Campfire Audio Astrolith Review

Campfire Audio has been a dominant force in the IEM (In-Ear Monitor) market for years, consistently pushing the boundaries of audio technology. Recently, they’ve embraced planar-magnetic technology, launching models like the Supermoon and the limited-edition Moon Rover. Their latest offering, the Astrolith, priced at $2,199, looks to be an even higher end addition to their lineup. With dual drivers and a unique casing, let’s explore how the Astrolith fits into Campfire Audio’s extensive product range.

What’s in the Box?

• Astrolith IEMs
• Handmade black leather folding wallet (crafted in Portugal)
• 3.5mm and 4.4mm TimeStream cables
• ‘Breezy Bag Micro’ mesh pouch
• Silicone and Foam eartip sets
• IEM cleaning tool
• Campfire Audio lapel pin

Build

The Campfire Audio Astrolith showcases a design that balances durability with aesthetic appeal. Its semi-transparent, lightweight, 3D-printed acrylic body offers a modern and sleek appearance, allowing glimpses of the intricately designed internal components. This innovative use of materials reduces the overall weight and contributes to ergonomic comfort, making the IEMs ideal for extended listening sessions. The robust, mirror-finished stainless steel faceplate adds a layer of style and resilience, ensuring the IEMs withstand the rigors of daily use while maintaining a striking visual presence.

Design

The Astrolith represents a significant leap in planar IEM technology, featuring a dual planar magnetic driver configuration that sets it apart in performance and innovation. Central to its design are two newly developed planar drivers: a 14mm planar magnetic main driver and a 6mm planar magnetic tweeter. The 14mm driver handles sub-bass to mid frequencies, offering unparalleled speed, accuracy, and impact. The IEM houses this driver in Campfire’s new Additive Acoustic Optical Inclusion (AAOI) housing, which enhances its performance by shaping the acoustic environment to refine texture, imaging, and layering.

The 6mm planar magnetic driver is paired with Campfire’s innovative Particle Phase Resonator (PPR) tuning chamber, a precisely engineered housing designed to optimize high-frequency performance. This driver’s small size and rapid transient response contribute to an exceptionally detailed and extended high-frequency output, reaching up to 25kHz. The PPR tuning chamber smooths and tempers the driver’s performance, ensuring that it delivers lightning-fast transients and top-end detail with remarkable clarity. Together, these drivers operate without a crossover, providing a seamless integration of frequencies that results in a coherent and natural sound signature.

Sound Impressions

Low End 

The Astrolith’s bass performance is its standout feature, emphasizing midbass with substantial subbass presence. Tracks like Drake’s “Over” showcase its powerful bass, delivering an impact that’s both thrilling and controlled. The bass remains subtle when needed, as evident in Nico’s “These Days,” where it doesn’t overshadow the guitar tones or timbre. This dual capability makes the Astrolith versatile, catering to bass enthusiasts while maintaining clarity and control.

Mids 

The Astrolith surprises with a strong, neutral, and occasionally forward-leaning midrange. Vocals are warm, and instrumentals are textured, especially in the lower mids. The ability to distinguish various midrange sounds in complex tracks like Ramsey Lewis’s cover of “Mother Nature’s Son” is impressive. On bass-heavy tracks, vocals may take a backseat but never lose their character. This balance ensures that the mids remain detailed and engaging across different genres of music.

Top End 

The top end, driven by the 6mm planar driver, sounds meticulously detailed. Campfire’s innovative design ensures that high-frequency transients and details are as precise as the low and mid-range frequencies. This results in a unique sound signature with top-end sparkle that remains present even in complex tracks. The level of detail can be overwhelming at times, but it’s a testament to the Astrolith’s capabilities. The high frequencies are crisp and clear, providing a level of detail that audiophiles will appreciate.

Soundstage 

The Astrolith offers a fairly wide soundstage with accurate imaging. While it may not be the widest ever, it impresses with its spatial capabilities. The detailed sound signature sometimes challenges the maximum spacing, but overall, it delivers a solid and immersive listening experience. The sense of space and depth is executed well, allowing listeners to pinpoint instruments and vocals within the mix accurately.

Final Thoughts

The Campfire Audio Astrolith represents a significant advancement for the brand, showcasing an impressive dual planar-magnetic driver design. Its unique sound signature, characterized by a strong bass, energetic midrange, and detailed top end, sets it apart in the IEM market. If you’re looking for a high end and unique IEM, this may be your best bet. 

Learn more about the Campfire Audio Astrolith at Audio46.