Campfire Audio Solaris 2020, Ara and Andromeda 2020 Earphones Released!
Campfire Audio is excited to announce their new Spring 2020 product line – the Solaris 2020, Andromeda 2020 and a new earphone called Ara. The Andromeda and Solaris are basically the company’s “staple” earphones and they are also the most popular among the entire lineup. With the new 2020 models, the company introduced some improvements and fine tuning. The improvements aren’t that visible on the Andromeda 2020, since most of the changes are on the internal parts. However, there are noticeable changes and improvements on the Solaris 2020, both external and internal. As for the Ara, pronounced as “Air-uhh” or “Era”, it is a completely new earphone with a unique characteristic and tuning of its own.
Campfire Audio Spring 2020 Earphone Collection Announced
The Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020
First, let’s talk about the Andromeda 2020; it features 5 Balanced Armature drivers in a dual high, single mid and dual low configuration. The 5 BA is paired with Campfire Audio’s Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber. We reviewed the second version of the Andromeda here, and it’s a really good earphone overall.
What’s new with the 2020 version is the new solid-body internal acoustic chamber design. It also features an enhanced classic Andromeda sound signature; with more detail retrieval and improved vocal presence. This suggests that the new Andromeda 2020 would sound a bit different from the previous versions. Perhaps not by much, but the improvements that we will hear is focused more on the nuances and clarity.
Campfire also is also shipping the Andromeda 2020 with a new packaging and set of accessories to differentiate it from the previous generations. The carrying case is now a cork zipper case in green, hand made in Portugal; and it also comes with a smoky jacket silver plated Litz cable with molded hooks.
The Campfire Andromeda 2020 is now available and comes with an MSRP of $1,099. You can learn more details or order one here.
Meet The new Campfire Audio Ara
The Campfire Ara is the new earphone in the lineup. It doesn’t have a predecessor and it’s basically a new earphone with its own sound signature and characteristics. Just like the name of all Campfire Audio earphones, Ara is also a heavenly body. To be exact it is a constellation located between Scorpius, Telescopium, Triangulum Australe and Norma. Ara is also a Latin word meaning “the Altar”.
Its body is reminiscent of Andromeda’s shell, but it is made from a Grade 2 Titanium material with black PVD screws. The Ara has 7 Balanced Armature drivers in a dual high, single mid and quad low configuration. I’m very interested to hear how the Ara sounds like; I’m guessing it would sound warmer just by looking at its BA configuration.
Just like the new Andromeda 2020 and Solaris 2020, the Ara also features Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber and the new solid-body internal acoustic chamber design. Interestingly, this is a “crossover-less” design, with no passive electronic components in signal path. It is also described to have a fast, articulate and unique sound, that has just the right touch of warmth and richness to recall the best in classic HiFi.
The Campfire Ara is positioned between the Andromeda 2020 and Solaris 2020, and has an MSRP of $1,299. The Ara will start shipping on June 18th, almost a month later than the Andromeda and Solaris. But you can pre-order one from Campfire Audio’s page here.
Campfire Audio Solaris 2020 – New Smaller Body
The Campfire Solaris is one of the company’s most popular earphone. It was loved by the many thanks to its unique sound signature. We reviewed the first Solaris here, and it was immaculate. It was like a combination of the Andromeda and the Atlas. The black and gold color theme was also beautiful; but the one problem the first Solaris has is its size. The first Solaris was big!
With the new Solaris 2020, the company was able to reduce the size by 20%. That’s a welcomed reduction if you ask me. I’m not a huge fan of the all-black design, but I haven’t seen one in person yet. The Solaris 2020 still features a 2 BA + 1 DD setup; in a dual high, single mid and single mid+low configuration.
Just like the two new earphones above, the Solaris 2020 also features the new solid-body internal acoustic chamber design. Head-fi.org showed a clip on how this new solid-body looks like from the inside:
The new Solaris 2020 also gets a bump in sound quality. Its sound characteristics is more likely similar to the original one, but with improvements here and there. It is described as having a holographic presentation, with intimate detail retrieval, soaring high, engaging mids and rich impactful bass (which the Andromeda doesn’t). Music would sound lifelike with the Solaris 2020, offering superior layering and “unbelievable” imaging.
Just like the Andromeda 2020, the Solaris 2020 is now available and it comes with an MSRP of $1,499. It is the most expensive among the three new earphones, it is a flagship earphone after all. You can order the new Solaris 2020 from Campfire Audio’s page here.