The legendary 1073 wrote the book on characterful mic preamplification and EQ. These venerable circuits helped define the punchy sound of '70s rock — and countless recordings and live concerts ever since. Today, this coveted tone can be yours for a song, with the Warm Audio WA73-EQ mic/line/instrument preamp. In both design and performance, the WA73-EQ pays homage to the revered British console lineage that started it all. Throughout the audio industry, the 1073 is considered the holy grail of preamps and EQs, with a rich, sweet, and bold tonality that's ideal for making audacious statements with your music. After years of R&D, painstaking reverse-engineering, and countless hours of listening, Warm Audio captured the sonic essence of this classic perfectly in their boutique WA73-EQ. With 80dB of gain and a fully discrete transformer-balanced signal path, the sound is a revelation: harmonically rich bottom end, focused midrange, and slightly resonant highs.
Boasting weapons-grade build quality with discrete, handwired Class A circuits and top-drawer parts such as UK-made Carnhill transformers and Blore Edwards mil-spec, dual-concentric switch pots, the WA73-EQ has 80dB of gain on tap so you can capture subdued sources with your favorite ribbon mic. Your ribbons and condensers will sound heavenly; you'll even be gobsmacked when you hear how authoritative your dynamic mics sound. Cranking the input stage and backing off the output gain enhances your tracks with tasty vintage-style coloration. Topping off the feature set is an instrument jack, polarity reverse, 48V phantom power, and switchable impedance for tonal variation and to optimally match a variety of microphones.
There is no source that doesn't sound amazing through the Warm Audio WA73-EQ. With judicious mic selection and placement, drums are larger-than-life; DI bass and keyboards sound massive and synths become trance-inducing; electric guitars soar; vocals rule. Pianos and acoustic guitars are resplendent. Orchestral instruments — strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion — achieve ineffable lushness and dimension. You can even use the WA73-EQ as a tone-shaping tool to run stems or complete mixes through. Hear what the WA73-EQ can do for your own recordings. It's transformative.
The EQ section of the WA73-EQ adheres to the classic 1073 circuit topology. The vintage 1073 is the holy grail of EQ, and the WA73-EQ nails its sonics and behavior (complete with its fabled harmonic distortion). It's a three-band affair, with HF shelving at 10, 12, and 16kHz; midband peaking with selectable center frequencies at 360Hz, 700Hz, 1.6kHz, 3.2kHz, 4.8kHz, and 7.2kHz; and LF shelving, selectable at 35Hz, 60Hz, 110Hz, and 220Hz. A highpass filter, selectable at 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz, and 300Hz, lets you trim your signals of unwanted low end. If you've never worked with a 1073-style EQ before, all we can say is: you're in for a serious treat. It's worth noting that the original 1073 offered only a fixed 10kHz shelf, and the additional high-frequency flexibility afforded by the WA73-EQ is most welcome.
1073-loving engineers perk up when the conversation turns to the component history of these classic circuits, and signal transformers are a frequent topic of discussion. Vintage 1073s used different transformer variants throughout their production run; but the most coveted were the very first ones made by Marinair Radar, due to their fluid and forgiving nature that saturates sweetly when pushed. Warm Audio turned to Carnhill Transformers of Cambridgeshire, UK, to design meticulous replicas of these most desirable early 1073 transformers. The results are stunning and tantalizingly close to early vintage 1073s.
A vital yet not-often-discussed component of these classic British circuits is the different types of capacitors and output transistors used. To maintain the integrity of the original circuits, Warm selected high-quality tantalum and polystyrene capacitors in the signal path and an output transistor choice that delivers smoother results at higher gain settings than what is commonly found in modern 1073-style preamps. Warm Audio's monumental effort to design a no-compromise product has paid off handsomely — and you'll appreciate this every time you plug into the WA73-EQ and hit record.
The WA73-EQ & WA273-EQ recreate the most iconic British console channel strip sound made famous by legendary recordings from the 60s and beyond. Known for delivering rich, full analog warmth with frequency control, the original became the foundation of classic rock and was the centerpiece of countless timeless hits. The sound of those famed console preamps can be heard on recordings by The Beatles, U2, Kendrick Lamar, Led Zeppelin, and many more.
The WA73-EQ & WA273-EQ deliver the perfect balance of “unmistakably analog” tone & clarity with added frequency sculpting that every engineer is chasing. With 80 dB of gain, a discrete Carnhill Transformer balanced signal path, and onboard 3-band EQ, the 73-EQ series is perfect for any recording, mixing, or engineering task. Using hand-wired construction featuring premium components and individually testing every single unit, the 73-EQ series preamps are the ideal choice to upgrade your sound to studio-grade.
Like the original 73-series British console preamp, the WA73 series pres include all the features that deliver a complete and professional recording experience.
The high-pass filter makes it easy to remove unwanted noise from bass frequencies that plague recording and mixing.
Switchable unbalanced send/return inserts make it possible to add a compressor, EQ, or your favorite processing gear before hitting the output transformer.
The WA73 also includes critical preamp features like 48V phantom power, instrument & line-level inputs, XLR/TRS input/output options, polarity inversion, and the classic Warm Audio Tone control to handle varying recording demands.
The WA73-EQ and WA273-EQ’s dedicated, switchable EQ sections offer added versatility and convenience, allowing users to record multiple sources simultaneously or utilize two different microphone setups.
The WA73-EQ & WA273-EQ recreate the most iconic British console channel strip sound made famous by legendary recordings from the 60s and beyond. Known for delivering rich, full analog warmth with frequency control, the original became the foundation of classic rock and was the centerpiece of countless timeless hits. The sound of those famed console preamps can be heard on recordings by The Beatles, U2, Kendrick Lamar, Led Zeppelin, and many more.
The WA73-EQ & WA273-EQ deliver the perfect balance of “unmistakably analog” tone & clarity with added frequency sculpting that every engineer is chasing. With 80 dB of gain, a discrete Carnhill Transformer balanced signal path, and onboard 3-band EQ, the 73-EQ series is perfect for any recording, mixing, or engineering task. Using hand-wired construction featuring premium components and individually testing every single unit, the 73-EQ series preamps are the ideal choice to upgrade your sound to studio-grade.
Like the original 73-series British console preamp, the WA73 series pres include all the features that deliver a complete and professional recording experience.
The high-pass filter makes it easy to remove unwanted noise from bass frequencies that plague recording and mixing.
Switchable unbalanced send/return inserts make it possible to add a compressor, EQ, or your favorite processing gear before hitting the output transformer.
The WA73 also includes critical preamp features like 48V phantom power, instrument & line-level inputs, XLR/TRS input/output options, polarity inversion, and the classic Warm Audio Tone control to handle varying recording demands.
The WA73-EQ and WA273-EQ’s dedicated, switchable EQ sections offer added versatility and convenience, allowing users to record multiple sources simultaneously or utilize two different microphone setups.
| Preamp Type |
Solid State |
|---|---|
| Number of Channels |
1 |
| Phantom Power |
Yes |
| Polarity Switch |
Yes |
| EQ |
3-band Semi-parametric |
| Analog Inputs |
2 x XLR (mic), 1 x 1/4" (line), 1 x 1/4" (Hi-Z), 1 x 1/4" (return) |
| Analog Outputs |
1 x XLR (line out), 1 x 1/4" (line out), 1 x 1/4" (send) |
| Rack Spaces |
1U |
| Power Source |
Standard IEC AC cable |
| Width |
19" |
| Manufacturer Part Number |
WA73-EQ UPC: 713541493162 |
