Introduction:
Campfire Audio are a well-known American audio company and today I’m delighted to present my review of their Saber IEM. If you aren’t already very familiar with the company, please see the link below for more
https://campfireaudio.com/about/
In one form or another, they’ve been around on the audio scene for a good long while now and have earned a deserved good reputation.
On their website, they are able to proudly state:
“Each model in our earphone line is designed and assembled by hand in our Portland, Oregon workshop; our earphones are second to none in performance and finish”.
Whilst I’m not American personally, I’m always happy to see companies - whichever country they are based in - manufacturing their products locally, even more so when it involves such care and attention to the process.
IEM details from the official website:
https://campfireaudio.com/shop/saber/
This link also has explanations of the various kinds of tech that features in these IEMs.
The Saber at the time of writing retails at USD $449.
Here is a link where they can be ordered in the UK (other ways of ordering are available)
https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/pr...-mmcx-cable-4-4mm?_pos=1&_sid=00bd0bbd3&_ss=r
My thanks to Campfire Audio and John at KS Distribution for authorising this sample to be provided to me in exchange for my honest review.
The driver configuration is something new and a bit different for CA, featuring twin dynamic drivers (one for the lows and one for the mids) along with a balanced armature to handle the highs.
The sound signature too is something a bit different (read on to find out more!).
Furthermore, with the release of the Saber, Campfire are shaking things up with another first for them, namely a gorgeous Damascus steel outer shell, and fortunately for the comfort of my ears, a well-engineered ABS plastic inner shell, which for increased sturdiness and longevity, has a stainless steel nozzle, reminiscent – or perhaps even identical – to the one that graces its pricier sibling, the Solaris 2020.
Well, it’s time to quit the waffling (as no waffle house in history has ever said) and smoothly segue into that now-famous section that, in keeping with Layman1’s – ahem – utilitarian writing ethic, is simply called “Photos”
Photos:
Build Quality and accessories:
The packaging continues Campfire Audio’s good work in this area, with a joyous rush of bright colours and a simple but carefully curated selection of accessories.
The Saber are solidly built with no visible blemishes or flaws of any kind, as I’ve become accustomed to with Campfire Audio’s products.
Regarding the aesthetics, given my disappointment with the appearance of the Solaris 2020, it gives me great joy to report that Campfire Audio have once again outdone themselves with the exquisite new Damascus steel outer shells of the Saber!
Regarding the ergonomics of the IEM, that’s going to be a personal matter for each individual, but personally I had no issues with the fit and found myself able to get them well-inserted with a good seal every time. I tried Sedna Xelastac tips in various sizes, but ended up sticking with my tried and tested New Bee foam tips (medium size) which still allowed for a deep insertion and a stable seal for long-term listening pleasure
Note that I found the CA Andromeda (one of the earlier green incarnations; not sure which one) rather uncomfortable to wear, finding that the angular metal shells dug into my ears at certain points. Fortunately, this is not the case with the Saber, as it seems to have a smaller shells size and slightly more rounded edges and, along with the ABS plastic inner shell, I find it to be much more comfortable and ergonomic in comparison.
The cable that comes bundled with the Saber seems decent enough.
It’s the same thickness as the one which came bundled with the Dorado 2020, which – depending on your preferences - you may regard as a good or a bad thing.
I must admit I preferred the smoky grey finish of the Dorado cable to the glossy black one here, although I can appreciate that the black makes for a better match aesthetically with those Damascus steel shells. Once again, Campfire Audio have bundled in not one, but THREE special small mesh drawstring bags, featuring a separate compartment for each individual earphone; the rest of the cable can then be wrapped around the case along its centre.
This solves in one fell swoop the whole cable tangling issues, and it’s terrific to see such a simple but effective solution being provided by Campfire here.
It has ear hooks (moldable ‘memory’ plastic sleeves around the cable to guide it over the ears), which personally I’m not a fan of generally; however, they were supple and didn’t cause me any discomfort. Aside from this, the cable was light and easy to use, comfortable and with no particular issues with microphonics or similar.
However, I have to say that at this price point, I strongly believe the buyer should be able to specify their choice of a 3.5, 2.5 or 4.4mm plug at this price when purchasing.
At the very least, supply a 2.5mm balanced cable and 3.5mm and 4.4mm adaptors.
Still, to end this section on a positive note, the case that comes with the Saber is a nice new addition, handmade in Portugal made of a very attractive and sturdy grey canvas material.
It’s noticeably smaller and eminently more pocketable (or bag-able!) than the ones that come with the Solaris 2020 and Dorado 2020.
Sound:
I have a few tracks which I’ve only found available on MP3; the vast majority are FLAC or WAV in 16/44 or hi-res 24-bit HDTracks (or equivalent), with a few DSD56 tracks sneaking their way in too.
Regarding music styles, I listen to a wide variety of genres, including Asian pop (Chinese pop/acoustic, K-Pop, Japanese stuff etc), Bollywood tracks, rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, classical, blues, RnB (both original and modern), folk, acoustic, a tiny bit of electronica/EDM and so on. And even a bit of Country (and, indeed, Western), for the record
For the purposes of this review, the sources I chiefly used were the Sony WM1Z (using MrWalkman’s ‘Midnight Plus’ free custom firmware) and iBasso DX220MAX.
For the attention-challenged amongst you, I shall start this section (aside from the preamble above) by going straight into my analysis of the lows, mids, treble and technical performance, then drawing it together into a conclusion at the end.
Sound Signature:
Lows:
The Saber to my ears seems tuned with a fairly prominent low end.
I hear it as having a good level of decay, whilst still maintaining a sprightly responsiveness.
There’s a pleasingly powerful thump and rumble; I find it’s there when called for, but not quite so ever-present in the way I found with, for example, the Dorado 2020.
Overall, it’s a highlight of this IEM, as good as one could hope to find on an IEM at this price point and frankly, at price points significantly higher too.
The low end of the Saber is the foundation of the whole sound, anchoring everything and infusing it with musicality, power and authority. It’s been a while since I enjoyed an IEM this much in the sub $950 price range
Mids:
The mids here are where we see a real divergence from the DNA of previous Campfire Audio releases, such as the Dorado 2020 and Solaris 2020. There’s an atypical lift in the upper mids which just does so many good things for the sound signature overall. I’ve owned the Empire Ears Odin previously, albeit only for a few weeks, and the upper-mid lift here is, to my ears, certainly not at the relatively extreme level I found on the Odin. With the Odin, I think it might have taken me a substantial amount of listening to grow accustomed to those upper-mids, whereas with the Saber, I only had a brief period of adaption.
Also, with this IEM, correct seal and fit, and by extension choice of ear tips, make a big difference. I tried Xelastec tips of various sizes, Campfire’s own foams, and my own New Bee foam tips, eventually settling on those in the Medium size. I found these to reduce the occasional negative effects of those upper-mids, eliminating sibilance and occasional excess brightness. Also, that early-stage occasional sensitivity to the upper-mids was experienced prior both to comprehensive tip experimentation as well as a thorough 200 hour burn-in process. So, for those that are into burning in their IEM’s, you can perhaps consider this as a relevant factor as well.
Every now again, I find the mids to seem a little bit uneven, as if some part of the spectrum is recessed or scooped-out. For example, the vocals on Pearl Jam’s ‘Rearviewmirror’ have all the gravel, texture and character I look for in a great IEM, but just sound just a bit recessed in the mix compared with other similar male vocal tracks. However, I don’t find this same issue in another Pearl Jam song, “Why Go” from the previous album.
Given that this issue only seems to pop up every now and again and is vastly outweighed by the otherwise consistently excellent performance, it’s not enough for me to significantly downgrade the overall positivity of this review.
However, Layman1 being a responsible kind of chap, it would be remiss of me not to mention it.
So consider it mentioned
That powerful low-end infuses the lower-mids with power and authority. I have lost count of how many tracks (most of them!) where I was just grinning with delight at the power and musicality the Saber brings. But what stood out to me even more was the degree of separation and detail with this IEM. Again and again, I found myself astonished, and noticing details in songs that I hadn’t previously noticed, or simply having them more easy to discern. It’s quite a revelation, even more so considering the Saber’s comparatively modest price point of $449, compared with the flagship-level IEMs I am more accustomed to.
That upper-mid lift has to be a key factor in this (along with the tuning as a whole), and I would love to see Campfire Audio use it on future flagship-level releases.
The mids are quite lush, rich and energetic, but also capable of a soulfulness and emotion that was a delight to experience. The only thing I’d say is that – as will tend to come with the territory with this kind of tuning – there’s not the degree of smoothness you’ll find in IEMs with a more tame upper-mid tuning, such as the Dorado 2020.
For me, it’s not an issue, since I already have specific ‘go-to’ IEMs when I’m feeling stressed and looking for something more smooth and laid-back. But it’s something to bear in mind if this is likely to be your sole IEM, especially if (like me) you are rather prone to finding certain IEMs fatiguing or triggering.
I think there’s perhaps been suggestions that the Saber is an IEM that is best suited to rock/metal music, and may not be so ideal for other genres. We all hear things in our own way, so all I can do is offer my own point of view here.
I certainly agree that with its relatively more Western-style tuning (that emphasises mid-bass over sub-bass, and gives equal weighting to male vocals rather than being tilted more towards higher Asian pop style female vocals) the Saber indeed is well set up to shine with rock and metal music. However, I have a playlist of relaxing music, featuring music of a variety of genres, from Motown, Soul and Blues, to Jazz, Country, Classical/Opera and singer-songwriter stuff from various eras. The Saber absolutely shone with all these songs.
Indeed, if one were going to be ‘triggered’ by any intensity or sibilance in the mids, I’d suggest it would be more likely to occur with rock/metal/EDM songs than with other genres.
Treble:
Unlike the Dorado 2020 and Solaris 2020, where I found the presentation overall to be somewhat dark and rich, with the Saber those upper-mids, combined with the treble tuning brings a good deal more air, clarity and extension. I think the treble is well-balanced with the rest of the signature, extended and airy enough to bring the aforementioned qualities but without excessive sharpness or fatigue.
Technical performance:
I hear the Saber to have an accomplished technical performance that belies its ‘fun’ vibe. I hear the soundstage as being pretty expansive, with separation a strong point. The layering and imaging give me nothing to complain about and are well-executed. As mentioned previously, the detail retrieval here is one of the outstanding features of the Saber, and quite remarkable at this price point.
Summary:
The Saber feature a rather new sound for Campfire Audio, whilst retaining elements of the essential DNA that have made their products so popular.
Based on my own critical listening, along with some graphs and charts I’ve seen (including from Campfire Audio themselves), I would describe the Saber as follows:
We have a hefty low end, with a slightly rolled-off sub-bass and a comparatively elevated mid-bass.
This leads smoothly into the lower-mids, which seem to proceed in a fairly linear fashion until they reach a point of elevation in the upper mids, with a dip around the 4kHz mark, then a continued rise up to the 10kHz point.
In practicality, what we have here is something new, different and exciting.
This is not – ahem – mere ‘saber-rattling’.
There are familiar elements, such as the weighty and impactful low end, with plenty of rumble.
There’s the rich lower mids, informed by that generous low end, that infuse the signature with that trademark CA musicality.
However, things start to diverge a bit at this point. Compared with the Solaris 2020 and Dorado 2020, there’s a significant lift in the upper-mids. This brings about a fair amount of change in the sound signature, compared with those other two IEMs; with the Solaris 2020 and Dorado 2020, whilst I found the lows and mids to be immensely musical and engaging, there were times on certain tracks when the prominent mid-bass and rich lower mids would sometimes make the track feel a bit congested. Similarly, the overall tone was quite dark, warm and rich.
Conversely, here with the Saber, that upper-mid rise seems to lift everything else along with it, to a certain degree. There’s a spaciousness, clarity and increased perception of detail very much in evidence here.
Conclusion:
I really feel Campfire Audio have pushed the bar here and done something quite different with the Saber, and whilst it’s not absolutely perfect (but what in this world is?), it’s overall a great accomplishment and a star in their line-up. The Saber is a (very) limited edition, but I would love to see it become a permanent fixture and would be equally delighted to see Campfire Audio bringing aspects of this tuning into their next flagship model.
As always, try to hear it first before buying because we all have our own preferences and hear things differently. That being said, for myself, if the tuning sounds like your kind of thing, I would highly recommend the Saber at this price point and tip my hat to Campfire Audio for a job well done (or raise my saber in salute!)
Campfire Audio are a well-known American audio company and today I’m delighted to present my review of their Saber IEM. If you aren’t already very familiar with the company, please see the link below for more
https://campfireaudio.com/about/
In one form or another, they’ve been around on the audio scene for a good long while now and have earned a deserved good reputation.
On their website, they are able to proudly state:
“Each model in our earphone line is designed and assembled by hand in our Portland, Oregon workshop; our earphones are second to none in performance and finish”.
Whilst I’m not American personally, I’m always happy to see companies - whichever country they are based in - manufacturing their products locally, even more so when it involves such care and attention to the process.
IEM details from the official website:
https://campfireaudio.com/shop/saber/
This link also has explanations of the various kinds of tech that features in these IEMs.
The Saber at the time of writing retails at USD $449.
Here is a link where they can be ordered in the UK (other ways of ordering are available)
https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/pr...-mmcx-cable-4-4mm?_pos=1&_sid=00bd0bbd3&_ss=r
My thanks to Campfire Audio and John at KS Distribution for authorising this sample to be provided to me in exchange for my honest review.
The driver configuration is something new and a bit different for CA, featuring twin dynamic drivers (one for the lows and one for the mids) along with a balanced armature to handle the highs.
The sound signature too is something a bit different (read on to find out more!).
Furthermore, with the release of the Saber, Campfire are shaking things up with another first for them, namely a gorgeous Damascus steel outer shell, and fortunately for the comfort of my ears, a well-engineered ABS plastic inner shell, which for increased sturdiness and longevity, has a stainless steel nozzle, reminiscent – or perhaps even identical – to the one that graces its pricier sibling, the Solaris 2020.
Well, it’s time to quit the waffling (as no waffle house in history has ever said) and smoothly segue into that now-famous section that, in keeping with Layman1’s – ahem – utilitarian writing ethic, is simply called “Photos”
Photos:
Build Quality and accessories:
The packaging continues Campfire Audio’s good work in this area, with a joyous rush of bright colours and a simple but carefully curated selection of accessories.
The Saber are solidly built with no visible blemishes or flaws of any kind, as I’ve become accustomed to with Campfire Audio’s products.
Regarding the aesthetics, given my disappointment with the appearance of the Solaris 2020, it gives me great joy to report that Campfire Audio have once again outdone themselves with the exquisite new Damascus steel outer shells of the Saber!
Regarding the ergonomics of the IEM, that’s going to be a personal matter for each individual, but personally I had no issues with the fit and found myself able to get them well-inserted with a good seal every time. I tried Sedna Xelastac tips in various sizes, but ended up sticking with my tried and tested New Bee foam tips (medium size) which still allowed for a deep insertion and a stable seal for long-term listening pleasure
Note that I found the CA Andromeda (one of the earlier green incarnations; not sure which one) rather uncomfortable to wear, finding that the angular metal shells dug into my ears at certain points. Fortunately, this is not the case with the Saber, as it seems to have a smaller shells size and slightly more rounded edges and, along with the ABS plastic inner shell, I find it to be much more comfortable and ergonomic in comparison.
The cable that comes bundled with the Saber seems decent enough.
It’s the same thickness as the one which came bundled with the Dorado 2020, which – depending on your preferences - you may regard as a good or a bad thing.
I must admit I preferred the smoky grey finish of the Dorado cable to the glossy black one here, although I can appreciate that the black makes for a better match aesthetically with those Damascus steel shells. Once again, Campfire Audio have bundled in not one, but THREE special small mesh drawstring bags, featuring a separate compartment for each individual earphone; the rest of the cable can then be wrapped around the case along its centre.
This solves in one fell swoop the whole cable tangling issues, and it’s terrific to see such a simple but effective solution being provided by Campfire here.
It has ear hooks (moldable ‘memory’ plastic sleeves around the cable to guide it over the ears), which personally I’m not a fan of generally; however, they were supple and didn’t cause me any discomfort. Aside from this, the cable was light and easy to use, comfortable and with no particular issues with microphonics or similar.
However, I have to say that at this price point, I strongly believe the buyer should be able to specify their choice of a 3.5, 2.5 or 4.4mm plug at this price when purchasing.
At the very least, supply a 2.5mm balanced cable and 3.5mm and 4.4mm adaptors.
Still, to end this section on a positive note, the case that comes with the Saber is a nice new addition, handmade in Portugal made of a very attractive and sturdy grey canvas material.
It’s noticeably smaller and eminently more pocketable (or bag-able!) than the ones that come with the Solaris 2020 and Dorado 2020.
Sound:
I have a few tracks which I’ve only found available on MP3; the vast majority are FLAC or WAV in 16/44 or hi-res 24-bit HDTracks (or equivalent), with a few DSD56 tracks sneaking their way in too.
Regarding music styles, I listen to a wide variety of genres, including Asian pop (Chinese pop/acoustic, K-Pop, Japanese stuff etc), Bollywood tracks, rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, classical, blues, RnB (both original and modern), folk, acoustic, a tiny bit of electronica/EDM and so on. And even a bit of Country (and, indeed, Western), for the record
For the purposes of this review, the sources I chiefly used were the Sony WM1Z (using MrWalkman’s ‘Midnight Plus’ free custom firmware) and iBasso DX220MAX.
For the attention-challenged amongst you, I shall start this section (aside from the preamble above) by going straight into my analysis of the lows, mids, treble and technical performance, then drawing it together into a conclusion at the end.
Sound Signature:
Lows:
The Saber to my ears seems tuned with a fairly prominent low end.
I hear it as having a good level of decay, whilst still maintaining a sprightly responsiveness.
There’s a pleasingly powerful thump and rumble; I find it’s there when called for, but not quite so ever-present in the way I found with, for example, the Dorado 2020.
Overall, it’s a highlight of this IEM, as good as one could hope to find on an IEM at this price point and frankly, at price points significantly higher too.
The low end of the Saber is the foundation of the whole sound, anchoring everything and infusing it with musicality, power and authority. It’s been a while since I enjoyed an IEM this much in the sub $950 price range
Mids:
The mids here are where we see a real divergence from the DNA of previous Campfire Audio releases, such as the Dorado 2020 and Solaris 2020. There’s an atypical lift in the upper mids which just does so many good things for the sound signature overall. I’ve owned the Empire Ears Odin previously, albeit only for a few weeks, and the upper-mid lift here is, to my ears, certainly not at the relatively extreme level I found on the Odin. With the Odin, I think it might have taken me a substantial amount of listening to grow accustomed to those upper-mids, whereas with the Saber, I only had a brief period of adaption.
Also, with this IEM, correct seal and fit, and by extension choice of ear tips, make a big difference. I tried Xelastec tips of various sizes, Campfire’s own foams, and my own New Bee foam tips, eventually settling on those in the Medium size. I found these to reduce the occasional negative effects of those upper-mids, eliminating sibilance and occasional excess brightness. Also, that early-stage occasional sensitivity to the upper-mids was experienced prior both to comprehensive tip experimentation as well as a thorough 200 hour burn-in process. So, for those that are into burning in their IEM’s, you can perhaps consider this as a relevant factor as well.
Every now again, I find the mids to seem a little bit uneven, as if some part of the spectrum is recessed or scooped-out. For example, the vocals on Pearl Jam’s ‘Rearviewmirror’ have all the gravel, texture and character I look for in a great IEM, but just sound just a bit recessed in the mix compared with other similar male vocal tracks. However, I don’t find this same issue in another Pearl Jam song, “Why Go” from the previous album.
Given that this issue only seems to pop up every now and again and is vastly outweighed by the otherwise consistently excellent performance, it’s not enough for me to significantly downgrade the overall positivity of this review.
However, Layman1 being a responsible kind of chap, it would be remiss of me not to mention it.
So consider it mentioned
That powerful low-end infuses the lower-mids with power and authority. I have lost count of how many tracks (most of them!) where I was just grinning with delight at the power and musicality the Saber brings. But what stood out to me even more was the degree of separation and detail with this IEM. Again and again, I found myself astonished, and noticing details in songs that I hadn’t previously noticed, or simply having them more easy to discern. It’s quite a revelation, even more so considering the Saber’s comparatively modest price point of $449, compared with the flagship-level IEMs I am more accustomed to.
That upper-mid lift has to be a key factor in this (along with the tuning as a whole), and I would love to see Campfire Audio use it on future flagship-level releases.
The mids are quite lush, rich and energetic, but also capable of a soulfulness and emotion that was a delight to experience. The only thing I’d say is that – as will tend to come with the territory with this kind of tuning – there’s not the degree of smoothness you’ll find in IEMs with a more tame upper-mid tuning, such as the Dorado 2020.
For me, it’s not an issue, since I already have specific ‘go-to’ IEMs when I’m feeling stressed and looking for something more smooth and laid-back. But it’s something to bear in mind if this is likely to be your sole IEM, especially if (like me) you are rather prone to finding certain IEMs fatiguing or triggering.
I think there’s perhaps been suggestions that the Saber is an IEM that is best suited to rock/metal music, and may not be so ideal for other genres. We all hear things in our own way, so all I can do is offer my own point of view here.
I certainly agree that with its relatively more Western-style tuning (that emphasises mid-bass over sub-bass, and gives equal weighting to male vocals rather than being tilted more towards higher Asian pop style female vocals) the Saber indeed is well set up to shine with rock and metal music. However, I have a playlist of relaxing music, featuring music of a variety of genres, from Motown, Soul and Blues, to Jazz, Country, Classical/Opera and singer-songwriter stuff from various eras. The Saber absolutely shone with all these songs.
Indeed, if one were going to be ‘triggered’ by any intensity or sibilance in the mids, I’d suggest it would be more likely to occur with rock/metal/EDM songs than with other genres.
Treble:
Unlike the Dorado 2020 and Solaris 2020, where I found the presentation overall to be somewhat dark and rich, with the Saber those upper-mids, combined with the treble tuning brings a good deal more air, clarity and extension. I think the treble is well-balanced with the rest of the signature, extended and airy enough to bring the aforementioned qualities but without excessive sharpness or fatigue.
Technical performance:
I hear the Saber to have an accomplished technical performance that belies its ‘fun’ vibe. I hear the soundstage as being pretty expansive, with separation a strong point. The layering and imaging give me nothing to complain about and are well-executed. As mentioned previously, the detail retrieval here is one of the outstanding features of the Saber, and quite remarkable at this price point.
Summary:
The Saber feature a rather new sound for Campfire Audio, whilst retaining elements of the essential DNA that have made their products so popular.
Based on my own critical listening, along with some graphs and charts I’ve seen (including from Campfire Audio themselves), I would describe the Saber as follows:
We have a hefty low end, with a slightly rolled-off sub-bass and a comparatively elevated mid-bass.
This leads smoothly into the lower-mids, which seem to proceed in a fairly linear fashion until they reach a point of elevation in the upper mids, with a dip around the 4kHz mark, then a continued rise up to the 10kHz point.
In practicality, what we have here is something new, different and exciting.
This is not – ahem – mere ‘saber-rattling’.
There are familiar elements, such as the weighty and impactful low end, with plenty of rumble.
There’s the rich lower mids, informed by that generous low end, that infuse the signature with that trademark CA musicality.
However, things start to diverge a bit at this point. Compared with the Solaris 2020 and Dorado 2020, there’s a significant lift in the upper-mids. This brings about a fair amount of change in the sound signature, compared with those other two IEMs; with the Solaris 2020 and Dorado 2020, whilst I found the lows and mids to be immensely musical and engaging, there were times on certain tracks when the prominent mid-bass and rich lower mids would sometimes make the track feel a bit congested. Similarly, the overall tone was quite dark, warm and rich.
Conversely, here with the Saber, that upper-mid rise seems to lift everything else along with it, to a certain degree. There’s a spaciousness, clarity and increased perception of detail very much in evidence here.
Conclusion:
I really feel Campfire Audio have pushed the bar here and done something quite different with the Saber, and whilst it’s not absolutely perfect (but what in this world is?), it’s overall a great accomplishment and a star in their line-up. The Saber is a (very) limited edition, but I would love to see it become a permanent fixture and would be equally delighted to see Campfire Audio bringing aspects of this tuning into their next flagship model.
As always, try to hear it first before buying because we all have our own preferences and hear things differently. That being said, for myself, if the tuning sounds like your kind of thing, I would highly recommend the Saber at this price point and tip my hat to Campfire Audio for a job well done (or raise my saber in salute!)
