--- title: Camden EC1 - Preamp and Headphone Mixer description: Camden 500 combines award winning preamp technology with a reference-grade headphone amplifier to elevate your audio interface’s front-end to a professional level. image: https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hubfs/C500_production_photography/RevD/C500D_Top_whitebg_72dpi.jpg --- ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1601297573578155&ev=PageView&noscript=1) [![Logo_white High Res](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo_white%20High%20Res.png?width=200&name=Logo_white%20High%20Res.png "Logo_white High Res")](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/?hsLang=en) - - - ![Banner](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Banner.png?width=1920&height=1079&name=Banner.png "Banner") ### Camden 500 is an astoundingly clean, linear, transparent preamp - But it also has “Mojo” an analogue saturation circuit that can be applied, exaggerated, or bypassed. [![C500_Annotations](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hubfs/C500_Annotations.png "C500_Annotations")](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hubfs/Camden_EC1_Photography/EC1_Angle_JPEG_150dpi_WhiteBG.jpg?hsLang=en) #### **Clean, Precise, and Natural** --- Camden 500 provides the utmost clarity and detail when it is most required. Its custom 'Camden' topology achieves stunning low-noise and low-distortion performance: -129.8dB EIN (150ohm, unweighted) and THD+N as low as 0.0002%.  It also sets a new standard for frequency and phase linearity: ±0.7dB frequency response from 5Hz to 200kHz at max gain and <2° phase shift @ 50Hz – 20kHz. The sum result is the most natural sounding preamp you've ever heard. #### **Vintage, Warm, and Coloured** --- Camden 500 features "Mojo" - a custom analogue saturation circuit that transforms Camden 500 into the fattest, warmest, most colourful mic preamp in your arsenal. Designed to introduce harmonics and saturation effects that our favourite vintage gear produces, Mojo can be subtle, it can be exaggerated, but best of all it can be bypassed... ![ChooseYourMojo-1](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ChooseYourMojo-1.png?width=1920&height=900&name=ChooseYourMojo-1.png "ChooseYourMojo-1") # What Is MOJO? MOJO is an analogue saturation circuit that we developed to add harmonics, colour, and saturation to the preamp signal reminiscent of some of our favourite Transformer and Tube preamp designs (without using expensive Transformers and tubes themselves!). When it's OFF, you experience Camden's groundbreaking clean performance, but turn MOJO ON, and you can get 3 unique flavours to enhance and colour your recordings. ![clean](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/clean.png?width=300&name=clean.png) Complete Transparency With MOJO Off, you can experience award-winning preamp transparency and performance. Capture mic, line, and HI-Z instruments with elite-level detail without noise and distortion. With amazing, life-like transient response at all frequencies, Camden EC1 can effortlessly gain-up low-output dynamic or Ribbon mics or provide next-level detail with condenser microphones. ✅ Clean Vocals ✅ Speech ✅ Acoustic Guitar ✅ Piano ![thump](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/thump.png?width=301&name=thump.png) Transformer-Style Preamp Saturation![Background](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Background.jpg?width=600&name=Background.jpg) Switch MOJO to 'Thump' and Camden EC1 introduces saturation and harmonics modelled after vintage transformer-based equipment. Thump adds balanced even and odd harmonics for low-end weight as well as a high-end roll off that feels just like a classic transformer-based preamp. ✅ Kick, Toms ✅ Bass Guitar ✅ Mix Bus Here's what those harmonics look like ⬇️ ![ezgif-5-8706a71e35](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ezgif-5-8706a71e35.gif?width=800&name=ezgif-5-8706a71e35.gif) *50Hz Sine Wave, @+4dBu when the Thump Level increased.* *Wondering what you are seeing? The RED outline is what the signal looks like going into Camden EC1, and the WHITE outline shows all of the harmonics that the Thump circuit is generating! * ![cream](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cream.png?width=301&name=cream.png) Tube-Style Preamp Saturation![nos-12ax7-mullard-u](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nos-12ax7-mullard-u.jpg?width=600&name=nos-12ax7-mullard-u.jpg) Switch MOJO to 'Cream' and Camden EC1 introduces saturation modelled after tube and valve-based equipment. Small amounts of Cream adds texture and a smooth edge onto the signal with primarily odd harmonics, mid-range smoothing, and dynamic saturation that sounds like a tube preamp driven hard! ✅ Snare, Overheads, Rooms ✅ Synths ✅ Electric Guitar Here's what those harmonics look like ⬇️ ![CreamGIF](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CreamGIF.gif?width=800&name=CreamGIF.gif) *500Hz Sine Wave @ +4dBu when the Cream Level increased.* *Wondering what you are seeing? The RED outline is what the signal looks like going into Camden EC1, and the WHITE outline shows all of the harmonics that the Thump circuit is generating!  * ## Hear MOJO For Yourself [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/j12TlvclqEA/mqdefault.jpg) Drum Kit ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/oO1qhIuYoIU/mqdefault.jpg) Vocals ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/GwO4e0TyDqg/mqdefault.jpg) Acoustic Guitar ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/Bpmfc5X4VNk/mqdefault.jpg) Drum Machine ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/5ItIIHvOZyM/mqdefault.jpg) VST Drums ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/J0aSGFdF8yU/mqdefault.jpg) Bass Guitar ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/jotHUIojbcY/mqdefault.jpg) Synth Bass ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/8Z3wp_8-RUU/mqdefault.jpg) Drum Overheads ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/cvcljB95VLY/mqdefault.jpg) Electric Guitar ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) ![C500D_Top_whitebg_72dpi](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hubfs/C500_production_photography/RevD/C500D_Top_whitebg_72dpi.jpg "C500D_Top_whitebg_72dpi") # Unique "BJT" Instrument DI and HI-Z Input Camden 500's Hi-Z input was designed to provide a natural-feeling, muscular-sounding Instrument DI that makes any instrument shine. With a tailored input impedance higher than most (1.5M Ohm) and a Bipolar Junction Transistor design rather than a traditional FET, Camden 500 is the perfect front-end for capturing incredible bass DI recordings as well as clean, pristine electric guitar recordings for re-amping and VST guitar amps. But it's not only great for high-impedance instruments, you can connect synths and line-level instruments directly into Camden 500 for amplifying and adding Mojo to taste.   *“...I plugged a Fender P bass into the EC2’s DI, and it immediately sounded fantastic. The low end was deep with a crystal-like clarity at the top.... Thump sounded wonderful on bass – bringing out a harmonic distortion that expands the low end in a very musical manner.”* - Tape Op ![UK_Flag](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UK_Flag.jpg?width=3840&height=2160&name=UK_Flag.jpg "UK_Flag") ## Designed, Refined, & Engineered In the UK With team experience spanning decades and product design expertise across multiple disciplines within famous British audio brands, Cranborne Audio knows what it takes to design and engineer award-winning, class-leading products in the UK. Based on Cranborne Road in Potters Bar, England; Cranborne Audio set-out to measure and capture the vintage preamp tone that we all know and love and combine it with the latest and greatest modern technology. Our Camden preamp gives you both - the ultimate in clean performance or two flavours of powerful vintage tone developed with intensive R&D and using the classic 'British Sound' as inspiration. We call it,  a Modern Approach To Vintage Sound. ![Camden_Flags](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hubfs/Camden_Flags.jpg "Camden_Flags") ## The 7x Award-Winning Camden Preamp Family ![Awards](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hubfs/Awards.png "Awards") | **Camden EC1** Desktop Camden preamp with reference-grade headphone amplification | | --- | | ![EC1_Front_JPEG_72dpi_WhiteBG](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Camden_EC1_Photography/EC1_Front_JPEG_72dpi_WhiteBG.jpg?width=500&name=EC1_Front_JPEG_72dpi_WhiteBG.jpg) | | [![Learn More](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4191221/dc7d1caf-8f86-4d36-83c2-c4135fc076b5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4191221/dc7d1caf-8f86-4d36-83c2-c4135fc076b5) |     | **Camden EC2** 19", rackmount dual channel Camden preamp with twin reference-grade headphone amps, zero-latency monitor mixing, and full C.A.S.T. Integration | | --- | | ![EC2_Front_JPEG_72dpi_WhiteBG](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CamdenEC2_Photography/EC2_Front_JPEG_72dpi_WhiteBG.jpg?width=500&name=EC2_Front_JPEG_72dpi_WhiteBG.jpg) | | [![Learn More](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4191221/ed6cc86e-35c2-4e45-8230-dcd56679609e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4191221/ed6cc86e-35c2-4e45-8230-dcd56679609e) |     ***Camden 500 Awards:** Nominated For Gear Of The Year 2019 | Sound On Sound Magazine, Winner Of Highly Commended Award 2019 | Sound On Sound Magazine, Winner Of Highly Commended Award 2019 | MusicTech, Nominated For Gear Of The Year 2019 | MusicTech.* ***Camden EC1 Awards: **MusicTech, Nominated For Gear Of The Year 2021 | MusicTech.* ***Camden EC2 Awards: **Nominated For Gear Of The Year 2019 | Sound On Sound Magazine, Editor's Pick 2020 | Sound On Sound Magazine* # Learn More About Camden 500 [![](https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/I80kquAvU1k/mqdefault.jpg) This Is Camden EC1 ](https://www.cranborne-audio.com/camden500/3preampqf/us#) ### Cranborne Audio Authorised Dealers [*Not based in US? 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