Don’t know how it happened, but I managed to take and not to write a text review on some of the best headphones of the last few years – Andromeda Audio from Camfire. Well, better late than never, especially because my Andromeda suddenly changed color from green to “Pacific blue”, so we will talk more about limited version.
Here the logic of the narrative would have to talk about how Campfire Audio right from the start has released a line of upscale IEM gained much popularity, and then expanded it to several models that have become even more popular… But, perhaps, to spend time on it, I will not, and immediately move on to Andromeda.
Appearing about a year ago, patikimuma model was aimed at replacing a very good chetyrehjadernogo Jupiter, the idea of neutral flow at a higher level. The model was happily accepted by the public, and its green color became one of the symbols of high-class sound. Deciding that sometimes buyers have to indulge, CA released a limited edition white model for Japan and options in polished buildings for China. Rich Asian audiophiles have bought new items faster than they managed to appear on store shelves. Then the developers decided that Western markets like unusual models and variant colors of the ocean waves, offering a little change of the sound channel and a slightly different flow. Since this review we have a double (let’s talk about the usual option), it is necessary to mention that the basic model costs about $ 1,100, and for the “exclusive”, released in an edition of 350 pieces, the retailers are asking a bit more expensive.
Technical parameters
- Emitters: 5 x balanced armature
- Frequency range: 10 Hz – 28 kHz
- Sensitivity: 115 dB/mW
- Impedes: Of 12.8 Ω
- Cable: interchangeable with MMCX connectors, silver-plated copper
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRS, corner
Packing and delivery
If you have seen one box with the IEM Audio from Campfire, you’ve seen them all. Andro is not an exception, they are Packed into the same compact box of medium density cardboard. The main difference between models is the color of the box and printing.
In the upper half of the package is a cover for the snake (with limited Andromedae is the suede version), which contains the headphones themselves. Under it you can find the rest of the package:
- three pairs of silicone tips odnoplanovye
- three pairs of foam tips
- standard package SpinFit (4 pairs)
- brush with a loop for cleaning
- icon logo CA
Overall the package is quite normal, although I miss the times when Jupiter is included in the second balanced cable.
Design and comfortable wearing
The appearance of the headphones is also familiar to any connoisseur of high-class IEM — angular brand aluminium body has become so popular that savvy Chinese have been producing counterfeit (plastic) — the recognition of success? The main difference between “limitar” standard version is in color, it also uses a special technology of painting Cerakote. Also in limited version slightly changed the sound channel, then it is made of metal, polished by hand. Looks case, of course, very nice, build quality also appropriate premium level.
Planting Andromed’s some people may have problems: short sound channel and angular shape of the case lead to the search of suitable nozzles may require little effort, however, it is quite solvable problem. In a limited version, judging by what was written in the Internet, extended sound channel (literally a couple millimeters), slightly improves the fit. However, with properly selected nozzles any Andromeda is worn quite comfortably. Soundproofing of the model just below the typical form-factor of the level, but for public transport and busy streets it is still enough.
The cable here is, of course, interchangeable. Proprietary MMCX connector with a beryllium coating, and this is the best MMCX connectors are one of those that is in the world of headphones. They have the right kind of strength of fixation, enabling them on the one hand securely held in his place, and with another — to be removed without the use of the MT-LB. Here the wire is silver plated copper from Alo Audio — soft, beautiful, lightweight. He is not prone to tangling, not harden in the cold, and MIC effect, thanks to the memory locations forming the ear-hook. Plug — angular, but very compact, which clearly is beneficial to the usability of this leads to portable. By the way, connoisseurs of replacement wires you can suggest the products themselves Alo Audio — they have many options of cables for all occasions (including Lightning).
Sound
To listen following equipment was used.
- Yulong DA9 and Resonessence Labs Concero HP in the role of DAC and amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as the source
- Fidelia in the role of player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, theBit OPUS#2, Astell&Kern, A&ultima SP1000 and the role of other portable players
- Recording high-resolution Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky have The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening headphones were heated for 72 hours.
Camfire in Audio long enough was to the sound of Andromeda. The first step to it was, Jupiter with four emitters, after a lengthy collection of reviews and opinions it was modified to Andromeda. What happened in the end? It turned out a neutral sound, but without excessive dryness and lightness, a good balance of naturalness audiophile music and a bit of “tastiness”. Since the review of double, I started to describe the character of the sound of the usual modifications and then paint the differences are limited edition.
Bass is fast with a great attack and a little reinforcement attenuation, it is very good quantitatively, but as it is impossible to sit on two chairs, one reason, it is impossible to do bass at the same time and supermassive, superfast. The developers of the Campfire Audio slightly tipped the scales in the direction of the velocity, so the bass here is turned sharp, with excellent textures and separation of instruments, but the damping of the bass sometimes is a little shorter than the dynamic models. However, the depth of the “bottom” and study the entire bass part of the band make it clear what the selection of this filing.
The midrange is neutral, devoid of explicit colors, but obviously avoid typical for cheap fittings of field and incorporeal. Midrange here perfectly convey the subtlest nuances of recordings, while presenting higher demands on the quality of the material, these headphones are clearly not trying to hide flaws, or to finish the missing emotions. An imaginary scene — the volume close to maximum on width and a little less in depth but still one of the biggest in the IEM. Excellent headphones share plans and convey the nature of the instruments, right down their volume and positioning.
Vernacularly range is typical of very good valves, there is a lovely attack, slightly reduced attenuation and proper “layering,” for which, in my opinion, and it makes sense to buy top-end headphones. Of course, you can not even talk about the perfect resolution for this part of the range. However, if you are overly sensitive to treble or do you prefer the styles with very high-quality recording, I would still advised to pre-test these headphones before buying. In other cases, I think HF will not leave anyone indifferent.
If we talk about the limited edition version of these headphones, the difference here is just one: the blue option, there is a small increase on the lower half of the band: added some bass and a little more physicality at middle frequencies. This difference is small, I think it is due to a slightly altered sound channel, but it is still discernible to the ear even in blind tests. However, I can’t say that for the sake of such a small change worth trying to upgrade a basic version of a headphone.
Of course, will not do this review without comparisons
64Audio U12. Despite the similarity of the price range, headphones are a little similar to each other. A little dark and smooth “dvenadcati” neutral against “Andro”, do not hesitate to play USC without attempting to flatten them. In General, I don’t know what else to paint except for the Council to read the two reviews and compare them to each other.
Noble Audio Kaiser Encore. The case when a lot of very-very small differences together give a tangible step forward. To start a conversation there can be a more comfortable fit and finish difference in the sound. Kaiser is slightly more massive than play bass, a little telesna on the midrange, a little more lively on the treble, it is not very noticeable individually, but the General idea is always the sum of small things. However, we cannot forget about the price aspect, and the difference is slightly less than “two times”.
Camfire Audio Vega. And, yet another “opposites”. As I wrote in the review VEGA, Camfire Audio did not make one more neutral headphones and made their dynamic flagship as “taste” — pumped bass and treble energy, with the additional deepening of the scene, in General maximise the “wow-effect”. Against this background, Andromeda lost at first, but after listening to realize that they are strong to others, cleanliness, detail and unprecedented naturalness. So we can safely say that CA has two flagship, for fans of different feed options.
HUM Pristine. Interesting headphones often necessary. Using only two transmitters and a carefully designed crossover, Korean magicians have managed to make perhaps the best resolution headphones with incredible neutrality. If you compare them with the heroes of this review, the Andromeda more bass (from limited edition version even a bit more), slightly wider imaginary scene and a little better designed SC and HF. While Pristine bribe more bodily midrange with even better detail.
Compatibility
Now with the selection of the source for these IEM will have little trouble. And it’s not that they need the player or DAC, is able to fully solve this model. Andromeda combine low impedance with a very high sensitivity, making them ideal detector background noise of the amplifier. So the future owner will have to choose a low noise device, but who is now easy?
Headphones these are of course fully universal, but it is very critical to the quality of the recording, so for certain genres and styles, where reigns the compression of the dynamic range and samples of the free libraries — they are just not suitable, though, it is certainly not the fault of the headphones. The recording quality of this model is very fussy, without any exaggeration, they get 9 points out of 10 on a notional scale of fault-finding.
As always, some tracks-examples
Thievery Corporation feat. Shana Halligan — Depth of My Soul. Team Thievery Corporation comes in my playlist is rare, but aptly, can’t help myself — love the interesting mix of genres, and these guys are preventing everything from acid jazz to funk. This composition, in addition to the complex and diverse instrumental parts, includes vocal line, so Andromeda with their perfect technical play this record at a level close to the ideal.
The Cinematic Orchestra — To Build A Home. And, perhaps, not be distracted from the topic of modern options like jazz music, this intense music is best suited to “Andromeda”. Two vocal lines, the instrumental two (sometimes more) to win it all fully, without mixing together, can only upscale fittings and such and the subject of this review. Rare IEM allow you to listen to this track without difficulty concentrating on each individual part.
Lang Lang Autumn Moon on a Calm Lake. Track of those that seem very simple until you listen to them with good headphones. Only one tool (albeit the king of all music), but add to it a musician-the virtuoso and you get the incredible song, to conquer which can only best headphones. All these high-speed passages, combined with the quiet manner of execution and try somewhere to get lost, but reinforcing the flagship of the CA carefully catches all the subtle nuances and perfectly reproduces them.
Summary
Here on the one hand, to call headphones, worth more than $ 1,000, “cheap” or “affordable” is obvious nonsense. And on the other the regular version of Andromeda with its price tag is at the beginning of the top segment, which recently overcame the scope of $ 2,000 and begins to beg to 3000. So, despite the oddity of such assertions, Andromeda is perhaps the most affordable of the headphones with the “top” sound, has become for many a trip to the top end of the portable Hi-Fi.
Buy Campfire Audio Andromeda LE
Headphones Audio Campfire Andromeda — normal and CK Pacific Blue version
Pavel Dmitriev