Warm Audio
Warm Audio WA-251
Large-diaphragm tube condenser (12AY7), CK12-style capsule, transformer output, omni, cardioid and figure-8 switched on the power supply
Power External grounded power supply (IEC inlet, 115/230 V selector).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 3
- Self-noise
- 12 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 74%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 75%
- Max SPL
- 132 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 26%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 24%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
vs 99 side-address condensers
Quieter than 51% of 99 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 107 side-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 32% of 107 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the graph cardioid.
Product-page chart without a title or measuring conditions; dB axis labelled -30dB to -60dB with no reference.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
In practice
All specs
| From the manual | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | WA-12-B-60V: edge-terminated, dual-backplate, all-brass CK12-style capsule, 6-micron 24k gold-sputtered PET diaphragm"Custom WA-12-B-60V edge terminated, dual-backplate, all-brass vintage CK12-style capsule"; "the diaphragm is 24k gold sputtered 6 micron, NOS PET film (mylar)", on "a variant CEK-12 back plate" (p. 5). | p. 7 |
| Self-noise | 12 dB(A)IEC 651. "Equivalent Noise: 12dBA (IEC651)". | |
| Max SPL | 132 dB SPL< 0.5% THD. "Maximum SPL: 132dB (<0.5% THD)". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 80 dBA-weighted. "S/N Ratio: 80dBA". | |
| Dynamic range | 125 dBA-weighted. "Dynamic range: 125dBA". | |
| Output impedance | 200 ohm"Output Impedance: 200 ohms". | |
| Rated load impedance | 2000 ohmminimum. "Rated Load Impedance: ≥2kOhms". | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz"Frequency Range: 20 Hz~20 kHz"; no tolerance given. | |
| Powering | external grounded power supply (IEC inlet, 115/230 V selector)"External IEC grounded PSU"; voltage selector near the IEC inlet (p. 6). | |
| Connector | 7-pin male at the mic base; 7-pin cable to the supply; XLR-3 male output on the supplyFeatures 6 to 8 (p. 6). | p. 6 |
| Dimensions | 247 × 46 mm"Mic Dimensions: 247mm x 46mm" (taken as length × diameter). | p. 7 |
| Supplied accessories | power supply; IEC power cable; shock mount; Gotham GAC-7 7-pin cable (5 m); wooden box"Your WA-251 package includes; the WA-251 microphone, power supply, IEC power cable, shockmount, 7 pin Gotham cable, and wood storage box." (p. 6) | p. 6 |
| Tube | JJ (Slovak Republic) 12AY7 | p. 7 |
| Transformer | CineMag USA | |
| Cable | Gotham Audio GAC-7, 7-pin, 5 m | |
| Capacitors | Polystyrene coupling capacitors, WIMA film capacitors, Solen (French) output capacitor | p. 5 |
| Pattern switch | 3 positions on the power supply: cardioid, omni, figure-8 | p. 6 |
| Total weight | 12 lb (mic, power supply, shock mount, cables) | p. 7 |
Documents
- WA-251 Tube Condenser Microphone owner's manual2018
- WA-251 frequency chart, cardioidproduct page graph image
- WA-251 frequency chart, omniproduct page graph image
- WA-251 frequency chart, figure-8product page graph image
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.