In this video I compare the Cranborne Audio Carnaby HE2 to the Cranborne Audio HE2 Legacy version. Is there a difference between these two units and if there is can you actually hear it. We asses the curves in Plugin Doctor and look at the differences. Now we know what the differences are we can listen to the same audio passing through each unit and check if we can hear these differences.
Legacy Version Differences
- Only 100 units made
- Comes with a flight case
- Build at Cranborne Audio in the UK
- Unique look
Standard Version Pros
- A smoother shelf on the high band that adds more high frequency content.
Standard Version Cons
- You need to power on the unit from the front panel when you power on, unlike other units which power on when you turn the power on to them.
- When powering on do not look directly at the HE2, the lights are super bright and will leave an image of the GUI burnt onto your retina.
- Unless you know what the button you are pressing is, until it is active and illuminated you won’t see the button name.
Legacy Version Pros
- Easier to see the readouts on the legacy version. Has markers to indicate every two steps.
- Buttons have text beneath them to indicate what they are.
Standard Version Cons
- You need to power on the unit from the front panel when you power on, unlike other units which power on when you turn the power on to them.
- When powering on do not look directly at the HE2, the lights are super bright and will leave an image of the GUI burnt onto your retina.
LOW BAND
- Original – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2
- Legacy – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2 Legacy
The low band is almost identical with no real audible differences that are significant enough to mention. As you can see from the Plugin Doctor graph below they match up very similar.
MID BAND
- Original – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2
- Legacy – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2 Legacy
The mid band is an interesting one. Even though these bands look identcial there is an audible difference when you concentrate on the clap in the track below. You will notice the clap is brighter on the standard HE2 and is perceived a little louder and brighter.
HIGH BAND
- Original – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2
- Legacy – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2 Legacy
The high band is the most noticable difference both audibly and visually on the graph below. If you concentrate on the hi-hat in the audio below you will hear that the standard version has a brighter sound to it and the hi-hats are more pronounced.
LOW / MID / HIGH BANDS
- Original – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2
- Legacy – Playback of Cranborne Audio Carnarby HE2 Legacy
The width on the MBT is something I use a lot. It has a unique sound that can be used very well in mastering in conjunction with other stereo widening tools. The plugin emulates what a widener is. It doesn’t necessarily emulate the MBT 100% but very few plugin ever do. It is a widener and a fairly good widener at that. I will find lots of uses for the widener on the NFuse plugin. You will notice a difference in the plugin comparison below, it isn’t huge but it also isn’t subtle.
CONCLUSION
It doesn’t matter which version you get, both sound great. But the standard version has an audible difference in the high frequencies that I prefer. Looks wise it comes down to what you like. The black version is harder to see what values you are inputting when compared to the legacy version. If you don’t care about having a limited edition version and an included flightcase you can save £700 by getting the standard version.
