Audio speaker in the form of a skull.

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Headphones Campfire Audio Andromeda - conventional and CK Pacific Blue version

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I do not know how it happened, but I managed to take and not write a text review on some of the best headphones of the past few years - Andromeda from Camfire Audio. Well, it's better late than never, especially since my Andromeda suddenly changed the color from green to "Pacific Blue", so it's also about the limited version.

Here, according to the logic of the narrative, it would be necessary to talk about how Campfire Audio immediately launched a line of high-quality IEMs that have won great popularity, then expanded it with several models that have become even more popular ... But, perhaps, I will not spend for this time, but immediately I turn to Andromeda.

Appearing somewhere about a year ago, the five-wheel model was aimed at replacing the very good Jupiter four-drivers, developing the idea of ​​a neutral feed at a higher level. The model was joyfully received by the public, and its green color became one of the symbols of high-class sound. Deciding that sometimes buyers should be pampered, CA released a limited white model for Japan and options in polished cases 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 appeared a version of the color of the ocean wave, offering a slightly modified sound guide and slightly different feed. Since this review is double for us (incidentally, we'll talk about the usual version), it should be mentioned that the basic modification costs about $ 1,100, and for "exclusive", released in 350 copies, retailers are asking a little more expensive.

Specifications

  • Emitters: 5 x with balanced armature
  • Frequency range: 10 Hz to 28 kHz
  • Sensitivity: 115 dB / mW
  • Impendence: 12.8Ω
  • Cable: interchangeable with MMCX connectors, silver-plated copper
  • Plug: 3.5 mm TRS, angled

Packing and delivery kit

If you saw one box from the IEM from Campfire Audio, then you saw them all. Andro - no exception, they are packed in the same compact box of medium-density cardboard. The main difference between the models is the color of the box itself and the printing.

In the upper half of the package is a cover on the snake (with limited andromedia goes suede version), which are the headphones themselves. Under it you can find the rest of the delivery:

  • three pairs of silicone single-flange nozzles
  • three pairs of foam nozzles
  • standard package SpinFit (4 pairs)
  • brush with a cleaning loop
  • icon with CA logo

In general, the delivery package is quite normal, although I miss the times when the second balanced wire went to Jupiter.

Design and comfortable wearing

The appearance of the headphones is also familiar to any connoisseur of high-class IEM - the angular corporate case made of aluminum has become so popular that the cunning Chinese have established the production of fakes (albeit plastic ones) - than not recognition of success? The main difference between the "limits" and the standard version is the color, here also a special Cerakote painting technology is used. Also in the limited version the sound guide has a little changed, here it is made of metal, polished by hand. The body looks, naturally, very beautifully, the build quality is also at the corresponding premium level.

With the Andromed landing, some people may have problems: a short sound guide and an angular shape of the case lead to the fact that the search for suitable attachments may require little effort, however, this is a completely solvable problem. In the limited version, judging by the written on the Internet, the sound guide was extended (literally by a couple of millimeters), which slightly improves the landing. However, with correctly selected nozzles any Andromeda is worn quite comfortably. The sound insulation of the model is just below the typical for the form factor level, but for public transport and noisy streets it is still enough.

The cable is, of course, replaceable. We use proprietary MMCX connectors made of copper and beryllium alloy, and these are the best MMCX connectors among those that are in the world of headphones. They have a properly selected fixing force, which allows them to be reliably held in place, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to be extracted without using the MT-LB. The wire here is silvered copper from Alo Audio - soft, beautiful, light. It is not inclined to entangle, it does not harden in the cold, and the microphone effect, due to the memory areas forming the earhooks, is practically absent. The plug is angled, but very compact, which clearly benefits the convenience of using this wire in the portable. By the way, connoisseurs of interchangeable wires can be advised of the products themselves Alo Audio - they have many cable options for all cases (including even Lightning).

Sound

The following equipment was used for listening.

Before listening to the headphones were warmed for 72 hours.

In Camfire Audio long enough went to the sound of Andromeda. The first step was a Jupiter with four radiators, after a long collection of reviews and opinions it was finalized to Andromeda. What happened in the end? The result was a neutral sound, but without excessive dryness and lightness, a good balance of audiophile naturalness and a bit of melomanic "flavors". Since the review is double, I will first describe the nature of the sound of the usual modification and then I will write the differences of the limited version.

The bass here is fast, with beautiful attacks and little fittings, it's very good quantitatively, but you can not sit on two chairs with one base, you can not make the LF both supermassive and superfast at the same time. Developers Campfire Audio slightly bowed the scales in the direction of speed, so the bass turned out to be biting, with excellent texture transfer and tool separation, but the bass attenuation is sometimes slightly shorter than for dynamic models. However, the depth of the "bottoms" and the development of the entire low-frequency part of the range make it clear why this was chosen for such a pitch.

The middle frequencies are neutral, they are devoid of explicit colors, but they obviously avoid the sharpness and incorporeity characteristic of cheap armatures. SC here perfectly transfer the smallest nuances of records, while presenting heightened requirements to the quality of the material, these headphones clearly do not try to hide the flaws of information or draw the missing emotions. The imaginary scene is voluminous, close to the maximum in width and slightly less in depth, but still one of the largest in the IEM. The headphones perfectly share the plans and convey the character of the instruments, correctly building their volume and positioning.

The upper frequency range is typical for very good fittings, there are excellent attacks, slightly reduced attenuation and correct "layering", for which, in my opinion, it makes sense to buy top headphones. Naturally, you can not even talk about the excellent resolution of this part of the range. However, if you are excessively sensitive to HF, or prefer styles with a not very high-quality recording, I would advise you to pre-test these headphones before purchase. In other cases, I think, HF will not leave anyone indifferent.

If we talk about a limited version of these headphones, then the difference here is only one: the blue version has a small "increase" in the lower half of the range: added a little bass and a little more physicality at medium frequencies. This difference is small, I think it is due to a slightly modified sound, but it is still audible even in blind tests. However, I can not say that for such a small change it is worth to rush to upgrade the basic version of headphones.

Of course, this review will not do without comparisons

64Audio U12. Despite the similarity of the price range, headphones do not resemble each other very much. A few darkened and smooth "twelve" against neutral "andro", not hesitant to win back VCh without trying to smooth them. In general, I do not know what else to paint, except for the advice to read two reviews and compare them among themselves.

Noble Audio Kaiser Encore. After long comparisons of these two models directly, I came to a fairly obvious conclusion: the difference between them is due to the taste and stylistic preferences of the owner. Kaiser with its accents for LF and HF is more suitable for driving genres, and Andromeda is designed for those who prefer the maximum unattractiveness of the feed and, as a consequence, the naturalness of reproduction.

Camfire Audio Vega. And one more "antipodes". As I wrote in the review of Vega, Camfire Audio did not make yet another neutral headphones and made their dynamic flagship as "tasteful" as possible - pumped with LF and HF energy, with an additional deepening of the stage, in general - with the most saturated "wow effect" . Against this background, Andromeda is initially lost, but after listening, you understand that they are strong by another - purity, detail and unprecedented naturalness. So you can safely say that the CA has two flagships, for fans of different options for filing.

HUM Pristine. Interesting headphones, often bypassed. Using only two radiators and a carefully thought-out crossover, Korean magicians managed to make, perhaps, the best-in-class headphones with incredible neutrality. If we compare them with the heroes of this review, then Andromeda has more bass (the limited version has a little more), a slightly wider imaginary scene and slightly better developed HF and HF. While Pristine bribes with more bodily MF with even better detail.

Compatibility

Here with the selection of the source for these IEM will have to tinker a bit. And it's not that they need a player or DAC, which can fully reveal this model. Andromeda combine low impedance with very high sensitivity, which makes them just an ideal detector of background noise amplifier. Therefore, the future owner will have to choose low-noise devices, but who is easy now?

These headphones, of course, are completely universal, but they are very critical to recording quality, that's why for certain genres and styles, where dynamic compression range balances and samples from free libraries - they simply will not work, although it's certainly not the fault of headphones. To the quality of the recording, this model is very fastidious, without the slightest stretch, they get 9 points out of 10 according to the conditional scoring scale.

As always, a few example tracks

Thievery Corporation feat. Shana Halligan - Depth of My Soul. The staff of Thievery Corporation comes across my play list rarely, but very accurately, I can not do anything with myself - I like interesting mixes of genres, and these guys interfere with everything from acid jazz to funk. This composition, in addition to the complex and multifaceted instrumental part, also includes a vocal line, so Andromeda, with their perfect technicality, wins this record at a level close to the ideal.

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home. Well, perhaps, we will not be distracted from the theme of modern variants of okolgazzov music, such rich music suits the Andromedam as well as possible. Two vocal lines, two instrumental (sometimes more), to play it all to the full, without mixing into a bunch, can only high-class armature, and this is the focus of this review. Rare IEM allows you to listen to this track, easily concentrating on each individual part.

Lang Lang - Autumn Moon on a Calm Lake. A track from those that seem very simple, until you listen to them with good headphones. Just one instrument (albeit the king of all music), but add one virtuoso musician to it - and you'll get an incredible composition that only the best headphones can conquer. All these high-speed passages in combination with a quiet manner of performance and try to get lost somewhere, but the CA flushman carefully catches all the smallest nuances and reproduces them flawlessly.

conclusions

Here, on the one hand, calling headphones worth more than $ 1000, "inexpensive" or "affordable" - this is obvious nonsense. And on the other hand - the usual version of Andromeda with its price tag is at the very beginning of the top segment, which recently overcame already a framework of $ 2,000 and begins to scramble to 3000. So, despite the strangeness of such a statement, Andromeda is perhaps the most affordable of headphones with thus "top" sound, which for many became a voucher to the upper segment of portable Hi-Fi.

Buy Campfire Audio Andromeda LE

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