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Campfire Audio Solaris 2020 Review

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Refreshed for 2020 the classic Campfire Audio Solaris have been reshaped to be 20% smaller along with a new Solid-Body internal acoustic chamber. Don’t worry though, that famously energetic sound is here to stay.

Solaris 2020

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Aesthetics and Build Quality

The new 2020 Solaris now sport a more understated colour scheme, but don’t worry they are finished in a lovely glossy black that is incredibly reflective. They will still catch your eye, but now don’t stand out quite so much which in my opinion is a bonus. They come with the newer smoky jacket super litz cable which is more ergonomic over the previous design. Personally I like the new colours, but I feel some will still prefer the previous gold colour scheme.

Build quality is like every other Campfire Audio model, superb. They know how to pull off some impressive designs, with incredible CNC skills and an impeccable finish. You cannot faulty the all metal build quality, and the cable is well relieved, all this leads to an IEM that should see you through for a long time.

Comfort

With the old Solaris, the most common comment and complaint was about their size and fit. The new 2020 edition slims down their shell size by 20% whilst keeping the same driver configuration. Now I personally suffer from small ears and narrow canals, and the original never fit me too well. The new 2020 edition fit better, they don’t quite fit flush and that will be reserved for those with bigger ears; however they do fit securely and comfortably so this is a big bonus.

Sound

Bass: That hard hitting, all powerful Solaris bass is here to stay, for all but the most hardcore bassheads there will be more than enough low end grunt. They are however still very well controlled, there is always going to be a sense of warmth and body to the sound thanks to the generous low end, however it manages to not interfere with the rest of the sound too much. Sub-bass is easily audible, the mid-bass hits with authority when asked to, however they are articulate and handle most genres with ease. The Solaris 2020 are tuned for fun, not for reference listening like the Andromeda, and they sure do deliver a very engaging and enjoyable sound.

Midrange: As previously stated the low end might be full bodied, but it does stay well controlled with minimal impact on the rest of the sound. The transition into the midrange is very well handled, there is a little bleed but the midrange still manages to cut through with great clarity and separation. The midrange might not be up front and centre stage, however it is well placed, slightly behind the lows, and has good tonality. It is impressive how layered and detailed the midrange manages to be, and yet at the same time it is always smooth, the transition into the treble is very well handled with no harsh sibilance. The midrange comes across as natural and real, and the layering really helps place instruments and vocal tracks within the soundstage.

Treble: These are not a bright earphone, they are also not incredibly v-shaped which tends to be a trend with a more bass oriented tuning. The top end is smooth, organic and refined, there is enough presence to keep things from sounding dull but they never overstep the line to becoming fatiguing. Cymbals are just where they need to be and come crashing in around the midrange with great precision and tonality and they extend with ease. They always maintain expert control without any peaks, there is a great sense of air up top and overall I really enjoy how real they sound.

Whilst reviewing these, I had Override by Slipknot come on, and this track really highlights what the Solaris 2020 can do. A heavy wall of drums and guitars, all perfectly layered but with such a powerful presentation. Corey’s vocals are perfectly isolated and hauntingly realistic, they handle every bit of the mix with ease yet it all comes together in a powerful and coherent sound.

The soundstaging and imaging of the Solaris 2020 are a strong point, with great accuracy when it comes to width, height and placement, yet they remain coherent throughout.

Conclusion

The Solaris 2020 are more comfortable and ergonomic, they are also a little more refined in their sound delivery with a slightly wider soundstage and more focused midrange. They are most definitely still a Solaris, but are now a little more refined, yet still manage to produce an impressively hard hitting sound. Definitely an IEM to demo in the sub £1500 price range.

Dan Clark Audio Aeon II Open Review

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Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The Aeon II come in a new colour in my opinion they look great, the finish on the cups is perfect with a similar leather headband strap and headband as the original. The grills are also very similar to the original, but the arms now allow the Aeon II to fold up into a more compact size, although being open back I’m not sure how handy it’ll be for this model. It’s certainly a good feature for their closed back sibling.

Build quality is excellent as always, the supplied cable is soft and the connectors are solid. The headband is flexible and it all feels very well put together. Nothing here feels cheap, Dan Clark Audio have thought carefully about the materials used, and it shows.

Comfort:

The Aeon II are lightweight with a suspension strap and deep earpads, this all leads to a super comfortable headphone that is a pleasure to wear for extended periods. The earpads are however made of leather, so you may find your ears getting a little hot during extended listening sessions.

Sound:

Bass: For an open back headphone the Aeon II really do deliver down low, with plenty of body and adequate punch. They have a slightly full bodied sound to them but with better extension over their predecessor, they are also very well controlled as is the case with most planar headphones. The body comes out when called for and lends a lovely tone to acoustic recording, yet throw on something heavier and they can easily keep up. There is good layering down low and nuances are easily picked out, these are not bass heavy but they are a slightly warm and full bodied headphone.

Midrange: The midrange now has better detail retrieval and spaciousness, there is more air around vocals, yet everything is delivered with a pleasant smoothness. The midrange is effortless and natural, instruments sound real and sibilance is very well controlled. For those who want a little more bite, the Aeon II might be a little too safe sounding, but for those who enjoy a relaxed listen these are great to kick back and listen with.

Treble: The treble has good extension and air, but it is quite safe with regards to quantity, they have enough bite to bring out good detail however they do not jump out at you. They do however hit the mark with their tonality, reproducing the top end with a fairly realistic tone that is sure to please a lot of people. Placement within the soundstage is very accurate in the treble region, and the transition from midrange to treble is smooth, if not a little subdued.

The soundstaging on the Aeon II is good, with plenty of width and good height, the positioning of instruments is what stands out the best though with excellent layering.

Conclusion:

The new Aeon II are a technically excellent headphone with a warm, refined and smooth sound and plenty of detail to boot. Great build quality and comfort add to the overall package, but those who want a more punchy and exciting sound may want to look elsewhere.

 

Sound: 4/5

Comfort: 5/5

Build Quality: 4/5

Value: 4/5

64 Audio Universal Model Overview

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U12t:

One of the most popular models, the U12t is in the sweet spot for price/performance. The U12t are a superb all-rounder that have enough bass to satisfy most but have plenty of technical prowess too. Almost like a baby U18t, the U12t are very well balanced and even handed with punchy yet dynamic lows, detailed and open midrange and effortless highs. The lows can be tuned with the apex module, the M20 giving a subtle lift in the sub-bass over the default M15. The bass is fast and articulate yet has body and punch too.

The midrange is crisp and clean, expertly separated from the low end it cuts through the mix with excellent detail retrieval. Layering in the midrange is a highlight, it is very easy to separate different layers in the mix. The highs here are perfectly in line with the rest of the sound, with impact, shimmer and extension all with the signature openness of the tia driver.

The U12t are very well balanced overall and handle anything you throw at them. They have a bit more of an up-front sound stage but with great layering. It’s easy to hear why they are so popular.

 

tia Trió:

This model is probably the one that is most forgotten in the 64 Audio lineup, yet they deserve some recognition. Here we have a very accomplished hybrid design, one that is all about engagement and enjoyment. There is a healthy dose of sub-bass extension helped with great articulation in the mid-bass. This low end gives the Trio a bit of fun factor but without overstepping the line to become fatiguing.

The midrange is present, up front and clean, never masked by the more powerful low end.  The highs come from the signature tia driver, which allows effortless extension but they are by no means up front and bright. The highs take a backseat overall, yet they don’t sound dark, with great detail and impact when called for.

The Trio are made for enjoyment, the lows have real dynamic punch to them yet they don’t drown out the midrange or highs. Perfect for those who listen to music with a good bassline to follow. Sound staging is great too, with a good sense of space and perfect imaging.

U18t:

The U18t are for those who love technicalities, cramming a whole 18 balanced armatures per side, the U18t are somewhat of a statement product. If you listen to the U18t for a while, anything else is going to sound veiled and muddy in comparison. They have such a clean and controlled sound signature that is perfect for those who want neutrality. Everything is cranked up to 11, these have headroom to spare and don’t put a foot wrong, whatever you play through them.

This level of detail does have its downfalls, one being they are very unforgiving so be sure to pair them with a good source and good music files. Once you do this, you will be able to pick apart every recording down to the finest detail, all this information is however delivered in an enjoyable package and the U18t are not fatiguing to listen to.

They don’t have the incredibly wide soundstage of the Fourte, but these are designed as more of a monitor like IEM, whereas the Fourte are geared more towards the audiophile market. If you love a detailed and neutral sound signature, the U18t are incredible and definitely worth a listen.

 

tia Fourté:

This model pushes the boundaries and shows what’s possible with only 4 drivers. This is a hybrid design with an intricate inner shell with chambers that help shape the sound. Nothing sounds overly boosted on the Fourte, but they do have a healthy dose of impact down low. The Fourte are very revealing and will throw up flaws in recordings, but the clarity in the midrange is truly astonishing. What’s even more impressive is how the top end just extends without rolling off at all.

The soundstage is one of the standout qualities of the Fourte, you can pick out the mixing techniques as vocals can be dead centre then shift to the sides a little.

Everything sounds very cleanly separated, yet the width and height of the soundstage are unlike any other IEM I have heard.

If you are looking for a true hi-fi experience, the Fourte deliver; with a more musical yet well balanced sound signature, effortless, crystal clear highs and impeccable soundstaging qualities, they truly are TOTL. Just try to stick to high quality recordings to hear the best these can deliver.

 

Fourté Noir:

These are a limited edition of the original Fourte, and sound very similar so I won’t go into as much detail. They do however come with a more premium 8-core cable that terminates in a 2.5mm balanced plug and has a 2.5mm to 3.5mm adaptor with it too. The Fourte Noir are a bit more refined when compared to the Fourte with a slightly smoother upper midrange and a little extra body in the sub-bass.

These differences are small but noticeable when you A/B them side by side. If you enjoy the original Fourte then the Fourte Noir may sound a little less exciting upon first listen but over time their smoother sound might be to your liking. If you’ve never heard either, both models are excellent. I would say that the Noir have a slight edge when it comes to the soundstaging too, but only slight.

Campfire Audio Solaris Review

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Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The Solaris do not take a low-key approach when it comes to looks, with a gold faceplate and large housing they definitely stand out in the crowd. They do however look great, you can see the craftsmanship in the machining of the shells, and everything feels very premium.

Build quality is superb again, with aluminium shells that are CNC machined, the cable is silver plated and slightly thicker than the one on the Andromeda. Everything is very well built and feels solid, albeit a little on the heavier side.

Comfort and Isolation:

Well there is no escaping just how big the Solaris are, and depending on the size and shape of your ears the fit will vary. I have quite small ears, and the Solaris stick out quite far, but do stay in fine with the right tips. They are not uncomfortable, just a little cumbersome.

Isolation is good on these; they do have a vent for the dynamic driver but this doesn’t seem to affect their isolation and these are great for on-the-go use or commuting and hold up well in loud environments.

Sound:

Bass: Having a single dynamic driver handling bass duties, these have more impact and rumble when compared to a more neutral IEM like their sibling the Andromeda. These have incredible articulation down low, there is a slight increase in presence down low to keep things tilted towards a more fun sound signature. However, the bass does a good job at controlling its body, and it never manages to get in the way of the midrange.

Midrange: The midrange on the Solaris is clean and clear, not suffering from the typical warm lower midrange due to bass bloat. This is where the BA drivers kick in and through out incredibly crisp and detailed mids that sound natural and tonally accurate. The midrange sits perfectly in the mix, without being pushed back, the extra body down low does not translate to a v-shaped sound signature.  The transition from the midrange to the treble is smooth and sibilance is not an issue with the Solaris.

Treble: The treble on the Solaris is very tastefully done, packed full of detail yet with a smooth and effortless extension allowing them to shine yet without fatigue. There is no artificial boosting to create a sense of detail, instead they decide to have a more even-handed approach and allow you to enjoy the music but also the detail is there if you want to listen. The precision of the treble is really impressive and their placement within the soundstage is very accurate.

The soundstaging of the Solaris is a definite highlight, there is great width and height and everything is incredibly well separated.

Conclusion:

The Solaris are incredibly coherent from top to bottom, with a mild emphasis on the bass region. They are a full bodied yet well balanced IEM that handle pretty much anything you throw at them. They may be expensive, but their performance is truly superb.

 

Sound: 5/5

Comfort: 3/5

Build Quality: 5/5

Value: 4/5