Warm Audio WA-67..?

[Snatchman]

Hello..Just wondering if anyone here owns or have seen the WA-67..?..I'm interested in this mic but have a question. The way that those components are soldered on that circuit board, is this for a reason ( audio wise)..?..Or to just save money ? Or.........

 

[Khron]

https://groupdiy.com/threads/warm-audio-wa-67-teardown.79421/

 

[Snatchman]

https://groupdiy.com/threads/warm-audio-wa-67-teardown.79421/

Okay, thanks alot...Mojave Audio it is then..!..

 

[RuudNL]

I would never think of buying a mic built so sloppily. Capacitors that don't actually fit on the circuit board and are 'stacked' with gobs of glue on them say a lot about the thought that went into the design.
Strangely enough, I recently had a chance to evaluate a WA-87 (R2) and apart from a few possible improvements there was little to complain about.

 

[Icantthinkofaname]

I would never think of buying a mic built so sloppily. Capacitors that don't actually fit on the circuit board and are 'stacked' with gobs of glue on them say a lot about the thought that went into the design.
Strangely enough, I recently had a chance to evaluate a WA-87 (R2) and apart from a few possible improvements there was little to complain about.

I think the WA-87 and 87 R2 got several times more thought than the WA-67. That one seems like they just said "Oh a U67 is like a dark U87 with a tube, right" and then just threw it together

 

[Whoops]

I think when it comes to the WA-67 we have to keep in perspective the price point,
it costs 990€ that's 1/6 of the price of a Neumann U67, that's a huge price difference.
For 990€ you get all quality components on board like all metal film resistors, Wima capacitors, a good EH tube, a good Lundahl transformer (I have yet to see a bad Lundah transformer up to this day), a solid body, a solid PSU.
You have also the same exact circuit and component values as the Neumann U67 (to the exception of the output capacitor)

So although I did a teardown thread and I have to be critical of the flaws I found, like bad soldering, the usage of a wrong capsule (darker than K67), lower B+ voltage at the PSU, stuff that could be easily done properly with not a lot of extra cost, we still have to keep in mind that it has a lot of good points.

Solving these issues could be something complicated to solve for a non DIYer, but for us DIY people, changing the capsule, replacing the output cap if needed, adjusting the B+ voltage and retouching the soldering is something that is really easy, cheap and can even give us some pleasure while doing it.
So I still think the WA-67 is a great buy for someone that is into DIY you can get really close or the same performance as a Neumann U67 for much less money.

Saying this, even with the issues I pointed out, in my opinion, the mic sounded pretty good straight out of the box, not exactly like a U67 but good nonetheless.

 

[Snatchman]

Hello..Something else I've been thinking about if I may..The WA-67 uses the Lundhal output transformer, the Mojave 300 uses a Jensen output transformer, and other 67 style mics uses different ones..So, what really contribute to the clones sounding similar to a vintage 67 if all uses different output transformers..? Thanks...

 

[Whoops]

Hello..Something else I've been thinking about if I may..The WA-67 uses the Lundhal output transformer, the Mojave 300 uses a Jensen output transformer, and other 67 style mics uses different ones..So, what really contribute to the clones sounding similar to a vintage 67 if all uses different output transformers..? Thanks...

The companies making the clones can't have Neumann transformer, capsule or body, so they need to find alternatives.
Doesn't mean that the alternatives will be bad or make it sound different, if the transformers used are good probably the sound difference due to the different transformer used will be marginal, I say "probably".

If the electronic circuit is the same, if it uses a good EF86 tube, if the capsule is a good K67 type, if the PSU provides the correct voltages, I don't see any reason for a clone not to be in the "Ballpark" of a Neumann U67 (even considering different body and headbasket)

I wrote this before somewhere on this thread, I had 2 Neumann U67 microphones in the studio I previously worked, both were very well serviced, and both sounded slightly different, but both sounded in the same Ballpark as I was expecting from a Neumann U67 microphone, and personally as a Sound Engineer, "Ballpark" is enough for me.

Also check the above post I wrote previously, keep in perspective the price different, there's no perfect world.
If it sounds good, if it sounds in the ballpark , use it and have fun recording and move on.

 

[Snatchman]

The companies making the clones can't have Neumann transformer, capsule or body, so they need to find alternatives.
Doesn't mean that the alternatives will be bad or make it sound different, if the transformers used are good probably the sound difference due to the different transformer used will be marginal, I say "probably".

If the electronic circuit is the same, if it uses a good EF86 tube, if the capsule is a good K67 type, if the PSU provides the correct voltages, I don't see any reason for a clone not to be in the "Ballpark" of a Neumann U67 (even considering different body and headbasket)

I wrote this before somewhere on this thread, I had 2 Neumann U67 microphones in the studio I previously worked, both were very well serviced, and both sounded slightly different, but both sounded in the same Ballpark as I was expecting from a Neumann U67 microphone, and personally as a Sound Engineer, "Ballpark" is enough for me.

Also check the above post I wrote previously, keep in perspective the price different, there's no perfect world.
If it sounds good, if it sounds in the ballpark , use it and have fun recording and move on.

Thanks Whoops..Really appreciate your insight and taking the time to address my questions..!

 

[Whoops]

Thanks Whoops..Really appreciate your insight and taking the time to address my questions..!

No Worries.
Forgot to say that if someone really wants to have a close as possible transformer to the Neumann original one in his clone microphone, you can always replace the stock transformer with a Moby BV12 reproduction. Moby transformers are as close as the Neumann transformers as you can get, they're high quality reproductions.

Although saying this, I personally would have some some problems in ditching a Lundahl or Jensen transformer if my clone mic came with one of those, as those companies only make good products

 

[Snatchman]

No Worries.
Forgot to say that if someone really wants to have a close as possible transformer to the Neumann original one in his clone microphone, you can always replace the stock transformer with a Moby BV12 reproduction. Moby transformers are as close as the Neumann transformers as you can get, they're high quality reproductions.

Although saying this, I personally would have some some problems in ditching a Lundahl or Jensen transformer if my clone mic came with one of those, as those companies only make good products

Thanks again.....Question: If you had to choose between the WA-67 and the Mojave 300 ( taking away your ability to mod these to proper specs) straight out of the box, ( not including the questionable solder job/cap placement for the WA-67... ) which would you choose based on sound and performance?..That's if you have heard the Mojave..?

 

[kingkorg]

Not sure if it's the case with the 300 model, but a lot of Mojave mics are cathode out circuits, which perform way different than something like 67.

 

[Whoops]

I don’t know the Mojave 300 mic, neither I ever tried or used any Mojave microphone

 

[Snatchman]

I don’t know the Mojave 300 mic, neither I ever tried or used any Mojave microphone

Ok...Thanks again...