Introduction –

Once cable manufacturer ALO Audio, Ken moved into in-ear earphones under Campfire Audio in 2015. That was just 1 and a half years ago, but as we know, new does not mean inexperienced and Campfire has already become one of the most revered and prestigious brands on the market. One could say you pay a premium for that, $799 USD to be exact, but Campfire’s fine tuning and absolutely meticulous design justify the steep entry price and B-stock models offer fantastic discounts that provide some real value to more budget-constrained buyers.

But as a consumer, not a reviewer, it can be hard to really open up to new manufacturers. It’s too easy to dismiss such comments as hype, after all, some reviews are almost too positive. A few years ago, when I was less “enlightened”, I held my Sennheiser ie800’s in high-esteem, my buyer’s ego refusing to admit that portable audio could get any better. The Jupiter was the earphone that dispelled that notion, it was also the model that introduced me to CA and I was instantly captivated in Ken’s hand-made and liquid formed designs. However, since then, the Jupiter seems to have been buried behind the immense reputation of its younger brothers, the Andromeda and Vega. And it’s a trend we’ve seen before, so many people automatically flock to the flagship forgetting that lower models may carry a more pleasing tonality for their personal preference. As Campfire’s first flagship and the earphone that brought attention to the brand as a truly high-end audio manufacturer, let’s see if the Jupiter still carries the spark that ignited Campfire’s big bang.



Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Campfire Audio very much for their quick communication and for providing me with the Jupiter for the purpose of review. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the earphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.



About Me, Background, Gear of choice, Preferences and Biases –

I generally prefer a u-shaped sound that is close to neutral. I like a lot of detail and clarity but can appreciate a smooth, laid back sound. I’m not particularly treble sensitive so I may be more forgiving of brightness over darkness. I will note if I use a different eartip/pad/cover during the review and describe the sound changes.

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Accessories –



The Jupiter comes in an intriguing box with colourful artwork and renders that provide a really unique look. The box is small and practical rather than extravagant, but I’m glad that Campfire has spent a little extra on the included carrying case that you use every day rather than opulent packaging that really amounts to little in the long run.



And opening up the box reveals the absolutely beautiful carrying case. It’s a medium-small zippered hard case with a very plush, protective shearling interior that snugly holds the earphones and prevents them from chipping each other during transport. The raw leather exterior is visually striking, textured and distinctive with a fantastic texture. I was initially worried about marking up the leather, but in my experience, it has proved to be pretty hard wearing.



Underneath is a small compartment containing 3 pairs of Spinfits and 3 pairs of foam ear tips. Unfortunately, they’re not authentic Comply’s, they are a bit harder and return a little quicker but they provide some nice isolation and comfort. Campfire also includes a cleaning tool, basic warranty and usage instructions in addition to a nice metal badge.



Design –



Industrial but unique, strikingly angular but forgiving on the ear, Campfire’s locally sourced and machined housings are a work of art. There are few earphones that really stand out from the usual negative profile pod shaped earphones and fewer yet that I could observe for hours on end, but Campfire’s armature-based earphones are definitely among them. With 3-piece machined aluminium housings hand assembled in the United States, the Jupiter achieves a level of aesthetic intrigue and in hand solidity matched by very few earphones. Of note, the Jupiter’s design has changed slightly from earlier revisions; newer models have more chamfers and smoothing of their internal faces to create a more comfortable fit and a revised finish promises to be more durable over prolonged use.



The Jupiter immediately impresses with its build quality, the machining on the housings is some of the best I’ve seen with perfect mating between each component and the tolerances are higher than even the 1More Quad Drivers. This is all topped off with a new Cerakote finish, a ceramic based compound commonly used on firearms, that is designed to be hard wearing and tactile. The finish is fabulous, perhaps not as eye catching as the lustrous raw metal finishes of earlier revisions, but Campfire’s earphones no longer chip themselves during transport.



This very industrial look is topped up with three rose gold screws and a milled Campfire logo on the outer face that add some visual interest to their geometric design. The nozzle is not integrated but is completely constructed from aluminium. It is angled perfectly like the 64Audio earphones and has 2 sound tubes which similarly improves phase and separation. The nozzle is quite wide, accepting T400 sized Comply foams, and relatively short though it is fluted and holds tips very well. I wouldn’t be concerned in the slightest of the Jupiter’s durability, they are just as trusty and hardy as a well-oiled rifle.



Ergonomics are also very good which is surprising given how angular the housings are. In the ear, those sharp edges can’t be felt and the Jupiter provided pretty faultless comfort for me over extended listening periods. Due to some clever housing design, the Jupiters also didn’t produce a hotspot over my concha like the 64Audio U3 and while they aren’t quite as low-profile and ear hugging as the AF1120, in use, the Jupiter really has no issue with comfort or stability. I did notice some discomfort initially, but once the memory wire ear guides had been appropriately formed, the earphones were reliably held in a comfortable position. They are a large earphone and they do somewhat protrude from the ear, but being fully sealed and somewhat deeper fitting, the Jupiters aren’t prone to wind noise and provide great fit stability during activity; they didn’t require any adjustment during a recent 6km run. Isolation is also stunning, among the best I’ve experienced from a non-custom in-ear due to their deep fit and metal ear-filling housings that attenuate noise exceptionally well. I actually found them to isolate slightly more than even the Plussound Prism and Etymotic ER4, all with foams, making them ideal for travel. That being said, such levels of isolation can be quite dangerous during commute, I would suggest switching to silicone tips and even then, spatial awareness is not ideal.



The Jupiter also sports a removable cable using the tried and tested MMCX interface. Campfire are using custom connectors made from beryllium copper to provide vastly increased solidity over traditional cables. I found the connectors to be tight and very snappy with retained tension after multiple plugs and unplugs when cable swapping. But users probably won’t be in a hurry to swap because, being a former cable manufacturer, it goes without saying that the Jupiter comes with an exceptional unit. While older generations came with ALO’s tinsel cable, all newer models come equipped with the much improved Litz cable which is thicker and considerably more pliable; subjectively, it sounds a little cleaner and more open too.



The cable has a handsome braid coated in a lustrous satin silver. It is exceptionally supple and compliant while avoiding tangles. The cable is one of the softest I have handled with absolutely no memory, easily beating out the 64Audio, Westone EPIC and even Plussound EXO cables in ergonomics. They have memory wire ear guides that are quite soft and easy to manipulate, they provide some extra stability to those larger housings though I still prefer heat shrink style guides.



They have a reliable chin slider that slips into the low-profile y-split and a beefy yet case friendly right angle 3.5mm plug that looks to be well relieved and durable. The cable is really the icing on the cake, wonderfully rounding off an already impressive package.



Some may find the Jupiter’s to be a bit large and sharp, but only one of my immediate friends and family had any issue finding a comfortable fit. They don’t disappear, but for my ears, the Jupiter provided a reliable, isolating and deceptively comfortable fit.



Sound –

At face value, the Jupiter is a quad balanced armature earphone, Campfire don’t state how the drivers are tuned or the method of crossover, simply that two are dedicated to high-frequency reproduction. The drivers have been designed and tuned in-house rather than using off the shelf components. As impressive as some earphones using generic drivers can be, especially those utilising Knowles armatures like the DK-3001, I think this demonstrates the care and meticulous thought that fuelled the Jupiter’s inception. They also implement a few interesting technologies such as TAEC and the earphones sound exceptionally raw and immediate due to their lack of any acoustic filters. I’m a huge fan of this sound and it’s impressive that they manage such intricacy without any fatigue or sibilance.

Campfire’s brilliant Litz cable also imbues the Jupiter with a few interesting characteristics that custom cables generally bring; they achieve that same sense of separation and refinement that the Plussound Prism benefits from, making for a really interesting sound. Swapping in a more generic MMCX cable does sap the Jupiter of that last element of effortlessness but it remains a very nice, balanced and detailed earphone. The Litz cable also provides a healthy boost to general resolution and high-frequency extension to most other MMCX earphones I tested it with, even lower priced iems like the Shure SE215. I would conclude that the cable provides a nice augmentation to an already brilliant sounding earphone, making for an invigorating overall package.



Tonality –

It’s can be difficult to define an earphone’s tonality, especially as you head higher in price where the differences in tuning between earphones is nowhere near that of lower price tiers due to a similar drive to find balance. And coming from some lower priced earphones around $300, I was inclined to call the Jupiter mid-forward. On the flipside, comparing the Jupiter to more similarly priced earphones like the AF1120, ie800 and 64Audio U3 and the Jupiter comes across as more u-shaped. After spending some time exclusively with the Jupiter, I would characterise it as a very balanced earphone somewhere in-between. Objectively, no frequency range stands out more than the other but, like the U3, certain parts of the Jupiter’s sound do draw more attention due their terrific clarity and resolution rather than any particular emphasis in quantity. I’m sure some listeners may find the Jupiter to be lacking low-end, though their exquisite definition and detailing ensure that no listener will find them to be lacking engagement.



Drivability –

The Jupiter is one of the most sensitive earphones I’ve ever tested with a sensitivity of 114dB combined and a very low 35ohm impedance. Despite this, they produce more volume at the same level than the 64Audio U3 and Dunu DK-3001, both very sensitive earphones with lower impedance ratings. And with a very resolving 4-driver setup, the Jupiter is also very source sensitive. They will find a level of hiss on essentially anything, even sources I had previously considered silent. My HA-2 was very noticeable, even when music was playing as was the X5 III. The Jupiter also produced hiss from my iPod Touch 6G, X7 (AM2) and Chord Mojo, and though it was barely audible, these sources are usually silent with other iems. The Jupiter also benefits from a low output impedance, some bass roll-off does present with higher output impedance sources, drawing more attention to the high frequencies. For my preferences, the Jupiter found the best synergy with the X7 with AM2 which provided a nice sense of clarity while retaining body and sound staging was fantastic. The X7 also produced less hiss than my other sources and provided great resolution to the Jupiters. Amping isn’t necessary, the Jupiter doesn’t draw a lot of current or voltage, but an amplifier can help to alleviate hiss and provide finer volume control since the earphones are so sensitive. The Jupiter scales exceptionally well with higher grade sources, they still sound stunning from my iPod Touch and HTC 10 and those devices don’t bottleneck the Jupiter’s performance per say, but both clearly lacked the nuance of my Fiio X7, HA-2 and Mojo. Frankly, if you’re spending $800 on an earphone, it would be a good idea to drive them with a proper source, even something like the Dragonfly Black just to reduce output impedance issues and hiss.



Soundstage, Imaging and Separation –

Sound staging is one of the most standout features of Ken’s brilliant Andromeda and I would definitely say it played a large role in its popularisation. And the Jupiter is no different, it manages to be almost as captivating due to its adoption of the same TAEC (Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber) used by the Andromeda. In a little more detail, Campfire are implementing a 3D printed sound chamber that is touted to improve high-frequency extension, I’m assuming it reduces resonances or something along that path. The result in subjective listening is an incredibly spacious and separated response that is among the best fully sealed in-ear monitor’s I’ve heard. They don’t quite match the vented 64Audio earphones nor the Sennheiser ie800 in sheer space, but the Jupiter is pretty close while maintaining notably higher levels of isolation and lower wind noise outdoors. They are very well rounded between width and depth, both are thoroughly engaging and immersive, the Jupiter’s also produce a nice amount of height to songs that call for it. Imaging is also some of the best I’ve heard, instrument placement is razor sharp and centre image is very strong though vocals are never artificially compressed into the centre of the stage like the Magaosi K3 Pro. Separation is also fabulous due to their impressive space and superb resolution.

Among the tracks I listened to during my review, Massive Attack’s “Paradise Circus” best displayed the strengths of the Jupiter’s presentation. Imaging was sharp and directional cues were tactile. Vocals and drums were perfectly centred with great forward projection and space. Strings and piano were spacious but not distant and bass was visceral and expansive while remaining perfectly separated from the rest of the sound. By contrast, the Sennheiser ie800 provided some extra width at the cost of some coherence and vocal depth. Centre image was equally strong though directional cues weren’t as sharp. Separation remained just as impressive due to their similarly standout resolution and space though the ie800’s more sculpted tonality meant that strings sounded a bit over-forward in the mix whereas the Jupiter sounded substantially more natural. This track provides a really nice test of imaging, separation and resolution, the Jupiter flew through without a sweat, providing one of the best revisions I’ve heard from any iem, even those in higher price classes.



Bass –

The Jupiter has a deep bass response that isn’t forward or emphasised in quantity but does carry a full, well-weighted tone. And even for my preferences, bass quantity doesn’t leave me wanting and balance is superb. One thing I’ve always admired about Campfire’s armature earphones is the way they handle sub-bass, especially their higher-end models like the Jupiter. Extension is excellent, better than the 64Audio U3 and even the U6; I still wouldn’t mistake the Jupiter for a dynamic-driver earphones, but they are one of the most extended armature earphones I’ve tested. And in terms of tuning, sub-bass isn’t particularly lifted but has a sense of solidity and rumble rarely achieved by armature earphones. Deep bass has a small bump granting bass notes a little more depth and weight but both mid and upper bass remain neutral, tight and agile. Bloat, muddiness and bass spill are non-existent nor do lower mids ever overshadow the low-end.

And onto quality, you’ll have to excuse my excessive use of adjectives; bass notes on the Jupiter are super-fast, hyper-textured and extremely defined. The Jupiter’s don’t actually hold a huge advantage in bass detail retrieval and texturing over the exemplary earphones occupying the next price class down, particularly the 64Audio U3 and AF1120, but they do hold a notable advantage in speed and transience over these models which really enhances the listening experience on faster genres such as rock. When listening to tracks such as Monoral’s “Kiri” which has a somewhat deceptive bassline, the Jupiter really impressed me with their composure and dynamics. They managed to invigorate the track’s slow bass line while keeping pace with the complex double bass drum without compromising definition as a lot of cheaper earphones and plenty around this price tend to do. The Jupiter also had perceptibly superior transients to the dynamic ie800 which sounded a little looser and less textured due to its increased bass quantity and sub-bass skewed tuning. In return, the ie800 was more authoritarian in its bass reproduction and I can see some buyers preferring their added quantity even if they aren’t as technical as the Jupiter. Ultimately, the Jupiter manages much more sub-bass extension and bass body than the vast majority of multi-armature earphones, even those with more outright bass quantity and many more drivers at their disposal. But more impressively, it does so while remaining agile and tight as a drum. So while I can see some users wanting more bass quantity, the Jupiter’s low-frequency tuning and quality are exquisite and their weighty tone prevents any sense of anaemia that can affect similarly balanced earphones.



Mids –

Despite their superlative bass and treble responses, the Jupiter’s midrange easily draws attention through exceptional resolution and body. The Jupiter once again tricks the senses with their tuning; the Jupiter comes across as a clear earphone but clarity isn’t boosted, rather, their excellent resolution grants them with a sense of immediacy and realism that many earphones fail to capture. Through this, the Jupiter manages to be both clear and natural and this character is enhanced by the Jupiter’s profound sense of body somewhat similar to that of the Oriveti New Primacy. This prevents them from ever sounding lean or dry and vocals on the Jupiter sound considerably meatier than earphones like the Hifiman RE-600. Despite this, the Jupiter is a very transparent earphone and they never come across as thick or over warmed. Instruments such as piano sound realistic and the Jupiter really excels with any kind of strings and guitar due to their linear, balanced tuning and resolution. Listening to Guns & Roses “Paradise City” and the Jupiter’s provided really terrific layering to vocals in addition to a spacious presentation of the resounding drums and guitars. Guitars, in particular, really stood out to me as outstanding, each strum was crisp and well-delineated from the rest of the sound. The Jupiter also excels with more contemporary pop and R&B, providing great space and clarity to Frank Ocean’s vocals in “Pink + White”.

And higher up, female vocals are equally flattered with an organic tone and great clarity while avoiding an overbearing sense of brightness or intimacy. The Jupiter’s provided an enlightening rendition of “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men, a notoriously crowded track. The Jupiter sliced through the cacophony of guitars and vocal layering with exceptional separation and soundstage projection. Each instrument was crisp and all frequencies were well balanced so as to prevent overshadowing of intricacies. The Jupiter also excels with micro-detail retrieval which is similarly strong as the ie800 but more consistent due to the Jupiter’s more natural, bodied sound. The Sennheiser does sound a little glossier and consistently clearer in their midrange, however, the ie800’s thinner vocal body errs more on the side of raspiness rather than smoothness like the Jupiter. The Jupiter also holds a notable advantage in resolution over the Audiofly AF1120. Both are similarly linear and balanced yet the Audiofly lacks the resolving power and sound staging of the Campfire and its performance more easily comes across as dry whereas the Jupiter is more tonally pleasing with poorer mastered tracks. That being said, due to their resolution and aggressive detailing, the Jupiter picks up significantly more artefacts in low bitrate tracks; you don’t require a lossless library to enjoy the Jupiter, but it isn’t too forgiving of anything under a 320kbps MP3. But when fed from a clean source supplied with a high-quality file, the Jupiter absolutely sings with technicality and musicality that present an immediate upgrade over cheaper in-ears and plenty of similarly priced ones too.



Treble –

But it’s high-frequencies that really steal the show on the Jupiter with fantastic extension, space and separation. Treble isn’t perfectly linear, I do hear a small bump to the middle treble, granting a little extra crispness, but treble is otherwise well bodied and refined much like the rest of the sound. And while treble is mostly the focus of these earphones, they aren’t a treble heavy earphone. Due to their outstanding extension and a lack of any audible roll-off to my ears, the Jupiter has great resolving power that is among the best I’ve heard including the 64Audio U6 and even some of the higher end Noble Audio earphones like the Sage and Django. Resolution is really fantastic though the Jupiter sounds simultaneously incredibly clean and smooth. Micro-details are very present and quite forward, I would consider the Jupiter to be a more aggressively detailed earphone though they remain very refined in their presentation. And even considering my brighter sound preferences, I would posit that very few listeners would find the Jupiter a fatiguing or over-bright sounding earphone. Listening to Owl City’s “Vanilla Twilight” which easily becomes metallic and fatiguing on a lot of earphones and the Jupiter provided an impressively restrained performance. The 64Audio U3 did have a bit more air and soundstage breadth as did the Sennheiser ie800, but both were also more fatiguing, especially the Sennheiser which had quite a thin note presentation.

Similarly, sibilance is impressively absent on the Jupiter, especially evident when listening to Frank Sinatra’s older recordings which tended to overemphasise these frequencies. The Jupiter sounded clear and organic without any harshness or honkiness, something the 64Audio U3 didn’t quite achieve despite its similarly strong resolution and attack. The Jupiter also does exceptionally well with rock with a very realistic reproduction of cymbals. Listening to Nirvana’s “Lithium” and we see a similar trend as before with the Sennheiser sounding very nicely detailed and crisp but with a thin presentation that saps some texture and realism from treble notes. The 64Audio U3, one of my favourite treble performers, actually provided a slightly more spacious and airy response than the Jupiter but outright resolution and very high-frequency details weren’t resolved quite as well the Campfire and Sennheiser. The Jupiter is an immensely impressive performer, I have to stress that they are far from the most expensive earphone I have heard, but price does not correlate with performance and I have found them extremely satisfying to listen to nonetheless. They still aren’t perfect overall, lacking that last touch of air and soundstage space, but their excellent resolution and detailing easily compensate.



Verdict –



I think a lot of writers approach the Jupiter with the wrong mindset. The Andromeda isn’t the Jupiter+ and the Jupiter isn’t the Andromeda Minus. Rather, they pursue different sounds but share common strengths, the Jupiter is its own creation with its own unique identity. In fact, those who are looking for a bit more balance may actually favour the Jupiter over the slightly bassier Andromeda. Because the Jupiter is a creature of resolution, coherence and separation. They excel with anything fast or complex while remaining engaging enough to flatter slower tracks. They are also balanced and very natural but have a more full-bodied, organic tone that grants them with a bit more depth and realism. While they aren’t exceptionally vibrant of sculpted nor are they as universally pleasing as the Andromeda, the Jupiter is a delicately tuned in-ear monitor with the same stunning technicality and passion running through its veins.

Verdict – 9.5/10, The Jupiter interests listeners with its striking looks then captures them with its heavenly sound. Their build is outstanding and Campfire’s Litz cable is among the best on the market. Despite looking sharp, the Campfire’s feel soft and stable in the ear with class leading isolation. But their sound still manages to steal the show with profound resolving power presented through a natural and organic tone.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my review, please see my website for more just like it:
https://everydaylisteningblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/campfire-audio-jupiter-review-no-less/

In the present state of portable audio markets, with one-upmanship of driver counts (and prices) fast becoming the norm, Campfire Audio has blazed its own path by offering immaculately crafted, often great sounding IEMs featuring unique designs, which has proven to be a breakout success. While the community's attention has shifted towards the newer models (e.g Andromeda, Vega), it is worth remembering the original flagship that started it all, the Jupiter. 
 
Build/Fit/Acessories
 
By now, every other review has spoken at length about the packaging so saying much more about them would be wasting time, it's the standard CA fair, with a small plain cardboard box signifying the model you are getting. Inside, there are the IEMs, a leather case for storage (for Jupiter, it's brown), three pairs of single-flange silicon tips, three pairs of foam tips, cleaning brush and a metal badge with the Campfire Logo. One thing that must be pointed out is the quality of the individual accessories, The leather carrying case is built superbly well, lined with wool on the inside to prevent the IEMs from being knocked around and chipping, while the included foam tips are of a high enough quality for me, who absolutely detests complys, to use regularly, just as well then that the Campfire IEMs are tuned to sound best with the in-house foam tips. 
 

 
Moving on to the actual shells, they are a beauty to behold, with high quality CNCed metal shells that look distinct from the competition (in a good way), making the IEM feel like they'd last a very long time. The MMCX connectors on the IEMs feel very sturdy, which is more than can be said for some manufactuers, the only gripe for me is the lack of a filter under the sound bores, which means its easier for undesirable stuff to go inside. Unfortunately, the cable that came on my older pair (ALO Tinsel) is a bit of a problem, as anyone who has used it knows, while it seems to be constructed well out of nice materials, the cable has a very annoying habit of tangling and kinking in a way that almost defies physics. Luckily, the Litz cable that is included with the newer versions is much more tangle-proof, so rest assured new buyers.
 

 
Fit-wise, for me, it has been very comfortable, especially with the foam tips, which means that the shells are not entirely flush with the ears. Those with smaller ears and/or silicone tip users may find the edges from the shells digging in. Isolation ranges from average (with silicon tips) to good (with foam tips).
 
The Sound
 
All sound impressions/comparisons were done with the Geek Out 450 connected through OTG to the Xiaomi Mi4c
 
Overall, the Jupiter's presentation is best summarized with one word: effortless. While I've heard its bigger brother, the Andromeda, be described as somehow able to making all three frequencies feel that they are each emphasized, the Jupiter isn't so immediately engaging, opting for a presentation that does not appear to shift focus to any single frequency. The advantage to this is that the Jupiter is not particularly picky on source and/or music, happily plugging straight into a smartphone with questionably mastered music and still being enjoyable. That's not to say it doesn't scale with better upstream components, it's just that compared to most other IEMs of similar technical ability, it's significantly more forgiving.
 
Bass:
The Jupiter has bass that's nearly everything desired from high-end Balanced Armature models. Strictly speaking, in relation to the mids and upwards, the bass of the Jupiter is slightly north of neutral in volume, but in a subtle way that's never obvious. The bass remains very flat throughout, except some slight rolloff at the very extremes (~30hz downwards). Dynamics are excellent for a BA, providing hard-hitting impact and punch when called for, while never being bloated, accordingly, speed is top-tier, with great articulation of small details in the music. The only real gripe is one that might be endemic to all BAs: somewhat hard, unnatural timbre and texture, but even in that area the Jupiter betters many of its peers.
 
Mids:
Transitioning upwards into the mids, the effortless presentation of the Jupiter becomes clear to hear, the overall tuning leans towards the warm side, with lower mids having some precedence over the upper mids. In other IEMs, this might have posed serious issues, but the Jupiter solves it by virtue of its supreme transparency and articulation throughout the range. The relatively forward lower mids lend male vocals some intimacy and emotion, but not overtly so, clarity is maintained thanks to superbly controlled (i.e minimal) bleed. Upper mids are no doubt, on the laid back side, with female vocals and cymbals/snares somewhat further back in the mix than normal, this does it no favors in terms of perceived clarity at first glance, however in further listening, the Jupiter continually surprises with its ability to represent small gradations in volume, making detail articulation very good. Overall, the mids tread a fine line between musicality and analytical prowess, being a major contributor to the Jupiter's effortless detailed presentation. 
 
Treble: 
The treble on the Jupiter comes with surprising amounts of energy coming from the mids. maybe a hair above strict neutrality but below the bass in terms of emphasis. Continuing with the theme of effortless detail, the treble of the Jupiter has plenty of sparkle and air up top, but almost never becomes strident, it is clear that the TAEC system in the Jupiter is doing great work in this area, providing treble extension that is very rare with IEMs. Treble timbre is precisely rendered and clarity is excellent, middle treble and upwards is somewhat emphasized over lower treble, preventing the Jupiter from becoming too laid back sounding.
 
Staging and imaging:
The stage of the Jupiter is above average in both width and depth, but not exceptional. There is more width than depth, but the comparison is not as lopsided as most IEMs. Where the Jupiter makes its mark is in imaging and separation within its stage. Pinpointing specific instruments and other musical elements in recordings with all but the most terrible mastered recordings is a breeze, mainly aided by the way the Jupiter presents a near pitch-black background of canvas with which the music can be painted over.
 
Select Comparisons:
 
Sony MDR-EX1000:
In appearance, these IEMs can't be further apart, the EX1000 being a large and unwieldly single DD with mediocre isolation, dwarfing the 4BA Jupiter in comparison. The upper mids and treble are considerably more emphasized on the Sony's, which gives it an edge in perceived clarity. Unfortunately, this is with a trade off, has the Sony has rather peaky treble that is far less forgiving and far more ready to send treble daggers to ears at a moment's notice. The bass of the Sony is one of the best I've heard in an IEM, having supremely tuned timbre and texture that hasn't been matched by any BA, including the Jupiter, but gives up slightly in speed as a tradeoff. Similarly, the EX1000 has the widest soundstage I've ever heard in an IEM, but can seem rather flat compared to the Jupiter's more 3D stage, imaging is a wash due to the Sony's sheer stage size, while resolution is a slight edge towards the Jupiter.
 
Campfire Andromeda:
The newer brother that has taken over the Jupiter's place as Campfire's all-BA flagship, the most apparent difference between the two models is the more aggressive presentation of the Andromeda, with more forward upper mids and slightly more forward treble. Stage size is a step up from Jupiter, turning the already excellent imaging and seperation of the Jupiter into OMGWTFAMAZEBALLS levels. Resolution is a slight step up from Jupiter, but not immediately apparent without significant A/B. Unfortunately, out of the 0.47ohm output of my Geek Out, the Andromeda was too bassy for my tastes, straying further from neutral than the Jupiter IMO. This is due to the far more reactive nature of the Andromeda's impedance curve, pointing out the issue that Andromeda is far more picky of upstream components than the Jupiter.
 
Campfire Dorado:
The hybrid sub-flagship that is the rough equivalent of Jupiter on Campfire's dynamic side, the Dorado is noticeably warmer, with elevated bass and lower mids compared to the Jupiter. The DD-powered bass can't help but have more satisfying rumble, power and texture than the Jupiter's BAs, but trades off for that with speed. The Dorado also sounds noticeably more organic and somewhat more musical than the Jupiter, with comparable resolution in the mids and bass, but trades off with lessened clarity and staging as a result, the treble is also noticeably more laid back on the Dorado, losing out on the sparkle and air of the Jupiter. Overall, its a great choice for those who prefer a more colored sound and/or treble sensitive, while the Jupiter is for those who like a more neutral signature.
 
1964Ears A12
The former flagship of 1964ears, the A12 dwarfs the Jupiter in both driver count (12 vs 4) and price ($1999 vs $799), so what does the extra price give you? I was wondering the same after comparing the Campfire's elegant shells to the generic Acrylic shells of the A12. Straightaway, the A12 impresses with it stage, being clearly wider and deeper than the Jupiter, no doubt as a result of the Apex modules. However, imaging isn't quite as pinpoint as the Jupiter, while separation is equal by virtue of the big stage. The A12 is somewhat bassier than the Jupiter, but executed in a nice way, with great texture. The upper mids are more up front in the A12, and have some grainy texture that is a little annoying compared to the Jupiter's smoothness, but the biggest mark against the A12 is in the treble, while not bad on its own, feels somewhat rough and peaky compared to the excellent treble of the Jupiter. Resolution may lean towards A12, but the Jupiter fights back with better tonality. So, is that worth $1200 more? You decide.
 
Conclusion:
 
While overtaken in the spotlight by newer models in the lineup, the Campfire Jupiter still makes a very compelling case for itself with its combination of excellent technical ability, highly forgiving nature (of both source and music) and stellar build quality that stands apart from other IEM manufactuers, it earns a hearty recommendation from me as a great introduction to high end IEMs to newbies and veterans alike. 
 
 

Disclaimer
 
I got this unit as part of Australia/New Zealand tour arranged by @d marc0, thank you very much for including me in this tour
 
Introduction
 
I am just another music fans in this world, I love listening to music, and that made me stumble into head-fi around 9 years ago when looking for the best way to listen to my music. I am not in anyway an audiophile, heck not even close, so please forgive any lack of details in my review. Most importantly this is my personal impression on the unit, most likely i heard things differently than you, my ears, my preferences, my brain
 
I've listened to CA Jupiter for about 2 weeks. I mostly use them with LG V10 direct without any amp. The source will be either the built-in LG music player or Google play music.
 
Build Quality and Design
 
The build quality is most likely the same as CA Orion, only different in color, very solid and build to last. Even though they are bit edgy, I found it fits quite nicely with my ears, better than CA Lyra I think, which is interesting because the Lyra has smooth curves while Jupiter is edgy, can't understand why but it is what it is.
 
Sound Quality
 
Ok the most important part for me, sound quality, so how do they sound? For me they sounded warm with elevated treble. I also notice that music sounded quite forward to my ear, soundstage is quite good for an IEM. I really enjoy their sound signature from the very first time I've put them on.
 
I listen to a lot of acoustic guitar music (Tony McManus, Hawaiian slack guitar to give some example) and I found Jupiter tuning to really fit this genre, guitar string sounds really beautiful on Jupiter, and the elevated mid-bass really really helps bring overall sense of warmth to the music, enveloping the higher frequency of the guitar string, beautiful....simply beautiful.
 
Jupiter also have very good separation, listening to Bach Brandenburg concerto, each instrument has their own place, i never heard them congested even when the music is busy.
 
The treble, for me, is the star of CA Jupiter. I love hearing how cymbal is being reproduced, and the decay sounds just about perfect, not too long, not too short, it's the best treble quality I heard on IEM so far.
 
My only critics for CA jupiter (sound wise) is that on some music, it can be sound too thick, sometimes I like to eq them a bit, lowering the mid - midbass a bit so they're less warm.
 
Comparison
 
Now this is a bit hard for me, because I don't own any IEM on the same price level as CA Jupiter, so I am going to compare them with my Fostex TH-600
 
CA Jupiter vs Fostex TH-600
TLR, TH-600 is still better than CA Jupiter.
 
Ok, for me TH-600 is so special, because the treble quality is just magnificent, it's great on CA Jupiter, but still can't beat Fostex.
 
Some significant different between CA Jupiter and TH-600 is the sound signature, CA Jupiter has pretty thick mid-bass, while TH-600 is more lean in this aspect, but the sub-bass in TH-600 is definitely superior compare to CA Jupiter.
 
The mids is one area where Jupiter can beat TH-600, mids on the Jupiter sounds quite neutral in a sense that it's not elevated and fits perfectly with the overall tuning of the IEM. Mids is a bit recessed on TH-600
 
Ok this is obviously not a fair comparison, but please be advised I need to run the fostex out of dedicated tube AMP + DAC for them to sound really good, while I just ran jupiter straight out of my phone. If I listen to the Jupiter on my way to the office or home, i actually thought the Jupiter is as good as the fostex, but if compared them side-by-side then I think the Fostex is more capable technically and sonically.
 
I've tried using the Jupiter on my DAC/AMP, however it is so sensitive that I picked up so many background noise. I still can listen an enjoy the music but the noise is just too annoying, so I exclusively
use them with my LG V10, where I can't hear any noise at all.
 
Summary
 
This is the best IEM I've heard so far, if I were asked to choose 1 IEM at this point in time, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the Jupiter.
 
They are a bit pricey, but I honestly think they are worth it.
 
Simply said, if you're a treble-lover like me, and love hearing acoustic guitars, I encourage you to try CA Jupiter, I think you will find them the perfect IEM for those genre.

Campfire Audio - `Jupiter` IEM Review - Expatinjapan

 

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http://campfireaudio.com/​

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When I first saw Campfire Audio at the e-earphone show in Tokyo December 2015 I was intrigued by their IEMs, I remember being struck by the nice presentation of these chunky and weighty looking IEMs and wondering about them.
later I found out that Campfire audio was the brainchild of Ken Ball and the folks at ALO.

Blurb from their website:
 `Campfire Audio is an audio design and manufacturing company located in Portland, Oregon USA.

We began by hand-building cables and audio amplifiers as ALO Audio.  Enjoying hi-fi with our amps and cables, we use the best earphones we could get our hands on.  But as we continued to listen, we found that something was missing in what we were hearing for us.  A space existed between what we heard and what we wanted to hear. This space presented us with an opportunity to experiment.

So we began to design and build earphones in our workshop.  These were for our own use.  The aesthetics of the first pairs were rough.  But the sound exceeded our expectations. So we began to build more. Creating each pair by hand to assure the highest quality in the finished product.
We love small batch production.  Each earphone has its own character that develops in the build process.  And each earphone pair are the best sonic partners.  Left and Right earphones, paired together for life.

Campfire Audio products combine high quality components with fine craftsmanship.  Our earphones will provide you with hours of listening enjoyment. They will stand up to the rigors of daily use while performing at the highest level`.

Onto the review.

 

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Build
`Integrating four balanced armature drivers and tubeless resonator into a machined aluminum enclosure`- From the Campfire Audio website.  
Build is solid, made by hand and attractive.
They look heavy to the eye but are actually very lightweight.
precision machined, with two bore holes and connected two halves by bolts.
MMCX connectors for easy and safe cable swapping.
The cable is SPC (silver plated copper) with clear plastic connectors.
 

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Packaging and extras
Usually we let the pictures mainly speak for themselves and fold this information into the earlier build section but I was impressed with the internals and what lay inside the outer box.
 

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It comes in a simple box, a bit of a change from the some of the more bloated oversized packaging which has become fashionable lately. A good sensible size.​

 

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A lovely leather case to hold the Campfire Jupiter whilst in transit.​

 

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Assortment of extras. A 2.5mm balanced cable, silicone tips, foam tips, Comply foam tips and a manual​

 

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This detail didn`t catch my eye at first, both cable are bound by a velcro tab. A nice touch.​

 

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A sheepskin interior fitting for around a blazing Campfire and for keeping the Jupiter nice and cozy during a cold Portland winter.​

 

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The 3.5mm cable had black velcro ties.​

 

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The 2.5mm has white velcro ties.​

Sound
First impressions are after I left them to burn in overnight before I took them with me on my daily train commute. Do I believe in burn in?, I don`t really know - many readers do... so to satisfy all readers I get a number of hours on each product before review. Everybody is happy.

I was on the train listening using the Centrance Hifi Skyn DAC/amp with Flacplayer app and thought the Campfire Audio Jupiter are really resolved (whatever that actually means, I knew in my mind what I meant), the Jupiter has great resolution and then a sad thought came to mind `I don`t deserve these`.

later as usual I got 50 hours on the Campfire Audio, Jupiter IEM before commencing with my review.

Coming from reviewing several low and mid-fi products recently and then onto the Campfire Jupiter I was certainly in aural bliss, they are certainly TOTL IEMs and present a wonderful aural experience. Okay, this may hurt me more than it hurts you when the comments section comes alive...but I had never really appreciated Led Zeppelin before I heard them through the Jupiter. Now I `get` Led Zep. It really sounded amazing, unfortunately now some of less dynamic and low detailed simple music I have sounds flat and lifeless in comparison.

The Jupiter is not overly analytical but certainly has great detail, it is not cold and clinical being saved by a hint of warmth.
I really like the treble on the Jupiters, it is soft and subtle yet at the same time extended. Frequencies are enjoyable without ever having a rough edge.

I enjoyed the present and active mids on the Jupiter, I find the false dynamics of a V shaped sound draining after a period of time.  The mids are well balanced with the bass and treble, at times reaching out over the music overall. They place the listener in the middle of the music.

The vocals are represented authentically, and forward just enough without casting a shadow over the music. The Campfire Audio Jupiter has well balanced and tuned four drivers.

The bass is tight and responds fast and crisp, it is not a bass monster but it is present to an acceptable degree within the confines of the makers vision. The bass fits well within the clear and slightly forward vocals and seems to come from below, it compliments the active mids which warm the inside of your skull and has a clarity to it that matches the other end of the spectrum the highs which extend outwards from the ears.

The Campfire Audio Jupiter achieves a balance between clarity, detail accuracy, extension and warm, bass, mids and a sense of musicality without over playing either end.

It is really difficult to explain soundstage, width and height etc when it comes to the Jupiter, it is there, but it is concentrated without becoming claustrophobic.
The Jupiter seems to do a tightwalk dance where everything is centered within the middle of ones skull with the bass low at the base, mids in the middle and the highs to the sides - but balanced so they are also everywhere at once, plus with excellent instrument separation and clarity it does have a height and width, and a soundstage, but one that is concentrated and not airy as such.

A quote comes to mind `..whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere..`. this aptly describes the sensation and experience of the Jupiter IEM.

It certainly is a TOTL IEM in terms of build, fit, performance, price and sound.

Listening to music on shuffle to get random impressions of how the Jupiter responds I found it to be a good all rounder also with different music genres.
I could listen with pleasure for many hours without any hint of fatigue from the music, or discomfort from the IEMs themselves.
 

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Jupiter frequency chart supplied by Campfire Audio.​

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Fit
As with many IEMs fit depends on Tip rolling, after time and some experience one comes to know what tips work for oneself and which do not, brands and sizes.
I was surprised to find that the long foam tips already on the Jupiter seemed to work well for me, I tried a few L sized silicone and could not seem to achieve the same seal.

This is not news to any users of IEMs, most of Head Pie readers will have been through a few sets and know that with each new purchase finding the right tip is essential.

The Campfire Audio, Jupiter IEM as mentioned earlier is light, so there isn`t any uncomfortable weight to them.
They fitted comfortably in my ears, both the outer and within the ear canal. The nozzle angle is just right.
I could get a good seal and had excellent isolation.
The cable has a memory wire that one can adjust around the outer ear to achieve a snug and secure attachment.
 

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Value
The Campfire Audio Jupiter IEM retails for US$899.
Beautifully designed and manufactured to perfection.
Light and comfortable in ones ears.
Fantastic sound.
Made by a company with a long experience in the portable audio field.
If TOTL IEMs are your game the Campfire Audio, Jupiter ticks all the right boxes.
 

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Overall
The Jupiter is one of three IEMs on offer from Campfire Audio, I have not heard the other two models (Lyra and Orion) so cannot comment on any differences in sound signature and performance.

Well made by hand, build is solid, handsome looking with matching cables.
A fit that is to die for, so comfortable for me, nice and secure with minimal movement.

They are very sensitive so I had slight moments of hiss, and this may be different for each DAP as it is with all IEMs of this caliber so test them out with your gear first to check the synergy.

The sound is fantastic, beautifully presented, tuned and balanced across various musical genres. It has a generally flat response which reproduces most music authentically and accurately.

As with most multi-driver IEMs the Jupiter suits a source with a low output impedance and a low gain setting to retain a correct response that the designers intended.

The Campfire Audio Jupiter as their flagship IEM certainly has earned that place respectfully, a superbly built, engineered and tuned masterpiece, beautiful to behold and wonderful to hear.
 
*Thank you to Campfire Audio for this review sample.
 
First published on www.headpie.net

Pros: great all-round sound signature, comfortable (with right fit), detailed and rich sound quality
Cons: can be quite sibilant, expensive, microphonic cable, fit dependant on tips
 
Disclaimer:
I received this Campfire Jupiter as part of the Australian/New Zealand tour that ALO Audio/Ken Bell arranged. This is my honest opinion of the Campfire Jupiter, and I am in no way affiliated with or work for ALO Audio. Thanks to @d marc0 for organising this and letting me join in a little late.
 
In addition, this review will not focus on technical aspects of the equipment. Rather I will focus on their representation of music to me. My enjoyment or boredom, bliss or disappointment with the equipment. Think of it as an emotional review.
 
Introduction:
 
OK, so I told myself last year – “just get back to Head-Fi, find a suitable setup, and leave…” I’m still here, after realising that the community had matured so much since last decade, yep 2009! The ability to now take part in tours and auditions opened up a whole new world of experiences. Now I was able to test out some great equipment, without the commitment, it’s like Friends with Benefits.
 
Thus far I have been given the opportunity to review the Aune X1S, Jays q-Jays and the Campfire Orions. This time round, I was given the opportunity to take some more IEMs for a spin – introducing the Campfire Jupiter in-earphones
 
Official product page: https://www.campfireaudio.com/jupiter/
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hardware:
 
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Like the Orions, the Campfire box carries its signature “lost in space” box, and the Jupiter’s sitting cosy in the fur-lined carry case.
 

 
The contents of the box included:

1. Campfire Jupiter IEM ear pieces
2. MMCX terminated, silver-plated IEM Cable (1.35m) with gold-plated 3.5mm L-plug (2x)
3. Tips:
   1. 3 pairs of Comply TX 400 tips (S, M, L)
   2. 3 pairs of foam tips (S, M, L)
   3. 3 pairs of silicon tips (S, M, L)
4. Cleaning tool
5. Carry case
6. Campfire Audio logo pin
7. User guide

 
RRP: $899 USD (~$1,250 AUD)
 
 
 
 
 
BUILD & DESIGN
There’s not much more I can add from my write-up of the Orions build and design. There is a distinct craftsman ship that Campfire Audio have now defined. Again, in their words “four balanced armature drivers and tubeless resonator in a machined aluminium enclosure”. These things are solid, I am pretty sure you could easily drive over them (not that I did…!)
 
 
 
 
 
 
TECH SPECS
Driver: Four Balanced Armature Drivers
Impedance: 30 OHM @ 1 KHZ
Sensitivity:  114 DB SPL/MW
Frequency Response: 10 HZ – 28K HZ
  
About Me:
 
As with any tour or review, these are my opinions and observations with the Campfire Orion and my hardware. For the purpose of this audition, I used the following equipment –
Source: iPod Classic/iPhone 6S using a mixture of Apple Lossless and MP3 files
Amplifier/DAC: HeadAmp Pico Portable Amp/DAC
Headphones: 1964Ears V3 (for comparison)
 
My taste in music is quite peculiar and focuses heavily on heavy metal – in all forms (from death to Viking, from prog to heavy, from Pagan to Mongolian!). A majority of my listening was with bands such as Iron Maiden, Fallujah, and Caligula’s Horse & Ne Obliviscaris. However, I still enjoy a variety of genres, so also included Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Classical.
 

 
 
The Listening Experience:
 
Music listened to for this review:
Idina Menzel (female vocal)
Delta Goodrem (female vocal)
Opeth (progressive metal)
Fallujah (atmospheric technical death metal)
Ne Obliviscaris (progressive black metal)
Gojira (technical death metal)
Caligula’s Horse (progressive rock)
Hans Zimmer (soundtrack)
 
My initial impressions were:
Bass: beautifully controlled but are full impact
Highs: female vocals are brilliant but the sibilance can hit hard
Comments: at first listen, I was blown-away. After the Orion’s, I was worried Campfire Audio would not be suited for the fast and complex Metal I listen to, but the Jupiter changed that!
Comments: wow, this are fantastic. They literally took all my genres and just did some pagan magick!
 
I stared at Microsoft Word for over half an hour listening to these IEMs before I could even figure out how to objectively write about these IEMs, without fanboying all over the place. But I just couldn’t – these IEMs are phenomenal! They absolutely blow me away. Considering how dismal the Orions were for some of the quicker and more complex metal songs I had in my review playlist, the Jupiters filled that gap. But that is expected when you jump from Entry Level to near Flagship/TOTL level. From one driver to FIVE!
 
Kicking off with some Ne Obliviscaris, the Jupiters portrayed the complex progressive black metal as I expect the band intended. Quick guitars and drums, and the exchange of death growls and soprano usually leave headphones and earphones struggling. The Jupiters not only kept up with the speed and complexity, but managed to provide great instrument separation and a sparse soundstage.
 
From pop to classical, from soundtrack to obscure metal the Jupiter’s continued to perform without any fault. I tried to find a way to fault these, I thought that I’d be able to run a genre though and find something wrong, but I just couldn’t. Aside from one tiny setback with sibilance on some vocal tracks like Delta Goodrem & Idina Menzel, although that didn’t wholly ruin the listening experience.
 
In terms of the IEMs themselves – fit/isolation was fantastic, although they are dependent on the tips. I had a couple of issues with fit at the start, but after trying a few variations I managed to settle on the large foam. The cables were also quite microphonic, every time I moved around or adjusted my glasses I could hear noise. However, none of these totally hampered my listening experience.
 

 
 
Value & Conclusion:
These are spectacular earphones, to date possible the best set of IEMs I’ve experienced. The sound signature fit my genre to a T, and I felt myself wanting to listen to music more and more with these. My only qualm is how expensive these are, but that could be said with our hobby in general. If these came in a custom moulded variation for the same price, I would confidently consider these good value. However, as a universal model, the price (especially when converted to AUD) is a bit over the high-end.
 
The worst part of reviewing technology like this, is wanting to keep them after you spend a week with them. I’ve only experienced this a couple of times, and now the Jupiter’s are on the list of “oh I wish I could just keep them”. They are fantastic, and I don’t doubt that if you buy these, you will not be let down.
 
Like the planets of the solar system, the Jupiter’s sound is as big as its namesake.
 
Thanks again to ALO, Ken and Mark for the opportunity to take these for a spin!
 

Hey all.
 
I have recently been fortunate enough to be invited to partake in the Australian sisterhood of Campfire Audio product reviews.  I am humbled and generally stoked to get my hands on some products I would otherwise not be able to afford/listen to in return for my honest opinions.  I have plenty of these so seems like a no brainer to me.
 
I will be keeping this review in the same format as my Lyra review, in aid of consistency and laziness.
 
First cab off the rank for me in this tour was the Lyra and I had some mixed thoughts on the dynamic offering by Campfire.  This was concerning as usually I am a fan of dynamic driver iems, however it just didn’t quite check the boxes for me.  I am happy to put to record that the Jupiter left me much more impressed than the Lyra and we will get to why as we go. 
 
Packaging:
 
** **
 
To me, personally I hate the packaging.  Just like the Lyra, it’s a colourful image of space. It is odd, because I actually like the imagery I just like my packaging minimalistic.  This however has no baring what so ever on the product its self and lets face it, no one is going to buy a $1400au IEM based on the cardboard box it comes in.
 
Accessories:
 
** **
 
WOW WOW WOW.  Once again.  I fell instantly in love with the portable receptacle.  Made from leather, a beautiful tan colour which I can only imagine will look better and better with age like my wallet.  Which would be empty if my credit card was not shared with my wife and master of finances.  I have a thing for leather and wood when it comes to headphones/life in general.  It is the smell and texture and the way it ages.
As the case is the same as that provided with the Lyra “The zip is solid, no fear of wrecking this sucker.  But it is when the zip is open the magic happens.  A majestic opening of automated fashion follows presenting you with the IEMs safely and comfortably perched upon lambs wool.  Like a quality seat cover, I wanted to get in there and snuggle.” – Scott 2016
In addition to the carry case you are provided a set of comply tips in 3 sizes, some silicone tips, some IEMs and the usual kit.   Not an overwhelming amount of accessories compared to something from RHA, however everything you need is there and what is there is of high quality.
 
 
Aesthetics:
 
Cable:   First off, lets talk a little about the cable.  I would have been horribly disappointed had I opened up an IEM from ALO and been presented with a generic Epic style cable.  Let me be clear, I was not disappoint.
The cable is of the tinsel variant and it is just so pliable.  It is super thin, super light and super comfortable.  It also looks sexy as hell.
The only issue I take with the cable is it does tangle VERY easily.  However there are little Velcro do-dads that come with the iems when packaged new that actually work very well and neatly to remedy this.
 
Body:  The shells are built like a tank.  The are made from aluminium this time in favour of ceramic, and while the ceramic of the Lyra felt rock solid, there seems to me to be a little more heft to the Jupiter and personally I like this.  Perhaps it is in my head, but they just feel more sturdy.
 
 
But what about that sound?:
 
I must say that I prefer these to the Lyra by a margin.  While usually I would be drawn to the general tuning of the Lyra over the Jupiter, I felt that the refinement I was looking for in the Lyra was present in the Jupiter.  It has such a smooth and gentle presentation.  It manages to be very delicate.  I liken it to the IE800 in this regard.  No they do not sound the same, however both have a airy, sparkly top end yet it isn’t shrill or fatiguing, it is somehow delivered in a soft delicate way without rolling off or being dark.  I really really appreciate this as I listen to a lot of metal and heavy rock, and while you want the detail up top, it can get your eye twitching with other headphones with similar treble quantities.  No such issue on the Jupiter.
 
The sound stage is intimate, but not cramped.  I found it presented vocals on most studio tracks front and centre with instruments placed appropriately around, however compared to iems like the Tralucent Ref1 which seemingly places you in a concert hall, the Jupiter is more like a storage closet.  Ok perhaps a closet from Dr Who or Harry Potter.  Everything seems appropriately placed and 3d without being “out of head” or alternatively 2 dimensional.
 
Instrument separation was a funny one for me with this iem.  Personally I found the separation to be exceptional.  To its own detriment.  I know others will have differing views, kind of the beauty and trap of this hobby, however I found at times that things sounded so well separated that the sense of musicality was lost.  I could clearly hear a guitar, a bass, a keyboard, drums, vocals.  At times however I felt like while I could hear all of these things so well that I was listening to them individually and not to the combined resulting music.
I quickly scoffed at myself for considering this a negative and put no further thought to it, however I think it subconsciously contributed to my lack of musical enjoyment with the Jupiter.  Ok so that’s harsh.  I enjoyed them, however compared to iems I own, I found myself always critically listening and not getting lost or enjoying the music.
 
Bass: The bass to me is perfect BA bass.  Its elevated, but tight and stays well within the realms of bass and seldom journeys north.  There is plenty of punch and to my ears, more than enough extension to exceed my hearing capability.
The bump in bass however, is placed higher in the bass range where it is most audible to us humans.  While the sub-bass extension is plenty for me, the bass is tapered back to a more neutral level.  To this end I actually prefer the bass presentation of the IE800, which is a little elevated in mid bass, however most of the bass boost is sub bass.  Meaning it doesn’t impose upon recordings that do not need the boost, sounding cleaner, however on tracks with sub bass, generally electronic tracks boy does it kick from seemingly nowhere.  That said, the IE800 is a dynamic driver, thus the comparison is somewhat unfair.  The bass is very very well presented on the Jupiter.  It is not of bass head levels, however I am a bass head and was more than happy with its balance in conjunction with the rest of the presentation.
 
Mids: The mids, like the Lyra but less so, are a little back in the mix.  They are however perfect to my tastes.  Smooth, not brash or aggressive, they are just there.  Like the overall sound of the Jupiter, the mids are gentle, soft.  There is no Grado here.
While the mids are somewhat behind the elevated bass and soon to be discussed elevated highs, there is a bump in the upper mids around the vocal area.  I do not know which frequency, I do not have Freq ears, however the vocals always dance along the top of the mids.  Somehow this is done sans any vocal sibilance, which is both impressive and welcomed.  Every other headphone or IEM that I have heard that achieves this vocal presence results in a left eye twitch from me.  The Noble Savant was an example of this.  I LOVED its presentation.  It was almost euphoric at times, however the bump in the frequency response that caused this amazing sound, also resulted in fatigue for me.
While the Jupiter lacks the emotion of the Savant, it manages to really throw those voices without the ill effects.  10 points to Gryffindor.
 
Highs:  Just like the Lyra, the highs on the Jupiter are elevated.  However I find the highs this time around to be more refined.  They are very ‘light’.  It doesn’t sound thin but neither do they sound hard.  They are very much like the highs of the IE800 to me in how they are presented.  Bags of details, not a hint of harshness.  The only issue I take with the highs is sometimes the emphasis in the treble can make some instruments sound slightly artificial.  I say slightly, I have heard far far worse.
 
 
Comparison:
 
IE800:  Let me start by saying I love both.  I will also say that I still give the nod to the IE800 for my preferences.  However I would buy the Jupiter before the IE800.  Namely because for me there isn’t that much in it sound wise and the comfort of fit and accessories to me make the Jupiter a stellar choice. 
 
The bass of the IE800 hits harder and lower, resulting in a cleaner mid bass, more slam in the sub bass and being dynamic more visceral.
 
The mids on both are polite, back in the mix and not that dis-similar, however I would give the nod to the Jupiter for its vocal boost without any other nasties being introduced.
 
The Highs on both sound quite similar, however the nod going to the IE800 this time due to a more natural sound.
 
The soundstage is more vast on the IE800.  It really does throw a soundstage comparable to a closed can.  I actually liked the more intimate sound of the Jupiter, particularly with its separation capability.  However the IE800 is simply a freak in this regard.
 
Fitment and ergonomics however, well that is a different story.  If you plan on replacing your cable, moving your head, walking, sneezing, blinking, chewing, clicking your fingers, then I suggest you go with the Jupiter, as you will find yourself adjusting/putting the IE800 back in your ears.  The IE800 is truly horrible in this regard and I have no idea what Sennheiser were thinking.
 
 
 
Astell&Kern Rosie:  Last time I compared the Lyra to the Savant.  In keeping apples for apples (price wise) I thought why not compare the $1399 Rosie to the $1399 Jupiter.
So I will say now I love my Rosie.  I would buy it over the Jupiter, however its not as simple as that.
 
Bass:  The Jupiter has more bass than the Rosie on her default setting of zero.  The Rosie bass is tighter, but leaner and faster.  In this position I prefer the Jupiter.  Its slightly slower decay almost makes it sound dynamic compared to the Faster Rosie.
With the bass dial turned up though, I run mine at 2 O’Clock, the Rosie becomes more impactful.  The sound richens up and really adds some body to the low end and presents nicely.
To be honest, even when using the Rosie to my preferences, I would be on the fence as to which to pick from a bottom end perspective.
 
Mids:  The mids on the Jupiter are soft and polite and set back in the mix.  The mids on the Rosie are more aggressive and more in line with the presentation.  In the default position of 0 on the Rosie, I find the mids too thin.  While I find the mids ever so slightly too polite on the Jupiter, I would prefer this to a thin sounding midrange.  Again, after turning the dial to 2 O’Clock on the Rosie, it really beefs up the lower midrange (not bloats) and adds some more body and texture to the midrange, resulting in a favourable midrange for my preferences.  By comparison the midrange on the Jupiter can lack emotion and interest.  With exception of course to the vocal focus on the Jupiter.  The Rosie presents vocals within the music, Jupiter really wants you to hear them seemingly out front.  Whether this is a good thing is entirely up to you.
 
Highs:  This is where things get subjective… Ok ok MORE subjective.  Spoiler alert, I like a darker presentation.
The highs on the Jupiter are more pronounced, clearer, smoother and more refined.  There is a nice sparkle to them and they sound incredibly delicate while achieving this.  All of this at the cost of sounding a little artificial at times.
The highs on the Rosie are slightly dark when comparing to the Mids and Bass.  However they are far from the likes of the ASG2.5 or Ref1 to my ears.  If you were to a/b the ASG2.5 and the Rosie, the Rosie would seem bright.
So the Jupiter is brighter in the highs than the Rosie, the Rosie being darker, however I find neither harsh or too emphasized for different reasons.  The Jupiter is emphasized but delicate, the Rosie is dark but slightly rougher around the edges (But sounds more natural).
I would be in a pickle to pick which I prefer.
 
So….
 
Which would I buy?  For me, the Rosie.  And luckily for me I did before I heard the Jupiter and I am still happy with my decision.
 
Things to consider though:
 
Do you want to be able to change the signature?  If not, that is a big plus of the Rosie gone. 
Do you have small ears?  The Jupiter is a very small iem and while the Rosie is the smallest of the JH Universal range, it is pretty huge.  As a result the Jupiter is also by far more comfortable overall.
Do you prefer a darker bass driven sound or a more delicate easy on the ear detailed sound?
I would never consider one the these better than the other, they are both phenomenal iem’s and I would gladly recommend either.  So there you go, I am fence sitting.  DAMN IT!
 
Conclusion:

I think ALO/Campfire Audio have really stepped the Jupiter up a notch in SQ from the Lyra and produced something that sounds pretty dang amazing, sturdy, Beautiful, sleek.  They have accessorised it with quality items and packaged all that goodness up in a horribly ugly cardboard box.  I had some issues with the Lyra’s asking price considering its sound quality, and mentioned that I think it was its build and accessories carrying the price, I have no such quibbles with the Jupiter.  I think it holds its own against its peers and in this case, the build and accessories are a compelling additional bonus.
 
Excellent work ALO/Campfire audio.  Its an amazing iem.
 
Peace.

Hi everyone, Before I start the review, I would like to thank Campfire Audio for making this awesome IEM, and also to d marc0 for inviting me in the tour.
 
NOTES
 
The aesthetic and design is almost the same as the Orion apart from the color on the housing, since that is the case, the "Fit, Comfort and ease of use" & "BUILD QUALITY" is the same as in my Orion review, so if you have read that one, you can skip through to the "Sound Quality" section.
 
INTRODUCTION
I'm an Indonesian working as a Web Developer in Melbourne, Australia.
Other than programming/coding, listening to music is another one of my hobby, when I start my headphone hobby, music listening has been a very rewarding experience for me, although a bit pricey on my wallet >_<.
Starting from about a year ago I've been really hooked by metal music, and nowadays my everyday music listening always incorporate metal tracks although I also listen to other genres.
 
I don't actually listen to all kinds of music, lets say for example Classical, therefore it is important to understand that this review of the Jupiter is based on my observation on the kinds of musics I like, and those are mainly:
- Metal
- Pop
- EDM
- Jazz
- Indonesian Song (it's basically the Indonesian version of pop, guitar used is mostly acoustic guitar, sounds natural and relaxing however, mastering of the song is usually poor, this is good to test how good a headphone/Iem handle poorly recorded material)
 
I used the Jupiter for all my music listening everyday for 10 days using the chord mojo in almost everything I do (I tried it out using iphone 4 too!), and for this period I feel very satisfied with it's performance The performance and clarity is excellent and I think the sound signature is perfect for metal or rock.
 
Packaging and Accessories
The box is made from some kind of carton with an out of space theme kinda thing for the coloring, goes a long very well with the IEM name, there is also a paper sticker printed with the logo, name of the IEM and a very brief description of what the IEM is. the sticker also acts as a seal to the paper box.
Inside the paper box we have:
- A hard Sided carrying case with a light brown leather material with a soft fluffy kinda material on the inside to protect the iem.
- The iem itself, with the cable attached on it (most likely 1.2m in length, silvery color).
- an extra cable
- some kind of cable management strap thingy(2 of them in black color).
- multiple types of tips with size option (small, medium, large)
- documentations
- cleaning tool
 
Fit, Comfort and ease of use
I've always have issues with fits as my ear canal has a significant differences in size. This makes it hard to find a good tips that will sound nice, consistent and comfortable on my ears however, with the inclusion of the comply foam tips in the box, the fit is becoming less of a problem as the foam tips helps a lot with the fit(a very thoughtful inclusion).
 
The iem itself has and edgy design however this does not bother me, My Ear feel perfectly find after hours of use.

The unit itself has some weight to it, I can actually feel the weight on my hand when I hold onto it although once you put in the iem and play some music I doubt you will be bothered by the weight, considering the weight most likely comes from the iem housing made using a CNC aluminum housing, I feel perfectly happy with the weight, also aluminum just looks so much better than plastic in terms of look, I had a few of my friends say that the IEM looks nice on the ears and doesn't feel cheap, many other more expensive IEM use plastic, I think the use of aluminum is a step in the right direction providing more protection and classier looks.
 
The cable though is not very satisfactory for me, it has a nice looks on it and not bulky, but it is microphonic and tangled easily, Imagine the hassle that you have to do this everytime you take it out from the case.
 
The Isolation is superb, I used it a couple of times in the train and it blocks most of the noise just fine.
 
BUILD QUALITY
The build Quality on The Jupiter is excellent, it has a more classier looks then some of the 1000 dollar IEM out there.
The housing looks nice with the gold finish and I feel comfortable with the protection it provides.
 
The cable has an angled ends which adds to the longevity of the cable, I also like the fact that it has a detachable cable, I didn't try to detach it, but this will be a very good safety insurance for some people, as it can be replaced easily if something happens to it, and it will detach when a lot of pressure is applied to the cable.
 
The positioning of the Y split is perfect for me, not too high not too low. Other than that for people who likes to invest on some high quality cables and wants to change the microphonic cables this will be a very welcoming addition.
This is an over ear type IEM, therefore provides better ergonomics than cable down style.
 
SOUND QUALITY
The Signature
In my opinion the sound signature of The Jupiter is a u shaped tuning, expect this to has a lot of high quality bass and well extended treble.

The mids is not exactly recess however, I can't deny that most of the time the bass and treble gives a more immediate presentation than the mids.

I Feel that it has a smoothing feature at the upper mids, reducing the attacks of percusionist instrument but this will help with listening fatigue in a longer listening session.
 
Other important Aspects
For me the amount of bass is plenty since I'm not exactly a basshead, however it is never overpowering or bleeds into the mids, very nicely implemented extended punchy bass, I never tried the SE846, but from all the IEM I have tried The Jupiter probably has the punchiest bass , the treble is very extended and hasa  slight hint of airiness to it, it is sparkly, energetic and engaging yet at the same time smooth and very well extended.
 
mids is very well done, a little recessed but it blends together with the bass and treble.
Soundstage is larger than the Orion, Instrument separation and imaging is also improved.
 
The Bass
The bass sound's tight and there is lots of it in my opinion (not a basshead). It is quite punchy, I listen primarily to metal and the bass helps a lot, The bass reach deeps, hits hard, and well textured with no boominess in it whatsoever.
 
the bass extension is excellent in my opinion, you will notice straight away that the drum hits hard and extend all the way down low, especially if you listen to the Orion before, it is not a thick sound bass but it is not thin either, the thickness is just right and it adds to the musicality to it.
 
The bass is very well controlled and never bleeds into the mids, the transition from the bass to lower mids to mids is excellent and sound clean with enough quantity, and I think the quantity is enough for almost about everyone unles the said person is a basshead.
 
The Mids
The mids is also excellent but most often gets overshadowed by the beautiful treble and bass, it is certainly detailed and smooth sounding, Make note that It is not a lush mid in any way and I feel that the upper mid is tuned down to reduce the sharp sounds that an acoustic instrument sometimes emit. This smoothing has a positive and negatives for me.
 
The positives is that the mids sound smoother and not fatigueing, I had no problem with sibilance as well. A lot of times I had this on during my work for hours and does not feel fatigue at all, and this is of course a good thing.
 
The negative to this implementation is that some acoustic instrument loos some bite to its sound, Electric guitar(depending on how they tune it) sometimes sounds like there is something missing, for example for Dragonforce tracks that has a speedy and high electric guitar notes lose their bites and this in my opinion means that the IEM do some alteration of how the guitar should normally sound.
For most general use case though it is barely noticeable, so this is definitely not a deal breaker for this IEM, this features do more positives then negatives in my opinion.
 
I prefer the sound of male vocalist on this IEM rather than the female, both sounds great on this but I think the way the tuning works in this IEM helps the male voice more hence it sounds better then the female, however when you listen to a vocalist like Dido, Adele, Amy Lee, etc. they just sound awesome on this, I feel that the singer's emotion is being represented very well by the mids in this iem.
The female voice also sounds nice and natural but when the singer hits high notes, it sounds smooth and silky with a good extension.

but to my preference in my opinion the male voice sounds more optimize on this IEM.
 
The Trebble
Treble is not harsh and very present in the music, it is very easy to notice the cymbal hits, extension is excellent and I believe this is the main highlight of this IEM, It is smooth, very articulate, sparkly and has excellent extension.
 
I never heard THis IEM sound harsh in any way, this IEM sounds clean and clear in the treble.
I feel no fatigue after a long listening period(4 hours+), the treble sound smooth but at the same time is very detailed and well extended.
 
Minor Notes:
Comparisons with Orion:
I got my Jupiter a few days before I write this review, the jupiter is about 3x the price of the orion, obvously Jupiter will have better technicalities, but Orion is still good for the money, here are some key differences to the Orion from Jupiter's perspective:
- V shaped signature
- more bass Quantity and quality, bass has more extension, meatier and hits harder
- more treble Quantity but still smooth and not fatigueing, more detailed, sparkly, energetic and way more extended (this and the bass is the main upgrade IMO)
- mids is more recessed but still sounds good, I like the orion mids better
- better instrument separation
- the slight congestion issue I mentioned before is almost gone
- soundstage is larger from the Orion
- It is more airy
- better Instrument separation and imaging.
 
SUMMARY
This is a great IEM with a great tuning that will suit modern music genres and also rocks/Metal and probably rap, sound quality is excellent and althougb u-shaped, I can still see people call this neutral depending on your perspective, but for me this is U-shaped. If I want to nitpick, the downside of this IEM is the price, I think it is a little bit expensive, but we all know that the law of diminishing return hits hard and we have to pay to get the best.
 
I want to give a thumbs up to Campfire Audio for putting up this awesome IEM in such an affordable price.
 
Closure
Thank you for reading guys, feel free to give some inputs so that I can make a better review next time.
I hope you guys get some insight and information about the Jupiter from this review ^_^

 
Disclaimer
 
This unit was in my possession for about 10 days as part of the local tour. I'd like to thank Campfire Audio and @d marc0 for organizing and including me in this tour.
 
I listen at relatively high volume level, so my impressions will be based on this. Please be aware that there might be variations in impressions at different volume and issues present on different volume level may/may not exist on this product.
 
Package
 
- Campfire Audio Jupiter with removable stock cable
- TRRS Balanced cable
- x3 difference sizes of silicone tips
- x3 difference sizes of foam tips
- x3 difference sizes of Comply tips
- Campfire Audio pin
- Cleaning tool
- Information booklet
- Leather carry case 
- Cardboard box
 

 
The beautiful carry case is made with nuback leather, and is padded out with wool-like furry lining on the inside. It has more than enough space inside for the Jupiter plus a few accessories and once zipped closed it provides hard case protection on the outside and shock absorbent n the inside. 
 
A TRRS Balanced cable for 2.5mm balance output is included, a nice addition for those looking to get the most out of the IEM.
 
*As this is a tour unit what are included inside the package might vary from current retail standard. 
 
Design and Usability
 
The Jupiter utilises CNC aluminum for the shells. There is no questioning of its build quality that it is built to last once you hold it in your hands. Looking at the precise yet smooth to the touch curves and angles mirrored on both the housings, you know that they meant business. Isolation is great for a universal and the passive noise reduction achieved is plenty for those looking to block out external noise. It may look a bit industrial and beefy at first glance, but once worn is comfortable and flush enough without sticking out too much, and I could wear it for few hours on end without getting ear pains.
 
The included removable MMCX cables are ALO tinsel cables, which usually have to be bought separately as upgrade cables. It swivels with movement to provide greater flexibility and comfort. It has memory wire and a clear plastic tube as a chin slider. The cable is robust and does not tangle easily. Only gripe would be that microphonics is evident and would do with the inclusion of a shirt clip to secure it.
 
 


 
Sound Impressions
 
Drive-ability: 
 
The Jupiter was easy enough to drive with my phone and Cayin N6, and it did not require any amping to sound substantially better.
 
Sound:
 
Overall the Campfire Audio Jupiter has a very mass-appealing engaging sound signature with a hint of warmth. They are not neutral but well-balanced such that they compensate to make everything sound right. One thing to note though is some coherency issues whereby on fast tracks it would tend to lose focus and appear sluggish and clashing. 
 

 

Bass has great rumbling texture. Details is in abundance, extension reaches deep down and provides enough impact where required, though obviously still not capable of replicating the amount of air pushed and the naturalness that typical dynamic drivers would exhibit. Bass speed is not on par with the rest and suffers in fast paced music. The mids is a tad dark and veiled for my liking. It has the right amount of detail, but felt subdued and held back in terms of clarity, weight and fullness. The treble is extended with plenty of details yet surprisingly smooth without exhibiting sibilance or harshness. Still, despite the extended highs it could do with a bit more airiness and this gives off a kind of unnaturalness. The soundstage is of decent width and depth, where instruments are placed and easily picked out in a oval-shaped 3-dimensional dome. Imaging and separation are quite good given the adequate space with excellent transparency and layering.

 

Ratings & Conclusion

As Head-Fi shows overall ratings for the audio gear instead of my own, here is a snapshot of what I have rated:

 

 
There is no denying that the Jupiter is masterfully tuned with just quad BA drivers instead of going for more drivers. It goes to show that the number of drivers in today's seemingly ever expanding drivers war is not the only factor in determining if the IEM in question will sound great or not. It is clear that Campfire Audio is serious about making a lasting impression for its first foray into the IEM world and should be applauded for putting so much details into the whole package, from the sound, build, cable, down to the accessories. 
 

 
 
           
 
 
A few weeks ago on Head-fi forums I was approached to home audition the new Campfire Audio line up as they circulate around Australia. I'd like to first thank d macr0 and Campfire Audio for the opportunity to hear these new (very interesting) in-ear monitors.
 
Campfire Audio began building hand made cables and amplifiers known as ALO Audio, they have now extended stretching out into the ever growing world of IEMs. The in-ear montior we'll be looking at today is a quad driver configuration, similar driver count to that found inside Westone 4 and newer Westone 40.
 
Campfire Jupiter
 
Website: http://campfireaudio.com/
 
Price: $899 USD
 
 
Packaging:
 
On arrival Jupiter came inside quite a loud colorful looking box. For some reason the colour scheme reminds me of the computer game Bioshock. Its not overly heavy or double folded which makes the entire unboxing light weight and easy. Very simplistic box, with a fancy paint job that gels well with the line up.
 

 
 
 
 
Accessories:
 
Inside you will find a rather well-made leather carry case padded out with sheep wool on the inside, its a real eye catcher my family members thought was quite awesome. The case has a zipper which closes perfectly and there's adequate room inside to store the IEMs and a few tips. Its a nice case.
 

 
 
 
There's an assortment of tips, mainly foam are included as I've been told Campfire believe their IEMs sound best with foam tips, Campfire have gone the distance including some genuine Comply tips as well. Can't say I used any myself as I defaulted straight to silicon. They do include some silicon tips however if you wish to use them. There's also a quick start guide / warranty pamphlet which shows you the specs of Jupiter, a “Fit “Guide” written out and some care instructions.
 
Other things you will notice inside the accessories are a spare cable which is marvelous to see and what appears to be a shirt pin displaying the Campfire logo! (fancy stuff)
 

 
 
 
Design / Build:
 
Moving onto the housings they're CNC aluminum which is attractive to the eye. Each curve and angle is extremely precise due to the milling machine used, you will honestly not find any error between the mirror image housings. Areas like the nozzle have been polished as you peer at the two drilled sound ports heading deep inside each housing. The housings will swivel with their MMCX connected cable to provide greater angle of insertion/wearing. The cables are also detachable which is a big plus for long term durablity.
 

 
 
Each housing weighs around 7 grams with the cable attached so they're keeping the weight down which increases comfort. They also appear very strong due to the material used, you could drop them without too much concern with maybe just some slight marking to the surface. A set of flashy gold screws hold the faceplate on which adds a nice touch in combination with the MMCX connections.
 
 

 
 
 
The cables are actually ALO tinsel cables so they're already of great quality and performance. I must say the cables are quite flexible and limited microphonics could be found. The clear transparent 3.5mm jack was one of the impressive features for me, really caught my eye when first inspecting Campfires cables. The MMCX plugs are also clear in colour and very well match the earpieces of Jupiter. A neat metal Y-Spilt can be found with a neat cable cinch for adjustments.
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Fit / Isolation:
 
Fitting Jupiter for me was a breeze, the housing appeared to be almost molded for my ears which is excellent to see. I simply selected my favorite silicon tip, plopped them in and they instantly sealed to my ear with great comfort, very little to complain about here and I praise the housing design which may not look so user-friendly on first glance.
 

 
 
 
Sound Quality:
 
Sources Used:
 

1. Cayin N6
2. iBasso DX80
3. iBasso DX90

 
Files:
 

1. 16/44 FLAC

 
 
 
Overall tonality:
 
Jupiter can come across as quite a smooth sounding IEM around the mid-range, there's a certain presence of warmth around it which makes the overall presentation non-fautiging however for those who prefer vibrancy, crystal clear clarity and an upper mid-range push you won't find that here. In some ways the tonality reminds me of a slightly more lively Westone 4, but you'll always have what I call a 'safety veil' which makes the entire sound slightly smoothed over and a little blunt. The mid-rangte is also quite thick and can come across a little creamy.
 
For a reference point I do prefer a brighter sound from the get go.
 
 
Bass:
 
Starting off with a wonderful track Phaeleh – Afterglow, as the bass comes in its quite strong and greatly textured, it can sure reach down deep, but what's special is the texture surrounding it, really gives a great amount of well rounded clarity you can can 'feel' from the low-end. Moving onto some faster paced pop the music the bass can lack a little in speed and sound a little loose but for most parts is well rounded low-end which can reach low, and with the right recording express that pleasing texture.
 
Mids:
 
Its areas like the mid-range Jupiter and I start to leave each other. While I can hear a nice amount of detail and sufficent clarity from the mids I just can't shake the safety veil we mentioned in the tonality section previously. I am used to an IEM that can scream out crystal clear clarity (for example the Tralucent hybrids), but due to the warmth around Jupiter's mid-range it can sound subdued or held back much of the time. If I let myself adjust we can reach closer where I want to be but never quite touch it.
 
This isn't a fault of the IEM more so the way my personal preferences deal with this situation. My ears are used to the brightish and ultra revealing detail/clarity of a high strung balanced armature, when I don't hear it in Jupiter we disagree with each other. What one wants, compared to what the other gives does not align.
 
Another small issue I found was running some faster-paced pop songs. Using my Aurisonics ASG-2 as the A/B specimen (quite a warm toned IEM itself) I was detecting some coherency issues at louder volume where Jupiter would become confused or lose its fluentness. The Aurisonics hybrid on the other hand did not express this same behavior, It held great posture creating a large wall of thick easy to comprehend music. So this is one area I was a little underwhelmed at Jupiter's performance for the price.
 
 
Treble:
 
Treble and I get along wonderfully well, its clean reasnably extended and refined, it does a good job of showing its face infront of the mid-range and being a little brighter overall . It adds a nice amount of air to the presentation but still not quite enough for me to be lost in the music and show the detail it could be capable of.
 
 
Separation / Soundstage:
 
Soundstage width is good, though I have wider from a lesser priced IEM in the past, it does a decent job of making the presentation expand without feeling closed in. I do wish for more air in the presentation as along with the thick warm mids Jupiter can sound a little foggy at times, a little cumbersome on the brain. Separation was more than adequate and does its job nicely.
 
 
Conclusion:
 
What we have is a wonderfully built IEM, one that takes advantage of materials and technology to create something beautifully eye-catching, durable and a real 'head turner', all of this I totally admire from Jupiter. At the other end of the scale while the sound isn't bad I don't personally feel Jupiter's signature is anywhere near my desired preferences, because of this we don't see eye to eye. When I consider the price of Jupiter and areas like the coherency issues I do slightly question the high price tag of this earphone compared to some competition in its field.
 
I can however, appreciate what Campfire have produced on their first attempt and congratulate them for trying to put a new name out there in this rapidly increasing IEM world. Personally, I'd like to hear something more analytical from them, release the clarity these balanced armatures are capable of in the mid-range rather than the overly safe tuning I found today. Of course, at the end of the day preferences always vary, just because Jupiter doesn't sit with me doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, its a nice sounding IEM, not 'amazing'.
 
I'd like to thank Campfire Audio and d marc0 one again for the Australian tour.

I would like to start off by saying that I am by no means an expert on technically evaluating audio equipment.  I am just a guy who likes music, movies and anything to do with audio equipment.   I do however own more than a handful of IEM'S and headphones along with DAC'S, preamps, and headphone amps.  I've been obsessed with audio for over 15 years, but it's never been more than a hobby.  So I don't have the technical knowledge, like so many of the authors of reviews I have read on Head-Fi.  I just want to share how these have impacted me emotionally.  (and they've made a pretty big impact)
 
I bought the Campfire Jupiter earphones the other day after seeing them online and reading the handful of reviews that exist right now.  I was very impressed by what others were saying about them and by the build quality of the Jupiter.  It was plain to see that countless hours had gone into building the entire Campfire lineup.  It's the first time, in a very long time, that a new earphone really got my heart pumping.  So I pulled the trigger and bought me a pair.
 
When the Jupiters showed up at my house I was even more impressed by them in person.  The feel of them in the hand is an experience all by itself.  Not only are they better built than any other IEM's that I've seen, the look alone is breathtaking.  Even the cables are something special.  They look and feel kind of like shiny steel cable, but they are soft on the skin and very flexible. 
 
The one thing that worried me about the Jupiter was the size.  I was afraid that they would be heavy and bulky, which would lead to  discomfort and fatigue while listening to them.  But, once I put them on, my fear was replaced with happiness.  (And, at this point, I hadn't even listened to them.)
 
Ok... I finally get to a place where I can plug these in and listen to them.  I was immediately impressed.  So my goal was to listen to as many genres as I could and find out where the weakness was with these guys.  I spent at least three hours jumping around listening to all sorts of music and I really couldn't find anything that sounded bad.  The bass, mids and highs were clear and balanced that... I mean it's very hard to describe the sound.  It was sort of like the earphones changed according to the type of music you were listening to. So when I threw on some classical, the bass was warm and inviting while the mids and highs were bright and clear. It was beautiful.  Whenever you throw on something like "dub step" (or any bass heavy music) the bass stepped up its game and really came to life. Never overwhelming and never muddy sounding.  And even though the bass was pulsing through your bones, the mids and highs were right there with it.. balanced and clear and not harsh.  I've never listened to anything like these. 
 
Later I watched a bluray and hooked the Jupiters up to my theater. I might add here that I have a dedicated preamp and headphone amp in my theater equipment stack. I didn't just plug them into the headphone stage on my surround preamp. I watched the movie "Fury" and once again I was blown away.  The sound stage (image) is almost 360 degrees.  I expected a nice image from these, but not like this.  Everything about the Jupiter earphones is just perfect.  
 
I feel like I may be rambling a bit.. so I'll try to sum up my experience.  
 
Absolutely blown away by:
 
- The balanced detail from the lows, the mids, and the highs. It creates a very real sound stage and a very intimate experience for the listener. 
 
- The incredible  (and hard to describe) way they adapt to whatever you are listening too.  Providing huge bass when called for and smooth warm bass when called for. And all the while, the mids and highs are right there with the bass, in perfect harmony.  
 
- Build quality and looks are stunning.  I can't imagine I will ever have an issue with these. Maybe in the cable.. maybe.. and that's just if I am swinging these above my head like a lasso on a regular basis.  But, the cables can be replaced.. so yee-haw cowbow! 
 
The Campfire Jupiter really could be the earphones that could replace all of your other earphones. Or at least a huge % of your earphones. They really can do it all.

Disclaimer: The Campfire Jupiter was sent to me by Ken Ball from ALO for the purposes of this review.
 
The very first time I read about the Campfire Lyra, I was pretty intrigued. It was ALO's first foray into the world of IEMs, They looked really impressive, beryllium coated drivers (like my focal speakers), ceramic chassis, and what not. The price caught my eye too. For a newcomer, those prices weren't cheap at all. I tried them soon after, and was pleasantly surprised by the Lyras. Yes, they weren't cheap, but they delivered top notch sound quality. They were very well tuned as well. Naturally, I was extremely curious and excited about the new Jupiters when I heard about them. 
 
Packaging and accessories
 
                                                                                                                       
The Jupiter, along with the other Campfire IEMs, have a relatively simple packaging. it comes in a small box that barely manages to fit in the carrying case and some accessories. 
 
                                                                                                                      
 
It comes with 3 pairs of silicone tips, 3 pairs of comply tips and another 3 pairs of what seems to be some sort of third party foam tips. It also comes with a earwax cleaner and a campfire audio pin badge, a nice little touch. There are two included cables, a 3.5mm trs cable for single ended use, as well as a 2.5mm trrs cable for balanced use. The cables provided are the ALO tinsel cables which are, in fact, upgrade cables by themselves.
 
                                                              
 

 
The carrying case is, without a doubt, the most beautiful earphone carrying case that I have ever seen. It is made with nuback leather, and is lined on the inside with a nice, soft, cushy and furry lining which protects the jupiters from shock. From my experience, nuback eventually develops a wonderful patina over time giving you a unique, one of a kind carrying case for your jupiters.
 
The packaging is not the most elaborate. I've seen a whole range, from the beautiful, luxurious packaging of the Dita earphones, down to the dead simple packaging of the Flare Audio IEMs. The Jupiter, I find, strike a good balance. I actually like how the packaging is minimalistic and green, made out of minimal cardboard and nothing else.
 
Build Quality
 
The Campfire Lyra has a Ceramic chassis. This gives it more than simply a luxurious look and feel. The Ceramic helps greatly in the resonance control being the resonance chamber. 
 
Now the Jupiter is slightly different. It's not made of the same exotic material as the Lyra is, but the build of the Jupiter is no slouch either. It is CNC milled from a solid block of aluminium, and finished with a beautiful bead blasted titanium styled anodizing. It is built like a tank, and holding it in my hands, I have absolutely no doubt that it is a solid, quality product.
 
Sound Impressions
 
The Jupiter is, in general, a very fun and dynamic sounding earphone. If you're looking for a neutral reference, the Jupiter isn't going to give you that. It is definitely a coloured sound, coloured but fun. It has a really nice spatial presentation of the music as well.
 
Highs: The Jupiter has a very very sparkly upper range. if there are any high frequency details or instruments, you're not going to miss it. It will shimmer and sparkle its way into your ears. They are, however, adequately controlled enough that they do not become sibilant. This makes them very addicting to listen to on instrumental tracks. Guitars and violins, for example, spring to life. Now some people might find that increased sparkliness a tad unnatural, and I wouldn't blame them. Give it time though, and you would find it really gives life to the whole presentation. It also helps in the reproduction of air and space, something that I am very grateful for.
 
Mids: The mids in the jupiter took a little bit of getting used to on my part. The Jupiters have a pretty unique midrange tuning. Theres a dip in the upper mids, with a kind of a bump in the lower mids. This makes the midrange quite a bit heavier and more weighted than I am used to. There is also a slight sense of thickness and darkness in the midrange. Having said that, Despite the dip in the upper midrange especially, the midrange is by no means recessed when taken as a whole, nor is it distant. The vocals retain a good presence, neither too near nor too far, with body and weight. 
 
Bass: The bass of the Jupiter is another area which contributes to the fun sounding nature of the earphone. There is a noticeable bump in the midrange, giving it lots of punch and life in the lower registers. It is neither bloated nor slow, and has good impact. Of course, the bass isn't quite like the bass of the best dynamic drivers. The sense of realism and naturalness isn't quite the same. However, it never stops it from being an energetic, fun bass. It does, though, smear a very slight tad into the lower mids, which might explain the increased thickness in the midrange. 
 
Soundstage and Imaging: Now, this is my favourite part of the Jupiters. Of all the IEMs that I have tried, the Jupiters have some of the best, most expansive, open and immersive soundstage. It is wide, with an equally good depth and height. Listening to big orchestras is a real pleasure. The space which it creates is vast, instruments are layered very accurately in all directions, and imaging is pinpoint. The natural airiness and space in the recording is masterfully reproduced as well. Now, if you read back to my assessment of the other aspects of the Jupiter, it may seem like I wasn't impressed with the other aspects of the Jupiter. I assure you though, that isn't the case. The Jupiter is an impressive IEM. It's just that the staging of the Jupiter is that good. It's really, really nice.
 
The Jupiter is a pretty resolving IEM. It's not a detail monster that's going to rip your tracks apart and expose all the flaws, but it never sounded veiled, always retaining a good sense of transparency. It is especially good at resolving spatial cues and air, which probably contributes to the exceptionally open sound of the Jupiters.
 
The Jupiter, despite all that it does right, isn't without its flaws. Personally, I found the Jupiter to be a tad thick in the lower mids and the midbass. I would also prefer a tad bit more presence in the upper midrange. These are, however, pretty much mostly personal preferences, and I'm certain that it would suit a lot of people very well.
 
The Campfire Audio Jupiter isn't a cheap earphone. At 899 dollars, it definitely plays among the higher end in the universal IEM market. In my opinion, it has definitely earned its place as the flagship of the Campfire IEM line.