Campfire Audio Astrolith IEM Review: The Future of Planar Magnetic Sound
Read Time: Approx.14 min.
Delivering Out-of-this-World Performance in a Portable Package
Think of the hardest type of IEM to perfect sonically. If planar magnetic IEMs popped into your head then you're right on the money! Campfire Audio is one of the few hi-fi IEM manufacturers taking the leap of faith and producing planar-magnetic IEMs. First, it was the Supermoon. Then it was the Moon Rover. Now it's the Astrolith. The Campfire Audio Astrolith IEM is the company's most daring venture, incorporating not one but two planar magnetic drivers into a single IEM.
Creating a magical sonic performance that's powerful, energetic, and highly resolving, the Campfire Audio Astrolith IEM is the perfect high-end IEM for audiophiles and music lovers. At $2,199 it's premium in just about every way. Incredibly comfortable, lightweight, and fit for all genres, the Astrolith is the only IEM you need for years to come.
PROS
- Technical precision for days
- Strong bass response
- Genre Versatility. Incredibly Comfortable
CONS
- Stock cable isn't my favorite
- Chrome finish is a fingerprint magnet
Design
When it comes to design and presentation, Campfire Audio never disappoints. From the incredibly detailed artwork on every box to the never-ending accessories they include, I have yet to find an in-ear monitor from them that I wasn't impressed with. The outside of the box truly encapsulates whatever an Astrolith is–I googled it, and the definition is unclear, but it borders on something ethereal and astrological. Open up the box and you'll be even more amazed as the awesome artwork continues and Campfire uses every square inch of the packaging to include intentional messaging.
"Congratulations, you have excellent taste in Earphones. Thank you for your support! You make it all possible," reads the message pasted across the inside cover of the box. A small message but a meaningful one nonetheless from the Portland, Oregon manufacturer. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Campfire Audio even goes as far as to include information on how to insert and get the best fit from your IEMs.
Included with the Astrolith are two IEM cables, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm connectors, in a handmade black leather case. You also get not one but two carrying cases, the Breezy Bag Jr. which is a compact mesh zipper case for your IEMs, ear tips, cables, and whatever else your heart desires. The Breezy Bag Micro is even smaller than the Jr. as a two-pocket mesh protective pouch for your IEMs. To care for your IEMs Campfire Audio includes marshmallow and silicone ear tips in various sizes, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and IEM cleaning tool, and a fun CA lapel pin for out-of-this-world swag.
Once you get past the packaging and accessories you'll be delighted to find the Astrolith sporting a futuristic aesthetic. Ken Ball, Campfire Audio's founder and chief designer, has once again demonstrated his expertise in crafting exceptional IEMs. Following the success of their legendary Andromeda model, the Astrolith represents another milestone in Campfire's innovative approach to IEM design. Campfire Audio IEMs are deceivingly large. The shape alone would make you assume they rate low on the comfort scale–but it's quite the opposite. The Astrolith is a very comfortable universal IEM with a small but angular shape and great durability. I had no problems inserting them using my preferred personal pair of ear tips and securing a tight seal.
Let's talk shell design. The Astrolith sports Campfire Audio's latest innovation called Additive Acoustic Optical Inclusion Housing (AAOI). First featured in the Supermoon IEMs, this shell uses built-in acoustic shaping geometries that refine and enhance the output of the Astrolith's dual planar magnetic drivers. The shell itself is a lightweight 3D-printed acrylic body with a robust, mirror-finished stainless steel faceplate. If you look very closely at the shell you'll notice it's semi-translucent and you can get just a glimpse of the internals.
The shape of the Astrolith combined with the faceplate's color and tiny grooves reminds me of a stormtrooper helmet or something you'd see in a sci-fi film. Design alone, the Astrolith definitely supports its name–let's see if the sound quality does too.
Sound
One of the biggest strengths planar magnetic drivers deliver to a pair of headphones and IEMs is technical precision and accuracy. They often get a rep for sounding borderline analytical, which is nice in its own regard, but planar drivers are capable of so much more than that. The Astrolith is the perfect example of a planar magnetic driver IEM pushing the envelope of what's sonically possible.
Campfire Audio's meticulous tuning of the two planar magnetic drivers used in the Astrolith transforms it from a stereotypical planar IEM into something truly magical. The speed and technical precision still deliver great detail retrieval and resolution, but the lifelike realism, sub-bass, and low-end extension make the Astrolith an exceptional performer.
I had no problem driving the Astrolith with the Astell&Kern SP3000M DAP. It's been sitting at my desk since we got it and I've had a hard time parting ways with it. The planar drivers will require an amplifier or DAC/Amp combo fit for the job, but the Astrolith shouldn't have any problems pairing with your existing gear. I spent some time listening to the Astrolith with both included IEM cables and while they performed fine, they weren't leaps and bounds above what I experienced with the Silver Dragon IEM Cable.
The Astrolith is an all-around great-sounding IEM. It excels in many areas but its low-end extension jumps right out at you. It's got an extended frequency response to 5Hz so you get that added visceral element and punch without a muddied, bloated sound. The mid-bass is the most prominent, with great texture and speed, pulling from the technical precision of the planar magnetic driver.
I'm a fan of bass so I always get excited when I listen to an IEM and headphones with a great bass response. The Astrolith's bass response elevates the entire performance without taking away from instruments, vocals, and fine details.
The Astrolith's soundstage was right on par with other Campfire Audio IEMs I've listened to. It was wide with this dimensionality to it. I felt like the sound was wrapping around my head–not tightly, but just encompassing me in a life-like way.
The midrange was musical and detailed. Male and female vocals were articulate and even with songs that emphasized that low-end, there was still a good amount of detail and attention on vocals. Great instrument separation, layering, and once again texture. This is the IEM for audiophiles who value clarity, accuracy, and character from the midrange.
Pushing the Astrolith to its limit I turned on the ultimate sibilance test, Frank Sinatra. His songs are never lacking trumpets, saxophones, and strings, three instruments that will pull out any sore spots in an IEM and headphones. Luck Be a Lady is my personal favorite from Sinatra and if you didn't know he was a big fan of recording and performing with an orchestra. With about 15 instruments in the string section alone, high trumpets, and alto saxophones, Luck Be a Lady has no shortage of instrumentation. The Astrolith did a great job of taming some of those rather high-pitchy instruments. During the periods of instrumentation, the trumpets are going full force and the Astrolith handled it with ease. The highs shimmer and shine!
The Astrolith does a good job of balancing the low-end extension, detailed midrange, and smooth highs. While many IEMs using dynamic drivers struggle with coherency, the Astrolith's dual planar magnetic configuration delivers exceptional timbre across all frequencies. The treble response is particularly noteworthy, exhibiting the same kind of refinement found in the Bonneville series. It delivers something for everyone, whether you're a casual listener, an audio professional, or a discerning audiophile. The Astrolith has no problem jumping from genre to genre shining with a few like rock, electronic, and pop. For the price, you could easily be satisfied with the Astrolith for years. I don't see this being an IEM that "goes out of style" or one that you could grow out of as a listener. Its well-rounded performance will support your entire collection of music.
Haunted
By Beyonce
(Beyonce [Platinum Edition])
Luck Be A Lady (2008 Remastered)
By Frank Sinatra
(Nothing But The Best)
Heartbeat
By Childish Gambino
(Camp)
Crying in Chanel
By PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake
($$$ 4 U)
Features
- Incredible technical performance, speed, & resolution
- Deep reaching lows, down to subtle subsonic 5hz
- Lightning fast highs, with incredible extension up to 25kHz
- New AAOI and PPR driver tuning elements
- New, updated 14.2mm planar magnetic low/mid driver
- New 6mm planar magnetic tweeter
- Unique, partially transparent shell
- Hand-polished stainless steel faceplate
- Stainless spout and MMCX capture
Driver Design
The sonic muscle and the reason why the Astrolith has gotten so much buzz is not the fact that it has one planar magnetic driver, but two! The Astrolith's magnetic driver configuration features an updated generation of the 14.2mm planar driver first featured in the Supermoon IEM and a 6mm planar driver. Both of these drivers are wrapped in two exclusive Campfire tuning elements.
The 14.2mm planar magnetic driver has refined mechanics and an updated grille pattern, and has been carefully shaped by Campfire's Additive Acoustic Optical Inclusion (AAOI) housing. This housing "hones the impact, texture, imaging, and layering ranging from the sub-bass to midrange and gracefully blending with the upper registers powered by its companion, 6mm driver."
The 6mm planar magnetic driver essentially serves as a high-frequency tweeter, aiding the 14.2mm planar driver in the heavy lifting and delivering fast transient production and high-end extension up to 25kHz. Enhancing the performance of the 6mm driver is Campfire's Particle Phase Resonator (PPR), a small engineered driver housing that smooths and tempers the driver while still allowing it to shine and create those fast transients, resolution, and top-end detail.
The overwhelmingly positive response from the Supermoon is a clear indicator that Campfire has a knack for bringing out the sonic strengths of planar magnetic drivers. If done right, you can reap the benefits of sharp detail, resolution, and lifelike realism–which is exactly what the Astrolith delivers.
Particle Phase Resonator (PPR)
Specially designed to enhance the performance of Astrolith's 6mm planar magnetic drive is Campfire's Particle Phase Resonator, one of the smallest and most precisely engineered driver housings created by them to date. Campfire's PPR smooths and tempers the driver while still allowing it to shine and create lightning-fast transients, resolution, and top-end detail.
Dragon Cables
[Silver Dragon IEM Cable for Campfire (MMCX)]
There really wasn't much about the Astrolith that I wanted to change. I bounced back and forth between our Silver Dragon IEM Cable and Bronze Dragon IEM Cable. I ultimately settled on the Silver Dragon IEM Cable and recommend this option to anyone interested in upgrading. It accentuated and refined the detail retrieval and top-end resolution, which was perfect because I wasn't looking for any crazy coloration. Our Bronze Dragon IEM Cable made the Astrolith even more musical, but depending on the song's bass response, it enhanced it a tad too much.
The Silver Dragon IEM Cable is a great choice for any IEMs that might lack those fine details and nuances. Flat, neutral, or too analytical for your taste IEMs will benefit from the musicality, bottom-end strength, and warmth the Bronze Dragon IEM Cable provides.
And if you're not convinced, check out our testimonials and blogs breaking down the science behind our Dragon Audio Cables on our website at moon-audio.com
Verdict
The Campfire Audio Astrolith IEM is the missing piece in your collection. At $2,199 it stands out in Campfire's lineup as an IEM worthy of flagship status. It rivals some of the very best planar magnetic full-size headphones, delivering an impressive performance that's bold and memorable. The Astrolith takes the best elements of a planar magnetic driver: Speed, accuracy, and precision, and enhances them with a highly satisfying dynamic sound. It's in no way lush or overly warm-sounding, but it's articulate, clean, and controlled. Don't forget to enhance that detail retrieval and smooth sound with the Silver Dragon IEM Cable. It accentuated and refined the detail retrieval and top-end resolution, which was perfect for the Astrolith.
If you're ready to invest in a high-end IEM that will grow with you and support all of your favorite genres, consider the Astrolith. Campfire Audio has proven to us that they've got a knack for planar magnetic driver IEMs and I look forward to seeing the evolution of their IEM line.
Featured Products
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What's in the Box
- Black leather folding wallet - handmade in Portugal,
- TimeStream cable in 3.5mm & 4.4mm,
- 'Breezy Bag Micro' two-pocket mesh pouch,
- Selection of Eartips - Silicone (S, M, L) & Foam (S, M, L),
- IEM Cleaning Tool
- CA Lapel Pin
Specifications
Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 25 kHz
THD: Less than 0.3%
Impedance @1K: 8.2Ω
SPL: 94 dB @ 1kHz: 44.9 mVrms
