WARM AUDIO WA-1B Premium Tube Rackmount Optical Compressor

 WA-1B  WARM AUDIO 

 Premium Tube Rackmount Optical Compressor

The WA-1B accurately recreates world-class Scandinavian compression, combining smooth tube-optical warmth with precision controls. Like its original inspiration, favored by producers and engineers from Chris Lord-Alge to Rick Rubin, the WA-1B delivers that revered “forgiving” musical compression of tube-optical circuitry with speed and control more closely associated with modern dynamics processing. Hand-wired to authentically recreate the sound of a renowned circuit, the WA-1B combines custom large-core transformers from Ludahl Sweden, select tubes from JJ and Tung-Sol, and a premium high-precision optical element for ultra-fast and accurate operation without sacrificing authentic analog warmth.

Tube-Opto Tone With Extended Control
Delivering that revered “forgiving” musical compression with the added speed and control functionality, the WA-1B excels on highly dynamic sources that demand analog warmth.

True-To-Original Controls
To deliver extended dynamics processing, the WA-1B features all of the classic controls of its modern-classic inspiration.

Threshold
The WA-1B supports a variable threshold giving maximum control to the user regarding how much compression is applied to any signal at various input levels.

Ratio
The WA-1B ratio is variable and has infinite controls between 2:1 and 10:1. From soft musical dynamic control all the way to hard-smashing compression!

Attack & Release
The Attack/Release controls on the WA-1B are unique in that the attack/release operations can be switched from a fixed setting, manual (variable) setting, or a combined setting. In the “fixed” mode, the WA-1B delivers the natural attack & release time of the optical element. The combined setting in particular creates the opportunity for a more nuanced release-time curve. This dueling time-constant circuit operation is a special feature of the WA-1B and its original inspiration.  

Meter Switch
The WA-1B meter switch has three settings: input, compression, and output levels. Set to “input”, the VU meter is reading the level at the input connector. Set to “compression”, the VU meter is reading gain reduction. The steady-state is "0", and the amount of compression is shown as the needle moving right-to-left away from 0dB. Set to “output”, the VU meter is reading the level at the output connector.

On/Bypass
The on/bypass switch on the WA-1B activates or bypasses the compressor. This is a hard bypass, meaning no signal passes through the circuitry in bypass mode.

Premium Components
The WA-1B is a 270v circuit with handwired through-hole circuitry, and 100% discrete analog signal path. The custom large-core transformers from Lundahl Sweden bring the full Scandinavian-style analog tone of the WA-1B circuit to life. Paired with select tubes from JJ and Tung-Sol, the high-precision optical element applies sweet analog warmth to audio signals with unrivaled accuracy.

Hand-Tested In Austin, TX
Like all Warm Audio gear, the WA-1B is meticulously hand-tested and inspected by trained technicians with a passion for making music in Austin, TX USA.

Specifications:

• Accurately Recreating World-Class Scandinavian Compression Combining Smooth Tube-Optical Warmth With Precision Controls

• True-To-Spec 270 Volt, 100% Discrete Analog Signal Path - Handwired With Through-Hole Components

• Premium Vacuum Tubes

• Transformer-Balanced Fully Floating Input And Output - Custom-Core Large Transformers From Scandinavian Manufacturer, Lundahl In Sweden

• Frequency response @ -3 dB: 5 Hz to 25 kHz

• Self-Noise: < -75 DBU @ 30 DB Gain

• CMRR: > 60 DB @ 10 KHz

• Ratio From 2:1 To 10:1

• Variable Threshold: Off To -40 DBU

• Continuously Variable, Fixed, Or Fixed/Manual Attack And Release Times

• Fixed - Attack: 1 Millisecond | Release: 50 Milliseconds 

• Manual -  Attack: .5 - 300 Milliseconds | Release: .05 Seconds - 10 Seconds

• Fixed/Man Mode Blends The Release Times Of Fixed And Manual Mode

• Output Gain: Off To +30 DBU

• Input impedance: 600Ω

• Two Bus Connectors To Connect Multiple Sidechains

• Meter (VU) Input, Output, Or Compression Amount

• Linear, Low-Noise Power Supply With Toroidal Power Transformer

SALE: $1199.99

FREE S&H in continental US (e-mail for international / offshore USA rates)