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

I don't know how the andros react out of a desktop setup per se, but I think going from IfI micro iDSD to a GoV2+ Inf won't be a big jump in sound quality...more just a different flavor. Never heard the andros with the iDSD, but from what I remember the iDSD is a bit more raw with a drier but more impactful sound. The GO v2+ in general feels a bit more airy.....Jexby beat me ><

 

@jexby Thanks for your reply. I searched this thread and @Clemmaster mentioned he likes the Andro with Vali 2 and iEMatch on High. I have 13h and 35m to decide so unfortunately I can't wait for yours to arrive. but @zerodeefex mentioned being able to "swing both ways" depending on his mood, which implies he uses the balanced out w/o iEMatch some of the time. I take that to mean the hiss is tolerable. Your summary answer is good advice.

Also, thanks @Cellist88 for your input.

 

To be honest I'm using Andromedas straight out from a Clip Zip when out, so blasphemy aside, I think it works well for a on the go solution.

If your on the go needs are being met, then I'd say get a desktop solution instead of another portable amp/dac.

 

I don't have an iDSD, but between GOV2 (not +) and Mojo, Mojo has a slight edge for me and is slightly blacker. Though there is discernible hiss, it's more noticeable on the GOV2, so I'd imagine GOV2+ with the new GO2a bits would likely be a wash or better than Mojo. If you can get your hands on a Mojo to test vs iDSD, at least from a hiss point of view you may have a closer reference. In terms of other qualitative factors GOV2+/GO2a has trusted proponents here giving the nod to the Geek over Mojo.

I have some monitors coming which I'll run balanced out of GO2a SE (also incoming...eventually) while I mull over the future of desktop amps and DACs. IMO you need to be prepared to drop some significant cash ($3k and up) on desktop gear presuming you have cans that will scale. For Andros only I don't think its necessary or worthwhile.

 

I thought about dissecting one, but it looks like they finished them with hot glue and it would be an irreversible and likely destructive procedure. With louder recordings, iEMatch on High on the micro iDSD doesn't attenuate enough. With foobar2k it's fine as I can use the software volume, but using DS Audio on my iPad I have no way to reduce the volume going out to the DAC. So I tried the -24dB prototype pigtail + iEMatch set to High. The bass sounds the same as with just the -24dB pigtail, i.e. the same as Zout=0. So having iEMatch "High" + iEMatch "Ultra" (-24dB pigtail) doesn't seem to be the same as 2 resistors in series. Guess there's weirdness going on with all the voltage dividers.

Found the tutorial below, and even though I have a graduate degree in physics (from a long time ago), it makes my brain hurt trying to read it. @jexby Maybe you can design your own "jet fighter tech" iEMatch-equipped balanced 3.5 TRRS cable.
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/attenuators/t-pad-attenuator.html

 

Dragonfly Red came in, and I can say that I'm in a very happy place now. Nice black background (very minimal hiss) and much more control at every frequency--at least in comparison to my Dragonfly v1.2.

I was pretty satisfied with the v1.2 pairing earlier, but the Red is something else entirely. Soundstage and perceived "air" between instruments are probably the biggest improvements. Bass is certainly more clamped, but in a good way--the v1.2's bass sounds bloated with poor decay in comparison. I think my portable rig is probably done for a good while!

 

Got some Comply Tx-400s in today and the effect wasn't what I was hoping for. There's very slightly less sibilance and tizz in the treble, but not enough difference that I'd be confident to pick it out in a blind test. The mids are a bit more forward which is nice, but what kills it is the bass rolls off significantly, to the extent that taking my iEMatch -12dB pigtail out of the chain wasn't enough to bring it all back. I tried both shallow and deeper insertions with the same results. The deeper insertion gets the nozzle to about the same depth as with the SpinFits (using my fingers on the shell as a gauge). I left the stock foamies at home, but I don't remember them having such a significant effect on the bass.

Another problem for me is that for some reason with either of the foam tips the shell presses on the tragus of my R ear. There's just enough clearance with silicone tips. I bought 2 pairs thinking I'd save on future shipping since the Complies don't last as long, but that's $15 down the tubes for me. Better this way in the end as I find the Comply "squeeze and hold" insertion process a real pain whereas the SpinFits just pop right into place.

Edit: Forgot to add that I really like the idea of the wax filters as after less than a week I can already see crud in the ports.

 

my personal preference alternates between the stock foamies and shure orange foamies... prefer either over comply and never liked silicone (spiral dots, sony hybrids, ortofon and spinfit) and the vacuum effect i get from all of them.

ymmv @jexby : yes their B stock is A stock for most manufacturers

enjoy

 

Had a Lehmann buffer clone fed by a Soekris to try earlier, sounds surprisingly good with the Andromedas. Might be the 5 ohm output at work.

Wax filters kills a lot of the highs for me. Even thinner filters like those on my hearing aid kills the highs from them aids, and they were terrible to begin with.

Foams tend to cause my ears to itch terribly too, so I'm still using silicon tips with shallow insertion.

 

If you have UAPP, you can choose 100 steps of volume control, and maybe you can fine tune it to the volume you like.

 

The andros do not hiss much from the SE, but once you switch over to balanced, it becomes a problem. Regardless...amazing iem, and it pairs really well with the Go V2+

 

Some people are more sensitive to hiss than others. I do not find the hiss of the Andromeda to be as bad with the ZX2 or GOV2+ as some here do, even balanced. I have the iematch but don't often use it.

 

If you want a better seal with silicones, you can use some of your older foams, push the hard plastic core out, trim the length a bit, and put it into the silicone tips. (DIY Sony Hybrid foam filled tips ;P.) I prefer the sound with wider bore silicone tips over foam tips personally.

I get a good enough seal with the silicone tips that I'm not doing that, but worth a try if you want to get the silicone sound.

 

I find the Andros with Litz to have a bit more structure-borne sound transmission than my ER4Ps modded to use the Shure cable w/ remote. That cable loops directly over the ear with no wire and thus might have more noise damping. The Litz cable might be better in this respect without the wire.

Glad you're enjoying your Andromedas!

 

Was poking around in the box and remembered there was a CA pin that came with the Andros. Has anybody ever actually worn it?