Campfire Audio Solaris - raising the bar?

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by mscott58, Oct 10, 2018.

  1. Rockwell

    Rockwell Friend

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    I remember reading a comment from Ken somewhere that tuning a custom hybrid would be too difficult for them given the size of their operation. Maybe some day. I had no issues whatsoever with fit on Solaris so I'm fine either way personally.

    In other news just over a week until SE Solaris ships...I really can't wait to hear it again, especially this new refined version. I love my VX but there are many things I miss about Solaris and I'm curious to see if I'll be tempted back. The VX just edged out OG Solaris for me (unlike with the Z1R where even the original Solaris is a clear step up).
     
  2. Rockwell

    Rockwell Friend

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    [​IMG]

    Got my hands on a set of these beauties the other day. They are very similar to the OG but with some subtle but definite refinements. The most obvious improvement to me is with the rendering of vocals-- gone is any hint of the "nasal" tonality that people talked about with the original Solaris. The presentation of vocals has definitely been enhanced-- Morrissey, Sinatra, Mark Knopfler and Michael Jackson all sound more forward and robust, as if they're in the room singing right into my ear. The SE Solaris renders vocals better than any other IEM I have tried. Also, the bass quantity is the same but it's more refined and disciplined and the overall presentation is a little less "hazy". All in all this is another win from CFA and my current favorite IEM. I think I'm done for a while.
     
  3. Bloom

    Bloom MOT: Bloom Audio

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    Thanks for sharing your impressions! I'm dying to listen to them given how much I love the OG Solaris. I went back and forth so many times about keeping 1 of the small amount we got in stock for myself. Just couldn't justify it. :-/
     
  4. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    Brief and inaccurate Solaris impressions vs Andromeda on a Sony ZX2, both with CA foam tips, Andros using the Ref 8 cable (bit smoother/warmer)..

    * Solaris seems more grainy
    * upper mids seem to be a bit more prominent, bit too much for me
    * A bit more tiring to listen to (grain/mids bump/not sure why)
    * bigger and wider sound
    * DD bass is nice

    I find the Andros bit more coherent, smoother, cleaner. I prefer them.
     
  5. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    @KenBall : was the bore sized reduced since SBAF’s loaner your?
    I remember that Solaris being quite big in the ear and quickly uncomfortable.

    Just bought a B-stock and it seems to fit better in my ears?
     
  6. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    So... I got a bit bored and I noticed Symbio started selling the W Peel tips so I thought... well, why not try peeling my own pair of Symbio W to see what result I'd get?

    Turns out... it made the tips significantly brighter with Solaris. I was noticing extra airiness that helped Solaris even with near-0 ohm sources, and that's pretty crazy because regularly, 0-ohm sources with Solaris are a big no no to me (too bassy, a bit suffocating, even).

    Pics or it didn't happen:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Also... bonus measurement versus Spiral Dot ML, which I was using before:

    [​IMG]

    Wouldn't trust >8KHz despite that massive 10KHz spike versus Spiral Dot (it's 3dB, in case you guys are wondering). It's a good 1dB boost for everything above 1KHz, otherwise. I think that's ultimately what "lifted" the sound of Solaris to me. I'm measuring out of GOV2+, which has a very-close-to-0-ohm output impedance, me thinks. Measurements made after I heard the new tips because I was going "am I crazy??" Well, at least it is somewhat measurable.

    So anyways, these are now my favorite Solaris tips. Also doesn't hurt that they are a good match color-wise.
     
  7. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    They look like spin fits now, which are my favorite on all 3 CA IEMs I owned (Andro OG, Andro Gold, Solaris).
     
  8. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    Has anyone else besides @Rockwell heard the SEs? Some impressions suggest that the clear up the nasely mids issue that some folks were hearing with the Solaris.
     
  9. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    Any other Solaris owners with wobbly connections between the stock cable and the unit? I don't remember this kind of wobble with the Andros and am wondering if I've got a unit liable to fail there.
     
  10. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Not on my end. However, I rarely swap out the cables.
     
  11. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    It's not when swapping out cables. It's simply when using it. The cable wobbles side to side when you adjust it in ear or take them off. I may be just being paranoid given these are my most expensive audio purchase to day.
     
  12. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Can you tell if the wobble is from the cable side or the IEM side of the MMCX connector? And does snapping the cable on and off make any difference? While some MMCX connectors have been known to weaken with many cycles of connection, Ken uses a really good model of MMCX. In fact at CanJam NYC this weekend I probably swapped my Solaris cables out half a dozen times with no issues, and I've done it many more times previously. Totally understand your worry though - wouldn't want one of these pieces of gold to risk getting lost!
     
  13. Rockwell

    Rockwell Friend

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    Did you get a chance to hear the SE? Curious to hear your thoughts if you did.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2020
  14. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    @Rockwell - I know you've had both Solaris'. Are your cable connections tight and wobble free?
     
  15. Rockwell

    Rockwell Friend

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    Yup rock solid. I've got a Legend X and VE8 as well at the moment and both of their 2 pin connectors give me way more anxiety than the MMCX on my Solaris.
     
  16. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

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    I don't have another cable handy so I cant compare. When I get home from traveling I'll try them with another CA cable I have and see if the issue persists. Snapping off an on makes no difference. These are less than a month old so I don't suspect its wear and tear.
     
  17. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Got to spend a little time with the SE, but didn't go too in depth with them as there was so much else going on. I didn't find that much of a difference between the SE and the base Solaris to be honest at least beyond the aesthetics. Sound-wise I found them quite similar, and had no drive to upgrade from my existing units. Again, this was not under any critical listening situation. Cheers
     
  18. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    FWIW @KenBall mentioned that stock is getting low on the Special Edition Solaris.

    Glad I didn’t miss out, after years of trying to be satisfied with closed cans at work- going to stay with TOTL IEMs and keep work and travel rig small and now excellent.
     
  19. Rockwell

    Rockwell Friend

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    Do you have an SE?
     
  20. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    likely by tomorrow, burn in begins over weekend.
     

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