Warm Audio WA-1B Mono Optical Compressor

Manufacturer's description

Tube-Opto Tone With Extended Control: Delivering that revered “forgiving” musical compression with the added speed and control functionality, the WA-1B excels on highly dynamic sources that demand analog warmth.

True-To-Original Controls:To deliver extended dynamics processing, the WA-1B features all of the classic controls of its modern-classic inspiration. 

Threshold: The WA-1B supports a variable threshold giving maximum control to the user regarding how much compression is applied to any signal at various input levels.

Ratio: The WA-1B ratio is variable and has infinite controls between 2:1 and 10:1. From soft musical dynamic control all the way to hard-smashing compression! 

Attack & Release: The Attack/Release controls on the WA-1B are unique in that the attack/release operations can be switched from a fixed setting, manual (variable) setting, or a combined setting. In the “fixed” mode, the WA-1B delivers the natural attack & release time of the optical element. The combined setting in particular creates the opportunity for a more nuanced release-time curve. This dueling time-constant circuit operation is a special feature of the WA-1B and its original inspiration.   

Meter Switch: The WA-1B meter switch has three settings: input, compression, and output levels. Set to “input”, the VU meter is reading the level at the input connector. Set to “compression”, the VU meter is reading gain reduction. The steady-state is "0", and the amount of compression is shown as the needle moving right-to-left away from 0dB. Set to “output”, the VU meter is reading the level at the output connector.

On/Bypass: The on/bypass switch on the WA-1B activates or bypasses the compressor. This is a hard bypass, meaning no signal passes through the circuitry in bypass mode. 

Premium Components: The WA-1B is a 270v circuit with handwired through-hole circuitry, and 100% discrete analog signal path. The custom large-core transformers from Lundahl Sweden bring the full Scandinavian-style analog tone of the WA-1B circuit to life. Paired with select tubes from JJ and Tung-Sol, the high-precision optical element applies sweet analog warmth to audio signals with unrivaled accuracy. 

Hand-Tested In Austin, TX: Like all Warm Audio gear, the WA-1B is meticulously hand-tested and inspected by trained technicians with a passion for making music in Austin, TX USA.

Tech Specs

• 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