Warm Audio WA-251 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

The WA-251 was created to offer a classic microphone design to a new generation of recording artists at an affordable price. Warm Audio spent a great deal of time listening to different 251 microphone users to determine what people liked about them and why, how various styles of components impact the tone, and how to give the WA-251 microphone a signature that pays homage to the vintage classic, but also stands out on its own.The WA-251 is an all-vacuum tube, large-diaphragm, transformer-balanced, multi-pattern, large-condenser microphone, based on the classic 251 that has been used on countless hit records for the last 50+ years. The WA-251 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 251 became extremely popular as a vocal microphone in the 1960s and is now considered to be one of the greatest condenser microphones ever created. The classic 251 is still widely used today in professional recording studios, but has become extremely rare and cost prohibitive to acquire. Designing the WA-251 to sound like the classic 251 was no easy task, especially since some of the vintage components are no longer manufactured or available. Warm Audio worked tirelessly to release such a gorgeous-sounding classic to the market at a price that’s reachable to more people than ever before.The Capsule The WA-251 utilizes a custom reproduction of the vintage CK12-style capsule that was used in the classic 251 microphone—designed with a similar hole pattern and frequency response. Warm Audio's version of this capsule (model# WA-12-B-60v) is carefully manufactured by an Australian capsule supplier and is precisely reproduced to the vintage specs. Warm Audio is pleased to offer such a great CK12-style capsule reincarnation because it allows Warm Audio to nail the sonics of the most important piece of the formula. The Tube A Slovak Republic JJ 12AY7 vacuum tube is used in the WA-251. Warm Audio auditioned three tube brands and fell in love with the JJ 12AY7. The frequency response of the JJ tube, and the way it contributes to the circuit is tonally smooth and vintage in nature. The Transformer The WA-251 utilizes an American-made CineMag USA transformer. This transformer helps provide the present top end and the large bottom end one would hope to get from a 251-style condenser microphone. The Capacitors The WA-251 proudly uses polystyrene coupling capacitors, WIMA film capacitors throughout, and an imported Solen French capacitor on its output.The CableOne component of a tube microphone that is often overlooked is the 7-pin cable that connects the microphone to its power supply. When auditioning the WA-251 and other tube microphones, Warm Audio learned quite a bit about 7-pin cables and how the shielding and wire gauge size can drastically change the sonics of a tube microphone. So, they partnered with Gotham Audio in Switzerland to use their very carefully built high-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 experienced in poorly built cables. Gotham Cabling is very expensive and boutique in nature, and shouldn’t be considered a small addition to the WA-251 package.