These $250 earbuds clear up a giant drawback for lossless newbies

For higher, for worse, or detached, lossless audio is a factor. Personally, I feel it is for the higher, however in case you’ve learn my protection, you already know there’s an added expense to getting essentially the most out of it. That is the place Campfire Audio is available in. For individuals who do not need to carry round a number of gadgets, the Campfire Audio Axion contains a cable with an inline microphone with button controls that terminates in a top quality built-in USB-C DAC—plug-and-play lossless audio entry in a single tight, upgradeable package deal.

Campfire Audio has a stable status for placing out well-crafted IEMs, so let’s study the Axion, their least costly IEMs to this point, and see how they maintain up.

4/5

Model

Campfire Audio

Extra Suggestions

3 silicon, 3 foam

Noise Cancellation

Passive

Codecs

32-bit/384kHz through USB-C DAC, 15.3Ω

Professionals & Cons

• Plug-and-play lossless resolution
• Inline microphone
• Replaceable MMCX cable
• Light-weight

• Could not match some small ear canals
• Constructed-in DAC might use extra energy

Worth, availability, and specs

The Campfire Audio Axion is out there from Campfire Audio and Amazon for $249.

What I like concerning the Campfire Audio Axion

A simple, high-quality on a regular basis carry

Based on Campfire Audio, the Axion makes use of a first-of-its-kind Silicon Dynamic Driver (SDD), which seems to be extra like a boxy, balanced armature than a conventional dynamic driver. However let’s again up a bit — unboxing the Campfire Audio Axion reveals some good package. You will see the IEM our bodies and the cable, in addition to six pairs of eartips — three foam and three silicone — in sizes small, medium, and enormous.

Within the field, you additionally get Campfire’s Breezy Bag Jr. and Breezy Bag Micro. The latter is a dual-chamber soft-mesh bag that retains the 2 IEM our bodies separated so that they’re effectively cushioned throughout transport. Rounding out the gear inside is an IEM cleansing instrument and a Campfire Audio collector’s button.

The IEMs themselves are stunning. Their tiny our bodies have brass fasteners and nozzles with gold PVD accents on clear shells with internally dyed parts. Every shell has ergonomic dimples, a pleasant contact when dealing with and inserting them in your ears. The connectors on the our bodies are MMCX, so you will discover broad assist for cable upgrades on Campfire’s website and throughout the online — one thing I am going to contact on extra momentarily.

The packaging and accouterments are nice for what you are paying, however what’s most necessary is how these IEMs sound. It is comparatively balanced, with a scoop within the decrease mids. These will not be a basshead’s dream, however bass is unquestionably not lacking from the tuning. When listening to The Roots’ “Do You Need Extra?!??”, the bass and sub-bass hit with the pleasant punch and resonance that they need to. It is this similar monitor that additionally exposes the decrease mid scoop because the bagpipes, which are sometimes tuned within the 400-480Hz vary, do not have the presence I’ve skilled with different IEMs. Granted, a few of these IEMs are double, even a number of instances the worth of the Axion.

The soundstage presents with pleasant depth and width when listening to the title theme for the movie “Get Out,” “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga.” The eerie vocals fill your head, with loads of house to breathe. Ladysmith Black Mombazo’s a cappella intro on Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Footwear” additionally shows the expansive soundstage.

Listening to my favourite monitor for imaging, Charles Mingus’ “Moanin'”, the stereo imaging is sweet, although instrument separation is not as discreet as I would like, however this can be a difficult monitor for imaging as a result of its frenetic jazz improvisation. What additionally will get showcased right here, and after I hearken to “Violin Duel” from the “Chevalier” OST is the sleek higher mids and highs which can be reproduced with fulfilling readability, freed from fatigue. This locations the Axion within the realm of entertaining, not analytical listening.

Rounding out the expertise on supply right here, the MMCX-connected cabling options an inline microphone and a three-button distant for calls and audio playback management. I’ve performed with it on both Android and iOS and located that playback management generally is a bit finicky, relying on which apps you are utilizing. Audio from the microphone is obvious, if not a bit bottomy, however your conversations and video chats will do effectively.

Better of all, because the cable makes use of the MMCX customary, these headphones can develop with you in case you resolve to improve to a greater cell DAC. Simply purchase some aftermarket MMCX cables, terminated with a 4.4mm connector as a substitute of the USB-C connector, and you may entry recordsdata with greater resolutions than the included DAC helps (32-bit/384kHz).

What might use enchancment

Not small ear canal pleasant for me

The one obvious points I discovered throughout my time with the Campfire Audio Axion are nozzle diameter and DAC energy. The nozzle that the eartips connect with would not match my baby-size proper ear canal, whereas my left ear is a bit higher as a result of it is barely bigger. There are eartips that may mitigate the problem, although. You possibly can see the dome eartips within the picture above on the best. They seal higher towards my ear canal regardless of having a shallow canal depth. I generally have this drawback, although, so it is not a knock towards Campfire Audio in any respect.

When enjoying music from my Microsoft Floor Professional 11, the facility output was stable as I listened to lossless audio recordsdata utilizing the MusicBee app. In my trials, I discovered that the IEMs profit from extra energy than my iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 can ship. When enjoying music from my Floor Professional or the FiiO M21 DAP, the Axion’s full capabilities are revealed. In future variations of the Axion, I would prefer to see greater DAC energy output, however the trade-off is that it’ll drain extra energy out of your smartphone.

Must you purchase the Campfire Audio Axion?

For high quality and comfort…

In case you’re searching for a turnkey cell lossless audio resolution, the Campfire Audio Axion is a stable possibility, with room to develop as your energetic listening exploration does. You get high quality Campfire Audio IEMs, an inline microphone and playback controls, and a DAC to offer you cell entry to music that’s CD-quality or “higher.” And whereas $250 could appear to be so much for earbuds, on the planet of audiophile gear, it is comparatively cheap.

Model

Campfire Audio

Extra Suggestions

3 silicon, 3 foam

Noise Cancellation

Passive

Codecs

32-bit/384kHz through USB-C DAC, 15.3Ω

Drivers

Silicon Dynamic Driver (SDD)

Microphones

Inline microphone