Campfire Audio - Introducing 2 new models Hello Andromeda and Nova

[audionewbi]

Just heard the whole CFA lineup at the Portland meet today. Had previously heard near-final versions of Orion, Lyra, and Jupiter last summer. At that time, I really liked Lyra and especially Jupiter but wrote off Orion. That changed today. The new cable gave Orion a fuller, more balanced sound to my ears. So much so that I ended up picking up a pair. Nova seemed quite punchy and energetic and stood out to me as the one most different from the rest of the lineup. Lyra was basically how I remembered. Jupiter seemed mellowed with the new cable. Andromeda was the star of today's meet for me. If I had the disposable income, I'd be ordering one right now without question. Preferred it to K10, U10, and U12. More organic sounding with smoother high end. Very cohesive and not very BA-like. CFA did a great job with these!

How would you rate Nova coherence? Does it act like a single driver or do you detect certain disjoint in the sound? Many thanks in advance. In terms of size are they all the same? Did you get to try it with CDM?
Andromeda looks better and better by each post. I think I have to try it?

Many thanks in advance

 

[nmatheis]

audionewbi: It was a meet. I had my own table and others to visit. Didn't spend as long with each IEM as I would be liked. My comments above are indicative of what I liked. Nova caught me off guard as the odd one out in the lineup. Not in a bad way by any means. Just not as smooth and organic as the rest. More energetic for sure. Not sure I can comment on coherency for that particular IEM, though. To be frank, I was in a bit of a mad rush to work my way up the chain to Andromeda.

I'd love to get another shot at Nova and told KenB and told him I would've bid them up (and won for sure) if he'd put them for up for auction at the meet, so I guess you could say I enjoyed them and was intrigued enough that I would've purchased a pair to explore them further.

 

[ngoshawk]

audionewbi: It was a meet. I had my own table and others to visit. Didn't spend as long with each IEM as I would be liked. My comments above are indicative of what I liked. Nova caught me off guard as the odd one out in the lineup. Not in a bad way by any means. Just not as smooth and organic as the rest. More energetic for sure. Not sure I can comment on coherency for that particular IEM, though. To be frank, I was in a bit of a mad rush to work my way up the chain to Andromeda.

I'd love to get another shot at Nova and told KenB and told him I would've bid them up (and won for sure) if he'd put them for up for auction at the meet, so I guess you could say I enjoyed them and was intrigued enough that I would've purchased a pair to explore them further.

Thank you for the initial report on the Nova @nmatheis. Helps to confirm I made a good choice. Anxiously awaiting the reviews, now. Thanks again!

 

[audionewbi]

@nmatheis Thanks you so much for your input, I hope to read your take on the CFA lineup one day, your view is one of the view I trust greatly on this forum. 

 

[ExpatinJapan]

@audionewbi: It was a meet. I had my own table and others to visit. Didn't spend as long with each IEM as I would be liked. My comments above are indicative of what I liked. Nova caught me off guard as the odd one out in the lineup. Not in a bad way by any means. Just not as smooth and organic as the rest. More energetic for sure. Not sure I can comment on coherency for that particular IEM, though. To be frank, I was in a bit of a mad rush to work my way up the chain to Andromeda.

I'd love to get another shot at Nova and told @KenB and told him I would've bid them up (and won for sure) if he'd put them for up for auction at the meet, so I guess you could say I enjoyed them and was intrigued enough that I would've purchased a pair to explore them further.

What DAP/source were you using with the Nova?
 
I am listening now with two different Daps and having a very different experience with both of them.
 
*Going to add my thoughts a bit later.

 

[twister6]

@audionewbi: It was a meet. I had my own table and others to visit. Didn't spend as long with each IEM as I would be liked. My comments above are indicative of what I liked. Nova caught me off guard as the odd one out in the lineup. Not in a bad way by any means. Just not as smooth and organic as the rest. More energetic for sure. Not sure I can comment on coherency for that particular IEM, though. To be frank, I was in a bit of a mad rush to work my way up the chain to Andromeda.

I'd love to get another shot at Nova and told @KenB and told him I would've bid them up (and won for sure) if he'd put them for up for auction at the meet, so I guess you could say I enjoyed them and was intrigued enough that I would've purchased a pair to explore them further.

 
I hope @KenB relays this message to @KB 

  Makes me wonder how many PMs KenB gets asking him about ALO and Campfire products

 
Btw, Nik, great feedback about CFA line up!  Is there a meet-thread where you are going to post more feedback about other products?  Would be curious to read your take on 64 Audio and Noble line ups as well, if you had a chance to preview it (don't want to hijack Ken's thread )

 

[audio123]

@audionewbi: It was a meet. I had my own table and others to visit. Didn't spend as long with each IEM as I would be liked. My comments above are indicative of what I liked. Nova caught me off guard as the odd one out in the lineup. Not in a bad way by any means. Just not as smooth and organic as the rest. More energetic for sure. Not sure I can comment on coherency for that particular IEM, though. To be frank, I was in a bit of a mad rush to work my way up the chain to Andromeda.

I'd love to get another shot at Nova and told @KenB and told him I would've bid them up (and won for sure) if he'd put them for up for auction at the meet, so I guess you could say I enjoyed them and was intrigued enough that I would've purchased a pair to explore them further.

i agree with the nova part. coherency is slightly off. Quite smooth but not organic. Warm full bodied signature that does not bring excitement as compared to the andromeda which has a boost in the upper mids
 
my campfire ranking
 
Andromeda?=Jupiter > Orion > Lyra > Nova
 
cheers

 

[Mimouille]

This is how I hear CFA Andromeda vs Noble K10UA (using LPG as a source).

Soundstage: both have a very similar depth/height but Andromeda is noticeable wider, with a more holographic sound effect. Both have great separation, but layering effect between instruments and vocals is better in K10UA due to its brighter nature with more airiness.

Bass: Andromeda has a better sub-bass extension and more quantity in comparison where K10UA sub-bass is a little rolled off.  Mid-bass punch and speed are nearly the same.  Overall, K10UA bass sounds a little tighter and a bit leaner (due to less sub-bass), while Andromeda's sub-bass quantity beefs up the low end, giving it a more analog quality.  Both are well controlled, no spillage into lower mids.

Mids: K10UA lower mids are leaner and have less body, while Andromeda lower mids have a fuller body in comparison, but not too thick.  Both have a very detailed and revealing upper mids, but Andromeda is smoother and a little more organic in comparison.  With Andromeda I hear not even a single peak which contributes to graininess or harshness while K10UA can get a bit hot with a few of my brighter tracks (this one is purely subjective opinion).  I also think that due to a fuller body, both male and female vocals sound more natural on Andromeda.

Treble: Both have an excellent treble extension with a great definition, but K10UA treble is a little brighter and with a more crunch.  Neither sound sibilant, though K10UA can get close (but never crosses that threshold) with a few of the bright tracks (I'm allergic to 5k peak ).  In comparison, K10UA has more airiness, but Andromeda is not too far behind.

Both have a relatively balanced signature while Andromeda has a slightly warmer and smoother tonality in comparison to K10UA.  Both, Andromeda (5xBA drivers) and K10UA (10xBA drivers) are very detailed and highly resolving and definitely worthy of a flagship status.

Now finally this is something that helps me understand what the Andromeda sounds like. I have not heard K10u aluminum, only the original. Is the aluminum brighter. Because I found the original slightly warm, so if the Andromeda is warmer, it will be clearly on the warm side.

 

[audio123]

@twister6 quite curious on your thoughts of UERM vs Andromeda
 

 

[vhsownsbeta]

Now finally this is something that helps me understand what the Andromeda sounds like. I have not heard K10u aluminum, only the original. Is the aluminum brighter. Because I found the original slightly warm, so if the Andromeda is warmer, it will be clearly on the warm side.

@twister6
quite curious on your thoughts of UERM vs Andromeda

From the sounds of twister6's impressions, significantly warmer. Andromeda had piqued my interest, but I already found K10 overly warmer and syrupy...

 

[Brooko]

 
i agree with the nova part. coherency is slightly off. Quite smooth but not organic. Warm full bodied signature that does not bring excitement as compared to the andromeda which has a boost in the upper mids
 
my campfire ranking
 
Andromeda?=Jupiter > Orion > Lyra > Nova
 
cheers

 
?? 

 
According to the graphs Ken posted, the Nova has the biggest boost in the early stages of the upper mid-range, hence the transition from lower mids to upper mids should be extremely coherent. The Andromeda has a slight rise in same area, but the actual boost is in the lower treble. And the Jupiter had a big drop in the early upper mids - which is why a few of us had some issues with it.
 
Sub-bass 0-60 Hz
Mid-bass 60-250 Hz
Lower mids 250-2 kHz (I usually regard 1 kHz as about the limit though - seems to be where the true transition is)
Upper mids 2 kHz-6kHz
Lower treble 6-12 kHz
Upper treble 12kHz +
 
I really need to listen to the Nova. The graph looks like it would be something I'd really enjoy.

 

[audio123]

?? 

According to the graphs Ken posted, the Nova has the biggest boost in the early stages of the upper mid-range, hence the transition from lower mids to upper mids should be extremely coherent. The Andromeda has a slight rise in same area, but the actual boost is in the lower treble. And the Jupiter had a big drop in the early upper mids - which is why a few of us had some issues with it.

Sub-bass 0-60 Hz
Mid-bass 60-250 Hz
Lower mids 250-2 kHz (I usually regard 1 kHz as about the limit though - seems to be where the true transition is)
Upper mids 2 kHz-6kHz
Lower treble 6-12 kHz
Upper treble 12kHz +

I really need to listen to the Nova. The graph looks like it would be something I'd really enjoy.

i understand the graph is like that, maybe i need to have a more extensive audition with it

 

[ExpatinJapan]

Well yesterday as you know I stuck the Nova in my ears for a short time and ended up picking up the Andromeda as I left the house and went about my day.

Today as my own personal sacrifice for the common good of this thread and the head-fi community, I braved the nova again to share some of my humble impressions.


As listed earlier I used the Centrance Hifi Skyn with Flacplayer app and then later the Shozy Alien gold Dap.

Fit was extremely good with the ML sized Spiral dot tips as I cleaned the house from top to bottom. I didn`t need to adjust them at all.

Sound:
I had two distinctly different impressions with the two players.

The Centrance hifi-skyn has a lot of power but has a gain setting-I set at 1. It has a decent Dac and can be slightly on the warm side. It has a wide soundstage, well balanced between music and vocals.

The Shozy Alien is organic, clear, accurate, great soundstage, light, fast bass, detailed and nice highs.

The key words being warm vs light.

I found that although I enjoy the Jupiter and Andromeda with the Hifi-Skyn, the Nova seems to match well with the Shozy Alien Gold.

Sure the Skyn is smooth and accurate, has great instrument separation and soundstage but renders the Nova flat, not musical. The highs have no sparkle to them.

With the Shozy Alien Gold on the other hand I found the Nova to have a bigger sound stage, smoother, clearer, organic and earthy, wider with more depth. Clean and clear. Fast.

In summary I think the Nova may prefer a more analytical and not a warm source to bring out its many virtues.


i hope this is helpful.

regards
expat.

 

[nmatheis]

What DAP/source were you using with the Nova?

I am listening now with two different Daps and having a very different experience with both of them.

*Going to add my thoughts a bit later.

PAW Gold with 16/44 FLAC files.

i agree with the nova part. coherency is slightly off. Quite smooth but not organic. Warm full bodied signature that does not bring excitement as compared to the andromeda which has a boost in the upper mids

my campfire ranking

Andromeda?=Jupiter > Orion > Lyra > Nova

cheers

With PAW Gold, I actually found Nova to be the most exciting / energetic sound of the bunch. I previously felt Jupiter held that spot but with the new cable and a different source (PAW Gold vs. AK380), I felt Jupiter was much mellower this time around.

 

[audio123]

PAW Gold with 16/44 FLAC files.


With PAW Gold, I actually found Nova to be the most exciting / energetic sound of the bunch. I previously felt Jupiter held that spot but with the new cable and a different source (PAW Gold vs. AK380), I felt Jupiter was much mellower this time around.

hmmm the source at that time I was using - Cowon Plenue S and Plenue D with 16/44 Flac files.
So we can conclude its very source dependent?