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

I haven't heard the software decrapified ZX2 paired with Andros. Whilst WM1A is probably a great pairing with other IEMs, my primary aim is pairing it with the Andromedas. I am NOT interested in other IEMs for the long term.

Comparing unbalanced WM1A -Andro (Hi & Lo gain, direct sound on) with my current tonality reference, Yggdrasil-Rag-Utopia/Andro, it falls short as the bass is lifted and the mids subdued making it sound dark and unexciting for MY preference. Even the treble is too polite for my ears.

Initially I got used to it, even though it sounded tonally wrong. It is a very good resolving and clear DAP and I enjoyed its technicalities. However once new toy syndrome was over, the tonal discrepancy was obvious even comparing to it to my phone.

That said, if YOU like bloomy lush sounding bass, and a somewhat V-shaped tonality, WM1A-Andro pairing might be a good thing for you. Try before you buy is best option as always.

 

I feel that my pairing of andros with wm1a sounds fantastic using the balanced out, the treble sparkle that andros has is definitely there. I don't find the mids recessed either, compared to what I remember of using the single ended port I think balanced out widened the sound stage and brought forward the mids a bit. It may just come down to personal preferences though.

 

Getting things back to a more friendly tone........ I'm happy with the Andros direct from my WA8 and with the IEMatch from my Mojo and Hugo 2. In my home, office or hotel I have space and the the ability to use headphones/IEMs that do not isolate. The hole in my equipment list is the highest possible ultra portal set up that isolates. My point, my criteria has changed some over the past few days. My thought process evolved, and continues to evolve from everyone on the thread. Thank you. I've decided a dedicated DAP for my Andros makes sense. Their quality and potential justify that so finding the perfect pairing for my taste is my only concern and use case now. I think they sound fantastic but want to be sure I'm getting everything out of them that others are experiencing.

For the hell of it, and thanks to the flexibility of returns via Amazon, I have an AK70 being delivered today and a WM1A tomorrow. Maybe for my taste one of those will work. If not, I owe a local guy some business and will join the crowd and get a ZX2. I only have the stock Andro cable so I won't get a comprehsive comparison and I have no intentions of providing a wordy review but I'll share my impressions. I have less experience than many in this thread and obviously sound is subjective but I'll share my view later this weekend. I WANT the AK70 to work with its form factor and ability to stream from Tidal but we'll see. Lot's of hifi love for that DAP, not much on this site though so the pairing may suck. We'll see.

 

I really don't understand why people can be so masochistic to love AK70's claustrophobic sound.

I recommend you go to a classical concert and sit at the dress circle. Remember what you hear, and try on the AK70. You'll see what's wrong about its soudnstaging.

 

You've sufficiently lowered my expectations. I know what "good" should sound like. I've never heard the AK70 which is why I bought it with the ability to return it. Small + good OS + stream/Tidal ready + good sound with the Andros is a tough combo and does not leave many options aside from the ZX2. At $600 vs $1,100 it's worth a listen.

 

An update on this:



So since I'm still on the lazy path, I'll send my cable in. $68 to upgrade the stock Litz cable is a good deal IMO. Litz TRRS may just dig deep enough into the music and lift the sound up just enough that I won't want Ref 8 with ZX2 anymore, but I'll still use Ref 8 with AK120, and that completes 2 setups.

 

Damn, I love that company!

 

WM1A is perhaps the only DAP where I have heard balanced output make a significant improvement, to the point where I actually feel like evaluating it single-ended is doing it a disservice.

 

Been playing with IEMatch and like how it is with the lighting -> 3.5 adapter. Bill did you try that combo in your testing?

 

I experience a significant improvement with my Ragnarok when comparing SE vs balanced outs due to the ciclotron architecture being inherently balanced. However the tonality is the same with both SE and BAL and it does not sound bassier on SE, just a bit of fuzzier image with less resolution, microdynamics and nuance.

My aim is a neutral sound signature whereby orchestral instruments from the deepest bass to highest highs sound in harmony. I am really there with my Utopias. I was there when I trialled the HD650 and the ultra-modded HD800 of @Serious. I am really hoping I get there when I recieve my speakers. The Andromedas have that potential as evidenced by running it from my phone (despite horrid technicalities) and Ragnarok SE (despite the hiss).

Have you evaluated the Andromedas run by WM1A balanced vs unbalanced? What is your reference setup? What is you primary aim as sound signature? Do you mind a mildly V-shaped sound? Have you compared WM1A balanced to a ZX2 with sound settings off, that is widely regarded as neutral by experienced ears?

 

Andros and WM1A is my portable setup. ZX2 is a no go for me because I listen at low volumes and find the hiss of ZX2 unbearable. WM1A is better but probably my limit.

I don't want to really comment from memory in terms of neutrality, and also because I don't know what effect my Sony balanced cable has vs my stock Andro cable, but talking about the WM1A only I find there are differences in both frequency response and technicalities when changing to WM1A balanced. In fact, even just changing from low gain to high gain on the balanced output makes what I feel to be an easily observable (and positive) difference in frequency response, with bass being pulled back further relative to mids.

I wouldn't be surprised if ZX2 is still more neutral but it has been around a year since I last heard it. I mainly commented because, personally, the change from SE to Balanced on the WM1A is the difference between being worse or better than a number of other set-ups I have tried. To me that is a significant change and I think it deserves to be heard balanced to be evaluated properly.

For reference my headphone setup is usually Gungnir Multibit -> Valhalla 2 -> HD650 (and 80% of the time I choose the 650 over my SBAF/SDR modded 800, so that might tell you something about preferences).

 

@shotgunshane let me listen to his Andromedas yesterday and I was shocked at how good they were. It was the least BA-sounding BA-based IEM I've heard. Excellent clarity, smoothness and none of the weird artifacts you often get from balanced armature IEMs. I couldn't believe how grain-free the entire presentation was. I'm heavily considering grabbing a pair. Only downside was they were very source-sensitive. Shotgunshane thought they paired well with the Lotoo Paw 5000 and I have to agree. Upon switching to my Google Pixel XL, they got thinner and brighter probably due to a higher output impedance.

 

Beautiful. I'll give that a shot.

 

I'm actually using my Pixel XL with the Andros for casual portable listening when I don't have free pockets / space for the ZX2. It doesn't sound thaaaaat bad. It's just that the hiss sometimes is unbearable.

Is it weird to look forward for worse weather, so you can wear a jacket with more space for the ZX2?

 

I know all of the answers are some where in this 71 page thread, but can someone confirm that I have the correct settings? I just received a new ZX2 powered it on for the first time.

Under setting, "Surround sound" is off
DSEE HX is off
Dynamic normalizer is off
Equalizer is off

Simple enough but I thought I remember reading where there were other options that needed to be de-selected or "forced" off.

What is the actual offending piece of technology? Hopefully not DSEE which I thought was the equivilent to upsamping the signal but would not change tone.

The unit is charging so I haven't loaded any tunes to it. I'll try it out this evening after fully charged and unplugged.

 

android settings > apps > all > sound enhancements > disable

 

Thanks deafdoorknob... Sounds simple enough but dumb it down for this life long apple guy. I assume you're talking about the "settings" app on the listed along with all of the other apps. That includes the same settings I originally listed which are all turned off. If that's all I need to do that's great. Should I be looking specifically looking for "android settings".

Which enhancement is it that really causes the issue per my original question. Not trying to be dense, just want to be 100% sure I'm clicking all the right boxes.

 

http://www.ubergizmo.com/how-to/disable-android-apps/

follow the screen caps to navigate. "sound enhancements" is a system level app, it has a deleterious effect on the sound quality and to some, (including myself) the amount of audible hiss/noise.

to many of us, any form of additional audio processing affects the transparency and fidelity to the source, but if you feel that adding them improved your enjoyment of your set up, by all means use them!

 

Ah, got it. Much appreciated....