Campfire Audio Moon Rover Vs Andromeda Emerald Sea Comparison Review

There aren’t a lot of IEM manufacturers that constantly put out new products like Campfire Audio. They’ve just released the Moon Rover, which is their second IEM launch this year already. Like every IEM they release in this price range, it is bound to be compared to the Andromeda. The version of the Andromeda that I’ll be comparing to the Moon Rover is the Emerald Sea since that’s the current model. Let’s see if the Moon Rover can eclipse the Andromeda.

What You Get

Look & Feel

In terms of looks, the Moon Rover shares more common elements with the original Andromeda than the Emerald Sea version. It has the same basic appearance minus the color. The Emerald Sea has more edges to it, but they both end up being similarly sized IEMs that host the same level of comfort. I find that the Moon Rover has a slightly better seal than the Andromeda, but neither IEM will feel loose at all.

Design

The interiors of both IEMs contain completely different driver principles. You get five balanced armature drivers with the Andromeda and a 12mm planar magnetic driver with the Moon Rover. No matter whether Campfire Audio implements planar, dynamic, or balanced armature drivers the output power will still be significant. Both these IEMs can be driven from any headphone output so easily that some of the simplest DAC dongles can overpower them.

Soundstage

Having great width is a common characteristic of Campfire Audio’s IEMs. The Andromeda and Moon Rover have a fantastic scope, filling the left and right channels with satisfying movement and equal presentation. Where the two start to differ is headspace. The Andromeda has exceptional inward depth, but there’s little out-of-your-head sensation. It has an interior spaciousness, while the Moon Rover has more of a live, exterior sonic environment. This presents a difference in spatial imaging, but they both maintain accurate positioning.

Low End

If you’re looking for a rich, weighty response, then the Andromeda will easily fulfill your tastes. It’s a great IEM for bass texture, as it enriches the sound signature with thick tones at a controlled gain. The Moon River is quite reserved in comparison, but its timbre is very dynamic. Everything is cleaner, and more evened out as for as the surface-level low frequencies go. It’s still able to capture that smooth texture that exists in nearly every version of the Andromeda, but it’s put in better balance with the rest of the sound signature.

Mids

The Andromeda and Moon River go in two very different directions with its midrange frequencies. Usually, with the Andromeda’s the timbre tends to favor the low-mids. This results in a warmer coloration to the mids, but the Emerald Sea uses it to pronounce the clarity of that region. The Moon Rover has a flatter frequency response in its mids. It uses a more dynamic display to supply more room for instruments, but they never have that much of an edge to them. I found myself more immersed in the Andromeda’s warmth than the Moon River’s plain detail.

Highs

Neither the Andromeda nor the Moon Rover have particularly expressive treble. The Moon Rover has the most clickiness to it, but it’s a very surface-level response. Both IEMs have smooth high frequencies that take back in the mix. While they both avoid harshness, neither the Andromeda nor the Moon Rover features much flavor.

Summary

It’s hard to dethrone anything that has the name Andromeda attached to it, but the Moon Rover has qualities that make a good enough case for itself. The Moon River has good sound properties that are different from the Andromeda thanks to its planar driver, but I find the sound profile of the Andromeda more gripping. That’s what’s going to win most people over in the end, because not much else is different about these IEMs aside from the aesthetic differences.

The Campfire Audio Moon Rover and Andromeda Emerald Sea are available at Audio46.