Campfire Audio IO

I first saw the IO and instantly fell in love with the color scheme. After reading many reviews it seemed people were fairly conflicted on whether or not the mids were broken or just tuned strangely. After some time I decided to give them and the Polaris II a shot. I’ll say right off the bat the mids aren’t nearly as bad as some make it out to be. I made sure to listen to my UE TF10 which was know for being recessed in the mids but people didn’t make a big deal out of it back when they launched or became popular. The Campfire Audio IO is the current entry level iem CA offers. It runs a two BA setup for lows and highs. It comes in a beautiful red-maroon color with gold screw accents.

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 IO 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- The sub bass is really light but it’s there. The mid bass has a decent impact which feels more like a tease when you listen to music that you know has some sub bass and mid bass hits. You get the mid bass hit but no sub bass hit which is a bummer. EQ helps a little but I try not to eq if I can avoid it.

Mids- Mids are a hit or miss. With stock tips and the stock cable, I had male vocals that sounded fine but female vocals sounding slightly recessed. A switch from the stock tips to some out of my collection helped keeping thing in line with instruments. Using a null audio lune cable which has always emphasized the mids in other iems helped keep the female vocals in check.

Highs- Really clean highs and I didn’t feel any sibilance while listening to these. Detail retrieval was also fantastic! You can tell a bad recording with the IO which I find to be rare in the $300 and under range.

Imaging- Nothing out of the ordinary and all was well for the IO

Soundstage- Nice and wide. Not crazy wide but wide for the price range.

Cable rolling- The stock cable is perfectly fine and the mmcx connectors stay snug in the iems sockets. Cable rolling did help the mids and low end a little but I don’t think the IO requires it. Would be more of a want vs need.

Tip rolling- If you want more bass the final e tips they include work fairly well but I ended up swapping between the Dekoni bulletz in the 4.9 bore diameter or the spinfit cp145 which is a 4.5 diameter. Both had a better sense of space being wider bore size but didn’t do anything for the bass department.

Amping- Off the stock 3.5 cable the sensitivity wasn’t noticeable. Once I went balanced you got a very noticeable hiss but it disappeared with music playing. I felt more power did give better detail retrieval but that’s about it. The connectors are so tight that a/b testing took a little too long to really test for more differences.

Overall thoughts
I can appreciate the tuning of the IO. Minus a slight recessed mids and lean bass I can see someone looking for a neutral to bright sound really liking these. The packaging and unboxing experience was neat and I enjoy the thought that went into that. CA also includes a nice selection of tips, a storage bag(looks like a coin purse) I would never use and a cool little CA logo pin as well. Unfortunately the sound signature isn’t for me but with the looks of the IO and the fact it’s a US made product I think the entry price of $300 is extremely fair. Thanks for reading!

The long and short is that these IEMs are amazing!

A disclaimer first: This is my first venture into High-End IEMs, and I'm coming from Bluetooth PowerBeats3 buds.

Music I Listen To: Bassnectar, Florence and the Machine, The Lumineers, Slipknot, Eminem, Shakey Graves, Apes of the State.

Device I'm using to power these IEMs: Samsung Galaxy S8 (Qualcomm variant) without a DAC.

Alright, now that you have a "floor" of my setup and experience, let's jump in! I spent two weeks obsessively researching IEMs. I started looking at cheap ones from Anker that were Bluetooth. After reading up on them and realizing that Bluetooth isn't going to be 100% reliable, I gave up the heavy desire for wireless headphones.

The next phase of this story is a doozy: I almost regretted venturing into wired IEM territory because EVERYONE has a different opinion about every IEM! Being someone that appreciates quality and wanted to invest in such, I found it hard to get a grasp on the review market.

What turned me on to the IO was that it was a moderately affordable IEM that was made locally in Portland, OR, where I live. What turned me off, were the endless bashings of that mid-frequency dip that the IO had. I couldn't justify the price of the Polaris v2, so I started looking at other IEMs. The appeal of the IO (glamour included, these are sexy) ultimately won me over.

In general, I like to think of myself as a basshead. So when people said these were clean and tight but light on the bass, it didn't make sense. After giving them a listen, they are perfect. They don't rattle my eardrums, but I can hear/slightly feel the rumble from basslines in music like Bassnectar or Slipknot. The key thing for me here is what I think people call sound stage. I could pick out instruments in the very aggressive mashing of Slipknot. I could hear instruments trading off the left and right channels. I could hear the vocals above the instruments.

Let's talk vocals for a second, because that is part of the range where this "dramatic dip" in the frequency response is occurring. Yes, there are moments where vocals sound faint (especially female), but the dip in response adds a bit of dramatic effect in my opinion. I like it! There is some sibilance with artists like Florence and the Machine, but it isn't piercing, and it is quickly rectified.

The highs were another complaint I heard about. While I am a basshead, I have a vast appreciation for detail in the mids and highs. The pop of the snare, the glitter of cymbals, the oscillation of a voice in the high octaves. It all adds to the dramatic effect of music. And these IEMs present well in that regard.

I am using the foam tips (size smaller than were mounted upon arrival), and while I do get some ear canal fatigue (especially with the advent of coronavirus and listening to music/meetings much more often), I can adjust the positioning and carry on. The weight of the IEMs isn't noticeable, though they feel very solid in the hand. The cable is awesome, the connector is reinforced, and all the bags and accessories that come with the IEMs seal the deal. I use these at home, on the commuter train, and walking around town. Isolation is great on the train and at home, but walking around I can hear my foot steps.

If you want to support local, appreciate detail in music, and like bass, but don't need a brain rattler, get the IO!

Campfire Audio IO Review: Little Andromeda

It would be most likely that you have heard about Campfire Audio if looking for good earphones or IEMs - most likely the Andromeda. Though the price tag on those is not so wallet-friendly, yes? Most of the popular Campfire IEMs were quite heavily shifted to the top tier flagship models like Andromeda and Vega, which they have also started to focus on entry models.


We previously covered the youngest sibling from the Campfire family, the Comet. While Comet achieves high cost-effectiveness and usability, Campfire launched an upper model, IO, for those who are willing to get a little more serious about music. IO is also the successor of Nova which is now discontinued. It is now time to jump into the review and see how IO sounds and performs against Nova.





Packaging

Campfire Audio finally went through some revamp with their packaging and I am happy about it. There are lots that do not pay much attention (or not at all), which is very reasonable. But I believe better packaging and boxing do matter when talking about premium IEMs. The size of the new packaging still goes for a reasonably small box but roughly twice the bigger than the old ones. Once you remove the CA sticker on the rear of the box, the outer packaging would unfold and reveal the inner box which includes all the belongings. I very much enjoy this new packaging as they are beautifully designed inside out and gives a feeling as if you are unboxing a present.


Other than the earpieces, it includes 1 set of 3.5mm stock cable, 1 leather case, 3 pairs of earpiece pouch, 5 pairs of Final Audio eartips, 3 pairs of CA eartips, 3 pairs of CA foam tips, 1 CA Lapel pin, and a cleaning tool. CA used to provide only 1 pair of earpiece pouch before, but it seems like they have realized the demand for it and started to throw in an extra 2 pairs - which I appreciate a lot. The lather case is also newly designed to have the same color as the earpiece. The size also got slightly larger for better convenience when storing with custom cables.





Earpieces

As shown, this "mechanical-looking" appearance has been Campfire Audio's signature design from the get-go. The earpiece is made of machined aluminum and sports an edgy look, though the edges are slightly rounded as well as the inner side forming a fairly ergonomic shape. Not the best in terms of comfort or compatibility, but the fit is not bothering at least. Though users with smaller outer ears will have problems fitting these to their ears as the earpieces are still a bit chunky and edgy.


IO uses 2BA drivers per side - each working as a woofer and a tweeter. Both drivers are incorporated with T.A.E.C. (Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber), which is a specifically designed inner structure that sits in front of the drivers and takes a major role in creating their signature sound. The nozzles are made of stainless steel and separated into 2 bores. Another thing to note is that the shape of the nozzle has changed. The nozzles are visibly longer than the old ones which give deeper fit and better isolation. The earpieces are detachable and use custom-made MMCX sockets that are compatible with typical ones yet inforced in durability.





Cable

The stock 3.5mm cable went through some changes too. First the shielding. The previous silver-plated Litz cable had a transparent silver look which looked good, but vulnerable to discoloration and stains. The new version has a smoky grey jacket that solves such problems as well as being even softer. Metal memory wires are gone too and replaced with a simple ear hook design.






Sound impression - Ultra lows / Sub-bass

IO shows a mildly w-shaped sound signature with a small emphasis on the mids. Ultra lows are mediocre, but it manages to deliver enough depth and weight to the sound. Considerably good for a 2BA setup. Bass shows a meaty and high-density thud, striking fast and decaying relatively slower which makes the lows feel full and natural without lagging behind the beat. While the bass creates quite a deep and dark atmosphere, the area for spreading the bass reverbs is well controlled and energetic without getting loosen.


Reverbs are soft and relaxed, resulting in the overall bass quantity to be similar to most IEMs with a slightly v-shaped signature. It is somewhat easy for full BA IEMs (especially those with fewer drivers) to sound dry or lack liveliness, but IO's bass show much liveliness and moisture like a tightly controlled dynamic driver. Overall the bass is up to par with the quality, even without regarding the driver setup. Not to a game-changing degree, but most people would be able to easily enjoy in both quantity and quality.





Sound impression - Mids / Imaging

The thickness on the mids is just around neutral and works well with both male and female vocals. Comparative to lows and highs, mids put more weight on the airiness rather than density. Not only this presentation blows in lots of air into the sound, but it also allows vocals to sound more spatial and stable. Since that, IO keeps the vocals quite flat and very stable throughout the midrange without noticeable dips, spikes, or sibilances. IO's sound is extra sensitive to the fitting, so I suggest trying a variety of eartips as the sound may cause hollowness or spikes if your fitting is not secured enough.


Another characteristic of IO is its positional aspect. While we use terms as close/neutral/laid back for explaining the relative position of the vocals, though vocals on IO feel as if they are spreading out from more of the rear side which eventually reaches out to the front. This creates a spatial, lively presentation that keeps the vocals absolutely fatigue-free. Thanks to these two characteristics, delicate reverbs and airiness, IO's mids do not feel stuffy despite the overall brightness slightly tipping over to the darker side.


Therefore, those who dig 3D effects or the ones that are used to multi-driver-ish sound should find IO's presentation quite pleasing. However, those that are extra sensitive or demand raw/original presentation may find it bothering - especially if you do not like the sounds from full-BA or hybrid IEMs. If you are used to IEM-generated staging, it is likely not a problem. Although I am pretty sensitive to artificial sound, I found the presentation to be fun as it is not like the timbre has been completely abandoned or completely went over the head.





Sound impression - Highs / etc.

Highs are another part that supplements some freshness and shine to the sound while keeping the sound comfy and relatively dark. Highs are crisp and analytical, being capable of grasping the small sparkles and layering clearly separated from each other. The lower trebles take a slight dip and then continues to shine - this will not kill the treble details but rather prevents the highs from getting overpowered or harsh. The thickness is on the slimmer side but has enough body to it. Highs also have a super-fast response speed and don't leave many reverbs or residues, keeping the atmosphere clean and organized. I am in fact very pleased to see such detailed and crisp treble quality for a 2BA IEM in this price range. It feels solid and high in clarity without getting too close in the face or feeling rigid. Highs make sure to keep its presence clear and prominent, with a lively and tasty timbre but not to the point of falling behind in neutrality.


Staging is quite on the larger side - not gigantic, but to say the least, the 2BA setup does not seem to be limiting IO from presenting a dynamic, wide, and full headroom. It is important to point out that this presentation is formed with accuracy, so the wider staging was not achieved by throwing in a bunch of resonance. IO shows just the appropriate amount of resonance to blow in musicality and smooth flow to the sound while maintaining a clean enough background. Imaging is also correctly presented, doing a fine job locating the instruments to their intended places.





Compared to Nova (2BA)

I always had a soft spot for Nova. Its smooth and fatigue-free sound was its charm that I also appreciated, yet it has not gained much attention from the users and got discontinued fast. Anywho, IO is Nova's new successor so this would be a good comparison. Nova presented a rather slow-tempo, old-school sound, while IO is up for a more engaging and trendier sound reinforced with vibrancy and brightness.


IO also presents mids in a more uplifting, refreshing, and airy manner. The resonances are slightly lesser than Nova yet IO preserves plenty amount of reverbs and quantity, making the sound just full as Nova but even better in clarity. Though Nova would not be put down to the grave since it still holds its ground with its own charm. Nova is still very desirable for those who dig a Westone-like sound signature with a harder bass texture, but if you are looking for more upper frequency details and sparkles, IO would definitely be a superior choice.




Eartip / Cable suggestions

Recommended eartips for IO would be either Final E-Type (the ones included as accessories) or Acoustune AET07. This would be more about personal preference, though I would suggest AET07 eartips as the best matching as it provides a wider, unaltered sound presentation. It is also crispier and higher in transparency, so the upper frequency details would be opened up even more. The bass still keeps its tightness with a good amount of quantity. E-type eartips would be a better deal if you want the sound darker or bassier, though unless that I would suggest giving a try with the AET08. The best cable selection with an affordable price would be Satin Audio Gaia and I am confident about it. Satin Audio has been recommending the IO-Gaia combo even before I got my IO in hands, and those two sure do match well. Gaia provides better clarity, staging, and tone throughout the sound as well as delivering a richer bass response.





Verdicts

I have seen some mixed impressions for IO, yet my experience has been positive all the way since the first time meeting this IEM during an exhibition. Campfire Audio has done a good job boiling down the Andromeda into a 2BA version, forming an exciting sound signature yet consisting of enough neutrality. Not ideal for those desiring the most plain or unaltered sound, but for a fun, toned up fidelity gear, I would say this is one of the fairest choices you could make. Built upon Campfire's signature sound, IO is a cost-effective performer that I would actively recommend as it holds a powerful, hackish place in the lineup. Keep your eyes over here if you are looking for a sub $300 IEM with an all-rounder, fun sound signature.