[suman134]

@CFA Chris and Campfire Audio Black Star owners — how much would the Black Star make sense for an ower of Andromeda 2020, Ara (as well as Fir VxV for those of you who might have heard/owned it) for a library mainly consisting of Acoustic/Folk, Classical, Jazz, Soul and 60-70s Rock?

Thanks

I haven't heard the VxV but BlackStar is miles apart from Andro 2020 and Ara.
Ara is dry, lacks bass body, vocal forward with less forward upper treble. Instruments can be a bit more energetic.
Andro 2020 is smooth, mushy and lacks proper definition. It's stage is good, better than Ara. Bass is big but doesn't move much air.
BlackStar is punchier, rumbly, balanced with more cohesive presentation than both the BA warriors. It's pitch black background gives extra contrast and definition to the notes.
Go for it. You will love the change of presentation and behaviour of notes with the BlackStar.

 

[skfktkwjs]

@CFA Chris and Campfire Audio Black Star owners — how much would the Black Star make sense for an ower of Andromeda 2020, Ara (as well as Fir VxV for those of you who might have heard/owned it) for a library mainly consisting of Acoustic/Folk, Classical, Jazz, Soul and 60-70s Rock?

Thanks

Black Star is more engaging and forward presence sounding iem than andro 2020.

It has slightly better definition and clarity than andro 2020. Lower frequency has more body but still extremely fast so it doesn’t mask over any regions but add fun energy to the song.

Coming from 64A u12t and andro2020 i am happy with black star a lot more than I thought I would be.

 

[NewEve]

I haven't heard the VxV but BlackStar is miles apart from Andro 2020 and Ara.
Ara is dry, lacks bass body, vocal forward with less forward upper treble. Instruments can be a bit more energetic.
Andro 2020 is smooth, mushy and lacks proper definition. It's stage is good, better than Ara. Bass is big but doesn't move much air.
BlackStar is punchier, rumbly, balanced with more cohesive presentation than both the BA warriors. It's pitch black background gives extra contrast and definition to the notes.
Go for it. You will love the change of presentation and behaviour of notes with the BlackStar.

Black Star is more engaging and forward presence sounding iem than andro 2020.

It has slightly better definition and clarity than andro 2020. Lower frequency has more body but still extremely fast so it doesn’t mask over any regions but add fun energy to the song.

Coming from 64A u12t and andro2020 i am happy with black star a lot more than I thought I would be.

Thanks a lot!!!

 

[M3NTAL]

+1 @suman134 & @skfktkwjs on the opinions. Closest thing I've heard is the OG Solaris. It was more "3-D" but less cohesive. BS is more open and fills a larger space. Think near / mid speaker placement. OG Solaris more in it's own space, BS seems to be more limitless on space.

 

[HiFiWar]

@CFA Chris and Campfire Audio Black Star owners — how much would the Black Star make sense for an ower of Andromeda 2020, Ara (as well as Fir VxV for those of you who might have heard/owned it) for a library mainly consisting of Acoustic/Folk, Classical, Jazz, Soul and 60-70s Rock?

Thanks

The VxV is excellent, with truly great Treble, but it's missing all of the bass. The sticker on the outside scratches easily too. Black star is superior in my opinion.

 

[NewEve]

@suman134 @skfktkwjs @M3NTAL @HiFiWar Thanks again for all your inputs.

Would you mind sharing the source and output type (SE / BAL) you're using with the Black Star?

That would help me — and hopefully others — get an even better idea based off what you already shared.

 

[M3NTAL]

Pi2AES -> modified Sonic Frontiers SFD-1mk2 -> Schiit Mjolnir 3 -> IEMatch 3.5mm -> Black Star

" "->Nitsch Piety
" "-> Schiit Vali 2++

Qudelix 5K and T71 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Shanling M0 Pro 4.4mm

Shure RMCE-TW2

Kinda loosely 'ranked' in sections.

 

[skfktkwjs]

@suman134 @skfktkwjs @M3NTAL @HiFiWar Thanks again for all your inputs.

Would you mind sharing the source and output type (SE / BAL) you're using with the Black Star?

That would help me — and hopefully others — get an even better idea based off what you already shared.

I am currently running black star on
Ifi diablo with 4.4
fiio btr7 with 4.4
Sabaj d5+ Thx789 with xlr adapter
Qudelix 5k 2.5 adapter

 

[suman134]

@suman134 @skfktkwjs @M3NTAL @HiFiWar Thanks again for all your inputs.

Would you mind sharing the source and output type (SE / BAL) you're using with the Black Star?

That would help me — and hopefully others — get an even better idea based off what you already shared.

I am using it with Fiio Q15 and Shanling H2. Balanced.

 

[NewEve]

Pi2AES -> modified Sonic Frontiers SFD-1mk2 -> Schiit Mjolnir 3 -> IEMatch 3.5mm -> Black Star

" "->Nitsch Piety
" "-> Schiit Vali 2++

Qudelix 5K and T71 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Shanling M0 Pro 4.4mm

Shure RMCE-TW2

Kinda loosely 'ranked' in sections.

I am currently running black star on
Ifi diablo with 4.4
fiio btr7 with 4.4
Sabaj d5+ Thx789 with xlr adapter
Qudelix 5k 2.5 adapter

I am using it with Fiio Q15 and Shanling H2. Balanced.

Thanks so much — again!!!

 

[Moon moon]

Thanks! Yeah I believe so (albeit briefly), glad to join in!

Dear Chris

Is Black Star in limited run and if yes how many in total?

Thks

 

[somnarium]

Dear Chris

Is Black Star in limited run and if yes how many in total?

Thks

 

[somnarium]

About 400 is mentioned in other thread

 

[suman134]

Here is my indepth comparison of one of my favourite IEMs of the last year, Custom Art Fibae 5 vs the latest hybrid from Campfire Audio, BlackStar.

 

[cocolinho]

I'm close to pull the trigger on Black Star after reading impressions here vs Andromeda (OG & 2020)

Andromeda OG were my 1st (& last) WOW moment back in 2018 and after having tried hundreds of differents IEMs I never found that special sauce Andro OG offered me back in time, except maybe my Singularity (but different sound signature)

I'm running Andro 2020 & Singularity for couple of months now and I feel that Black Start could be an improved Andromeda OG (better bass & highs) giving me that WOW again...