Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea Review

Verdict

Providing pleasure, panache, and vivid listening expertise, the Andromeda Emerald Sea gives a dynamic, immersive sound that’s turn out to be Campfire Audio’s trademark. The value is sky excessive, they usually want a sufficiently succesful associate to extract the perfect efficiency from them, however there’s little doubt the Emerald Sea is a really gratifying IEM.

Introduction

The primary time I reviewed the Campfire Andromeda, I wasn’t enthused by them. However a subsequent re-listen opened me as much as their charms.

With the sequel now accessible, and given the loquacious identify of Andromeda Emerald Sea, Campfire has re-imagined its best-selling in-ear monitor with new options, each in and out, for a excessive asking value.

The value units all kinds of expectations however the primary one is whether or not the Emerald Sea lives as much as its lofty claims.

Design

• Razzle dazzle packaging
• Cosy match
• Prime quality building

Campfire’s strategy to merchandise hasn’t modified one iota. If something, it’s amped up with the Emerald Sea.

The field it arrives in is a big wood one – not not like wood Japanese jewelry packing containers – with the Campfire Audio emblem etched into the aspect. Lifting the primary cowl reveals a picture of an emerald sea and tucked inside are the earphones together with the remainder of the equipment that features two carry pouches (small and large): a bit of folder that holds a certification of possession (this Emerald Sea earphone is not any.32) with a seal of approval, amongst different bits.

There’s one other pouch with two extra cables (2.5mm TRRS Balanced, 4.4mm Balanced), in addition to ear-tips (marshmallow and silicon ideas from small to massive), an earphone cleansing software, and what I’m presuming to be the lapel (a hand). It’s all undoubtedly fancy and gives the look you’ve purchased a headphone of top quality. Identical to with the earlier mannequin, it’s a giant first impression.

The one downside is when you’ve taken every little thing out is put all of it collectively once more. You gained’t wish to drop the case both. I did and the edges got here off, however some tremendous glue later and it was again to regular.

The earphone is a brand new 3D printed form, and it matches high quality in my ear however regardless of feeling and looking as if I’ve plonked the bolts from Frankenstein’s Monster into my ear.

The match is tight and cushty; the cable trails in an over-ear hook design earlier than trailing down throughout the shoulder. The noise-isolating properties of the seal are robust sufficient that you just gained’t be simply disturbed. Higher maybe for indoor use as some consciousness can be required should you’re utilizing them outside.

The earphones make their presence conscious after about an hour, which requires a bit of extra fidgeting by way of their positioning. I wouldn’t describe them as ultra-comfortable, however I’d suggest breaking apart listening classes each now. I’ve switched to the silicon ear-tip from marshmallow and except for how they really feel, there wasn’t a lot change in phrases within the sound – rather less brash, maybe.

The end is great, and the development of the machined aluminium casing is of top quality with its contoured form bounces gentle off and solid shadows which are paying homage to Astell & Kern’s gamers. To my reminiscence, the Emerald Sea inexperienced colourway is lighter than the earlier Andromeda however the anodized end is nonetheless eye-catching.

The Emerald Sea comes with three Time Stream cables, which use silver-plated litz because the sign conductor. It seems to be good and I’ve not had any problem by way of consolation. In the event that they do get tangled (which they actually will), untangling them hasn’t proved to be an arduous problem.

Options

• Low THD
• Simpler to drive
• Selection of balanced and unbalanced cables

Options are at all times few for a wired headphone, however the Emerald Sea seems to have undergone a big re-tooling.

The drivers have been redesigned with 5 “all-new” customized dual-diaphragm balanced armatures that Campfire claims reduces distortion and gives higher stability and resilience. Certainly, the Complete Harmonic Distortion (the quantity of audible noise within the sign) is rated to be lower than 0.5%.

The earphones include an MMCX connection, which makes them a bit of more durable to prise off however has the benefit of constructing them safer, clicking into place when fixed to the cable. There are three Time Stream cables, one which terminates in a 3.5mm output, the others in balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm terminations.

Frequency response covers 5Hz to 20kHz, although people can’t actually hear beneath 20Hz. Impedance is measured at 6.375 ohms @1kHz, and Sound Stress Stage (SPL) at 94dB, which means the Emerald Sea are simpler to drive with a variety of sources.

Sound High quality

• Thrilling, dynamic efficiency
• Can sound fatiguing at larger volumes
• Expansive soundstage

I wasn’t, initially, a lover of the earlier mannequin however loved them extra on a second pay attention. The Emerald Sea fares a lot better from the get-go.

Used with a number of sources and amplifiers: an Astell & Kern SR35, FiiO M15s and a Chord Mojo 2 headphone amplifier, it’s price taking a bit of curiosity within the gadgets the Andromeda Emerald Sea companions with because the A&Okay has confirmed to be a greater moveable music participant. It additionally doesn’t have to be pushed fairly as onerous, and I’d set the quantity low because the Emerald Sea doesn’t want a lot encouragement to go loud.

All of the hallmarks of the Andromeda mannequin carry over right here by way of its tuning, however I’d say that the efficiency is extra balanced. It could nonetheless be brash, fiery, and energetic however extra so at larger quantity ranges and it’s at larger volumes the place some fatigue units in.

The soundstage is broad and expansive, as huge as you’ll discover on an over-ear pair of wired headphones. Just like the earlier mannequin, the staging and positioning of devices and vocals is realised in an impressively vivid method. It proves itself to be a really dynamic performer, sweeping from highs to lows fluidly and backing up these sweeping dynamic shifts with loads of energy, like with Alex Belcher’s Citadel soundtrack (Qobuz 24-bit/48kHz) or the Assembly Kitty monitor from Ludwig Göransson’s Oppenheimer that’s a wealthy, lush, and evocative pay attention because the monitor swells and expands.

There’s loads of readability awarded to tracks, although there’s a pure heat to its presentation that does rob it a bit of of element and definition. Listening to Speaking Heads’ 2023 remaster of the Cease Making Sense dwell recordings, that heat is current within the wealthy and agency bass of As soon as in a Lifetime and the sleek description of David Byrne’s voice. I might not say the heat is to the detriment of the general manufacturing, however the Emerald Sea sees a greater commerce between subtlety and power than the Orbit true wi-fi managed.

With Quantum Mechanics from the Göransson’s Oppenheimer (by way of a Chord Mojo 2) and the earphones afford glorious bass weight, the strings of the violins are candy and richly introduced, excessive frequency instrument hit with good sharpness and brightness; with dynamism on a small and huge scale properly noticed. All-in-all the Campfire strikes a full of life, fluid presentation. What strikes me is the vivid, enveloping nature of the sound.

With a play of Busta Rhymes’ Contact It, the bass is kind of properly balanced: tight, punchy, conveying loads of slam, in addition to describing the bass with selection. Extra importantly, that bass is cleanly delivered and distinct from the midrange, avoiding spilling over into it.

I discovered utilizing it with the SR35 derived extra element and definition, overriding the Emerald Sea’s predilection for heat and having fun with a clearer, cleaner sound. With The Beatles Lengthy and Winding Street I heard extra sharpness, element, and definition within the treble area than I did on the FiiO M15s, however with the FiiO there’s a much bigger emphasis on the voice and a hotter tone general.

It reveals that the Emerald Sea isn’t the driving pressure by way of the presentation you hear, and it’s price contemplating the traits of the supply/amplifier at your disposal. In any case, the Emerald Sea is comfortable to bop with both, although the SR35 is the extra refined associate.

A bit of little bit of experimentation is required to search out the correct quantity too. Too excessive can result in fatigue, however too low can cheat its sense of dynamism, and all that power and liveliness can fade away.

Newest offers