Campfire Audio AraFrom real comments

Name: Campfire Audio Ara
Rating: 3.2 (15 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 15 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment60%

PROS 60%

CONS 40%

Rank based on 15 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want highly resolving detail for classical, jazz, or orchestral music
You're willing to experiment with tips (Comply foam or Final E) to dial in the sound
You already value Campfire Audio's boutique build and want a companion to another CFA IEM

What users love

Highly resolving detail0 mentions

Strongly positive

Tight, quality bass0 mentions

Widely praised

Tip-rolling improves comfort and tonality0 mentions

Widely praised

Large, layered soundstage0 mentions

Strongly positive

Tubeless design innovation0 mentions

Widely praised

Boutique build quality0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You're sensitive to treble and don't want to hunt for the right eartips
You're not willing to pay premium pricing for a lesser-known boutique brand
You prefer the Andromeda's treble character over a newer tubeless design

What users complain about

Harsh or fatiguing treble0 mentions

Frequently criticized

High price point0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Value versus chi-fi competitors0 mentions

Generally negative

Inconsistent bass quantity0 mentions

Generally negative

Not universally liked among Campfire fans0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Premium

Tanchjim Darling

Elegant, Premium DesignComfortable Final-Style WearExcellent ImagingPoor Value at Price PointHigh Price Relative to Sibling ModelFatiguing Treble Peak

Tanchjim Darling

Elegant, Premium Design

Comfortable Final-Style Wear

Excellent Imaging

Poor Value at Price Point

High Price Relative to Sibling Model

Fatiguing Treble Peak

Campfire Audio Alien Brain

Versatile TuningBalanced Overall SignatureFantastic Bass

Campfire Audio Alien Brain

Versatile Tuning

Balanced Overall Signature

Fantastic Bass

3Mid

FiiO FD3 Pro

Striking Design and BuildStrong Brand LoyaltyFlagship-Style Driver TechConnector Compatibility UnclearPossible Treble ImbalancePrice Uncertainty

FiiO FD3 Pro

Striking Design and Build

Strong Brand Loyalty

Flagship-Style Driver Tech

Connector Compatibility Unclear

Possible Treble Imbalance

Price Uncertainty

4Premium

Shure SE846

Rich, Detailed SoundExcellent for Live MusiciansLong-Term Durability and ConsistencyHigh Price Relative to CompetitionComfort and Fit IssuesDurability and Build Quality Concerns

Shure SE846

Rich, Detailed Sound

Excellent for Live Musicians

Long-Term Durability and Consistency

High Price Relative to Competition

Comfort and Fit Issues

Durability and Build Quality Concerns

5Premium

Moondrop Illumination

Attractive, lightweight designRefined HD650-like tonalityGood comfort and fitExcessive $800 priceUnderwhelming technical performance for priceCheap stock cable and case

Moondrop Illumination

Attractive, lightweight design

Refined HD650-like tonality

Good comfort and fit

Excessive $800 price

Underwhelming technical performance for price

Cheap stock cable and case

6Premium

Campfire Audio Astrolith

High Resolution and DetailRich, Balanced BassComfortable FitHigh PriceBoosted Bass and Harsh TrebleInconsistent or Dark Tonality

Campfire Audio Astrolith

High Resolution and Detail

Rich, Balanced Bass

Comfortable Fit

High Price

Boosted Bass and Harsh Treble

Inconsistent or Dark Tonality

7Premium

Shure Aonic 3

Detachable MMCX cableAdjustable, customizable fitFull-spectrum sound tuningInconsistent sound quality for the priceComfort limitation for side sleepingPrice value concerns

Shure Aonic 3

Detachable MMCX cable

Adjustable, customizable fit

Full-spectrum sound tuning

Inconsistent sound quality for the price

Comfort limitation for side sleeping

Price value concerns

8Mid

Moondrop KXXS

Strong overall sound qualityImproves with burn-inGood bass responseVery similar to cheaper StarfieldIsolation and fit concernsNot always a meaningful upgrade

Moondrop KXXS

Strong overall sound quality

Improves with burn-in

Good bass response

Very similar to cheaper Starfield

Isolation and fit concerns

Not always a meaningful upgrade

Best value

9Budget

FiiO F1

Excellent value for moneyPositive sound quality impressionsSecure, stay-in fitPrice perceived as slightly high by some

FiiO F1

Excellent value for money

Positive sound quality impressions

Secure, stay-in fit

Price perceived as slightly high by some

10Premium

Tanchjim Soda

Eye-catching translucent designDetailed, crisp treble presentationGenerous accessory packageHigh $300 price point questionedCable quality complaintsOverly bright tuning for some listeners

Tanchjim Soda

Eye-catching translucent design

Detailed, crisp treble presentation

Generous accessory package

High $300 price point questioned

Cable quality complaints

Overly bright tuning for some listeners

You are here

20Premium

Campfire Audio Ara

Highly resolving detailTight, quality bassTip-rolling improves comfort and tonalityHarsh or fatiguing trebleHigh price pointInconsistent bass quantity

Campfire Audio Ara

Highly resolving detail

Tight, quality bass

Tip-rolling improves comfort and tonality

Harsh or fatiguing treble

High price point

Inconsistent bass quantity

Overpriced
1. Shure SE846arrow_downward11
2. Moondrop Illuminationarrow_downward16
Detailed sound
1. Shure SE846arrow_upward7
2. Moondrop KXXSarrow_upward5
Design
1. Tanchjim Darlingarrow_upward6
2. FiiO FD3 Proarrow_upward5
High price
1. Campfire Audio Astrolitharrow_downward4
2. Tanchjim Sodaarrow_downward6
Value for money
1. FiiO F1arrow_upward4
2. Tanchjim Darlingarrow_downward3
Build quality
1. Moondrop KXXSarrow_upward2
2. Shure SE846arrow_downward3

Overall Impression

Detail retrieval and soundstage draw strong praise from owners. Multiple listeners describe the Ara as incredibly resolving, with a large, layered soundstage and good timbre. One user said symphonic and opera music revealed tiny details they hadn't heard before, dramatically improving their listening experience. Another firmly rejected claims the bass or overall sound was gimped, calling it genuinely excellent rather than merely good.

Treble tuning is polarizing and tip-dependent. Several comments describe treble that can feel harsh or uncomfortable at first, especially compared to the AndroGold or Andromeda 2020. Switching to Comply foam tips or larger Final E tips reportedly reduced harshness and improved bass tightness and treble extension over time, with one user attributing the change partly to brain burn-in after two weeks of listening.

Premium price and brand recognition split buyer sentiment. Priced around $1.3k, the Ara is seen as a steep purchase for a brand some commenters say they'd never heard of. Others acknowledge Campfire Audio as a well-built, premium boutique brand, though they note it can lose out to cheaper high-end chi-fi alternatives on value, even as it retains a loyal following among longtime Campfire fans.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

visibilityHighly resolving detail

2 mentions

Strongly positive

Listeners report the Ara reveals tiny musical details previously unheard, particularly in classical, symphonic, and opera recordings. This resolving quality is cited as a major strength that elevated one user's overall listening experience.

@riddion2

I just got these and they are incredibly resolving, especially when using the Comply Foam tips which work best for me. I bought these to be a companion to my Dorado 2020, but be used for listening to classical and jazz. And listening to stuff like symphonic music or opera these are a revelation. Tiny details in the music has opened up to me and my listening experience has increased greatly. For these are pretty much perfect to what I want to use them for. \nI know that everybody is entitled to their opinion but the reviewer seems to be so far off the mark that I start to think if he used the wrong tips (size or type) or dac/amp. Or maybe he just had a really bad day(s) when reviewing them.

smart_display

November 13, 2021

@markgurvis

I completely disagree with you. The bass is tight, the timbre is good, the soundstage is large and layered, It is not just good, it’s REALLY GOOD. It’s not gimped at all. I can’t at all agree that it’s just “bad” - tbh I think you are beyond off base and believe you have no clue what good sounds like.

smart_display

January 19, 2021

graphic_eqTight, quality bass

2 mentions

Widely praised

Multiple comments praise the bass as tight and well-controlled, with one listener noting it tightened further after switching eartips. The bass is described as high quality even by those wishing for slightly more quantity.

@minhbu95

These sound amazing, extended trebble. A bit harsh to me at first so I switched to the foam tips, which provide a much better bass.\nBut after 2 weeks I switched back to a pair of bigger Final E tips, the bass is tighter and the treble opens and extends so much better, no further harshness sound, probably due to brain burn-in. Really good bass quality, just wish for a bit more quantity and slam.

smart_display

January 9, 2023

@markgurvis

smart_display

January 19, 2021

tuneTip-rolling improves comfort and tonality

2 mentions

Widely praised

Owners found that switching to Comply foam or larger Final E tips meaningfully reduced treble harshness and improved bass tightness, letting the earphones reach their potential after some adjustment.

@minhbu95

smart_display

January 9, 2023

@riddion2

smart_display

November 13, 2021

surround_soundLarge, layered soundstage

1 mentions

Strongly positive

The soundstage is described as large and layered, contributing to an immersive listening experience that commenters felt was unfairly criticized in some reviews.

@markgurvis

smart_display

January 19, 2021

engineeringTubeless design innovation

1 mentions

Widely praised

The move to a tubeless internal design is noted as a welcome engineering advance, drawing comparison to similar approaches from other high-end IEM makers.

@MatzRios

I still haven’t had the chance to hear any of Campfire’s offerings, but their move to the new tubeless design is really nice to see. It’s quite similar to what JH Audio did with the new AEON series. Hoping to get a chance to have a listen to these!

smart_display

May 14, 2020

verifiedBoutique build quality

1 mentions

Widely praised

Campfire Audio is acknowledged as a premium, well-built boutique earphone brand, a reputation that persists even among commenters who ultimately prefer other options.

@BopWalk

Campfire Audio is a premium well built boutique brand for earphones but they will always lose out to the higher end cheaper chifi IEMs.

smart_display

June 5, 2020

warningHarsh or fatiguing treble

2 mentions

Frequently criticized

Several listeners found the extended treble uncomfortable initially, with one comparing it unfavorably to the AndroGold's treble and calling it too uncomfortable to their ears in a store comparison.

@minhbu95

smart_display

January 9, 2023

@abuanwp

I tried ARA in the store yesterday here in Taiwan, compared to my AndroGold the treble on ARA is too uncomfortable to my ears.\nIf CA don't release a new Andromeda for 2022, I'll buy the Andro2020 early next year.\nTo my ears, AndroGold & Andro2020 sounds very different to one another and a good swappable IEM from time to time.

smart_display

August 29, 2021

attach_moneyHigh price point

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

At roughly $1.3k, the Ara is considered a steep investment, especially notable to a commenter unfamiliar with the brand's reputation.

@JeffReams

These ear phones retail for around $1.3k dollars. That is a steep price for a company I’ve never heard of.

smart_display

February 27, 2021

compare_arrowsValue versus chi-fi competitors

1 mentions

Generally negative

One commenter argues that despite premium build, Campfire Audio IEMs lose out on value to higher-end cheaper chi-fi alternatives.

@BopWalk

Campfire Audio is a premium well built boutique brand for earphones but they will always lose out to the higher end cheaper chifi IEMs.

smart_display

June 5, 2020

speedInconsistent bass quantity

1 mentions

Generally negative

One listener wished for a bit more bass quantity and slam, even while praising the bass's tightness and quality overall.

@minhbu95

smart_display

January 9, 2023

thumb_downNot universally liked among Campfire fans

1 mentions

Generally negative

A self-described longtime Campfire Audio listener stated almost all of the brand's IEMs don't work for them, the Ara included.

@Rex88282

Nice review. I was sure about this iem . Almost all Campfire audio iems are bad for me 👎except the Atlas .

smart_display

February 8, 2021

Campfire Audio Arachat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Overpriced

Detailed sound

Design

High price

Value for money

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Campfire Audio AraFrom real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression