A true classic with modern features
Warm Audio's WA76-D has set its sights high: the most iconic solid-state limiting amplifier in history. How does Warm do that? Mainly through economies of scale. They don't skimp on components (the WA76 uses genuine American Cinemag transformers), but they order parts and build in bulk, which keeps costs down. Like the original classic unit, the WA76 offers a completely discrete signal path and the same layout of controls. And yes, it replicates the explosive performance of the original when all ratio buttons are pressed. The new WA76-D and WA76-D2 versions have been given modern features such as a 10K Z impedance switch to compensate for differences in resistance from different audio interfaces, a hard bypass switch to really properly A/B switch and hear what you're doing. In addition, the WA76-D and WA76-D also got a highpass filter variable from 30 to 300 Hz to keep a full low and a dry/wet mix to get the perfect sound.
Don't want these modern features? Just turn them to 0 and they are completely bypassed.
- Cinemag Transformers
- Fully discrete system
- 10K Z impedance switch
- Full bypass
- 30 to 300hz highpass filter
- Dry/Wet mix
- Link function for stereo
- Sidechain in/out
Comp to see
Every studio needs a good compressor, and the Warm Audio WA76-D is designed after the mother of all compressors. With its lightning-fast response time and pristine, completely discrete signal path, the WA76-D is your go-to device for everything from subtle, transparent dynamics control to full limiting. It's great for bass, kick drum, snare, vocals - you name it. It's a must-have for punchy parallel processing on drums, and if you have two, the possibilities get even bigger.
Rev-D or Rev-A
In the history of the original 1176, there have been several versions, or revisions. The rev D is by far the most iconic and popular version on the market. The rev D, and thus 4th revision of this great compressor, had a lot cleaner sound and a more controlled sound. Coloration of the signal was much reduced and overall THD was lowered. This is what you get in the WA76-D and WA76-D2.
WA-76A and WA76-A2 are based on the very first version and come with more coloration, higher distortion at extreme compression and overall rawer sound. By far the best choice if you are very consciously going to use the compressor for coloring your signal and want to get that old and raw sound.
High-pass
Why now again a high-pass filter on a compressor? Well, that's actually an extremely useful feature for the modern mix. When we are mixing a signal that has a lot of low-end we often want to preserve these low frequencies for the mix. The high-pass actually tells the compressor to ignore these frequencies, variable from 30hz to 300hz, and respond only to the rest of the signal. This way we preserve the full low-end in bass and kick drum, for example. Genius!
Dry/Wet mix
Dry/Wet mix is something we already know very well from plugins and has become a standard feature for many people. When working with a compressor like the WA76-D we often want to get as much tone out of it as possible, sometimes at the expense of the original signal. This is where a dry/wet mix comes in very handy. You first set the compressor to the right tone, which may be way too extreme for the mix, and then you turn the original back in until the balance is perfect. Definitely a feature that we at Klundert Music already can't live without.
10K Z switch
Perhaps one of the most genius features Warm has come up with in recent times. All the beautiful, old, analog gear is eventually incorporated into a digital setup and thus with an interface. Not every interface gives the same input impedance so sometimes you have to be careful with what level you send from your DAW. The WA76-D simply has a switch on the front panel that can solve many of these problems with "a flick of a switch".
Value for money
Klundert Music is all about performance and value, and that's what the WA76-D offers you. Think for a moment what another high-quality outboard compressor would normally cost you, for this great price you can double your value and get two. With a pair of these in your rack, you can let that stereo piano sit proudly in a thick track, boost your drums, stretch a stereo pair over your stereo bus for some mastering magic and give your mix a serious slam factor.
WA76 Product Specifications:
- Warm Audio discrete audio compressor
- modulated to the classic '76 compressor
- completely separate signal path
- CineMag transformers (input and output)
- very fast attack
- class A line-level output amplifier
- 10K Z impedance switch
- Full bypass
- 30 to 300hz highpass filter
- Dry/Wet mix
- Link function for stereo
- Sidechain in/out
- input impedance: 600 ohms
- frequency response: ± 1 dB at +25 dBm
- EIN -104.1 dBm
- attack: 20 microseconds to 800 microseconds
- release: 50 milliseconds to 1.1 seconds
- VU meter displays both dB gain reduction and dB output
- internal power supply, external 24 V AC power converter
- 19-inch rackmount chassis, 2 U
