Cranborne Audio Camden 500 Mic/Line/Hi-Z Preamp with Mojo

Cranborne Audio Camden 500 is a fully discrete, transformerless 500-series preamp built from the ground up to deliver near-theoretical performance in noise, distortion, and frequency/phase linearity. Designed by Edward Holmes, Camden 500 pairs transparent, pristine gain with the custom Mojo analogue saturation circuit, offering engineers a choice between ultra-clean detail and vintage-inspired colour. With optimised impedance for mic, line, and instrument sources, a stepped gain control, progressive-slope high-pass filter, and stereo-matched consistency, Camden 500 is equally at home on critical clean tracking or adding character through Mojo’s Thump and Cream modes.

Key Features

• Custom Camden Preamp Topology — fully discrete, transformerless design with class-leading low noise, distortion, and linearity across all gain settings.
• Mojo Analogue Saturation — variable, bypassable circuit with two unique styles:
  • Thump — excites low-end content by adding harmonics from 160 Hz down to sub-20 Hz for punch and weight.
  • Cream — applies tube-like harmonic saturation, smooths low mids, and emphasises highs for a vintage sheen.
• Stepped Gain Control — 12-position switch for up to 68 dB of gain in 5.5 dB increments, ensuring precise stereo matching and recall.
• Progressive-Slope High-Pass Filter — initial 6 dB/oct slope steepening to 12 dB/oct in the lowest octave, maintaining musical low-end.
• 3-Way Input Switch — optimised impedance and headroom for mic, line, and Hi-Z sources, including +26.5 dBu line input handling and 1.5 MΩ Hi-Z input.
• Stereo Matched Consistency — factory-tested to within 0.1 dB, making any two Camden 500s a perfect stereo pair.
• Gold Flash Backplane Contacts — for improved conductivity, reliability, and long-term durability.
• Designed and engineered in the UK to perform within the constraints of the 500-series format without compromise.

Specifications

• Gain
  • Mic: 8–68 dB
  • Line: 0–60 dB
  • Hi-Z: 3–63 dB
• Performance
  • EIN: <-129.5 dBu (150 Ω, unweighted); <-131 dBu (150 Ω, A-weighted); <-135.5 dBu (inputs common, unweighted)
  • THD+N: <0.0004% (1 kHz, 35 dB gain, +24 dBu out)
  • IMD: <0.0008% (50 Hz & 7 kHz, 35 dB gain, +20 dBu out)
  • Frequency Response: ±0.25 dB (5 Hz–200 kHz, 35 dB gain); ±1 dB at max gain
  • Phase Shift: <2.25° (40 dB gain, 20 Hz–20 kHz); <4° at max gain
  • CMRR: >70 dB, typ >85 dB (35 dB gain, 10–20 kHz, 100 mV common mode)
  • Slew Rate: 20 V/µs (35 dB gain, +25 dBu out)
• Inputs
  • Mic: 8.9 kΩ (48 V off), 5.4 kΩ (48 V on)
  • Line: 24.3 kΩ
  • Hi-Z: 1.5 MΩ unbalanced, 3 MΩ balanced
  • Max Input Level: Mic +17.6 dBu (<0.003% THD); Line +26.5 dBu (<0.02% THD); Hi-Z +24 dBu (<0.02% THD)
• Outputs
  • Max Output Level: +27.5 dBu (<0.002% THD, 30 dB gain)
  • Output Impedance: 150 Ω
• Filter
  • High-Pass Filter: 80 Hz, -3 dB, 12 dB/oct
• Power
  • Current Draw: 120 mA per rail (idle), 140 mA typical
• Dimensions
  • 31.8 mm W × 133.35 mm H × 170.11 mm D
• Notes: All specifications typical unless otherwise stated. Tested with Audio Precision APx555. Subject to change.