Warm audio WA-2MPX

The WA-2MPX is an authentic 2-channel reproduction of the vintage tape machine tube preamp that launched the birth of rock 'n' roll known for its pure analog warmth, delivering an impressive 300V raw power and 90dB tube gain. During the golden age of tape recording, the original 351-style tube preamp became the king of studio technology and signature sound in the signal chain of hit recordings for artists like Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Les Paul, Nat King Cole and Roy Orbison. and producers like Steve Albini - a timeless sound that continues to be sought after by elite recording engineers today. With high-end components, true-to-original circuit design and selectable tape saturation, the WA-MPX authentically reproduces all the analogue tone of the original to bring vintage warmth and colour to your sound.

Some history is worth repeating
The WA-MPX is an authentic reproduction of the vintage tape machine tube preamp that launched the birth of rock 'n' roll known for its pure analogue warmth, delivering an impressive 300V raw power and 90dB tube gain. During the golden age of tape recording, the original 351-style tube preamp became the king of studio technology and signature sound in the signal chain of hit recordings for artists like Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Les Paul, Nat King Cole and Roy Orbison. and producers like Steve Albini - a timeless sound that continues to be sought after by elite recording engineers today. With high-end components, true-to-original circuit design and selectable tape saturation, the WA-MPX authentically reproduces all the analogue tone of the original to bring vintage warmth and colour to your sound.

An Authentic Vintage Experience
The WA-MPX preamps are hand-wired with 100% discrete electronics. Each channel boasts three tubes that, with the high-gain switch engaged, bring the WA-MPX up to an incredible 90dB of gain. Each channel has custom-wound, large-core CineMag transformers on the inputs and outputs - bringing each preamp circuit to 300v. WA-MPX pres are housed in steel chassis with a brushed aluminum faceplate, vintage-style bakelite knobs, and amber-tinted VU meters. All of these key components paired with traditional build technique deliver not only a legendary "tape-era" tube pre but one of the best values in an all-tube microphone preamp on the market today. Following the Warm Formula of true-to-original tone driven by premium components, all WA-MPX are carefully hand-inspected & tested at Warm Audio Headquarters in Austin, Texas.

A tube-based sound shaping workstation
As a high-end tube mic preamp, the WA-MPX offers a wide range of analogue tones; from clean volume with preserved clarity for quieter sources to richer distortion that can be pushed harder when the tubes are pushed to saturation. The WA-MPX features a set of essential controls that meet the demands of everyday professional audio use, including input impedance switching, +48V, polarity reversal and input/output gain. In addition to the 80 Hz high-pass filter that can help tame unwanted low frequencies, the WA-MPX also houses a 2 kHz low-pass filter to eliminate excessive highs for a more vintage tone profile. The classic Warm Audio "tone" control alters the impedance of the input transformer for additional analogue colour. A "high gain" control engages an additional 20dB of gain to bring the WA-MPX up to 90dB - very useful on low output dynamic and ribbon mics. Finally, the tape saturation control on the WA-MPX engages a discrete circuit in the signal path adding natural compression, harmonic distortion and focused tone filtering to emulate the sound of tape recorders running at 15IPS, adding just enough imperfection to the signal, especially when used on program material for mixing and mastering.