Grand Luna vs Bonneville: Campfire’s Boldest IEMs Yet

Oregon-based Campfire Audio is known for making some fantastic in-ear monitors. Their latest release, the Grand Luna, is definitely one that has been turning heads for people who love bass and the dark red aesthetic. How does it compare to the already popular Bonneville at the same price? In this review, we'll comparing all the details of these two Campfire IEMs to see which one is best for you. 

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Now we look at the most important comparison between these Campfire IEMs: the listening experience. Starting with the soundstage, you'll hear quite the difference right off the bat in the Grand Luna and Bonneville. The Grand Luna presents a soundstage that is wide and immersive, expanding backwards to create depth and layers to any track. Frequencies don't really expand upwards too much, as the signature's dark tonality doesn't allow for much space at the top. Still, the imaging is impressive for instruments across a stereo field.

Meanwhile, the Campfire Bonneville presents something that is definitely a bit narrower. The stereo image was still immersive, and you got layers expanding backwards and upwards as well. It created a 3D sound that wrapped around you from all sides. It was a more intimate listen than something like the Grand Luna, where you were given a more laid-back soundstage. The Bonneville gets up close and personal, making you get every last detail of any track you push through it.

The sound signatures for these Campfire IEMs are tuned to different types of listeners. If you are someone who prefers a bassy IEM that is relaxed for casual listening, the Grand Luna will be right up your alley. For the more discerning listener who prioritizes balance and detail above all else, the Bonneville's intimate sound signature comes to the rescue.

BASS FREQUENCIES

As mentioned previously, the Campfire Grand Luna really takes the cake for strong bass response. It is the first thing you notice in the IEM, presenting a strong body and warmth that wraps around you like a hug. The slam of instruments in the Grand Luna's bass cannot be understated; it definitely is the bulk of the signature and where you'll find the most power in your sound. Because of the sheer force of the bass, you start to lose some detail in the low end. The timbre of instruments remains noticeable and discernible across different genres, but you can hear how some finer details get smoothed over in the Grand Luna to give a more laid-back and relaxed experience.

The Bonneville doesn't have the same clarity loss issue. Because this Campfire IEM is more balanced, the bass is not as overpowering and has much more refinement. Its coloration is noted not in its body, but more in its punchiness and tight reproduction. The sub-bass rumble emerges, allowing you to feel electronic beats with more impact. It may not be as strong or powerful as the Grand Luna, but the bass in the Bonneville definitely provides a more detailed and focused bass response to highlight accuracy and texture above all else. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

Moving onto the midrange, Campfire shows some consistency in how they handle their sound. In both the Grand Luna and the Bonneville, you get midrange reproduction that is detailed and natural across the board. Textures and timbres have distinct characteristics that make instruments keep their unique sound. The thing that makes them different is the placement of the midrange. The Grand Luna has the midrange slightly recessed, so you're getting the impactfulness of the bass right before most of your main melodies or vocal tracks. It's an odd sound to listen to, but over time, you grow more accustomed to it.

On the other hand, the Bonneville's midrange comes right to the front. Vocals, guitars, and midrange piano are all in that first layer of sound, allowing you to take in every detail with no issue. For people looking for reference sound, this may not be it, but you'll certainly pick up on the smaller details that will keep your mix clean and artifact-free. The intimate staging leans into this forward midrange, full of color and clarity to enhance any track. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

In the treble frequency range, we see some stark differences between Grand Luna and the Bonneville. Campfire tuned the Grand Luna to be bass-first in response, and that speaks to listeners immediately. The top end is heavily recessed and becomes almost invisible because of the way it gets pushed to the far back. For people who are sensitive to treble, this is a great tuning; the treble acts as a support to the bass and doesn't pierce the sound signature. This lack of treble does make the overall signature quite heavy, though there's just enough lightness and airy quality to give space to some instruments that fall in this range. The treble does a great job at creating space in this range, so the heaviness doesn't also feel compressed.

For those who like a more detailed and engaging treble, the Campfire Bonneville is a far better choice. Not to say that the treble on the Campfire Grand Luna is bad, but it is not as noticeable in the overall signature. The Bonneville utilizes the treble to get clarity and accuracy down to a tee, opening up the space for more instruments to come to the forefront. Personally, I much preferred the clarity and detail the Bonneville provided as opposed to the Grand Luna, solely because the balance felt more accurate and clean across the board. Still, if you are more sensitive to treble, the Bonneville may be overwhelming with its sharp coloration.