The discovery thread!

[nikbr]

These just arrived back from the tour @bithalver sent them on so graciously despite these being his bae.

I heard these briefly once before when Laszlo visited Ljubljana in December. So, this is like a second first impression, and ... flippin' fantastic still!

Looking forward to some more sessions before sending them back to their home.

Also, manufacturers, watch and learn. This is how you implement the name without staining the faceplate:

 

[Billyak]

Still dont understand why people like chord. Qutest is nothing more than stronger fiio m11 ess plus basicaly same sound only stronger on amp. Price for this sound is bad joke.

My Ibasso dc elite sounds better than my mojo 1 imo.

 

[SushiiFi]

Eesh. $200 for a connection adapter. But it's also for a very specialized use case, so if you really need to use both 4.4mm and 3.5mm at the same time, I guess you'll pay whatever it takes?

Yeah, 200 is very steep that's why my cheao a** is using ranko acoustics one

 

[pk4425]

They look nice, but big. I wonder how heavy they are.

Yep. The earcup size of HiFiMan and the apparent girth of Audeze's LCD series might be a beefy combination.

​

Alien Brain​

Out of this world five-driver hybrid in-ear-monitor​

Available Friday, April 11

Close-Encounters of the HiFi Kind​

Alien Brain is Campfire's latest in our long legacy of premium hybrid-design IEMs with a new five-driver internal architecture. Drawing from over a decade of engineering, experimentation, and innovation, Alien Brain.

New Hybrid Internal Architecture​

Alien Brain's new, five-driver, internal architecture is built on the long legacy of Campfire's world-class hybrid IEMs.

A new iteration of our renowned Dual Magnet Dynamic Driver forms the bedrock of Alien Brain's powerful sonic performance. Alongside this incredible new bass driver are four, high-performance balanced armatures; two dedicated to mid frequencies, and two for highs.

These drivers coalesce to form a smooth, musical, and engaging listen through Campfire's careful treatment and tuning.

New Dual-Magnet DD Iteration​

First introduced in Bonneville and Cascara, our Dual Magnet DD quickly became a fan-favorite. This latest iteration features an exciting new glass-pu diaphragm; with a glass speaker dome and polyurethane coating.

Experience incredible bass texture and impact, without being over-bearing or too forward. Giving you just the right amount of low-end power to infuse energy into your tracks without crowding out the rest of the frequency spectrum.

Peak Performance​

Alien Brain​

Tuned With Intention​

This curve displays relative volume levels at each point across the frequency spectrum, reflecting Alien Brain's careful balance and refinement in tuning. Though FR curves are a great general guide, they can't convey technicalities like soundstage, imaging, layering, etc​

Phase Harmony Engineering​

At Campfire Audio, our philosophy regarding driver treatment informs a considered approach that emphasizes quality over quantity. In the arms-race to fit a higher and higher number of drivers into an earphone, we find that a results-driven technique to driver treatment produces superior results with less room for pitfalls and ever-expanding variables that can undermine product consistency.

One of the products of this approach is our Phase Harmony Engineering, that allows us to segment the frequency spectrum and assign these segments to specific drivers, and allows those drivers to apply their strengths to that area. Using a combination of precision engineered driver housings and shell geometry, coupled with custom damping values we are able to physically shape the tuning and response of the drivers, and further, their interaction with one another. This driver-to-driver interaction is crucial to eliminating points of potential phase cancellation and creating the intangibles that don’t show on a frequency response curve; imaging, separation, resolution, and soundstage.

All-New Portable DAC​

Alien Brain comes equipped with Campfire's all-new, high-performance, portable USB-C DAC dongle. Enjoy streamlined, lightweight, high-res audio on the go, right out of the box. With 32 bit / 384 kHz resolution, plug and play your Alien Brain and ascend to new musical heights on your commute, in your workday, or anywhere you may be listening.

Premium Build​

Alien Brain's precious cerebrum is firmly protected in a black PVD stainless steel shell made from full billet CNC capped off by our new, transparent, iridescent, lightweight dome lid, revealing the inner-workings of each neuron.

Crafted with Care​

Each unit of Alien Brain was fully designed, engineered, assembled, tested, QC'd, packed, and shipped by Campfire's small team of professionals from our singular location in the heart of Southeast Portland, Oregon, USA.

Alien Brain - Premium HiFi Earphones​

Time Stream Cables - SPC Conductor cables in 3.5mm & 4.4mm balanced
New Portable DAC Dongle -32 bit / 384 kHz - 1 Vrms
New Compact IEM Case - Portable, magnet-closure case in Solar Yellow
Breezy Bag Micro - Black two-pocket IEM pouch
Silicone Eartips - Small, Medium, Large
Foam Eartips - Small, Medium, Large
New 'High & Clear' Eartips - Small, Medium, Large in high traction silicone
Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
IEM Cleaning Tool

This faceplate design is an April Fool's joke 10 days late, right? Looks like the headlight from a riding lawn tractor. Man, that just SCREAMS quality and hi-fi.

HIDEOUS. Hopefully it sounds a f*ckton better than it looks.

 

[cagix]

My Ibasso dc elite sounds better than my mojo 1 imo.

Complete understand. Every my new player sound better than mojo 1. These fiio m11 and qutest are big, big step on it. Still like dc elite more.

 

[Vonbuddy]

Yep. The earcup size of HiFiMan and the apparent girth of Audeze's LCD series might be a beefy combination.

This faceplate design is an April Fool's joke 10 days late, right? Looks like the headlight from a riding lawn tractor. Man, that just SCREAMS quality and hi-fi.

HIDEOUS. Hopefully it sounds a f*ckton better than it looks.

I may have missed the price for these ugly iems?

 

[bithalver]

These just arrived back from the tour @bithalver sent them on so graciously despite these being his bae.

I heard these briefly once before when Laszlo visited Ljubljana in December. So, this is like a second first impression, and ... flippin' fantastic still!

Looking forward to some more sessions before sending them back to their home.



Also, manufacturers, watch and learn. This is how you implement the name without staining the faceplate:

Let me quote a line from a movie:
- Oh, and Mr Wick ... do enjoy your party !
I have cold so I could not really enjoy'em now.

Volare and M5U never was with me at the same time so it is your chance to figure it out if they fit or not.

 

[Hypops]

These just arrived back from the tour @bithalver sent them on so graciously despite these being his bae.

I heard these briefly once before when Laszlo visited Ljubljana in December. So, this is like a second first impression, and ... flippin' fantastic still!

Looking forward to some more sessions before sending them back to their home.



Also, manufacturers, watch and learn. This is how you implement the name without staining the faceplate:

The understated "I" and "O" on each faceplate also looks classy. I dig the looks for sure, but I would hope so at that price. Once prices hit $500 and higher, the visual appearance of an IEM should be well in hand.

This faceplate design is an April Fool's joke 10 days late, right? Looks like the headlight from a riding lawn tractor. Man, that just SCREAMS quality and hi-fi.

HIDEOUS. Hopefully it sounds a f*ckton better than it looks.

Ha. I feel like I'm the aesthetics police around here, but these get a strong "yes" from me. Sure, they're unusual looking, but I really like how they look. In contrast to the truly hideous designs, this looks deliberate and thoughtful. Somewhere between a car headlight and an alien cocoon. But I also really like Campfire Audio's overall design aesthetic. I have yet to see one of their designs that doesn't immediately get my attention (but I also have yet to listen to any of their releases). Their packaging design is also second to none.

 

[dva23tri]

Has anyone with the FiiO FD15 tried adding foam in the nozzle to see if it smooths out the treble peaks significantly?

I tried a few modifications and I ended up using Simgot's stainless steel nozzle with a 200 mesh filter. It was the first time I saw a pure DD IEM that uses no mesh filter in the nozzle. There's only a steel mesh, probably used only as a barrier against ear wax and moisture, which is equivalent to approx. 70-80 grade mesh. The IEMs are practically tuned to their frequency response without the need for a tuning mesh filter, which I found impressive, but at the same time, it makes the IEMs very nozzle and filter sensitive.

I am very treble sensitive and I wanted to smooth it out anyway, so I tried some mods. BTW, the difference between the stock nozzles is only in their inner diameter, which is a tiny bit smaller on the nozzle with the red o-ring and it makes that difference you can see in the graph. I tried to put some low density foam in the stock nozzle and it definitely affected the treble, but it made the timbre kinda unnatural. The effect was bigger than I expected so I didn't try higher density foam because it could make it only even worse. Anyway, I am not a fan of the stock nozzle, I found them not comfortable for my ears - the length is a bit too much for me and the lip is more prominent, but I got this problem with multiple IEMs, to be fair. From my experience with IEMs with replaceable nozzles, I like the Simgot nozzles the most, plus they are compatible with the FD15 and I got two spare pairs.

My recommendation is to put only a 200 mesh filter on an empty nozzle, no foam, no steel mesh over it and it's done. I tried a 300 mesh filter too, but it lowered the treble too much and made the sound very unnatural and recessed so I can't recommend going that far at all. To be honest, with a 200 mesh mod, I can't wish for more in this price range. The sound hits my preference and the FiiO FD15s became my budget endgame. I prefer them over the IEMs like EA500 LM or even the TangZu Heyday.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

I only hope this cable won't become yellow after 1 year

I choose gold cables in order to avoid potential jaundice.

Sadly, the majority of my pure silver or high purity silver cables all turn green or yellow green after awhile, with only a few rare exceptions, and the exceptions are mostly all XINHS and ivipQ (seems a higher quality).

There was the KBear Tri series; which included one of my favorite desktop IEMs.

The KBear Tri Starlight


For me, the Mojo was cost prohibitive, for someone who doesn't dabble in this tier of portable equipment. I've got quite a few IEMs (like the afore mentioned Tri Starlight) that are relegated to the desktop, because my best DAP (the Hiby R4) isn't quite up to the challenge.

Oh I totally forgot that Tri is a subsidiary of KBear. Yeah, the Tri would definitely be more expensive than most of their KBear releases.

As for sources, I continue to sing the importance of keeping your sources strong and relevant, especially if you're gonna share your thoughts with the community. If you don't, then I could care less if you're using a Philips GoGear Vibe or Rush from 2008. But if you're sharing impressions with the community as a whole, the sources should reflect quality and/or variety.

Yes but you have tt2. So you paid more. It is what i write you need tt2 for great sound. In terms of competition that is realy strong you can have laiv harmony or ygdrasil. In these price segment strong review from both.

For those of you getting confused, cagix is talking about having a sour experience with the Chord 1. Not the Chord 2 or other sources.

Yep. The earcup size of HiFiMan and the apparent girth of Audeze's LCD series might be a beefy combination.

This faceplate design is an April Fool's joke 10 days late, right? Looks like the headlight from a riding lawn tractor. Man, that just SCREAMS quality and hi-fi.

HIDEOUS. Hopefully it sounds a f*ckton better than it looks.

Obviously it's called Alien Brain because it looks like a Xenomorph's head, but still, doesn't balance out the tacky look. Plus CJ SG came and went, and there's more comments and impressions about the CrinEars Daybreak and the Yu9 Que than this IEM, so there's that.

The understated "I" and "O" on each faceplate also looks classy. I dig the looks for sure, but I would hope so at that price. Once prices hit $500 and higher, the visual appearance of an IEM should be well in hand.


Ha. I feel like I'm the aesthetics police around here, but these get a strong "yes" from me. Sure, they're unusual looking, but I really like how they look. In contrast to the truly hideous designs, this looks deliberate and thoughtful. Somewhere between a car headlight and an alien cocoon. But I also really like Campfire Audio's overall design aesthetic. I have yet to see one of their designs that doesn't immediately get my attention (but I also have yet to listen to any of their releases). Their packaging design is also second to none.

and this highlights the phrase "there's no accounting for taste", because you are indeed critical of many designs, yet the one that's obviously tacky, resonates with you. So you just never know? There's no predictive qualities in audio for the individual.

---

Until the Lime Ears Maris and Incognita land on my porch (they are out for delivery), spending time with the ISN EBC80, attached to the Dethonray Clarinet, and my Sony NW-A55 with new WM Port interconnect. Sounds absolutely fantastic. The resolution and air is ramped up.

 

[Hypops]

and this highlights the phrase "there's no accounting for taste", because you are indeed critical of many designs, yet the one that's obviously tacky, resonates with you. So you just never know? There's no predictive qualities in audio for the individual.

I'd say that the Alien Brain is more "strongly opinionated" than it is "obviously tacky." IMO the only "obviously tacky" IEMs are the resin + glitter atrocities that make up 90% of all new releases and that are literally coming out of our ears. But, yes, taste is what it is.

 

[MakeItWain]

Graph looks excellent. Design is straight dumpster

I can forgive a lot if it sounds good.

 

[gadgetgod]

​

Alien Brain​

Out of this world five-driver hybrid in-ear-monitor​

Available Friday, April 11

Close-Encounters of the HiFi Kind​

Alien Brain is Campfire's latest in our long legacy of premium hybrid-design IEMs with a new five-driver internal architecture. Drawing from over a decade of engineering, experimentation, and innovation, Alien Brain.

New Hybrid Internal Architecture​

Alien Brain's new, five-driver, internal architecture is built on the long legacy of Campfire's world-class hybrid IEMs.

A new iteration of our renowned Dual Magnet Dynamic Driver forms the bedrock of Alien Brain's powerful sonic performance. Alongside this incredible new bass driver are four, high-performance balanced armatures; two dedicated to mid frequencies, and two for highs.

These drivers coalesce to form a smooth, musical, and engaging listen through Campfire's careful treatment and tuning.

New Dual-Magnet DD Iteration​

First introduced in Bonneville and Cascara, our Dual Magnet DD quickly became a fan-favorite. This latest iteration features an exciting new glass-pu diaphragm; with a glass speaker dome and polyurethane coating.

Experience incredible bass texture and impact, without being over-bearing or too forward. Giving you just the right amount of low-end power to infuse energy into your tracks without crowding out the rest of the frequency spectrum.

Peak Performance​

Alien Brain​

Tuned With Intention​

This curve displays relative volume levels at each point across the frequency spectrum, reflecting Alien Brain's careful balance and refinement in tuning. Though FR curves are a great general guide, they can't convey technicalities like soundstage, imaging, layering, etc​

Phase Harmony Engineering​

At Campfire Audio, our philosophy regarding driver treatment informs a considered approach that emphasizes quality over quantity. In the arms-race to fit a higher and higher number of drivers into an earphone, we find that a results-driven technique to driver treatment produces superior results with less room for pitfalls and ever-expanding variables that can undermine product consistency.

One of the products of this approach is our Phase Harmony Engineering, that allows us to segment the frequency spectrum and assign these segments to specific drivers, and allows those drivers to apply their strengths to that area. Using a combination of precision engineered driver housings and shell geometry, coupled with custom damping values we are able to physically shape the tuning and response of the drivers, and further, their interaction with one another. This driver-to-driver interaction is crucial to eliminating points of potential phase cancellation and creating the intangibles that don’t show on a frequency response curve; imaging, separation, resolution, and soundstage.

All-New Portable DAC​

Alien Brain comes equipped with Campfire's all-new, high-performance, portable USB-C DAC dongle. Enjoy streamlined, lightweight, high-res audio on the go, right out of the box. With 32 bit / 384 kHz resolution, plug and play your Alien Brain and ascend to new musical heights on your commute, in your workday, or anywhere you may be listening.

Premium Build​

Alien Brain's precious cerebrum is firmly protected in a black PVD stainless steel shell made from full billet CNC capped off by our new, transparent, iridescent, lightweight dome lid, revealing the inner-workings of each neuron.

Crafted with Care​

Each unit of Alien Brain was fully designed, engineered, assembled, tested, QC'd, packed, and shipped by Campfire's small team of professionals from our singular location in the heart of Southeast Portland, Oregon, USA.

Alien Brain - Premium HiFi Earphones​

Time Stream Cables - SPC Conductor cables in 3.5mm & 4.4mm balanced
New Portable DAC Dongle -32 bit / 384 kHz - 1 Vrms
New Compact IEM Case - Portable, magnet-closure case in Solar Yellow
Breezy Bag Micro - Black two-pocket IEM pouch
Silicone Eartips - Small, Medium, Large
Foam Eartips - Small, Medium, Large
New 'High & Clear' Eartips - Small, Medium, Large in high traction silicone
Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
IEM Cleaning Tool

it looks like a side indicator light of some motorbike lol.

 

[Erkil]

These just arrived back from the tour @bithalver sent them on so graciously despite these being his bae.

I heard these briefly once before when Laszlo visited Ljubljana in December. So, this is like a second first impression, and ... flippin' fantastic still!

Looking forward to some more sessions before sending them back to their home.



Also, manufacturers, watch and learn. This is how you implement the name without staining the faceplate:

The cable on those is also top notch!

 

[Jmop]

I tried a few modifications and I ended up using Simgot's stainless steel nozzle with a 200 mesh filter. It was the first time I saw a pure DD IEM that uses no mesh filter in the nozzle. There's only a steel mesh, probably used only as a barrier against ear wax and moisture, which is equivalent to approx. 70-80 grade mesh. The IEMs are practically tuned to their frequency response without the need for a tuning mesh filter, which I found impressive, but at the same time, it makes the IEMs very nozzle and filter sensitive.

I am very treble sensitive and I wanted to smooth it out anyway, so I tried some mods. BTW, the difference between the stock nozzles is only in their inner diameter, which is a tiny bit smaller on the nozzle with the red o-ring and it makes that difference you can see in the graph. I tried to put some low density foam in the stock nozzle and it definitely affected the treble, but it made the timbre kinda unnatural. The effect was bigger than I expected so I didn't try higher density foam because it could make it only even worse. Anyway, I am not a fan of the stock nozzle, I found them not comfortable for my ears - the length is a bit too much for me and the lip is more prominent, but I got this problem with multiple IEMs, to be fair. From my experience with IEMs with replaceable nozzles, I like the Simgot nozzles the most, plus they are compatible with the FD15 and I got two spare pairs.

My recommendation is to put only a 200 mesh filter on an empty nozzle, no foam, no steel mesh over it and it's done. I tried a 300 mesh filter too, but it lowered the treble too much and made the sound very unnatural and recessed so I can't recommend going that far at all. To be honest, with a 200 mesh mod, I can't wish for more in this price range. The sound hits my preference and the FiiO FD15s became my budget endgame. I prefer them over the IEMs like EA500 LM or even the TangZu Heyday.

I appreciate the detailed response, I too thought the timbre was nice despite the slightly lispy treble (thin, spread out peaks) and wanted to know if I could smooth them out.