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

What balanced cable are you using?

 

How is isolation compared to Shures or Etys?

 

Have held off writing this:

The most subversive (which should not be read as "pejorative") quality of the Andromeda seems to me that it simply appears to preclude the need for expensive external gear, required by full-sized headphones to maximize performance, while simultaneously matching or even overgoing said headphone chains sonically. I have always seen people make these claims before, but by all accounts here it seems the Andromeda has really done it. Makes me cry inside having recently purchased the EC ZDS when I could have achieved similar or better performance from my iphone (well, not really, since I know I'll love the ZDS).

Are we saying here that the Andromeda via iphone outdoes the HD650 or HD800 with TOTL amps and DACs? Many times I see comparisons of iems to other iems. This is the first time I've seen such impressions from credible reviewers seeming to position an iem above a well-regarded full-sized Sennheiser, which I assumed was stated with a high-end chain in mind, given the experience of the reviewer's impressions.

Fascinating indeed!

 

You have no idea how much I have already internalized your wisdom, sir. I don't think wire with gain is real at all. I have said as much on the Headamp GSX-MK II thread on HF. Do you know how much I was flamed? The shit (Wire with gain) doesn't f'ing exist!!! Imaginary meets the symbolic but not the Real.

But yes, the fact that the Andromeda performs so amazingly well with no external amp and DAC definitely calls into question my spending habits of late...

 

Hold on, hold on... I'm finding it seriously hard to believe that an iPhone can deliver the goods no matter how great the IEM. I don't really know what I'm talking about when it comes to an amp, but what about the DAC? I mean, I love taking my walks with my M-Duo's on my iPhone, but I think we all know the difference a good DAC makes. I wouldn't even think of doing any serious listening off my iPhone's DAC. Please set this snob straight!

 

Perhaps you could get a DAC for your iPhone. They have some really nice ones out there. Some more pricey than others, but it depends on how good of a DAC you would want for your iPhone and your budget. Here are a few examples, but you can always do a search:

http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/one-dac

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-A200p-Portable-Headphone-Android/dp/B00HWCYOK6

And here is a bunch:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-sBEj6H3Lfor/g_372350/DACs-for-iPod-iPhone.html

NOTE: Some DAC's for iPhone may require a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter

http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-to-USB-Camera-Adapter/dp/B014VGHG0U/ref=dp_ob_title_wld

 

Would I get hiss with the GO 450 and Shozy Alien?

 

Reread post to which I was replying and no need to elaborate: post retracted.

 

You just did and we ignored you.

 

Hasn't playboy stopped printing nude pics lately?..

This is a good device to add some musicality to iPhone. I do like iPhone's neutrality, however.

http://www.arcam.co.uk/musicboost.htm

 

Damn it, Marv, you just want to see me spend $1100. I was just going gaga with he iPhone 6s/Sine combo.

 

any points of comparison of the andromeda against ie800 or jh13fp or Mdr-ex1000 ?

 

I was out of the IEM game for some time after selling my custom JH13FP. To my ears, the JH13FP was the best IEM I've heard to date; I greatly preferred it over its Siren Series successors, Noble K10U, and even the Shure KSE1500. It seems JH13 got a V2 release now but I have no idea how it sounds in comparison to V1.

Anyway, I had given up looking for a decent universal IEM that could provide with as much enjoyment as my JH13FP had, but the latest offerings from Campfire Audio are indeed interesting. I am considering Jupiter or Andromeda (currently leaning toward the latter) and based on the impressions here I think an AK Jr, with its 2 ohm output Z, would do a fine job without necessitating an external amp.

I still doubt it could actually compete with a dedicated full-sized headphone like my modded HD650 or HD800S though. Care to prove me wrong, anyone?

 

Mind you I only have Jupiter...

If you like IE800, we may have seriously different ear canal profiles. Its bass was a performer, very different presentation but same quality as Jupiter's bass. The rest of sound was really fucked up. IE800's fatal flaw is its midrange, extremely metallic and sibilant sounding. The highs were hot and despite being a single dynamic driver, more or less disconnected from the midrange.

So no, IE800 is not even worth $200 in my book, let alone being a potential comparison vs something speculated to be better than Jupiter.

 

thanks for the feedback @Griffon and @Marvey !

Strangely I don't find the ie800 fucked up... then means my ear canal is... haha