Warm Audio WA12 MKII Black Microphone Preamp DI

The Warm Audio WA12 MKII Black is a single-channel microphone preamplifier and instrument DI built around a fully discrete signal path that draws inspiration from classic American console preamp designs. At the heart of the unit are custom CineMag transformers — wound in the USA specifically for Warm Audio — that impart the harmonic saturation and tonal weight associated with high-end vintage recording gear. The signal passes through a discrete 6-pin socketed opamp based on the legendary 1731/2520 topology, and because it is socketed, users have the option to swap in alternative compatible opamps to fine-tune the preamp's character to their taste.

One of the WA12 MKII's most distinctive features is its variable impedance input, which lets you change the electrical load that the preamp places on your microphone. This interaction between mic and preamp impedance is a powerful but often overlooked tonal tool — adjusting it can shift a recording from tight and detailed to thick and saturated without touching an EQ. The preamp delivers up to +71dB of clean gain, making it capable of driving demanding low-output ribbon and dynamic microphones with ease. Three input options — XLR for microphones, balanced TRS, and unbalanced TS for instruments — make it a flexible front-end for tracking vocals, acoustic instruments, electric guitars, bass, and line-level sources. Phantom power, polarity inversion, and a -20dB pad round out the feature set for a preamp designed to handle a wide range of professional recording scenarios.