Warm Audio WA-87 R2 Large-Diaphragm Multipattern FET Condenser Microphone

Warm Audio WA-87 R2: The Flagship 87-Style Studio Condenser

The Warm Audio WA-87 R2 is a large-diaphragm multipattern FET condenser microphone and the flagship of the 87 family, an award-winning studio mic that recreates one of the most recorded vocal sounds in history. Unlike the streamlined WA-87jr, the R2 is transformer-coupled, using a custom CineMag USA output transformer that is central to the classic 87 tone. It carries three switchable polar patterns, a -10 dB pad, and an 80 Hz high-pass filter for genuine recording flexibility. Its 1-inch, gold-sputtered K87-style capsule and vintage-grade components chase the smooth, detailed character engineers have chosen for lead vocals for decades. This is the microphone reviewers repeatedly call remarkably close to the sound it honors, at a fraction of a vintage unit's cost.

What a Transformer-Coupled FET Condenser Does

Every condenser microphone senses sound with a charged diaphragm suspended microns from a backplate, and an internal amplifier lifts that faint signal to a usable level. In the WA-87 R2 that amplifier is a discrete FET circuit whose output passes through a transformer before it leaves the mic, which is what transformer-coupled means. An output transformer balances the signal, provides isolation, and adds the subtle harmonic richness and smoothing that many engineers associate with the classic 87 sound. This is the key design difference from the transformerless WA-87jr: the R2 trades some outright transparency for that coveted transformer-coupled character. The mic runs on 48V phantom power and drives your preamp through a 24k gold-plated XLR connector.

The Capsule and Premium Components

The R2's tone begins at a 1-inch, 6-micron gold-sputtered K87-style dual-backplate capsule, the vintage-correct design responsible for the model's presence and airy detail. Warm Audio pairs it with genuinely premium parts: NOS (new-old-stock) Fairchild transistors and WIMA and Nichicon capacitors, the kind of component-level choices usually reserved for far more expensive mics. Those parts are not marketing; the transistor and capacitor characteristics shape noise, headroom, and the way the mic handles transients. The custom CineMag USA output transformer then colors and smooths the signal in the classic style. Together the capsule, components, and transformer are why the R2 lands so close to its inspiration.

Patterns, Pad, and Filter

The WA-87 R2 gives you three switchable polar patterns. Cardioid captures the front and rejects the rear for isolated vocals; omnidirectional hears equally in all directions for natural room and ensemble work; and figure-8 hears front and back while nulling the sides for mid-side and Blumlein stereo recording. The switchable -10 dB pad raises the mic's ceiling to 132 dB SPL with the pad engaged so it stays clean on loud sources, and 125 dB SPL with it off. The switchable 80 Hz high-pass filter clears low-end rumble and proximity boom before your converter ever sees it. With very low self-noise and a 150-ohm output, the R2 stays quiet and behaves well into any preamp.

Where the WA-87 R2 Excels

The R2 is a true studio anchor. It is a first-call choice for lead and studio vocals and voiceover, where its smooth, detailed midrange flatters nearly any voice. Beyond vocals it captures acoustic guitar, drum overheads, piano, and strings with the same balanced character, so it stays useful across an entire session. Home-studio owners get a genuinely professional vocal mic that will not be outgrown, and commercial rooms get a versatile, reliable condenser that suits countless sources. It needs only 48V phantom power to run. When the goal is a finished, radio-ready vocal, the WA-87 R2 is built to deliver it.

A Complete, Studio-Grade Package

The WA-87 R2 arrives as a complete kit ready for serious work. It ships with a shockmount to isolate the capsule from vibration, a hard clip for quick mounting, and a wooden storage box to protect the mic between sessions. The nickel-plated brass construction and 24k gold-plated XLR connector reflect the build quality found throughout the design. Reviewers consistently praise both the sound and the included accessories as unusually generous for the class. It is a microphone built to be a studio's dependable centerpiece for years.