Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020

The Campfire Audio Andromeda are one of the few genuine staples of the IEM world. The original version was released in 2016 and its latest iteration, seven years later, in 2023.

In-between, there has been three standard versions, this one included, as well as no less than eight special editions with the Andromeda Special Edition: Gold holding a very dear place in this audiophile’s heart. And yet, an actual, standard, Andromeda was yet to be heard.

Disclaimer: the Andromeda 2020 have been ordered from K55.ch after they were kind enough to offer me a discount for their last pair of Andromeda 2020 which have been paid out of the author’s pocket.


The object — The Andromeda 2020 are very small and light IEMs with the unmistakable Campfire Audio industrial design which, until very recently, was the brand’s hallmark.

Bundled with the usual boutique Campfire Audio packaging and accessories, they come with a thin and lightweight single-ended Silver-Plated Copper Smoky Litz cable, three sets of tips, a useful mesh pocket and an olive green-dyed sustainable cork case.


Fit & Comfort — Despite the lack of vents and their slightly shorter nozzle compared to other IEMs in Campfire’s lineup, the Andromeda 2020 remain comfortable.

For those worried about the shells being an issue, the Andromeda 2020 are small and, should one need to push them outwards, aftermarket tips will very likely solve any potential issue.

Last but not least, given how thin and light the cable is, you’ll quickly forget about it.

Tips used: stock silicon


Sound — The Campfire Andromeda 2020 are particularly receptive to output types and impedances though not to the extend of the Ara. Accordingly, the recommendation here would be to match them with a source having an output impedance under 1 ohm.
No need to spend a lot as an Apple or Alo Audio Pilot dongle are perfectly fine although the preferences here have been the Sony ZX507 or WM1AM2 which allowed for a more analog sound.

In terms of sound, the Andromeda 2020 are a warm-neutral set with a timbre and tuning rivalling, not only Campfire Audio’s own higher-end offerings such as the Ara or Solaris 2020, yet also the 64 Audio U6t or the Sony IER-M9, the latter which the Andromeda 2020 also beat in terms of dynamics.
As to details, textures, musicality and overall balance, the Andromeda 2020 seem to be the proverbial IEMs and genuinely strike a stunning balance. Their soundstage is also worth noting given that it manages to be above average without becoming artificial, both in terms of depth and heights.

Last but not least, note that, via balanced output, the Andromeda 2020 seem to loose their magic — the recommendation here really would be to stick to single-ended.

Files / Sources used: CD-quality FLAC bought from Qobuz & Tidal HiFi streaming / Alo Audio Pilot, Uncapped Sony ZX-507 & NW-WM1AM2 (Direct Source: On)


Conclusion — The Andromeda 2020 are such a pleasant surprise. Surprise because, as many of you know, there are so many factors in this hobby that one listener’s bliss can turn out to be a totally average experience for another.

With that said, in almost 10 years in this hobby, they are the best IEM this vagrant audiophile has heard, for any genres.

The Andromeda 2020 are therefore wholeheartedly recommended and one might want to have a frequent look at the Campfire Audio Marketplace in case a pair is up for grabs.

A sort of mythological entity guards the entrance of the over-kilobuck IEM market segment since 2016, and that’s Campfire’s ultrafamous Andromeda. For how odd it may sound I never got to audition those… In conjunction with the release of the new product revision, however, the gap has been filled and I’ve been provided a sample of the new product iteration named Andromeda 2020 (retailing at $1099).

I’ve been auditioning them for quite a while now and to be frank I would need extra time to deliver an even more matured opinion. The reason is simple in its complexity: Andromeda 2020 are no easy individuals. On them I see hear a number of glorious lights and some shadowy parts, and I’m writing about each one here below of course, but much beyond that, Andromeda 2020 are one of those few devices where the articulated ensemble makes up for something more and beyond the sum of its parts.

[ In parentheses, this is not the first driver granting me such feeling, and in my experience such “magic” is not strictly related to the product’s market segment – read: price – but let’s not digress here ]

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the details first, then we’ll quikly climb up onto the big picture.


Test setup

Sources: Apogee Groove + Burson FUN + IEMatch / Questyle QP1R / Sony NW-A55 mrWalkman / iFi Micro iDSD Signature – Comply Foam TS-400 tips – stock Campfire Silver Plated Litz cable – lossless 16-24/44.1-192 FLAC tracks.


Signature analysis

Tonality Andromeda 2020 deliver a clear&clean timbre, with a definite BA-accent. The presentation is a W with an almost pure natural-balanced tonality. For my personal taste a whiff more of body (dacay) on the bass notes would make it 100% “organic” when rendering acoustic music.

Sub-Bass Sub bass is fully extended and rumble is there, just never authoritative due to the driver’s snappyness

Mid Bass Andromeda’s midbass is forward but flat, which gives it some good presence while always keeping a “baseline” role and never coming upfront, and a very faint warm color. Transients and implacably “BA-level” so notes are almost edgy, lean but most of all very scarce in microdynamics. Andromeda 2020 are not the IEMs you want if you’re after accurate (mainly, but not only) bass texture restitution.

Mids Mids are very well done, almost silky smooth yet vivid, articulated and detailed – a very subtle balance between precision and expressiveness. Like bass, a taint of warmth is present. And like on bass – although to a lesser extent – in terms of critical listening transients are a bit too fast to deliver truly organic sound. That being said mids’ clarity, cleanness, authority paired (again) with extremely accurate smoothness is nothing short of oustanding, and frankly a pleasure to listen to “as-is”.

Male Vocals Male vocals come accross very well in terms of clarity and definition. Some butter is missing (like it does on the entire Andromeda presentation really) to make them glorious.

Female Vocals Female vocals are clear, articulated and authoritative. Their timbre is a tad slim, and they lack that last 5% of texture to sound flutey, which is – again – probably intended by the tuners. In positive, these are most likely the most forward, vivid, crisp female vocals nevertheless succeeding in staying always off sibilance or shoutyness I encountered yet.

Highs Together with technicalities, trebles is where Andromeda 2020 get stunning. A truly masterful balance between definition and control has been reached here. Extension is good, air is also good and not excessive, presence trebles are vivid, detailed and sparkly while never scanting into excesses like shrills, or sibilance. I do prefer adopting foams in this case (see below) but even smallbore silicons dont make Andromeda 2020 misbehave up there (enough said, I guess).


Technicalities

Soundstage Andromeda2020 have a near-holographic stage, just height is a tad less extended than the other 2 dimensions but I’m noting this exclusively because I’m a nasty nitpicker

Imaging Beyond spectacular. Image distribution on the stage is perfect at all time both on the periphery and at the center.

Details Detail retrieval from highmids and trebles is frankly as good as it can possibly get without scanting into excessive thinness and the directly consequent metallic coloration. In conjunction to what’s mentioned above about bass and mids, a slight bit more relaxed transients over there would grant better detailing on those segments too.

Instrument separation Another excellent aspect on Andromeda 2020 is separation and layering. Paradoxically, their prowess on this contributes to reveal the relative scarceness of tonal nuances especially from circa 2K down.

Driveability That’s where it gets tricky: less than 13 ohm impedance and a sensitivity of almost 123dB/mW are no joke for any amp, especially that vast majority of deevices out there aimed at people stubbornly looking for “powah” instead of quality and control. Paternalistic rants apart, Andromeda 2020 are seriously picky, and get hissy even when paired to some source of high repute so don’t be too angry if it happens to you too. Pro tip: an IEMatch can do wonders, but be warned you’ll need to switch it to Ultra this time (-24dB attenuation…)


Physicals

Build Andromeda 2020 housings are made of machined aluminum, with a high quality anodized external finish. Smaller in size compared to the previous version, they feature a specially designed internal “shape”, which according to Campfire is solely in charge of the 5 drivers’ reciprocal calibration – no crossover or other filters are employed, anyhow.

Fit I find them easy to fit, both if I choose a shallower positioning or a deeper insertion. Tip selection has been just a bit less painful than my usual case: by far I prefer comply TS here [*]. Alternatively, final E silicons (nicely included as stock) are more than OK if I am keen on a even sharper / colder variation for one day.
[*] Campfire’s own foam tips are quite underwhelming in comparison.

Comfort Luckily I find Andromeda 2020 very comfortable but you sadly can’t rely on this. Although not big, housings feature unrounded edges so they may well be [partially] uncomfy on someone else’s outer ear. Gotta try.

Isolation When worn with foam tips, Andromeda 2020 offer me very high isolation

Cable Andromeda’s bundled cable is good, both from the build and the sonic standpoints. I tried rotating an (equivalent high quality) pure-copper cable and while some low and mid nuances get improved, highmids and presence trebles’ definition gets too close to depletion – and sometimes pass the edge too. So silver plated it is, and it’s good. I do have one remark though: given the kilobuck package price I find it more than a bit disappointing that a single cable termination option is merely included. A multi-termination cable should really always be bundled at these pricing levels, and on this manufacturing tier.


Specifications (declared)
Housing Machined aluminum shells with anodized emerald green outside finish. “Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber™” internal structure
Driver(s) 2 BA for high frequencies, 1 BA for mid frequencies, 2 BA for low frequencies [BA manufacturer undisclosed]
Connector Custom Beryllium/Copper MMCX
Cable Campfire Audio Litz Cable – Silver Plated Copper Conductors with Berylium Copper MMCX and 3.5mm Stereo Plug
Sensitivity 94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 7.01 mVrms = circa 123dB/mW
Impedance 12.8 Ω
Frequency Range 10 – 28000 Hz
Package & accessories Campfire Audio Sustainable Cork Earphone Case – Final Audio Tips (xs/s/m/l/xl) – Campfire Audio Earphone foam Tips (s/m/l) – Silicon Earphone Tips (s/m/l) – Campfire Audio Lapel Pin – Cleaning Tool
MSRP at this post time $1099,00


Considerations and conclusions

Analysing Andromeda 2020 requires the usual 2 – 3 pages. What I reported might be agreed upon or not, as always, but as I mentioned at the beginning there’s a higher layer here: Andromeda 2020 have a comprehensive personality going beyond their timbre, their tonality, and all that technical jargon.

At the current status of my experience, I would report Andromeda 2020 as greatly clean, skillfully musical, detailed and smooth acoustic performers. Their solid identity evidently stands-out from the mere, arid list of their elementary parts – that’s my point – and reaches the user before, and with more authority than each and all of those.

Andromeda 2020 deliver a proficient, clear, expansive musical experience. Critical-listening to them, going with a flashlight looking for the reason why bass is like this, mids are like that is … nearly preposterous.

By the way, if you are one of my usual “25 readers” you know that Andromeda 2020’s signature does not match my ideal preferences – I find its musicality too engineeristic. It lacks drama, for my taste. Even that considered, though, Andromeda 2020 genuinely appeal me to “just putting them on” and go with the smooth, articulated, open musical flow they grant.

Finally, and on the flip side, it’s important to underline that they “don’t come easy”, not even a bit. Their purchase price is “important”, and chances are they may trigger the need for a source upgrade, which might possibly cost another pretty penny… So be warned!

Disclaimer

The Andromeda 2020 sample has been provided free of charge by the manufacturer for this review, with no strings attached. They can be purchased here. As always, I am not affiliated, don’t get commission, etc etc.

This article previously also appeared here and here.

Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 ($1099): The detail king retains its crown

Andromeda 2020

Intro (same as the Solaris & Ara):

As luck would have it, the tasty trio of new CA wares came my way, the Ara 2020, Andromeda 2020 and this; the Solaris 2020. Upon first listen of all three, I noted how they seemed similar to me. Then after closer inspection, I began to understand the intricacies of each and how they were different. The Andro is the detail king, rightly taking back its crown as an extremely detailed critter. My goodness, it really does. The Solaris? Not having heard the first or second gen, I cannot say how it is different other than reading the reviews of HeadPie, thecontraptionist and twister6. They are much more versed than I, but the Solaris to me proved why it is the flagship of the range. It is like Ken & Co took the criticisms in stride and produced and F-you, this is what we can do. All three-sound phenomenal, and I again appreciate what Campfire Audio has done to the market. They produced three winners of distinctly different signatures, enough so that you will find one, which fits your tastes. And the Aras just sounds right no matter the source music. It really does, and I can see why it is the favorite of some.

I am a very lucky reviewer to have all three on hand and will do my best to discern the sound of each. As these are loaner units to me, I have no financial obligation whatsoever in this and simply appreciate and covet my time with the trio together.


Specs:

Specifications

10Hz–28 kHz Frequency Response
94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 7.01 mVrms
12.8 Ohms @ 1kHz Impedance


Features

Anodized Emerald Green Body
Dual High Frequency Balanced Armature Drivers + T.A.E.C.
Single Mid Frequency Balanced Armature Driver
Dual Low Frequency Balanced Armature Drivers
Custom Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections
Machined Aluminum Shell
Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber™ (T.A.E.C.)
Stainless Steel Spout


Gear Used/Compared:

Empire Ears Legend X ($2299)
Campfire Solaris 2020 ($1499)
Campfire Audio Ara 2020 ($1299)

Cayin N6 mk2
Shanling M6 Pro
MBP/EarMen TR-AMP


Songlist:

Joey Alexander-Warna album and others
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado
twenty one pilots album, Trench
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Big Head Todd & The Monsters-Beautiful World
Mark Knopfler-Down The Road Wherever
Elton John-yep, still good, still cool
Tidal MQA


Unboxing:

This will be short. The units came to me in their new cork case, with drawstring “laundry-like” airy bag inside and some tips. That’s it. But from the website you note that you get the traditional Campfire Audio plethora of goodies, that are functional and needed. I have always preferred Comply foam tips on the CA models I have had and reviewed, and this is no different.

The cork case is a new thing, and I do appreciate how CA continues to think about their environmental impact. More and more this is becoming the trend, and Campfire is right up there at the forefront.



Technicals:

The Andromeda has five BA’s as opposed to the Arta, which has seven. Long known as the detail king of the Campfire family, and possibly the segment, the Andromeda provided the baseline for the Ara. As such it does well on its own and does owe a debt of gratitude to the Andromeda. The Andromeda has dual high frequency BA’s, which contain the + T.A.E.C. system Campfire uses to tune the acoustic chamber for optimum resolution. Using a single mid frequency BA driver for vocals and those sounds associated with the mids, provides a solid sound, which combines with the upper BA’s. Dual low frequency BA Drivers give an excellent, clean bassline along with fast decay for a thoroughly enjoyable quintet of sound emanations.

Custom Beryllium/Copper MMCX connections while de rigour at the moment are solid options and provide excellent connectivity. All of the above fit nicely into the machined Aluminum shell, of slimmed down size from the past. Slightly rounded corners help with the fit as well.

The Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber™ (T.A.E.C.) provides the means for all of the above to work in concert together, and along with a slightly warmer tuning of the treble note does provide the Andromeda with a richness that may not have been had before. With richer of note, and with the slightly warmer treble sounds emanating, this does not hinder the overall reference quality of the Andromeda. Personally, I found the original a bit too neutral for me and a bit hot up top. Mind you the sound was superb, but not to my liking. The new tuning changes that, and I find the Andromeda 2020 to be absolutely where it should be at the top of the food chain with regard to a “reference sound.” Not boring at all, but the above changes makes for an exciting and enticing sound.



Sound:

Continuing from above, the original Andromeda was phenomenal in its speed, clarity and succinctness. Providing the listener with as crisp and detailed sound as many had heard, the knock was that it was TOO detailed. The loses of musical tonality was a knock against the Andromeda, but to me that was unwarranted. It showed how poor some recordings were and that certainly could not be the CA models fault. It laid bare the fallacies put across our ears.

Listening to Alex Fox’s To The Gypsies (Live), the sound is warm, rich, enticing and dare I say a mature brand of reference. Certainly not boring at all but sublime in presentation with an overall slight warmth of which I truly like. From the off with the trio, I really, really liked the changes to the tuning. Again, I bring back that this certainly could be a big and loud F-U to the detractors, showing what CA can do. And I am all on board. 110% with this. I find nothing boring or lacking about this “change” in character, since the excellent reference quality is still there. This is superb tuning and is to be applauded.

Bass coming from the above-mentioned song is taut and responsive. With very good speed and fast decay you get that sense of vibrancy, which usually defines the upper end of the Andro, so to hear it here is quite the treat. When the electric bass guitar hits about mid-song, the bassline fulfills its obligation to help but not step on the mids or the rest of the sound signature. Certainly not dynamic driver territory, but not meant to be the sound from the lower regions provides the foundation upon which the rest are built.



From the same song, the acoustic guitar lays down a solid rich, vibrant mid tonality, which is what the Andromeda is known for. A certain sweetness permeates my ears as the orchestral instruments come in. Once the song opens up, the crispness comes through and there is air between the notes for days. But not to the point where it separates all of the sound distantly. This openness aids in the presentation of the soundstage as well, giving the Andromeda 2020 a wide, expansive note, which broadens the soundstage in height and depth as well. I know I mixed both tonality and stage but that is how the Andro ties together all to me.

One thing I recall from Pinky’s Andro was that the treble ran a bit hot to me, but that was only because I had yet to hear an IEM with that level of clarity. I have heard a few more, but it struck with me. Even though I have now heard IEM’s, which cost 4-5x the price of the Andromeda 2020, and their airiness of note and crisp clarity define the level at which they lie; it is the Andro (from memory) that defines how I look at that segment. The Great Gig In The Sky has one of the most sensuous solos ever in the rock-n-roll genre, and that solo is divine through the Andro 2020. Her voice is such that it still sends chills down ones back when she is mid-song. Through the Andromeda her voice is sublime, superb and sensuous. That distinct separation of notes provided by the crisp nature of the Andro allows her voice to be heard and felt in your gut like you are front row, such is the sensation I feel. Just marvelous.

Already mentioned somewhat within the words above, layering & separation are worth their weight in Titanium. Distinctness of instruments allows and helps you hear that separation; which as you would hope helps to provide the distinctly wider soundstage. Working in harmony together all of this provides for distinct layers, and clear separation of note like few others regardless of the price. THIS has carried over from the original Andromeda, and I fondly recall my first listen. This is a damn fine listening unit, and may, just may be my favorite of the three on hand as a result.



Comparisons:

Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 ($1099) v Empire Ears Legend X ($2299):

Only briefly mentioned here as my favorite, the EE LX is my standard for many things. But the treatment up top would be perfect had it the sound from the Andromeda 2020. I love the sound as is, but combine the two in a love child, and it would be my nirvanic listen forever. Enough said.


Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 ($1099) v Campfire Solaris 2020 ($1499):

From my Solaris 2020 review: Having had the pleasure of hearing Pinky’s original Andro’s I was mesmerized by the crispness of sound and the clarity wrought from an IEM. At the time, I considered my short listen a lesson in clarity that withstood the time and test of many more expensive IEM’s. Detail is the name of the Andromeda 2020, and as such has huge shoes to fulfill the obligations wrought by its grandfather. Running “only five” balanced armatures per side (dual high, dual low, and one mid) the Andromeda benefits as well from the TAEC technology for the highs. I do think and quoting from memory, that the Andro 2020 has reclaimed its rightful spot as the detail king. Clarity of such is hard to surpass than this, even if those highs SEEM a bit tamed versus the Ara. Going back to back to back, I can clearly define the trio, and I was surprised that the Ara holds itself so well against the Andro. Maybe those two extra BA’s have something to do with that, but the Andro still holds its spot with regard to a clarity of which few can match, especially at this “entry-level” price into the realm of TOTL territory.

You could certainly do much worse at this price than the Andro, which makes you appreciate its heritage all the more.

All of the above said, and with what I said in the EE LX comparison, I still seem to gravitate towards the Solaris of the three. More bass from that DD, and a verve to it that fits my listening most likely more than the other two of CA here.


Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 ($1099) v Campfire Audio Ara 2020 ($1299):

From my Ara review: There is no denying that the Andromeda is the former king of detail. The precision of which the clarity of sound comes through is a hearing to be well, heard. I can remember from the original that I was “quite impressed” with the level of detail retrieval and clarity wrought from that boxy shaped IEM. It pretty much set the tone for me until much more expensive unit came across my computer.

It still holds a very high place with regard to clarity and to think it is the most affordable of the three makes you wonder why you would spend more. The Ara might be the case for justifying that extra money spent. You get an extra two drivers, which are oriented for the lower frequencies, so they have no benefit or addition to that clarity of the Andromeda. So, what makes the Ara better than the Andromeda? A bit better in the bass retrieval department and a wonderfully rich tonality and soundstage. Slightly different, but not necessarily better.

The Andromeda is easier to drive as well. And to me it presents a more vibrant signature than the Ara, along with a slightly lifted vocal presentation. So, it comes down to the smooth richness and vibrancy of the Ara versus the uplifting vibrant tonality of the Andromeda 2020. Both are fabulous and I really could not pick a winner.


Finale:

Well, what did I expect from the three? To be wowed? To be overrun with emotion? To appreciate what I have on hand in this trio of listening pleasure? Well, in a word, yes. And I was largely met with those descriptors or aspirations from each. Upon the initial listen, I was quick (too quick) to discern the difference of the three. But after dedicating my time equally between the three, I found their subtle and not so subtle differences noteworthy allowing for each to describe their “niche” within the CA luneup. And they did.

It has been a couple of cycles since the Solaris showed its mettle, and with the Ara being the new kid expectations were held high. One could think that all three are close enough in price to “settle” for one and be happy. You could, but you would be missing the finer points of each. The Solaris takes its rightful place at the top. The Ara provides that tie between the Solaris and Andromeda with the two “extra” BA’s on hand. And I can clearly see why it is the favorite of the holder who shall not be named. Had I heard only the Ara, I might well have been satiated and that would be all right. But then I would not have had the opportunity to hear the grandfather of the bunch after a muscle toning session. And to me that is what the Andromeda 2020 has gone through. It has gone to the gym for a toning session to keep up with the youngsters, while holding its place at the top of the detailed clarity segment. By and large it does, with much respect from me as well.

The Andromeda 2020 may have new tuning going for it, but it certainly has not lost its tie to the past or its roots. Detail and clarity are superb and to me the one to be had at this price. It is a wonderful unit, and I highly recommend a listen.