Warm Audio WA-87 R2B Large Diaphragm Condenser Mic - Black

The Warm Audio WA-87 R2B is built around a faithful recreation of the vintage 87-style discrete circuit — the same topology that defined vocal recordings from the late 1960s onward. Warm Audio's decision to source a NOS Fairchild transistor and pair it with Wima film capacitors and a custom-wound Cinemag USA output transformer means the R2B isn't a simulation of that sound — it's a functional implementation of it. In practice, this translates to a sonic signature with extended, silky top-end air, a full 100–200Hz body that flatters both male and female vocals, and a midrange that sits in a dense mix without requiring significant corrective EQ. This is a mic for tracking lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano room mics, and overhead applications where you want the source to sound rich and present from the moment it hits tape — or the DAW bus.

The hardware execution matches the circuit ambition. Three switchable polar patterns — cardioid, figure-of-eight, and omni — are cleanly implemented with consistent tonal character across patterns, meaning the mic doesn't require significant gain or EQ compensation when switching between setups mid-session. The -10dB pad handles close-mic applications on loud sources without introducing the harshness that passive attenuation networks can sometimes add, and the 80Hz high-pass filter is gentle enough to be useful on nearly every vocal session. The nickel-plated brass body with black finish and wooden presentation box communicate professional intent, and the included shock mount covers everyday studio use. For engineers building a small-format studio or live broadcast rig who want a single large-diaphragm condenser that can handle the majority of professional source types, the R2B delivers a genuinely vintage-flavored signal chain at a price point that makes it one of the strongest value propositions in the segment.