Warm Audio WA-1B All-Tube, Transformer-Balanced Optical Compressor

The WA-1B accurately recreates world-class Scandinavian compression, combining smooth tube-optical warmth with precision controls. Like its original inspiration, favored by producers and engineers from Chris Lord-Alge to Rick Rubin, the WA-1B delivers that revered “forgiving” musical compression of tube-optical circuitry with speed and control more closely associated with modern dynamics processing. Hand-wired to authentically recreate the sound of a renowned circuit, the WA-1B combines custom large-core transformers from Lundahl Sweden, select tubes, and a premium high-precision optical element for ultra-fast and accurate operation without sacrificing authentic analog warmth.

• Accurately recreating world-class Scandinavian compression combining smooth tube-optical warmth with precision controls
• True-to-spec 270 volt, 100% discrete analog signal path – handwired with through-hole components
• Transformer-balanced fully floating input and output – Custom-core large transformers from Scandinavian Manufacturer, Lundahl in Sweden
• 12AX7 Tung-Sol & JJ 12AU7 tubes
• Frequency response @ -3 dB: 5 Hz to 25 kHz
• Self-Noise: < -75 dBU @ 30 dB gain
• CMRR: > 60 dB @ 10 kHz
• Ratio from 2:1 to 10:1
• Variable Threshold: Off to -40 dBU
• Continuously variable, fixed, or fixed/manual attack and release times
  • Fixed – Attack: 1 millisecond | Release: 50 milliseconds
  • Manual – Attack: .5 – 300 milliseconds | Release: .05 seconds – 10 seconds
  • Fixed/Man mode blends the release times of fixed and manual mode
• Output gain: Off to +30 dBU
• Input impedance: 600Ω
• Two bus connectors to connect multiple sidechains
• Meter (VU) input, output, or compression amount
• Linear, low-noise power supply with toroidal power transformer