Campfire Audio continues to refine its approach to accessible in-ear monitoring with the Iris, a compact model designed to fit comfortably into everyday listening setups. Known for blending distinctive tuning philosophies with thoughtful industrial design, the brand aims to deliver a versatile IEM that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers alike. The Iris enters Campfire’s lineup as a streamlined option that emphasizes ease of use, portability, and a complete out-of-the-box experience.
Let’s take a closer look at the Campfire Audio Iris, examining its build quality, comfort, driver configuration, and overall listening performance to see how it fits within Campfire Audio’s broader catalog and whether it meets the expectations set by the brand’s reputation.
What You Get
- Time Stream Metal – 3.5, 4.4
- Dimensional Folding Wallet – Gray
- Breezy Bag Jr mesh zipper case
- Breezy Bag Micro two-pocket mesh
- Foam tips (sml)
- Silicone (sml)
- High & Clear silicone (sml)
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
- IEM cleaning tool
Look & Feel
The housing of the Iris is made from 3D printed acrylic that is made to look transparent. There’s also a bit of a gloss to it, which makes the IEMs nice to look at and hold in your hand. This is one of Campfire Audio’s smaller IEMs, with its shape taking after other budget products they’ve released in the past, like the Satsuma and Honeydew. The Iris seems even smaller, making them an easy fit for someone that dosn’t like some of the bulkier builds for IEMs.
Sometimes those designs can be very ergonomic, with grooves that secure naturally in your concha. With the Iris, it’s really the ear tip that matters most, as the housing tends to hover outside of your ear, only stabilized by the spout. Thankfully, the Iris comes with a variety of tips to try, so finding your combination is a bit easier. For me, the Iris was comfortable enough, though there were some instances where I had to readjust them.
Design
The Campfire Audio Iris features a hybrid driver system with a custom 10 mm ADLC dynamic driver for rich bass and mids, plus a balanced armature driver for clear, detailed highs, delivering a balanced output. In practice, the Iris’ driver is super sensitive, as is par for the course with Campfire IEMs. You can drive them from any headphone output, but since you get a 4.4mm balanced cable in the package, I would recommend that as the best way to listen to the Iris.
Soundstage
As far as depth and spatial imaging go, the Iris does everything it needs to do. The soundstage spans fairly far from left to right, keeping most instruments from congealing toward the middle of the stereo field. You get a good amount of positional identity from the Iris, but the image’s depth is limited to a narrow sound field. Layers stack on one another with an acceptable separation, with individual elements existing on a flat plain rather than in a cavernous dome of sonic potential. Instruments still display with fullness and even some height, but their headspace will always feel confined and anchored.
Low End
The bass is where the Iris shines. Its tone is thumpy and smooth, giving the sound signature an injection of energy that elevates everything. The best part about it is how clear and tight it is. While the bass gives you a vibrating lift, the resonance of the frequencies is clear and concise. There’s a manageable impact that is balanced but hearty. The body of the lows comes through with detail, not just power. Everything from the sub-bass to the low-mids is very clear, never appearing boomy or muddy. It will satisfy bass heads immensely with its tonal dominance and vigor, but others will also be impressed with its articulation and resolution.
Mids
While the midrange doesn’t have as much drive as the lows, instruments still have texture and surface-level clarity. They’re not quite v-shaped, but the mids definitely don’t have a lot of gain. Everything is relaxed and smooth, but the midrange also displays a lot of room, allowing instruments to at the very least appear clean. Note definition is lacking, but the general clarity of each note is good. With vocals, the Iris has a little bit more forward momentum and liveliness, offering crisper frequencies and heightened definition.
Highs
The highs feel clear, bright, and wispy. They have the exact right amount of edge to give certain sounds an extra pop. It contains a light sizzle that adds just enough clickiness to the sound signature a bit more glisten. Shakers and tambourines are especially resolving in the mix, with a touch of air that elevates certain music genres when listening. Anything that has fuzz or digestible noise will be treated with a tight but colorful high-end tone that makes the Iris feel very refined.
Summary
The Campfire Audio Iris succeeds by leaning into what it does best: delivering a punchy, articulate low end paired with clean, airy highs in a compact and approachable package. Its bass response is the clear standout, offering both physical impact and impressive clarity, while the treble adds just enough sparkle to keep the presentation lively and engaging. Although the soundstage depth and midrange presence remain more restrained, the overall tuning feels intentional and cohesive rather than compromised.
For listeners seeking a small, lightweight hybrid IEM that’s easy to drive and unapologetically fun to listen to, the Iris makes a strong case for itself. It may not chase extreme technicality or expansive staging, but it delivers a refined, energetic sound that works well across genres and listening setups. As an entry into the Campfire Audio lineup—or a compact alternative to larger designs, the Iris stands out as a confident, musically satisfying option.
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The Campfire Audio Iris is available at Audio46.
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