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Cranborne Audio Camden EC2 Microphone Preamp & Headphone Mixer

2-Channel Mic/Line/Instrument Preamp & Headphone Mixer with Highpass Filter and Variable Coloration
6 Write review Item ID: CamdenEC2
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This Amazing 2-Channel Pre Delivers a World of Sonic Versatility

The Camden EC2 is a 2-channel mic, line, and instrument preamplifier featuring Cranborne Audio acclaimed Camden preamps, Mojo analog saturation circuits, and dual reference-grade headphone amplifiers with discrete line mixers. The Camden EC2 rocks truly impressive low-noise and low-distortion performance as well as frequency and phase linearity at all gain settings. The net result is a stunningly clean, pristine, and natural-sounding preamp that delivers every source as a neutral canvas you can paint with your choice of analog and digital processing. But when you want punchy vintage tonal character, that’s where Cranborne’s Mojo circuit comes in.

Related Videos: Camden EC2 Microphone Preamp & Headphone Mixer

Pump it up with Mojo

When vintage British tonal character is required, rather than using a transformer and having to live with its drawbacks, Cranborne developed their Mojo circuit, which lets you dial in your choice of two discrete analog saturation types — Thump (transformer emulation) and Cream (tube emulation) — that can turn the Camden EC2 into the warmest, fattest, and most characterful preamp in your studio — all at the twist of a knob. Mojo can be smooth and subtle, punchy and in-your-face — or completely out of the circuit. With the Cranborne Audio Camden EC2, the choice is yours.

Custom transformerless topology

With the Mojo circuit bypassed, Camden EC2 is one of the cleanest, most linear, transparent, and natural-sounding preamps we’ve put to the test at Sweetwater. Featuring a custom transformerless front-end topology with 68.5dB of gain, the Camden 500 achieves amazing low-noise and low-distortion specs and also raises the bar for frequency and phase linearity: ±0.7dB frequency response from 1Hz to 1,000kHz at 35dB gain and less than four degrees of phase shift (20Hz to 20kHz, 63dB gain). The Camden EC2’s tailored input impedance and headroom for Mic, Line, and hi-Z sources give you punchy, full-range line recording with +26.5dBu of input headroom as well as vibrant, natural-sounding DI instruments.

C.A.S.T. away

Spec’d with Cranborne’s innovative C.A.S.T. system, the EC2 does away with excess cable spaghetti, delivering a cost-effective, low-maintenance, plug-and-play solution by transmitting balanced analog audio over shielded Cat 5 Ethernet cable directly to/from a Cranborne 500R8 or 500ADAT 500 Series rack.

Cranborne Audio Camden EC2 Microphone Preamp & Headphone Mixer Features:

  • 2 discrete, ultra-clean mic/line/hi-Z preamps with acclaimed Camden topology
  • Performance at near-theoretical limits of noise, distortion, and phase/frequency linearity at all gain settings
  • 2 bypassable Mojo saturation circuits with Thump/Cream analog saturation types
  • 2 discrete headphone mixers with independent channel and Aux input level controls
  • 2 high-power, reference-grade headphone amplifiers
  • Balanced XLR outputs plus impedance-balanced 1/4-inch outputs for maximum connectivity
  • Dedicated impedance-balanced 1/4-inch Link outputs for splitting instrument DIs to balanced/unbalanced amps and effects
  • Selectable 48V phantom power
  • C.A.S.T. Out port for connecting Camden EC2 to 500R8/500ADAT
  • C.A.S.T. In port for connecting N22/N22H Cat 5 snakes for remote I/O
  • External high-current 24V power supply with latching connector

Additional Media

In-Ear Monitor Buying Guide
Studio Preamp Buying Guide
Cranborne Audio Camden EC1 & EC2 Microphone Preamp & Headphone Mixer Demo

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: 2
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • Polarity Switch: Yes
  • EQ: 80Hz Highpass Filter, Mojo Thump/Cream Saturation Switch
  • Analog Inputs: 2 x 1/4" (Hi-Z/line/mic), 2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4" (aux in)
  • Analog Outputs: 1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4", 2 x 1/4" (link)
  • Headphones: 2 x 1/4"
  • Data I/O: 1 x Ethernet (CAST out)
  • Rack Spaces: 1U
  • Power Source: 24V DC External Adapter Power Supply (included)
  • Height: 1.75"
  • Depth: 9.5"
  • Width: 19"
  • Weight: 6.2 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: CA-CAMDENEC2

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Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5

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Camden EC2 - Truly a Game-Changer

I'll preface by saying that this is the first external (non-interface) preamp I've invested in for my home/project studio setup. I've been using a Focusrite Clarett 8PreX for a few years now, and frankly, the preamps on that unit sound quite nice! That said, I found myself needing some more noise-free headroom (I'm an avid SM7B user), and I craved some coloration options. As someone that believes in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality with my interface, I realized that an external preamp was definitely the way to go.

I found myself spending months changing my mind as to what preamp I wanted to go with. I do not have the budget, nor can I justify, buying a handful of preamps that all offer something unique. Ultimately, I needed one or two solid options that gave me some nice coloration, or clean, transparent approaches when needed.

Checking out reviews on online forums confused me more than it helped, but I saw a couple of posts recommending a preamp that I had never heard of - the Cranborne Audio Camden EC-1. The streamlined functionality looked very enticing when it comes to focusing on the creative process. Reading about the flexibility of the headphone amp really caught my attention, as well. True latency-free monitoring, while being able to quickly mix in the playback of the DAW to taste? Sign me up. If only I could get independent mixes for myself and my vocalist...

Oh wait, there's an EC-2?! Two preamps, and two headphone amps, all in a single rack unit. Exactly the rack real-estate that works for my rig. I checked out some demos which really impressed me, and I contacted Domenic S. from Sweetwater to chat about this unit. He was a tremendous help when it came to explaining the signal routing, and helped me get the order placed in a very timely manner.

Two days later, the unit arrived. I got it set up, and started testing it with simple spoken word. Even then, I could immediately hear an insane improvement in clarity, dynamics, and total transparency or coloration, when desired (shout-out to that "Mojo" knob, and the "Cream" and "Thump" settings). I thought the online reviews were exaggerating, but it TRULY has the potential to sound like three entirely different preamps. To my ear, the "Cream" setting has a very tube-esque coloration, while the "Thump" setting reminds me of a transformer-based design. I've already used both to great results with vocals and guitar. The high-pass filters are immensely valuable to my process as well, and the amount of gain on tap got me a very strong signal from my SM7B, even with a very soft-spoken vocalist. My in-line signal booster is no longer in my signal chain, and the SM7B is plugged directly into the EC-2, with phenomenal results. The notched gain knob is an incredible idea when it comes to stereo matching the channels too, I can't wait to try that!

I honestly didn't have any expectations with the headphone amps, other than the ability to mix a direct monitoring signal and the DAW playback. I got the pair of headphone amps set up by sending a stereo AUX Out of my interface into the left and right inputs on the EC-2. When I first hit "play" in my session, I truly could not believe my ears. The stereo imaging and overall clarity are astounding, and I feel more confident than ever when doing some mixing with only headphones. The vocalist in my band came by to test out the unit with some vocal tracking, and he was ecstatic when he heard the direct, latency-free monitoring. He felt that he was able to deliver takes much more comfortably, and the results truly showed that.

The vocal chain of the EC-2 on the "cream" setting at about 9 o-clock, followed by my analog optical compressor, gave me the vintage flavor that I was looking for (without the chain of plugins that I used to apply in post-production!). My second channel is currently used for direct-recording of electric guitar and bass, and from my initial tinkering, it works wonders as a direct-box meets coloration-box before hitting my interface. To sum up the sound quality in one word, "wow".

Like I had mentioned, I do not have the means to load up a big rack of outboard preamps. Is that the dream situation? Sure. But right now, I truly don't crave that. What I have right now is a no-nonsense, compact, two-channel preamp, that has enough versatility to cover all of my bases. I track everything but drum kits in my home studio, and I'd have no problem using the EC-2 on every layer I track, from vocals, to guitars, to stereo synths. As for drums? For now, I'll just book the studio time I need. The EC-2 has significantly increased the quality of my recordings, and has truly improved my tracking workflow. This is the first time I've ever written a product review, but I had to share my enthusiasm about this unit.

Again, a sincere thank you to Domenic S. from Sweetwater, as well as Anthony B. in Sweetwater tech support. The care and attention from both of those gentlemen does not go unnoticed, and I will be contacting them directly for future gear ventures. In summary, if you're seeking a simple, versatile pair of preamps, and a huge improvement in workflow for project studios, give the EC-2 a shot. Cranborne Audio could justifiably charge twice as much as they do for this unit, but I'm grateful that I had access to such incredible upgrades within my modest budget.
by Richard on
Music background: Film Composer, Producer, Songwriter

Fidelity and flexibility

I'd previously encountered the EC1 and been distinctly impressed. The EC2 was quick to become a mainstay in my go-to portable rack, and after 8 months is easily a favorite. Many of us are familiar with the classic divide between clarity and "character" in mic preamp hardware topology; this unit has delivered a compelling range of both, suited to a variety of sources, including voice, bass guitar, horns, and reed organ. The "Mojo" saturation circuit spends a lot of time in subtle use, activated in its "Thump" variation (often in conjunction with the sort of FET mics we all love for high-frequency flattery). The headphone amp is simply stellar for direct reference. My needs have largely set aside the proprietary CAST features thus far in favor of other routing approaches, although it's only fair to acknowledge that the possibility of smooth CAT-protocol integration remains inviting. Build quality has been unimpeachable.

From a tactile standpoint, I've found the switch/LED configuration for HPF, 48V, and polarity controls to be a little less intuitive than I'd like, although the underlying logic is elegant, nonetheless. The external power supply isn't always ideal for a smaller rack footprint--no doubt a tradeoff to achieve the 1U footprint. Ultimately, though, this unit has been dependable, effective, and a delight to put to work!
by Noah from Oregon on
Music background: engineer/producer

My favorite preamp. Ever.

I'll talk about the sound of it in a second, but what really makes it great are the small functional niceties it brings to the table that not many preamps have:



• A 48V indicator LED that turns from red to yellow after being switched off, to let you know when electric current is still flowing to the microphone, which then fades off when the power has bled out. 



• A stereo auxiliary input for zero-latency monitoring of the preamp inputs along with the DAW stereo output… this makes it the perfect companion to my PreSonus Quantum, which has no parallel monitoring ability outside the DAW, which is really nice to have if I need to track again late in a mix with lots of mixer latency. And even with interfaces that do have a ZL DSP mixer… I prefer this. I prefer setting levels with knobs, not with software.



The following features aren't unique, but the build quality is top notch. The knobs all feel good to turn, they're easy to grip; there are multiple outputs for parallel signal paths (I have it going straight to my interface out of the TRS outputs, and then to my 500 series rack out of the XLR outputs). It has a power switch on the front… what a novel idea! It's a "soft" switch that has to be held down for three seconds to be shut off (but not to power on). There are also internal jumpers to change the power-on behavior, so that it can switch on automatically when used with a switched power conditioner.



I also like the signal LED that glows in four different colors, at varying intensities, depending on the input signal strength. Blue to make sure something is getting through, green for most levels, yellow for peaks, and red for "oops." Not quite as nice as an LED ladder or VU meter, but given the small amount of space available, it's a well-judged solution.



As far as the sound… it's a great clean preamp. So are many other preamps. I don't get that excited about preamps for their "sound" outside of when they're driven - and even then, I don't really like tube or transformer distortion.



I've used other preamps with some kind of variable coloration functionality, and I think Cranborne nailed it with the Mojo circuit. I prefer the "Thump" setting for most scenarios, it's more hi-fi sounding. The cream can get "hairy" pretty easily, but it's not as harsh as other preamps can get when driven. It's a pretty mild clipping distortion. It chops off some low-end though. Both settings are useful through their entire range, instead of being overdone at 60% and beyond… but thankfully, they aren't too subtle either. 


My only criticism of it is that the off/on positions for the phase, HPF, and 48V switches are not intuitively labeled. I had to look in the manual to clarify this at first. (Up is off.) I also wish it had separate TRS line inputs on the back of the unit instead of sharing a jack with the Hi-Z input on the front. So if I want to integrate the Mojo processing into my stereo bus processing, I have to have TRS cables sticking out of the front. 


Also, this uses a separate power supply, and I prefer integrated. A very minor gripe. I know some people prefer separate power supplies. I don't.



Lastly, Cranborne's industrial design isn't all that exciting, maybe they'll figure this out in later revisions of their products, but this preamp doesn't quite look the part, even if it *definitely* sounds the part.



Cranborne spent some quality time designing this - that's very obvious. Functionally, and sonically, it is a superior product that is fun to use. I'm very satisfied with it.
by Nathanael Davenport from Utah on
Music background: Recording/Mix Engineer, Musician

Very cool

I recently transitioned my studio from an Apogee interface to 500 series setup with the help of my excellent engineer George Deng. We arrived at the Cranborne 500r8, it was an excellent reset. I recently looked at this piece as an expansion. George asked all the appropriate questions, as I'm overlapping headphone amps at a potential unnecessary cost. That's why George is a "Deng good" rep, and I rely on him for all my gear choices.

Ultimately, I concluded that the headphone amp is both extraneous and a bonus, what I really wanted was two extra pre amps that are crisp and beautiful and expand my input sources via one cable without having to switch out my processing modules.

These Camden pres are indeed, crisp and beautiful!

They connect in behind positions 3 and 4 via CAT 7 cable behind my 500r8. Elliot at Cranborne assisted with connection inquiries and troubleshooting, he is very responsive and helpful. Cool guy! Now I can expand breakout boxes via N22's to the Portico 517's in my 500r8 and my EC2 pres. The studio just expanded to wherever a CAT cables will take me.

Bottom line: Sweetwater and Cranborne are first class organizations. This CAST system tech is next level s#!t. Check it out.
by Pete from Denver on
Music background: Played a recorder in 4th grade

Excellent

Have only recorded violin so far but it sounds really great on this instrument when a lot of other, and expensive, preamps sound harsher. And the mojo coloration adds a nice versatility. Love the headphone amps
by Dave from VA on
See also: Headphone Mixers, Cranborne Audio, Cranborne Audio Preamps, Cranborne Audio Headphone Amplifiers & Distribution
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