Grand Luna Has Grand Bass: Campfire Audio Grand Luna Review

There's been the Astrolith, the Moon Rover, the Andromeda, and the Clara: all Campfire in-ear monitors that have come and impressed audiophiles over the years. Now, they have a new IEM to add to the lineup. The Grand Luna is a hybrid IEM with a planar and balanced armature configuration, and has a "Blood Moon" aesthetic to stand out amongst some other models. Retailing for $1,399, the Grand Luna stands as the latest iteration of an audiophile listening experience that could be a great addition to your collection. 

First up in our review of the Grand Luna is the aesthetics. The Campfire Grand Luna is built with durability in mind, as well as simplicity and minimalism. The Grand Luna has a transparent red shell that helps you see the driver configuration. The stainless steel outer shell gives a clean finish, and the standard MMCX connectors are secure for the included cable. The cable itself has swappable terminations to make adaptability simple and easy, with options for 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and a USB-C DAC.

In terms of comfort, the Grand Luna has one of my favorite fits from Campfire Audio so far. While the size isn't as small as something like Alien Brain, it is certainly slimmer and more universal compared to that of the Chromatic series. Physically, it has a lot of the same characteristics as the Astrolith, with the same shape and fit. The included ear tips are also easy to swap and fit the ideal fit for any ear. 

• Hybrid Driver Configuration
  • Updated 14mm planar magnetic
  • 2x high-frequency balanced armatures
• Vented Housing for even-air pressure and driver performance
• Custom matrix MMCX connectors
• Impedance: 13 Ω
• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 30kHz
• SPL: 94 dB @ 1kHz, 33mVrms
• THD: less than 0.5%
• USB-C DAC: Cirrus Logic Master HiFi 43131
  • 32 bit / 384kHz, 2Vrms, DSD256

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Let's start our listening with the immediate impressions. When I first started listening to the Grand Luna, I was taken aback by loudness of the bass and lower midrange frequencies. It was a powerful force that shaped the signature, and it was easy to notice how the higher frequencies took a backseat in this signature. The frequencies were good at expanding backwards in layers to create a nice sense of depth, though they did lack a certain height that probably would have come from the higher frequencies if they were more present. People who like darker tonality in their earphones will definitely be a fan of the Grand Luna. If you like more high-end precision, some other Campfire IEMs might be a better choice. 

Looking past the dark signature, I was definitely a fan of the soundstage that was presented in the Grand Luna. The sound was very immersive thanks to the depth, and though the width was rather narrow, it was pointed and focused to give you stellar stereo imaging. The instrumental placement was pinpoint with accuracy, with good separation but still a sense of cohesiveness. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The Grand Luna's most defining sonic feature is the heavy bass. The low-end frequencies are the most noticeable thing when you first start listening. They are powerful and heavy, coming to the front of any stereo mix. You can feel the sub-bass with ease, especially in pop and EDM tracks that have a thumping beat to keep the track moving. It's a drier sound, and the punch loses its attack with the heavy character. There is a certain muddiness that comes with that, and some detail gets lost when you introduce that much power and drive into the bass. Still, the texture and color of different bass guitars, drums, and low-register vocals come through to differentiate one from the other. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange is oddly recessed when you listen to the Grand Luna, which means things that are normally front and center take a backset. A startling example was vocals, where they sat slightly behind the bass and main driving beats of tracks. It was interesting to hear Lady Gaga's voice behind the slam of the kick drum, but with the color and texture that come through on her vocal track, it proved to be an entertaining combination. This range may not have the most power coming into it, but the coloration and texture comes through with precision. I liked exploring different genres to see how the coloration would affect the various instrument combinations. I found that indie rock and alternative rock was a favorite of mine, though folk and acoustic tracks presented new details in the lower midrange that I hadn't noticed before. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

As for the high end, this is where the Grand Luna loses steam. The treble frequencies fizzle out and roll off to create a thin and hardly-there effect. There are peaks that shine through and give you bursts of color and lightness, but it's easy for those sounds to get bored underneath the bass and midrange. I would say you get just enough to keep the bass from getting too overwhelming, but the texture and coloration from the treble gets a little lost. If you're looking for an IEM with treble detail, the Grand Luna won't be it; the dark tonality pushes the highs way back and makes it an afterthought. When the coloration does come through, it is a nice texture and keeps to the natural timbre of the instruments in that range. 

The Grand Luna IEM is a sensitive, low-impedance device and doesn't require a lot of power to drive. For simplicity's sake, you can use the included USB-C DAC or the 3.5mm for easy plug-and-play usability. However, for the audiophile who likes to add some additional gear for extra flavor, there are a lot of good options that pair well with the Grand Luna. During my listening, I used the following DAC/Amp combos:

• Campfire Audio Relay
• FiiO QX13
• iFi GO Link 

All of these devices proved to be good matches for the Grand Luna, but my favorite was the FiiO QX13. It brought out a lightness that contrasted the darkness of the Grand Luna, and it was fun to play with the filters for a more entertaining and finely-tuned listen. 

The Campfire Audio Grand Luna is an exceptionally crafted IEM that caters to a particular set of listeners. The dark tonality and drier detail will attract those who like to tune the sound of their IEMs with external gear, and the fit will definitely be popular for those who like a less aggressive outer shell. If you aren't a fan of bass and want something with more balance, the Grand Luna may not be for you. Instead, the audiophile looking for something different and outside the natural tuning signature may have some fun with this IEM.

At $1,399, the Grand Luna sits as a definite upgrade for a standard pair of IEMs. It'll be up to your ears to be the ultimate judge whether they should be added to your collection.

The Campfire Grand Luna is available at Audio46.