Key Features
- A highly-desired microphone at a cost-effective price
- Incredibly versatile thanks to three polar patterns
- Offers maximum aesthetic appeal and a great sound
- Comes complete with premium wooden storage box
Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone - Nearly New Overview
Heritage meets innovation. The Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone is a must-have for any engineer, artist, or producer that strives to achieve iconic sounding recordings. Based on the legendary '60s 251 tube microphone, the WA-251 is here to level the playing field. It provides the new breed of contemporary music makers with a sonically superior sound at a fraction of the original's cost.
From stage to studio, and everything in between. Thanks to the inclusion of three polar patterns, the WA-251 excels in any task. Seriously, with this in your set-up it's practically cheating! Whether it's positioned above drums and strings, or, in-front of amplifiers and vocalists. You'll be hard pushed to find an instrument or voice that sounds bad with this microphone in front of it!
The WA-251 comes complete with a stylish, premium wooden storage box, power-supply, shock-mount and dedicated 7-pin cable. Its rugged, durable design ensures it can withstand the vigors of live performance and continued use, which is just as well, as it'll never be in your mic locker for long!
Nearly New: This product may have been opened for quality control purposes, returned by a customer, refurbished, or may have non-essential parts or software missing. Otherwise, the product operates as new. This is a great opportunity to buy a fully functioning product at a discounted price.
Product Ref: 247234
Full Description
View Full DescriptionThe perfect tube
Warm Audio went above and beyond when auditioning each and every component of the WA-251. After extensively assessing three major tube brands they finally settled on the JJ 12AY7. This was favoured for its ultra-musical frequency response and smooth vintage style circuitry.
The ultimate capsule and transformer
At the heart of the WA-251 lies a WA-12-B-60V. This brass, edge-terminated capsule is to die for. It provides a smooth, detailed rich top end, and projects the warmth and intimacy commonly associated with the initial CK12 capsule. Thanks to the 24k gold sputter finish on the diaphragm and its NOS spec. This microphone is incredibly consistent in its performance and provides the same level of quality as the iconic '70s capsule. Not ones to skimp on quality, the WA-251 comes complete with a CineMag transformer. Made in the USA, it makes it easy to achieve the silkiest highs and smoothest lows.
Custom-made, premium cables
Although easy to over-look. Warm Audio desire to provide their customers with the greatest components possible. That's why lots of time was spent learning about the inner workings of 7-pin cables. The end-result of this hard work saw the collaboration between Warm Audio and Swiss company, Gotham Audio. The GAC-7 cable is the perfect pairing. Sonically superior, it enhances top end presence and guarantees a tight, focused image with minimal phase shift.
Which polar pattern should I use?
Boasting three polar patterns, the WA-251 is a real work-horse;
Cardioid is excellent for delivering a tight-focused sound, whilst providing excellent off-axis rejection of around -6dB of unwanted noise and ambience. This is a great polar pattern to rely on when recording live performances, either on-stage, or, in-the-studio.
Fig. 8 picks up sound from the front and the back of the capsule whilst rejecting all sound coming from the side. This pattern has been a go-to trick for many producers recording two background vocals. When paired with another fig.8 microphone and carefully positioned it can also work wonders on capturing vocals and guitar from a single performer simultaneously. However, beware. Utilising this positioning enhances close proximity effect which can lead to an unnatural amount of low-end being reproduced by the microphone. There's good reason why many radio broadcasters opt for this pattern!
When you want to capture natural recordings it doesn't get much better than omni. Omnidirectional means that sound is picked up by the capsule within a 360 degree radius. Selecting this pattern allows you to get up-close on sources without the risk of proximity effect being introduced. This is a favoured pattern for many Grammy award winning engineers and producers when recording multiple string and brass players. It can also make the "Levee Break" when used for drum room microphones!
Features
- Vintage-style tube condenser microphone
- Bases its sound on classic 251-style microphones
- Pays homage to the original 251-style, delivering pristine sound
- Vacuum tube, transformer balanced, multi-pattern design
- Ideal for professional/home studios, live and broadcast applications
- Perfect for capturing a wide variety of audio sources including vocals and instruments
- WA-12-B60V all-brass, edge-terminated capsule
- Delivers smooth sound with rich top end and warm vintage tonality
- Slovak Republic JJ 12AY7 vacuum tube
- CineMAG USA transformers
- Polystyrene coupling capacitors
- 7-pin cable delivers top-end presence and optimal stereo field
- Comes complete with wooden storage box, power supply, shock mount and Gotham cable
Specifications
- Capsule Type: Custom WA-12-B-60V Edge terminated, dual-backplate, all-brass vintage CK12-style capsule
- Output Transformer: CineMAG USA output transformer
- Tube: JJ Slovak 12AY7 vacuum tube
- Polar Patterns: 3 pattern- Cardioid, Omni, Figure-of-eight
- Dynamic Range: 125dbA
- Maximum SPL: 132DB (Less than 0.5 percent THD)
- Frequency Range: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Output Impedance: 200 ohms
- Rated Load Impedance: ≥ 2K ohms
- S/N Ratio: 80dBA
- Equivalent Noise: 12dBA (IEC651)
- Power Supply: External IEC grounded PSU
- Total Weight (Mic, PSU, Shockmount, Cables): 12lbs
- Mic Dimensions: 247 x 46mm
- Product Code: WA-251
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