Campfire Audio Polaris 2

Preface​

I will admit, this is my first Campfire Audio gear. Probably not a good entry point given that all the write-ups I’ve read about these are that it’s a very specific type of tuning, mostly for the bass heads from what I’ve gathered. On top of that, there aren’t really a lot of write-ups for the Polaris V2, which seems to align with the notion that these are tuned for a specific set of listeners. Notable reviewers like Resolve and Crin don’t particularly like these.

From all the models I’ve read about Campfire Audio, the Andromeda seems to be their bread and butter for the crowd given that they would go out of their way to make seemingly endless iterations and limited editions. I recently acquired the Andromeda 2019 and will make a separate write-up for it, so I will only be diving into the Polaris V2 by itself and make comparison with the Andromeda once I’ve been able to get more listening time with it - which will be its own review section.

This is my first write-up for an IEM, so bare with me as I tackle certain areas differently from how I do write-ups for headphones. For one, our preferred ear tips are much more diverse compared to headphone ear pads. Tips contribute to the tuning, similar to ear pads for headphones. That said, IEM manufacturers typically provide us with multiple sets of ear tip types, and in different sizes. Our choice of tip material and fitment in the ear canal affects the sound signature and we have the liberty of choice, whereas most headphone manufacturers provide only a single set of ear pads (although there are exceptions, but we’ll not dive into that).

With the above paragraph, my write-up will likely be more relevant to those who would use the same ear tips I do with them.

Accessories and Packaging​

At this point, this is probably not very exciting as multiple reviews show Campfire Audio having a good number of accessories in a great looking package. They may not exhibit as “premium feeling” as maybe a Sony IER series, but they’re well presented with a good set of accessories. Nothing to complain about from my end.

Aesthetics, build and comfort​

Aesthetics at this point, is classic Campfire Audio. You’d recognize it more often than not, except if you mistake it for a KZ from afar. But hey, mimicry is the best form of flattery is what they say. Build is unsurprisingly excellent feeling, but longevity of the aesthetics is something that’s concerning for this type of coating.

I find people (myself included) aren’t very careful with IEMs, even when I had the SE846 back then, I wasn’t particularly careful with them. Maybe part of the reason was because they’re still constructed of plastic and the type of plastic used on Shure IEMs is durable that you don’t notice scratches for them most of the time (at least the ones I owned, which are the 215, 535 LTD, and 846).

Going back on topic about longevity of how Campfire Audio coats their IEMs, it’s beautiful for sure, but it also sucks that the paint chips off fairly easily. It’s evident in a lot of CA IEMs in the used market - a good number of them have nicks on the edges and chipped paint across the body. This is a point against them. Aesthetics are short lived for this type of IEM if you’re not careful.

Last note, the blue hue with black screws and nozzle used on the Polaris V2 looks sleek for me (one of the main reasons why I decided to give it a try).

Comfort on the other hand, is pretty good. I can wear them for a couple of hours before my outer canal signals to me that they are experiencing some discomfort. I don’t think I’ve ever had IEMs that I can wear for long hours as nicely as Shure IEMs (minus the SE846 - that one is huge for me). So with my average ears, I find the comfort on these excellent compared to some others I’ve had (i.e. IM02, SE846, Klipsch X7i).

Sound​

Amplification is not a concern here, such that a decent source like a Macbook Pro headphone output has more than enough headroom even with EQ applied. Trying these on my JDS Element, I had to significantly lower the system volume setting to have a volume that won’t make my ear canal bleed (exaggerating, but too loud of a volume can definitely impact your hearing in the long run).

Frequency graph for reference is mainly Crinacle’s measurements found here: Campfire Polaris V2 – In-Ear Fidelity

Further, I will add that the tips I use are the wide-bore silicon tips that they come with. I find these the most comfortable for them, and also tames the bass better than the Final Audio E-series type of tip with the small nozzle hole. The E-series tips makes them too bassy for me while somewhat emphasizing the treble a little bit more. I don’t particularly like foam tips as it’s a chore to put in and it’s not a comfier fit to my ear canals than regular silicon tips. If you’re one to use foam tips with these, my write-up below may not be as reflective of what you could be hearing - word of caution.

Tonality / Overall Signature​

“Bassy”, “V-shaped”, “bass cannon”, “gobs of bass”, and so on and so forth. I’ve been reading about these for a while and these are the common descriptors. After listening to it for a good amount of time, I will have to agree, these are definitely a bassy set. It bleeds into the midrange, yes. Additionally, I agree with Crinacle that there is a mid-treble emphasis that prevents this from sounding overly warm and/or dark.

There are those that would describe this tuning as V-shaped, maybe if you were using the E-series tips, I would agree. As mentioned in the paragraph on why I chose these tips instead of the E-series ones, please read the reason two paragraphs above. With the wide-bore tips, they turn from V-shaped to simply bassy with a treble sparkle. The mids and treble tonal balance doesn’t resemble the TH-X00 tuning - whereas I do consider the TH-X00 tuning as a definite V-shape.

Breaking down each region:

• Bass - definitely quite bassy. There’s a good amount of rumble that I find “enjoyable” as well as mid-bass impact that is simply head-banging. HOWEVER, the bass does not slope down early enough that it intrudes already the lower midrange, which is definitely noticeable even on Crin’s graph. For mid-bass to lower-bass quality, I think they are fantastic, especially for modern genres. Seems a lot don’t like these, and that’s fine. People vary in bass preference and usually I’m more on the side of just slightly below the harman bass shelf. Going up to the midrange area, therein lies the first flaw for me.
• Midrange - the lower midrange to midrange proper is simply overpowered by the bass. You can see it on the graph, the bass doesn’t smooth down and in fact, the downward slope from the bass to the midrange is very gradual until about 700Hz. That’s not normal, and it is clearly audible. However, it does lend to lower male vocals with great body, but natural stringed instruments suffer a bit with too much bleeding of the bass into any strum. Female vocals on the other hand, have decent weight, but sounds a bit shrill and thin sounding when raising their pitch to higher octaves. This I would assume is partly because of the lower than expected ear resonance that’s between 2kHz - 5kHz mixed with the mid-treble spike,
• Treble - the mid-treble spike along the 8kHz region is what seems to keep these IEMs from being a complete bass cannon and sounding “dark”. However, that 8kHz is reminiscent of the treble quality I find in the DT1990. Note: it’s the treble “quality”, not treble “quantity”. This means the texture of the treble presented by this spike is similar to how I heard the DT1990 - splashy with certain roughness for cymbal crashes and hi-hats vibrations. The DT1990 still has the larger “quantity”, seeing it’s about 10dB or so above what is considered “normal”. The extension seems to be somewhat shelved too, so the area above 10kHz could also be fixed.

Overall, the stock tonality is ‘average’ and not something I’d pay $500 USD. I would rather go with an Audio Technica IM02 or Massdrop Plus given that both are cheaper and have I think a better stock tonality. I would give the tonality as a ‘pass’ for its bassy presentation.

However, applying EQ here gives them a breath of fresh air that I think makes them worthy of consideration if you are one to use EQ with them.

We’ll get into that section down the review.

Detail Retrieval (Resolution) and Dynamics​

I find the detail retrieval to be “good”, not “great”. The bass bleed makes deciphering the less prominent instruments harder, but they’re there. I say this category is a “pass” for me and not class leading.

Same goes for dynamics. Bass dynamics seems to be it’s only prominent feature for this category. Anything above from midrange to lower treble has no noticeable dynamics, whereas cymbal crashes and hi-hats have decent impact when called for, but again just average compared to Focal dynamics - granted it’s an over-ear and it plays differently. To add to that, I haven’t really noticed IEMs to exhibit a great dynamic range in general, and these simply stay in that space to my ears.

Head Stage and Imaging​

Oh man, head stage width on these is probably the best I’ve heard in an IEM. Not even the Shure SE846 has this particular stage width. Stage presentation is pretty cohesive and I don’t notice any abnormalities in the stage presentation.

The same story goes for imaging, I think these have pretty good imaging. I will note though, I’m not one in particular to notice these qualities in either headphones or IEMs. For IEMs, the Polaris V2 is among the better ones I would consider in stage width, stage presentation and imaging. I only notice these things when the staging and imaging are above average or beyond what I would normally expect.

Timbre​

In stock tuning, timbre is only a “pass”. It renders stringed instruments a bit unnaturally half the time. Male vocals tend to be good overall. Female vocals on the other hand, tend to become thin and somewhat shrill when they start raising their voices. This is mostly noticeable for Asian pop/rock where the general trend of female singers is to sing the higher octaves. Once they hit the higher pitch, it tends to not sound great.

EQ​

Well, after playing around with EQ on these, they simply sound in a word - fantastic. I think this headphone/IEM is the closest I followed the AutoEQ points to (minus the bass, I simply enjoy the bass quality with the tips I use).

The stage width is more prominent, detail retrieval is what I would definitely expect at this MSRP. I can distinguish the different instruments a bit better, dynamics have improved slightly overall, and timbre has been refined for the most part. Female vocals don’t sound as shrill anymore when reaching higher pitch, and the grain quality in the treble has been tamed by a significant margin.

This type of IEM looks to be a desktop use for me. It can’t be a portable option in the sense that I can use almost any source and it will sound the way I like it the way it is. Applying EQ makes these engaging and more correct to me, whereas its stock tuning is simply “okay”. Now that I’ve found a good EQ setting for my preference, it’s hard to go back to it’s stock tonality. But I will say, EQing makes them a really engaging and “fun” type of headphone and corrects the pitch of vocals/instruments to something more accurate.

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Conclusion​

Given the Polaris V2 having a bassy signature, this is not something I think most people who aren’t into bassy signatures would be looking for. I’m one in that camp. I usually prefer a signature that’s tuned somewhat neutral and works with the majority of genres. This is not one of them, in my opinion.

These are specifically tuned for those who love a good bass slamming IEM. I think these would definitely be perfect for commuting if you take the bus or train a lot. The bass wouldn't be drowned out by the noise produced. Since I don’t commute anymore, this simply works in my favor of having a stationary setup that I can EQ to my taste.

If you’re one to EQ, I would give the Polaris V2 a consideration and a great recommendation for something fun to listen to. It can be a jack-of-all trades type of sound when you EQ it as such, but simply fixing some of the acoustic balance makes them excellent sounding for what they’re being sold for at MSRP.

If you’re one who likes a more balanced signature out of the box and don’t really EQ, then I would say this isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a fun sounding IEM, this maybe something worth considering. The bass texture and impact on these out of all the IEMs I’ve tried are second to none.

All in all, I agree with Crin’s description of them. The Polaris V2 has a ton of bass that bleeds to the midrange, but has a treble emphasis that balances out the bass a little bit. He’s pretty accurate on this one based on how I hear them. I would however rate the technical grade higher compared to what Crin gave these.

Overall grade comes down to the following:

• Stock tonality - 6.7 / 10
• EQ’d tonality - 8.2 / 10
• Comfort - 7.8 / 10
• Technical Abilities - 8.5 / 10

So the Polaris V2 gets a full recommendation from me IF you are any of the following:

• A basshead
• One to listen to a lot of bassy tracks on a daily basis
• One who is looking for a commuter type of IEM where the bass does not drown out with the noise
• One who prefers a dynamic driver type of bass quality and is a tinkerer of EQ
• One who is looking for a bassy set that’s not completely V-shaped
• One who loves the aesthetic of a blue metallic IEM regardless of sound quality
• One who EQ’s regardless

Given that they just passed my stock tonality mark mixed with me simply enjoying their EQ’d sound, the Polaris V2 I think deserves a 4 / 5 rating overall (arbitrary, I know). This seems contrary to what notable reviewers would grade them, but I say they’re a great option if you use EQ on them. If you simply use them as is, you might want to test them out if you can. These aren’t a portable type of listening gear, but a stationary listening one for me.

I will give a final note, some audio gear take EQ better than others. A couple of notable gears that I’ve had that even EQ didn’t improve their tonality or show their technical abilities are the Oppo PM-3 and Massdrop Plus. There’s a couple more, but that’s not the point of this write-up.

When I will be using EQ, the headphone or IEM should fit the specific use case of being a great all arounder when listening to my stationary setup. The gear should have great tonality and technical abilities when EQ’d, otherwise they’re not on my recommended list.

If I were evaluating the gear for the case of commuting or using at an office where I don’t really have my complete setup with me, I would be more stringent in rating their stock tonality. I haven’t been commuting recently, so a portable IEM or office type of gear isn’t really what I’m looking for these days - thus not how I would be reviewing gear currently. I would still LOVE to have an IEM or headphone that has excellent tonality out of the box, similar to a Hifiman HE-500, HD600 or Focal Clear, but I’m a little more flexible with gear I buy nowadays.

As such, there are headphones/IEMs that I'd recommend because their tonality is simply great - meaning it renders natural instruments and vocals at least close to how I could hear them live, or have a tonality that's nicely coloured and I think a good number of people would enjoy it. On the other hand, there are those with stock tonality that I feel is really bad, but when EQ'd sounds amazing, and I will still give them a good mark because there's hidden potential upon that surface FR. I will mention whether I'd recommend them for those who don't EQ, and for those who use EQ - plain and simple.

A good start to the Campfire Audio line up for me, I would say. I like the IO colourway as well, so I might pick them up eventually despite their also controversial write-ups.

Introduction :

Campfire Audio needs no introduction, they are very well known, well established and easily the most recommended IEMs in high fidelity portable audio. Each of their units is handmade in Portland, Oregon.
The name “Campfire” skyrocketed after the release of Andromeda and since then, they are leading in the audio industry. Campfire is proud of their build and they know how proud their owners are.They have a prime image for Andromeda and Solaris in the audiophile community for being class leading. But does the Polaris V2 stand up to the high expectations?

Disclaimer :

The review was tested at 499$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.

The item was purchased from Singapore by an acquaintance. The unit was borrowed for an honest opinion and review.

Purchasable link :

Campfire Audio
Headphone Zone (India).

Specifications :



Unboxing and Accessories :

The unboxing experience is grand, Campfire never disappoints any of its users in terms of unboxing. The Campfire lineup of IEMs follow the same packaging irrespective of the price range. A beautiful box wrapped inside a sheet which opens upside down.



On the box, Campfire branding is present. Once you open the box, you have an extraordinary carrying case, just below the case lies another box which is filled with ample amounts of accessories. Inside the smaller box you’ll find tips ranging from Final Audio Type-E tips to silicone tips and foam tips. 3 mesh bags with Campfire branding are present which come in handy for storing IEMs, some paperwork for warranty and the Polaris which are sitting snugly inside the carrying case along with the wire. Unboxing is done very tastefully and nicely.



Cable :



Cable that comes along with Polaris is amazing. It's a Campfire Audio smokey litz cable with beryllium plated MMCX connectors and L-type termination. It's an unbalanced cable. The Y split is made out of Aluminium and its fairly light weight. The chin slider does the job and doesn’t slide automatically. There are no cable microphonics. The provided cable quality is really good and doesn’t really need any upgrade.


Case:



The case is made out of leather, it’s shaped like a women's clutch. The chain has Campfire branding on it and on the inside, the case has wool lining. The case feels very premium and sturdy and you can feel safe carrying around your IEMs in this case.

IEM Quality and fit :



The Polaris have an icy blue color which is matte in texture. It shares the same shell as IO and Andromeda. The pair is made out of aluminium and they are quite light in weight. The finishing and material choice is excellent, every part from nozzle to PVD screws feels premium and well built. Campfire has a history of paint chipping on this particular chassis, and our unit was no different. Irresponsible and rough use will lead to paint chipping and you don’t want that to happen on a 499$ pair. Our testing was done with the famous Final Audio Type-E tips and we have to say, this is one of the best fitting IEMs. They sit in ear concha very well, extruding out quite a bit.

Sound Isolation :

It's no doubt that polaris are built well, the aluminium construction helps a lot with sound isolation. With Final Audio tips the seal we got was above expectations. They isolate sound very well and one shouldn’t be concerned about isolation on this pair at least.

The Driveability and sources used :

Polaris are quite a sensitive pair. With only 17 Ohms of impedance and 107dB of sensitivity, it gets pretty loud with almost any source. It works well with almost any smartphone and we tested it on an iPhone and the volume was pretty adequate to enjoy.
Sources used are:

• iBasso DX120
• Shanling M0
• iPhone with lightning to 3.5 adapter

Final Audio Tips :

All of the Campfire Audio lineup comes with pre included Final Audio Type-E tips (xs/s/m/l/xl). The tips are quite comfortable, enhanced the soundstage a lot and despite being universal they surprisingly fit really well. There’s no other tip that fitted this well be it Campfire marshmallow tips or silicone tips. The acoustic response and the bore width was just enough to satisfy both the comfort and sound.




The Sound (3.5/5) :



Bass (4.5/5) :

The one thing which really over shines the other aspects of the Polaris is the BASS, the presence of which is felt with dominance and the way it is reproduced may become difficult for the rivals to match. The texture of bass is thicc and is filled with low end, on the right tracks one could actually feel like an earthquake emerging right inside of the head which could even shake the seismograph!!!, having said that due to excessive low end and rumbly nature of bass the speed of hitting notes takes a hit and due to this when one bass note ends and the second starts , the presence of first is still there which actually should not happen. Overall Polaris is the one for the bass heads undoubtedly and for those who love hip-hop and rock.

Mids (2/5) :

Owing to the fact the Polaris is amazing for the bass reproduction, but due to excessive presence of bass the mids take a serious hit. Mids are completely recessed if anyone wants to hear vocals , then the disappointment is what prevails not the vocals, though if EQ’d properly, it does improve the lacking mids but still the bass overpowers mids which is kind of a let down at this price range. Lower mids are non existing and upper mids are boosted which makes the whole signature very bright and fatiguing. Talking about detail retrieval, does an average job of reproducing the details, nothing aww worthy , no micro detail retrieval as such. As stated due to the bright signature the Male Vocals lack the oomph and sound thin and tiny, but female vocals sound decent nothing exceptional though.

Treble (3.0/5) :

According to the bright signature of the Polaris the treble is also boosted but that does not mean that it is detailed, the overall treble signature is harsh due to which the listener cannot listen to it for longer hours as the sound starts biting and those who have sensitive ears may not like the sound. As there is a peak in upper mids and treble the sound becomes sibilant though it can be adjusted by EQ as these respond very nicely with the EQ. higher mids are lacking due to which the sound lacks the details hence not as sparkly, cymbals sound realistic though.

Soundstage :

As seen with polaris, the lack of mids and higher treble result in a very narrow soundstage as the way the mids and treble is implemented the feeling of air is very less, once Eq’d properly the soundstage can improve but not drastically as we find the whole purpose of this IEM is not for analytical listening. These are a fun sounding pair for those who want to enjoy the music.

Imaging :

Imaging is very appropriate with them as Polaris is able to differentiate the use of different instruments used to reproduce the sound , but we feel due to narrow soundstage the imaging also take slight hit, but nothing negative as such. Right and Left separation is good due to which instruments do find the places in song correctly hence confirming to good imaging overall.

Reference track :

● Crash test Dummies - “ Afternoon & CoffeeSpoons “ for sound stage.

● Colter Wall - “ Thirteen Silver Dollars “ for male vocals.

● Iron Butterfly - “ In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida “ for drum solo at 6:30.

● Radio Head - “The National Anthem “ for bass guitar and separation.

● Mame Khan & Milli Nair - “Badri Badariya” for female vocals.



Conclusion :

The Polaris have 2 sides just like a coin. Either it’s loved to the core or it’s not liked much. Without wasting any further time, this is a true basshead IEM. If you are someone who needs constant rumbling bass which is humongous and energetic in sound and you’re only a fan of bass, go for it! It’s made for basshead, it’s advertised as “bassy” IEM and the Polaris serves what it says on paper. The dynamic driver on Polaris is tuned to go pretty low. They are a little subwoofer inside a metal shell ! It’s not a very musical IEM, the midrange is recessed and treble is not sparkly. Polaris adapts the EQ really well and with proper tuning you can get a lot from them. It’s a fun IEM with a hefty price tag and it’s not for everyone.

I really like a dynamic hybrid iem. When I saw the new Polaris II with a bigger dynamic driver I got stoked. I got both the IO and Polaris II at the same time but I was most excited to have a “fun” bass oriented iem. Unfortunately I was in for a frustrating week of testing. This is definitely meant for a bass head who only cares about the low end hits and that’s it. The Campfire Polaris II is using a dynamic driver and single BA setup.



Comfort and fit- The new design has a slightly longer nozzle than the older CA iems and I have no comfort issues like I do with the andros or nova of old. The Polaris II is also a light iem so it can stay in the ear longer.



Onto the review of the sound! My personal preference are a dynamic hybrid iem where I get good hitting bass and have a brighter treble with decent mids. I listen to a lot of genres but I hover in the classic rock, blues and edm music with some rap here and there.



Gear used

iPhone X with headphone adapter, FiiO m11, smsl sh8/su8 combo.



Lows- DEEP! It really digs down low and has a nice thump and rumble. The best part is that the bass is clean and never sounds bloated with wide bore tips. The DD is however slow and the rumble lingers a little too long for my tastes.



Mids- Without EQ the bass is too much. The dynamic driver isn’t fast so the mids get overshadowed by the low end. With EQ on the 250 and lower hz brought down the mids sound just ok. The vocals end up being fairly in your face which again is fine.



Highs- The treble is fairly splashy and it’s bright enough that it can fight off some of the intense low end. Once the low end gets EQ’d down it reveals a somewhat “tinny” sounding treble. Unfortunately it doesn’t do well at detail retrieval.



Imaging- It gets somewhat lost in the overpowering bass. But when EQ’d it’s correct and I have no issues with it.



Soundstage- It’s wide. Not as wide as the CA IO I bought at the same time but it runs into the issue of the bass taking over and drowning out the soundstage at times.



Cable rolling- I tried to cable roll with the intent of calming down the low end a little to obtain a more present mids and highs with no luck at all. The stock cable is nice and the connectors stay snug in the iem sockets. No noticeable floor noise going balanced which was nice.



Tip rolling- The final E tips included make the bass more intense and it actually starts to sound bloated. The foams or any wide bore tips are my recommendation to open up the sound stage and hear more of the mids and highs.



Amping- This will be fairly short. With the low end being so overpowering I couldn’t get a good sense if amping these was helping or not. The (IMO) clinical sounding FiiO m11 did actually calm the bass slightly but not in a way I could tell if more power was doing anything.



Comparisons:

Ikko oh10- the oh10 is more balanced overall sound wise and the low end isn’t as intense. It does still have a really great low end. It is however much heavier and I find the CA iems look much better in design.



ADV Sound m5-5d- These are no longer made but they still fell in the same price range as the Polaris II when they existed. The bass on the m5-5d has the same clean sound but it’s a more acceptable level of rumble and impact. The mids and highs are much more detailed than the Polaris II as well.



Overall thoughts

When I tested the Campfire IO I was a tip change away from enjoying music. It needed more bass so I was excited to pop these in and find a CA iem that wasn’t a Solaris or Atlas for a little less price wise. I thought maybe these needed a burn in since it was using a dynamic driver so I let them run from my M11’s library on repeat for 4 days straight. I spent more time frustrated and trying to calm the bass than actually listening to music. I’ll admit there were times I thought the intense bass was really fun but after a few edm tracks I was irritated by the loss of detail. These were never advertised as being anything but monster bass iems and there is indeed an audience for a thunder thumping low end and I think this works well for those seeking that type of sound signature. The biggest problem is the price. Had these been $300 like the IO I could see the focus on just the low end. These cost $500 however and unless you got money burning a hole in your pockets or you need to collect CA iems like a Pokémon trainer needs all the Pokémon, you could just get the Ikko OH10 for $189 which gets you 70ish percent of the way to the Polaris II bass rumble but with more balance and detail retrieval. For a hybrid above $300 is has to complete with my ADV M5-5D which doesn’t exist anymore so I’m always looking for a backup if it ever goes down. Unfortunately the Polaris II doesn’t come close to the sound quality of my M5-5D. I hate to rate these low since I was excited to use them and really loved the deep blue color. Once again, these never claimed to have detail as well as deep low end but I was expecting more for the price. Thanks for reading!