These $250 earbuds resolve an enormous drawback for lossless newbies

For higher, for worse, or detached, lossless audio is a factor. Personally, I feel it is for the higher, however if you happen to’ve learn my protection, there’s an added expense to getting essentially the most out of it. That is the place Campfire Audio is available in. For many who do not need to carry round a number of gadgets, the Campfire Audio Axion incorporates 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 strong popularity for placing out well-crafted IEMs, so let’s study the Axion, their least costly IEMs so far, and see how they maintain up.

4/5

Model: Campfire Audio
Extra Ideas: 3 silicon, 3 foam
Noise Cancellation: Passive
Codecs: 32-bit/384kHz by way of USB-C DAC, 15.3Ω

Execs & Cons

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

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

Worth, availability, and specs

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

Model: Campfire Audio
Extra Ideas: 3 silicon, 3 foam
Noise Cancellation: Passive
Codecs: 32-bit/384kHz by way of USB-C DAC, 15.3Ω
Drivers: Silicon Dynamic Driver (SDD)
Microphones: Inline microphone

What I like concerning the Campfire Audio Axion

A simple, high-quality on a regular basis carry

In keeping with Campfire Audio, the Axion makes use of a first-of-its-kind Silicon Dynamic Driver (SDD), which appears extra like a boxy, balanced armature than a standard dynamic driver. However let’s again up a bit — unboxing the Campfire Audio Axion reveals some good equipment. You may 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 huge.

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 in order that they’re nicely cushioned throughout transport. Rounding out the gear inside is an IEM cleansing instrument and a Campfire Audio collector’s button.

The IEMs themselves are lovely. 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 putting 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 will contact on extra momentarily.

The packaging and accouterments are nice for what you are paying, however what’s most essential 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 certainly 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, haven’t got the presence I’ve skilled with different IEMs. Granted, a few of these IEMs are double, even a number of occasions 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 Sneakers” additionally shows the expansive soundstage.

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

Rounding out the expertise on provide 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 is usually 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 nicely.

Better of all, because the cable makes use of the MMCX customary, these headphones can develop with you if you happen to resolve to improve to a greater cellular 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 information with greater resolutions than the included DAC helps (32-bit/384kHz).

What might use enchancment

Not small ear canal pleasant for me

The one evident points I discovered throughout my time with the Campfire Audio Axion are nozzle diameter and DAC energy. The nozzle that the eartips hook up with does 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 may see the dome eartips within the picture above on the precise. 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 taking part in music from my Microsoft Floor Professional 11, the facility output was strong as I listened to lossless audio information 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 taking part in 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’s going to drain extra energy out of your smartphone.

Must you purchase the Campfire Audio Axion?

For high quality and comfort…

Campfire Audio Axion showing the connector and inline microphone

Should you’re on the lookout for a turnkey cellular lossless audio resolution, the Campfire Audio Axion is a strong choice, with room to develop as your lively listening exploration does. You get high quality Campfire Audio IEMs, an inline microphone and playback controls, and a DAC to provide you cellular entry to music that’s CD-quality or “higher.” And whereas $250 might seem to be so much for earbuds, on this planet of audiophile gear, it is comparatively cheap.