Cranborne Audio
Camden EC2
Best versatile preamp for professional studio recording and mixing.
Elevate your audio with this sophisticated 2-channel preamp, designed for microphones, line-level sources, and instruments. It boasts renowned preamps for pristine, ultra-clean sound. Engage the analog saturation circuits to infuse your tracks with classic character, choosing between 'Thump' and 'Cream' modes. The dual headphone mixers offer independent control for performers and engineers, ensuring a comfortable and precise monitoring experience. With its high-pass filter and versatile connectivity, this unit is an indispensable tool for any studio.
$999.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
48
/ 566
#48 in Microphone Preamps
Price vs Category Average
-38%
Below average
Channels
2
Who it's for
- Engineers and musicians seeking versatile, high-fidelity input with creative tonal options.
- Solo artists and small studios needing an all-in-one recording and monitoring hub.
- Professionals and serious enthusiasts prioritizing durability and consistent performance in their gear.
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious home studio owners or beginners exploring their first dedicated preamp.
- Producers and engineers requiring more than two simultaneous inputs for tracking sessions.
- Users without other C.A.S.T. compatible equipment who won't leverage its full potential.
Key Specs
Channels
2
Preamp Type
Mic/Line/Instrument
Saturation
Mojo (Thump/Cream)
Headphone Amplifiers
2 x Reference-grade
Outputs
Balanced XLR, Impedance-balanced 1/4-inch
Link Outputs
1/4-inch
Phantom Power
48V
Connectivity
C.A.S.T. Out/In
Know before you buy
Thump focuses on low-end harmonic saturation, thickening the sound of your source, while Cream provides a more vintage, mid-forward saturation that mimics the character of classic tube gear. Both allow you to add analog color to the otherwise transparent Camden preamp signal.
Yes, the EC2 features two reference-grade headphone amplifiers with a built-in discrete line mixer. This allows you to monitor your preamp signals alongside external sources, making it a versatile tool for both recording and monitoring sessions.
The Camden preamp is designed for ultra-clean performance with high headroom, making it well-suited for low-output microphones like ribbons. It provides ample, quiet gain to capture detailed sources without introducing unwanted noise.
The C.A.S.T. (Cat 5 Analogue Snake Transport) ports allow you to transmit audio signals over standard Cat 5e, Cat 6, or Cat 7 cables. This simplifies your studio setup by letting you connect the EC2 to other Cranborne Audio C.A.S.T.-enabled hardware without needing multiple bulky XLR cables.
Yes, the Mojo circuit is fully variable and can be switched off completely. This allows you to use the Camden EC2 as a purely transparent, high-fidelity preamp when you need a clean, uncolored signal.
The high-pass filter is continuously variable, allowing you to precisely dial in the frequency cutoff to remove unwanted low-end rumble or mud from your signal before it hits your interface.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.