Warm Audio WA-47F

Warm Audio is one of the best audio equipment manufacturers in the world. The Texan brand offers a wide range of products very popular with professionals, in this case compressors, equalizers and all kinds of microphones . Recently released from the company's factories, the Warm Audio WA-47F is a new large-diaphragm FET condenser microphone .

Designed primarily to capture vocals and drum sounds live or in a studio, this microphone incorporates many technical aspects of the classic 47 with which many hits of the last 50 years have been recorded.

Until now, Warm Audio products have never disappointed professionals. Could this also be the case for the WA-47F? What is this microphone really worth? What about its sound quality as studio equipment ? Is it a good investment for use in your home studio? Find out the detailed answers in this guide.

Warm Audio WA-47F: a recreation of the iconic U47 FET

Warm Audio calls the WA-47F a " faithful recreation " of a classic released in 1969: Neumann's U47 FET . The latter is renowned for its very low SPL noise level , its cardioid directivity allowing it to effectively manage vibrations, and its high sound sensitivity.

Just like its predecessors (the Warm Audio WA-47jr microphone , WA-87, etc.) the Warm Audio WA-47F was designed to conquer the most prestigious recording studios . Note that its ancestor, the U47 Fet, has greatly pleased many renowned artists and sound engineers for its exceptional consistency and because it makes it possible to obtain a signal remarkably rich in detail .

Prized for its ability to easily handle loud sound sources and fast transients, the U47 Fet has been used to record some of the most famous music of all time. It also won over an entire generation of drummers thanks to the intensity and precision of the bass when used to capture the sounds of a bass drum .

Warm Audio WA-47F: excellent design and very careful finishing

Appearance is the first eye-catching element of a product. The designers at Warm Audio have never minimized this aspect. Like all of the brand's microphones, Warm Audio WA-47F impresses with an exceptionally neat design and finish .

Its authentic appearance says a lot about its manufacturing quality, giving a first glimpse of its real capabilities. The microphone is housed in a robust nickel-plated brass body ensuring foolproof durability . The basket shape of this body allows the capsule to benefit from more space for optimal sound capture .

The microphone is stored in a high-quality wooden box for secure storage and transport. It comes with an attached sturdy stand ensuring effective protection against noise generated by handling during recording sessions. The Warm Audio WA-47F can be easily mounted on any type of microphone stand.

Given the importance of a careful finish for this type of high-end product, the Texas brand works with renowned musicians and sound engineers who are responsible for hand-verifying each WA-47F. Components including the capsule , voice coil , connector , and magnet are . The objective is not to miss the slightest defect that could affect the quality of the microphone.

By the way, you can also check out our guide on selecting the best studio headphones . This guide gives you the 12 best professional studio headphones to choose from along with these specific details.

Warm Audio WA-47F Microphone Features Overview

Inspired by the famous U47 Fet, the Warm Audio WA-47F is a large diaphragm condenser microphone designed only from high-end components.

Like the originals, it faithfully reproduces the sound of the WA-47 tube microphone , and replaces the valve with a very high quality field effect transistor This is what allows it to capture rich midrange sounds and more expressive bass . This studio microphone is an essential tool for effectively handling loud sound sources.

Featuring a single backplate, the Warm Audio WA-47F is equipped with a faithful reproduction of the classic vintage K47 style large-diaphragm gold capsule, the same type of capsule used by its predecessor the WA-47. This element allows it to obtain a powerful and impactful sound whose frequency response spreads over a very wide band.

TAB-Funkenwerk (AMI) USA output transformer . In addition, the Warm Audio WA-47F features Fairchild transistors and Wima and polystyrene capacitors. Bringing all of these elements together allows this microphone to provide a better response curve deeper and more detailed sound capture

To enable the Warm Audio WA-47F to effectively handle loud sources, Warm Audio has provided a -10 dB attenuator generating sufficient margin to avoid signal saturation .

A low-cut filter helps muffle annoying low frequencies when recording vocals or sounds from lead or bass electric guitar cabs. Once activated at 140 Hz , this filter allows you to avoid the application of post-production equalizer , when you have to work on the audio data during mixing.

The Warm Audio WA-47F belongs to the category of condenser microphones , it must be connected to a mixing desk, to a converter, to a microphone preamp , or to a sound card with a microphone input providing phantom power of +48 Volts . Also, you must know the correct recording technique if you want to obtain optimal results with this micro recorder.

Zoom on the sound quality of the Warm Audio WA-47F microphone

In terms of sound quality, the Warm Audio WA-47F has nothing to envy of other high-end microphones in the same category, notably the Blue Yeti and its very practical connectivity, the Rode NT USB which we simply plug into a USB port, or the Neumann U67 condenser microphone with three selectable polar patterns.

The strength of the Warm Audio WA-47F lies largely in its use of the WA-47-B-50v capsule , the K47-style recreation of the original mic. This makes it possible to capture a frequency response between 20 Hz and 19 kHz , allowing very clear sound and extremely rich in detail.

When recording vocals, the midrange gradually rises and the high frequencies (treble) remain at the correct height to maintain the natural quality of the vocals . In the case of loud sound sources, the Warm Audio WA-47F allows you to obtain a quality, unsaturated signal even at higher volumes.

The other strong point of this microphone is that it uses very high-end field effect transistors and polystyrene and WIMA capacitors that are only found in the most expensive audio equipment. They provide excellent signal conversion ensuring exceptional recording quality . They also facilitate the management of high level sound pressure with great precision.

Furthermore, the Warm Audio WA-47F would not deliver its signature smooth, voluptuous sound without its TAB-Funkenwerk ( AMI ) transformers. Made in the United States, this transformer has quite a history.

Its design dates back to the development of Germany's most coveted analog audio innovations. It is this component which gives the percussive and powerful character to the captured sound. Hence the interest in using the Warm Audio WA-47F to capture the sound of the bass drum or that coming from a Bass amp.

Also discover : Bird UM1 microphone test and review . This guide gives you the complete overview of this USB microphone, its audio processing technology, its technical characteristics, as well as its sound quality and our opinion on its quality in general.

A punchier kick drum sound

The Warm Audio WA-47F captures the sound of the drums in great detail and faithfully reproduces all the frequencies specific to this instrument. It is true that Warm Audio places more emphasis on the use of this microphone on the bass drum.

However, our testing allowed us to discover that the WA-47F performs just as well when used to capture the sound of drum toms and snare drums . These elements resonate with more punch.

The bass sounds of the toms are reproduced faithfully and the high notes produced by the quivering timbres of the snare drum are captured without the slightest loss. With a frequency response of 20 Hz to 19 kHz , this microphone has enough range to handle the harmonics of other instruments and even vocals.

Many drummers and sound engineers prefer to use a 47 FET type mic placed on the bass drum head at the front to replace all kinds of dynamic mics that we usually put inside the drum. Once positioned at the correct distance, the WA-47F allows the capture of more precise sound waves without losing any detail.

Indeed, the dynamic microphone tends more to capture the slap of the bass drum. In addition, it does not sufficiently capture the hit of the drum as well as the air pressure “boom” generated by the bass drum head.

However, these sounds are extremely important and highly sought after when mixing. Hence the big advantage of using the Warm Audio WA-47F allowing you to obtain a spatial effect bordering on reverberation on the kick sound, thus making it more lively.

The Warm Audio WA-47F suitable for recording all types of vocals

The Warm Audio WA-47F is a faithful recreation of an original with which many world-famous artists have recorded their vocals. The particularity of this microphone, just like its ancestor, is its very good SPL management .

In other words, it's an excellent microphone for singing , since it tolerates screaming or shouting vocals very well, such as when singing aggressive metal rock.

It's no wonder that artists like Bon Scott of AC/DC, or David Lee Roth of Van Halen have opted for the original of this microphone. But the Warm Audio WA-47F is also suitable for other styles of music using less energetic vocals or softer falsetto vocals. response is excellent , regardless of the character of the source voice.

However, the WA-47F may not round or smooth the highs as well as some conventional tube microphones intended exclusively for vocal recording (like the Rode NT1000 microphone for example) do. In terms of use for voice-over and speech, you just need to speak into the microphone in a natural way to obtain a clear voice that is very pleasant to listen to.

You'll quickly forget about your wireless gooseneck or lavalier microphone once you try the Warm Audio WA-47F. We can even consider using this microphone to control voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, etc. instead of using an HF microphone. Obviously, the use of a pop filter is essential when using the Warm Audio WA-47F.

An original microphone very popular for recording guitar and bass

Many famous musicians loved recording their instruments with the original U47 FET. It must be said that the sound of this omnidirectional microphone is particularly rich in detail since all frequencies are faithfully captured .

During our test, we placed the Warm Audio WA-47F a reasonable distance in front of an electric guitar amp . Once the microphone was on a stand, we activated the recorders, and we listened to the sound through stereo headphones. The result amazed us. The sound of our stratocaster-type electric guitar resonated so well that we immediately took a liking to it.

Same thing when we applied a distortion effect typical of aggressive rock to the guitar. There was not the slightest saturation. We also tried with an acoustic guitar , this time without an amplifier.

The sound once again amazed us. There is no even need to bring the guitar close to the microphone since the Warm Audio WA-47F generates almost no proximity effect. We then tested it with an electric Bass guitar . The result is just as impressive. The bass sound is very well reproduced when playing normally. In Slap, the high notes that characterize this Bass technique are very well captured down to the smallest detail.

Technical characteristics of the Warm Audio WA-47F microphone

• Gold sprayed, large diaphragm, unique backplate, K47 style capsule
• Custom TAB-Funkenwerk (AMI) USA Output Transformer
• High-end Fairchild transistors
• Wima and polystyrene capacitors
• Polar pattern: cardioid, omnidirectional
• Polar pattern: Cardioid
• Max SPL: 137 dB, 147 dB with 10 dB pad enabled
• Frequency response: 20Hz-19kHz
• Output impedance: 150 Ohms
• Nominal load impedance: > 1 kOhms
• Attenuator and Filters: -10 dB Pad, Low Cut Filter at 140 Hz
• Signal-to-noise ratio (+ weighted): 69 dB, 76 dB-A
• EIN / Own noise (+ weighted): 25 dB, 18 dB-A
• Total weight: 3.5 lbs, mic only: 2 lbs
• Microphone dimensions: 8" X 2.75" (20.3 cm X 7 cm)
• Accessories included: rigid microphone stand and premium wooden box

Our opinion on the Warm Audio WA-47F microphone

The Warm Audio WA-47F is a multi-purpose microphone that is ideal for a range of sound sources from any instrument or voice. Simply place it at a good distance from electric or bass guitar amplifiers to appreciate the incredibly faithful sound that it captures and reproduces.

For those looking for a more vintage drum sound, especially bass drum, this microphone will satisfy them. It is ideal for various voice recordings, particularly voice-overs or speeches. Its high SPL and very low noise level allow it to effectively handle loud sources without producing saturated sound.

All in all, if you are a passionate audiophile, buying the Warm Audio WA-47F is a good investment considering everything it can achieve and considering the exceptionally good sound quality it produces. Many renowned artists and sound engineers have already adopted this affordable, low-noise recording equipment. Why not you ?

👉 You can also find alternatives on cheaper DIY U47 FET microphones like the one from Mic&Mod

Warm Audio WA-47F Microphone Demo

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