The Dorado 2020 combine the power of the Atlas driver, with the clarity from an added BA driver to provide a clean yet impactful sound signature.
PROS
- Energetic and full sound signature
- Comfortable
- Excellent build quality
- Great detail retrieval
CONS
- Not the most refined sound
- Occasionally suffer from sibilance
Fit and Comfort
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.
