WARM AUDIO WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone

Tube Condenser Microphone

The WARM AUDIO WA-251 is a tube condenser microphone inspired by the classic '251.
The WARM AUDIO WA-251 was created to offer the design of a classic microphone to a new generation of recording engineers at an affordable price. Warm Audio listened to many different '251 microphones to determine the elements that made it beloved and why, how the various types of components influenced the sound, and how to give the WARM AUDIO WA-251 a signature that would pay homage to the vintage model (but also have its own distinct character). The WARM AUDIO WA-251 is a multi-pattern, large-diaphragm, transformer-coupled tube microphone based on the classic '251. It has been used on countless hits over the past 50+ years. The WARM AUDIO WA-251 sounds great on vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, basses, drums, pianos, strings, brass, and even on mixes of other sources, and it has been designed for use in professional and home studios, live settings, and broadcast applications.
The classic '251 became extremely popular in the 1960s and, to this day, is considered one of the most important condenser microphones ever created. The original '251 is still widely used in professional recording studios but has become extremely rare, difficult to find, and expensive. Designing the WA-251 to sound like the original unit was no easy task, especially since some of its vintage components are no longer manufactured. Warm Audio is pleased to announce this beautiful classic to the market, at an accessible price.
The WARM AUDIO WA-251 uses a custom reproduction of the CK12-style capsule, designed with a hole pattern and frequency response similar to that found in the original microphone. Warm Audio's version of this capsule (WA-12-B-60v) was carefully manufactured by an Australian capsule supplier and has been precisely reproduced to its vintage specifications.
After testing three different brands of tubes, a Slovak Republic JJ 12AY7 was used for the WA-251. The frequency response of the JJ tube, and the way it characterizes the circuit, sounds natural and vintage. The WARM AUDIO WA-251 uses a CineMag USA transformer. This transformer helps achieve what is hoped for from a '251 style microphone, namely present mid-high frequencies and "broad" low frequencies.
One component of a tube microphone that is often overlooked is the 7-pin cable that connects the microphone to its power supply. Comparing the WA-251 and other tube microphones, it was possible to observe how the quality of the cable, its shielding, and its diameter can drastically change the sound quality. Warm Audio chose Swiss Gotham Audio to use their high-end "GAC-7" cable. Its use improves the presence of high frequencies and, in general, the overall quality and width of the sound image by reducing phase shift and other defects usually associated with low-quality cables. Gotham Cabling is a very expensive and sought-after brand and is certainly no small addition to the WA-251 package.
The WARM AUDIO WA-251 uses a pair of polystyrene capacitors, a film capacitor throughout the signal path, and a French Solen capacitor at the output.

Specifications

• Custom WA-12-B-60V CK12-style capsule
• CineMag USA output transformer
• JJ Slovak 12AY7 tube
• Gotham 5 meter GAC-7, 7-pin tube power cable
• Wima, Solen French, and Polystyrene capacitors.
• Three polar patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Figure-8
• Dynamic Range: 125dBA
• Maximum SPL: 132dB (<0.5% THD)
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz~20 kHz
• Output Impedance: 200 ohms
• Rated Load Impedance: ≥2kOhms
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 80dBA
• Equivalent Noise: 12dBA (IEC651)
• External Power Supply