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

i'm really liking the comply with these too, both in sound and comfort. only problem is they get junky pretty fast (at least relative to silicon tips)...

 

I am not a fan at all of replacing tips every so often. I'm using the included silicone tips. No problems with me for the most part. Just have to get used to the tip see up in my ears.

 

This is what I am noticing also. Everything positive that has been said about this earphone, I'm also finding to be the case. It is incredibly effortless and is pulling detail from my now ancient and very crappy audio wise LG G2 that is really impressive. However, I'm also finding that it lacks a bit of texture and although in terms of timbre it's very good, it sounds to me that it's just missing some of the grain that usually comes with acoustic instruments. It's almost like everything got super cleaned up/waxed over.

I know all of this is nitpicking because it is by far the most capable BA based earphone I've heard, but it is still definitely a very BA presentation. Technically speaking, it is by a good margin better than any IEM I've had, but I feel like it's glossing textural stuff up. Also, the other thing that drove me away from BA phones is there sensitivity to output impedance. And like it has been said here, this thing is no exception. I'm finding that the only device it's not hissing like crazy out of or having weird reactions FR wise to is my LG G2 and iphone. Luckily they sound very good out of these two which with regards to the LG G2, was a huge surprise.

It is clearly a very good phone. I am going to listen to it some more to see if I can get used to the BA presentation again.

 

Listening to Acoustic Alchemy's, "Roseland", atm.. good God, the Andromeda is a f'ing BEAST. The dynamics are unyielding. Someone compared the presentation as akin to listening to two, exquisitely tuned floorstanding speakers. Yeah, that's about right. The sheer power and vividness is certainly reminiscent of the UERM on "steroids," as Marv aptly put it. In terms of sheer resolving ability & clarity, I feel it's safe to say it dances with the HD800 and not come off sounding like a giddy fanboy. One of the few things the Andromeda doesn't do at an elite level (or the level at which it does everything else) is layering.. it's awesome at this, but I guess if your/my reference is a well-driven HD800, nothing can really do it as well as that.

This might be the first pair of uIEMs I actually liked Complys on. In my past experience, Complys tend to muck up the freq response more often than preserve it (masking and recessing the treble, goosing up midbass, etc). With the Andromeda, they give focus to the stage and lend a slightly thicker sound vs stock silicone tips (which make the Andromeda sound more airy.. something it doesn't need any of, imo). I'm sensing little detriment to the sq, too. Also, the mids have more realistic body with Complys. Still evaluating if I like the way it deals with the treble, though.

Has anyone determined if CFA sourced some special sauce BAs for the Andromeda?

 

Are you still getting the ER4SR/XR?

 

Here is what appears to be the difference with the new ones...

http://imgur.com/qNvY1N1

I ordered these on tuesday and they arrived thursday going west coast to east coast with the free shipping option. Not sure why they still show back ordered 2-3 weeks.

 

If I had to pick a weakness with these it would be lower mids. In particular cellos. They don't do a great job capturing the deep, loose, woody resonances. Violins on the other hand are much better. Maybe it's a BA thing?

 

Yes we are soon.

 

Comply for me somewhat dampened some of the high frequencies and decreases the soundstage. Spiral dots seem to give the cleanest/most transparent sound for me anyway. TLDR : Tried almost all the 3rd party tips out there, settled on spiral dots for Andromeda.

 

wow spiral dots so kawaii

wow

 

Translation please.

 

sorry been watching too many of zreviews c:

 

OK this sounds remarkably good with the Andromedas. Musical. Detailed. Spacious. Energetic. It's all there.

 

I'm officially a spiral dot (medium) convert as well for the andromeda. Clarity (especially in the treble) seems to be somewhat improved over the complys, fit/comfort is great, isolation seems equal, and cleanliness/longevity of the tips is vastly improved.

 

Are there different bore widths of Spiral Dots, or do I just need to worry about size?

 

Single bore width. Spiral Dots are the best option for Noble universals too, BTW.

 

I find that spiral dots elevate the bass too much. I was happy with comply but its too much fiddle with over the ears. The stock rubbers are good. Trying spinfit now.

 

Earhole condensation - ya'll get it? I'm getting little droplets on the inside of the stem now that I've stop using complys. Can't imagine that's good for the IEMs (or a good sign for me).