Warm Audio WA-251

The WA-251 was designed to provide a new generation of recording enthusiasts with a classic microphone design at an affordable price. We spent a lot of time listening through a variety of 251 microphones to determine what people loved about them (and why), how different components affected the sound, and how we could give the WA-251 a personality that pays homage to the vintage classic while standing on its own.

The WA-251 is a large diaphragm tube microphone with output transformer, selectable polar pattern and a large condenser, based on the classic 251 used in numerous hit productions over the last 50+ years. The WA-251 is aimed equally at professional and home studios as well as live and broadcast applications and sounds great on vocals, acoustic and electric guitar and bass, drums, piano, strings, brass and woodwinds and a wide range of other sources.

The 251 achieved its greatest popularity in the 1960s and is now recognised as one of the best condenser microphones of all time. The classic is still often used in professional recording studios today, but is now extremely rare and correspondingly expensive to buy.

The capsule:

The WA-251 uses a customised reproduction of the original CK12 capsule used in the original 251s - designed with a comparable hole pattern and frequency response. Our version of this capsule (model no. WA-12-B-60v) is carefully crafted by an Australian capsule manufacturer to vintage specifications. We are delighted to be able to offer such a great re-incarnation of the CK12 capsule, as it is the sonic centrepiece and most important part of the formula.

The tube:

We use a Slovakian JJ 12AY7 vacuum tube in the WA-251. We carefully compared a selection of tubes from three manufacturers and fell in love with the JJ 12AY7. The frequency response of the JJ tube and the way it blends into the circuit with a smooth, vintage sound convinced us.

The transformer:

The WA-251 is equipped with an American-made CineMag USA transformer. This transformer helps to preserve the existing top end and the HUGE bottom end that you would expect from a 251-style condenser microphone.

The cable:

One component of a tube microphone that is often overlooked is the 7-pin cable that connects the microphone to the preamplifier. The manufacturer has learnt a lot about 7-pin cables and the drastic influence of shielding and cable cross-section on the sound of a tube microphone during the intensive listening tests of the WA-251 and other microphones. Warm Audio has chosen Gotham Audio from Switzerland as its partner. The meticulously crafted 7-pin high-end GAC-7 cable is used for the WA-251. The use of this cable enhances the top-end presence and the overall impression of the sound image, especially in the stereo mix, by reducing phase shifts and parasitic effects that often occur in cheap cables. Gotham cabling is quite expensive, as it certainly belongs to the higher quality class, and should therefore not simply be seen as a small addition to the overall WA-251 package.

The capacitors:

The WA-251 uses polystyrene coupling capacitors, wima film capacitors and a French solenoid capacitor in the output.