Golden Ears: Campfire Audio - Andromeda Emerald Sea Review

Over the years, we’ve explored many different audio brands in this column. They’ve come from all around the world, including many from China where the personal audio market is exploding. But one place we haven’t yet examined closely is right here at home in the United States. That’s changing this year with our proverbial home-town hero: Campfire Audio.

Campfire Audio is one of the most well-known and well-respected audiophile brands operating out of the United States today. Based in Portland, Oregan, it has developed a number of highly acclaimed in-ear monitors (IEMs) — including the Cascara which I personally acclaimed only two weeks past — but perhaps none more-so than the Andromeda. Iterated on since its original release more than five years ago, it has undergone a number of changes, refinements, and offshoots. Through all of this, it has remained a staple recommendation among audiophile’s in the know. 

Today, we’re looking at Campfire’s embarkment on this auditory odyssey with the Andromeda Emerald Sea. It’s a warmer, bassier take on the Andromeda, which I’ve also been testing (thanks to friend and PopSci Editor, Tony Ware). Much has changed and much remains, so let’s dive in and explore just what the Emerald Sea has to offer.  

Specifications

• Current Price: $1,399 (Amazon, Campfire Audio) 
• Frequency Response = 5Hz — 20kHz
• Sensitivity = 11.84  mVrms to reach 94db
• Impedance = 6.375 Ohm at 1 kHz
• THD < 0.5%

A Quick Introduction to Golden Ears… 

Welcome back to Golden Ears! This is our semi-regular column dedicated to the world of high-end audio. In this series, we look at premium audio products that all promise a next-level listening experience. But what exactly do you get when you spend a little, or sometimes a lot, more? That’s what we aim to discover, helping you to find out just what’s worth investing in to upgrade your listening experience for music and gaming alike. 

For this article in particular, we’re looking at the Campfire Audio Andromeda Emerald Sea, an