[Newobbowen]

Wow! Yeah, there is a clear misalignment there. CA is great about customer service so I’m sure you won’t have any trouble receiving a replacement. Having to send in the unit and wait for the turnaround does not feel great though. I experienced a comparable issue with my 1st gen Andromeda’s. I have almost returned my Ara’s for a replacement but am on the fence as it seems more common than not in photos of the CA’s iems. Admittedly I am pretty finicky when dropping 1.3k so there’s that. Here are my pic:

Do you what's the best part of my Solaris 2020? This is actually the second pair. My first pair also suffered from misalignment issue. The returning process is a pain, but I may try talk to them later.

 

[Newobbowen]

While there seem to be some clear defects on the Solaris 2020, the above doesn't look too much out of place compared to my Andromeda Special Edition: Gold which are near-perfect in terms of body and faceplate alignment as you can see on my post (and no they aren't for sale). I am honestly a gigantic pain for such things and, until I saw this, it never bothered me so it won't start now.

With that said, the Ara I am planning to get better be like my Gold and nothing like what I've seen on the Solaris 2020 because some of the QC issues seen here are simply unacceptable at this price point. Regardless of the userbase here and the fact that it often spends 1-3k on a single pair of IEMs: the fact of the matter is that they're a luxury product getting reviewed in Forbes so that type of QC simply won't cut it.

I totally agree with you. With a 1.5k price tag, the QC should had been better. My Andromeda purchased back in 2017 was literally perfect cosmetically.

 

[NewEve]

Quick feedback on the Ara here. I won't write more.

 

[ryanjsoo]

Following up on my first impressions, I just posted up my full review of the CFA Ara on Everyday Listening. I believe I'm mirroring what a lot have said already here so will make a quick statement.

This is the most reference design from Campfire by a long shot and one of the least bass emphasized, despite have great bass qualities. That is not to say that it is a reference earphone in isolation, though very balanced with a deep fit (reduces brightness to some degree), the Ara has bolstered midrange body that, to me, makes it a bit more listenable than most earphones going for a diffuse-field neutral kind of sound. It also has a bump in the lower-treble and a bit more sparkle than usual alongside excellent detail retrieval, the most in CFA's entire non-special edition line-up. I believe the imaging is a true highlight as well, though not as sparkly as the Andro and Solaris, the presentation is more organised and the Ara has sharper localisation which makes it a very immersive listen.

As always, stay well and happy listening, I hope this review provides some insight for those on the fence, cheers!

 

[Andrew DiMarcangelo]

Dang, that is one cool photo, @ryanjsoo!

 

[twister6]

Here we go, finally put together my in-depth analysis/comparison of Andro '20, Solaris '20, and ARA. Enjoy the read!

 

[Andrew DiMarcangelo]

Phew, finally got the Solaris 2020 back in stock. My sincere apologies for folks here who had a longer than expected backorder. We have plenty now!

 

[musiclvr]

Took a page out of Noble Audios book and have a great portable case for my Ara’s! I haven’t decided what else will go in here. Maybe a dap or amp spot.

 

[Toom]

Took a page out of Noble Audios book and have a great portable case for my Ara’s! I haven’t decided what else will go in here. Maybe a dap or amp spot.

Stolen diamonds

 

[dreissk]

I've owned a pair of Aras for a few weeks now. Haven't had that much time to listen (about 5 hours) but I really appreciate their detail in the mids. That's where these IEMs seem to shine the most. As a content creator for video games and music, I could see trusting these if I wasn't able to be in my studio or have a full-size pair of cans with me on the go. To me, that speaks a lot to their neutral tuning that CA (and everyone else here) has discussed.

 

[Gorillaphant]

Can anyone comment about the fit of the Andromeda 2020 vs the Solaris 2020?

 

[CL14715]

Can anyone comment about the fit of the Andromeda 2020 vs the Solaris 2020?

Andromeda is lighter and shorter. Solaris has more heft but isn’t heavy. Solaris also has a more bulbous body leading to a longer nozzle.

They both feel fine but I have a weird issue where the Andormeda sits so deep in my ear that the back screw in the body digs into my antihelix. It’s bearable but can get annoying.

 

[lazner]

I just got the Andromeda 2020. Was on the fence since the v1 release in 2016. I love the clarity and excellent extension on both ends. Very glad I got them. IEM endgame for me.

 

[CL14715]

I just got the Andromeda 2020. Was on the fence since the v1 release in 2016. I love the clarity and excellent extension on both ends. Very glad I got them. IEM endgame for me.

I feel they are much better than previous iterations. I even like them over the Solaris 2020.

 

[Gorillaphant]

I feel they are much better than previous iterations. I even like them over the Solaris 2020.

Anything in particular that makes you prefer them over the Solaris? I personally have a Solaris but haven't had the chance to demo the Andromeda and am wondering whether I made the right choice haha