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

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

  1. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Yep.
     
  2. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I don't think so. That one has a stainless steel shell, and is very limited. I would be surprised if @Bill-P got his ears on them. Those ones are supposed to sound different.

    I think he's referring to regular Andros with running changes.
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    According to this, the v2 nozzle isn't longer. It just looks like it due to a step in the machining of the SS nozzle which makes it look longer.

    I'll stop posting links to other sites and wait for @KenBall to chime in.
     
  4. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Thanks @gixxerwimp for clearing that up. I misunderstood the original question.

    A quick note about signature changes with the Andro. After spending additional time and trying my own experiments, I feel that the biggest potential to change the signature of the Andromeda is with the tips.

    A week ago, I thought that I'd been able to "warm" the signature of the Andro with an all copper cable. Well, not so much really. It turned out to be the tips more than anything else that was responsible for the changes that I was hearing.

    For the anatomy of my own ears, the stock M silicone and the med Spinfit are the only two from the box that work for me. The stock silicone rolls off the treble and punches up the bass a bit. This results in an easy, punchy, warmer sound more akin to the hd600.

    The Spinfits create more of an edge to the notes. The bass tightens up with wonderful extension. For me, this is closer to hd800 (although Utopia my be more of an accurate desgination), with a good tube amp. This signature is overall more truth to the original description of how the Andro is supposed to sound (although some may prefer a warmer sound).

    I think that tips are as important as any in the chain with this iem...even source. I plan to collect more tips and do some more tip rolling given that it's cheap and very easy to do. The only real thing lacking with the Spinfit for me, is that the lack a bit for isolation...letting in a little more ambient noise than I'd like.

    One thing is certain, the Andromeda is special and one of the real innovation and unique experiences that I've had in quite some time in this hobby. I put off the Andro for two years because I'd given up on universals. That was a big mistake as the Andro is dead is easy to get a good fit. If you haven't tried these yet, do yourself a favor and just pull the trigger.
     
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Anyone get the S yet? Curious to hear what people think of it.
     
  6. Muse Wanderer

    Muse Wanderer Friend

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    I posted my impression of balanced cabled Andro driven by ZX2 here (link). At the time, I sent my Andromedas version 1 for repair as a nozzle had detached. I was given a brand new version 2 Andro instead as the old ones could not be fixed.

    On listening to version 2 via single and then balanced cable I noted a sharper sound than I was used to. It felt slightly more jagged compared to my old Andros. Tonality and other technicalities were unchanged apart from the obvious big step up in staging, imaging and instrument separation when using the ALO linx balanced TRRS cable on the ZX2. It did not sound congested when driven by ZX2 and it stepped up much further with respect to microdynamics and microdetails when occasionally paired to Yggdrasil-Rag SE out.

    Unfortunately I don't have a version 1 to compare to directly and can only state my immediate impressions on first listening on getting the new ones. Despite lack of direct comparison I trust my first impressions as my aural memory tends to stick in with time. (I had the same experience when moving from HD800 to HD800S, noting the woolly less defined bass of the latter compared to the former).

    I got used to the sound over the past 2-3 months and cannot validate whether the sharper signature of v2 has gone possibly with burn-in. Sound of the Andro-ZX2 combo is still gorgeous and addictive. That said, a head to head comparison of a used v2 and v1 Andro is needed to get to the bottom of this.
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  7. HeartOfSky

    HeartOfSky Acquaintance

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    I am very anxiously awaiting mine. All of my music is super excited to be heard differently.
     
  8. Ice-man

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    I spent some time last night rolling some new tips. And there was in fact a breakthrough, for me. There are two what I call medium Spinfit tips included. I'd already tried the smaller of the two mediums and assumed the larger one would not fit. Well, it does fit and overall the Spinfit beats out the signature of the stock silicone.

    Basically what I get now from the Spinfit is more of what the Andro does best...clarity, air. delicate detail and ability to present the music from a "clean window" without being fatiguing.

    I can see myself rolling in the stock silicone from time to time for a slightly warmer sound. My love affair with the Andromeda continues. My wife refers to them as my "girlfriend." I suppose because I spend so much time with them.
     
  9. Biodegraded

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    Well, when you told her you had a new favourite pair of tips...
     
  10. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    IIRC, there are two types of clear silicone tips. The ones with the longer stems that flex are the official Spinfits. The other ones are just generic silicone tips. This is going from memory so I may be full of shit. I'm sure there's an unboxing video or review somewhere you can check.
     
  11. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    put a single ended cable on Andromeda to try out with WooAudio WA8 Eclipse- and um, no hiss or air. unreal!
    with no music playing, and volume on 10. (playing level is 2-4)
    black background from both the 3.5mm port as well as the 1/4 with adapter.

    got a couple weeks fly time with WA8 so impressions on the pairing later on.
     
  12. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    Has anyone attempted any EQ on the Andromeda? It’s actually one of two headphones which sound fantastic to me without any DSP, but I can’t help wondering if I’m missing anything.
     
  13. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Yes, I do use EQ with Sony nwwm1z. It works flawless. And for me, cables and source are the key factor with andromeda, because it can change the sound a lot imho. Linum cables are very interesting because you can select the impedance.
     
  14. Ice-man

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    I EQ just about every headphone that I own. But the Andromeda sounds just fine to me with no EQ.
     
  15. roscoeiii

    roscoeiii Acquaintance

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    Ref 8 on the way for my Andros. Love these IEMs and time to see what a change of cable can do.

    Also the below comment from @jowls in his getting out of the hobby sale thread might be of interest to folks here. Speaks to how special the Andros are (as well as what a great DAP pairing that is).

     
  16. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    +1. My DAC1541 can sound a bit lean on the monitors, but with Andros I haven't needed to EQ. Nor with my phone (V30). In fact outside of OI and hiss they seem to be incredibly well behaved with whatever you throw at them.
     
  17. HeartOfSky

    HeartOfSky Acquaintance

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    I just got the LG V7, and damn that sound is good. Ugh, why can't the Andro-S ship sooner!?!?
     
  18. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    What EQ settings do you use?
     
  19. xsuperxapplex

    xsuperxapplex Acquaintance

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    For people that want a bassier sound to the Andros and don't want to use foamies, try the Acoustune AET07 eartips. I've found it has a marked increase to the low end of the Andros with it compared to a bunch of other silicone tips like the symbios, spinfit, final, spiraldot. It also doesn't get sibilant either, which was a problem for me with a lot of the other silicone tips.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
  20. bFlat

    bFlat New

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    For those who ordered the Andro S in the US, I just got my shipment notification today 9/17!
     

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