Internally, the mic shares more in common with the C12; it has the same Haufe T14/1 output transformer, uses the same 6072 tube (in the "E" or export models; non-E models used the AC701k, as per German broadcast requirements at the time) and the famous (and highly complex) AKG CK12 dual backplate condenser capsule. It sounded quite similar to the valve UM17R, but had a touch more mid presence and … Between the two Warms, definitely the WA-47. The WA-251 was created to offer a classic microphone design to a new generation of recording artists at an affordable price. The WA-251 is an attractive looking microphone. The Warm Audio WA-47 is a high-performance, multi-pattern, large-diaphragm, transformer-balanced, tube condenser microphone. One area where the WA-251 actually exceeds the performance of the original is noise - it's considerably quieter than the vintage microphones it was inspired by. It is oriented "correctly" for a 251 style mic, with the pins closer to the capsule, as opposed to the C12, which has the tube inverted, with the pins located further away from it. But the WA-47 has more mod potential nowadays... Now that Michael Joly retired from modding Oktava's. The body is equipped with a round Warm Audio (WA) badge on the front side. It isn't quite the same pale green-tinged shade as a vintage 251, but the finish is smooth and flawless and looks expensive, with the chromed bottom bell and grille assembly offering nice visual contrast. The Warm Audio WA-251 is an impressive mic. Warm Audio WA-47 Tube Condenser Microphone against the Peluso 22 47 LE. Also included the Vanguard V13 by the way. The Warm Audio WA-251 is an impressive mic. It is mounted in a ceramic tube socket with gold-plated contacts. P.S. It appears to be well-built. I suspect that upon hearing it, a lot of other people are going to do the same thing and purchase a WA-251 for themselves. The included foam could potentially be transferred into a user-supplied case; Harbor Freight offers some that sell for as low as $25 that might be easily modified into something suitable. What is wrong with Chinese components if they are within spec and inspected/level matched by Dave or Warm Audio guys? Warm Audio makes several other nice microphones, including the Warm Audio WA-47 that I reviewed previously, and a lot of people may be asking themselves which of the two tube mics they should get. You might be able to build something similar if you have the soldering chops and time, but you probably won't save much (if anything) by doing so, and with the WA-251 all of the work has been expertly done for you, and that work is warrantied. Since the acoustic "space" the capsule resides in and the grille itself are two of the things that differentiate the two vintage AKG-built mics, I'm curious as to why Warm Audio decided on this particular body size and head basket style / shape for the WA-251, although I have to admit, the end result looks very classy, and the WA-251, while not being a direct copy of any other mic, does have its own vintage-flavored visual appeal. He has engineered, produced and performed on countless recording sessions in a diverse range of styles, with artists such as Alien Ant Farm, Jules Day, Voodoo Glow Skulls, John McGill, Michael Knott and Alexa's Wish. The overall C12 vibe is further reinforced by the WA-251's head basket. Frankly, I am kind of surprised that Warm Audio didn't build the WA-251 inside of the Warm Audio WA-47Jr style body, which is much closer to the dimensions of the vintage 251, and even has a more similarly-sized and shaped head basket. These are switched on the body (like a U47 / U48), not remotely as with the C12, and they have larger bodies than the C12, although not as large as the U47. I would probably recommend the WA-251 for someone looking for a slightly more versatile mic - I think it works exceptionally well on a wider range of sound sources (not just vocals - it's a great instrument mic too), but when the WA-47's the right match, it can really shine too, so you really need to try them both for yourself to see what you like best. When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. So given the 251 is known to be a slightly brighter mic, my impression was the Copperhead is basically a warmer sounding 251...47 like. Good day I am doing some mic shopping, I want a mic that is versatile. However, fewer than 2,000 of them were manufactured in the 1959-1963 production run, and today the vintage originals sell in the five figure price range… if you can find one for sale. The Warm Audio WA-251 is a multi-pattern (omni / cardioid / Fig.-8 ) tube microphone that is based on the vintage 251. Warm Audio Introduces WA-47 Tube Condenser Microphone. It would have also allowed them to put the pattern selection switch on the body of the mic too, as with the originals. Warm Audio WA-47 that I reviewed previously, head over to this thread in the Studio Trenches forum. Want to discuss the Warm Audio WA-251 or have questions or comments about this review? A fantastic sounding mic I think! The AKG C12 and the Telefunken ELA M 251 E have long been some of my favorite mics, and the CK12 is one of my favorite capsules. The shape and size of the body, and specifically the head grille size and shape are different; the impression I get every time I look at it is "short body C12 replica" more than "251 replica", and sonically, it reminds me somewhat of a cross between those two vintage classics that leans more towards the 251. The WA-251 offers the same three options as the mic that inspired it, with omni, cardioid and figure-8 polar patterns. Another Option from Warm Audio: WA-47jr The “other” popular 47 is the U47 FET, and Warm has also introduced a clone of this microphone, the WA-47jr ($299). Full and rich down low (especially when close-miking), with sweet midrange and a wonderfully smooth, detailed and extended high frequency range, they're simply amazing sounding mics. Warm Audio, the model name, and the CineMag logo are silkscreened on the back of the mic. We spent a great deal of We wanted to see how some of their microphones compared to their vintage counterparts and so we tested four microphones and now we can we can announce the results The WA-47 is a 9 multi-pattern vacuum tube mic and attempts to recreate the popular k47 capsule design of the late 1960’s. The electronics of the WA-251 are based on the E or export version of the vintage 251. Just a friendly reminder that political discussion, (including "offhand" and 'sideways' commenting) is. I am looking to simply mic vocals and guitar/bass amps. In the world of pro audio, Warm Audio is making exceptional gear at a low cost to customers including; microphone preamplifiers, compressors, equalizers and condenser microphones that are designed, developed and I think all three are excellent options in that price range. While it doesn't sound identical to any particular 251 (and considering the fact that the vintage originals have all aged for over 55 years now, and no two sound identical anyway), it does have an instantly familiar sound that bears a strong family resemblance to both the 251 and C12. As such, it's a great choice for use on male and female vocalists, guitar amps, drum overheads, reed, brass and string instruments, piano… it's versatile enough to authoritatively handle practically any miking task where you'd normally employ a large diaphragm tube condenser. Phil O'Keefe is a multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer / producer and the Senior Editor of Harmony Central. It's an all-brass, edge-terminated, dual-backplate design with 6 micron gold-sputtered diaphragms, and is similar to the vintage CK12. You'll still need your own XLR cable to connect the power supply to the audio interface / console / mic preamp, but the fact that Warm Audio includes a premium quality tube mic cable should not be discounted - it really does make an audible difference compared to cheaper cables. Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone ($799.00 "street"). Judged on its own merits and not comparing it to anything else, the WA-251 is a really nice mic - much nicer than the relatively affordable price tag might lead you to believe. It looks and sounds polished and expensive. Can you really get a '251 style mic for under $800? Over a few sessions I tried the WA–251 on both male and female vocalists, and put it up against a Blackspade UM17R and a Flea SuperFET 47. This microphone is specifically designed to produce the tonal characteristics of classic U47 microphones for musicians, recording engineers, and vocalists in project, home, and commercial recording studios. In 1958, Telefunken GmbH (the German electronics giant, not the modern American-based Telefunken Elektroakustik) had a problem: Georg Neumann GmbH had decided to start handing their own product distribution, and would no longer provide Telefunken-branded U47s and U48s for them to sell, leaving Telefunken without a large diaphragm tube condenser mic in their product catalog. Then head over to this thread in the Studio Trenches forum right here on Harmony Central and join the discussion! Essentially, this is a low gain 12AX7 valve, quite different to the VF14M, but not the first time such valves have been used in U47 style microphones. 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