If there's one preamp that professional engineers would unanimously agree has defined the tone of pop/rock records for the last 50+ years, it would most definitely be the venerable 1073. The 1073 has been massively used in recording and live applications for decades and is still considered to be the "Holy Grail" of preamps today. The Warm Audio "WA73 Family" provides single and dual channel re-creations of this classic British preamp (with & without EQ), that each pay careful and humble homage to the original circuit.
The WA73-EQ is a "Desert Island" boutique preamp, but it can also be classified as a studio and live work-horse. The classic 1073 was known for being a versatile tool that worked 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 80dB of gain, a fully discrete Carnhill Transformer balanced signal path, and versatile 3 band inductor EQ, there's no recording, mixing or engineering task the WA73-EQ cant handle.
UK Custom Carnhill Transformers
1073 enthusiasts unequivocally get excited about the component history in these classic circuits. The signal transformers are a common topic of conversation. The classic vintage units used various versions of transformers throughout the years, and the most coveted were the very first versions made by Marinair Radar. Marinair Radar Transformers are regarded as the most desirable 1073 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 replicas of these most coveted, early version transformers.
Hand Wired & Hand Assembled
The classic 1073 was hand-wired and so is the WA73-EQ! The WA73-EQ is authentically hand-wired and hand assembled, including the pcb components that are all populated by hand.
Capacitors & Signal Path
An important part of the classic British circuits not often discussed are the different styles of capacitors and output transistor used. Warm Audio maintained integrity to the original design 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 1073-style replicas.
UK Blore Edwards Switch-Pots
A great sounding 1073-style circuit should be just as reliable as it is great sounding. The complex dual concentric switch potentiometers in the EQ section 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 1073-style preamp-eq in this price range.
Specifications:
• Single Channel, Class A, 1073-style British Microphone Preamp with EQ
• UK made Carnhill Transformers
• UK made - Blore Edwards EQ dual-concentric switch potentiometers
• Hand Wired, hand assembled
• 80dB of gain - resistor stepped gain switch
• Fully discrete
• TONE button - Changes input transformer impedance for varying tone
• Polarity switch
• 48v phantom power
• Inductor based 3 band EQ
• Low Band Boost/Cut - 35, 60, 110, 220 Hz
• Mid Band Boost/Cut - 360, 700, 1600, 3200, 4800, 7200 Hz
• High Band Boost/Cut - 10, 12, 16 kHz
• Additional high band frequency EQ points added (compared to vintage 1073)
• 4 position inductor based hipass filter - 50, 80, 160, 300 Hz
• XLR mic inputs (front & back)
• Line level TRS input
• TS Send/Receive insert jacks
• XLR & TRS line level outputs
• Direct In, instrument input
• Output control
• Led level indication
• Freq response 20Hz - 20kHz +/-.5 dB
• 19" rackable
• Internal IEC 115v/230v power inlet