Campfire Dorado In Ear Headphones Review

March 23, 2018 4:11 pm

Campfire Audio Dorado In Ear Headphones Review

I love reviewing Campfire headphones! They are, by far, my favorite to listen to. So know upfront that you are reading a biased perspective. I will admit that the Campfire Dorados are extremely expensive at a thousand bucks. Do they live up to the hype? And are they as good as the Campfire Andromeda or Vega? We’re about to find out in this Campfire Dorado In Ear Headphones Review.

You may also want to check out the review for Campfire Audio Dorado 2020 IEM.

IN the BOX

1 pair Campfire Dorado IEMs

3.5mm SPC Litz MMCX stereo cable

Leather zip carry case

3 sets of silicone ear tips (S M L)

3 sets of Crystal foam tips (S M L)

4 sets of Spinfit tips

Campfire Audio clothing button

IEM cleaning tool

user manual

warranty card

2 small red “individual IEM bags”

FIT and DESIGN

The Campfire Dorado has three drivers. An 8.5mm Beryllium PVD dynamic driver is crossed over with dual balanced armature drivers. The driver is very high density, which supposedly gives it superior clarity and dynamics. And all of this cool technology is enclosed in liquid alloy metal. The MMCX input is made from Beryllium copper, and the cable is silver plated copper. In short, it’s a tough headphone. More important, it looks damn cool! It’s a little on the heavier side, but I love its sturdiness compared to brands like Shure or Westone. And you can’t feel the weight once they’re in your ears. It’s easy to find the perfect fit. I personally like the foam tips because you can really seal them in your ear canal, and it creates great sound isolation.

SOUND

The transient response on the Campfire Dorado is fantastic. It’s dynamic and snappy. The sound is also gorgeously dry and solid. It’s like eating hard candy. There’s a heaviness to them. They’re not extremely balanced, but the mid range is grand. Vocals sound awesome; you can hear the nuances in texture. Pianos convey a beautiful timbre. Brass is breathy and has a strong presence. Still, the Dorado is just slightly lacking in transparency for headphones at this price point. Campfire seems to have chosen fullness over detail, especially in the mid range. But they feel powerful.

Lows

The lows have amazing grip. The bass has a lot of weight, but doesn’t overwhelm the balance. Pop, hip-hop and EDM really shine. The dryness, along with the density makes you feel like you’re being hit by a brick wall. In a good way!

Mids

The mids are very well pronounced. Almost a little too much. The low mids are quite emphasized, and almost drown out the rest of the mix. That being said, rock is amazing to listen to. Anthems/choruses feel huge. I would have liked a little more separation. These headphones may be a little too full for folk music. Acoustic guitars felt punchy and didn’t show as much detail as I’d like. That delicate sweetness wasn’t there. In fact, there’s nothing delicate about these headphones. Try Mozart’s Requiem, when the full orchestra crescendos. It’s like being swallowed by a tsunami. In a good way!

Highs

There’s not much emphasis in the highs. But they’re nice and round. No sibilance at all. I wish they were a little brighter. Listening to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, the high strings didn’t reach their full potential. It was missing a little clarity. These headphones are probably not the best choice for classical music. However, jazz sounded great, and soprano brass instruments had great presence.

Sound Stage

Not a bad sound stage on these. Not incredibly wide or airy, though it’s got enough depth for the imaging to be impressive. But I wouldn’t say they particularly shine when listening to live recordings.

SUMMARY

Wow. Campfire never disappoints me. Hip hop and Pop has some serious punch, and rock sounds massive. They could be a little better balanced in the high end, but if you’re not listening to much classical, the Campfire Dorado won’t disappoint. I have to say, they’re a little pricey considering that the more incredible Campfire Andromeda is only $100 more. And if I had the choice between the two, I’d go for the Andromeda, simply because they are more balanced and detailed. But don’t let me stop you. If you like huge sound, the Campfire Dorado might be for you.

You can find these headphones for the best price at:

Audio 46: Campfire Dorado In Ear Headphones

Campfire Dorado 2020 In Ear Headphones

Amazon: Campfire Audio DORADO Hybrid sealable canal earphone【CAM-4891】【Japan domestic regular item】

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