Campfire Ara Review - Perfection - Nicely Done!

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by purr1n, May 27, 2020.

  1. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    I've fallen in love with iFi go blu + Ara

    * there's a bit of hiss, but I don't mind
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2022
  2. angryteen

    angryteen New

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    Sorry to ask so late. Mind sharing your impressions? I love my Ara from ZX2 but it can no longer run Spotify/ tidal and im tired of having to transfer music it to it.

    I strongly considering go blu but understand the IO is near 0, and cant get to demo it in my area. To me Ara sounds just about "correct" on ZX2 with silicone tips and normal insertion.
     
  3. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    What specifically do you want to know about? I would end up writing quite a bit if I had to describe it fully.

    There is definitely a background hiss, but as I mentioned, it doesn't really bother me that much.

    Apart from that there is a nice synergy, and I think as Marv has mentioned elsewhere (...I think?), x-bass and x-space work quite well.

    I like the fact that I can use Ara on the move with the GoBlu like it's the 1990s or 2000s (DAP era). You don't really need to interact with your phone (or whatever source) much if at all. And just for that experience/immersiveness alone the GoBlu is worth it. I've been using the Go Blu as a convenient car aux input recently on an older rental car while traveling.

    I might check out an IEM match cable to go along with this at some point.
     
  4. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    What phone are you using? I’m stuck on iOS for a while and I don’t think Bluetooth dongles are the way. Maybe the go blu does higher bitrate AAC?
     
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  5. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Not sure about the AAC but I'm on the Pixel 7. I get iFi's sultry voice announcing LDAC everytime I connect.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I’m on a two week trip in the UK.
    80361944-CC16-4CED-A752-128FA651AEFB.jpeg

    All sorts of reviewers are going to review shit and say how awesomesauce it is just so they can get free shit.

    Few will tell you what they really use. (I went with Azla tips with this setup). Can’t say I miss the ZX2.
     
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  7. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Bwhahaha, I’m jelly.

    this is literally the setup I’m trying to finalize but it’s been slim pickings on the gold bar.
     
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  8. ilikebananafudge_

    ilikebananafudge_ Friend

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    Isn't that the iFi GO blu in purr1n's pic?

    Also, here's a gold bar on HF. No idea if that's a reasonable price, though.
     
  9. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    you're right! That Gold Bar seems expensive FWIW.
     
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  10. Pyotr

    Pyotr Acquaintance

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    Still holding out on a go bar SBAF edition... come on iFi!
     
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  11. angryteen

    angryteen New

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    Just wanted to check back in and thanks for the comments and recommendations to my previous query. Based on the recommendations (by very senior and trusted members!) I felt confident enough to get the go blu blind to go with Ara, i figured at this price even if i hated it, its fine. I have had Ara + go blu for coming to 2 weeks now bringing the setup wherever I go.

    My impressions Ara + goblu (comparisons to Sony Zx2)

    Source: tidal hifi on my S22 ultra, LDAC
    Music: wide mix. Classical, pop, big jazz, modern jazz, rock, hiphop, chifi, taiwanese pop, canto etc. From 1950s to Unholy.

    - go blu synergises Ara with slightly warm sound which adds body to Aras mids, and a touch of lushness. The mids are life-like and excellent on goblu. This is similar to Zx2

    - resolution is similar. There is no lack of detail, especially the midrange, which i feel is Aras soul. but Zx2 does feel more relaxed, with a lighter grip and more organic in presenting the details.

    - soundstage, Ara tends to have a very deep, sharp and crisp centre image, and more closed in at the sides (like looking down a runway show with the singer singing in your face? Lol). I think this is an Ara thing rather than the pairing if you change to Andro OG, everything becomes wider but shallower. This is quite consistent between zx2 and go blu

    - balanced out has audible hiss, doesn't bother me when music is playing (and doesnt matter if you are listening in commute or noisy places anyway) Subjectively, better SQ on balanced (everything is bigger and clearer) although SE has no hiss or none that i can pickup, but i am not that sensitive to hiss

    - harsher treble compared to zx2 pairing. But zx2 treble sounds a little lazy sometimes on the Ara. Overall, still smooth, but i prefer it on goblu with deeper insertion, as suggested by senior members here.

    - bass that is still slightly thick and goes low and punchy and very on point, stronger and faster bass on go blu compared to zx2. Its very good bass, but with go blu, you will not forget u are listening to BA bass (every piece sounds like its performed in a well damped studio). I took it for granted how well the Zx2 masks the BA bass effect, and sounds more textured as a result.

    - xbass on go blu is well done. Quite subtle and doesnt spill into the mids. A few db louder on the deep end. Xspace is subtle as well, it's difficult for me to tell an appreciable difference in soundstage with xspace but i pick up a stronger treble. I sometimes turn xbass on at crowded spaces for some fake "ANC" lol, but I prefer both settings off, for the focus to be on the excellent mids, which is the reason why i bought the Ara in the first place.

    SQ wise, I still prefer the zx2 pairing with Ara, for the more relaxed overall presentation and organic bass, but go blu is not bad at all. Very good in fact for the price. Plus, the MASSIVE QoL gain of being able listen to Ara anywhere and everywhere and streaming everything from a non tethered flagship smartphone, anywhere, without having to carry another another brick or copying another FLAC or suffer the SQ of sony XMwhatever BT headphones, trumps all SQ gains over the ZX2 imo.

    However am also wondering if anyone heard more (still in stock) synergistic pairings with Ara and DAP/ portable dongles.
     
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  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    ^ pretty much sums it up. I don't think anything will get us that ZX2 organic sound, other than another Sony like the WM1A. It's just annoying Sony won't support their older portable players, especially given how much they cost.
     
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  13. angryteen

    angryteen New

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    Ill offer another portable synergistic pairing for Ara which is the Cayin RU6 (sorry for the blasphemy! I read the SBAF poop thread)

    Quick SQ impressions (NOS feeding max volume from phone, balanced out 30-35 on dongle).

    More organic sounding like ZX2, masks BAness, but now with a thin layer of sugar coated on the mids and lower treble. Bass is less tight and natural, fuller but not bloated and still goes deep.

    I personally dislike warm gross chifi glowing candy tube sugar coated sound, which was what i was expecting. However on the Ara, the sugar seems to coat JUST thinly enough to feel very plesant and engaging (any more perhaps ill feel its too much). i think this setup is as resolving as go blu, but due to the sugar the details seem less apparent and relaxed. Treble feels less present and satisfying on energetic tracks, but i think to some extent can be compensated with some tip rolling. Soundstage feels bigger, not as sharp and crisp.

    Heard it at a local hifi shop yesterday as i was in the area. Ended up liking it enough to buy it on the spot. I dont have a DD iem on hand, which I suspect the RU6 will sound gross slow and bloated, but on the Ara with its characteristics it happens to pair nicely.

    Will spend a couple of weeks with it and revisit with clearer headed impressions
     
  14. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    FWIW, I think this pairing is absolutely horrible. I’m looking at both on my desk right now, too. Absolutely regret the RU6. Thought I was deaf when I first bought it and realized no, it just sucks.
     
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  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Ara with RU6 isn't good, it works best with DD Neturalish IEMs like the Moondrop Kato. When I had my BA IEMs I didn't enjoy using them with the RU6.
     

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