Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone

A True Recreation Of A Studio ClassicThe Warm Audio WA-251 was designed to offer a classic microphone design to a new era of recording artists at an affordable price. A great deal of time was spent listening to different ‘251 microphones to determine what people liked about them and why, how various styles of components change the tone, and how to give the WA-251 microphone a signature that pays tribute 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, inspired by the classic ‘251 that has been used on several hit records for over 50 years. The WA-251 is made 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 a range of other sources.

Amazing Features • Custom WA-12-B-60V edge terminated, dual-backplate, all-brass vintage CK12-style capsule
• Gotham 5 meter GAC-7, 7-pin tube microphone cable
• 3 polar patterns - Cardioid, Omni, Figure-of-eight
• CineMag USA Output Transformer
• JJ Slovak 12AY7 Vacuum tube

The TubeA Slovak Republic JJ 12AY7 vacuum tube is used in the WA-251. 3 tube brands were auditioned but Warm Audio 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.

All Brass CapsuleThe WA-12-B-60V is an all-brass, edge-terminated capsule that captures all the smoothness, rich top end, and warm vintage sonics of the original CK12 capsule. The WA-12-B-60V uses a variant CEK-12 back plate as a basis, which exceeds manufacturing limitations of the original CK12 capsule. The o-ring and housing of the WA-12-B-60V are all made from brass (no teflon parts), and the diaphragm is 24k gold sputtered 6 micron, NOS PET film (mylar). Resulting in a very consistent, reliable capsule which matches the frequency response and tonality of the classic 1970's classic capsule.

The CableOne component of a tube microphone that is commonly overlooked is the 7 pin cable that connects the microphone to its power supply. When auditioning the WA-251 and other tube microphones, knowledge was gathered about 7 pin cables and how the shielding and wire gauge size can drastically change the sonics of a tube microphone. Warm Audio partnered with Gotham Audio in Switzerland to use their very carefully built high-end 7 pin “GAC-7 cable”. Using this cable enhances 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.