Wolff Audio W1 - Wolff Console ST Transformer Based Preamp.

The Wolff Audio W1 500 Series Microphone Preamplifier brings the sound and workflow of Wolff’s flagship consoles straight into your lunchbox. With custom Cinemag transformers, relay controlled gain and phantom power, and a socketed op amp design, it delivers punchy, musical tone with precise level control for both studio and live rigs.

Designed around the exact circuitry used in Wolff’s large format desks, the W1 offers console class headroom and clarity in a single slot module. Selectable stepped gain, a dedicated trim stage and an output fader let you shape everything from ultra clean, close miked drums to harmonically rich vocals, while intelligent LED metering keeps your gain staging on point at a glance.

Console Class Transformer Topology

At the heart of the W1 is the same transformer based architecture found in Wolff’s high end consoles. Custom Cinemag input and output transformers preserve the authentic loading and tonal character of those desks, giving your microphones a solid, weighty low end, smooth top and a refined midrange that sits naturally in a mix. Whether you are tracking vocals, drums or guitars, the W1 delivers a familiar, mix ready sound that feels instantly usable.

Flexible Gain Structure and Headroom

The W1’s gain structure is designed for real world sources, from whisper quiet to brutally loud. Gain is selectable in 10 dB steps up to 50 dB, with an additional ±6 dB trim stage for fine tuning. In zero gain mode the transformer pads the signal by 10 dB and the op amp runs at unity, placing the preamp roughly 20 dB lower than many designs. That means you can park an SM57 right on a snare or get close to loud guitar cabs without reaching for a pad, while still enjoying clean, controlled transients. When you do need extra level, maximum gain of around 56 dB gives plenty of lift without sacrificing stability.

Precision Control and Clean Switching

A dedicated output fader sits between two gain stages, letting you drive the input for colour while trimming back the level hitting your converters or downstream gear. Relay controlled circuits handle the 20 dB pad, 48 V phantom power and line switching, ensuring quiet, glitch free changes even mid session. Output dimming helps prevent overload when you are pushing the transformers for character, and a polarity reverse switch gives you instant phase options when combining multiple microphones.

Customisable Op Amp and Intuitive Metering

The W1’s socketed op amp design lets engineers tailor the harmonic flavour of the preamp by installing different compatible op amps, without any need to redesign the circuit board. This makes the W1 a versatile platform that can move from ultra clean to more coloured tones as your projects demand. Dual mode LED metering, mirroring Wolff’s console layout, shows reference points at 20 dB and +4 dB with intelligent release timing and clip indication, so you always know exactly how hard you are hitting the preamp and where your headroom sits.

• Console Derived Transformer Circuitry - The W1 uses the exact circuitry from Wolff’s flagship consoles with custom Cinemag input and output transformers, giving you the same authoritative, musical tone and headroom as a large format desk in a compact 500 series module.
• Advanced Gain Structure with Output Fader - Stepped gain up to 50 dB, a ±6 dB trim stage and a dedicated output fader between gain stages provide granular control over input drive and output level, letting you balance clean headroom against transformer saturation with precision.
• Socketed Op Amp for Sonic Flexibility - The user swappable op amp design allows you to install different op amps to fine tune the preamp’s harmonic character for specific sources or musical styles, turning the W1 into a highly adaptable front end.
• Relay Controlled Pad, Phantom and Line Switching - Relay based control of the 20 dB pad, 48 V phantom power and line switching ensures quiet, reliable operation, while output dimming, polarity reverse and dual reference LED metering help you maintain clean, consistent gain staging.

General

• Format: 500 series single channel microphone preamplifier
• Topology: Transformer based console derived design

Audio Circuitry

• Input Transformer: Custom Cinemag
• Output Transformer: Custom Cinemag
• Op Amp: Socketed design for user installed op amps

Gain and Level Control

• Gain Range: Selectable in 10 dB increments up to 50 dB
• Trim: ±6 dB trim stage
li>Maximum Gain: Approximately 56 dB
• Output Control: Dedicated output fader situated between two gain stages
• Zero Gain Mode: Transformer pads 10 dB with op amp at unity

Switching and Functions

• Pad: Relay controlled 20 dB pad
• Phantom Power: Relay controlled 48 V
• Line Switching: Relay controlled
• Output Dimming: Output dimming function for managing downstream levels
• Polarity: Polarity reverse switch

Metering

• Type: Dual mode LED metering
• Reference Points: 20 dB and +4 dB with clip indication
• Behaviour: Intelligent release timing

Connectivity

• Front Panel Input: Neutrik combo ¼ inch / XLR connector
• Supported Sources: Microphone and instrument inputs