Audeze expands on their award-winning iSINE legacy with Euclid, their new closed-back planar magnetic in-ear
Euclid is Audeze’s first closed-back in-ear headphone. Featuring custom built 18mm Audeze planar magnetic drivers, MMCX cable terminations, and ergonomically designed precision milled aluminium housing, Euclid is engineered for high-end audiophiles looking for a premium mobile solution that doesn’t sacrifice comfort for style and durability.
Features:
Audeze 18mm Planar Magnetic Drivers
Highest dynamic range of any in-ear in its size category
MMCX universal cable connectors for easy customization
Lightweight precision-milled aluminium housing with ergonomic design
Variety of accessories including SpinFit® and Comply™ eartips
Audeze’s ‘Euclid’ was engineered for a spectacular 110dB/mW efficiency and a max SPL well above 120dB, serving up the highest dynamic range of any in-ear in its size category. The smoothly contoured light weight design incorporates precision-milled aluminium and carbon fibre for an aesthetic which doesn’t sacrifice elegance for comfort. The miniaturised 18mm single planar magnetic drivers have no crossovers, which results in unparalleled cohesion across the entirety of the frequency spectrum.
The SoundMAGIC S20BT use a neckband bluetooth design, this is favoured by some users, whilst others prefer the more premium true wireless style. Either way, the neckband on the S20BT is soft and very lightweight which means it’s barely noticeable in use. The length of cable to the earphones is perfect, giving you freedom to move your head without constraint, yet not too long so as to snag on things or get in the way. The earphones have an angled nozzle with specifically shaped tips for optimal comfort and fit in the ear, and it works wonders. They S20BT sit securely in your ears once you find the right size tips and they are secure and work well for more active use.
Sound
The S20BT are full and warm, which makes them an easy recommendation and also an earphone that will please a lot of users. Coming from cheaper models you will definitely notice an increase in clarity and control, but they are not tuned to be clinical or critical of what tracks you play through them. What they might lack in refinement they make up for in easy listening and an overall enjoyable sound signature.
Starting down low they have enough body to make them a warm and full sounding earphone, there is moderate punch but overall they are more full than overly punchy. Luckily the warmth down low only moderately affects the midrange, and you still have relatively clean and clear vocals with a little added body to them. This is great, as you can clearly hear vocals and guitars without them being pushed to the back of the mix, yet they are delivered in a very smooth way to not cause fatigue. The same goes for the treble, which is probably where they fall behind slightly, there isn’t a lot of presence or bite in the upper region which means high-hats and cymbals do come across very muted.
These are not designed for the critical listener, they are a budget wireless earphone that just wants you to enjoy the music. They work well with most genres you throw at them, but do sound better with more modern pop music.
Conclusion
For just under £40 you get a warm and enjoyable wireless set of earphones that sound fun and fit securely for any kind of active use. These are specifically designed for out and about use, and for that purpose they tick all the right boxes.
Next level portable listening, with the SoundMAGIC S20BT wireless sports neckband earphones made for active lifestyles. Equipped with Bluetooth V5.0 the S20BT offer wide wireless range with stable connection and high definition sound transmission from the large dynamic drivers tuned for a powerful and energetic signature. With long playtime, waterproof design and comfortable memory neckband the S20BT are sure to upgrade your listening on the go.
SoundMAGIC have added large 13.5mm drivers with Bass Up technology that is able to delivery powerful and clear audio in line with SoundMAGIC’s legendary sound performance. Perfect wireless performance is made sure with the latest Bluetooth version that increases transmission distance, offers more connection stability and high definition sound quality.
For full control while on the go the SoundMAGIC S20BT have been equipped with three-button inline controls with built in highly sensitive microphone providing absolute control of playback and voice calls. IPX6 waterproof rating that provides protection from sweat and rain makes the S20BT an ideal wireless sports earphone for everyday use.
First off the Penrose fit securely on your head, albeit with slightly high clamping force. Luckily you can leave the Penrose stretched out over some books to help loosen the clamp if you find it too much. The earpads are big enough for most ears, and the headband is well padded.
Comfort overall is good with no issues after a couple of hours, due to their closed back design I would still recommend taking a break every couple of hours to let your ears breathe. But overall the Penrose are a very comfortable headset.
Features
There are 2 versions of the Penrose, the Penrose and Penrose X. Both versions work fine with PC, but for console use the Penrose is suitable for the PlayStation 4 and 5, whereas the Penrose X has official Microsoft Certification for use with the xBox One and Series X.
They can be use in wired mode with an aux cable, via Bluetooth or via 2.4GHz wireless in conjunction with the included USB dongle. 2.4GHz will likely be the most used configuration, and you can expect around 14hrs of battery life from the headset. There is a high quality microphone that is detachable, there is a scroll wheel for the microphone volume and on the Penrose X if you press and scroll you can change the game/chat mix. The game/chat mix is currently only functional on the xBox – but future firmware updates should hopefully bring this feature to PC and PlayStation versions.
The firmware can be updated quite easily, but at the moment only via a Windows PC. There is a mute switch on the left earcup, along with a volume wheel and source select button. There is an Audeze HQ app for Windows and Android, with MacOS and iOS versions in the works. In the app you can set various EQ presets and in the future thegame/chat mix should be functional too. You can even have the Penrose connected to the source via 2.4GHz whilst also connected to your phone via bluetooth and change settings that way which is handy. In theory you can also use them as a bluetooth headset whilst connected via 2.4GHz, but bluetooth bandwidth is more restricted and the microphone quality will suffer so you’re better off using the in-game chat or background app chat instead of bluetooth.
Sound
Once set up the Penrose really are an impressive headset – first off, the microphone, whilst not crystal clear (bandwidth issues) does a good job of picking up your voice and your teammates will be able to hear you without issue. Next up is the immersion, on the latest generation of consoles there is some excellent audio processing that give you “surround” like sound from regular 2ch headphones like the Penrose. The same can be said for certain PC games, going in to the audio settings and selecting the correct output really does wonders. This bring us to the hardware side of things where those planar drivers come in to play, giving you excellent bass depth and impact without taking away the clarity overall.
Depending on the game you will get subtle rumbles to full blown explosions, all delivered with excellent control and clarity whilst also packing a punch. These drivers can push some air without ever sounding muddy or overwhelming. In-game dialog comes across clean and clear, speech is well rendered and this greatly helps if you use them as a headset, hearing your teammates is vital. The treble is precise and clear without being emphasised or piercing, these are designed for long sessions and thus have an utterly fatigue free sound.
The closed back nature of the Penrose means they block out a fair amount of outside noise, allowing you to immerse yourself, whatever is happening around you. The in-game effects are incredible though and the Penrose really do a stellar job at pinpointing spatial sounds, from footsteps to gunshots you know exactly where you stand in the game. This could prove to be a handy avantage if used in a VR system, but sadly I don’t have the equipment to test this. For long PC gaming sessions the Penrose have proved themselves a worthy companion, helping me pinpoint enemies with ease.
The Penrose do music playback well too, having quite a well balanced sound that is clean, detailed but with a slightly full bodied nature. They have good depth for a closed back headphone, and great instrument separation. The bass is full yet articulate and well controlled, the midrange manages to be well separated and clean whilst not being pushed forward. The treble is detailed and well extended but never harsh or fatiguing, there are not sharp peaks to create a false sense of air or detail retrieval.
Conclusion
The Penrose are still being improved with firmware updates, so expect them to get even better with time, but as they stand they are still an excellent gaming headset if you value sound quality. They have a clean and crisp sound, that is also full and well extended. They have clearly prioritised sound quality over microphone quality when used in wireless mode, which to me is the right way to do it if bandwidth is limited. Overall the gaming experience is superb though, with excellent spatial accuracy and immersion, match that with good comfort and you have all the key features of a great gaming headset – that also do a great job for music listening.
The multi award-winning Lypertek TEVI has a new name for a new year – the PurePlay Z3. No other changes have been made, and we’re very happy with that. The PurePlay Z3 is one of the best true wireless options out there for under £100 thanks to the 70 hours battery life, IPX7 waterproof rating and sound quality that matches some of the best earphones out there.
The Cleer Goal is ideal for those active users out there, and for people who like to hear their surroundings while listening. The unique fit means that they will stay nice and secure in your ear, while providing an open and detailed sound signature. The touch controls are very easy to use, and the microphone quality is great for those calls on the move.
We had to include the Final Evangelion true wireless earphones into this list because there really is nothing else quite like them. Fans of anime and especially the popular Evangelion TV series will love the striking design – with each model corresponding to a different robot unit from the show. Then Final’s expertise really show with the sound quality – punchy, crisp and full of energy.
If you’re looking for a wireless, noise cancelling headphone – then make sure you check out the Cleer Flow II. We feel that the Flow II easily competes with the bigger and pricier brands such as Sony, Bose and Sennheiser – delivering market leading specs and sound quality that for us, puts them above the competition.
With the LCD-1, Audeze has managed to achieve something quite incredible. A lightweight, portable sized planar magnetic headphone for under £400. The open back design provides a spacious presentation, and thanks to Audeze’s award winning planar technology – the sound you get from the LCD-1 is crisp, energetic and dynamic – there’s nothing quite like them
Another from Audeze – there’s no way we could not put the LCD-2 Classic in this list. One of the best headphones out there for under £1000, the LCD-2 Classic delivers sound with punch and authority. There’s a richness to the midrange that keeps you engaged, and the treble extends far – creating space in a natural way. Topped off with Audeze’s trademark unique design.
The Sennheiser HD800S came out about 5 years ago, and it is still unlike anything else out there. The level of accuracy and resolution, mixed with their width and imaging has yet to be beaten. Their space age design has aged well, still looking fresh. They are also lightweight and extremely comfortable – you’ll forget you’re wearing them.
So, you’ve decided you want to really splash out on the very best headphones money can buy – well, get your £4000 together and check out the Final D8000 Pro. Final has developed their own driver technology to deliver audio with no distortion and full dynamic range – sounds comes across with a liquidness that will make you want to re-listen to your entire music collection.
There are loads of earphones out there, so we have taken the time to put together a list of our best picks for 2021. We have earphones for all budgets, including both wired and Bluetooth models.
Designed with gaming and VR users in mind, the E500 delivers impressive spacial awareness and pin point accuracy. These qualities don’t only favour gamers – they give music an edge with clear imaging and a soundstage that brings you right into the mix. All of this for under £20 makes them a no brainer for those looking for a budget wired earphone.
The SoundMAGIC E11C should be included in every best earphone list. SoundMAGIC has been the king of budget wired earphones for years, and the E11C is their best yet. Widely considered to be the best for under £50 and a recent What Hi-Fi award winner – the SoundMAGIC E11C could be the only earphone you need.
The multi award winning Lypertek TEVI had a name change at the end of 2020. Newly named the PurePlay Z3, these true wireless earphones are still considered to be one of the best for under £100 – and deservedly so. 70 hours battery life, aptX and AAC codecs, IPX7 waterproof rating and sound quality that regularly gets described as audiophile – we’d have to agree!
For the more active users out there, the Cleer Goal true wireless earphones could be your ideal jogging buddy. They fit securely with an open sound that lets you hear what’s going on around you while you listen. The touch controls are easy to use and the built-in microphone does a great job of taking calls on the move.
The Etymotic ER2 earphones are personal favourites of mine. Their unique fit provides the best passive isolation available from a universal earphone – blocking out background noise so you can fully enjoy your music. The sound is clean and dynamic, impressively pulling out every detail with no distortion or harshness.
You may not have heard of Oriveti – we’re big fans of them here at Hifiheadphones. The new Oriveti O800 has eight drivers, tuned for real enjoyment with a musical quality. They are smooth and rich sounding and very comfortable to wear – perfect for long listening sessions. The handmade cable and unique design add to the already impressive package.
The Campfire Audio Ara may just be their most impressive IEM yet. With seven balanced armature drivers, this was a first for Campfire Audio. The result is a perfectly balanced IEM that pulls details out of the music you’ve never heard before – in a way that sounds organic and natural. There’s an overall effortlessness to the Ara that will make you want to listen and listen and listen…
If there was a competition for most drivers, then the 64 Audio Nio wins with a nine driver hybrid setup. Eight balanced armature drivers and a dynamic driver inside each earpiece pushes the limits of what a universal IEM is capable of. The standout feature is the impressive soundstage – delivering an immersive, almost 3D listening experience.
With the A8000, Final prove that multiple drivers aren’t necessary for producing mind blowing audio. One driver is all that’s needed. Not just any driver, Final’s custom made ultra thin Beryllium foil driver. Along with Final’s four chamber housing design, the A8000 gives high resolution a whole new meaning – these need to be heard to be believed.
For under £20, you get a lot of quality with the Final E500. These wired earphones were designed with VR users in mind, so the sound you get from them is accurate and spacious with superb imaging. Equally good for music and gaming too – the E500 is an all rounder that punches well above its weight.
The legend that is the SoundMAGIC is still the king of budget earphones. The E11C is their latest wired earphone model and it is widely regarded as the best for under £50. These recent What HiFi award winners are almost impossible to beat at this price. Their sound, build and comfort sets them miles apart from the competition.
Previously known as the TEVI, we still regard the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 as one of the best true wireless earphones for under £100. The PurePlay Z3 comes packed with impressive features – 70 hours battery life, IPX7 waterproof rating and aptX audio compatibility. All topped off with their sound quality that challenges some of the finest earphones out there.
The Cleer Flow II is one of the best value wireless headphones out there. For under £200 you get some impressive features, including active noise cancelling and aptX-HD and LDAC codec compatibility – something that is very rare at this price and beyond. Their sound quality is also something to shout about, easily challenging the pricier competition.
Japanese audio specialists Final has entered the world of gaming with their new VR3000 earphones. Designed to maximise your experience – whether playing your favourite console or getting lost in VR. The Final VR3000 has been tuned to bring every detail to you with pin point accuracy, and their portability also makes them ideal for gaming on the move.
Audeze has provided us with quite possibly the best gaming headset for this year. The Penrose and Penrose X has been designed with the most popular consoles in mind, and their award winning planar magnetic driver technology delivers sound in a way that would challenge some of the finest headphones out there. A must for Playstation, X box and PC gamers.
There are many qualities that makes the Sennheiser HD800S the ultimate gaming headphone. The HD800S is one of the most spacious and accurate sounding headphones out there, and their open back design adds to their wide and expansive sound. These qualities will put you right into the action as if you were really there.
The Audeze Penrose is finally out, but some of you may not know that they are working hard behind the scenes to ensure they are the best gaming headphones on the market, by providing firmware updates.
Audeze have a handy guide to help you through the Penrose firmware update process, at the moment it can only be performed on Windows machines.
Firmware updates will periodically be made available to enhance the performance and compatibility of your Penrose. To update your Penrose’s firmware, just follow these steps:
1. Download and install the latest version of Audeze HQ as instructed in this article. Make sure your device remains connected to the internet so it can download and apply the firmware package. (Windows is currently the only supported platform for FW updates, but Mac is coming soon.)
IMPORTANT: Unplug the Penrose wireless dongle from the device you’re using to perform the update! If the dongle is left plugged in for the update, there is a chance of bricking it or the Penrose itself. This would obviously cause a certain amount of inconvenience, so please take the extra step to remove the dongle.
2. Connect a USB cable between your HQ-equipped, internet-connected source device and your Penrose. (Penrose does not need to be powered on.)
3. Launch the Audeze HQ App. You may need to choose the Penrose Profile:
Any stored EQ profiles will be reset to zero upon update. If you have any custom EQ profiles loaded, please save them to your hard drive before proceeding, so they can be reloaded after update. To do that, just click Save from the Preset you wish to save, then choose a name and folder to store them in. After the update, click Load and choose the file to refresh.
4. Click the Firmware tab. If an update for your Penrose firmware is available, there will be a button as below. If there is no button, your firmware is already up to date.
5. Click Update FW, and you’ll see a popup status window as the update is installed. Once finished, click OK to continue, then power your Penrose on.
If you saved any EQ presets as above, you may reload them as desired. Then you’re ready to storm the castle in style!
JDS Labs have got some news for all you Playstation owners (PS4 / PS5) – They have found a way you can use your Element II / EL DAC II or Atom DAC with your console.
As some of you more tech savvy readers out there may know, when JDS Labs released their newest DACs they all came as USB Audio Class 2 DACs (UAC2) devices out of the box so they could support higher bitrates amongst other things. This did however mean they were designed for PC/Mac use mainly and consoles were not supported, however you can now change this via a simple firmware change.
The firmware change makes the DACs run as USB Audio Class 1 (UAC1) devices which means your PS4 or PS5 will now see them when connected via USB, you just have to navigate to: Settings ? Devices ? Audio Devices ? Output Device ? JDS Labs XXX DAC UAC1.
One small caveat, the PS4 and PS5 are known to limit USB Audio output volume, so this UAC1 firmware is locked to max volume as a workaround, but you can still adjust the volume at your console.
Please note this disclaimer from JDS Labs Please keep in mind that installing a UAC1 firmware disables UAC2 support and removes the ability to install firmware updates on the DAC, meaning installing UAC1 firmware is a one-way street. Any firmware built for UAC1 will be listed with a warning note.
Additional information and the UAC1 firmware can be found HERE
You can find our full range of JDS Labs products HERE
Final, the Japanese high-end audio specialist, has announced their first step into the world of gaming with the new VR3000 gaming earphones.
With the appreciation in high performance gaming equipment on the rise – the final VR3000 brings a fresh approach to delivering the highest audio quality, revolutionising the gaming experience.
final VR3000 for Gaming
final has been involved in the audio industry for over 50 years, always innovating with cutting edge technology and design. The VR3000 is final’s first pair of earphones created specifically for the purpose of gaming.
The final VR3000 is an in-ear monitor, designed to be small and extremely lightweight – delivering headphone-like special sound with pinpoint accuracy and clarity. The in-ear design also allows for better mobility and device compatibility when compared to larger, more power-hungry headphones and headsets.
Equipped with an in-line microphone and 3 button controller, the final VR3000 has a simple plug-and-play design allowing for in-game voice chat for a complete gaming experience.
Balanced and Distinctive Sound
“All sounds are important to win a game”
final believe that gaming earphones should not only deliver deep resounding sounds such as booming effects and bassy rumbles – players also require high levels of accuracy, clarity and 3D special awareness in order for them to turn a game around and really get the most out of their experience.
In order to achieve this, the final VR3000 features a dedicated in-house designed 6mm dynamic driver, capable of delivering sound with exceptional depth, clarity and accuracy.
Combining the meticulously made driver, with sound tuning based on final’s own extensive research into spacial audio – the VR3000 delivers every detail distinctly with an accurate perception of direction and distance to help players bring their A-game.
Experience games as a whole
Enjoy all sounds as developers intended
Game developers these days invest a large amount of their budget into sound production, spending time and money on professionally recorded background music – sometimes using full orchestras, original sound effects and dialogue delivered by some of the finest actors. All of this is to help players become fully immersed into the game, experiencing all of the emotions that captivate us – heavily impacting gameplay.
final understand the importance of sound, and the VR3000 takes full advantage of the effort put into these games – necessary to hear the true sound as intended by game developers.
Well all Audeze headphones have a certain styling, and the LCD-2 Classic are very much an Audeze headphone. However instead of wood you get nylon rings with metal grills, the look is smoother and sleeker than older models. The headband is steel with a suspension strap that is more comfortable than the original. Overall they don’t stand as much as the original LCD-2, but they won’t have any wood issues either, so that’s a bonus.
Build quality is excellent, they are still using sturdy 4-pin mini XLR connectors on the headphones and the cable is thick and has good strain relief. The earpads are huge and made of protein leather rather than the genuine leather of their higher end models. The headband is steel and feels strong, the suspension strap is protein leather like the pads, which makes these vegan friendly. Overall I can see the LCD-2 Classic lasting a long time, the pads are glued on however they are fairly easy to replace. The LCD-2 Classic no longer come with the big carry case the higher end models have, but this has helped keep the cost down.
Again here we have the typical heaviness of the Audeze models, due to their excellent build quality sadly they are quite heavy. The newer headband helps alleviate the pressure better than the old one, but if you are not used to the weight it can become tiring. the earpads are extremely comfortable and deep though, and once you get used to it they are good for fairly long listening sessions.
Compatibility
The LCD-2 Classic are quite efficient for a planar headphone (Efficiency: 101dB / 1mW) but it doesn’t mean they can’t handle extra power. Out of a low powered source they can sound a little constrained and flat, but hook them up to a powerful solid state amplifier and you will be greeted with the smooth yet powerful sound that these are capable of.
Sound
Audeze wanted to bring back the sound of the original LCD-2 in a more modern package, so they got rid of the fazors, redesigned the headphones a bit and here we are. Back to a time where people wanted to sit back and relax, and not worry about the resolving capabilities or micro-details. A time where few audiophile headphones had enough bass response for most people.
Bass: Audeze built their name on this part of the frequency response, a high-end headphone with warmth and body. The LCD-2 Classic are effortlessly smooth down low, with plenty of warmth and punch all backing up the rest of the sound. However the LCD-2 Classic don’t have the headshaking, skull thumping impact of the original. Make no doubt about it, the LCD-2 Classic have more than enough body and warmth to their sound, but they are more restrained and controlled and never become overbearing. If you are fed up of the more clinical and sometimes cold sound of some high-end headphones, the LCD-2 Classic are a sobering listen and a great addition to a more neutral tuned collection.
Midrange: The transition into the midrange is smooth, giving them enough body and warmth to sound pleasant without colouring the midrange too much. There is good tonality in the midrange, vocals cut through without every becoming shouty or peaky, husky male vocals are such a pleasure to listen to on these. Female vocals don’t quite have the required bite in the upper midrange, remaining smooth and sweet throughout and they are not the most aggressive sounding headphones when it comes to playing faster rock music. These are more suited to smoother genres, or electronic based music.
Treble: Much like the midrange the top end is tuned for smooth listening, and they do roll off a little early. These do not have the best extension or shimmer, however they are very easy to listen to and peak free. There isn’t too much to say about the treble on these, apart from if you are sensitive to sharp treble these are perfect.
Genres and Soundstaging
Being a bit of a laid back and smooth headphone these are easy to just kick back and listen to without any fatigue. They are not the most exciting headphones, but they handle most genres with ease. They don’t really stand out with any particular style of music, but that extra helping of bass does help certain EDM and hip-hop tracks.
The soundstage is great on these, with great width and height. Instruments are easy to pinpoint and you can easily pick apart the layers of the recording.
Conclusion
The LCD-2 Classic are a well controlled, but ultimately warm sounding headphone. They offer up a fatigue free sound with good width and height. If you listen to electronic centred music, old school rap/hip-hop and smoother more acoustic music they are a joy to listen to. However they lack a little aggression for faster paced music.
The Dorado 2020 follow the same shape as the Vega 2020 previously reviewed, I find the shape of the housing and the length of the nozzle both contribute to a well fitting and comfortable earphone. There are no sharp edges to cause discomfort or create pressure points and once you find the right tips they are easy to wear for hours on end. The smoky litz cable is soft and this helps with the overall wearing comfort of the Dorado 2020.
Compatibility
The Dorado 2020 has similar sensitivity to the Vega 2020 (94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 18.52 mVrs), meaning they will just about work out of your regular mobile phone but definitely sound their best when paired with a more powerful dedicated portable player.
Sound
Bass: The Dorado 2020 uses a similar dynamic driver to the Atlas and the Vega 2020, meaning you have that excellent low end warmth and extension whilst also having control when called for. This particular dynamic driver has incredible depth, digging deep in to the sub-bass without any distortion or roll-off. It has moderate punch but it focusses more on warmth and body, compared to overall visceral punch. Play the right tracks and the low end is excellent with real presence and thickness to it. Sometimes however it can be a little too much and overwhelm the overall balance, but for the most part it imparts warmth without taking too much away overall.
Midrange: The midrange is overall quite clear on the Dorado 2020, not as laid back as the Vega 2020 there is a more upfront presentation along with more apparent detail due to the addition of the extra driver. This BA driver really starts to come out in the midrange, giving a clean cut vocal and guitar presentation, however this is a bit of a lift in the upper midrange that tends to bring out a bit of sibilance in certain recordings. This can be toned down with the right ear tips though and isn’t overly problematic. The bass does sometimes overwhelm the midrange in certain tracks but the midrange is a lot cleaner here than the more relaxed Vega 2020.
Treble: Here we have a lot of energy and presence, with a mild u-shaped sound signature overall the Dorado 2020 have a couple of little peaks that bring out a bit more sparkle in the treble. They are not what I would consider to be bright, but they don’t hold back and can be a little brash during certain tracks. They are a bit more up front and exciting than the Vega 2020, and get your feet tapping a bit easier. You definitely don’t miss a beat up top with the Dorado, but those who are a little more treble sensitive might want to use some foam ear tips to tone it down a little.
Genres and Soundstaging
Well the big low end lends itself well to electronic music and modern pop, but the clarity overall is good for most rock music too. Acoustic works well and the bass becomes a little more behaved with such tracks, but if you listen to jazz and classical these are not really the right kind of earphone for that.
The soundstaging is really good on the Dorado 2020, with plenty of space and the BA driver helps open it up and place instruments.
Vs Solaris 2020
It only feels right to compare these to the Solaris 2020 but first off keep in mind Solaris 2020 is more expensive and has more drivers. But saying that, the Solaris sounds much more refined and grown up than the brash and energetic Dorado 2020. They have quite a different presentation but both aim for a more fun and bassy signature, the Solaris is smoother and there are fewer peaks in the treble, the Dorado 2020 are much more in your face and energetic.
The low end on the Solaris 2020 is a bit more impactful, whereas the Dorado 2020 have more of a sub-bass focus, with more warmth. Picking between the two is not necessarily easy, but I feel the Solaris 2020 is the better all-rounder, whereas the Dorado 2020 is more energetic at the risk of sounding a bit unrefined and thus less smooth and balanced overall.
Conclusion
The Dorado 2020 is an interesting proposition from Campfire Audio, you have the more balanced Andromeda 2020 for the same price if you want a closer to neutral sound, and you have the more expensive Solaris 2020 for an extra £400 that gives a similar signature in a more refined package. Then again we have the Vega 2020 for less, which is more laid back and less energetic than the Dorado 2020. They have designed the Dorado 2020 to be fun, in your face, energetic and a little brash, which can be a lot of fun, but also sometimes fatiguing depending on your threshold. If you are tired of boring earphones, the Dorado 2020 might be just what you are looking for.
You can see from the graph that the Dorado 2020 has a healthy bass boost but the treble is a bit more present and sparkly with the Dorado 2020 compared to the previously reviewed Vega 2020, along with a bit more presence in the midrange.
The Vega 2020 are ergonomically designed, with a slim and smooth housing allowing for a comfortable fit. Once you find the right tips they fit in securely and the smoky litz cable is still one of my favourite stock earphone cables. The ceramic shell is really well finished and looks great in white, the stainless nozzle is similar to other Campfire models and helps with getting the right insertion depth and angle.
Compatibility
The Vega 2020 are not the most sensitive earphones around (94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 19.86 mVrs), which means they do enjoy a little more power than some out there. They will be driven ok with a smartphone but definitely work best when paired with a clean and neutral sounding DAP with good power output.
Sound
Bass: The Vega 2020 are tuned with bass in mind, these are not a balanced or remotely neutral sounding earphone. Providing you give them the right music they really can be a lot of fun, the sub-bass presence is truly impressive and there is moderate punch too. They don’t slam quite as hard as the Polaris II, but they have better sub-bass performance, leading to a fuller and more mellow presentation over the more visceral punch of the Polaris II. If you enjoy a full bodied earphone the Vega 2020 might well suit your needs, but the sub-bass can be a little dominating on certain tracks.
Midrange: The midrange is quite relaxed on the Vega 2020, it takes a step back from the bass and just kinds sits there doing nothing particularly remarkable. The bass does occasionally throw off the balance of the midrange due to it’s power, but overall the midrange is well layered and separated with good detail retrieval. Where it does do well is smoothness, there is never a hint of harshness or sibilance in the midrange, it’s very easy going. Acoustic tracks seem to play well on the Vega 2020, as the sub-bass doesn’t come out and overpower the midrange as much, leaving guitars and vocals to shine through with a pleasant warmth.
Treble: The treble, much like the midrange, has a fatigue free presentation with a slight lift in the upper treble to bring out some sparkle. There is good energy up top but ultimately it is still not up front or overly exciting. There is good tonality in the treble region with realistic sounding cymbal crashes and synths sound great too. They are not tuned to be overly critical up top, and that’s not a problem here because they are supposed to be a laid back, full bodied and warm sounding earphone whilst retaining good detail and clarity overall.
Genres and Soundstaging
The Vega 2020 lend their hand to modern pop / R&B / Hip-Hop and also electronic based genres, the bass really shows what it can do with these genres whilst the midrange and treble stay fatigue free and smooth. Acoustic music also sounds impressive with a pleasant warm tilt overall. The sub-bass can be a little too dominating when listening to things like jazz.
Soundstaging is usually a strong point for Campfire Audio, the Vega 2020 doesn’t disappoint with pinpoint accuracy but I wouldn’t say they are the widest sounding IEM’s for the price. Imaging, separation and layering however are all great.
The Vega 2020 have me torn, during some slower rock tracks I find the bass too strong and overwhelming, however I have a feeling someone at Campfire Audio is a Slipknot fan. It happened with the Solaris 2020 and now the Vega 2020, they suddenly sound tight and controlled with great clarity and speed whilst still retaining a highly energetic and fun sound. It also shows how different recordings make a big difference in the end presentation, there’s some sort of synergy between Slipknot’s mixing and Campfire’s tuning and it rocks!
Conclusion
The Vega 2020 are not an earphone I would recommend to people looking for a balanced all rounder, but they would be the perfect addition to someone’s collection if they are looking for something fun. Big bass followed by smooth mids and treble all come together to create a coherent, full and warm sound signature. They are incredibly fun to listen to with the right music and the right source, along with being extremely comfortable.
In the frequency graph we can see the sub-bass lift that provides body and warmth, along with a good treble performance to prevent them from sounding overly dark. The peak at 6kHz does bring out some energy in the treble, and the 10kHz aids with the airy extension.
