Cranborne Audio Camden EC2

Cranborne Audio Camden EC2

The Cranborne Audio Camden EC2 is a two-channel mic, line and Hi-Z preamp, analogue signal processor and dual headphone mixer housed in a 19-inch, 1U rackmount chassis. Built around Cranborne Audio's award-winning Camden preamp topology, it combines two transparent preamps with variable Mojo analogue saturation, two reference-quality headphone amplifiers, flexible zero-latency monitoring and C.A.S.T. connectivity.

Each preamp provides up to 68 dB of microphone gain and is designed for exceptionally low noise, distortion and phase shift. Mic, line and Hi-Z inputs make Camden EC2 suitable for microphones, instruments and line-level sources, while the two selectable Mojo circuits add analogue colour when required.

Two Camden Mic, Line and Hi-Z Preamps

Camden EC2 features two discrete instances of Cranborne Audio's Camden preamp topology.

The microphone inputs provide up to 68 dB of gain, while the line and Hi-Z inputs allow the preamps to accommodate a wide range of studio sources.

With Mojo bypassed, the Camden topology delivers highly transparent amplification with an equivalent input noise below -129.5 dBu, THD+N below 0.00025% and a frequency response of ±0.7 dB from below 1 Hz to beyond 1000 kHz at 35 dB gain.

Mojo Analogue Saturation

Each preamp includes Cranborne Audio's variable Mojo analogue saturation circuit with two distinct styles: THUMP and CREAM.

THUMP excites low-frequency content by boosting lower odd and even harmonics from approximately 160 Hz down to 20 Hz and below.

CREAM boosts odd and even harmonics while reducing the amplitude of the fundamental frequencies and applying transformer-style transient taming.

Mojo is continuously variable, allowing the amount of saturation to be adjusted independently for each channel, and can be completely bypassed when transparent amplification is required.

Dual Reference-Quality Headphone Amplifiers

Camden EC2 incorporates two reference-quality headphone amplifiers, allowing two independent headphone mixes to be created directly from the front panel.

Each headphone amplifier features its own discrete mixer with independent CH 1, CH 2 and Aux Input level controls.

This allows the Camden preamps to be monitored directly during recording or combined with external playback from an audio interface to create zero-latency monitoring mixes.

A Stereo switch pans Channel 1 and Channel 2 left and right within each headphone mix for stereo monitoring.

Zero-Latency Artist Monitoring

Because the Camden preamp signals can be monitored directly through the integrated headphone mixers, performers can hear their inputs without DAW or converter latency.

Playback from an audio interface can be connected to Camden EC2's rear-panel Aux inputs and blended with the two preamp channels independently for each headphone mix.

The headphone amplifiers can also be used for critical listening by routing a stereo mix from an audio interface into the Aux inputs.

Instrument DI and Reamping

Each Camden EC2 channel provides a Hi-Z instrument input and dedicated impedance-balanced 1/4-inch Link output.

An instrument can be connected to the Hi-Z input while the Link output feeds an amplifier or effects chain. The resulting amplified signal can then be captured through the second Camden preamp while the original direct signal is recorded simultaneously.

This provides a flexible workflow for DI recording and later reamping.

Flexible Analogue Outputs

Each preamp features a balanced XLR output and an impedance-balanced 1/4-inch jack output for connection to audio interfaces and other downstream studio equipment.

Dedicated impedance-balanced Link outputs are also provided for splitting instrument signals to balanced or unbalanced amplifiers and effects.

C.A.S.T. IN and OUT Connectivity

Camden EC2 features both C.A.S.T. IN and C.A.S.T. OUT connections.

The C.A.S.T. OUT port allows Camden EC2 to connect directly with Cranborne Audio 500R8 and 500ADAT systems. The two preamp signals can be transmitted to the 500R8 or 500ADAT for processing and recording while a stereo monitor mix is simultaneously returned to Camden EC2's headphone mixers.

The C.A.S.T. IN port allows N22 and N22H breakout boxes to relocate Camden EC2's inputs and monitoring connections elsewhere in the studio.

Audio is distributed through a single shielded Cat 5e, Cat 6 or Cat 7 cable.

48V Phantom Power Status

Each channel features Cranborne Audio's dedicated 48V status indication.

The LED illuminates amber while phantom voltage is charging or discharging and changes to red once the voltage is fully charged and ready for use.

Key Features

• Two discrete Camden mic, line and Hi-Z preamps

• Up to 68 dB microphone gain

• Extremely low noise and distortion

• Two variable Mojo analogue saturation circuits

• THUMP transformer-style saturation

• CREAM tube-style saturation

• True bypass for Mojo processing

• 48V phantom power

• Dedicated phantom power status indication

• 80 Hz high-pass filter

• Two independent headphone mixers

• Two reference-quality headphone amplifiers

• Independent CH 1, CH 2 and Aux level controls for each headphone mix

• Stereo monitoring mode

• Zero-latency direct monitoring

• Balanced XLR outputs

• Impedance-balanced 1/4-inch outputs

• Dedicated impedance-balanced Link outputs

• Hi-Z instrument inputs for DI applications

• C.A.S.T. IN connectivity

• C.A.S.T. OUT connectivity

• Compatible with Cranborne Audio 500R8 and 500ADAT

• Compatible with N22 and N22H

• Shielded Cat 5e, Cat 6 and Cat 7 connectivity

• 19-inch, 1U rackmount chassis

Technical Specifications

Preamps

Mic input impedance: 8.9 kOhms with 48V off, 5.4 kOhms with 48V on
Line input impedance: 24.3 kOhms
Hi-Z input impedance: 1.5 MOhm unbalanced / 3 MOhm balanced

Maximum mic input level: +17.6 dBu
Maximum line input level: +26.5 dBu
Maximum Hi-Z input level: +24 dBu

Minimum gain: Mic 8 dB / Line 0 dB / Hi-Z 3 dB
Maximum gain: Mic 68 dB / Line 60 dB / Hi-Z 63 dB

Equivalent input noise: < -129.5 dBu, 150-ohm source, unweighted
Frequency response: ±0.7 dB, <1 Hz to >1000 kHz at 35 dB gain
Phase shift: <2.75° from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 40 dB gain
THD+N: <0.00025% at 1 kHz, 35 dB gain, +24 dBu output
Intermodulation distortion: <0.0006% at 50 Hz and 7 kHz, 35 dB gain, +20 dBu output
High-pass filter: 80 Hz, -3 dB, 12 dB/octave
CMRR: >70 dB, typically >85 dB
Slew rate: 20 V/µs

Maximum XLR output level: +27.5 dBu
Maximum 1/4-inch output level: +21.5 dBu
XLR output impedance: 150 ohms

Headphone Amplifiers

Frequency response: -1 dB, <1 Hz to >70 kHz
THD: <0.0006% at +20 dBu, 1 kHz, A-weighted, 300-ohm load
THD+N: <0.00085% at +20 dBu, 1 kHz, A-weighted, 300-ohm load
Output impedance: 0.33 ohms
Dynamic range: 114.5 dB A-weighted
Noise floor: -93.5 dBu A-weighted

Output power:
250 mW × 2 at 600 ohms
650 mW × 2 at 220 ohms
1.21 W × 2 at 100 ohms
500 mW × 2 at 32 ohms

Power and Dimensions

Power requirement: 24V DC, 1.25A
Power consumption: 30 W
AC requirement: 100 to 240V AC, 50 to 60 Hz

Width: 481 mm / 19 inches
Height: 44.45 mm / 1U
Depth: 240 mm
Weight: 2.8 kg