Warm Audio WA-19 Dynamic Studio Microphone

Warm Audio WA-19 Dynamic Studio Microphone, Black, WA-19B, Action Position Back

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

Based on a popular 1960s-era mic, the WA-19 captures condenser-style top-end clarity with reduced proximity effect compared to most cardioid dynamic mics.

Overview

Bringing back one of the most favored studio & live dynamic mics of the 1960s, the WA-19 blends the critical off-axis rejection, reduced proximity effect, and rugged metal construction of a dynamic with added clarity and richer detail similar to studio-worthy condenser tones. The acoustic high-pass filter ring can cut up to 10dB at 50Hz to remove unwanted low frequencies, making the WA-19 ideal for capturing enhanced detail of cymbals/overheads, acoustic guitar, studio & live vocals, snare bottom, guitar cabs and more. Reviving the original tone & capabilities, the WA-19 delivers the ideal balance between dynamic functionality and condenser-like character for a dynamic studio mic that you'll want to try on almost anything in the studio or live.

Features:

- Faithfully Recreating One Of The Most Favored Studio Dynamic Mics Of The 1960s
- Variable 50Hz Acoustic High-Pass Filter with 0 to -10dB Range
- Critical off-axis rejection
- Reduced proximity effect
- Rugged metal construction
- Added clarity and richer detail similar to studio-worthy condenser tones
- Ideal for capturing enhanced detail of cymbals/overheads, acoustic guitar, vocals, snare bottom, guitar cabs and more
- Balance between dynamic functionality and condenser-like character
- Ventilated slots on the side of the WA-19 body reduce proximity effect, eliminating boomy bass
- Pencil-style body design allows for easy mic placement

Applications:

-Focused Vocals: Focused vocals with much more top end than… read more typical dynamic studio mics.
- Thump & Clarity in Drums: Capture more clarity in drum transients with less low-mid mud.
- Brilliant Acoustic Guitar: Deliver sweet top end on acoustic with brilliance and nothing harsh.
- Polished Snare Tones: Grab the snap, crack, and pop that everyone is looking for in pro drum recordings.

Reviving A Favored Studio Dynamic: The WA-19 delivers a unique combination of dynamic mic functionality and condenser-like clarity, faithfully recreating one of the most favored studio & live dynamics of the 1960s.

Dynamic Capabilities, Condenser-Like Character: The WA-19 features a custom, hand-assembled dynamic cardioid humbucking capsule that blends the critical noise rejection & reduced proximity effect of a dynamic but with more clarity and airy top end for richer detail than most studio dynamics.

Control The Boom & Bass: The WA-19 includes a variable acoustic high-pass filter ring that cuts up to 10dB at 50 Hz, ideal for tightening up the tone and adding upper-midrange emphasis without any electronic phase shift often incurred from preamp high-pass filters. Additionally, ventilated slots on the side of the WA-19 body reduce proximity effect, eliminating boomy bass associated with placing the mic closer to louder sources.

Great Sound With Any Placement: The thin pencil-style body design of the WA-19 allows for easy mic placement in crowded studio or live performance situations where mics are on top of each other - like recording acoustic guitar and vocals simultaneously, tracking a whole band, or miking a full drum kit. WA-19 has a dynamic humbucking coil that helps the mic deliver elite off-axis rejection, especially in the bass/lower midrange with minimal noise, making it easy to grab tight snare bottom tones without aggressive kick drum bleed.

Hand-Tested In Austin, TX: Like all Warm Audio gear, every single WA-19 is meticulously hand-tested and inspected by trained technicians with a passion for making music in Austin, TX USA.

Specs

-Type: Dynamic Cardioid
-Controls: Variable 50Hz Acoustic High-Pass Filter with 0 to -10dB Range
-Polar Pattern: Cardioid
-Impedance: 200 Ohms
-Frequency Response: 30Hz - 18Khz
-Max SPL: 145dB
-Sensitivity (Modern Measurement): -53dB +/-3dB at 1Khz (0dB=1V/Pa)
-Sensitivity (Vintage Measurement): -74dBv re.1 v/dyne/cm
-Connector: XLR
-Color: Nickel or Black
-Dimensions: Length: 6", Diameter: 1.4"
-Weight: .5 lbs

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Black, WA-19B

Shipping Weight: 0.95 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 3 in
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): WA-19B

Nickel, WA-19N

Shipping Weight: 0.95 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 3 in
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): WA-19N

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 512-348-6585
Web: https://warmaudio.com/contact-support/

Reviews

(1 ratings)

Submitted October 31, 2025 by a customer from gmail.com

"The WA-19 is GOOD!"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Never had the real thing but, this mic is good! Owned it for about a month. I'm in the middle of recording a 60s influenced rock album and I purchased the WA-19 specifically to record my 25 watt Fender Champ II amp with onboard efx (a little slap back with much reverb). Stock '96 MIM Strat guitar. Mic goes straight into one of the preamps on my Antelope Audio Discrete 8 Snyergy Core - 96k 24bit - not using Antelope's onboard efx. I will agree this mic is not as prone to proximity effect do to the machining on the body. I put the mic on a small boom stand in front of the amp and listened to a couple of different placements. It recorded the guitar w/out any boominess. Didn't really notice or think about proximity. I recorded full frequency (did not use the mic's roll off high pass filter). Everything was recorded, processed, and mixed in mono. My guitar tracks sound surprisingly "smooth and buttery". To achieve this I inserted a Waves TG12345 mono channel strip. I used a parametric EQ plug to notch out a couple of annoying frequencies in the upper mids. Ultimately I rolled off the bottom end at 124hz. A little added EQ and compression (waves RS124) helped bring out the clear, defined attack of the guitar. It was a little work in the box but I got there - I am happy!Other reviews of this mic say the WA-19 is close to the real thing, maybe with a little "honk" where the original 19 is just smooth. I kinda agree about the honk?, but it's subtle. I am not a pro engineer but I have… read more a well rounded, seasoned ear.Other mics I use on guitar cabs are: i5, sm57, beta57, e609, C214, KSM137, and RE-20 - each with its own sound. I am really happy with the WA-19 as I find it to be unique sounding in a pleasant way.

Quality
This mic feels like a quality piece of gear, heavy. The high-pass ring at the top of the mic is a little loose feeling but I don't think it's a quality control issue.

Manufacturer Support
I own other Warm Audio mics and have never had to contact Warm Audio for technical support.

Musical Background:
Professional Musician and Producer - Tuba Piano Guitar

Musical Style:
Just about everything.

Did you find this review helpful?