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

Could this possibly be more of an indication of the synergy between the balanced out with Andros, rather than the iEMatch? There shouldn't be anything actively different with the SE and balanced switch settings. Just signal paths. Were you using different cables? One balanced, one SE? I'm not a huge believer but I have heard differences.

 

You will need a balanced cable from start to end. So yes, you'll need a 3.5mm TRRS (Balanced) cable for the Andromeda.

 

Well, it will technically work as @jexby says. But it defeats the balanced design.

I've used it in reverse - as a balanced cables to trs adapter and also to attenuate hiss with balanced cables out of GO2A. With SE cables I'll use it from the SE jack.

 

that has me excited, I just the other day, finally got around to ordering a balanced cable to use my andros balanced from the GO2A.

 

Why even use the iematch when going balanced with the GO2A? The noise is generally inaudible while music is playing.

 

It's actually quite high ymmv but I couldn't listen to it otherwise.

 

Maybe there’s less noise with the GOV2+? That’s what I use and have no problem using the balanced out. Generally I pair with the ZX2 though.

 

I used the go v2+ inf and the hiss was a bit louder than the zx2 for me. It's funny because the hiss remains even after using ifiematch on the high setting. I guess everyone's tolerance for hiss can be different, but I can say the hiss from the go series was def more disturbing than the zx2 from my perspective. Sometimes I used the Andros from the se without ifiematch for a darker richer sounds.

 

I agree there’s more hiss wth the GO series than the ZX2, but I must have more tolerance.

 

I recently discovered how to make the stock foam tips comfortable.

I had a trick I have been using with my Comply tips for the last year, but i recently discovered how much sound I was abadoning with the comly tips. With low impedance outputs the bass gets super limp dick and hollow sounding, and i thought that was just the andro bass everyone was talking about. straight out of my iPhone SE and with an extension in the middle out of the GO2A they sounded fine though.

My trick has been to cut off the whole rounded portion of the tip in front of the plastic tube inside. so now the tips are just a cylinder. This made them much more comfortable.

Recently though I was reexamining my tip situation, and realized how incredible the deep bass was with the Spinfits, though the fit of even the largest ones wasnt enough, they would break seal all the time. But thats when i realized what the andro bass was supposed to be, it was supposed to be incredible, punchy down low bass, thats a little north of neutral.

I, like @Bill-P had comfort issues with the stock foams long term, but it turns out my original trick for the comply tips also works for them, and they seem be pretty comfortable for me this way. And while they sound much better in the bass than my comply tips did, they dont live up to the spinfits.

So I ordered some Spiral Dots L tips. and man, these things are intense, DAT BASS, the low bass hits so hard with these things. the only downside with them is the treble gets a little splashy. It will be tough deciding between the spiral dots and the trimmed stock foams.

Ive also got a pair of Symbios coming from @gixxerwimp that I cant wait to try


EDIT: I dont really think the GO2A has that much hiss either, its the primary thing I drive mine with. I do think it got quite a bit quieter with the new FW though

 

the iEMatch wont convert your balanced cable to single ended either I don't believe. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. The selector for SE or Balanced on the iematch is only to match the rest of the chain.

 

It does indeed do the balanced cable to SE conversion. I've used it that way with my phone.

 

Cool - thank you for the heads up on that. I'm still on the fence for which mmcx 3.5 mm balanced cable I want to go with. The MEE cable seems like a really good value, but a touch bulky.

 

I would be careful with using MEE cables with the andros. I know i tried using the high quality cable that came with my P1s with the andros when I first got them, since I dont like the cable guides on the ones the andros came with, and it was tinny sound city. the only thing i can think is that the cable was rather high impedance, which was killing bass performance.

I havent heard the balanced cable kit though, but I thought I would mention it

 

You can take the memory wire out of the CA Litz cable, with a bit of patience.

 

Greetings friends. Posting here because I need some advice. I just got andromeda with Sony nwwm1z in a loaner, balanced with a Sony cable. In a different way that most people reported I am finding andromeda bass heavy and lacking sparkling. I had to use Sony equalization to add some highs, but I don’t like equalization - or maybe I should start doing it.
Can someone chime in? Am I doing something wrong? Is this a breaking in period? Or maybe I was expecting to much. Using hi gain and low gain and the bass excess still there. Thanks

 

Quick Google doesn't give me the OI for the Sony. But sounds like the output impedance is too low to be ideal for the Andromeda. Sweet spot is between 1 and 2 ohms. Higher gives too much treble. Lower gives too much bass.

 

WM1Z has a relatively low output impedance of 0.9. Like the WM1A, the bass would be too pronounced with the Andros if a neutrally balanced sound signature is your aim. The highs do lose their sparkle and brilliant feel.

Furthermore the Z is tuned for a warmer organic sound and will exacerbate this issue further. The Sony cable will also impart its own sound due to its unknown impedance - yeah everything can alter Andro's sound! An Ifi IEmatch may be a solution but many have stated that it affects negatively these finicky IEMs.

The Sony ZX2-Andro (output impedance 1.7) is a much better pairing that is way more balanced and neutral to my ears.