Introduction to the Campfire Audio Astrolith Review
Campfire Audio is a company that surely needs no introduction among audiophiles. Being one of the biggest and most beloved manufacturers in the IEM world doesn’t just randomly appear next to your name. It takes years of releasing good products and earning trust among their users, to be considered as one of the main players in the industry.
Obviously, even though many years have passed, Campfire Audio is still most known for its legendary Andromeda. It doesn’t end there though, as this Portland-based company has released plenty of fantastic IEMs throughout the last few years.
What’s worth mentioning is that Campfire Audio never really got into the whole “drivers experiment” train that has been going on in the market. They never released a Bone Conduction construction or used electrostatic drivers in their releases.
As this aspect can be seen as a mistake by many, CFA has proven that IEMs are not just about what sits inside.
However, lately, we have seen more and more planar-magnetic releases by Campfire, and with some good success to their name. The Supermoon and the Moon Rover are both fantastic offerings, and you can read their reviews on our website.
This time, Campfire Audio has gone even further and with the release of the reviewed Astrolith, they mark their first-ever dual planar-magnetic IEM. Fitting two planar drivers inside an IEM case is an impressive achievement on its own, but in this review, we’ll see if it actually makes any sense.
Packaging
Unboxing Campfire Audio IEMs is always a blissful experience. I’ve often called them the unboxing experience masters and it’s obviously no different with the tested Astrolith.
It comes in a colorful and striking-looking box that has actually been sitting on my shelf ever since it arrived. The graphic design of Campfire Audio is unmatched in our industry and their boxes make for a wonderful decoration to our audiophile man caves. I’m really digging that retro cosmic aesthetic.
Good things don’t end with just the packaging though, so let’s get into its content, as you’ll find plenty of accessories included with your new Campfire Audio Astrolith which we review today.
First of all, there are actually three carrying cases, sort of. You’re getting two soft pouches, one very small for just the IEMs, so you don’t have to worry about scratching those beautiful shells. Another one is significantly bigger and you’ll easily fit the IEMs with two cables inside.
The third case is made of leather and it’s by far the most premium one. However, lately, Campfire Audio has been using this kind of case with all of their releases, and as I already stated in my previous reviews: I’m not the biggest fan of it.
Sure, it’s absolutely gorgeous, as you could expect from a premium case handmade in Portugal. However, it doesn’t offer too much protection for your precious IEMs, as it’s just a soft wallet-type case. I actually took the reviewed Campfire Audio Astrolith with me on my trip to the Maldives in November, but I ended up packing them into a different case from a different manufacturer, which is actually a hard case. While carrying them in my backpack for a 10-hour flight, I wouldn’t feel confident while using the original case. It’s stunning, but it could offer more protection in my opinion.
Additionally, you’re getting two TimeStream cables, terminated in 3.5mm and 4.4mm. It’s good to see that Campfire Audio has ditched the 2.5mm balanced connector, as it’s pretty much useless in 2024 (well, it’s almost 2025 already, where did that year go?!).
Speaking of TimeStream cables, they are a flat design, made of eight silver-plated copper conductors. They are comfortable to use and they get the job done. They also look gorgeous, so additional points for that.
Lastly, you’re getting a microfiber cloth, to help keep those shells shining and pretty, and a limited selection of eartips. To be completely honest, you’ll end up using your favorite eartips anyway, but with that price, I feel like Campfire Audio could have added better-quality ones.
Overall, the unboxing experience is spectacular, as we’re now used to with Campfire Audio IEMs. This is their trademark.
Design, Build Quality and Comfort
Another thing that Campfire Audio is known for is their designs and build quality of their products. Ever since I saw the promo photo of the Astrolith I was immediately intrigued. CFA guys really know how to showcase a product and make it look absolutely stunning.
Reviewed Campfire Audio Astrolith has a hybrid shell design, where the rear part of it is made of 3D printed acrylic, and there are those striking stainless-steel faceplates. I’m not gonna lie, the Astrolith looks absolutely spectacular and it further on that retro cosmic vibe of the entire product. From certain angles, they do look like a spaceship taken straight from the Star Wars franchise.
It’s not just the design though, as the build quality is also phenomenal. The IEM feels sturdy, and the finishing is perfect. To further improve the longevity of the Astrolith, Campfire Audio utilized stainless-steel nozzles, which are far more reliable than acrylic.
It all makes for a premium-feeling and striking-looking IEM. Also, while it may look huge in photos, it fits my ear well and I would never say I have big ears. Of course, I would advise trying them on before pulling the trigger, but the size of the shell shouldn’t be your concern.
As for comfort, I have no issues wearing the Astrolith for an extended period of time. The shell has no sharp edges and they don’t create hot spots for me. It sits quite flush in my ear and it’s just comfortable. I’m happy that Campfire Audio went for the acrylic in terms of comfort, as stainless steel shells would have been surely less comfortable and way heavier. The design here just makes sense.
Tech
What sits inside the reviewed Campfire Audio Astrolith is arguably the most impressive thing about it, so let’s dive right in and see what’s the fuzz about.
As I already mentioned, this new IEM uses two planar-magnetic drivers. The two drivers are not the same though, as one is a 6mm unit, and the other one is 14mm.
The smaller, 6mm one is additionally paired with the Particle Phase Resonator tuning chamber to “bring truly astounding high-end performance”.
Also, Campfire mentions that even though planar-magnetic drivers already move super fast, thanks to shrinking it and focusing its response on high frequencies, it creates lightning-fast transients and exceptional detail retrieval.
The bigger driver has a size of 14mm and it’s paired with the Additive Acoustic Optical Inclusion housing to “hone the impact, texture, imaging, and layering ranging from the sub-bass to the midrange and gracefully blending with the upper registers powered by its companion, 6mm driver.”.
As you can see, it’s not just “let’s put 2 planar drivers inside and call it a day”. There’s much more to it, as you really want to implement some technologies to ensure these drivers work as intended. Here, the 6mm driver basically serves as a high-frequency driver, and the 14mm does the heavy lifting in both the bass and midrange.
What kind of drivers and how many of them you put inside an IEM is just a part of the story. Do you remember the times when manufacturers played a game “who puts more BA drivers in an IEM wins”? That didn’t last too long, and for a good reason…it doesn’t make too much sense.
The driver doesn’t make too much of a difference on its own, at least with one exception – bone conduction. Campfire Audio never released an IEM with a BC driver, and I think they should try it, as it’s THE driver that gives you the most difference, at least in my opinion.
To summarize this section, fitting two planar-magnetic drivers in an IEM is quite an achievement, to begin with, but Campfire Audio went further and made sure these beauties have the technology behind them to make the best out of them. But it all would have been for nothing if the Astrolith didn’t perform, so let’s see how it does.
Sound of the reviewed Campfire Audio Astrolith
How the tested CFA Astrolith sounds is the question here. Campfire Audio has evolved over the past few years and nowadays they often go for a reference-like, fast, and snappy sound signature. While unpacking the Astrolith I was curious what Campfire Audio has aimed for this time. What I have finally heard wasn’t a surprise, at least in terms of tuning.
Reviewed CFA Astrolith is a spiritual successor to the Supermoon and Moon Rover. It isn’t trying to sound warm, lush, and romantic. It’s all about the detail, speed, and texture here, and it’s prominent from the first listen.
The bass is definitely a very strong part of the Astrolith. It’s highly focused on the mid-bass, but it generally has an exceptional texture and speed. It’s not a neutral type of tuning when it comes to bass, as it’s quite elevated and forward-sounding. Worry not, it’s not bloated and it never sounds slow, quite the contrary actually.
This kind of bass elevates the whole performance of the Campfire Audio Astrolith. It sounds energetic, fast, and snappy but also thick and very dynamic. It sounds fantastic with all the music genres that depend on the big bass performance. My favorite band of 2024 is definitely The Midnight, and their music sounds fabulous on the Astrolith, as it checks all the boxes with this type of recording.
It gives you the fundamentals for your music to sound powerful, yet its high technical ability makes sure you’re getting a very high-quality sound no matter what. The amount of texture here is absolutely fantastic. The bass also reaches low and has a substantial weight, giving you that subsonic richness to your music. If you’re a bass-head, this one will deeply satisfy you.
The midrange is all about texture and detail, as it’s very technical and focused sounding. Once again, it’s not a type of midrange for audiophiles who value rich, lush, and thick-sounding vocals. Don’t get me wrong, it does sound natural, but it’s not the main focus here.
Thanks to that crispy and fast sound, it also improves on staging abilities, but we’ll get there shortly. The midrange of reviewed Campfire Audio Astrolith especially shines with electric guitars and synthesizers, as it gives you that forward and focused sound. All the notes sound crisp and firm, and it works absolutely marvelous with electronic music. If you’re a fan of that type of sound that just gives you lots of energy, punch, and super clean, saturated highs, this is your IEM.
I mentioned saturated highs, so now we’ll naturally go into the treble. This is probably the most impressive part of the Astrolith but with one, small issue.
The highs are super fast, shimmering, and snappy. It gives you LOTS of both micro and macro details and the amount of resolution is just top tier. However, the tonality here is ever so slightly bright tilted, so you have to be careful if you’re significantly sensitive to that.
Don’t worry too much though, as the Astrolith is highly tip-dependent. I mostly used them with Comply foam tips and they managed that slight brightness to the sound, by gently softening the edges. But, even then, the amount of energy and texture in the treble remains one of the best in the class. These planar-magnetic drivers are clearly incredibly capable when it comes to technical performance and you’re easily able to hear that.
It also works wonders with female vocals that really need this shine to perform. Vocals do come forward in the mix and grab you by your heart. It’s a very impressive type of presentation that always puts you in the first row of the show, there are no doubts about it. It’s a wonderfully fun-sounding IEM.
The soundstage is vast, super deep, and wide. It’s definitely one of the biggest out there, but at the same time, the imaging and separation are both spectacular. It’s not easy to combine a soundstage that is both huge and accurate, but the Astrolith achieves it with ease.
The beginning of the song “Sorrow” by Pink Floyd perfectly shows what I’m talking about. That mix is all about that huge scale of the sound and a lot of reverb, and the Astrolith shows it in a beautiful way. They never limit the size of the music spectacle, its goal is to give you as big of a sound as possible.
It actually sounds kinda like over-ear headphones, which is really impressive. You’ll never feel like the music you’re listening to is crowded or condensed. Everything about the Astrolith is big, bold, and spectacular. It’s an IEM example of a muscle car, but a highly refined one.
Comparisons
This comparison is quite simple – the Astrolith is the Supermoon on steroids, quite literally. It’s bigger, bolder, even faster, and more textured. At the same time, the Supermoon had a treble that was a bit too much for me, and the Astrolith is way better in that regard for me personally.
Obviously, it’s still bright-ish, but not quite as much as the Supermoon. What’s really impressive is that it achieves that while also even improving on the technical performance, which was already crazy with the Supermoon.
You’re paying extra, but you immediately hear what you’re paying for. The Astrolith is a spiritual successor to the Supermoon and a superior IEM that keeps most of Supermoon’s abilities and just improves on them even further.
This one is a little bit less obvious. The Moon Rover is a neutral, technically capable IEM, while the Astrolith is way more energetic, in-your-face sounding in a way.
While the Moon Rover is a very safe-sounding IEM that will impress many with its mature and linear presentation, the Astrolith is like a bodybuilder. It’s huge, but it also has a definition that is even more impressive than just the size itself.
Of course, both the Moon Rover and the Astrolith are fantastic offerings for detailed, fast IEMs with incredible resolution, but they achieve it in different ways. While the Moon Rover never steps forward and is just a Jack Of All Trades, remaining in the shadows, the Astrolith wants all the lights for itself.
It’s like a lead singer of a vastly popular rock band in the 80’s. He steals the show every time he goes on the stage, but he always delivers.
The Moon Rover is a great offering for a very universally sounding, safe-tuned IEM, but if you want lots of emotions, to keep your leg tapping and head banging, the Astrolith is in the league of its own in this comparison.
The Astrolith reminds me of the legendary A8000 by Final Audio. It focuses on the same things – lighting fast transient response, dynamic, powerful, and firm sound presentation with crispy treble.
However, the Astrolith is just a superior IEM when it comes to its overall presentation and technical capabilities. There’s just more sound, more power, more detail, and the soundstage size is greater.
Additionally, while the A8000 often sounded a bit too bright for my preferences, the Astrolith never really got that far. It is with its sublime resolution that the treble is significantly less problematic, even if you’re sensitive to it.
The bass response of the Astrolith is also quite more pronounced and richer while keeping that firm and incredibly controlled type of sound to it.
Looks are subjective, but for me, this one is a tie. The A8000 is just a magnificent IEM to look at, but they are probably the biggest fingerprint magnets in this hobby. Also, the Final flagship is entirely made of stainless steel, and the comfort unfortunately suffers here. The Astrolith is way more comfortable.
We’re almost in 2025, and I would even go as far as calling the Astrolith the A8000 mk2. Trust me, it’s a huge compliment for Campfire Audio.
Pairings
The Astrolith requires some careful pairing to sound the best it can, but it’s not hugely demanding.
Most importantly – I suggest pairing it with powerful, yet slightly smooth-sounding equipment. If you plug it into a bright, technical-sounding system it might get a little bit too much, so keep that in mind.
Actually, when it comes to DAPs, I hugely enjoy pairing the Astrolith with the Cayin N3Ultra. It gives you that tube lushness and richness, but it’s still fast and technically capable. This combination gave me a sound that was incredibly entertaining and musical sounding. Actually, I can go and listen to this setup for hours without fatigue, but definitely with lots of fun.
Remember to give them a quality signal, as their brilliant resolving capabilities will immediately show any imperfections of your gear. The better the signal, the more sublime the sound will be. It sounds cliche and quite obvious, but it’s especially present in the Astrolith.
It just gives you the truth. Wrapped in kilograms of energy, forwardness, and lots of dynamics, but it’s still the truth.
Campfire Audio Astrolith Review – Summary
The Campfire Audio Astrolith is arguably the most impressive release ever by this company. It combines a TOTL level of clarity, detail, and resolution with a sound that just makes you smile.
It’s big, bold, and highly saturated with texture and details. It’s an interesting take on high-end IEMs that are not trying to be neutral and reference-like. The Astrolith always makes you remember, what’s the most important thing in audio. It’s music.
Combine that with beautiful design, great build quality, and a story-telling of the entire unboxing experience, and you’ll get one of the most interesting high-end IEMs on the market. And most importantly, it’s an IEM for music lovers.
Highly Recommended!
Big thanks to Campfire Audio for providing us with the Astrolith for this review. I wasn’t paid or asked to say anything good or bad about this product, all of the above is just my personal, unbiased opinion.
Founder of Ear Fidelity. I’ve been into audio for many years, working in production, distribution, retail, and marketing throughout my career. Now trying to revolutionize the art of reviewing audio gear, but one thing will never change: Music is the most important.
