Hello world. I’ve just joined after seeing the comments re the Andromeda Special Edition Gold, and wanted to add my experience.
I’ve had a few (mostly over ear) ‘phones over many years and like equipment that lets me hear what is in a recording. Sennheiser have a place in my heart and brain for quality, reliability and sound quality, eg the hd280 with swivelling earpieces that make live mixing a breeze. Dissatisfied with airline cheap overears, I tried a pair of Sennheiser cx80 iem’s (not sure if that’s the correct model) and liked the sound quality plus reduced engine noise. Unfortunately they were in a backpack that was stolen (long story...). After reading a little, the Beyerdynamic Soul Byrds grabbed my attention. The bass was supposedly a little light, but mids and highs highly acceptable, and you can listen to them in bed, unlike most other iem’s. I know, I’m cheap.
That was two months ago. Soon after buying the Soul Byrd’s, I heard a John Darko podcast where he told Jeff Dorgay (Tone Audio) about Campfire Audio iem’s. Uhuh, noted, maybe a bit beyond my budget, but something to listen to one day...
Roll forward to August and the Hong Kong Advanced Audiovisual Exhibition (a fun hifi show, btw). Oh, there’s the Campfire Audio stand. Spoke to one of the CA gents who told me about the new special edition gold that was being shown for the first time. That seemed a reasonable place to start. OMG, that’s goood!
The same gent then described the different characteristics of the different models and prices (gulp!). So I listened to Polaris 2 (yep, plenty of bass), Io (yep, plenty rockin’) and the updated (green) Andromeda. Of the three, the green Andromedas had the best mids and highs, but... back to the ‘Golds’. Nuh, that bass is better resolved, and the sound is smoooth, no lumps or bumps from bass to treble. And the soundstage! You can hear where each musician is, and what they’re doing. Extraordinary.
To check my perceptions, the Beyerdynamic stand was nearby, so I listened to ‘my’ SoulByrds and was shocked - there was zero bass and they sounded like tin cans when compared to what I had just heard. Uh oh. Sennheiser pro 400, 500, same. Their true wireless, same. Fenders, same. Some others, same. Starting to wonder about my sanity, I had to go and look at other hifi (and there’s plenty) before I blew the equivalent of a return plane fare ticket to Europe. Went back to my hotel, did the internet homework thing and went back the next morning and bought the things. Owning an iPhone 7, I’m aware of Apple’s 3.5mm to lightning connector limitations sound wise, so I added an Orb connector. Yeah, that’s better.
Seriously, you’d need to spend 20-30k on a hifi system to equal the sound quality. Having owned EAR Acute 2 CD player, Accuphase E-600 and Martin Logan Summit X speakers, I know this.
Something reviewers allude to, but don’t explain, is the detail. It’s not just clearer, sharper notes. I’m hearing _layers_ of detailed rhythmic patterns in music that I’ve known intimately for the last 20 years and haven’t heard before. That’s right, the old ‘never heard before’ cliché. But it’s true. I put my phone (yes, I bought all this music) on shuffle and love it, even the badly recorded, compressed stuff, because now I can hear the difference.
So I’m not surprised CA no longer have these in their online shop. Yeah, yeah, there will be some in shops around the world, but I tell you, if one of those shops is near you, buy ‘em.
In conclusion, three things:
I have no connection with CA (apart from taking a pic of Ken Ball and co and posting it on Sterenet Australia in a report of the HK show - yes boys, I’m still raving);
Make sure you choose the correct eartips (or whatever you call them, the Final ones suited me) - when you can hear nothing outside your head the soundstage _really_ opens up;
No desire to hear Solaris, don’t need or want to, Nirvana is here.
p.s. my wife still prefers her Soul Byrds, her ears are very small. No comment.
p.p.s. Does that answer your question, gazzington?
I’ve had a few (mostly over ear) ‘phones over many years and like equipment that lets me hear what is in a recording. Sennheiser have a place in my heart and brain for quality, reliability and sound quality, eg the hd280 with swivelling earpieces that make live mixing a breeze. Dissatisfied with airline cheap overears, I tried a pair of Sennheiser cx80 iem’s (not sure if that’s the correct model) and liked the sound quality plus reduced engine noise. Unfortunately they were in a backpack that was stolen (long story...). After reading a little, the Beyerdynamic Soul Byrds grabbed my attention. The bass was supposedly a little light, but mids and highs highly acceptable, and you can listen to them in bed, unlike most other iem’s. I know, I’m cheap.
That was two months ago. Soon after buying the Soul Byrd’s, I heard a John Darko podcast where he told Jeff Dorgay (Tone Audio) about Campfire Audio iem’s. Uhuh, noted, maybe a bit beyond my budget, but something to listen to one day...
Roll forward to August and the Hong Kong Advanced Audiovisual Exhibition (a fun hifi show, btw). Oh, there’s the Campfire Audio stand. Spoke to one of the CA gents who told me about the new special edition gold that was being shown for the first time. That seemed a reasonable place to start. OMG, that’s goood!
The same gent then described the different characteristics of the different models and prices (gulp!). So I listened to Polaris 2 (yep, plenty of bass), Io (yep, plenty rockin’) and the updated (green) Andromeda. Of the three, the green Andromedas had the best mids and highs, but... back to the ‘Golds’. Nuh, that bass is better resolved, and the sound is smoooth, no lumps or bumps from bass to treble. And the soundstage! You can hear where each musician is, and what they’re doing. Extraordinary.
To check my perceptions, the Beyerdynamic stand was nearby, so I listened to ‘my’ SoulByrds and was shocked - there was zero bass and they sounded like tin cans when compared to what I had just heard. Uh oh. Sennheiser pro 400, 500, same. Their true wireless, same. Fenders, same. Some others, same. Starting to wonder about my sanity, I had to go and look at other hifi (and there’s plenty) before I blew the equivalent of a return plane fare ticket to Europe. Went back to my hotel, did the internet homework thing and went back the next morning and bought the things. Owning an iPhone 7, I’m aware of Apple’s 3.5mm to lightning connector limitations sound wise, so I added an Orb connector. Yeah, that’s better.
Seriously, you’d need to spend 20-30k on a hifi system to equal the sound quality. Having owned EAR Acute 2 CD player, Accuphase E-600 and Martin Logan Summit X speakers, I know this.
Something reviewers allude to, but don’t explain, is the detail. It’s not just clearer, sharper notes. I’m hearing _layers_ of detailed rhythmic patterns in music that I’ve known intimately for the last 20 years and haven’t heard before. That’s right, the old ‘never heard before’ cliché. But it’s true. I put my phone (yes, I bought all this music) on shuffle and love it, even the badly recorded, compressed stuff, because now I can hear the difference.
So I’m not surprised CA no longer have these in their online shop. Yeah, yeah, there will be some in shops around the world, but I tell you, if one of those shops is near you, buy ‘em.
In conclusion, three things:
I have no connection with CA (apart from taking a pic of Ken Ball and co and posting it on Sterenet Australia in a report of the HK show - yes boys, I’m still raving);
Make sure you choose the correct eartips (or whatever you call them, the Final ones suited me) - when you can hear nothing outside your head the soundstage _really_ opens up;
No desire to hear Solaris, don’t need or want to, Nirvana is here.
p.s. my wife still prefers her Soul Byrds, her ears are very small. No comment.
p.p.s. Does that answer your question, gazzington?
Last edited:
but i will start with spirals .. they are the best match for solaris.. and the nozzle is the same .. lets see 
