Had a few hours to adjust and start really listening to this little guy. Initially, I was caught super off guard - my only experience using an IEM with DD mids was the Vision Ears Elysium, which I did not like at all (criminal, yes, I know!) Putting this as a disclaimer iif you get this, and like me, this is your first proper experience with an IEM using a DD for the midrange. I'm using a variety of sources, including our Diablo, Signature, Gryphon, and Go Blu.
My initial impressions are as follows. Please note no comparison here, as I like looking at things individually for what they are.
Basic stuff out of the way - packaging and accessories are excellent. Build is impeccable. Putting true Damascus steel on a sub $500 IEM is insane and a flex statement coming from Campfire, being the material experts they are. I'm shocked they didn't reserve this for a future flagship. Fit, comfort, and seal are great - no issues. Hope Campfire continues to use this shell design for much of their line-up. It will remove the struggle people have with the angular edges. For me people like me who already don't struggle with, the Saber has a super nice, deep fit with the right tips (Final Audio E M for me!)
The Saber is an IEM with a nuetral-warm tilt and a V shape signature, with emphasis on highs. It's snappy, and engaging, and hits fast and tight. Coming from how bass-heavy Campfire can get, the Saber is shockingly not overpowering. My only gripe is there is not much sub-bass. Other than that, it's really nice. The mids are where people will have the most issues with this monitor. If you like V shape signatures, this will be nothing new to you. If you don't, stick with IEMs like the Holocene and Andromeda. The highs are also a second point to consider. I enjoy how the energy and sparkle, and that they were intentionally placed more forward, but some may find this piercing as
@Oscar-HiFi said well. They aren't for me, and it's a house sound thing of Campfire - the people like Oscar and I who really like Campfire, are for reasons like these. No introduction is needed for soundstage when it comes to Campfire products. This one is nice and holographic. Imaging, micro details, and directional positioning are accurate for the price range,
I think this going to be another IEM that is more on the spectrum of if you really like it, you really like it, and if you don't, you don't . It, however, is much less polarizing than the Vega and Dorado 2020 and a step forward in the right direction for Campfire. It makes me super excited for what they have come down in the future in 2022. A keeper for me? Yes. It will be a great sub-500 comparison piece and something to mix up what I got going in my current line-up when I want something that's unlike what I have.
Additional fun fact: there's no hiss whatsoever forming from this IEM at all with any sources I have tried. No IEMatch needed!
Some tracks used:
Blindside - 2WEI & Edda Hayes
Growing Up - Macklemore & Ed Sheeran
Yesterday - The Beatles (Himesh Patel arrangement, for the film Yesterday)
Louisana Hero - Henry Jackman
Holiday - KSI
Complicated - Olivia O'Brien
The Trials - Kazma Jinnouchi
Black Hole - Griff