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

Haha don't worry, I pointed out they're sensitive in the comment, as in its design (sensitivity) causes hiss. You guys are reading too much into the analogy. I know they're great, hence why I have a pair. But it should be fine to call out what annoys us about something, right?

 

What are some good amp options for desktop use?

Yggdrasil -> ? -> andromeda

 

@Hooncake: Speculative guess, but I'd try a desktop amp with a few ohms of OI. Likely something with tubes.

FYI, I fall into the camp that thinks < 1 Ohm degrades the Andro's presentation.

 

Sure, no problem. I'll send you a PM with the upcoming events.

I actually found out about this one from @Hiyono. Here's a report from a local online magazine.
http://news.u-audio.com.tw/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4935

 

Has tried pairing these with the Schiit Jotunheim? I've been running these through an Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2 which measures at 0.65ohms impedance, and there's quite a bit of hiss. Jotunheim is rated at < 0.1ohms, along with a low gain selection, so I'm hoping Andromeda might not hit the noise floor through Joto.

Guess I could always go for an iEMatch too, as impressions seem to have been pretty positive with that.

 

FWIW, even with the iematch I do not like the synergy between the Andro and Joti. Without the iematch I don't like how the FR changes. With the iematch it's less engaging than my V2+ or ZX2. Not sure why that is specifically. I keep my Joti for the 650.

 

I like them with the Vali 2 on low gain (1.2 ohm) quite a bit. Definitely superior to Jotunheim->Andro.

Edit - Bass extension is not a big priority for me - if it is for you, maybe look elsewhere. I also seem to have a greater than usual affinity for the Vali 2...

 

Stay away. Not only is the pairing unsynergistic, the FR goes screwy and the Andro will pick up electrical noise from the Jot. Which should tell you how sensitive it is, cuz that amp is a void with the other transducers I've paired it with.

 

You just have some noisy power, because the Joti is silent for me with the Andro's until I get to about 3/4 up the dial, much louder than I'd ever listen to it with music on.

 

Quite possible. I tried out the Andro with the Jot at my office, so things might've been different elsewhere.

 

Thanks for the input! I think I might shy away for now. Was tempting to try with the black Joti available this week (my current amp is balanced-only out too, which would've been another excuse to go for Joti--but enough sources have confirmed it's not a great pairing with my main pair of cans).

I've also definitely found what @Marvey has measured to be true regarding Andromeda's responses to differing output impedances. I have a janky 2008 iPod nano which measures around 5 ohms out, and Andromeda is bright as hell through that. Incredible detail and a bit "forward" sounding mids, with borderline glare on certain tracks (not unlike the HD800). On the other hand, my Dragonfly v1.2 has ~0.65 ohms out, and the tonality is certainly darker with the mids a bit more recessed and much improved bass response.

Regardless of source, Andromeda is just an absolute joy to listen to. It's certainly more versatile than my HD800's, and I find myself reaching more and more for Andromeda...mostly for the sound of course, but also that green finish...

 

Running the UltraLink II -> Vali 2 (Genalex) -> IEMatch High -> Andro (spin fit) at work. It's great.

I, too, would love a desktop amp that was quiet enough to not use the IEMatch. Oh well.

 

Not meaning to derail the thread, but now I'm particularly interested in the Fulla 2. Since it has an output Z of 0.5 ohm which isn't ideal with Andro, adding iEMatch should help. If I come around to buying it, I'll share what I think of the combo.

 

I know it doesn't get mentioned a lot, but don't overlook the Asgard 2 just because it is cheap and has been out for a while. I picked up a 1/4 inch adapter on a whim this morning and so far very impressive bass response and no hiss that I can detect. I won't elaborate further because I haven't had these things long enough to really form a strong opinion…other than I like them a lot of course.

 

I recently bought a Sony WM1A to use with my Andros.

In short, I find it to be excellent. I've only tried the ZX2 briefly in a store, but the WM1A sounds similar-ish but with less hiss and a fair bit more neutral (note that I probably didn't disable the audio enhancement stuff correctly on the ZX2 so maybe that is why). Has the same kind of thick, realistic sound that the ZX2 has, which makes the instruments sound lifelike.

I just got a the Sony 4.4mm to MMCX cable to use the balanced output and it is a significant step up on the single ended output as well. Very excited about how it sounds currently. Definitely worth a demo! I vastly prefer it to the other pairings I have spent time with (DP-X1, AK120, AK300, GO V2, Ipod touch, Ipod classic, all with and without IEMatch).

 

Nice nice likearake......where did you try them? There really isn't anywhere in the US to try so if I were to, I would have to make a blind purchase. Currently pairing the ALO CDM that I just got and I have to say.......zx2 doesn't come close.....don't think the wm1a will either ><....just wow . Andros on balanced hiss, but once the music plays, can't really hear it because it just fills this huge soundstage with just a full sound. Makes zx2 sound like a dap....wow.

 

The CDM is that good? I probably should have tried it out at the LA meet. Maybe I can listen to @The Life's. I should be receiving my 3.5mm TRRS cable for the Andros later today for my ZX2. Is the balanced output on the CDM significantly better than the SE?

I know it's kind of blasphemy but I tried my Andros out of my Sonett 2 using the -6dB gain and 11ohm output impedance. Tonally it is much leaner than the ZX2 due to the high OI. It actually sounds very close to the UERMs from a near-zero OI. The technicalities though... . Huge spacious sound with the blackest background I've heard from the Andros. Absolutely no hiss at all, with perfect channel balancing. Microdynamics, imaging, layering, and resolution are all what you would expect out of a great tube amp.

 

Well, the IO of the balanced and se are both less than 1, so the andros can get bassy, but the bass is controlled well. The air and huge soundstage do remain though so its not bad at all. I have balanced cables coming for the Geekout v2+(2.5mm urgh) so I can go fully balanced with the ALO. I tried using the Andro, SE and balanced with just the ALO as a dac/amp. It isn't resolving like the GO v2+ infinity, but the sound is just so musical and the tonal body is great, while being airy. The balanced, though the noise floor is higher, is really better than the se in detail retreival, tonality, and seemed much sharper. Imaging was outstanding. Its like going balanced on the ZX2 or Geekoutv2+. With the Iematch to raise the IO, the sound from the SE was also stellar. When I plugged in the GO v2+ infinity into the analog line in as a dac, the soundstage became less 3d and slightly flat. Sound was less immersive but more detailed and the treble extended further. Tonal body is thinner, but not by much. Maybe its the treble extension but it sounds slightly more digital and less tubelike with the GO v2+ as a dac.

Going back to just the GO v2+ I would say the sound signature works better when the unit is used as a whole, as the thinner notes give more way to space and air which gives a sense of ease and spaciousness....though it does feel there isn't enough meat in the bones...and feels a tad clean. Soundstage is still more 2d and smaller than the alo.

The ALO tonally i feel is in more in line with the Sony ZX2, but the transients are much stronger and the tonality is just so massive, while being transparent.

I do think the GO v2+ is the more resolving dac, but so far, currently using the full balanced output of the WM8741 along with the amp sounds so musical. I have to listen more before I can judge. These are just initial impressions. Also will tube roll with sonotones and see how much that changes the sound.

 

I just picked up an Andromeda. Yggdrasil with Pico Power has a silent background. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the rest of what is going on though. There is a buttload of resolution. Staging seems precise with great dimension. Mids and treble are near perfect (IMHO). There is definitely more low end presence and slam than using straight out of my iphone, which I'm not sure if I like yet...

Jeremy (garage1217) makes an attenuation adapter with 3ohm OI which could tilt Andromeda towards its leaner presentation when using ~0ohm amplifiers;

http://www.garage1217.com/garage1217_diy_tube_headphone_amplifiers_012.htm

For those who have tried Andromeda with Jotunheim; do you think it's the ~0ohm OI which makes the combination less favourable, or are there other issues with synergy?