Campfire Audio Axion Review

 

If Google is showing you this page directly, click here to go to the start of the article.

Sound Classics

Bass

While the new driver has a somewhat dark character and can feel a bit congested in the mid-bass area, its performance in the bass department is commendable in terms of decay, pace, and agility. The bass primarily focuses on the mid-bass region, presenting a robust and substantial sound that can occasionally feel crowded.

The presence of the sub-bass is limited, which results in a slight in-depth deficiency, while the mechanical delivery of the bass highlights the warmth and weight of the mid-bass. The upper bass and lower mids are warm and pronounced but can sometimes approach a darker tone. Nonetheless, the overall bass quality is not bad. Although the subdued nature of the sub-bass is expected, the mid-bass fullness is a bit over the top in terms of quantity.

Mid-Range

The Axion’s midrange delivers commendable resolution and clarity, particularly regarding vocal reproduction. Vocals have a pleasant tone and authenticity, especially appealing to female voices. They are well-defined, clear, and detailed without being excessively prominent or subdued. The strength of the tonality is the highlight, featuring realistic timbre and vibrant vocals and instruments. 

The midrange offers a balanced and robust performance, showcasing exceptional tonality and smoothness that enhance the musical experience. It articulates instruments, vocals, and intricacies with adequate clarity. The tonality appears quite natural, and the timbre of the instruments is deeply satisfying. In my view, this is what distinguishes the Axion as a solid mid-range performer, as the instruments resonate musically and fluidly.

However, I would have preferred more transparency and clarity in this area. Additionally, I feel nuances in this range aren’t captured very effectively, as some details are lost in this somewhat dark and obscured presentation.

The Axion certainly stands out with its fluid sound profile for anyone searching for an IEM that shines in mid-range smoothness. Nevertheless, it’s essential to acknowledge that these tuning decisions have drawbacks, like reduced transparency, congestion, and a lack of spaciousness in the midrange.

Treble

The treble region stands out as the least remarkable aspect of the Axion. The dark tonal profile obscures the treble range, losing details within this shadowy quality. When this characteristic is paired with the Axion’s overall lack of clarity, the result is an exceptionally smooth treble range that is lacking in clarity, transparency, and detail. This smoothness contributes to a comfortable experience for the highs while preserving notable musicality. 

The upper treble performance also exposes some limitations, which is anticipated considering its single-driver design. Even more advanced single-driver IEMs can find achieving a highly detailed and vibrant upper treble challenging, so this is reasonable for a daily earphone.

This particular presentation of the upper treble impacts overall spaciousness and airiness, which could further enhance the sound profile. The treble performance aligns well with the intended audience, with potential improvements in the higher frequencies that could boost its airiness and extension.

Technical Performance

The Axion delivers solid technical performance, but it struggles on more complex tracks filled with multiple instruments and vocals, resulting in a bit of congestion. On the brighter side, its stereo imaging is generally precise, which helps create a focused listening experience; this clarity makes it easy to pick out different elements within a track.

However, there’s room for improvement in midrange transparency, affecting overall imaging quality and resulting in a sound that lacks airiness. This limitation prevents the Axion from achieving greater openness and spatial definition in the midrange.

Nonetheless, the Axion’s overall balance is well-executed and should resonate with most listeners. Its coherence is impressive, offering a smooth and consistent sound signature that makes it a versatile option. The soundstage delivers nice width and depth, especially considering its price range.

One of the standout features of the Axion is its talent for presenting a natural and realistic sound. It effectively captures the timbres and tonality of both instruments and vocals, creating a convincing sense of realism. With its inherent warmth and richness, the listening experience becomes smooth, enjoyable, and truly immersive.

Comparisons

At $249, the Axion faces stiff competition. While the IEMs I’m just about to compare them with lack the USB-C function, for a total price of that, some people may go the USB Dongle + IEM route, which is viable.

The Meze Audio Alba is a good contender in that sense. At just $159, it offers more impressive packaging, classic Meze Audio design, superb fit and comfort, good build, and clear sound, fresher and faster than the Campfire, with better transparency and clarity. The Axion provides the complete package with built-in DAC, a microphone, and playback controls.

But let’s say you get a $100-ish USB dongle with the Meze to combine with. Sure, it’s not the most ergonomic solution, but it’s doable, with a higher level of performance.

Let’s say you don’t need a USB dongle, or maybe you have a rare breed of smartphones that still retain the 3.5mm jack. You can bump your budget and get the $300 Sennheiser IE 300. That’s the original price, though; it can be found in a lower price range when it’s on sale.

The IE 300 is a higher-level IEM with good build quality, a comfortable fit, and good packaging. It’s a good performer with excellent clarity, resolution, and detail. The Campfire is the more enjoyable and musical earphone, but when it comes to authentic audiophile sound, the IE 300 is the better choice. 

Conclusion

The Campfire Audio Axion is a solution for music lovers who need a daily driver earphone in a single package, including a USB DAC. This offering unlocks a variety of use cases, including pairing with smartphones, MacBooks, and other USB-C devices.

The usual Campfire Audio design, high build quality, and vivid and enjoyable sound signature are also present, appealing to Campfire enthusiasts who look for a simplified and ergonomic Campfire solution for everyday use.

Summary

Pros:

  • Good build
  • Dark design
  • USB-C with controls and mic
  • SDD Driver Tech
  • Mid-range timbre
  • Good imaging

Cons:

  • The lower mid-range is congested
  • Fitting can take some time
  • Not the crispest IEM
  • Upper treble lacks extension
  • Overall lack of transparency and micro detail
4.5/5 - (41 votes)
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedin

A keen audiophile and hobby photographer, Berkhan is after absolute perfection. Whether it is a full-frame camera or a custom in-ear, his standpoint persists. He tries to keep his photography enthusiasm at the same level as audio. Sometimes photography wins, sometimes his love for music takes over and he puts that camera aside. Simplistic expressions of sound in his reviews are the way to go for him. He enjoys a fine single malt along with his favourite Jazz recordings.

Be first to comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.