Campfire Release a Solid-body Custom-Fit In-Ear Monitor featuring a new custom Planar Magnetic Driver
Campfire have released the Supermoon, a Planar Magnetic custom IEM; they are a brand that often takes risks, be it in design or sound signature. It is notoriously hard to make a small planar sound good, and offering it in a custom fit earphone makes it even more interesting, Campfire Audio have done this so they can optimise the performance of the driver for each individuals ear shape.
Campfire Audio have tuned the Supermoon to sound coherent and balanced, but I would not say they are a studio neutral sounding earphone, with a mild sub-bass lift and effortless treble they are mildly u-shaped without making vocals sound recessed. We have a demo set in universal fit, so book an appointment if you want to hear these (they will also be at CanJam London).
Campfire Audio offer two different fit options, artist-fit and audiophile-fit, with artist fit offering up a more traditional deeper fit and audiophile offering up a more comfortable fit due to a shorter nozzle, perfect for long listening sessions.
Campfire Audio use a unique Solid-Body design – When crafting the solid body of the earphone, the design is 3D printed as a single component before being meticulously hand-finished. Putting the work into the earphone design before the print means the only moving part in Supermoon is the diaphragm. This also means that the earphones you will receive will be a robust and reliable partner.
Campfire Audio Custom In Ear Monitors – Equinox and Solstice
Campfire Audio is quite possibly the hottest boutique IEM brand out there, already gaining a name for themselves for their superbly built, beautifully designed IEMs with sound quality packed full of passion and character.
Having already become well known for their universal models, Campfire Audio has now released the new Solstice custom IEM – and along with the Equinox, Campfire Audio has two seriously good custom options available.
Superb Build Quality
The build of both the Equinox and Solstice are very similar, with slight detail differences. Both are made with a polished stainless steel housing and then moulded solid black acrylic, for that smooth and comfortable custom fit. The combination of black and silver is unique and very striking. The shape of the back plate is different for each model. The Equinox is circular, and the Solstice is angular – almost hexagonal. Then inside is where the models really differ.
The Campfire Audio Equinox is based on their Atlas universal IEM. Like the Atlas, the Equinox uses a single full range 10mm dynamic driver, and the A.D.L.C. or Amorphous Diamond Like Carbon driver has been tweaked slightly – so there is a touch less thumping sub-bass when compared to the Atlas.
Campfire Audio Equinox
The newest addition to Campfire Audio’s custom range is the Solstice. This time they have decided to draw on the Andromeda model, with 5 balanced armature drivers inside each housing. The Solstice also comes with Campfire’s very own T.A.E.C. or Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber which gets the very most out the higher frequencies.
Campfire Audio Solstice
Both models are supplied with a choice of cables, which can be chosen during the buying process. The standard smokey litz cable options are 3.5mm stereo, 2.5mm balanced and 4.4mm balanced. Then there are two artist options. Both use the smokey litz cable, but the artist version is 18” longer, and there is the choice of replacing the grey MMCX moulds with red and blue moulds for the right and left connectors.
Made-to-fit Perfectly
Being a custom IEM, you can expect the fit to be as close to perfect as possible. Campfire Audio are very confident in their build process, and as long as the ear impressions are done well – the IEMs are made to a very high and consistent standard.
Campfire Audio is aware that custom IEMs are not just for pro users, music lovers use them too. With this in mind, Campfire offers two types of fit – Artist Fit and Audiophile Fit.
The audiophile fit has a shallow seal depth, so they won’t go as far into the ear canal as traditional pro customs do. This makes the IEMs more comfortable for longer listening sessions, and easier to wear for a range of different uses from home listening, to a work commute or studio mix-down.
The artist fit sticks to a more traditional, deeper fit. This is important for pro users as it provides a much greater seal, giving a more secure fit and improved isolation for live settings.
Campfire Audio Equinox
Sound Quality
With the Equinox and Solstice, Campfire Audio has created a custom IEM to suit a number of different needs. For those who prefer a big and luxurious sound, with low end thump and rich detail that’s packed full of smooth layers – then the single dynamic driver Equinox will be the one to consider.
On the other hand, the Solstice is for those who favour transparency and cleanliness. Like the Andromeda, the five balanced armature drivers provide a well balanced sound that leans towards the higher frequencies. Sound comes across effortlessly with an organic and natural feel to it.
Campfire Audio Equinox and Solstice
Having only tried universal versions of the custom range, I can’t go into more detail when it comes to the sound. Saying that, if you already have an understanding of the Atlas and Andromeda models, then that will give you a very clear idea of what to expect from the Equinox and Solstice customs. And we will be holding the universal version of both the Equinox and Solstice – so you could always book a demo with us to try them.
Final Thoughts
Here’s where I normally mention the competition, and even though brands like 64 Audio, Ultimate Ears and JH Audio are all making some of the finest pro IEMs out there – none are doing what Campfire Audio has managed to achieved. Not only is the design of the Equinox and Solstice completely unique – breaking the all too familiar mould of custom IEM design. They also offer a lot more than their competitors. Whether you’re a musician or music lover, there’s an option for you. And I’m not aware of any other high end custom IEM brand making a single dynamic model – this is definitely something that Campfire Audio has perfected.
Hey there audio addicts! If you stopped by CanJam London 2019 you may have seen the Hifiheadphones crew around the Campfire Audio and 64 Audio tables. A few of us also took some time to conduct some on-site interviews! We’ve compiled them here for your enjoyment, so take a look at some of our favourite faces from the world of audio. Check back for each new interview!
The World’s Best Custom IEMs: Vlad Belonozhko and 64 Audio
Used by some of the world’s foremost musical luminaries (Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, etc) and renowned by audiophiles, 64 Audio has blazed a trail straight to the top. Our good friend Vlad Belonozhko spent some time with us at CanJam 2019 discussing the benefits of staying true to your vision, and knowing when to branch out.
How to Get A Perfect Ear Impression: Gisele Flower, Aid2Hearing
Our interview series continues with Gisele Flower, one of the UK’s premier independent audiologists and the titan behind Aid2Hearing. Gisele is entrusted with the ears of some of the world’s favourite artists, including Stormzy, Jessie J, Sam Smith, and the Spice Girls. Here, she gives us an inside look at her process and tips for getting the best possible impression, whether it be for hearing aids, ear plugs, or custom IEMs for rocking out onstage.
How to Create a DIY Headphone Company: Alex Hyland, Hyland Headphones
Our friend Alex Hyland of Hyland Headphones let us grab him for a few minutes to discuss headphone modding, DIY headphone making, and running his own headphone empire. Ever wanted to make your own headphones? Have a listen to Alex’s advice on getting started and making a name for himself in the world of high end audiophile headphones.
The Granddaddy of All Custom IEMs: Michelle Dailey, Westone Audio
Michelle Dailey of Westone Audio fame gave us a great rundown of the future of Westone’s custom IEMs, Bluetooth earphones, and the success of the Westone W80. Westone are the world’s foremost experts on in-ear audio science, pioneering IEMs and hearing aids.
Fashion Forward Fun with Focal Audio: Megane Montabonel
Our final video from CanJam 2019 features Megane Montabonel from Focal, who describes the breadth of Focal’s expertise as well as the newer products they’ve introduced to the world of audiophilia. Focal headphones are, as always, available to try in our demo room, so get in touch to book a time slot!
Hey everyone, John here. This may seem like an obvious topic, but there are a lot of differences between headphones and earphones… some of which are not as obvious as you may think.
Headphones
Starting with the shape and size. Headphones, as the name suggests, fit on your head, and have a headband that sits on top of your head. At either side of the headband, you have the speaker housings or earcups. The earcups hold the speaker drivers, and are designed in one of two ways: on-ear and over-ear. On-ear headphones have the earcups sitting on the ear and tend to be smaller in size, making them ideal for portable use. Over-ear headphones are larger and have the earcups completely surround the ear. Because of this, they tend to be used mainly indoors or where there isn’t much movement needed.
Earphones
Earphones are a lot smaller, and sit in the ear or in the ear canal. There are three main types of earphones:
Earpods / Earbuds
The older earphone design, or newer earpods, rest in the ear without going into the ear canal. This fit means that you are less likely to create a good seal between the earphone and your ear, resulting in an open sound that can tend to be a bit bass light. This fit also means that they will not isolate sound very well, meaning you are more likely to hear what is going on around you and people nearby will be able to listen to your music. Not ideal for public transport, but liked by sports users as it can be useful to hear your surroundings.
In Ear Earphones
In-ear isolating earphones have a deeper fit and will go into the ear canal, they also have eartips installed. This not only helps to keep the earphones in place, they also help create a good seal which improves isolation and sound quality, especially bass performance. In-ear earphones are the most common fit, and there are two ways of wearing them depending on the design. Cable straight down, and cable over the ear. The cable-over-the-ear design tends to provide a more secure fit and deeper insertion into the ear canal. This way, you will benefit from better isolation. Still, a lot of people prefer the cable-straight-down design as they are easier to use.
A quick note on bass performance. It is very important to make sure that you achieve a good seal when using in-ear isolating earphones. If you do not do this, the main effect to the sound will be a loss of bass… and nobody wants that. When this happens, the sound can come across very tinny and flat, so make sure you try all of the supplied eartips to ensure you’re getting the best sound possible from your new earphones.
Custom In Ears
Lastly, you have custom in-ears. These earphones are customised to fit your ear specifically. This is the best way of achieving a perfect seal, which hugely improves isolation and sound quality. This is done by having a mould of your ear taken, and then used to make an earphone that perfectly fits the shape of your ear. This is a more expensive option and is currently only offered by a small number of manufacturers.
Sound
There is also a big difference between how headphones and earphones sound. I wouldn’t say that one is better than the other. The overall experience is different and people will favour one over the other.
Headphones tend to deliver a more natural listening experience. What I mean by this is that with the speakers being away from the ears, sound is delivered in a more natural way. With our ears playing a part in capturing the sound, similar to how we hear day to day. Headphones can also deliver a bigger or wider sound due to the size of the drivers used and them being away from our ears.
With the speakers being so close to the ear, or even inside the ear canal, the experience from earphones is very different and can take a while for some people to get used to. Due to the fit being so close to the ear, and much smaller speakers being used, earphones are capable of delivering a very high amount of clarity and detail. Sometimes this can be overwhelming, especially for those who have never used earphones before. The close fit also means that sound can come across narrower and feel like it is coming from inside the head when compared to a headphone.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it comes down to taste and how you want to listen to your music. Both headphones and earphones can be used in a large number of situations, and whether you prefer using headphones or earphones – there will be a model out there for you.
Custom molded IEMs and pro monitoring specialists, EarSonics, are a French company making waves in the world of universal IEMs. The new EarSonics SM3 v2 is equipped with a triple balanced armature, three-way crossover design.
Despite being a new name in the UK EarSonics have a huge following amoungst French musicians, audio engineers, and celebs who use EarSonics products on-stage, or while mixing or monitoring.
The original SM3 was a little less slick looking but the version 2 has an ergonomically shaped body which sits comfortably in the ear and they are comfy to wear even for extended listening sessions. The SM3 v2 share the same long thin sound tube design of the Shure and Westone ranges. EarSonics uses a similar twisted cable on the SM3 v2 as most other pro IEM manufacturers use with custom IEMs, there is little cable noise and tangling is not a problem either. The cable is replaceable, an excellent lifeline for the more clumsy among us.
The EarSonics SM3 v2 is very clean sounding with an impressively dark background. With their surprisingly wide soundstage, superb handle on detail and instrument separation they are without doubt one of the best IEMs currently available. They feel very lively without fatiguing the listener, very natural sounding for IEMs, which can suffer from unrealistic soundstage and movement within the stereo image. Bottom end is superb but the mids are very special – a hard to describe sound but they feel “right”.
Comply foam tips, medium and large and double flanged silicone tips are accompanied by a small neat zip up case, a cleaning tool. There are also dual (SM2) and single (SM1) models from EarSonics as well.
