position inductor high-pass filter at 50/80/160/300 Hz, and unbalanced TS insert jacks ahead of the output transformer. · Uk: Двоканальний преамп класу A у стилі 1073 на британських трансформаторах Carnhill. 80 дБ підсилення на резисторному ступінчастому перемикачі, кнопка tone міняє опір вхідного трансформатора з 1200 Ω на 300 Ω, чотирипозиційний індукторний фільтр низьких частот 50/80/160/300 Гц і несиметричні інсерти TS перед вихідним трансформатором.·
- Provides Phantom Power
- yes✓
- Requires Phantom Power
- no✓
Expert Audio Engineering Commentary
Gain Staging Advice
The gain is stepped, not continuous: fine level trim is done on the output control, not the gain switch. That is the whole point of the circuit — you choose how hard the input transformer is driven with the gain switch and then set the level with the output pot.
Production Warning
The tone button is a load change, not an EQ. At 300 Ω a ribbon or a dark dynamic gets brighter because the microphone is loaded differently; on a condenser the same switch does much less.
What the datasheet actually says
Quoted verbatim from the manufacturer’s own page, with the date we checked it. We state what is printed, not what anyone intended by it.
«WA73 Specs — «Single Or Dual-Channel, Class A, '73-Style British Console Microphone Preamp» … «80 dB Of Gain - Resistor Stepped Gain Switch» … «Single Chassis Depth: 7.25" | 18.13 cm» … «Dual Chassis Depth: 11" | 27.5 cm»»
Warm Audio publish one specification tab, titled "WA73 Specs", for both the single-channel WA73 and the two-channel WA273; the only line that separates the models is chassis depth. Every electrical figure, including the 80 dB of gain, is therefore stated per channel for both boxes at once. The page also shows one MSRP ($599) in the header while the dual-channel variant is priced $1199 in the page data.
checked 8/5/2026* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~82% retained value). · checked on 8/5/2026