Campfire Audio Fathom Review

Last 12 months, Campfire Audio impressed me with its Chromatic collection. This product line included a few of my favourite new IEMs from Campfire Audio in latest reminiscence, such because the Supermoon, and Bonneville. Now, Campfire Audio is welcoming a brand new IEM separated from that line with the Fathom. The Fathom is a six-driver IEM that prices $1,049. Can it match the highs from final 12 months’s Chromatic collection?

What You Get

Fathom IEMs
Time Stream cables, 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Leather case
Zipper case
Drawstring IEM bag
Marshmellow and silicone ideas

Look & Feel

The Fathom takes on the identical design because the Andromeda Emerald Sea however in a brand new stable black with purple accents on its MMCX connectors. It’s a extra acquainted form in comparison with what we’ve seen within the Chromatic collection. While these IEMs may need had extra aesthetic flash, the Fathom nonetheless cuts a clear look that seems like a traditional Campfire construct. One of the largest variations right here is the prolonged nozzle, which impacts the general stage of consolation that the Fathom offers in comparison with different Campfire IEMs. I had no issues with how the Fathom sits in my ears, however there’s extra strain in its seal in comparison with the Andromeda Emerald Sea.

Design

Inside the Fathom is a collection of six balanced armature drivers which can be custom-made. These drivers embrace twin tremendous tweeters and twin woofers. It has a really low impedance of 11.7 Ohms and an SPL of 94dB. You can drive the Fathom with any system that has a 3.5mm or 4.4mm balanced headphone connector.

Soundstage

With Campfire Audio, I’m used to listening to quite a lot of spaciousness. Sometimes the soundstage they current might be blissfully holographic, however that’s not the type of IEM that the Fathom is. I didn’t suppose a lot of its presentation at first. Its width was good, however nothing jumped out spatially. It takes a while, and listening to the fitting tracks to get the Fathom to disclose its methods. Although it could come throughout as a flatter sound area, the stereo imaging may be very exact, with distinct layers that stack subsequent to one another with out confusion. You can really feel the house between sound parts, which is spectacular for a way linear this soundstage is. You don’t get that sense of tallness from devices, however the Fathom reveals its scale by its ahead show, distancing the sounds in a method that localizes their particular origin. There’s nice depth to this soundstage, and the Fathom makes it immersive with out holographic parts.

Low End

While the bass reveals some good element it lacks a little bit of weight. There isn’t a constant physique to the tone, nevertheless it nonetheless has a presence which you can understand. It does a very good job of filling out notes with an outlined mid-bass, however the sub-bass doesn’t play a lot of a component within the sound signature in any respect. The lows have a well-rounded and balanced presentation, nevertheless it’s lacking some tooth. Sometimes it comes along with a definite fullness, nevertheless it oftentimes feels a bit empty. Nothing ever sounds unrealistically offered within the lows although. The frequencies have a fine condition to them, they simply hardly ever showcase and drive.

Mids

Campfire IEMs prefer to have darker textures, which might be hit and miss for me, however the Fathom controls it effectively. It makes use of the fuller frequency content material of the mid-bass and makes use of it to form the midrange timbre with richer particulars and dynamic vary. Nothing feels misplaced right here, because the mids are organized clearly all through a big assortment of frequencies that offers the sound a ton of life. It stays somewhat unexcited however nonetheless well-balanced sufficient so that you can nonetheless be engaged with each instrument and vocal efficiency. You get a way of room and evenness even with its hotter basis.

Highs

Elements of the highs categorical the correct amount of element, however the floor space is smaller than you would possibly anticipate. The highs lack top, nevertheless it doesn’t skimp out on the readability and realism that resonates all through the complete sound signature. There’s a satisfying click on to every be aware that comes throughout as crisp with out the added sizzle. While it’s lacking some taste for me, the highs nonetheless have a terrific decision that’s absolutely clear with out all of the harsher elements that may generally include extra expressive tuning.

Summary

Although the Fathom doesn’t have all the things that a few of my favourite Campfire Audio IEMs have, it nonetheless brings loads to the desk. It doesn’t have probably the most flavorful response, nevertheless it makes up for it with wealthy, practical particulars all through its sound signature. The construct is of the standard you’d anticipate from Campfire Audio, however its massive spout would possibly create a number of points to your stage of consolation. Otherwise, the Fathom is a sound you may not expect from Campfire Audio, nevertheless it stored shocking me with extra element and immersive qualities.