Harrison Audio 500 Series

Hot on the heels of their wonderful 32Classic console, Harrison have delivered their first ever 500‑series modules...

Harrison’s history dates back to 1975 and the launch of their first recording console, the Harrison 32 series — an iconic console that, over the years, has been used on many classic albums by major artists. Some 47 years later, in 2023, Harrison launched the 32Classic, which harked back to the vintage designs. Reviewed by Matt Houghton in SOS December 2023, this ‘reimagined’ take on the 32C was the company’s first new analogue console in a decade, and perhaps unsurprisingly it has now been followed by Harrison’s first foray into the 500 series. This comprises a range of three modules: the 32Cpre+ transformer‑balanced microphone preamplifier, the MR3eq three‑band equaliser and a VCA‑based compressor called simply the Comp.

32Cpre+

The 32Cpre+ transformer‑balanced mic preamp features the high‑ and low‑pass filters that famously adorned the company’s 32C mixing console, and which also made a more recent appearance on the 32Classic.

In creating the 32Cpre+, Harrison have chosen not to slavishly recreate the vintage microphone input circuitry of the 32C, but have instead combined the mic preamp from the 32Classic with the 32C’s signature low‑pass and high‑pass filters. If you read Matt’s review of the 32Classic, you may recall him suggesting that they should place a high‑pass filter in the mixer’s mic preamp (the console’s filters are post‑EQ and post‑insert point), and it’s good to see them present in this preamp module.

As with the other modules in this review, the construction and circuit layout of the preamp is exemplary. Harrison describe the 32Cpre+ as being “built with modern, state‑of‑the‑art components, giving better performance and improved long‑term reliability” and, indeed, high‑quality components feature throughout. There are full‑size capacitors, resistors and transistors in the signal path, along with the Jensen JT‑MB‑CPCA 1:1 input balancing transformer, reflecting the DNA inherited from the 32 series.

The 32Cpre+ module’s front panel sports Harrison’s classic white‑on‑black aesthetic, with a column of six grey, latching buttons handling the switching functions. Top right, next to the filter in/out button, a slim, white‑topped knob sets the corner frequency of the 160Hz‑20kHz low‑pass filter, and an all‑black counterpart controls that of its 25Hz‑3.15kHz high‑pass companion.

The basic operating state of the preamp is set by three buttons that invert the signal polarity, activate 48V phantom power and switch in a ‑20dB post‑transformer pad, while the 20‑70 dB of post‑transformer gain is set using a larger, red‑topped knob. Beneath sits a combi TRS/XLR connector, the XLR section of which can be switched to replace the input on the rear of the host 500‑series chassis. Alternatively, the Hi‑Z button can switch the jack section into circuit as an unbalanced, post‑transformer, high‑impedance instrument input. A bi‑colour green/red LED next to the gain control indicates the (post‑transformer, pre‑pad) presence of signal or overload.