Warm Audio
Warm Audio WA-8000
Large-diaphragm tube condenser (6AU6), K67-style capsule, transformer output, cardioid and omni switched on the mic, external power supply
Power External power supply (IEC inlet, 110/230 V selector).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Switchable, 2
- Sensitivity
- −33 dBV/Pa
- Among 204 condensers: more output than 79%
- Among 311 mics: more output than 86%
- Self-noise
- 15 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 53%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 54%
- Max SPL
- 131 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 24%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 22%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
vs 75 side-address condensers
More output than 70% of 75 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published sensitivity, and each bar counts them; further right means more output. This mic is in blue.
vs 99 side-address condensers
Quieter than 30% 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 29% 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.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the graph cardioid.
Product-page chart without a title or measuring conditions; dB axis labelled +10dB to -20dB (relative). The manual (p. 10) prints the same curve with "Response in dB" and "Frequency in Hz" axis titles.
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 | Custom dual-diaphragm, centre-terminated, all-brass K67-style capsule, recreating the original '800's"We recreated the original's custom dual-diaphragm, center-terminated capsule down to the smallest detail"; "very similar to the early K67 assemblies that Neumann made". Product page: "all-brass, custom K67-style capsule". | p. 4 |
| Sensitivity | −33 dBV/Pacardioid; also −36 dBV/Pa, omni. "Sensitivity: -33dB/Pa (cardioid), -36dB/Pa (omni)"; read as dB re 1 V/Pa. | p. 10 |
| Self-noise | 15 dB(A)cardioid; also 17 dB(A), omni. "Self-noise: 15dB (A-weighted) cardioid, 17dB (A-weighted) omni". | |
| Max SPL | 131 dB SPLcardioid; also 134 dB SPL, omni. "Max SPL: 131dB (cardioid), 134dB (omni)"; no distortion figure given. | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 76 dBcardioid; also 73 dB, omni. "Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 76dB (cardioid), 73dB (omni)"; no reference or weighting given. | |
| Output impedance | 100 ohm"Output Impedance: 100 ohms". | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz"Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz"; no tolerance given. | |
| Powering | external power supply (IEC inlet, 110/230 V selector)"Power Source: External 7-pin power supply (included)"; IEC inlet and voltage selector on the supply (p. 5). | |
| Connector | 7-pin cable to the supply; XLR-3 male output on the supplyFeatures 5 and 6 (p. 5). | p. 5 |
| Supplied accessories | power supply; IEC power cable; shock mount; Gotham GAC-7 7-pin cable; hard case"Your WA-8000 package includes the WA-8000 microphone itself, external power supply, IEC power cable, shock mount, Gotham GAC-7 cable, and custom hard case." | |
| Tube | 6AU6 (NOS), pentode | p. 10 |
| Tube cooling | Tube mounted outside the main body in a finned heat sink | p. 4 |
| Cable | Gotham Audio GAC-7, 7-pin | |
| Warm-up | Turn the supply on at least 30 minutes before use | p. 5 |
| From the product page | ||
| Dynamic range | 113 dBA-weighted. "Dynamic Range: 113dBA". | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmminimum. "Rated Load Impedance: ≥1k Ohms". | |
| Finish | black or goldColour choice on the page: "Black", "Gold". | |
| Transformer | Custom Lundahl (Sweden) | |
Documents
- WA-8000 Tube Condenser Microphone owner's manual2021
- WA-8000 product page
- WA-8000 frequency chart, cardioidproduct page graph image
- WA-8000 frequency chart, omniproduct page graph image
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents), unchanged, with their original addresses. Each is © its publisher.