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

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by purr1n, May 13, 2016.

  1. Arcadium

    Arcadium New

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    I asked them a couple of days back and they said it's normal, but not good, and that I should get a hearing aid desiccant pot to put them in after use. Strange they'd dismiss it. Maybe there was a misunderstanding? I get condensation after having them in for 1 minute unfortunately.
     
  2. deafdoorknob

    deafdoorknob Almost "Made"

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    @KenBall is active here, perhaps he could shed some light on this issue, but afaik, this (condensation) happens to all iems i have when the seal is "proper".
     
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I just thought of a possible trick to avoid the condensation. Try warming the Andros in your hands for a while before inserting, I guess until they don't feel cold to the touch. Then there won't be such a large temperature difference.
     
  4. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I just noticed the Andro cleaning tool has a magnet on the brush end. Can't think of a reason for this off the top of my head. Anyone have any ideas?

    In other news, I ordered and received PW Audio's Copper 28 cable (not from this seller). It doesn't handle as well as the stock Litz cable, but the heatshrink ear hooks are very comfortable and transmit a lot less mechanical noise (a.k.a. "microphonics"). The #5 (recommended by @zerodeefex) looks really nice, but I can't justify the cost.
     
  5. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    If you have issues with mechanical transmitted noise, weave through your shirt buttons if you have buttons. Works pretty well. Works even better with a Clip, just a loop round the neck forms a 'wireless' solution.

    Planning to stick with the stock cables for some time.
     
  6. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

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    Cleaning tool is originally from hearing aids, where magnet is used for removing batteries.
     
  7. Pyotr

    Pyotr Acquaintance

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    I found a quick mod that can fix the condensation issue. I figured it out a week ago and wanted to test it out before posting.

    Basically, you take a teabag, cut it open and dump the tea, then using the paper, cut two small 1-1.5cm squares (one for each side). Take the little square of tea filter paper, sort of mold it around the bare nozzle, and then very carefully shove the silicone tips on top of the paper. This may take a few tries, but if done right, the tip will stretch the paper over the bores tightly. You might rip/tear the paper the first couple tries, but once you get the feel of it, this is a very easy mod you can do again and again in case you need to take off the tips for some reason. Once the tea paper and tip are securely on the nozzle, you might have some extra paper hanging outside the tip- just take a small pair of scissors and carefully trim it to your liking.

    Here's a pic:
    [​IMG]

    After a week of using this mod I found:
    -Any moisture gets absorbed by the tea paper and you can wear the andros (or any CA aluminum IEM) for hours without any huge droplets forming. Ear canals might get a little sweaty, but at least its not in the IEM itself
    -Protects those huge, open bores from any debris/earwax
    -Minimally affects the sound. There is still the tiniest bit of treble softness, but not even close to as much as the foam/comply tips. I also noticed with foams snares could lose some attack/bite- the tea paper doesnt do this at all. If I had to be nit-picky, I'd say it adds just a tiny bit of softness, but it's hardly noticable. Everything is still very sharp and defined, but somehow also makes esses/sibilance softer and easier on the ear, but it can still be a bit grating on the right tracks on higher volumes. I think people who find silcone tips make the sound too strident will love this mod since it retains the resolution and openness silicones provide but just adds a touch of softness to make the upper mids and higher frequencies sound a little more natural. I haven't noticed any other reduction in sound and the resolution/imagery is still there, but of course, ymmv.

    A thing I also noticed with this mod is occasionally some minor flex in the paper when inserting/adjusting Andro. This is fixed just by replacing the tea paper again and making sure its tight on the surface of the nozzle. You can test tightness by gently pressing against the paper over one of the bores with the pick end of the cleaning tool. Should be pretty tight like a drum.

    So far, this mod has been working like a champ for me. I switched to foam tips for a while because the condensation with spiral dot tips was really bothering me, but I found the foams just took too much away from the upper mids/lower treble and a lot of songs lost some life because of it. With this mod I can wear Andromedas with spiral dots for hours on end. The slight reduction in stridency and sibilance was a pleasant surprise. I bet you could add more treble if you poked a pin-sized hole into the paper over the largest bore, and add more bass/mids in the two smallest bores.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2017
  8. TRex

    TRex Almost "Made"

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    My Andro got wet again. The weather is drizzly and colder than usual. My ear canals are dry, which rules out sweaty ears. However, there are few doubts of condensation:

    Internal (bore walls) stays dry? If the in-ear gets cold, condensation should also occur on internal surfaces.

    Less condensation on foamies. Foam absorbs the moisture? Less heat insulation?

    EDIT: If condensation is the culprit, an absorbent filter won't block warm air from getting inside bores. But as I stated above, I never observe any liquid inside the bores. Is there any physicist on SBAF?
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2017
  9. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    The condensation should be worse on the surface facing the ear canal, as that's where the warm moist air first contacts the cooler IEM enclosure. Some moist air will diffuse into the bores, but the temperature difference and water content would decrease the deeper you go. Once the IEMs have warmed up and all temperatures have reached equilibrium, I wouldn't think much more condensation would occur. But this would depend on how much more moisture is being produced by the ear canals.

    The teabag paper mod should reduce the amount of condensation by acting as a thermal insulating barrier between the ear canal and the IEM surface, and might reduce the amount of water vapour diffusing into the bores. Any initial condensation should be absorbed by the paper. But this moist paper will be suspended above the bores and water vapour could then evaporate and pass through into the bores. I would think the amount of moisture getting inside would be less than without the paper. Gonna try this now.

    I have a degree in physics from ages ago, so all of this is just what I pulled out of my ass based on common sense.
     
  10. daytripper

    daytripper Friend

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    Tea bagging your Andros :eek: lol.
     
  11. Muse Wanderer

    Muse Wanderer Friend

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    Shall I use English breakfast, Green tea or go hardcore with some Zavarka russian tea on my Andros?! :D
     
  12. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I used the oolong they stock at my office. Had to use a retracted ball point pen to push the paper well into the tip before putting it on or else it would rip. No significantly noticeable change in sound for me. The paper looks stretched very thin though, at the point of ripping.
     
  13. deafdoorknob

    deafdoorknob Almost "Made"

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  14. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Can't find the Zout mentioned anywhere, nor any detailed info about what's under the hood. $550 does seem a bit pricey for an DAC/amp with only a play button.
     
  15. deafdoorknob

    deafdoorknob Almost "Made"

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    fwiw, Nathan (Ohm image/headfonia) claims that the zOut is "well below 1" via a tweet
     
  16. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I bought 100 desiccant packets online for US$1.30 ($2 shipping) and will keep one in my leather case.
    You can see the oolong teabag paper sticking out from under the tips.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    Any difference between your PWAudio and stock cable?

    (I'd imagine for one, it's a lot harder to get it into the case than the stock litz.)
     
  18. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Can't hear any sonic differences. I'm not a cable Belieber. The PW cable has a bit of shape memory, but is very pliable and I have no problem doing my figure-8 wind and putting it in the case without the velcro tie, even through it's 10cm longer (std. length is 1.2m, but I specifically asked for 1.3m). It's also a bit more finicky than the stock Litz to pick up and sort the L/R earpieces for insertion. With the Litz you can pretty much grab them any old way and they'll line up OK. To avoid twists with the PW, you need to grab it at the Y-split and let them hang down first. Not a big deal for me. The wooden "neck tightener" is a bit loose (the holes are probably the right size for his larger gauge cables), but it holds just fine when pulled up under my chin without having to be too snug.

    Main difference for me is the reduced mechanical noise. This is worth any of the minor inconveniences.
     
  19. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Another difference between the PW cable and the stock Litz is that the heatshrink ear hook doesn't require adjustment each time you put them on. It just lightly presses against the back side of the concha.

    Even if the teabag mod doesn't reduce condensation, it's reassuring to see something there to stop ear crap from getting into the bore holes.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2017
  20. TheBarnard

    TheBarnard Friend

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    I just got the IEMatch in today and I've really been enjoying the added warmth it gives to the Andros, when being through my 5.6ohm Galaxy S7. Brings the bass much more up front. The bass volume is normally pretty adequate, except when walking, or in a noisy environment where the bass can get drowned out a bit.

    Decided to try the IEMatch with the Mjolnir2 and some decent tubes and I'm LOVING the sound i'm getting so far. It's so full and even, and separated. I can also finally use the volume knob without needing to lower my computer volume to 20%

    As a slight stipulation, the Andro does lose some of the air and finer details, but I don't think this is a problem with the IEMatch, and just a result of increased volume from 20hz-120hz. I've read some comments saying it becomes bloated, but I think thats just a matter of perception due to increased low end obscuring top end.

    I have not compared the IEMatch to any other 2.5ohm OI device so I can't say for sure, though.
     

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