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

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

  1. Huxleigh

    Huxleigh Almost "Made"

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    Didn't much care for the Andro directly out of the Mojo or DF Red. But the DF Red/pico Power combination is shaping up rather nicely. Despite the pico's low OI, bass is kept in check. And, unlike the Mojo, it doesn't smother the Andro's airiness. Sounds great so far, though it's hard to beat the natural synergy with the iPhone.

    Man, the Andro does ambience like nothing else I've heard. It take some adjustment to get a handle on all the musical information that it sends your way. Just oodles of detail.
     
  2. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Has anyone tried the AK Jr?

    Personally, while I'm not a fan of Astell&Kern's overpriced DAP's, I find the entry-level AK Jr to be the perfect match with Andro. I can see the synergy between Andro and my iPhone 6S but there is absolutely zero noise floor with AK Jr whereas I hear some background noise with iPhone. And speaking of synergy, AK Jr with its output Z of 2 ohms is very synergistic with Andro, offering a perfectly balanced neutral sound that is neither bloated nor lean.

    I haven't tried the Sony ZX2 yet, but with the recent rise in yen against other currencies due to Brexit, I strongly recommend AK Jr as an affordable option for Andro owners out there. I got mine for less than $300 new.
     
  3. paranoidroid

    paranoidroid Friend

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    I find the extreme sensitivity of the Andromeda to be frustrating. I'm not sure how much more effort it would have taken to make them less reactive to OI but it just seems like a bad design decision. From the iPhone 6S to the iPhone 7 (4.5 OI to 0.5 OI) the bass is boomy and hollow as you describe. Less midrange and treble presence as well. Everything just sounds mushier. I would have sold them if I didn't know how they sounded on the 6S. Now I have build a 4ohm serial adapter to use with the iPhone 7 which means two dongles where with the iPhone 6S I had none. :mad:
     
  4. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Yep, the Andro's sensitivity can be frustrating. Now that I am stuck with the iPhone 7, on @shotgunshane's advice, I bought the iFi EMatch adapter. Now it could be a bit of a problem to have the lightning to 3.5 adapter to the Ematch to the Andro. I think the end results are worth it however. With the selector switch on the EMatch set to Ultra one gets a lot more neutral sound. For fun and a boombox experience, switch it to High. Highly recommend the iFi and it is $50.

    Add: @songmic's post below made me add my observation on noise or hiss: I do not find any (yet) with my set up.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2016
  5. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    I would be frustrated too if I were in your shoes. I'm still holding on to my iPhone 6s and currently have no intention of "upgrading" to iPhone 7. However, I think one of Andro's biggest issues is not only its extreme reactivity to OI but also its extremely high sensitivity (measured in dB/mW). Although iPhone 6s has an ideal OI for Andro, I still don't use it with Andro because Andro picks up all the noise within the iPhone and a constant background hum could be heard. Andro was also unbearable to listen to with my EC Studio amp; Studio was dead silent with any full-sized headphones I've tried, but with Andro there was too much hum.

    Because of this, I don't recommend using Andro with any amp at all, not even an iPhone 6s which has ideal OI for Andro as even the iPhone has too much noise floor for Andro. Use a low-power portable DAP with an OI of somewhere around 2-4 ohms with close to zero noise floor. The AK Jr perfectly fits that bill.
     
  6. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I second the IEMatch. It's A must have add-on.
     
  7. likearake

    likearake Acquaintance

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    Isn't it the other way round? Ifi specs are:
    Output Impedance: < 2.5 Ohms (High-Sensitivity) < 1 Ohms (Ultra-Sensitivity)

    Agree that IEMatch is a good accessory. Essential for me.
     
  8. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Yes, my bad... It should be the other way round. I edited my post to erase the mistake. Thanks.
     
  9. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Anybody got a recommendation for a good desktop/portable amp for the Andros?

    The Vali2 w/ IEMatch is not giving me what I want ATM. I tried the EH 6922 and Genalex Gold Pin but neither of them are fully satisfactory.
    I'm not sure if it's an inherent miss-match of the amp (cap coupled) but I'm having either overpowering bass (Gold Pin), or tighter bass but too lean tonality (EH 6922).

    On the other hand, my iPad Mini 2 provides a very good tonal balance.

    The Leckerton always gets high recommendations around here. Would it work?
    I liked the continental V5 at the meet, but can't quite justify the price.
     
  10. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    Are you using the 1ohm or 2.5ohm setting from the IEMatch? Lower OI will give the Andros more bass while higher will reduce it. IME, the sony ZX2 (1.5ohm OI) works better than any desktop/portable amp that I've tried. If you do want to use an amp though, you can try my Neco v5 (0.5ohm). I sent mine out to @Merrick yesterday for the loaner. I'd describe it as a much beefier leckerton and I'd imagine it working pretty well with the Andro/IEMatch.

    What is the OI of the iPad Mini 2?
     
  11. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Thanks.

    I can't find the OI of the Mini 2. The Air2 is 2.2 ohms. Shouldn't be much different.

    I know the IEMatch will have a setting that works, but for some reason it's not quite there with the Vali 2. The IEMatch should present a load of at least 16 ohms to the Vali 2.
     
  12. deafdoorknob

    deafdoorknob Almost "Made"

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    i have yet to try it myself but some ppl in my local head-fi community suggest the use of linum music cable as it has a higher than normal series impedance (2 ohms across the audible spectrum). hope it helps.
     
  13. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    That's a pretty good idea. I forgot about the different impedance of the other Linum cables.
     
  14. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Thanks for the suggestions!

    I actually put back my PS Audio UltraLink II in the chain at work, fed by a Digi+Pro: MUCH better than the Modi Multibit.
     
  15. SoupRKnowva

    SoupRKnowva Official SBAF South Korean Ambassador

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    Speaking of which, is their Super BAX cable low enough impedance to work well with the andromeda? I really dislike memory wire and so I tried the Mee audio cable that came with my P1s, and it was obviously too high impedance cause it got crazy bright and lost all bass.

    I always use them with my iPhone SE so I don't really need any more output impedance.
     
  16. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    SuperBAX is 0.75 ohms.
     
  17. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    Just can't......get better than this.....zx2 plus andromedas >< damn.....MMMMMMM....tasty. Hope the trrs balanced cables come soon for the next level. ><
     
  18. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I know it's late for impressions, since the Andros have been out for a while. I've gone in completely the opposite direction from my original intention with IEMs and now have both the Vega and the Andromeda. I've been listening to the Vegas almost nonstop since I got them, but I've mostly put them aside since getting the Andromedas so I could get a longer impression of the Andromeda's sound. I think the defining characteristic of the Andromeda is its incredible clarity and imaging abilities. I may have posted this somewhere before but it's like being in a boat on a placid lake and you can see all the way to the bottom, see all the layers of vegetation and animal life all the way down. It's exceptionally well balanced and surprisingly coherent for a 5-driver BA. It is resolving enough to show the flaws in your recording but also has a smooth enough sound (not smoothed over) that you enjoy them anyway. And with great recordings they are a treat, easily the most well rounded transducers I have spent any significant time with. And it also has the best treble I've heard in a headphone, soaring and sparkling without sibilance.

    Probably my biggest complaint is that it lacks grit and at times feels like it might be a bit too smooth. I don't think it's obscuring details but the texture at times feels a little synthetic compared to what I hear in real life. I suspect this is the result of the BA drivers and it doesn't get in the way of my enjoyment, but I do note it sometimes and with particular recordings I feel like they could use more oomph.

    The Vegas by comparison are all oomph. The Vega's deep, powerful bass propels the sound forward, and combined with its far more intimate soundstage, gives you a feeling like you're seeing a live show at a medium sized club. The result is a terrifically exciting signature, aided by the texture that feels more right to my ears than the Andromeda. The grit, the grain, it's there. This comes at the expense of the airiness the Andromeda excels at, the instruments sound more closely placed and the overall soundstage is smaller. Vega also doesn't feature highs as extended, sparkling, or intoxicating as Andromeda, and can have some sibilance by comparison. Listening by itself, I didn't detect much sibilance but I can hear it when I compare against the Andromeda, and even then it's not on every recording.

    Technicalities on the two are very close. Andromeda feels slightly faster but Vega has a more natural decay. Detail retrieval goes to the Andromeda, it's just a master of presenting you all the details in a very 3D way so you can luxuriate in them. Vega buries some of the details and take more concentrated listening to pull them all out.

    These are two very different flavors of IEM and I think most people will gravitate more towards one or the other. I'm loving both for different applications and listening moods.

    Most of my listening was with the ZX2, with a little time on the GOV2+ and for Vega only some with the Jotunheim. All in balanced mode.
     
  19. Sherlocked

    Sherlocked New

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    I picked up a pair of Andromeda's recently and am experiencing the same thing. They sound great straight out of my iPhone 6 Plus, but I'm struggling to find a desktop setup that sounds as good. I've currently tried the following:

    1. Wyrd > GeekOut 450 > Leckerton UHA-6S MK II
    2. GeekOut 450 standalone

    Neither setup came close to the iPhone 6 Plus. Even after tagging on an IEMatch to the end of both setups (tried both high and ultra sensitivity options), the Andromeda's still sounded somewhat lacking. Soundstage is definitely more closed in. I wouldn't necessarily say bass becomes more prevalent or less controlled. I find that the midrange simply takes more of a backseat role relative to the bass. Overall, both desktop setups appear to sound more bloated, for lack of a better term.

    On the one hand, I'm happy that the performance with just my iPhone is so satisfying and I can keep my portable setup super minimalist. On the other hand, I wish I could find a desktop setup that at least meets the performance from the iPhone as I probably do 60% - 70% of my listening at home. It's pretty strange to be saying all of this as most of us are usually trying to find portable setups that can get us closer to our home rigs. o_O

    I'm passing on the Sony ZX2 even though it seems to be the best fit for the Andromeda's because 1) I don't really want to carry a second device along with my iPhone and 2) it wouldn't solve the desktop listening problem.

    I'm debating whether to pick up a Chord Mojo for home listening as it appears to be just a notch below the Sony ZX2 in terms of performance and could be used in a desktop setup (as well as a transportable setup, if I'm feeling fancy).

    However, I'm curious. Has anyone else had good results from other home setups? I can't help but wonder if something like the Modi Multibit + *Insert Amp* would outperform the Mojo or even ZX2.
     
  20. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    Consider the iFi Micro iDSD, commonly $350 second hand. It has the IEMatch built in and IMO sounds a lot better than the Mojo. Transportable, though not exactly on-the-go friendly. Works well with most full-sized cans as well.
     

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