New Music Gear Monday: Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone

If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking that the last thing the audio world needs is another vintage mic clone. There are already so many good ones available at some great prices. That said, Warm Audio has a way with vintage gear copies that seems to capture the essence of the product that many boutique companies just seem to miss, and with great prices as well. Now it’s released the WA-251, its version of the revered 1960s Telefunken 251 that appears to uphold that position.

Like the original, the WA-251 is an all vacuum tube, large diaphragm, transformer balanced, multi-pattern, large condenser microphone. The problem is that many of the original 251’s components are no longer manufactured, which means that Warm Audio’s version is somewhat of a mix of replication and reinvention that applies to every manufacturer today.

The WA-12 uses an all-brass, edge-terminated capsule that attempts to capture all the sonics 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). The mic uses an American made CineMag USA transformer, polystyrene coupling capacitors, wima film capacitors throughout, and an imported Solen French capacitor on its output. 

Finally, the electronics are built around a Slovak Republic JJ 12AY7 vacuum tube. which was selected after 3 tube brands were auditioned.

Like most other Warm Audio products, one of the best things about the WA-251 is its price. At $799 it’s one of the most affordable 251 clones available. It won’t be available until February, but it looks like it will be worth the wait.

No product or use videos are available since it hasn’t been released yet, but you can find out a lot more about the WA-251 on its dedicated Warm Audio page.