Campfire Audio Holocene

This is my 5th day owning the Campfire Holocene and in the mean time I have found an optimal setting for my equipment to perfectly match my listening style but I would like to give an overview to you all about what to expect of it out of the box.

First Impression
 I first demo a unit in Bangkok, Thailand and it took me around 3 months of soul searching to land on campfire holocene. I only paid less than 400 usd in equivalent Thai baht for this model as it was on sale and at that price you just cant beat the performance of the Holocene. Probably the most technical iem I tried in the price bracket of under 650 ish usd(Holocene usual price here is about 800).
My only gripe is that I would never pay full price for Holocene in it's demo form for
1. The unit is very source dependent. It need a very clean source to reach it's full potential. This made this iem a harder to drive iem then the 5ish ohms it's stating.
2. The bass is very light and vague. The iem feels dry like it's lifeless. Only after a DC04 pro and a few tips roll that I test a fairly good headphone. Also the bass is extremely tip sensitive(maybe it's my ear).

But at the end I bought it as other choice didnt possess the detail and technicality as the Holocene. And for literally 2.5 times less money than Andromeda with almost the same signature on the mid and highs. I dont see a better reason to choose something else.

Unboxing
The unboxing experience of the Holocene is like any other campfire audio, a ton of paper and origami but tbh it's like opening a box of a present.
The headphone came with
3x Foam tips
3x Campfire tips (Not recommended)
5x Final Audio Type E tips
1x ecofriendly carrying case
1x smoky Litz cable
1x Campfire audio pin
3x tips pouch
The box is packed with a lot of goodies and I think it's great to see Campfire accepting the competitor in endorsing Final Audio tips and I can also endorse it. I would recommend any one using this headphone to just use the Final Audio Type E.
The headphone is inside the carrying case and it was like omg it's beautiful like I love how Campfire audio design the packaging for me this is the best audio gear packaging so far.
 Sound
Lows are the weakness if I would have to say it. It required a specific dac/amp which in this case to be DC04 pro in slow roll off and turbo to produce a good amount of bass for my liking. Even that the amount is just enough not a lot by any means. The bass is very well control and doesnt bloat or bleed. The subbass is actually impressive like a big saving grace of this iem. The drums is so detail like I couldnt believe. The subbass is big and short which help it not feeling too warm.
 Mid
Prob the strongest part of this iem. The Guitar is super detailed and sweet the presentation is slight forward but not as much as the vocal. Male vocal is textured warm and forward. Female vocal is textured powerful and focus.
High
Suffer from some sibilance from select track but most are well control and help drive punctuality to the vocal. The Hi hat is super detailed and focus yet feeling soft without being in your face.
 Image
Very focus as you would expect from a multi BA iem. I would say a SE535 with soul. The positioning is pinpoint accurate and micro detail is very easy to pick up. An absolute Micro detail Monster. This iem can go toe to toe, punch to punch with Andromeda in the imaging department for sure.
 Stage
For a BA IEM I'm surprised by the headroom left and how spacious I'm feeling. This is not a big 5+ ba iem that make you feel like you are in the middle of concert hall but the depth and width as well as up and down sense of size is present def above avg but still a few notch below high end power house
Overall
This is headphone is gear toward mid-hifi user with experience with BA IEM or extremely neutral iem such as shure line of iem but found it to be too lifeless and dry.
This IEM is def not for pop and hiphop listener, the experience wont be nice.
If you are a fan of Yacht Rock, Metal, Jazz, Soul, any thing involve female vocalist(not female singer if you know what I mean), and Classical

Greetings!

Today we're checking out one of Campfire Audio's newer mid-range offerings, the triple armature Holocene.

While the colour scheme is reminiscent of their original flagship, the Jupiter, the sound tuning is inspired by the limited edition c/2019 Q4. Inside each shell are three balanced armatures per side, housed within Campfire Audio's now ubiquitous 3D printed acoustic chamber. Unique to the Holocene and release mate, Mammoth, the shell, cable, and carrying case contain glow-in-the-dark elements that lighten the mood somewhat. Audiophiles and the audio community seem to take things way too seriously nowadays, so it's nice to see a leading brand like Campfire Audio have some fun with a product aimed squarely at the audiophile crowd. The glow-in-the-dark feature would also be handy in a dim listening environments.

I've spent plenty of time with the 649.00 USD Holocene over the last 6 months or so, and feel that it is one of Campfire's strongest offerings to date. Let's take a closer look at why, shall we?


What I Hear With the exception of a brilliance region peak around 10k, the Holocene has a very flat, almost reference style tune that distinguishes itself from the rest of Campfire Audio's lineup. Sub-bass extension is quite good for an armature-only unit with a very smooth transition into the upper-bass and mids. Bass-heavy tracks like Ludacris' “How Low” are reproduced adequately, though more quantity would be preferred if that, EDM, pop, etc. is going to be your preferred style of music. The absence of a notable mid-bass hump and general reserved nature of the bass presentation means there isn't a ton of visceral feedback coming from the Holocene. Even so, notes still have decent punch. Texturing is handled well with the Holocene finding itself being informative, but without crossing into the territory of more clinical sounding iems like the EarNiNE EN2J or Campfire's own Ara.

The midrange is a treat, as I find to be the case with most Campfire Audio earphones. This region is basically flat from lower to upper mids with a slight dip occurring during the transition into the presence region. Timbre is quite accurate but has a minute tilt towards the cool side of things. I feel a bit of additional warmth would benefit the presentation. At least it doesn't sound wooden, plasticy, or dry, as is oft the case with earphones using this driver tech. Vocals are nicely weighted with a drift towards a leaner sound. This plus the hint of coolness in the tonality leaves the Holocene best with male vocals to my ear, such a Supertramp's Roger Hodgson. Most female vocalists, in my opinion, need some extra warmth and weight to sound at their best. A light bump in emphasis between 2-4k would also better suit my tastes as it would gives vocalists a bit more presence in the mix, and aid in giving drums and other percussive instruments a stronger attack. The drivers in the Holocene are plenty quick and articulate, but the lack of a definitive attack on drum strikes feels out of place given the treble energy present.

Treble energy is concentrated in the brilliance region thanks the prominence of a ~10k hump. This peak adds plenty of sparkle to the presentation and results in a very airy feel between notes. It truly dominates the upper frequency presentation, mostly thanks to a dip throughout the presence region. This dip is good because it aids in the Holocene's otherwise transparent and mostly uncoloured presentation. That said, if it were emphasized a few dB more it would bring up details levels even more which to my ears would make the Holocene near perfect for track dissection, without crossing the line into being fatiguing. If I were to levy any complaints at the treble presentation they would be that the brilliance peak is too strong and skews what is otherwise a wonderfully balanced signature. I can see some finding claps, snares, chimes, etc. coming across too prominent in comparison to the rest of the mix. This is quite noticeable with metal tracks like Havok's “ D.O.A.” For my tastes, this bright-leaning tuning works well. I also found the presentation up top to contain some grain that I wasn't expecting for a product in this price range. Given how smooth the rest of the signature is and how tight and well-defined notes are, it stands out, though it's certainly nothing significant enough to ruin the experience.

The Holocene's sound stage is quite good, though not top of class. Width and depth are fairly even and well rounded. Tossing on BT's experimental album 'If The Stars Are Eternal Than So Are You And I' shows off the Holocene's ability to encapsulate you in a track. Channel-to-channel movement is extremely effective with sounds moving smoothly and cleanly. They can also be tossed well off into the distance, providing a convincing sense of space. Instrument separation holds up well even on messy, complicated tracks like “Starless and Bible Black” from King Crimson where lesser earphones end up congested and muddy. Track layering is also handled very well with various sound effects and instrument remaining distinct and easy to follow should you feel the need to dissect the stack.

While not my personal favourite earphone in their lineup (that still goes to the Ara), I do feel the Holocene is one of their strongest offerings. It is balanced and energetic with plenty of detail and a reference style presentation that should satisfy the most critical of listeners. For my tastes I'd make some light tweaks here and there, but as-is it is pretty fantastic.

Compared To A Peer (volumes matched with Dayton iMM-6)

Dunu Zen (699.00 USD): Given the Zen's use of a single dynamic, it's not surprising to hear that it has a much more robust low end presentation. Sub-bass presence is considerably greater with more prominent extension. Mid-bass is warmer and punchier. The entire experience out of the Zen is much more visceral and tactile, though the Holocene nails finer details the Zen glosses over. Thanks to the Zen's stiffer diaphragm materials, it can keep up with the Holocene's armatures just fine on quick and complicated tracks. Whereas the Holocene's midrange is flat and even throughout, the Zen has a prominent upper mid peak. While I personally really like this style of tune thanks to the vocal boost and percussive attack it brings with it, the flatter, calmer presentation of the Campfire will better please some. The Zens upper mid boost brings with it some dryness that puts timbre quality behind the more organic sounding Holocene. If you're treble sensitive, the Zen will probably be a better choice for you. It is firmly skewed towards the presence region which helps give the Zen it's excellent detail and clarity, with a much reduced brilliance region that helps prevent fatigue. While the Holocene can match the Zen's detail output, it is considerably more energetic in the brilliance region giving it more shimmer and sparkle, but also causing fatigue earlier on during a listening session, especially if you listen loud. The sound stage on these two is comparable, though they go at it differently. Both place vocals fairly close to the ear with sound spacing out behind. The Zen's stage feels more rounded and even, but lacks the depth of the Holocene. Imaging isn't quite as precise either, though they go head-to-head with track layering. I'd give the Holocene a slight edge in instrument separation thanks to a smoother, tighter treble presentation.

Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 (1,099.00 USD): Bass performance on the two is similar. The transition from lower to upper bass is smooth and consistent with an even emphasis throughout. The Andromeda has slightly more presence until you reach the lower mids, and as a result its signature is a bit warmer and accurate sounding to my ears. Speed, attack, and texture between the two are comparable. Heading into the mids the Holocene remains flat and free of peaks while the Andromeda bumps the upper mids. As a result the Andromeda has a more aggressive attack and decay pattern. For the most part time on the Holocene remains slightly more accurate, with its flat lower treble and brilliance spike skewing things towards a lighter, brighter sound since there is less mid-bass warmth to counter. The Andromeda's comparatively bumped low end and more relaxed presence and brilliance regions blend better with the midrange peak to my ears, giving it a more realistic and natural presentation. The Andromeda is well known for it's capacious sound stage and outstanding technical qualities, some of which have bled down to the Holocene. The Holocene's staging isn't quite as wide or deep, nor does it layer quite as well, but instrument separation and imaging quality is comparable. It sounds like a small step down from the Andromeda.


In The Ear Campfire's iconic design language returns for the Holocene, with clean angles wrapped around a low profile design. Like other models in the lineup, the shells here are machined aluminum. This time they have been anodized in a reddish brown, 'umber' finish. Personally, I love the colour and it takes over from the IO as my favourite colourway. As is usually the case with Campfire Audio products, fit and finish is class leading. Gaps between the black PVD finished stainless steel nozzle and two shell sections are nonexistent. The black tri-lobe screws holding the shell together are threaded perfectly and provide some contrast to the unique colouring. The inlaid Campfire logo has a party piece this time around, that being glow-in-the-dark paint. Definitely a gimmick, but it's enjoyable. Buyers at this price range tend to take things a little too seriously, so it's refreshing to see Campfire Audio let go and have some fun with their gear.

The cable is more-or-less the same one included with a number of other Campfire Audio products, though the glow-in-the-dark motif they've gone for for carries over to the hardware. The glowing 90 degree angled jack is smartly designed with an extension to permit compatibility with a wide variety of device cases. While the strain relief is still stiffer than I find ideal, I've yet to experience an issue with it on any other Campfire Audio product. These cables are plenty durable. Within the small, reliefless aluminum y-split, the cable divides sending two strands on each side to the ear pieces. Slotting into the top of the split is a small plastic chin cinch. It moves much more smoothly here than on older Campfire cables and as a result is much more useful. They missed an opportunity to make the cinch glow though. Tsk tsk. The same excellent preformed ear guides Campfire has been using for a while now are found on the Holocene. They are light and flexible, yet they hold the cable securely in place behind the ear. The guides lead into the MMCX plugs which of course now glow in the dark. Left and right markings remain appreciably redundant with recessed L and R markings present on the plug and earphone body. Small blue and red dots round things out.

Since the Holocene uses Campfire's iconic angular shell design, those who have had issues with it in the past won't experience anything new here. For myself, I find it extremely comfortable, though I still prefer the short, stubby nozzles of the 2020 Andromeda to the longer nozzles found here. The shell used here is the refined version we've come to expect. While angular, the more aggressive edges have been rounded out making it more pleasant to wear for long periods. This shell design and the shape of my outer ear are very much compatible with each other. When it comes to isolation I found the Holocene to be about average, if not slightly above. The shells are sealed (but they don't cause uncomfortable suction) and not a lot of sound gets through. Pair it with tips that give a decent depth of seal or use a thicker silicone wall, like the included Type-E tips, and you can listen in noisy environments at more or less normal volumes quite comfortably. Sure, some noise still bleeds in, but I never found it intrusive enough to warrant raising the volume much to compensate.


In The Box The Holocene's packaging follows the format set by 2019's releases with the earphones arriving in a squat, square box, protected by an exterior sheath that is sealed shut by a shiny Campfire Audio seal on the back. While their past few releases moved away from their typical astronomical them, the Holocene brings it back. On the front of the sheath is a large sticker with an image of the earphones along with the usual branding and model info, all set over top of a vibrantly coloured, stylized Saturn-like planet pattern. Another sticker is present around the front edge containing another image of the earphones, some company info, among other details, all set over the same clever background.

Breaking the seal allows the sheath to unfold in four segments revealing the main box within. Lifting it out reveals the same uplifting interior to the sheath we've seen before; the CA logo dead centre with rays exploding outwards in a dramatic fashion. Looking back at the main box we see Campfire's familiar mountainous scene along with more CA branding. Lift the lid and you're greeted to “Nicely Done” printed on the front flap and their now standard half-moon carrying case, though this time it is made from upcycled marine plastics with glow-in-the-dark accents; the zipper and Campfire Audio logo. You also find a smaller cardboard box containing the main suite of accessories. Tucked beneath it all is a warranty card and manual. In all you get:

• Holocene earphones
• Epoch Carrying case
• Smoky Glow Silver Plated Copper Litz Cable
• Final Audio tips (xs/s/m/l/xl)
• Campfire Audio Marshmallow tips (s/m/l)
• Medium bore single flange silicone tips (s/m/l)
• Campfire Audio lapel pin
• Cleaning tool
• Mesh accessory case (x3)

Overall a pretty fantastic unboxing experience, as I have come to expect from the brand. Their use of recyclable, sustainable materials is a brand standard and a welcome departure from the needlessly complicated (though fun to disassemble) and less environmentally friendly packaging of the competition. The accessory kit is right up there with the best I've experience thanks to the inclusion of a wide variety of tips and styles. Final Audio's Type E tips are durable and provide a fantastic seal, giving most earphones you pair them with a slight low end boost thanks to the small bore. The included wide bore tips are fairly standard but they too provide a good seal and are a more balanced sounding option. Campfire's Marshmallow tips have shown themselves to be fairly resilient for a foam tip and do a great job of boosting isolation and softening treble peaks. The inclusion of a number of mesh bags to store everything in is awesome too.

Final Thoughts 'Bang-for-you-buck' isn't really a term you'd generally apply to a nearly 700 dollar earphone, but in the case of the Holocene I think it's apt. Pitting it against similarly priced products along with a crop of kilobuck products both within and outside of Campfire's lineup shows it can handle it's own. While there are aspects that fall short of the lofty heights set by flagship products the differences certainly are not as vast as you'd expect given the price difference. As such, this puts the Holocene in a very strong position. If you want a reference level earphone without spending the 1K+ USD many brands are asking for their best nowadays, you could do a lot worse than the Holocene. It also doesn't hurt that it comes with the same extensive accessory kit as the rest of Campfire's lineup, their iconic angular shell with the same excellent build quality as the Andromeda 2020. The glow-in-the-dark elements are neat too, though I wouldn't be basing my purchasing decision on that.

Overall a fantastic product well worth the attention of anyone wanting a top quality earphone with mid-tier pricing.

Thanks for reading!

- B9

Disclaimer A big thank you to Caleb with Campfire Audio for reaching out to see if I would be interested in reviewing the Holocene, and for arranging a sample. The thoughts within this review are my own subjective opinions based on almost 6 months of use. They do not represent Campfire Audio or any other entity, and do not detract from the opinions of others who may or may not have listened to the Mammoth before posting their opinions. At the time of writing the Holocene was retailing for 649.00 USD: https://campfireaudio.com/shop/holocene/

Specifications

• Frequency Response: 5Hz-20kHz
• Sensitivity: 94 dB SPL@1kHz: 6.99 mVrms
• Impedance: 5.4ohms @ 1kHz

Gear Used For Testing Huawei P40, DDHiFi TC35 Pro (Mountain), Earstudio HUD100, Earmen TR-Amp, Asus FX53V, TEAC HA-501

Some Test Tunes

Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Slipknot – Vol 3 (The Subliminal Verses)
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid
King Crimson – Lark's Tongues in Aspic
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy
Steely Dan – The Royal Scam
Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dreams

Campfire Audio Holocene : Leader of "Glow in the Dark" Era


Disclaimer:

This review unit was sent by @CampfireAudio for the purpose of an honest review.
Everything mentioned in this review are purely my own based on my experiences with the IEM.



Introduction:

In July 2021, Campfire Audio launched 2 new IEMs: Holocene & Mammoth. Holocene is an all BA IEM. Holocene’s sound is fast and layered with rich, inviting detail, channeling that spirit of explosive expansion. Holocene’s remarkably even, and balanced frequency response curve conceals the speed and resolution of a true audiophile’s reference earphone.

The Holocene is priced at $649



Tech Features:

Holocene features 3 custom BAs: 1 for highs and 2 covering mids and lows. These drivers are combined and optimized with our signature 3D printing acoustic chamber design. This harmony of driver and design elevates the musical experience of Holocene.



Specifications:

Specifications are as below:

https://campfireaudio.com/shop/holocene/

• 5Hz–20 kHz Frequency Response
• 94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 6.99 mVrms
• 5.4 Ohms @ 1kHz Impedance
• Machined Aluminum Body
• ‘Umber’ Anodized Finish
• Single Custom Balanced Armature (High)
• Single Custom Balanced Armature (Mid/Low)
• Single Custom Balanced Armature (Mid/Low)
• Custom Beryllium / Copper MMCX Connections
• Black PVD Finished Stainless Steel Spout
• ‘Smoky Glow’ Silver Plated Copper Litz Cable – 3.5mm Stereo to MMCX connectors

Design & Build Quality:

I think the Holocene comes with good looks, that’s both striking and ergonomic. The machined aluminum shell looks awesome & very premium. The shape of the IEM is nice & very light-weight that and provides a comfortable fit for long listening sessions.
In terms of build quality & comfort - the Holocene is amongst the best that I've come across so far in the given price range.



Packaging & Accessories:

The Holocene continues the typical packaging styling Campfire Audio has been using since 2020.The theme is back to a brown box with the customary collage of colors and the Holocene itself on the front label.

Flip the box lid and inside you have the accessories inside a similarly colored cardboard tube and an all-new Campfire Audio ‘Epoch’ SEAQUAL® YARN Earphone carry-case inside of which you will find the Holocene and the Smokey Litz cable. As always with Campfire, the accessory line-up is just beautiful as well as plentiful.

The full lineup of accessories closely matches other Campfire IEMs of 2020:

• Final e-tips (xs/s/m/l/xl)
• Foam Marshmallow tips S/M/L
• Silicone single-bore tips S/M/L
• 3 x cushioned pockets (for the monitors and foam tips)
• Cleaning brush/pick
• Campfire Audio ‘Epoch’ SEAQUAL® YARN Earphone Case
• SPC Litz cable
• Campfire Audio pin badge

The Stock Cable:

The cable is the Campfire Audio Smokey Litz Cable – Silver Plated Copper Conductors with Beryllium Copper MMCX and 3.5mm plug which is good sound wise and also looks wise. Really nothing to complain about here - all good.



NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....


Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP: @iFi audio Micro iDSD Signature,
DAP/Source : Cayin N6 Mk2 with T01 motherboard, @Shanling M6 PRO (Ver 21)
Streaming Source: QOBUZ



Ear Tips:
I've tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips including Final Audio E Series (both Transparent Red & Black ones), @SpinFit Eartip CP360 and JVC Spiral. I've found JVC spiral to suit me preferences best and have used that mostly.


Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews... I would like to thank @Otto Motor for his contribution here.




Let's now talk about the quality of Sound....



The BASS:

The Bass on the Holocene comes with good and clear bass as well as some thump & slam with it. It is well defined and natural sounding. There's good layering and texture all across. There is good density in the bass also. In the given price range, I would say this is amongst the best all BA bass reproduction I’ve come across so far. The track “Dreams - Fleetwood Mac” sounds just awesome with good bass quantity, attack & decay.


The MIDS:

Midrange is where the Holocene shines – despite the upper mids being recessed somewhat. The midrange is full of muscle and texture and layering. Piano, violin, guitar and other instruments sound great with good amount of transients and natural decay. The vocals are very immersive and both male and female vocals come with ample amount of layering and texture. Every instrument can be identified individually and the sound is very coherent also - which is a rare case in a multi-driver architecture. Guitar plucking sounds in tracks such as: “ Jano Mori - Vlatko Stefanovski” sounded good with good transient & decay despite this being all BA IEM.


The TREBLE:

Treble is likely the weaker trait compared to the bass & mids as this has some elevated upper treble. Despite that, the treble is non-fatiguing and sounds good though some sparkle & splash are there in the upper zone – makes it more enjoyable in certain cases. Cymbals sound natural and tracks like “Chocolate Chip Trip – Tool” sounds great.


The SOUNDSTAGE:

The Holocene has a great Soundstage with a good width & height emphasis and also depth – much better than the all BA IEMs of similar price range. It is as great for acoustic based track as it is for Rock or Pop genres. It is well defined and just as much as the track requires. Tracks like: “ The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” just sound awesome due to the great staging capabilities.


Imaging & Timbre:

The Holocene also comes with just great Imaging & timbre performances. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through due to the great separation & sense of positioning and timbre. However, typical BA timbre can be felt occasionally though those are very rare occasions.



Comparisons:



CA Holocene vs DUNU SA6:

The DUNU SA6 comes at slightly lower price of $549 and is also an ALL BA IEM. It is a great all-rounder IEM and very balanced performance in all departments . However, not to forget that the Campfire Audio Holocene is also comes with great technical capabilities & performance. For the purpose of this comparison, I have kept the "Atmospheric Immersion mode" to ON as it enhances bass and the Holocene is a great performer in that department.

Bass:

The DUNU SA6 is a good balanced performer when it comes to bass specially with the "Atmospheric Immersion mode" to ON. Despite that, the Holocene bass seemed to have equal performance in terms of density & richness but the attack & slam & thumps seemed better on the Holocene with better depth also.

Mids & Treble:

The DUNU SA6 has a great midrange and treble performance for the price range as it is tuned closer to the Harman Curve. However, Despite the not-so-harman-friendly tuning of the Holocene - the midrange is quite enjoyable with richness texture and vocals also sound great. having said that, the upper mids of Holocene are slightly recessed while the upper treble is quite elevated. I found it quite enjoyable despite that.


Soundstage & Timbre:

This is where the Holocene shines much brighter as the SA6 staging though good but is narrower than the Holocene in terms of both width & height. Also, depth sense on the Holocene seemed better. Imaging & timbre seemed equally good on both and not much of difference there.


Conclusion :

The Campfire Audio Holocene starts a new era - and era of enjoyable music with glow-in-the-dark accessories which makes them easier to find at night while enjoying music in the dark. I think the younger crowd will welcome this new change. Meanwhile, in terms of raw sound performance - this is just a great IEM for enjoyable music and is great for the price point it comes in. I would recommend this IEM to people who like fun sounding IEMs.

Campfire Audio Holocene And Mammoth Review​

Campfire audio Holocene review and Mammoth review, impressions and musings
- expatinjapan



The Campfire Holocene (3BA, reference, balanced, even, natural) and the CA Mammoth (1DD, mid BA, high BA, Xxx signature, full bass, acceptable mids, treble dependent on tips.).

More information here: https://campfireaudio.com/

Holocene unboxing etc:
https://www.headpie.net/2021/07/campfire-audio-holocene-unboxing.html?m=1



More information here: https://campfireaudio.com/shop/holocene/

‘ Holocene’s remarkably even, and balanced frequency response curve conceals the speed and resolution of a true audiophile’s reference earphone.’ - CA





The Campfire Audio Holocene arrived today.

The shell is similar if not identical in size to the Andromeda Gold, IO and c/2019 Q4.

A brief inconclusive listen reminded me of the c/2019 Q4 sonic signature. Similar….
Read the c/2019 Q4 impressions here: https://www.headpie.net/2019/11/campfire-io-versus-c2019-q4-quick.html?m=1
‘…… C/2019 Q4 - More fuller sound. I would hesitantly say that the frequency chart would be fairly flat.
It basically has plenty of everything without being mushy or smeared together. Theres a certain strength to the (wall of) sound.
Sorry, but it is a rich delicious sound, decent fast full hitting deep bass, and luxurious low/upper mids, highs extending correctly and vocals just above the music (and not overly forward - how i like it). Male and female vocals reproduced properly.
Quite easily accessible and enjoyable.’

I can hear that also somewhat in the Holocene….
…but it is early days with more to come.

From the unboxing:







Blue c/2019 q4, brown Holocene, red IO, black Andro Gold




Mammoth unboxing etc:
https://www.headpie.net/2021/07/campfire-audio-mammoth-unboxing-etc.html?m=1



More information here: https://campfireaudio.com/shop/mammoth/

‘Mammoth’s bold and vibrant sound offers a surprising combination of visceral fun and technical brawn. It is an earphone you’ll find yourself turning to again and again as it injects raw power to propel your favorite recordings to new sonic heights.’ - CA

I had a quick listen but i think the CA Mammoth need a few more hours on them before i can make an informed comment on the them.





From the unboxing:




Blue Mammoth and brown Holocene above

Mammoth and Andro 2019 below





And so we begin our odyssey, think of it more as a journey than your standard intro/specs/low/mids/highs/summary review

Enjoy the ride…..

CA Holocene and Mammoth

The Holocene was an easy earphone to write up given i had heard and reviewed its earlier incarnation the Japan limited edition c/2019 q4.

The Mammoth was a different kettle of fish and require more time spent on it. I could have said L shaped or polaris v3, added some word salad and got away with it and none would be the wiser - but it has so many variables i wanted to dig deeper…




So here we go. Much of the journey took place on the head-fi thread: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/campfire-audio-holocene-and-mammoth.958527/

So it begins…

Further on sound…

8th/July
At the moment i am listening to the Mammoth after leaving it playing overnight and the low end has tamed/tightened up after leaving them playing overnight (at first listen it was like being in one of those cars with a souped up bassy sound system,..’boom boom’).

Campfire Audio describe it as ‘Mammoth’s bold and vibrant sound offers a surprising combination of visceral fun and technical brawn…’

And seems about right, bit of Solaris/Ara mix?? The statement ‘a mix of visceral fun and technical brawn’ seems like something i might write in a word salad review on purpose just to annoy or confuse people with a mesh of seemingly opposites….but it seems about right. The Mammoth is able to contain both without being disparate with it. It is fairly balanced with it all and doesnt seem overbearing at either end of the sonic tunings of low end power and detail/space.

I will have to compare with Solaris OG and Solaris 2020 i think…


Further on the Holocene….

i posted earlier (on HP anyway) that the Holocene reminded me a lot of C/2019 Q4 - the Japan limited Edition. After several swapping sessions i do trust my ears enough to say it is a either a general release of that earlier limited model or close enough.

I wrote at the time on the C/2019 Q4 -
‘…… C/2019 Q4 - More fuller sound. I would hesitantly say that the frequency chart would be fairly flat.
It basically has plenty of everything without being mushy or smeared together. Theres a certain strength to the (wall of) sound.
Sorry, but it is a rich delicious sound, decent fast full hitting deep bass, and luxurious low/upper mids, highs extending correctly and vocals just above the music (and not overly forward - how i like it). Male and female vocals reproduced properly.
Quite easily accessible and enjoyable.’

Campfire Audios site blurb on the Holocene reads:
‘ Holocene’s remarkably even, and balanced frequency response curve conceals the speed and resolution of a true audiophile’s reference earphone.’

Is my above assertion a hill i am prepared to die on? As they say, well no, but yes.
Looking forward to any future freq measurements to see if i am correct.

certainly it is ‘lighter’ than the Mammoth in the low end and overall more polite.

iBasso DX300 w/Amp11mark2, Spiral Dot++ tips

Mid gain for Mammoth
Low gain for Holocene

Onwards…

9th July
Holocene is basically the Campfire Audio c/2019 q4 in a new shell. Imho.

Not the Jupiter (4BA vs 3BA, Jupiter is slightly cooler, reference in a way, slight recessed mids compared to androv1/v2) or IO improved (though in a way it is).


Mammoth seems to be within the head, not outside
vocals nice and centered
BAs giving the details and space
DD filling in the rest and with a bed of oomphy goodness below
Feels like this:


Mammoth is not the Polaris reimagined - not as V shaped.

Further…

Here is a IO versus c/2019 Q4 comparison i made at the time (11/2019).

Hopefully of use to someone with experience of IO and Holocene or all three (a rarity), or a casual reader, possible purchaser. Etc etc



Originally posted here: Nov 2019:
https://www.headpie.net/2019/11/campfire-io-versus-c2019-q4-quick.html?m=1
And was posted on Head-fi.

‘I will start by saying i am a fan of Campfire Audios level of experimentation of trying out different IEM signatures.

i am not a fan of every one of their releases, but i guess thats the beauty of it - something for everyone.


The IO release kicked up quite the internet fervor when released and i followed it to t he point where i couldn't objectively listen to the earphone without voices whispering on either shoulder of mine into my ears.

I usually have a media blackout on most new devices so i can gauge them for myself, then publish. Then go back and read opinions and see how off or on track i was. But this seemed unavoidable and popping up everywhere.


Anyway - brief comparisons:

IO - two drivers
C/2019 Q4 - three drivers

iBasso DX220, amp 1mkii, low gain, filter 3/ fast roll off.
Stock Final Audio Tips.
Lazy splitter test. Gd Enuff!

...so theres those differences, same shell and nozzle basically.

IO - As has been already said. Basically
On top a v shape, with recessed upper mids and extended treble.
Underneath - laidback in a way, but technical, treble seems prominent due to the tame mids, wide sound stage.
Decent fast bass.
Some unnaturalness at times.

- i should try them again with a dap in a similar price range.

C/2019 Q4 - More fuller sound. *Hopefully someone measures it so we can compare to the IO. I would hesitantly say that the frequency chart would be fairly flat.
It basically has plenty of everything without being mushy or smeared together. Theres a certain strength to the (wall of) sound.
Sorry, but it is a rich delicious sound, decent fast full hitting deep bass, and luxurious low/upper mids, highs extending correctly and vocals just above the music (and not overly forward - how i like it). Male and female vocals reproduced properly.
Quite easily accessible and enjoyable.’

For the graph inclined ploughed from the deep furrows of the internet garden

CA IO



CA C/2019 Q4





Later days…

Yeah early days

both polaris v1 and v2 are on loan to local audiophiles atm. But its signature was never my thing, not my taste. I dont have that sense of being driven away by the Mammoth.
Even though it has ‘dat bass’ it still has an evenness about it besides that.

Also
Polaris 1 8.5mm DD plus 1ba
Polaris 2 9.2mm DD plus 1ba
Solaris/Solaris 2020 10mm DD plus 2BA (dual high), one mid

Mammoth 10mm DD plus 2BA

hoping to compare it with the Solaris and OG and Solaris 2020 soon. A mid range solaris style in a ln easier fitting shell?

or as people say a Polaris plus v3 with a added mid ba?


I am also hoping others can chime in soon also with their findings.




Beyond the belly of the tolls…

After already asserting that the Holocene is a rerelease or one for the masses of the unique earlier Japan limited edition c/2019 q4.
I would say this is so.

It is a decent earphone and one that deserves a wider audience (like its larger sibling the Andro MW10).

Onto the Mammoth. After spending some time a/b’ing it with the original Solaris and Solaris 2020 i assert that the Mammoth is not like the Holocene a rerelease - more the Mammoth shares the Solaris 2020 sonic signature in a more comfortable shell.

A few other changes a single high BA rather than a dual, and also a more simple, basic Dynamic Driver in materials and tuning reducing the cost.
Using smokey rather super litz cable.
Solaris (og) 10 ohms, Holocene 8.1 ohms.
Not to mention r&d already largely done.


I have not cracked open the Satsuma (1BA) or the Honeydew (10mm DD) but as i have already read whispers and there have been some freq charts summising that the Satsuma is a released Comet, i am going to make a stab in the dark that the Honeydew might be a budget Atlas (makes no sense to do a Vega after the success of the Vega2020), once again saving on shell materials and a more basic DD.
Not to mention the more easily fitting shape of the well known Campfire Audio shells.
- anyway i will have to crack them open to confirm.

Overall it seems like a good idea for the consumer during this tricky pandemic time.

So some listening and some testing plus some wild imaginings of various possibilities.

More to come….

10th July, Sunday Morning.

Further on the Mammoth

Andromeda2020 and the Polaris arent my cup of tea either sound wise.

Andromeda 2019 is my sweet spot for the green Andromedas

with that i like the Mammoth. I do think it needs at least 24 hours to loosen up the dynamic driver which tightens up the low end more. Its a bit overwhelming out of the box and the BAs are lost in the mix initially. imho

- Andromeda v1/v2 super good at the time. Perfected the Jupiter. A good baseline general reference.
- Andromeda V3 aka 2019 - a bit more mids. Losing that slight v but retaining the sweet treble.
- Andromeda 2020 - no, go back! (imho).


This rings true after leaving them overnight or getting 24 hours or so on them.

Out of the box the dynamic driver is a bit wild and needs tightening and taming.

Then it all comes together nicely as intended (By Saturday).

Now Sunday evening - possible burn in time around 75 hours or so at a guess.

The bass has tamed quite considerably and is now more quality than quantity, the treble is more accentuated and vocals become more forward on some tracks (but mostly just over the music in a nice placed position).

On the test tracks i have been using it has matured quite nicely.
Now to work out which music works with it.

DX300, amp11mark2, NOS filter:
Spiral dots++ tips.

Beck - Already Dead. Sounds great, full, warm, depth.
Die Antwood - $copie. Bass hits full. Fast response overall.
Adele - Hello. Nicely atmospheric. Clarity. Treble is well controlled.
Billie Eilish - various. Sounds as expected, bass hits a bit more than on some other iems.
Death in Vegas - Killing Smile. Beautiful vocals, Great treble.
Dire Straits - Brothers in arms. Enjoyable. Emotion is there. Details are present.
Foo fighters - various. Speedy and aggressive.
Fugees - ready or not. Nice panning right to left to right…recessed mids a tad?
Henryk Gorecki - Symphony No.3. Dark, layered, foreboding.
Hole - miss world. Needs more sparkle.
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah. Great guitar. Smooth vocals.
(I turn up the volume at this point).
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper - Shallow. Lacks a certain euphoria. Vocals strong.
Lana del rey - Chemtrails over the country club - lana seems a good match for these, smooth, low end, even vocals, melodic. Soars.
Lard - power of lard. Fine. Good. Fast..
Leonard Cohen -the future. A nice match.
Massive attack - Teardrop. Bass hits low and deep. Sounds as expected. Lacks definition of higher end CA models (as expected).
Metallica - Atlas, rise! - good match.
Morcheeba - i am the spring. Great match. Vocals and guitar.
Morcheeba - blood like lemonade - thick bass.
(My tips might be a bit too big, need to adjust at times. A deep insertion is essential for the Mammoth).
Norah Jones- Come away with me. A good match.
PJ Harvey - Good fortune.
Lou Reed - perfect day. Good. Spacious.
Kruder and Dorfmeister - going under. The dynamic driver is really working on this track. Bass.
Slayer -raining blood. Dunno. Maybe not.
The Breeders - Cannonball. Lacks a sparkle.
The Cardigans - erase and rewind. A good match.
Chemical brothers - hey boy, hey girl. Good for edm.
- under neon lights. Bass deep and fast overlays.
Karen Selfie - Chandelier. Prefer this track on top shelf Campfires. Highs could extend further.

L shaped? Xxx?

Back to burn in for a wee bit longer. Its a mid priced iem in the campfire line up. It does perform well, but dont expect an Andromeda or Solaris etc.


*Friday evening to Saturday it was a moving towards a more balanced sound with a bed of bass and ba details.

Changes continue….

Next up:

Foam, Final Audio stock tips versus Spiral Dots++
(Also redo some of the above ‘trouble tracks’ with the stock tips).

Stock cable vs super litz (solaris)

Mammoth versus Atlas, Vega, Honeydew for bass quantity and quality.

Mammoth versus Solaris 2020 redux using smokey litz x2, then superlitz x2.

Mammoth versus Andromeda Gold by popular request

Today? Tomorrow? Depends on whether or not i have a nap after watching Loki - and its a hot day…





Monday July 12th. Mixing it up

Foam, Final Audio stock tips versus Spiral Dots++
(Also redo some of the above ‘trouble tracks’ with the stock tips).

- skipped the tip rolling. I did have a slight play.


Stock cable vs super litz (solaris).
Superlitz vs superlitz

Mammoth stock - similar, a bit more tame and simple.

Solaris2020 with stock superlitz - More finesse, better detailing and layering. More extension and air.

Mammoth - W/Solaris og superlitz cable - a bit more full and enjoyable.

Solaris 2020 (as above).

Mammoth with Solaris og cable relistening to some of yesterdays tracks:

Adele, Biilie Eilish, Foo Fighters, Fugees, Hole, Lady Gaga, Beck:
Fuller sound, evened out nicer, more control, mids up a bit, more extension and detailing.

Mammoth versus Atlas, Vega, for bass quantity and quality.

Stock cables used.

Atlas: clear, coherent, deep, a unified performance, good treble, goes deeper than Vega.

Vega: Similar to Atlas, a little more treble, clear and fast.

Mammoth: close to Atlas bass, which is slightly more slower than Vega, bit more sparkle up the top end.

All fairly close bass wise.



Mammoth versus Andromeda Gold by popular request:

Mammoth: more low end, hits lower.

Andromeda Gold: Similar again. Gold handles highs better, more control, more complete as a whole, more natural body.


Mammoth versus Honeydew

Mammoth: more of a full range with the DD and BAs combined.
Body and detail, fullness of sound.

Honeydew: Nice, controlled, good single dd performance. More polite, basic but capable (1 hour burn in).
——————————

An aside:

Nathan of the now defunct Ohm Image audio site once wrote something like - just turn it up and for many earphones the minute differences will disappear to the mind or there abouts.

This is also true of the Mammoth, satisfaction improves as the volume is turned up, sometimes though to the detriment of the control of the highs.(and possibly ones ears). One can still enjoy it at lower volumes- but increased volume gives an illusion of better sound quality - but in reality it does fit nicely into the price bracket.

One thing with the higher end Campfire models is one does not have to turn them up loud to ‘get there’ - one can enjoy all the fullness, layering, soundstage and details etc at a lower volume - thus being satisfied and also protecting ones hearing.

Bonus

Yes. Andro Gold is great. I often take it or the iBasso IT07 as one of my three IEM daily carries (for the low end love).

Also yes. This range of four are priced accordingly and fit within the Campfire range appropriately. Anyone expecting a miracle totl for the price of less a one is going to be disappointed.

its not to say their performance is lacking. They do do very well.
They just are not part of their top tier - but many would be satisfied i believe with them if they bought them with appropriate expectations in mind

Pairing with a mid to upper mid range dap or a phone (with dongle?) etc for example.

i have not delved deep into the Honeydew or the Satsuma yet.

i do rate the c/2019 q4 highly, but bow to its older sibling the Andro MW10. They both do what they do very well.

The Mammoth as a mini Solaris2020 (on a budget) is harder to place and align at times.

On tips

Tips

Stock foamies: usual foam thing. Heavy low end, muted treble. Good for some. Not really a fan myself. Works well with such music as Slayer where the silicones were too hot.

Stock silicone. Good. Can be a bit dull, less energetic at times.

Final Audio: probably the best of the three. Can tame any hot treble. Less treble. Sound stage can be smaller(than Spiral dots++) Works with such things as Hole and Slayer wheres the Spiral Dots did not.(foamies even better).

Spiral dots++: probably the best all rounder. The fit of them on the nozzle is ‘just’ (using M and ML). They fit best on Andromeda style nozzle. Wider sound stage, more air, retains the bass, can get hot in the treble at times with certain music.

I have many other tips here but usually end up going for either the Final Tips for this kind of CA nozzle, or the Spiral Dots++

I am quite pleasantly surprised. Never underrate the power of a good tip rolling.
The various tips make the Mammoth more versatile than i previously thought.


Yellow is the CA Honeydew.

Summary

Its been a fun ride

The Holocene being a universal release of the Japan limited edition c/2019 q4 iem. Perhaps with some fine tuning (but not easily noticeable) when i did an A/b with the one i have here.

Its a reference style, full sound, fun earphone. It has something for everyone and is quite versatile….some might see it as a mini andro. True in a sense, perhaps the andro2019 of the green series comes close but its flat freq more closely aligns to its elder sibling also releasd as a limited edition in Japan the Andromeda MW10, which is also one of my favorite earphones.

And i do not have much more to add to it. Its an easy choice, and accessible earphone for most i would imagine.


The Mammoth has been a bit of journey of discovery of what it is and what it isnt.
I find it more fun these days writing a set of impressions as time goes by rather than a simple lows, mids, highs and final summary. Easy but yawn.

The Mammoth fits into that hard to gauge mid range area.

They are usually more of pita to write about….

They are not ‘up there’ with usually more pluses than minuses - usually more about sonic signatures/specialities.

Nor down there where its easier to point out deficencies and how they can be alliviated by tips, cable rolling & source changing (but by then its a different product).

So often its a trade off between the two extremes. Of course you get the odd unicorn (or donkey) where they can be easily placed etc

i think the bloomaudio review (Mammoth) might be one of the best summaries so far. (Mine was a bit of a rambling journey - i’m a bit bored doing the intro, specs, lows/mids/highs & summary format. Although L/M/S/S is certainly easier to read and clearer).
https://bloomaudio.com/blogs/articles/campfire-audio-mammoth

It also seemed easier for Bloomaudio to write about the Holocene, as i also found it to be.

We are all grasping at various straws of of opinion, impressions, measurements and reviews trying to find the solid pieces of continuity between them all before opening our wallets.

Some items seem to have a more solid thread whilst others have quite a variance.

lower end and higher end seem easier to pigeonhole, mid range stuff seems to gather more various viewpoints.

Waiting on the insightful reviews from usual suspects @ryanjsoo @B9Scrambler @rev92 etc

So the Mammoth is a mid priced (within the scope of audio gear generally - not ones own wallet) and has a Xxx signature to put it simply. It has a decent sub bass that can extend up at times and has a decent quality and quantity to it. It matures well over time, the mids are not recessed nor are they a prominent player in this story, the same for the treble. Both mids and treble are secondary to the main character in this story the dynamic driver. It does not match every type of music as seen in the short test written earlier, but it is also not designed as an all rounder. Tips and after market tips seem to be able to tailor the sound quite well. It for me is like a budget Solaris 2020, similar signature but not as much soundstage, layering, details etc and rightfully so at its price point.

One looking to move up in their collection, or someone with already a totl or two iem..or more..and wanting a simple commute or gym buddy would be happy. Its all a matter of perspective on this one.

Out of the two the Holocene is the safest choice…perhaps…but if you really want ‘dat bass’ then give the Mammoth a whirl.

There is of course many other Campfire Models new and on the used market each with its own unique sound signature- one can easily find the price point and signature that matches ones desires.




"Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding.
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world.
It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding..."
Plato.(b.428 - d.348 BC)





Thank you to Campfire Audio for sending Head pie the Holocene and Mammoth for review