Cranborne Audio Carnaby 500 Harmonic EQ

Revolutionize Your Signal Path with Genuine Analogue Saturation

The Cranborne Audio Carnaby 500 is the world’s first Harmonic EQ™ - a 3-band parametric EQ for the 500 series that uses harmonic saturation to boost and cut frequency content. Designed for mixing and mastering engineers who demand more than just frequency adjustment, it delivers the feel, familiarity, and control of an equaliser with the euphonic warmth of high-end analogue hardware.

The Power of Harmonic EQ
Unlike traditional EQs that simply shift phase, the Carnaby 500 uses proprietary harmonic saturation to sculpt your sound. By boosting or cutting, you are adding or removing harmonic content specifically suited to that frequency band. This creates a dynamic response where the circuit reacts to how hard it is driven, allowing you to move from clean, transparent EQing to dense, harmonically-rich saturation.

Three Bands of Musical Intelligence
Each of the three interactive bands features a unique blend of harmonic content. The HI band (5kHz–25kHz) uses smooth saturation to extend air and breath; the MID band adds harmonic emphasis across the core frequency range (200Hz–6.2kHz); and the LO band (20Hz–420Hz) utilizes hard-clipping saturation to extend sub-harmonic frequencies, perfect for warming up thin low-ends or adding extreme weight to kicks and bass.

OptoSync: Wireless Stereo Precision
Eliminating the need for cables or internal jumpers, the innovative OptoSync feature allows two Carnaby 500 units to function as a perfect stereo pair. Using wireless optical communication, all controls are synchronized from the master (left) unit to the slave (right) unit. This ensures perfect stereo matching and instant recall across your stereo bus or multi-channel surround mixes.

Main features:

• Designed and engineered in the UK
• Enhances your tracks, mixes, and masters with euphonic harmonic saturation
• Optosync feature allows for stereo operation with 2 units
• Convenient 500 Series format
• 3-band parametric 500 Series analogue EQ with unique Harmonic EQ™ circuit for harmonically-enriched EQ effects
• Parametric LO and HI shelving bands with ±10dB of cut/boost and harmonic saturation
• Parametric peaking MID band with ±10dB of cut/boost, fixed Q and harmonic saturation
• LO, MID, and HI LED indicators to display saturation level
• ±20dB Input and Output Level for dense harmonic saturation or clean EQ effects
• OptoSync wireless communication between modules for linked controls during stereo operation
• ⅛” TRS socket for linking non-adjacent modules
• Circuit auto-calibration for perfect stereo matching between all modules
• True-bypass IN/OUT switching with complete or post input trim modes available on DIP switch
• Stepped, front-panel controls for quick recall and precise feel

Tech Specs:

• Type: 500 series Solid State
• Number of Channels: 1
• Controls: Input, Hi level, Mid level, Lo level, Output
• EQ: Lo, Mid, Hi
• Number of Bands: 3
• Boost/Cut Range: ±10dB
• Q Type: Variable
• Freq Range High: 5kHz-25kHz
• Freq Range Mid: 200Hz-6.2kHz
• Freq Range Low: 20Hz-420Hz
• Bypass: Yes
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-25kHz
• Module Slot Size: Single
• Explore Cranborne Audio 500 Series [Carnaby 500]: https://www.cranborne-audio.com/carnaby500