Warm Audio WA47 Tube Condenser Microphone

Description

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 every made. The classic ’47 is still widely used today in professional recording studios but have become extremely rare and expensive to acquire.
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As with all Warm Audio products, the focus is on quality components to ensure 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. It is exeptional that a faithful recreation of this classic part is available in an affordably priced ’47 style microphone.

The Transformer
An American made TAB-Funkenwerk (AMI) USA transformer with large core imported German laminations is used in the WA-47. 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. The shielding and wire gauge size can drastically change the sonics of a tube microphone. Warm Audio has 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.

Specifications:

• Custom true ’47 capsule reproduction (k47 style)
• 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