Campfire Audio has announced a new in-ear monitor to sweep the competition off its feet! With a new lightweight design made of stainless steel, the Astrolith is their newest model of IEMs that aims to impress. It comes with some technological upgrades using dual planar magnetic drivers: phase particle resonators, and additive acoustic optical inclusion housing. They retail at $2199, which is quite a high asking price. These IEMs aren’t on the market yet, but I was lucky enough to listen to them and give my thoughts before they hit the shelves. Let’s take a closer look at the sound and technology specifications of the Astrolith. 

What Comes In The Box

• Astrolith IEMs
• x6 Adjustable Eartips
• x3 Foam Eartips
• x3 Silicon Eartips
• Time Stream Metal Cables (3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations)
• Handcrafted Premium Leather Case
• Small Split Mesh Drawstring Bag
• Large Crossbody Mesh Zipper bag
• Microfiber cloth & Cleaning tool
• CA Lapel Pin

Aesthetics and Functionality

Starting with the look of the monitors, it is quite impressive how they’ve managed to make such a lightweight product that packs a punch. The stainless steel finish is unlike anything Campfire has put out before, and the shape leans more towards classic IEMs rather than their signature bulky style. It's a welcome change, as someone who prefers the thinner shape; I’m also happy that it didn’t diminish the quality of the sound. The AAOI housing (additive acoustic optical inclusion), first seen in the Supermoon, is implemented again in the Astrolith. The semi-transparent body with stainless steel casing is attractive to look at and was comfortable to wear. In terms of functionality, plugging these monitors into my computer was a breeze. The added option of a 4.4mm termination versus a 3.5mm allows for any DAC or amp to be easily added on for people looking to enhance their listening experience further.

Tech Specs

• Dual Planar Magnetic Drivers
• 6mm Planar with PPR
• 14.2mm Planar with AAOI Housing
• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 20kHz
• SPL: 94 db @ 1kHz
• Impedance: 7.05 Ω @ 1kHz
• THD: < 0.5%

In this pair of IEMs, Campfire advertises some technological upgrades when it comes to their drivers. The dual planar magnetic drivers each have unique housings, a different one for each driver. The 6mm driver has a PPR tuning chamber, which stands for particle phase resonator. This allows for the high end to take on a new quality of sound that is high in detail and resolution. With the way IEMs are naturally bass-heavy due to their in-ear design, I like to see that Campfire is taking some steps to counter all the bass and shower us with highs. 

Listening Review

Soundstage

Overall, the sound of the Astrolith was right on brand for what Campfire does. It was wide, colorful, and impressively detailed. Regular users of Campfire products will feel right at home with this pair and find them easy to drive and easy to listen to. Great imaging accuracy, as with all Campfire IEMs. It felt as though the soundstage was wrapping around me, and I was fully immersed with my listening. An impressive range of detail and imaging was shown throughout hours of testing, and not once did it feel fatiguing. I liked the height and depth these IEMs provided, which makes them a great choice for a variety of listeners. Audio editors, casual listeners, and audiophiles alike will be able to enjoy these and find useful applications for them. 

Low Frequencies

With a lot of IEMs, the low end is the one of the first things that jumps out at you. The Astrolith is no exception. The lows hit hard and deliver a well-deserved punch to any song you listen to. Part of it is probably due to the in-ear design that cancels out most noise, but the other part is the extended frequency response starting at 5Hz. Sub bass frequencies are still detailed and have great clarity, and not once did they sound muddy or washed out in any mix. In particular, I was listening to “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden, and I was completely immersed in the bass, electric guitar, and growling vocals of the chorus. 

Mid-Range Frequencies

Vocals really get a chance to shine with the Astrolith. Even with a low end that is powerful and ever-present, it was nice to hear the mid-range still get the attention and detail it deserves. The level of clarity that comes with all the layers of instruments in the mid-range makes for a pleasant listening experience. I wasn’t drowning in the low end, and instead I got great detail and color from acoustic guitars, brass sections, snare drums and harmonic layers. You can hear the enhanced detail that takes place when listening to ROSALÍA’s “MOTOMAMI” album, where all the post-production effects are able to come out and be appreciated.

High Frequencies

The high end did not disappoint, thanks to the PPR tuning in the 6mm magnetic driver. Breathy vocals and crisp hi-hats balanced out the other ranges very well. It didn’t overpower any other ranges and was kept at a great level to avoid a shrill or annoying quality. “Hoppípolla” by Sigur Rós has a lot of details in the high end, with a singer who favors his falsetto and an accompaniment of strings and reverberant piano. I loved that all these layers came out and had enough clarity to be distinguished from one another; they weren’t too piercing in tonality and I listened comfortably the whole time. 

Summary

In conclusion, the Astrolith is a great pair of IEMs for any audio enthusiast. Like I mentioned before, they are a brilliant pair with a lot of versatility for different environments. It is exciting to see them use the dual planar magnetic drivers, which only begs the question of how they’ll design their next model. The new design is a great change-up from what Campfire fans may be used to, but they remain reliable in delivering quality sound without the cost of comfort. It is familiar and brand new all at once, and I would certainly consider saving up to get my hands on a pair. 

The Astrolith will be available on August 7th, 2024. 

In the meantime, check out other IEMs from Campfire Audio at Audio46.