Campfire Audio Andromeda Review: Holy Cow, This is a Dream, Awesomesauce!

Yep the Rag is definitely better sounding balanced rather than SE. I have always run HD800 and HD800S balanced and the Utopia will be balanced as well. Once I get a balanced cable for Andro I will surely check it out.

The issue is output impedance of 0.03 ohms that would probably increase hiss, make volume control more difficult to manage and it morphing into a bass monster. Adapters may be a solution but for now I will wait as the Andro are for portable use mainly and I use Rag as the amp for speakers and headphones rather than IEMs. Once my account recovers from Utopian crash I will probably get the WM1A, a balanced cable to 4.4mm and adapter to Rag.

 

Are there any tips that I should try with the Andros aside from the following?

Stock Foam
Stock Silicon
Comply T400
Spinfit
Spiral Dots

 

Don't know any other tips but you could replace t400 with tx400s. I really prefer to have the wax guard.

 

There are various triple-flange tips available...didn't do it for me, but they are an option.

These guys:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008NOL8J2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Monster supertips gel and foam are worth a try

 

quite enjoying using shure orange foamies with my andros

 

Anyone tried the Mojo with iEMatch and compared it with other options, e.g. the GOV2? I actually quite like the Andromeda straight out of the Mojo apart from the hiss, but it can be a little darker than I'd like. I have the UE buffer jack but it makes them a little bright - I prefer straight out. So I'm thinking the iEMatch might be the best bet.

I like them straight out of my iPhone 6 too but will be upgrading to an iPhone 7 soon and don't want to hold on to a phone just for IEMs. To be honest I think I prefer straight out of the Mojo to the iPhone 6 as well.

I'd be happy to replace the Mojo with another portable unit that's clearly better than Mojo + iEMatch, but don't want a DAP.

 

At SBAF, @Marvey @CEE TEE , and @zerodeefex agree that the GO2A and GO V2+ Infinity sound better than the mojo. Iematch works fairly well with the GOV2+ and the andromedas imo. It is particularly useful as it can work in 3.5 TRRS to allow the GO to sound at its best. I do not know how it works with the Mojo but the IEMatch might make it bright just like your UE buffer jack because of the already slightly lean tonality of the mojo. Only annoying things about using a GO is that you have to get 3.5 TRRS Balanced cables.

For me the GO v2+ Infinity sounds better because it doesn't have prickly treble or a treble shelf like the mojo. Also imo Bass is better on the GO V2+. Also the soundstaging is much better as it does not feel as narrow and intimate as the mojo. The mojo images well, but has certain weird soundstaging that makes more of an X scape instead of a spherical soundstage like the Sony ZX2 or GO. Lastly, the GO only has USB input, but it sounds stable with different devices(My computer, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S6, Asus Zenfone 2). The mojo using usb sounded different on all 4 devices going from darker to brighter, etc....so usb is not the way to go for the mojo

As a person who switched from the MOJO to the GO V2+, I'll explain a few things you might not like. Somethings that you might have adjust to are.....you might prefer the Mojo over the GO v2+ in timing(if that is even audible)? I remember having a MOJO for almost 7 months and switching over to the GO V2+ to find some of this FPGAness that I felt was missing(though not the case anymore). Also the more expansive soundstage makes the GO V2+ sound a bit more airy, which can be mistaken for less impact and weaker bass.The mojo might seem much more detailed at first because it has a more forward sound, but you'll have to adjust your ears to realize the GO V2+ has quite a lot of plankton and has great layering. The mojo is a bit mid centric, so if you have adjusted to like the mids the way the mojo presents it, you might not like the GO V2's more Balanced sound. Mojo's tonality is actually quite lean, so when you switch to something like the ZX2, which is more lush and warm, you might feel it is more cloudy and less detailed....but its not the case...its just a different tonality.

Lastly for me the MOJO is tuned to sound more laid back and smooth, while the GO v2+ is slightly aggressive with more energy in its presentation.

I can't definitively say the Go V2+ will sound better for you, but if I were you, I would try something new. I realize I understand more and can listen more critically without being stuck in one device or the other. There are two floating around on head-fi for an excellent price of $275, so its not like you have to sacrifice an arm and leg to try it.

If you do decide to try it, I would get a cheap TRRS cable(http://penonaudio.com/FIDUE-A83-2.5-3.5mm-MMCX-Cable). If you are going to use the IEMatch on both devices, all you have to do is click the first switch from BAL to SE, instead of cable rolling constantly. Hope that helps you make a decision

 

After listening to the Utopia driven by Yggdrasil Rag I have to reevaluate the Andros' tonality again!
The Andros do sound faintly lean with Rag via SE but they are still a very enjoyable pairing. They lack that extended rounded bass that the Utopia imparts to the music. Still a good listen for strict neutralheads but the sound may be better via other sources.
These IEMs with their crazy sensitivity are a tough nut to crack to get their sound right I have to say.

 

i just think its the andromedas. Like the CustomArt 8.2s sound pretty similar on every source........that being said, I think andromeda with its highly fickle nature scales better if you find the right match

 

Gave the Andromedas a go today (along with the Vega), much liked the Andros more.

There's of course still the BA bass, and slightly sibilant (very sensitive), but they offer oodles of detail. I had a wee bit of seal problem because of how short the stems are, but once seated properly they're fairly snug. Given that I tried it with a Clip Zip and a Dragonfly Red, both with under 1 ohm OI, there was a bit of a recess in the mids, but nothing severe.

Wouldn't mind picking up a pair if I could find it for a right price locally.

 

I got sick of fiddling with supposedly neutrally tuned IEMs and headphones so I went out and bought the Andromedas in anger (mostly my wife's when she found out the price). So far my expectations have been met, it's damn close to a neutral signature which I was unable to find with almost all my other gear short of HD600, they sound beautiful - they remind me of my former ATC active speakers which had super fast transients with full grip like control over the sound coming out of their transducer.

some minor quibbles (with Dragonfly Red ):
* A touch sibilant without comply tips
* Shallow fit with silicone tips might be too shallow, I can't get a good fit
* No filter to protect nozzle holes? Any issues with dirt getting inside the first chamber?
* A touch too much bass with sources below 1 ohm perhaps as was mentioned before, but neutral enough for me
* The leather pouch is a little too handmade - the zipper is sewed on asymmetrically, I expected more attention to detail

I would love to find non comply alternative tips that equally tame the treble but are easier to maintain and use.

 

I'm finding myself looking for richer and thicker low mids with these. I feel they shine with violins more than cellos, female voices more than male voices. That's pretty much my only complaint about 6 months in.

 

The Noble Katana may fit what you're looking for. Maybe the newer Kaiser Encore, but I have not heard them and fear that they'll still be too colored.

Are you using foam or silicon tips? Foams will probably help in that regard as well.

 

I'm using the stock silicone tips for ease of use and cost but I should try foams again. I'm nitpicking and generally love the Andros. I just sometimes feel they're a little too bright and miss those deep resonances you get from a cello or tenor voice. And I'm sure with the Katana I'll have other complaints (plus be 1.8k poorer). It also may be a BA thing too where they're just not capable of conveying sonorous textures like a DD - these are my first BAs.

 

ime, comply or stock foamies render the top end more balanced. As does copper-only cables (if you believe in sonic differences of cables, feel free to ignore )

 

Spinfits are comfortable and reduce treble a touch like complys but they also seem to muffle things up a little and reduce the soundstage, probably because they have smaller hole compared to the other tips. I'm trying silicone again, I really don't want to use the complys if I can help it but looks like they're the best fit soundwise for the 'dromedas

 

Just get an ALO CDM and you'll realize....how much the andros scale up. the bass is ridiculous....makes ZX2 sound light, and Go V2+ paper weight..even with less than 1 ohm Lol.....while being transparent. that resonance you are missing is not the andros fault imo. also headstage compared to ZX2 is far bigger. All DD's i hear sound so muddy and makes me feel claustrophobic....but ymmv.

 

Does Andro reveal the hissiness of the CDM?

 

The CDM on SE actually hisses less than the ZX2 and far less than GO V2+ Infinity in balanced. In balanced, the hiss level is about the same as a ZX2, but still less than the GO v2+ Inf without the IEMmatch. Also the ratio of sound to hiss is better on the CDM, meaning you get a much larger quantity of sound vs the hiss. After a couple minutes, you can get used to the hiss on balanced. I ordered a 2.5m trrs to 3.5m trrs balanced adapter to test the Iematch on the balanced output. I think it'll get rid of the hiss, but doubt it'll have a positive effect on the sound. I tried it already on the SE output and didn't like the sound(brighter,brittle, less air, cleaner but unengaging bass).