Campfire Audio Moon Rover IEMs Review

Campfire Audio is a brand that constantly knows how to market a great product. From in-ear monitors across the board that have memorable names and even more memorable designs, Campfire Audio is always elevating the game. They’ve released a limited edition pair of IEMs, with only 888 models made. Retailing at $1199, Campfire Audio’s Moon Rover IEMs bring your music out of this world.

What Comes In The Box

• Moon Rover IEMs made from flame-treated titanium
• Super Smoky Litz cable with 3.5mm jack
• x6 Eartips (3 silicon, 3 foam) in S, M, L sizes
• Pebble-grey leather folding wallet – handmade from Portugal
• Small Black Divided Mesh Drawstring Bag
• IEM Cleaning Tool and Microfibre Cloth
• CA Lapel Pin

Aesthetics and Functionality

When it comes to aesthetics, Campfire Audio never misses. The box itself is a treat for the eyes, with intricate illustrations decorating all six sides. It is completely wrapped in text and color and design, so there’s no mistaking what brand you are looking at. Even when you open it, the design continues and decorates the inside panels. Instead of a booklet of technical specifications, Campfire Audio has elected to place all the information in the design of the packaging. It is a unique feature found in almost all the other Campfire Audio designs, where the box itself is the gift that keeps on giving. Inside is not just the monitors, but also a hand-made Portuguese leather carrying wallet and a lapel pin that adorns the Campfire Audio logo.

The monitors themselves are another thing of beauty. With its flame-treated titanium build, the grey chrome color shines and reflects a rainbow of colors. It really does look like they took a chunk of the moon and made an earphone out of it. The grey cable is easy to connect, and 6 pairs of eartips allow for personalized comfort in both size and material. These were easy to plug into my computer and start using, and I can imagine these would be a great pair for people who work on-the-go. It is a comfortable in-ear fit; I had no fear of it falling out at any point in the process or listening experience. They have the perfect balance of feeling lightweight during use without feeling flimsy, but have just enough weight to make you know you have a quality product in your hand.

Tech Specs

• 12mm Planar Driver
• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 20kHz
• SPL: 94 dB @ 1kHz
• Impedance: 22.5 Ω
• THD < 0.1%

Listening Review

Soundstage

The soundstage of the Moon Rovers is, like the rest of the product, remarkable. It delivers an even spread across the stereo field and a clean response from the entire frequency range. The extended bass is noticeable and the highs come in as a breath of fresh air. There is no active-noise canceling technology in these, but with the in-ear design, sound isolation is noticeable immediately and immersive without even trying. Outside ambience has a hard time getting through and allows you to hear the audio more clearly than in a regular pair of headphones. 

Low Frequencies

The low end is nice and bassy, as I would expect from a pair of headphones that starts their frequency range at 5Hz. They have a nice warmth and earthiness to it, which is kind of ironic for IEMs named "Moon Rover". Kick drums and basslines have a nice punchy and present quality to them. I am a sucker for a good bass tone, and these are checking all my boxes. The most notable bass sound was in the instrumentation for David Byrne’s “Glass, Concrete & Stone”, where percussion and cello were given the front and center stage. It provided a strong foundation for the rest of the song to build on, all without becoming too overpowering. It didn't drown out the rest of the instrumentation, and this remained true for the other genres I listened to on the Moon Rovers. 

Mid-Range Frequencies

This section comes out crisp and clean, where you get a nice detailed listen that isn't overly in-your-face. Vocals that typically sit in this range are given good color and placement in the stereo field, and they don’t get lost in the mix. The mid-low is a beautiful complement to the bass tones you get in lower frequencies, ensuring a smooth transition from one section to the next. It can get a little muddy in the mid-high range, so it sounds like some female vocals get scooped out. I heard this most clearly in No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak”, where Gwen Stefani’s voice was slightly warped than what I originally remembered. That being said, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the song or deter me from continuing to many other genres. 

High Frequencies

As always, the high end delivers balance and relief from all the lows that come naturally in IEMs. They are bright and colorful and give you a much needed break from the low frequencies, especially since the top end cuts off at around 20kHz. “Chelsea Morning” by Joni Mitchell has a lot of crisp guitar harmonics that sit in the high end, and they come through without being piercing or straining on the ear. Even rock songs with crashing cymbals aren’t fatiguing on the ear, and classical music was given the space and height it needed. 

Summary

To conclude, the Moon Rover IEMs are something any audiophile would be lucky to have. Aside from its stunning packaging design that is a piece of art in itself, the monitors deliver quality sound that is clean and consistent across the frequency range. These are great for casual listening in a plethora of environments, or for some quick audio editing for people who work in sound. I would definitely reach for this pair for my everyday use, like casual listening and background music while I work. As a limited edition design, the Moon Rover is something you don’t want to miss out on.