Don’t sell your soul to a creditor to get the gear you need. At AMS, we want to lower the barriers to create. That’s why we offer in-house 0% financing, and you don’t even have to open a new line of credit! Spread out payments on your credit card to simplify financing and avoid hefty late fees or service charges. Cost shouldn’t interfere with your creativity.
Earn rewards every time you shop at AMS. You'll collect points on eligible purchases that turn into promotional savings on future gear, with points typically available several days after your order ships. All you need is a free AMS account — no credit card, financing, or payment plan required.
The more you shop, the more you earn. Create a free account and start earning from your very first eligible purchase. Rewards are applied as a discount on future eligible purchases.
Earn rewards every time you shop at AMS. You'll collect points on eligible purchases that turn into promotional savings on future gear, with points typically available several days after your order ships. All you need is a free AMS account — no credit card, financing, or payment plan required.
The more you shop, the more you earn. Create a free account and start earning from your very first eligible purchase. Rewards are applied as a discount on future eligible purchases.
Earn points on eligible purchases with AMS Rewards and turn them into savings on future orders, no credit card required. You can apply points at checkout once they’re available.
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Did you know AMS is the only music distributor with four distribution centers? And that means we can offer super-fast shipping on all your music products. Whether you don’t want the spark of inspiration to fade or you really need that replacement speaker before the next show, we have you covered anywhere in the U.S. And even better, it’s FREE!
You shouldn’t have to pay extra for a little peace of mind. When you purchase from AMS, you’ll get a free 12-month extended warranty to cover your purchase — and that’s in addition to any manufacturer’s warranties! Thousands of items in our catalog feature the “Gold Lock Extended Warranty,” so you can feel confident in your purchase.
45
Day return
Sometimes the gear on the computer screen seems like a better fit than when you actually get your hands on it. We understand, and that’s why AMS offers an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy with an item, you have a full month and a half to send it back! We don’t want to just sell you gear. We want to sell you the RIGHT gear — even if it takes a few tries.
Canadian Shipping Information
Welcome Canadian musicians! Buying your gear from AMS is as easy as going to a local music store, with more selection and more than competitive prices!
Items with this logo are eligible to ship to Canada. Please note that you will be responsible for payment of brokerage fees, duties and other import taxes applicable to your order.
NOTE: Free shipping offers do not apply to Canadian orders. Please be aware of custom fees - such as taxes and duties - when your order arrives. Since these fees vary from location to location, CUSTOMS FEES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN SHIPPING CHARGES. Please check with your local customs office for more information on the fees in your areas. Refusal to pay these fees will result in an undeliverable order. If returned, we do not refund shipping charges and may assess restocking fees to cover return shipping expenses.
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Payment Plan
Don’t sell your soul to a creditor to get the gear you need. At AMS, we want to lower the barriers to create. That’s why we offer in-house 0% financing, and you don’t even have to open a new line of credit! Spread out payments on your credit card to simplify financing and avoid hefty late fees or service charges. Cost shouldn’t interfere with your creativity.
The Warm Audio WA-2A is a faithful recreation of the most coveted vintage analog tube optical compressor ever made. This isn't just another piece of studio gear — it's the secret weapon behind countless legendary recordings. From Led Zeppelin's thunderous drums to The Beatles' silky vocals, the gentle, musical compression of the '2A circuit has shaped the sound of rock, soul, and everything in between for over half a century.
Built with premium components including custom CineMag transformers, a boutique Kenetek T4B opto-cell, and four hand-selected tubes, the WA-2A delivers that warm, forgiving compression that makes your tracks feel alive. This is the compressor that won't squeeze the life out of your recordings — instead, it adds richness, depth, and that indefinable vintage magic that no plugin can truly replicate.
Classic '2A Compression for the Modern Studio
The WA-2A brings vintage analog warmth into your workflow with authentic optical compression that responds to your music, not against it. Here's what makes it special:
Legendary Optical Compression: The WA-2A uses genuine optical tube compression to gently tame peaks and add harmonic richness. The optical attenuator responds naturally to your signal, creating that smooth, "musical" compression favored by everyone from Eric Clapton to Pharrell Williams.
Premium Tube Circuitry: Four carefully selected Tung-Sol and Electro-Harmonix tubes (2x 12AX7, 1x 12BH7, 1x 6AQ5) provide rich harmonic saturation in the output stage. This all-tube, fully discrete signal path ensures your tracks get that coveted analog warmth.
Boutique Kenetek Opto-Cell: The heart of the WA-2A is the legendary Kenetek T4B optical attenuator — widely considered the world's finest. It's socketed too, so you can swap in vintage opto-cells if you want to experiment with different flavors of compression.
Streamlined Controls That Sound Incredible
Forget complex menus and confusing parameters. The WA-2A keeps things beautifully simple with just two main controls that deliver professional results every time.
Peak Reduction Control: This knob controls the amount of compression applied to your signal, scaled from 0-100% (with 100% providing up to 40 dB of gain reduction). Roll it up to gently control dynamic peaks or push it harder for more aggressive compression — the optical circuit stays smooth and forgiving either way.
Output Gain Control: Adjust your makeup gain from 0-100% (approximately 40 dB maximum). This lets you bring compressed signals back up to optimal levels while maintaining that rich tube coloration throughout the output stage.
Variable Pre-Emphasis Control: Located on the back panel, this clever control adjusts the sidechain frequency response. Set it flat for full-bandwidth compression, or dial in high-pass filtering to make the compressor more responsive to high-frequency transients while letting bass frequencies pass through more freely.
Built for Professional Performance
The WA-2A is engineered for real-world studio use with features that enhance workflow and expand creative possibilities. Built the old-school way with through-hole components for superior reliability and serviceability. This isn't surface-mount shortcuts — it's vintage-inspired construction that's built to last decades.
Custom CineMag Transformers: Hand-wound, large-core input and output transformers made in the USA provide pristine signal integrity and that subtle transformer coloration that vintage gear is famous for.
Stereo Link Capability: Connect two WA-2As via the dedicated TRS stereo link input for perfectly matched stereo compression. When linked, both units share threshold response, making it simple to process stereo tracks, drum overheads, or mix bus material with precise imaging.
Transformer-Balanced I/O: High-voltage, transformer-balanced inputs and outputs ensure clean, professional connectivity with low noise and maximum headroom.
The Compressor That Defines "Musicality"
No plugin or digital emulation quite captures what the WA-2A delivers: warm, forgiving, fluid compression that enhances rather than diminishes your source material. For over 60 years, the '2A circuit has been the go-to choice for handling vocals, bass, acoustic instruments, and full program material with effortless smoothness. The WA-2A brings that legendary performance to your studio with authentic components and meticulous attention to vintage circuit design.