Campfire Audio Axion

Campfire Audio Axion

Disclaimer

I got a free review sample of Axion, and I can say whatever I want without any guidelines from Campfire Audio.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.



Going to use the ranges here in review:




So what is Campfire Audio Axion

This is the new entry level model from Campfire Audio, the Axion is retailing at $249 and has their new SDD driver. The SSD is a full range dynamic driver that does look a little similar to a balanced armature, explaining it being a DD is a little important as a single BA driver could never sound this full sounding.



From reading the description of Axion they promise a rich, well-balanced, and smooth sound. The perfect companion for your commute, work or creative endeavors. This is also why I decided to bring this along for everything this past two weeks, as my daily partner for audio.



The Axion does come with the familiar storage pouch, or we could call it a mini handbag. Jokes aside, I really enjoy this type of case. While not the most secure it takes much less space than the typical hard case, and it does look very clean and minimalistic.



The box Axion arrives in is cardboard, with a cool design that Campfire Audio users can recognise from previous models. The use of branding and informative text on the outside and inside is a clever thing, that sets them apart from most other companies.



The rest of the accessories is a set of silicon tips, with one pair of medium/large foam tips that are already on the IEM. The little CFA button, cleaning tool and socks for protection

Then the cable, this is a USB-C MMCX cable. Also the main cable on Axion, that also say something about the use case they have thought about for Axion.



The shell is small, but still very cool and minimalistic. From the side you can see the black parts where the tech/driver is, witha small tube sending the sound to the golden nozzle.



The nozzle is very premium looking, with larger holes than the typical salt/pepper shaker style.



As usual the Axion have MMCX cable connection, this also means you can swap out the included cable and use it normally from a dongle or DAP.



The USB-C cable has the old 3 button layout, making adjustment of sound or taking a call easy. The microphone is also located in this controller, and from my testing it does an okay job and my voice has been clear in most cases.




Sound impression

Axion follows what I consider the house sound of Campfire Audio, as in having elevated bass with the rest following in a more normal balance.

Details and soundstage

Detail in IEMs is down mostly to quality driver and how it amplitudes the frequencies, when the drivers is faster it increases the resolution you hear.

The Axion is not a champion at resolution, it sits in between TWS sets and some good entry model IEMs. While the sound is fun and musical it's not exactly the most transparent and clear, part of this is the tuning but also the driver itself being softer sounding on transients.

Soundstage is actually fairly wide and spacious, but again this is very personal how we perceive it.

Sound

Bass is lush, I would consider this to be close to basshead quantity. Especially since most music on Axion sounds warmer than with a set following neutral tuning or harman, this is not a negative as it's very fun and addictive. While it does sound very good, it lacks some physicality and moves less air than their Cascara or other high end IEMs using a large normal dynamic driver. It still has okay quality with good elasticity, but I like it more on hip hop or electronica than with rock/metal that need a little more fast punch.

Midrange is smooth and a little thick, since the bass does go into the midrange making both darker vocals and instruments have a richer sound. It does come off as sounding very good for me, even though you lose some openness. I do think this presentation is very good on a set that you will use on the go, as it's less tiresome. Especially since the pina is relaxed, avoiding the music from being harsh and intense.

The treble is also elevated nicely on this set, it has more air and better quality than I expected coming into hearing Axion. It is also not overly boosted the same way as some of the flagship models are from Campfire Audio.



Using normal cable

When using a normal mmcx cable on Axion and playing from a DAP it sounds the same as the USB-C cable, the quality of the USB-C cable is actually quite good. You can get some better scaling using it with a normal cable and high end dap/dongle, but personally I think it's better to use it as a portable USB-C earbud.


Smartphone photo since camera is packed away

Comparison with Multiverse Axion

This is the only main comparison I will have in the review, I have had a few whispers asking me to compare the two. The Multiverse Axion is a limited version that was part of the last Multiverse event from Campfire Audio, they used the same type driver and was priced around the same.

From a design standpoint they are similarly designed with the new Axion being a little larger, this does actually make the comfort and fit better for me personally. The new Axion also has a better USB-C cable supplied, the Multiverse cable looked way too cheap for a product this price.

The sound is a very different experience, the Multiverse version had way too much brightness making it painful on certain music. This brightness also makes you turn down the volume to compensate, making the bass get lost. This is not happening on the new Axion, as the very bright upper treble is tuned more normal.
The bass is stronger and seems to have more control on the new model, my guess is that the soundwaves have more room in the shell for the driver to move correctly. Midrange is similar, but it has more room to breathe and be open with more nuances in the new model. The old one could sound more claustrophobic, and it's totally improved now.

To summarise the difference, they fixed the shrill treble and made both low end and mids sound better. The technical aspects are slightly better, with a more balanced sound and larger sound image.

Multiverse Axion is not a model I would pick up on a day to day basis, but the new Axion is.



Music

Click here for Audio with Leo playlist

When comparing IEMs I have used the tracks listed here and more, I will also provide a few albums I have enjoyed during the review time.
















Summary

When Campfire Audio asked me if I wanted to review another product I said yes without hesitation, but when I heard it was an entry level USB-C IEM I lost some of the anticipation. I had already heard the Multiverse Axion and wasn’t that impressed since it could sound sharp and unbalanced, but even from the first song I knew Axion was better. The upper end is in control now, the bass is more dynamic and powerful with more open and nuanced midrange.

I read darko.audio text on Instagram: A wired alternative to Apple AirPods. And yes this is exactly what I feel the Axion is for, it is for the user to have a cabled alternative to TWS earbuds.
It is small and very versatile due to buttons and microphone, it makes juggling work and incoming calls a breeze.
The Axion has been in my pockets through work and freetime over the last weeks with daily use, similar to how I use TWS but with better sound.

It is an easy way to enjoy music, without going overboard with DAPs or dongles. While maybe not recommended to the audiophile who demands clarity and the best tech, it's a recommendation for the music lover who wants a warm, fun sound in their day to day life.

On sound alone it is a 3.5 stars, but I see it as such good value I will let it have a 4 stars.

Thanks again @CFA Chris