I'll ship the Dorado your way after I get my Elysium back in a couple weeks. Next up for me will be a Blessing 2 Dusk and a VE8 later this week.
The Watercooler -- Impressions, philosophical discussion and general banter. Index on first page. All welcome.
- Thread starter Rockwell75
- Start date
I'll ship the Dorado your way after I get my Elysium back in a couple weeks. Next up for me will be a Blessing 2 Dusk and a VE8 later this week.
Dorado 2020 Review + Comparisons to most other IEMs I've owned in the past year (originally published March 23 2021)
“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.“ ~ Chopin
Fire on the Mountain - A Review of the Campfire Audio Dorado 2020
Pros:
+ Immediately engaging, fun, natural sound
+ Dominant, dense, disciplined bass
+ Organic, textured, open midrange with great separation
+ Detailed, lush, etched yet non-fatiguing highs
+ Versatile-- works wonders on many lesser recordings
+ Reasonably priced
+ In terms of raw fun factor probably the best IEMs I've ever heard
Cons:
- As with all W or V shaped tunings some elements of the mids will be pushed behind the bass-- but again this is more of a tuning choice than a flaw.
- I wish they used the white for these ones
- Drawing blanks...
Instead of sharing manufacturer specs, talking about packaging etc., all of which is information available in any other review (and, for that matter, on the website) I will post some opening caveats/points that will give anyone who reads this a sense of where I’m coming from:
Campfire IEMs are not primarily known for their raw technical prowess but what they do better than most other companies is go for that balanced, more holistic "je ne sais quoi" factor that lends their best products a certain quality of fun, engagement and, ultimately, humanity that-- combined with their appealing sustainable asesthetic and peerless build quality-- makes them quite irresistible to me. Campfire, along with Vision Ears (and I would say Empire Ears too) get my respect for taking chances with bold tuning approaches, for thinking outside the box and daring to try new things. I am not affiliated with the company in any way. I purchased the Dorado 2020 on my own over a week ago and am interested in sharing my thoughts on this simple yet remarkable IEM.
All of that said on to the review…
Preamble: A few years ago the Atlas was my first Campfire IEM. I really liked it at the time but eventually moved on to the Solaris, which was my reference for the better part of two years. The Atlas was a lot of fun but (for me) was a bit bloomy in the mid-bass and I found the treble a bit peaky/metallic at times. In the time since I’ve gravitated to more balanced/mid-centric IEMs but I can appreciate a good W sig and have craved a worthy follow-up to the Atlas. The Solaris wasn’t it as that was more a refinement of the Andromeda. This is where the Dorado enters in. Ultimately what I was after was a fun-bombastic sound with good mids and a decent bass emphasis that was decently technical. I was not looking for another Andromeda or Solaris with the Dorado 2020. I realize that any signature attempting the sort of sound I was seeking here needs to make concessions—typically due to a sacrifice in raw technicalities or a dip in the mids somewhere. I will not be criticizing the Dorado for this—instead I will focus the effectiveness of how the signature presents as a unity.
General Observations
To put bluntly (and mildly)-- I really really like them. I’ve loved various IEMs for various reasons over the years but I don’t think I’ve ever heard any that have made me smile as much and as easily as the Dorado 2020 has. They are exactly what I was hoping they would be-- and much that I wasn't really sure was possible. Anyone who: was at all a fan of the Atlas and was hoping for an upgrade/refinement of that sort of sound from Campfire, who doesn’t mind a polite but definite bass emphasis, who is seeking an IEM that prioritizes fun and engagement above all, and who places a high priority on natural and open mids-- should take a serious look at these. Between the cleaner mid-bass, refined highs, and greatly improved technicalities within a signature that is deceptively simple yet supremely confident in itself I feel they’ve delivered a perfected Atlas and captured lightning in a bottle with these IEMs.
Suffice to say I don’t think Campfire tuned these to bring out all the detail and nuance in someone’s perfectly recorded jazz collection, with an aim of neutrality. or to be mind-blowingly technical or detail oriented. They have a good degree of balance but that is not their primary aim, nor are they trying to be technical virtuosos or detail/resolution/staging monsters-- even though from a technical standpoint they are, in fact, very very good. There is an effortless quality to the Dorado's technical ability. It doesn't jump out at you right away-- rather it emerges as the inevitable result of numerous factors working together in perfect harmony. There is no fanfare or pyrotechnics or overeagerness-- the Dorado has such a natural sound that its power is deceptive, at first seeming merely playful. But there is a depth, precision and power below the surface.
The Dorado 2020 are incredibly versatile—I have not found anything that sounds bad on them. I can listen to a very varied playlist all day without feeling the need to skip or coming across music that sounds off. This is a W shaped tuning so there are inevitably areas where some elements of the mids feel pushed behind the bass. In areas where more vocal or instrumental presence is needed a slight bump at 4K should do the trick. I will say though that Dorado 2020 excel with (often less well recorded) pop and rock music that the bulk of us grew up with during the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, an on into the present really-- specifically anything defined to some extent by a driving low end. Exile on Main Street, James Brown, CCR, recordings from the 60s, Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Dire Straits and so on, sound incredible on these. All in all a very dynamic and "in your face" sound that I’m currently finding rather insanely fun to listen to—not since the Atlas have I experienced an IEM that was this much fun.
A Note on Packaging
I love Campfire’s packaging— the art direction, the minimalism, the design. In a world were packaging can be quite ostentatious and overboard Campfire’s is a breath of fresh air. Alone of all the gear I’ve purchased, my Campfire IEM boxes always go on display in my living room as I love the way they look.
Sound Impressions
The sound of the Dorado 2020 can be characterized by: 1) dominant but disciplined bass, 2) open mids and an endearing natural timbre, 3) a notable authority and clarity across the spectrum that becomes more and more apparent with time. The layering and separation on the Dorado 2020 is surprisingly great-- nothing gets muddied up in busy passages. The bass is clean, present, tight and just disciplined enough. In terms of staging they’re like a more intimate Solaris with its sign reversed—less width but decent depth. The midrange is very present, though there is a bit of a recession in the upper half of the mids relative to the bass-- but the profound discipline of the whole FR combined with the natural timbre greatly negates any issues one may have with this. It's worth emphasizing again that there are some occasions where parts of the mids can feel pushed behind the bass-- but this is unavoidable with this type of sound. The Dorado 2020 is an IEM for someone who wants a dominant low end. Highs are clear, sweet and detailed-- never harsh, tizzy, metallic or piercing.
From a purely technical standpoint (clarity, resolution, separation etc.) there are clearly superior IEMs out there than the Dorado if what you are mainly after is to put your music under some kind of analytic microscope. Where the Dorado knocks it out of the park is with its natural timbre and voicing-- vocals, strings, horns, percussion-- all have a depth, density, realism and, fundamentally, a deceptive naturalism that, to my ears is, utterly compelling. The Dorado hooks me in with what is ultimately a sense of playfulness-- I just want to tap my feet, bop my head, sing, dance, express myself in some way when I listen to these. Putting them on is a passport to a musical Disneyland.
In terms of timbre and naturalness in the midrange I would say it trails behind something like the Vision Ears Elysium (though not as much as you might think) but surpasses other hybrid IEMs like the IER Z1R, Solaris OG, 64 Nio and UM MEST. The naturalness of Dorado’s mids make the sound easier to embrace emotionally than is the case with IEMs that are more technically focused. Yes the mids are a bit pushed back at times, but they never feel disconnected, distant or muddied. The bass grips and captivates and it has that Campfire speed and density that keeps it from overwhelming me or craving air after a time as I do with something like the Legend X.
I think the Dorado's capacity for realism and engagement has one of its roots in the fact that the mids are done by the DD (the other significant factor imho is the ceramic shell). Most hybrid IEMs in my experience (Z1R, Nio, Solaris, MEST, LX etc. etc.) have mids done by the BA. BAs are better from a "technical" standpoint (clarity, detail, speed) but I have learned that DD is much much better from an emotional engagement standpoint (timbre, naturalness). BA mids are easier to place under a technical microscope, but DD mids are generally much more "lifelike". The Vision Ears Elysium has DD mids and there also is the source of a good deal of its magic. I was curious about the Dorado as soon as it was announced but once I experienced Elysium, and the magic of the fast e-stat treble working on the DD mids I became extra curious about Dorado and its fast BA treble working on Dynamic mids. It is said that the great Pyramids of Egypt used to have an outer layer and shimmering capstone of gold...this must have been a thing to behold. This effect, the shimmering flourish atop a mountain of solidity and power...is similar in character to what I experience in IEMs with quick and clear highs over a dynamic lower end (Ely, Dorado and, for that matter, the IER Z1R). The summative effect is magical.
The only real elephant in the room with respect to tuning is an upper midrange dip created largely by the elevated bass. This region is seemingly one of the most controversial and hard-to-get-right areas of the whole FR for many people. Too much in this area to some sounds shouty to some, too little makes the sound muddy to others. It seems to me most IEMs tend to be biased more towards the upper mids or lower. The IER Z1R is an example of a great IEM with an upper mid bias and weaker lower mids. With the Dorado 2020 we see the reverse-- a lower mid bias with a dip in the upper mids. What this means is that sometimes female vocals or instrumental sounds in this range sometimes sound a bit pushed back or lacking in closeness. Depending on what you listen to and what your sensitivities are this may or may not be an issue-- YMMV etc. Dorado's ace in the hole is its rich natural timbre combined with the sure footed sound made possible by the ceramic housings (more on that later). The combined result is that even when the mids are pushed back they still feel well bodied and have a solid presence.
Dynamics are great— on both highs and lows. CFA's 10mm driver produces bass that is every bit as satisfying as bass titans like the IER Z1R and UM MEST and a step above an IEM like the 64 Audi Nio. The Z1R's more woobly decay gives way for the sake of incredible density and grip put out by Campfire’s driver. Dorado 2020 won’t give you all the air and separation of Andro...but it does go some way there. The highs of the Dorado are really nice. The quicker BA treble working on the dynamic mids and lows balances out the thickness of the latter with a welcome dose of air and space. The net result is a pleasing balance and sense of naturalness.-- guitars, horns, strings and percussion sound natural, bodied, airy and real. Treble and upper mids have a nice etched-ness to them but they never feel harsh or fatiguing and never cross over into sibilance or graininess and there is no sign whatsoever of a metallic timbre. I was worried going in about the 8K treble peak but I think, much like the Dude's rug, it sort of ties everything together. Sheer detail and resolution get sacrificed a bit on the altar of the thicker bass...but that’s honestly inevitable with this type of signature and sometimes just what the Dr. ordered for me. If I had to place the Dorado 2020 in the general pantheon IEMs I would describe it as "fun perfected". In this respect nobody tops CFA at this price tier imho, maybe anywhere. Nicely Done.
Ceramic Shell
After my days and hours on the Dorado 2020 really started to add up (and also having owned the ceramic-tuning-chamber-laden SE Solaris for a year) I started to appreciate the value of the ceramic shells Ken has been advocating and trying to perfect for years. The Dorado doesn't wow you with techicalities at first, and it's technical skill probably won't become apparent during a short or superficial listening session. But the more I listen to them, the more my brain wraps itself around the signature I realize how strikingly and deceptively good the detail retrieval, clarity, layering, separation is on them. There is an almost fathomless clarity to the sound-- no matter where or how deep you look you will not find any smearing, over-vibrance, graininess, harshness, metallic timber or things blending together that shouldn't. Everything has its own sense of space and nothing really gets too much in the way of everything else. The clincher is that it does all this with a robust and authoritative bass response that acts as a gravitational centre to a signature that still has quite a bit of air, and where everything has its own space to breathe.
I am starting to suspect that a good deal of this has to do with the density of the ceramic shell that is used in the Dorado. Because of its hardness it doesn't allow for any interference or muddling with the sound-- all the frequencies just sort of stay in there respective lanes and the whole signature has this notable coherence, clarity and, to use @Tristy 's phrase "sure footedness". There was a bit of this quality in the lower vocal mid-range of the Solaris SE but with the Dorado 2020 it's across the board. It's quite remarkable and it might be what gives this IEM its true staying power for me. I really look forward to seeing how Campfire uses this tech in future IEMs. Could there be a future Solaris with more ceramic inside? I'm starting to hope so. Again, nicely done.
Point form Comparison with Solaris
TLDR: Solaris is more of a classical "wife material" tuning, Dorado 2020 will quickly win your heart, but you may wait a bit longer/be more reluctant to introduce her to your parents at first.
Dorado
+ more v-shaped than Solaris- though like the Atlas the Dorado 2020 is more W shaped than V
+ adds more body and weight to older/poorly recorded music than Solaris does
+ more traditionally staged (everything feels like it's coming at you whereas with Solaris it's almost wrapped around your head), and also a lot more intimate
+ sacrifices a bit of the vastness in staging/air/separation/detail for the sake of a more robust bass response
+ generally a much more "fun sounding" IEM, meaning it's not afraid to sacrifice a bit of detail/resolution/technicality for the sake of a thicker more bass driven sound.
+ better bass-- they let their 10mm driver off the hook a bit (and I love it), but just as well controlled (relative to quantity)
+ great mid-range timbre-- I would say it one ups Solaris here even if Solaris' mids are more present. The mid-range texture/naturalness is really really good on the Dorado-- along with the clarity and openness of the mids (W is much more to my liking than V) as well as superb imaging and separation the Dorado 2020 is imho saved from the clutches of many common criticisms of IEMs tuned like this.
Solaris
+ almost perfect balance across the FR
+ bass is reigned in/disciplined for the sake of preserving balance resulting in a cleaner more BA-like speed and sound overall
+ holographic stage, layering, seperation etc. better than on Dorado (though not as much as you might think-- Solaris is nearly peerless in this regard, especially at its price)
+ more present mids, especially on the SE, even if not quite as natural sounding as on Dorado
+ more resolving/detail oriented
+ handles super well recorded music a little better I would say
+ possibly a little more versatile than Dorado, but not as fun
+ Treble on the OG is a little better (though possibly not on the SE)
Other Comparisons
Vs. Elysium
It’s honestly hard to compare these two as they’re so fundamentally different in their tuning and ideals.
Listening to music on the Elysium is almost a transcendent experience-- with Dorado it's totally the opposite, instead of becoming totally absorbed within you just want to move, to bop your head, tap your feet, sing, dance, whatever the moment calls for. Elysium is masterful at subtlety and nuance and facilitating a real sense of intimacy. Listening to Miles Davis' Kind of Blue I can hear the "tsss" sound as he starts to blow on his trumpet, or in Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy I can almost make out the sound of John Paul Jones' fingers on his bass strings as he plucks them. It's really quite a profound effect and feeling overall and imho is what places Elysium in a class above much else I have heard when it comes to basically immersing yourself in your music.
The Dorado is more emotional in the sense that the sound is a big, bold, impactful, wall of sound presentation that really gets your head bobbing and feet tapping. Although there is plenty of detail if you look for it, the Dorados not about being perfectly accurate or calling attention to every little detail.
Instead there is a stark simplicity to Dorado's whole presentation-- but everything fits together so perfectly that it's profoundly effective. When I first got into this hobby as an adult (2 years ago) I gravitated immediately to the sort of sound I'd been seeking my whole life (bass heavy, sparkly, impactful) and went right for the Atlas. That wasn't as perfect as I'd hoped and I branched off, experienced the Solaris, and fell in love with the more mature, technical and balanced presentation. That byway reached its penultimate conclusion for me with Elysium, which is the epitome of my "audiophile purist" sensibilities. But when I heard the Dorado 2020 a few days ago it wasn't long before I realized that I was hearing, finally, a masterclass presentation of the sort of sound I'd been looking for originally. I will not rank one over the other as they both give me a similar amount and degree of satisfaction-- just at different times. Sometimes I want to watch the Shawshank Redemption and be moved to the core of my being, other times I want to watch Pulp Fiction and just have fun...both are masterpieces of their respective genres. So it is with Elysium and Dorado 2020 imho.
Vs IER Z1R
This is possibly the most interesting comparison I will do today as of all the IEMs I can think of the Z1R is the closest to the Dorado in terms of overall gestalt, despite quite different approaches. In some sense the Dorado is a scaled down, streamlined Z1R with a more "western" audio tuning. The Z1R offers a much grander, larger sound. In a sense the Z1R is an IEM that takes much of the fun factor of the Dorado 2020 and adds a hefty dose of staging and technicalities. In a sense the Z1R is the inverse of the Dorado as it has an upper mid-emphasis, whereas Dorado is more prominent in the lower mids. Z1R has a sub-bass emphasis with mid-bass punch and oomph being absent sometimes, Dorado has a bass emphasis a little further up with more mid-bass prominence and not as much subterranean sub-bass as the Z1R offers. Both have a very nice natural timbre, though the mid-range timbre of the Dorado is superior. Both IEMs are insanely fun to listen to but the FR of the Dorado 2020 plays nicer with more of the music I listen to. The Z1R has more grandeur, but Dorado has the kind of effortless natural sound rooted its aesthetic of simplicity. I had always thought the Z1R would have been better if they dropped the BA, let the DD to the mids and lows and the super tweeter do the highs—listening to the Dorado has cinched that thought for me.
While it is quite versatile and Sony did a laudable job at a pretty safe presentation, on the whole they are-- quite understandably-- skewed in the eastern direction in terms of their tuning. This is clearly seen in the tuning of the bass, lower mids, upper treble etc. on the IER Z1R. I don't think it's a flaw-- but it is a tuning choice. I really started to notice it after I compared the Dorado 2020 and Z1R directly. They are both great IEMs, they're both really fun to listen to, and they're both in my top 5 but ultimately the FR of the Dorado is significantly more in line with my preferences and the demands of a lot of the music I listen to.
Vs. UM MEST
If bass, treble, staging, technicalities etc. are your priorities then the MEST may be the IEM for you. There is a lot of overlap between the Dorado 2020 and the MEST. The MEST has superior technicalities (like insane technicalities—I have never experienced in an IEM a stage like the MEST offers…I think my bones like being conducted), more detailed treble etc. Where the Dorado wipes the floor with MEST is in mid-range texture, timbre, naturalness, presence etc. Since these latter are what I’m really after lately it’s an easy victory for the Dorado here…but YMMV.
Vs. UM MEST MKii
The MEST MKii a very nicely balanced and engaging IEM. Compared to my memories of the OG MEST I miss the oomph and impact of the bass, but the mids are more forward and natural sounding. It doesn't have the almost surreal wow factor that I remember the staging on the original having that left me feeling almost that I was inhabiting another dimension when I was listening to them. Upper mids seem just a hair breadth too energetic for me...though possibly no different than OG. On the whole I would say the MKii is a refined and ultimately more polite take on the original...more mature and natural but not as much spectacle or fun. Compared to the Dorado the mid-range of the MEST MKii it lacks the the density, sure-footedness and rich natural timbre that I've come to love about the Dorado (and the Solaris to a lesser extent before it). The bass on the MKii, again, isn't nearly as satisfying as the bass on the OG MEST and considerably less so than something like the Dorado 2020 or IER Z1R.
Vs. 64 Audio Nio
Not much to say here really. The Nio is in some ways the Dorado’s more polite, mature and technically accomplished (and a lot less fun) older brother. There is a definite emphasis on technicalities, the bass is more polite (but still present) and the treble is a lot smoother. In addition you get more presence in the midrange (but inferior timbre) and a lot better layering and separation. I’m generally not a fan of 64 Audio IEMs as I find their house sound to be too thin for my tastes and their IEMs are often technical to the point of lacking enough emotional engagement to keep me interested. The Nio is the first IEM I’ve tried of theirs that bucks that trend a wee bit, though for my own needs right now it trails considerably behind the Dorado 2020 in terms of raw engagement and enjoyability. If you want an IEM that’s technically accomplished, reasonably bassy with layered and detailed mids and that is basically fatigue free then the Nio may be a great choice.
A/B/C single track comparison with Elysium, Nio and Dorado and Zep's Whole Lotta Love
I took some time to compare the Elysium, Dorado and Nio in depth with Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love
Elysium—Bang on the money. Everything is perfectly balanced and the texture & timbre is off the charts. Vocals are right in the middle, crystal clear, well bodied and seductive. Guitars have crunch, bite and body with zero veil behind the bass. Bass is thumping, detailed, crunchy, impactful.
Dorado 2020-- Vocals and guitars are pushed behind the bass. It does seem like a dash of the FR is pushed completely behind the bass. Vocals are present, have great texture, despite being pushed a bit in the background. Guitars have great texture and body but lack crunch and bite-- a touch of info here and there does seem nearly totally eclipsed by the bass at times. Bass texture, timbre, impact, is off the charts good.
Nio-- This one was interesting. The Nio has more of the forwardness, detail and clarity of the Elysium, but it lacks the body, texture and natural timbre of the Dorado. Guitars have crunch and bite but they lack body and texture-- at times the sound of the Nio sounds like a 2-d image atop a 3-d surface of bass.
Conclusion-- the Elysium is the closest thing to a total package IEM for me right now and this comparison illustrated precisely why. The most remarkable thing about it is that I never find myself missing the DD on the low end when I'm listening to them. Between the Dorado and Nio it's a "choose your poison" kind of situation. For those who prefer detail and clarity over naturalness and timbre then the Nio may be the way to go.
As I've indicated, it's the bass response combined with the natural timbre of the mid-range that has won the day for me here with the Dorado. When seeking an IEM that has a forward and dominant bass response I went into it knowing there'd be a sacrifice in the mids somewhere. Thus, when listening to the Dorado I take it as almost axiomatic that there will be times when I hear part of the midrange lose some of its dynamics by being pushed behind the bass a bit. Regarding the bit that seems to be completely behind the bass the bright side of this situation is that it’s not a super wide range of the FR that is missing information. As I noted in my full review of the Dorado, a slight bump to 4K on EQ should open up the most recessed area of the lower treble enough reasonably mitigate the issue and remove any sense that anything is "missing". I have been using the Dorados for the last day or so with +2db @4k EQ applied and it seems to be doing the trick rather well. FR can be EQ'd in but no amount of EQ can produce the seductive rich natural timbre of the Dorado 2020.
Wrapup
In summary-- I can't get enough of the Dorado 2020. They may not be the most sophisticated or complicated (indeed that's part of the charm) but CFA here has taken a really basic tuning and refined to absolute perfection. I've followed Campfire’s releases in this vein as long as I've known about the company and while they’ve all been commendable some way, they all had a few issues here and there--in some cases minor deal breakers, or they were special teams IEMs that had a range of stuff they sounded good with. With Dorado they've come across a goldilocks presentation that gives you modestly basshead level bass (I don't consider IER Z1R, Solaris or even MEST to be basshead IEMs) with a supremely textured and natural midrange that feels open, inviting and veil-free and a sweet natural treble that is sharp but never unpleasant, sibilant or fatiguing. Couple all that with an instantly accessible, insanely engaging versatile tuning I have a feeling these could eventually overtake, or at least equal the Andromeda as CFA's most storied release. They are that good in my opinion.
In a video review on Youtube by Audiolevels he remarks that the Dorado 2020 is an earphone that allows you to just sit back and enjoy your music like you did when you were younger—this is absolutely true and I think is part of their deceptively simple yet remarkable appeal. So ultimately who are they for? The Dorado 2020 are not the best IEM for someone who wants to place their music under a microscope, or marvel in its analytic perfection. But for someone who just wants to listen to music for the sheer joy and love of it, with no pretense or other agenda-- the Dorado 2020 is a solid rec. I don't know how else to say it, and the cliché will have to be forgiven-- but these IEMs make me feel like a kid again. It's a totally different sort of engagement than with something like the Elysium, but it's ultimately no less satisfying. Elysium is a romantic trip to Florence Italy with someone you love, Dorado is a day at Disneyland with that same person-- variety, after all, is the spice of life.
At the moment the Dorado 2020 is my favorite Campfire IEM. I love that Campfire plays around with different tuning ideals. I have always been a fan of their more fun and bassy excursions and with the Dorado 2020 I feel they've finally reached a laudable level of perfection with that sort of tuning in that they're allowing me to totally rock out and not feel like I'm missing anything substantial in terms of staging or details. I've had these in my ears for days straight and they have not hit a false note for me yet-- in fact I can barely wipe the smile off my face most of the time.
When the MEST MKii was released its marketing literature noted that it had been tuned with "western audiophiles in mind". This was the first time I'd heard this phenomenon openly referred to in association with an official release and quite frankly I think is a great development and something that's not acknowledged enough directly. Ultimately what it comes down to I think is that much "western music" (rock, blues, rythm & blues, funk, soul, pop, r&b, hip hop) has its DNA in the mid-bass/lower mids region. Conversely a lot of "eastern music"(Jpop, Kpop etc.) has its DNA in the lower treble/upper mid region. Unless the tuning aim is total and complete referency balanced neutrality (which is not what I'm after at all personally) IEM tuning in my experience tends to be colored more in one direction than the other. "Western tuning" as a rule tends to emphasize mid-bass over sub-bass and lower mids over upper. Eastern or "Chifi" tuning as it's sometimes colloquially referred to tends to emphasize sub-bass presence over mid-bass presence and upper mids over lower. Music tuned in the western direction can sound flat, veiled, lifeless and muddled to someone who prefers or listens to music which benefits from an eastern tuning, and music tuned in the eastern direction can sound shouty, thin and weird to someone who prefers or listens to music which benefits from a western tuning. IMHO the Dorado 2020 is, in essence, an IEM tuned almost exclusively in the "western" direction. I totally understand why someone after neutrality or a more "eastern" tuning won't be in to the Dorado 2020, but for someone into the sort of sound the Dorado is putting down they are, to quote Chandler Bing, near perfection to my ears-- something still becoming more and more apparent to me even after listening to them pretty much exclusively for over 3 weeks now.
To close, I am aware that this IEM has received some mixed reviews. It’s tempting to be troubled by these sorts of contradictions-- but then I remember that we’re all only human. Once upon a time Rolling Stone Magazine trashed all Zeppelin’s early albums upon initial release. Those classics eventually got the credit they deserve but this story goes to show that even good sources of information are capable of being totally wrong, or so caught up in their own meme that they don’t recognize greatness when they see it. As is often said in this hobby let it be said again: trust your own ears above all.
“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.“ ~ Chopin
Fire on the Mountain - A Review of the Campfire Audio Dorado 2020
Pros:
+ Immediately engaging, fun, natural sound
+ Dominant, dense, disciplined bass
+ Organic, textured, open midrange with great separation
+ Detailed, lush, etched yet non-fatiguing highs
+ Versatile-- works wonders on many lesser recordings
+ Reasonably priced
+ In terms of raw fun factor probably the best IEMs I've ever heard
Cons:
- As with all W or V shaped tunings some elements of the mids will be pushed behind the bass-- but again this is more of a tuning choice than a flaw.
- I wish they used the white for these ones
- Drawing blanks...
Instead of sharing manufacturer specs, talking about packaging etc., all of which is information available in any other review (and, for that matter, on the website) I will post some opening caveats/points that will give anyone who reads this a sense of where I’m coming from:
- My thoughts and rankings are essentially a measure of respective IEM's capacity to pull me in and make me forget the outside world for a while. This can be accomplished via various means-- through sheer intimacy & connection in the case of Elysium, epic awe inspiring grandeur mixed with playfulness and realism in the case of the IER Z1R, and a combination of precision, style, naturalness and simplicity married to a playful yet raw and primitive bombasity in the case of something like the Dorado 2020 (and limitless other ways no doubt)-- but the net result is the same.
- IEMs should be assessed on their own terms and according to their own strengths and aims. I will not criticize an eagle for being unable to swim, and I will not criticize the Dorado 2020 for not trying to be the Andromeda. When reading reviews I am less interested in the routine of "bass, treble, technicalities" and am more interested specifically in the IEM's own unique identity, how well its executed, and how it is experienced by whoever is doing the review.
- My guiding maxim in this hobby is that everyone should be free to pursue their "audio bliss" in whatever way is meaningful to them without being judged or held to the artificial and/or limited standards of others. There are certainly objective and subjective elements to this hobby, but it is the subjective elements that determine for us, via our own individual tastes, inclinations, experiences, preferences, biases, sensitivities, life situations etc., what individual path we are to follow to call forth that feeling of joy, bliss, satisfaction from within that is, I think, the root of what many of us are seeking. What works for you may, or may not, work for me.
- My own investigations have revealed that improved technical performance doesn't necessarily translate to a more satisfying and enjoyable listening experience for me. Consequently when I read people's reviews and hear them gush over some manner of analytic perfection of this piece of gear or that-- if I can't also detect in their writing some sense of their being moved emotionally by the experience of the gear then I tend to dismiss it in my mind (or at least relegate it to a lower tier of interest) and move on as emotional engagement is for me the top priority.
Campfire IEMs are not primarily known for their raw technical prowess but what they do better than most other companies is go for that balanced, more holistic "je ne sais quoi" factor that lends their best products a certain quality of fun, engagement and, ultimately, humanity that-- combined with their appealing sustainable asesthetic and peerless build quality-- makes them quite irresistible to me. Campfire, along with Vision Ears (and I would say Empire Ears too) get my respect for taking chances with bold tuning approaches, for thinking outside the box and daring to try new things. I am not affiliated with the company in any way. I purchased the Dorado 2020 on my own over a week ago and am interested in sharing my thoughts on this simple yet remarkable IEM.
All of that said on to the review…
Preamble: A few years ago the Atlas was my first Campfire IEM. I really liked it at the time but eventually moved on to the Solaris, which was my reference for the better part of two years. The Atlas was a lot of fun but (for me) was a bit bloomy in the mid-bass and I found the treble a bit peaky/metallic at times. In the time since I’ve gravitated to more balanced/mid-centric IEMs but I can appreciate a good W sig and have craved a worthy follow-up to the Atlas. The Solaris wasn’t it as that was more a refinement of the Andromeda. This is where the Dorado enters in. Ultimately what I was after was a fun-bombastic sound with good mids and a decent bass emphasis that was decently technical. I was not looking for another Andromeda or Solaris with the Dorado 2020. I realize that any signature attempting the sort of sound I was seeking here needs to make concessions—typically due to a sacrifice in raw technicalities or a dip in the mids somewhere. I will not be criticizing the Dorado for this—instead I will focus the effectiveness of how the signature presents as a unity.
General Observations
To put bluntly (and mildly)-- I really really like them. I’ve loved various IEMs for various reasons over the years but I don’t think I’ve ever heard any that have made me smile as much and as easily as the Dorado 2020 has. They are exactly what I was hoping they would be-- and much that I wasn't really sure was possible. Anyone who: was at all a fan of the Atlas and was hoping for an upgrade/refinement of that sort of sound from Campfire, who doesn’t mind a polite but definite bass emphasis, who is seeking an IEM that prioritizes fun and engagement above all, and who places a high priority on natural and open mids-- should take a serious look at these. Between the cleaner mid-bass, refined highs, and greatly improved technicalities within a signature that is deceptively simple yet supremely confident in itself I feel they’ve delivered a perfected Atlas and captured lightning in a bottle with these IEMs.
Suffice to say I don’t think Campfire tuned these to bring out all the detail and nuance in someone’s perfectly recorded jazz collection, with an aim of neutrality. or to be mind-blowingly technical or detail oriented. They have a good degree of balance but that is not their primary aim, nor are they trying to be technical virtuosos or detail/resolution/staging monsters-- even though from a technical standpoint they are, in fact, very very good. There is an effortless quality to the Dorado's technical ability. It doesn't jump out at you right away-- rather it emerges as the inevitable result of numerous factors working together in perfect harmony. There is no fanfare or pyrotechnics or overeagerness-- the Dorado has such a natural sound that its power is deceptive, at first seeming merely playful. But there is a depth, precision and power below the surface.
The Dorado 2020 are incredibly versatile—I have not found anything that sounds bad on them. I can listen to a very varied playlist all day without feeling the need to skip or coming across music that sounds off. This is a W shaped tuning so there are inevitably areas where some elements of the mids feel pushed behind the bass. In areas where more vocal or instrumental presence is needed a slight bump at 4K should do the trick. I will say though that Dorado 2020 excel with (often less well recorded) pop and rock music that the bulk of us grew up with during the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, an on into the present really-- specifically anything defined to some extent by a driving low end. Exile on Main Street, James Brown, CCR, recordings from the 60s, Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Dire Straits and so on, sound incredible on these. All in all a very dynamic and "in your face" sound that I’m currently finding rather insanely fun to listen to—not since the Atlas have I experienced an IEM that was this much fun.
A Note on Packaging
I love Campfire’s packaging— the art direction, the minimalism, the design. In a world were packaging can be quite ostentatious and overboard Campfire’s is a breath of fresh air. Alone of all the gear I’ve purchased, my Campfire IEM boxes always go on display in my living room as I love the way they look.
Sound Impressions
The sound of the Dorado 2020 can be characterized by: 1) dominant but disciplined bass, 2) open mids and an endearing natural timbre, 3) a notable authority and clarity across the spectrum that becomes more and more apparent with time. The layering and separation on the Dorado 2020 is surprisingly great-- nothing gets muddied up in busy passages. The bass is clean, present, tight and just disciplined enough. In terms of staging they’re like a more intimate Solaris with its sign reversed—less width but decent depth. The midrange is very present, though there is a bit of a recession in the upper half of the mids relative to the bass-- but the profound discipline of the whole FR combined with the natural timbre greatly negates any issues one may have with this. It's worth emphasizing again that there are some occasions where parts of the mids can feel pushed behind the bass-- but this is unavoidable with this type of sound. The Dorado 2020 is an IEM for someone who wants a dominant low end. Highs are clear, sweet and detailed-- never harsh, tizzy, metallic or piercing.
From a purely technical standpoint (clarity, resolution, separation etc.) there are clearly superior IEMs out there than the Dorado if what you are mainly after is to put your music under some kind of analytic microscope. Where the Dorado knocks it out of the park is with its natural timbre and voicing-- vocals, strings, horns, percussion-- all have a depth, density, realism and, fundamentally, a deceptive naturalism that, to my ears is, utterly compelling. The Dorado hooks me in with what is ultimately a sense of playfulness-- I just want to tap my feet, bop my head, sing, dance, express myself in some way when I listen to these. Putting them on is a passport to a musical Disneyland.
In terms of timbre and naturalness in the midrange I would say it trails behind something like the Vision Ears Elysium (though not as much as you might think) but surpasses other hybrid IEMs like the IER Z1R, Solaris OG, 64 Nio and UM MEST. The naturalness of Dorado’s mids make the sound easier to embrace emotionally than is the case with IEMs that are more technically focused. Yes the mids are a bit pushed back at times, but they never feel disconnected, distant or muddied. The bass grips and captivates and it has that Campfire speed and density that keeps it from overwhelming me or craving air after a time as I do with something like the Legend X.
I think the Dorado's capacity for realism and engagement has one of its roots in the fact that the mids are done by the DD (the other significant factor imho is the ceramic shell). Most hybrid IEMs in my experience (Z1R, Nio, Solaris, MEST, LX etc. etc.) have mids done by the BA. BAs are better from a "technical" standpoint (clarity, detail, speed) but I have learned that DD is much much better from an emotional engagement standpoint (timbre, naturalness). BA mids are easier to place under a technical microscope, but DD mids are generally much more "lifelike". The Vision Ears Elysium has DD mids and there also is the source of a good deal of its magic. I was curious about the Dorado as soon as it was announced but once I experienced Elysium, and the magic of the fast e-stat treble working on the DD mids I became extra curious about Dorado and its fast BA treble working on Dynamic mids. It is said that the great Pyramids of Egypt used to have an outer layer and shimmering capstone of gold...this must have been a thing to behold. This effect, the shimmering flourish atop a mountain of solidity and power...is similar in character to what I experience in IEMs with quick and clear highs over a dynamic lower end (Ely, Dorado and, for that matter, the IER Z1R). The summative effect is magical.
The only real elephant in the room with respect to tuning is an upper midrange dip created largely by the elevated bass. This region is seemingly one of the most controversial and hard-to-get-right areas of the whole FR for many people. Too much in this area to some sounds shouty to some, too little makes the sound muddy to others. It seems to me most IEMs tend to be biased more towards the upper mids or lower. The IER Z1R is an example of a great IEM with an upper mid bias and weaker lower mids. With the Dorado 2020 we see the reverse-- a lower mid bias with a dip in the upper mids. What this means is that sometimes female vocals or instrumental sounds in this range sometimes sound a bit pushed back or lacking in closeness. Depending on what you listen to and what your sensitivities are this may or may not be an issue-- YMMV etc. Dorado's ace in the hole is its rich natural timbre combined with the sure footed sound made possible by the ceramic housings (more on that later). The combined result is that even when the mids are pushed back they still feel well bodied and have a solid presence.
Dynamics are great— on both highs and lows. CFA's 10mm driver produces bass that is every bit as satisfying as bass titans like the IER Z1R and UM MEST and a step above an IEM like the 64 Audi Nio. The Z1R's more woobly decay gives way for the sake of incredible density and grip put out by Campfire’s driver. Dorado 2020 won’t give you all the air and separation of Andro...but it does go some way there. The highs of the Dorado are really nice. The quicker BA treble working on the dynamic mids and lows balances out the thickness of the latter with a welcome dose of air and space. The net result is a pleasing balance and sense of naturalness.-- guitars, horns, strings and percussion sound natural, bodied, airy and real. Treble and upper mids have a nice etched-ness to them but they never feel harsh or fatiguing and never cross over into sibilance or graininess and there is no sign whatsoever of a metallic timbre. I was worried going in about the 8K treble peak but I think, much like the Dude's rug, it sort of ties everything together. Sheer detail and resolution get sacrificed a bit on the altar of the thicker bass...but that’s honestly inevitable with this type of signature and sometimes just what the Dr. ordered for me. If I had to place the Dorado 2020 in the general pantheon IEMs I would describe it as "fun perfected". In this respect nobody tops CFA at this price tier imho, maybe anywhere. Nicely Done.
Ceramic Shell
After my days and hours on the Dorado 2020 really started to add up (and also having owned the ceramic-tuning-chamber-laden SE Solaris for a year) I started to appreciate the value of the ceramic shells Ken has been advocating and trying to perfect for years. The Dorado doesn't wow you with techicalities at first, and it's technical skill probably won't become apparent during a short or superficial listening session. But the more I listen to them, the more my brain wraps itself around the signature I realize how strikingly and deceptively good the detail retrieval, clarity, layering, separation is on them. There is an almost fathomless clarity to the sound-- no matter where or how deep you look you will not find any smearing, over-vibrance, graininess, harshness, metallic timber or things blending together that shouldn't. Everything has its own sense of space and nothing really gets too much in the way of everything else. The clincher is that it does all this with a robust and authoritative bass response that acts as a gravitational centre to a signature that still has quite a bit of air, and where everything has its own space to breathe.
I am starting to suspect that a good deal of this has to do with the density of the ceramic shell that is used in the Dorado. Because of its hardness it doesn't allow for any interference or muddling with the sound-- all the frequencies just sort of stay in there respective lanes and the whole signature has this notable coherence, clarity and, to use @Tristy 's phrase "sure footedness". There was a bit of this quality in the lower vocal mid-range of the Solaris SE but with the Dorado 2020 it's across the board. It's quite remarkable and it might be what gives this IEM its true staying power for me. I really look forward to seeing how Campfire uses this tech in future IEMs. Could there be a future Solaris with more ceramic inside? I'm starting to hope so. Again, nicely done.
Point form Comparison with Solaris
TLDR: Solaris is more of a classical "wife material" tuning, Dorado 2020 will quickly win your heart, but you may wait a bit longer/be more reluctant to introduce her to your parents at first.
Dorado
+ more v-shaped than Solaris- though like the Atlas the Dorado 2020 is more W shaped than V
+ adds more body and weight to older/poorly recorded music than Solaris does
+ more traditionally staged (everything feels like it's coming at you whereas with Solaris it's almost wrapped around your head), and also a lot more intimate
+ sacrifices a bit of the vastness in staging/air/separation/detail for the sake of a more robust bass response
+ generally a much more "fun sounding" IEM, meaning it's not afraid to sacrifice a bit of detail/resolution/technicality for the sake of a thicker more bass driven sound.
+ better bass-- they let their 10mm driver off the hook a bit (and I love it), but just as well controlled (relative to quantity)
+ great mid-range timbre-- I would say it one ups Solaris here even if Solaris' mids are more present. The mid-range texture/naturalness is really really good on the Dorado-- along with the clarity and openness of the mids (W is much more to my liking than V) as well as superb imaging and separation the Dorado 2020 is imho saved from the clutches of many common criticisms of IEMs tuned like this.
Solaris
+ almost perfect balance across the FR
+ bass is reigned in/disciplined for the sake of preserving balance resulting in a cleaner more BA-like speed and sound overall
+ holographic stage, layering, seperation etc. better than on Dorado (though not as much as you might think-- Solaris is nearly peerless in this regard, especially at its price)
+ more present mids, especially on the SE, even if not quite as natural sounding as on Dorado
+ more resolving/detail oriented
+ handles super well recorded music a little better I would say
+ possibly a little more versatile than Dorado, but not as fun
+ Treble on the OG is a little better (though possibly not on the SE)
Other Comparisons
Vs. Elysium
It’s honestly hard to compare these two as they’re so fundamentally different in their tuning and ideals.
Listening to music on the Elysium is almost a transcendent experience-- with Dorado it's totally the opposite, instead of becoming totally absorbed within you just want to move, to bop your head, tap your feet, sing, dance, whatever the moment calls for. Elysium is masterful at subtlety and nuance and facilitating a real sense of intimacy. Listening to Miles Davis' Kind of Blue I can hear the "tsss" sound as he starts to blow on his trumpet, or in Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy I can almost make out the sound of John Paul Jones' fingers on his bass strings as he plucks them. It's really quite a profound effect and feeling overall and imho is what places Elysium in a class above much else I have heard when it comes to basically immersing yourself in your music.
The Dorado is more emotional in the sense that the sound is a big, bold, impactful, wall of sound presentation that really gets your head bobbing and feet tapping. Although there is plenty of detail if you look for it, the Dorados not about being perfectly accurate or calling attention to every little detail.
Instead there is a stark simplicity to Dorado's whole presentation-- but everything fits together so perfectly that it's profoundly effective. When I first got into this hobby as an adult (2 years ago) I gravitated immediately to the sort of sound I'd been seeking my whole life (bass heavy, sparkly, impactful) and went right for the Atlas. That wasn't as perfect as I'd hoped and I branched off, experienced the Solaris, and fell in love with the more mature, technical and balanced presentation. That byway reached its penultimate conclusion for me with Elysium, which is the epitome of my "audiophile purist" sensibilities. But when I heard the Dorado 2020 a few days ago it wasn't long before I realized that I was hearing, finally, a masterclass presentation of the sort of sound I'd been looking for originally. I will not rank one over the other as they both give me a similar amount and degree of satisfaction-- just at different times. Sometimes I want to watch the Shawshank Redemption and be moved to the core of my being, other times I want to watch Pulp Fiction and just have fun...both are masterpieces of their respective genres. So it is with Elysium and Dorado 2020 imho.
Vs IER Z1R
This is possibly the most interesting comparison I will do today as of all the IEMs I can think of the Z1R is the closest to the Dorado in terms of overall gestalt, despite quite different approaches. In some sense the Dorado is a scaled down, streamlined Z1R with a more "western" audio tuning. The Z1R offers a much grander, larger sound. In a sense the Z1R is an IEM that takes much of the fun factor of the Dorado 2020 and adds a hefty dose of staging and technicalities. In a sense the Z1R is the inverse of the Dorado as it has an upper mid-emphasis, whereas Dorado is more prominent in the lower mids. Z1R has a sub-bass emphasis with mid-bass punch and oomph being absent sometimes, Dorado has a bass emphasis a little further up with more mid-bass prominence and not as much subterranean sub-bass as the Z1R offers. Both have a very nice natural timbre, though the mid-range timbre of the Dorado is superior. Both IEMs are insanely fun to listen to but the FR of the Dorado 2020 plays nicer with more of the music I listen to. The Z1R has more grandeur, but Dorado has the kind of effortless natural sound rooted its aesthetic of simplicity. I had always thought the Z1R would have been better if they dropped the BA, let the DD to the mids and lows and the super tweeter do the highs—listening to the Dorado has cinched that thought for me.
While it is quite versatile and Sony did a laudable job at a pretty safe presentation, on the whole they are-- quite understandably-- skewed in the eastern direction in terms of their tuning. This is clearly seen in the tuning of the bass, lower mids, upper treble etc. on the IER Z1R. I don't think it's a flaw-- but it is a tuning choice. I really started to notice it after I compared the Dorado 2020 and Z1R directly. They are both great IEMs, they're both really fun to listen to, and they're both in my top 5 but ultimately the FR of the Dorado is significantly more in line with my preferences and the demands of a lot of the music I listen to.
Vs. UM MEST
If bass, treble, staging, technicalities etc. are your priorities then the MEST may be the IEM for you. There is a lot of overlap between the Dorado 2020 and the MEST. The MEST has superior technicalities (like insane technicalities—I have never experienced in an IEM a stage like the MEST offers…I think my bones like being conducted), more detailed treble etc. Where the Dorado wipes the floor with MEST is in mid-range texture, timbre, naturalness, presence etc. Since these latter are what I’m really after lately it’s an easy victory for the Dorado here…but YMMV.
Vs. UM MEST MKii
The MEST MKii a very nicely balanced and engaging IEM. Compared to my memories of the OG MEST I miss the oomph and impact of the bass, but the mids are more forward and natural sounding. It doesn't have the almost surreal wow factor that I remember the staging on the original having that left me feeling almost that I was inhabiting another dimension when I was listening to them. Upper mids seem just a hair breadth too energetic for me...though possibly no different than OG. On the whole I would say the MKii is a refined and ultimately more polite take on the original...more mature and natural but not as much spectacle or fun. Compared to the Dorado the mid-range of the MEST MKii it lacks the the density, sure-footedness and rich natural timbre that I've come to love about the Dorado (and the Solaris to a lesser extent before it). The bass on the MKii, again, isn't nearly as satisfying as the bass on the OG MEST and considerably less so than something like the Dorado 2020 or IER Z1R.
Vs. 64 Audio Nio
Not much to say here really. The Nio is in some ways the Dorado’s more polite, mature and technically accomplished (and a lot less fun) older brother. There is a definite emphasis on technicalities, the bass is more polite (but still present) and the treble is a lot smoother. In addition you get more presence in the midrange (but inferior timbre) and a lot better layering and separation. I’m generally not a fan of 64 Audio IEMs as I find their house sound to be too thin for my tastes and their IEMs are often technical to the point of lacking enough emotional engagement to keep me interested. The Nio is the first IEM I’ve tried of theirs that bucks that trend a wee bit, though for my own needs right now it trails considerably behind the Dorado 2020 in terms of raw engagement and enjoyability. If you want an IEM that’s technically accomplished, reasonably bassy with layered and detailed mids and that is basically fatigue free then the Nio may be a great choice.
A/B/C single track comparison with Elysium, Nio and Dorado and Zep's Whole Lotta Love
I took some time to compare the Elysium, Dorado and Nio in depth with Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love
Elysium—Bang on the money. Everything is perfectly balanced and the texture & timbre is off the charts. Vocals are right in the middle, crystal clear, well bodied and seductive. Guitars have crunch, bite and body with zero veil behind the bass. Bass is thumping, detailed, crunchy, impactful.
Dorado 2020-- Vocals and guitars are pushed behind the bass. It does seem like a dash of the FR is pushed completely behind the bass. Vocals are present, have great texture, despite being pushed a bit in the background. Guitars have great texture and body but lack crunch and bite-- a touch of info here and there does seem nearly totally eclipsed by the bass at times. Bass texture, timbre, impact, is off the charts good.
Nio-- This one was interesting. The Nio has more of the forwardness, detail and clarity of the Elysium, but it lacks the body, texture and natural timbre of the Dorado. Guitars have crunch and bite but they lack body and texture-- at times the sound of the Nio sounds like a 2-d image atop a 3-d surface of bass.
Conclusion-- the Elysium is the closest thing to a total package IEM for me right now and this comparison illustrated precisely why. The most remarkable thing about it is that I never find myself missing the DD on the low end when I'm listening to them. Between the Dorado and Nio it's a "choose your poison" kind of situation. For those who prefer detail and clarity over naturalness and timbre then the Nio may be the way to go.
As I've indicated, it's the bass response combined with the natural timbre of the mid-range that has won the day for me here with the Dorado. When seeking an IEM that has a forward and dominant bass response I went into it knowing there'd be a sacrifice in the mids somewhere. Thus, when listening to the Dorado I take it as almost axiomatic that there will be times when I hear part of the midrange lose some of its dynamics by being pushed behind the bass a bit. Regarding the bit that seems to be completely behind the bass the bright side of this situation is that it’s not a super wide range of the FR that is missing information. As I noted in my full review of the Dorado, a slight bump to 4K on EQ should open up the most recessed area of the lower treble enough reasonably mitigate the issue and remove any sense that anything is "missing". I have been using the Dorados for the last day or so with +2db @4k EQ applied and it seems to be doing the trick rather well. FR can be EQ'd in but no amount of EQ can produce the seductive rich natural timbre of the Dorado 2020.
Wrapup
In summary-- I can't get enough of the Dorado 2020. They may not be the most sophisticated or complicated (indeed that's part of the charm) but CFA here has taken a really basic tuning and refined to absolute perfection. I've followed Campfire’s releases in this vein as long as I've known about the company and while they’ve all been commendable some way, they all had a few issues here and there--in some cases minor deal breakers, or they were special teams IEMs that had a range of stuff they sounded good with. With Dorado they've come across a goldilocks presentation that gives you modestly basshead level bass (I don't consider IER Z1R, Solaris or even MEST to be basshead IEMs) with a supremely textured and natural midrange that feels open, inviting and veil-free and a sweet natural treble that is sharp but never unpleasant, sibilant or fatiguing. Couple all that with an instantly accessible, insanely engaging versatile tuning I have a feeling these could eventually overtake, or at least equal the Andromeda as CFA's most storied release. They are that good in my opinion.
In a video review on Youtube by Audiolevels he remarks that the Dorado 2020 is an earphone that allows you to just sit back and enjoy your music like you did when you were younger—this is absolutely true and I think is part of their deceptively simple yet remarkable appeal. So ultimately who are they for? The Dorado 2020 are not the best IEM for someone who wants to place their music under a microscope, or marvel in its analytic perfection. But for someone who just wants to listen to music for the sheer joy and love of it, with no pretense or other agenda-- the Dorado 2020 is a solid rec. I don't know how else to say it, and the cliché will have to be forgiven-- but these IEMs make me feel like a kid again. It's a totally different sort of engagement than with something like the Elysium, but it's ultimately no less satisfying. Elysium is a romantic trip to Florence Italy with someone you love, Dorado is a day at Disneyland with that same person-- variety, after all, is the spice of life.
At the moment the Dorado 2020 is my favorite Campfire IEM. I love that Campfire plays around with different tuning ideals. I have always been a fan of their more fun and bassy excursions and with the Dorado 2020 I feel they've finally reached a laudable level of perfection with that sort of tuning in that they're allowing me to totally rock out and not feel like I'm missing anything substantial in terms of staging or details. I've had these in my ears for days straight and they have not hit a false note for me yet-- in fact I can barely wipe the smile off my face most of the time.
When the MEST MKii was released its marketing literature noted that it had been tuned with "western audiophiles in mind". This was the first time I'd heard this phenomenon openly referred to in association with an official release and quite frankly I think is a great development and something that's not acknowledged enough directly. Ultimately what it comes down to I think is that much "western music" (rock, blues, rythm & blues, funk, soul, pop, r&b, hip hop) has its DNA in the mid-bass/lower mids region. Conversely a lot of "eastern music"(Jpop, Kpop etc.) has its DNA in the lower treble/upper mid region. Unless the tuning aim is total and complete referency balanced neutrality (which is not what I'm after at all personally) IEM tuning in my experience tends to be colored more in one direction than the other. "Western tuning" as a rule tends to emphasize mid-bass over sub-bass and lower mids over upper. Eastern or "Chifi" tuning as it's sometimes colloquially referred to tends to emphasize sub-bass presence over mid-bass presence and upper mids over lower. Music tuned in the western direction can sound flat, veiled, lifeless and muddled to someone who prefers or listens to music which benefits from an eastern tuning, and music tuned in the eastern direction can sound shouty, thin and weird to someone who prefers or listens to music which benefits from a western tuning. IMHO the Dorado 2020 is, in essence, an IEM tuned almost exclusively in the "western" direction. I totally understand why someone after neutrality or a more "eastern" tuning won't be in to the Dorado 2020, but for someone into the sort of sound the Dorado is putting down they are, to quote Chandler Bing, near perfection to my ears-- something still becoming more and more apparent to me even after listening to them pretty much exclusively for over 3 weeks now.
To close, I am aware that this IEM has received some mixed reviews. It’s tempting to be troubled by these sorts of contradictions-- but then I remember that we’re all only human. Once upon a time Rolling Stone Magazine trashed all Zeppelin’s early albums upon initial release. Those classics eventually got the credit they deserve but this story goes to show that even good sources of information are capable of being totally wrong, or so caught up in their own meme that they don’t recognize greatness when they see it. As is often said in this hobby let it be said again: trust your own ears above all.
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1TrickPony
Headphoneus Supremus
Dropped off my VE8 at the post office, and hopefully they'll be making it into your hands by the end of the week @Rockwell75 . (Will pm you the rest of the details once I get back home).
Yes it's 6:30 AM here and I'm about to head to work...I should be able to have them in the post office shortly before noon as I break for lunch. Will have tracking info for you at that time as well. This is exciting...I'm really stoked to hear the VE8 through the M8 and I can't wait for your thoughts on the Elysium
chickenmcnug
Formerly known as 8481
Yes it's 6:30 AM here and I'm about to head to work...I should be able to have them in the post office shortly before noon as I break for lunch. Will have tracking info for you at that time as well. This is exciting...I'm really stoked to hear the VE8 through the M8 and I can't wait for your thoughts on the Elysium
If M8 sounds like the 1Z like what Ive been reading be prepared for sweet smooth buttery goodness.
My off-the-cuff thoughts on the M8 were that it was a nice mix of the 1Z and Cayin N8... @SBranson has more experience with the 1Z than me so he could perhaps chime in more authoritatively on the similarities (or not). It's interesting that the M8 is presently my favorite piece of gear that I own and if I had to give up everything I own one piece at a time the Shanling M8 would be the last thing to go.
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claud W
Headphoneus Supremus
That's the kind of recommendation that added the M8 to my very short list of audio stuff I will buy in 2021. This list only includes the CA Dorado 2020.
I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on the Dorado 2020-- I have not been able to take them out of my ears in the 5 weeks since I've received them, and this during a time when, at various points, I had in house the following: IER Z1R, MEST MKii, Elysium and Nio. They shoot well above their price and thus far imho have not received the recognition they deserve.
SBranson
Headphoneus Supremus
I wish I could shed light on the question beyond very broad strokes. I didn't have the same iems or cables as I do with the M8 so without those the same it's hard to isolate the difference/similarity between the two. But... in broad strokes, they both have an "organic" signature that is very analog sounding. Nicely detailed with great soundstage and imaging. I had the 1Z at the same time as the 1A (with the Solaris 2020) and I could understand why some prefer the 1A, particularly if acoustic instruments weren't a priority in ones' listening preferences but if so, then the 1Z was significantly better in timbre. The 1A was a less full sound but that works in some instances.. The 1Z maintained the detail but brought in a more rounded sound.. I mention this comparison as I had the DX228ex along with the M8 and it's a similar type of difference but truthfully I think the DX228ex is more versatile than the 1A (except for it's dismal battery life) and the M8 is more versatile than the 1Z.. This is largely due to way more power but also I think that DAPs have just gotten better and better. In my opinion, the bass is more refined and deeper in the M8 compared to the 1Z, the soundstaging (if I can isolate it to the dap and not the iems) is as good or better and I can't think of any way that I would prefer the 1Z to the M8. At first I did like the detail level of the DX228ex but changing my cable on the Elysium to the Eletech Plato, I feel I have the best of both worlds. A smooth, detailed play back that outdoes any system I've ever heard.
This is my OG Solaris review. It was originally published in March 2019. At that point I was fairly new in this hobby and trying to find my footing around what sort of sound I like, who to trust in terms of reviewers etc. It's interesting to look back on as kind of a "then an now" in terms of my experiences, ideals etc.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell-- or how I learned I'm not a basshead.
Sitting here enjoying my coffee and my Solaris on the first day of spring break proper and it feels like a good time to jot down some more thorough impressions. Before I say anything I want to take a moment to re-emphasize the importance of trying something for yourself, or at the very least taking everything you read online with a massive grain of salt. I'm fairly new to the world of high-end IEMs and in the comparatively brief time I've spent perusing forums and reviews I've come to the conclusion that nothing can substitute for actually LISTENING to something for yourself. Pick any great IEM you want and if you read enough you will find people who hate it, people who love it, people who say it excels at this or that and others who say it's weak in those exact areas. So many times I tried to get to the bottom of whether a particular IEM was right for me and I'd only find myself bewildered at all the varying opinions and perspectives. Even people who are often in line with my views and preferences will occasionally say things I disagree with-- it's all part of being human. Psychology is a funny thing-- you can read 100 glowing impressions of a product but all it takes is one false note to throw everything into doubt in your mind.
Another thing is that it seems to me that people in this hobby are prone to a funny sort of auto-suggestion. You can read dozens of glowing impressions and then someone will come along and say something like "I tried to like it but I noticed a hollowed out sparkle register in the lower mid-treble and I couldn't get over the tonally imbalanced dynamics-- here are some graphs which back that up". Invariably following that there will be a string of new impressions, and a few of the originals will come back and say "well I liked it originally but when listened to it again I really noticed that hollowed out sparkle register in the lower mid-treble and those tonally imbalanced dynamics". Then along will come someone like me who doesn't know any better who will think "oh wow I was considering pulling the trigger on this, and I have no idea What any of that means but it sounds bad...maybe I should hold off". Then later on I'll get to try the thing for myself and I'll think something like "I don't know what any of those people were talking about-- this thing sounds amazing."
I had similar experiences with the Atlas and most recently the Solaris. I almost passed on the Atlas because I put too much stock in the words of a prominent internet reviewer. Had I done that I would have missed out on one of the best sounding IEMs on the market right now. The point: there is no substitute for hearing something for yourself-- we are all different. It's true that I am fortunate to live near a Campfire Audio distributor. If I lived in Toronto I'd probably be in the Empire Ears thread right now raving about the LX because that's what the store there carries. But the point still stands-- no two of us react the same to the same stimuli. And just hearing something in a shop briefly isn't enough. Having an IEM is like being in a relationship-- you get wowed by certain features off the bat, but those little quirks you gloss over initially might drive you mad in the long term. Find any IEM on the market and there will be people who love it and people who trash it. All of that being said...
Prior to having the Solaris I had thought that my ideal was along the lines of a V shaped signature with a robust and powerful low end and just enough sparkle and detail in the treble. While they're both amazing IEMs I much prefer the Atlas to the Andromeda-- I'm not a fan of BA bass in general and, as much as love the detail and precision of the Andro, in a pinch I would rather have the bass of the Atlas...and I did for a few weeks before picking up Solaris. When I went to demo Solaris my idea was to pick up something to compliment the Atlas. I had read many impressions of Solaris that said it lacked bass or that "bass heads need not apply". With that in mind I figured the Atlas would be main daily with Solaris stepping in every now and again to give me something different. I then made a playlist of songs I felt would sound great on Solaris (and a few Atlas favorites for comparison) and headed to Headphone Bar in Vancouver to try it out.
A note on fit: I am a large man with a large head and large ears and the Solaris fits me perfectly. Even Travis at headphone bar commented that the Solaris fits me as well as the Andro fits him. The memory wire holds it in my ears perfectly, it doesn't protrude at all and I can wear it for hours comfortably. Also, make sure you find tips that give you a good seal. I have read a few impressions by people who complained of the "hollowed out mids" but were able to mitigate it with the right tips.
When I arrived at Headphone Bar on Saturday I had been listening to the Atlas straight for a number of hours-- so I had impressions of its signature firmly in mind. I was able to sit down in the shop with an Andromeda and Solaris for over an hour going back and forth between the two forming impressions. Regarding Andro, it was just like I remembered-- amazing in its own right but not my ideal sig. It would never satisfy me as my sole daily like the Atlas did. When I tried Solaris I was totally blown away. Expecting a lack of bass I found all, or at least enough, of the Atlas sound present to totally satisfy me. Instead of a lack of bass I found near perfect balance. I don't have the vocabulary to really do this justice but all I can say is that when listening to some of my favorite tracks for bass (Exodus by Bob Marley or Not Exactly by Deadmau5 to name two) I found absolutely nothing lacking. Instead what I found was the meaty dynamic bass of the Atlas thumping below me with the precision, detail and sparkle of the Andro whispering in my ears. Having previously been listening to these same songs on the Atlas for much of the previous day and month I didn't find myself missing anything at all.
In addition to the Atlas quality bass Solaris delivers a vastly increased soundstage with all the best features of the Andromeda woven in and around it. I stand by my original impression: Solaris is Andro plus bass-- a beautiful synergy of the best of the Andromeda and the Atlas. When I first demoed the Atlas I fell in love with its massive sound. The Solaris takes that massive sound, stretches it out and fills in all the spaces with detail, holography and pinpoint precise nuance. Put Another way, listening to the Atlas feels like you're in a small room (though it took the Solaris to make me realize it was small) with the bass and treble in the forefront (ie., a V) and everything else a little bit further back. The Solaris takes that same bass and treble, puts it in the centre of a bigger room and surrounds it with lush layers of extra detail and mid/treble flourish a la the Andromeda. So while it's true that the low end doesn't dominate with the Solaris like it does with the Atlas-- you can still very much tell that it's present, only dispersed over a larger soundstage. Quite frankly I find myself too wowed by all the detail, sparkle, precision and space that have been added to mind the decreased emphasis on the lower end. Again, I still sense it there, I don't feel it's lack, rather I'm too busy focusing on the Andro-like loveliness that's now filling the gaps. It's not at all what I was expecting bass-wise from the Solaris based on the reviews I'd read...maybe the lesson is that I'm not a basshead after all?
When I got the Atlas I raved that it was all I ever wanted-- but with the Solaris it's all I ever wanted from the Atlas plus everything I didn't know I wanted from the Andromeda. I have probably close to 30 hours on the Solaris and it's only getting better and better. When I went to try it I imagined that I would prefer Atlas maybe 70% of the time and use Solaris for the remaining 30% but what I'm finding is that just about everything sounds way better, fuller, on Solaris. There is a bit, maybe 5% of my music that I would rather listen to on Atlas, but this mostly (I think) boils down to poor mastering. The Atlas is more forgiving of this than Solaris in this regard. My takeaway from all of this is that maybe my preference is for a more neutral sound signature-- and with an IEM as honest and well executed as Solaris it's a match made in heaven.
One thing about Solaris that is unique for me is that it's perfectly satisfying to listen to at very low volume. Usually I'm one to crank the volume-- I was always resisting the urge to do this on Atlas. With Solaris I can sit there with my Fiio M9 on 30 and not miss any detail, bass or sound quality. I will not be looking at new IEMS for a very long time. It these are at all on your radar, and you have the ability to try them without putting yourself out too much, you owe it to yourself to do so. If you have the Solaris and the means check out In the Gallery by Dire Straits-- it brings to the forefront everything Solaris does best. I have admittedly not heard a wide variety of TOTL IEMS so I can't do any worthwhile comparisons-- all I can say is that, for my tastes and preferences Solaris does everything right. Nothing is lacking-- and, again, this is coming from an Atlas fanboy, so take that for what it's worth. It sounds cliche but my heart just says "Nicely Done".
Edit: One thing I'm appreciating more and more about the Solaris after the first week (and probably about 60 hours) is how balanced and cohesive it is. Nothing stands out yet at the same time everything stands out. I've never tangibly perceived such a sense of unity from portable music before-- I can focus on each level and be totally wowed but at the same time sit back and appreciate how seamlessly it all blends together. If I were to chime in on the burn-in factor at this point I would say that as the hours wear on with this unit the sound becomes more and more cohesive. When I first tried it there was a vague sense of each of the different layers working to carve out their respective spaces but as the time wears all on of that dissolves into a serenely engaging unity. It doesn't matter what I'm listening to-- I can engage with each of the different layers if I choose but it's also easy to sit back and embraces the whole of the sound and not be distracted by any particular layer of it. Whether it's due to actual burn in or psychological burn-in who's to say but I think it stands as a testament to the quality of the tuning on this thing (for those who prefer a more balanced signature).
Edit 2 (five months later)-- comparison with Sony IER Z1R:
So after 5 months of owning (and loving) the Solaris I found myself tempted by another IEM, namely the Sony IER Z1R. At the end of July I ordered the Z1R, entirely out of curiosity and love of Sony products in general and not due to any inherent dissatisfaction with the Solaris. Upon receiving the Z1R I was deeply impressed with its bass and treble extension and overall sexiness-- to the point that I was prepared to make it my main IEM. Fortunately I didn't rush into anything and I kept my Solaris on hand alongside the Z1R.
Long story shortened-- after two weeks of what could be described as a dark night of the soul(aris)-- during which I listened exclusively to the Z1R-- I switched back over to the Solaris and I was struck by how much I'd missed its beautiful balanced sound, robust midrange, detail retrieval and holographic soundstage. Another thing that jumped out at me after many days of not hearing the Solaris was how coherent and "whole" its presentation of sound is. The Z1R is a great sounding IEM, but after switching back to Solaris I found myself really noticing its recessed midrange and comparatively confined soundstage. In addition to that I remembered how well Solaris fit me-- I can wear them for hours comfortably whether on the couch or out and about. They are substantially lighter than the Z1R and I can easily forget they're there. For a few hours I did some a/b'ing between the two with some of my favorite tracks I found that I actually preferred the sound of the Solaris a significant percentage of the time. I think that in a rush to embrace the Z1R initially I glossed over many of the strengths of the Solaris. This method of switching to one IEM exclusively for a period of time and then back to the other to see what I notice is a good way to ascertain the strengths of each in a more definitive way.
Ultimately they both have their strengths-- for me it's treble/bass extension and definition on the Z1R vs. balance, a more robust midrange, resolution and an airy and holographic soundstage on the Solaris-- however lately, as I indicated in my initial review, my preferences tend more towards the balanced presentation of the Solaris to the mild V of the Z1R. Factoring in the fit issues, and what are imho certain superior technicalities, and the balance has tilted decisively in favor of the Solaris for me. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise-- the Solaris is a TOTL IEM on par with the best on the market and if balance and coherence combined with delicious DD bass is your thing, then I'm not sure there's anything better out there right now. When I first started my search for a high end IEM earlier this year there was a lot of backlash to the initial glowing hype of these IEMs, which many deemed too excessive. Speaking from my own recent experience where I branched out to another IEM only to come back and realize how good the Solaris really are-- I think it's fair to say that they have more than lived up to the initial hype surrounding them. Sometimes we need to branch out for a bit to really appreciate the greatness of the things that we have. In a nutshell: Solaris FTW!
Campfire Audio display at Headphone Bar:
Moment of glory:
Fit:
Earphones of the gods:
Radiating beauty, elegance and power:
Musical:
Conclusion:
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell-- or how I learned I'm not a basshead.
Sitting here enjoying my coffee and my Solaris on the first day of spring break proper and it feels like a good time to jot down some more thorough impressions. Before I say anything I want to take a moment to re-emphasize the importance of trying something for yourself, or at the very least taking everything you read online with a massive grain of salt. I'm fairly new to the world of high-end IEMs and in the comparatively brief time I've spent perusing forums and reviews I've come to the conclusion that nothing can substitute for actually LISTENING to something for yourself. Pick any great IEM you want and if you read enough you will find people who hate it, people who love it, people who say it excels at this or that and others who say it's weak in those exact areas. So many times I tried to get to the bottom of whether a particular IEM was right for me and I'd only find myself bewildered at all the varying opinions and perspectives. Even people who are often in line with my views and preferences will occasionally say things I disagree with-- it's all part of being human. Psychology is a funny thing-- you can read 100 glowing impressions of a product but all it takes is one false note to throw everything into doubt in your mind.
Another thing is that it seems to me that people in this hobby are prone to a funny sort of auto-suggestion. You can read dozens of glowing impressions and then someone will come along and say something like "I tried to like it but I noticed a hollowed out sparkle register in the lower mid-treble and I couldn't get over the tonally imbalanced dynamics-- here are some graphs which back that up". Invariably following that there will be a string of new impressions, and a few of the originals will come back and say "well I liked it originally but when listened to it again I really noticed that hollowed out sparkle register in the lower mid-treble and those tonally imbalanced dynamics". Then along will come someone like me who doesn't know any better who will think "oh wow I was considering pulling the trigger on this, and I have no idea What any of that means but it sounds bad...maybe I should hold off". Then later on I'll get to try the thing for myself and I'll think something like "I don't know what any of those people were talking about-- this thing sounds amazing."
I had similar experiences with the Atlas and most recently the Solaris. I almost passed on the Atlas because I put too much stock in the words of a prominent internet reviewer. Had I done that I would have missed out on one of the best sounding IEMs on the market right now. The point: there is no substitute for hearing something for yourself-- we are all different. It's true that I am fortunate to live near a Campfire Audio distributor. If I lived in Toronto I'd probably be in the Empire Ears thread right now raving about the LX because that's what the store there carries. But the point still stands-- no two of us react the same to the same stimuli. And just hearing something in a shop briefly isn't enough. Having an IEM is like being in a relationship-- you get wowed by certain features off the bat, but those little quirks you gloss over initially might drive you mad in the long term. Find any IEM on the market and there will be people who love it and people who trash it. All of that being said...
Prior to having the Solaris I had thought that my ideal was along the lines of a V shaped signature with a robust and powerful low end and just enough sparkle and detail in the treble. While they're both amazing IEMs I much prefer the Atlas to the Andromeda-- I'm not a fan of BA bass in general and, as much as love the detail and precision of the Andro, in a pinch I would rather have the bass of the Atlas...and I did for a few weeks before picking up Solaris. When I went to demo Solaris my idea was to pick up something to compliment the Atlas. I had read many impressions of Solaris that said it lacked bass or that "bass heads need not apply". With that in mind I figured the Atlas would be main daily with Solaris stepping in every now and again to give me something different. I then made a playlist of songs I felt would sound great on Solaris (and a few Atlas favorites for comparison) and headed to Headphone Bar in Vancouver to try it out.
A note on fit: I am a large man with a large head and large ears and the Solaris fits me perfectly. Even Travis at headphone bar commented that the Solaris fits me as well as the Andro fits him. The memory wire holds it in my ears perfectly, it doesn't protrude at all and I can wear it for hours comfortably. Also, make sure you find tips that give you a good seal. I have read a few impressions by people who complained of the "hollowed out mids" but were able to mitigate it with the right tips.
When I arrived at Headphone Bar on Saturday I had been listening to the Atlas straight for a number of hours-- so I had impressions of its signature firmly in mind. I was able to sit down in the shop with an Andromeda and Solaris for over an hour going back and forth between the two forming impressions. Regarding Andro, it was just like I remembered-- amazing in its own right but not my ideal sig. It would never satisfy me as my sole daily like the Atlas did. When I tried Solaris I was totally blown away. Expecting a lack of bass I found all, or at least enough, of the Atlas sound present to totally satisfy me. Instead of a lack of bass I found near perfect balance. I don't have the vocabulary to really do this justice but all I can say is that when listening to some of my favorite tracks for bass (Exodus by Bob Marley or Not Exactly by Deadmau5 to name two) I found absolutely nothing lacking. Instead what I found was the meaty dynamic bass of the Atlas thumping below me with the precision, detail and sparkle of the Andro whispering in my ears. Having previously been listening to these same songs on the Atlas for much of the previous day and month I didn't find myself missing anything at all.
In addition to the Atlas quality bass Solaris delivers a vastly increased soundstage with all the best features of the Andromeda woven in and around it. I stand by my original impression: Solaris is Andro plus bass-- a beautiful synergy of the best of the Andromeda and the Atlas. When I first demoed the Atlas I fell in love with its massive sound. The Solaris takes that massive sound, stretches it out and fills in all the spaces with detail, holography and pinpoint precise nuance. Put Another way, listening to the Atlas feels like you're in a small room (though it took the Solaris to make me realize it was small) with the bass and treble in the forefront (ie., a V) and everything else a little bit further back. The Solaris takes that same bass and treble, puts it in the centre of a bigger room and surrounds it with lush layers of extra detail and mid/treble flourish a la the Andromeda. So while it's true that the low end doesn't dominate with the Solaris like it does with the Atlas-- you can still very much tell that it's present, only dispersed over a larger soundstage. Quite frankly I find myself too wowed by all the detail, sparkle, precision and space that have been added to mind the decreased emphasis on the lower end. Again, I still sense it there, I don't feel it's lack, rather I'm too busy focusing on the Andro-like loveliness that's now filling the gaps. It's not at all what I was expecting bass-wise from the Solaris based on the reviews I'd read...maybe the lesson is that I'm not a basshead after all?
When I got the Atlas I raved that it was all I ever wanted-- but with the Solaris it's all I ever wanted from the Atlas plus everything I didn't know I wanted from the Andromeda. I have probably close to 30 hours on the Solaris and it's only getting better and better. When I went to try it I imagined that I would prefer Atlas maybe 70% of the time and use Solaris for the remaining 30% but what I'm finding is that just about everything sounds way better, fuller, on Solaris. There is a bit, maybe 5% of my music that I would rather listen to on Atlas, but this mostly (I think) boils down to poor mastering. The Atlas is more forgiving of this than Solaris in this regard. My takeaway from all of this is that maybe my preference is for a more neutral sound signature-- and with an IEM as honest and well executed as Solaris it's a match made in heaven.
One thing about Solaris that is unique for me is that it's perfectly satisfying to listen to at very low volume. Usually I'm one to crank the volume-- I was always resisting the urge to do this on Atlas. With Solaris I can sit there with my Fiio M9 on 30 and not miss any detail, bass or sound quality. I will not be looking at new IEMS for a very long time. It these are at all on your radar, and you have the ability to try them without putting yourself out too much, you owe it to yourself to do so. If you have the Solaris and the means check out In the Gallery by Dire Straits-- it brings to the forefront everything Solaris does best. I have admittedly not heard a wide variety of TOTL IEMS so I can't do any worthwhile comparisons-- all I can say is that, for my tastes and preferences Solaris does everything right. Nothing is lacking-- and, again, this is coming from an Atlas fanboy, so take that for what it's worth. It sounds cliche but my heart just says "Nicely Done".
Edit: One thing I'm appreciating more and more about the Solaris after the first week (and probably about 60 hours) is how balanced and cohesive it is. Nothing stands out yet at the same time everything stands out. I've never tangibly perceived such a sense of unity from portable music before-- I can focus on each level and be totally wowed but at the same time sit back and appreciate how seamlessly it all blends together. If I were to chime in on the burn-in factor at this point I would say that as the hours wear on with this unit the sound becomes more and more cohesive. When I first tried it there was a vague sense of each of the different layers working to carve out their respective spaces but as the time wears all on of that dissolves into a serenely engaging unity. It doesn't matter what I'm listening to-- I can engage with each of the different layers if I choose but it's also easy to sit back and embraces the whole of the sound and not be distracted by any particular layer of it. Whether it's due to actual burn in or psychological burn-in who's to say but I think it stands as a testament to the quality of the tuning on this thing (for those who prefer a more balanced signature).
Edit 2 (five months later)-- comparison with Sony IER Z1R:
So after 5 months of owning (and loving) the Solaris I found myself tempted by another IEM, namely the Sony IER Z1R. At the end of July I ordered the Z1R, entirely out of curiosity and love of Sony products in general and not due to any inherent dissatisfaction with the Solaris. Upon receiving the Z1R I was deeply impressed with its bass and treble extension and overall sexiness-- to the point that I was prepared to make it my main IEM. Fortunately I didn't rush into anything and I kept my Solaris on hand alongside the Z1R.
Long story shortened-- after two weeks of what could be described as a dark night of the soul(aris)-- during which I listened exclusively to the Z1R-- I switched back over to the Solaris and I was struck by how much I'd missed its beautiful balanced sound, robust midrange, detail retrieval and holographic soundstage. Another thing that jumped out at me after many days of not hearing the Solaris was how coherent and "whole" its presentation of sound is. The Z1R is a great sounding IEM, but after switching back to Solaris I found myself really noticing its recessed midrange and comparatively confined soundstage. In addition to that I remembered how well Solaris fit me-- I can wear them for hours comfortably whether on the couch or out and about. They are substantially lighter than the Z1R and I can easily forget they're there. For a few hours I did some a/b'ing between the two with some of my favorite tracks I found that I actually preferred the sound of the Solaris a significant percentage of the time. I think that in a rush to embrace the Z1R initially I glossed over many of the strengths of the Solaris. This method of switching to one IEM exclusively for a period of time and then back to the other to see what I notice is a good way to ascertain the strengths of each in a more definitive way.
Ultimately they both have their strengths-- for me it's treble/bass extension and definition on the Z1R vs. balance, a more robust midrange, resolution and an airy and holographic soundstage on the Solaris-- however lately, as I indicated in my initial review, my preferences tend more towards the balanced presentation of the Solaris to the mild V of the Z1R. Factoring in the fit issues, and what are imho certain superior technicalities, and the balance has tilted decisively in favor of the Solaris for me. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise-- the Solaris is a TOTL IEM on par with the best on the market and if balance and coherence combined with delicious DD bass is your thing, then I'm not sure there's anything better out there right now. When I first started my search for a high end IEM earlier this year there was a lot of backlash to the initial glowing hype of these IEMs, which many deemed too excessive. Speaking from my own recent experience where I branched out to another IEM only to come back and realize how good the Solaris really are-- I think it's fair to say that they have more than lived up to the initial hype surrounding them. Sometimes we need to branch out for a bit to really appreciate the greatness of the things that we have. In a nutshell: Solaris FTW!
Campfire Audio display at Headphone Bar:
Moment of glory:
Fit:
Earphones of the gods:
Radiating beauty, elegance and power:
Musical:
Conclusion:
1TrickPony
Headphoneus Supremus
Nice review, even if dates a couple of years back. I had the chance to meet Herbie Hancock, who turned 70(?) at the time, and we managed to chat up after he played a 3 hour gig. He played a couple of Head hunters tunes too, which was a delight!
Solaris LE has become easily my favourite IEM now. I don't know if it's me getting used to the SS or burn in , but I love how organic and natural it sounds and it's so versatile. I got used the fit too.
Now I can't wait to hear the Dorado. If as you say it's better than the Solaris it's gotta be something special. Then I think it's inevitable, I have to get the Elysium too, lol.
Now I can't wait to hear the Dorado. If as you say it's better than the Solaris it's gotta be something special. Then I think it's inevitable, I have to get the Elysium too, lol.
Xinlisupreme
Headphoneus Supremus
Let me know how is Dorado 2020 compared to Solaris LE... Dorado looks more comfy and maybe would be a good choice for my collection.
Also Solaris OG and DMAGIC call me
