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Golden Ears: Campfire Audio Moon Rover Planar Magnetic IEM Review

Christopher Coke Updated: Posted:
Category:
Hardware Reviews 0

In this edition of Golden Ears, we're looking at the new Moon Rover IEMs from Campfire Audio. Complete with planar magnetic drivers and handcrafted flame-treated titanium shells, these little beauties pack a punch. Find out more in this review.

Specifications

  • Current Price: 
  • Features
    • Full-range, 12mm planar magnetic driver
    • Individually flame-treated titanium shells
    • Steel spout with black PVD finish
    • Gold-plated screws
    • Hand-crafted, premium waxed leather case
    • Super Smoky Litz 3.5mm cable
  • Frequency Response: 5Hz–20 kHz
  • SPL: 94 dB @ 1 kHz: 66.37 mVrms
  • Impedance: 22.5Ω @ 1 kHz
  • THD: Less than 1%

A Quick (Re)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 Moon Rover from Campfire Audio. It’s a Limited Edition run of a brand new pair of planar magnetic in-ear monitors made with a beautifully handcrafted, flame-treated titanium shell — made right here in the USA. It retails with an MSRP of $1,199, though we’ve found it for as low as $999 on sale. At this price, it exists in the upper-range of the personal audio market, beyond typical consumer pricing and well into enthusiast territory. As such, discussions of value are more subjective than ever. For many listeners, that pricing is simply out of reach, and no matter how good they are, they will seem like a terrible value. For others, passionate audiophiles with plentiful expendable income who consider audio their primary hobby, may have a different opinion.For products like this, ideas of value are very subjective; one person’s steal might be another’s exorbitance, so we’ll largely be leaving that to the side today.

On the topic of scoring, it’s important to note a couple of things. First, while we wish we didn’t have to do it, it’s a reality in today’s search-driven publication space. Second, when dealing with “golden ears” caliber products that often cost great deals of money, we expect these products to be at least Good (7) but hopefully Great (8), Amazing (9), or even Masterpiece (10) level. Though there are certainly products tha aren’t very good at every price range, a quick review of web publications shows that the score range is usually a bit tighter with these next-level listening products. Fittingly so — they should sound great! 

Given that expectedly tighter score range, it’s more important than ever to explore the nuances of what sets these products apart. What is their goal? Who are they for? How are they built? What are the intricacies of their listening experience? All of these things matter more and the number matters less. We are always going to be honest and forthright in all of our content, but take the time to hear the story each product is trying to tell, and you’ll understand it that much better. 

Thanks for joining us again, and enjoy the article!

Campfire Audio Moon Rover - First Impressions and Key Features 

Campfire Audio first came onto the scene in 2015. It hardly seems like it's been a decade, but it has, and in that time, the company has made quite a name for itself as a brand that makes premium in-ear monitors for musicians and audiophiles alike. Its products don't come cheap, but they're made in the United States, and they're designed with a number of proprietary technologies and a high level of craftsmanship that absolutely make them stand out from the pack. We’ve reviewed several of its products at this point, and to a one, they’ve impressed me. In the case of the Moon Rover, they downright surprised me. 

For starters, this is a downright beautiful set. The shells are made of solid titanium and have been flame treated to give each pair a unique iridescent finish.Given the nature of the production, no two should be exactly alike. I personally love this look and the subtle rainbow finish it provides. On my personal sample, the color isn't quite as prominent as it is in the pictures, but it still maintains its striking appearance. I’ve heard similar reports from other reviewers, noting that it’s a bit more subtle, though depending on your tastes, that may actually be preferable.

Despite their colorized look, they have equal hints of industrial design thanks to their exposed golden screws, while also having the qualities of gemstone thanks to its beveled and highly angular face. Jewelry like? Sure. But then again, the Moon Rover is a genuine luxury product designed to be worn visibly in your ears. Eye-catching aesthetics are fair game here. 

What really surprised me, however, is their sound. When I first discovered this set, I was coming off of upwards of a year of planar magnetic driver IEMs. Since the release of the original 7Hz Timeless, there has been no shortage of them. Seeing that the Moon Rover dedicated a single planar driver in each, part of me quietly wondered if it would offer more of the same in a prettier, more expensive package.Spoiler alert, no. These are some of the best sounding planar magnetic earphones I've heard, scoring right up there with Audeze in detail with a significantly better tuning. 

If you're not already embedded in the world of audio, some explanation is in order. A planar magnetic driver stands apart from the vast majority of drivers you would typically find in earbuds and even most in-ear monitors. This includes the very expensive sets used by professional stage musicians. 

Most earbuds and in-ear monitors use dynamic drivers (DDs), balanced armatures (BAs), or a combination of the two.  If you've ever seen a loudspeaker or subwoofer, then you've likely seen a dynamic driver. These are the conical speakers most frequently found in larger speakers and are shrunk down to fit inside earbuds and IEMs. Balanced armatures, on the other hand, first gained prominence in hearing aids due to their wide frequency response range and highly tunable nature.Both types of drivers excel in certain ways. DDs tend to deliver a very cohesive sound with impactful bass. Balanced armatures are known for their crispness and detail. 

Planar magnetic drivers work differently. Instead of using a cone or a self-enclosed block, like a BA, they instead utilize a large flat plane diaphragm traced with electrical filament. This design inherently changes the character of their sound. Many listeners, myself included, feel that it offers a larger sound. They also offer measurably less total harmonic distortion and can deliver a very wide frequency response range. In this case, we have a THD less than 1% and a frequency response that extends from 5 Hz all the way to 20 kHz. 

For many years, planar magnetic drivers were too cost prohibitive to effectively shrink down and utilize within the tiny package of an IEM. That has completely changed over the last couple years, however, and some of the very best in-ear monitors today include planar magnetics, and sometimes even utilize them in combination with other driver types to vary the timbre and sound signature. The Moon Rover doesn’t go the multi-driver route, however, and instead allows the single 12mm transducer in each side to remain center stage.

Before getting into the sound signature, I think it's worth remarking on the level of craftsmanship throughout its design. Campfire has a pretty distinctive visual identity with many of its IEMs. Though it does vary up its material use within its different product lines, myself and many others recognize the metal shells and angular faces as being iconic to the brand. The finish is excellent without a scratch to be seen. The nozzles are made of steel and are PVD coated to a glossy sheen. The sound ports have precision milled grilles that will never fall out like the glued-in filters on most IEMs. Even something as simple as the MMCX connector which connects each earpiece to the cable are clearly high quality, easily and securely attaching and, just as importantly, detaching (often a problem on other sets).

When it arrives, it comes in a leather pouch held closed with a magnetic clasp. Inside, the cable comes neatly wrapped, ready to be used with a smooth uncoil. Each earpiece is stored safely in a second small foam pouch with a pocket for each side. This effectively keeps it safe in transit so you don't open the package to find anything was scratched in transit. The package also comes with a selection of silicone and soft memory foam ear tips to help ensure you can find the proper fit.

The only issue I take with this package is that it only comes with a single-ended cable.The cable is fine, mind you. Nice and soft with a tight coiling and using high quality materials as you would expect for this price, but it does seem like a step down from the Time Stream cable included with the Andromeda Emerald Sea — or should I say cables. That set, which is similarly priced, came with multiple cables, each with a different termination to support single-ended and balanced source gear. Here, you only get the one and the ability to connect to non-balanced sources. Now, the IEMs are easy to drive, so you really won't need the added power of a balanced amplifier, but it would have been nice to have the option for listeners who may prefer it.

Campfire Audio Moon Rover - Listening and Daily Use Impressions 

Campfire describes the Moon Rover as aiming for a reference sound signature. Looking at the frequency response graph above, I would say that this is mostly accurate, but it's also clear that there's a bit of bass elevation that lends body to the sound, as well as some spikiness from 2 kHz onward. To my ear, this is a reference set that offers a bit more warmth and emphasis on detail. This makes it a very enjoyable listen and also a good fit for when you really want to sit down and make out every tiny detail in your music or games. There’s color but not enough to say that the IEMs are masking what you’re listening to… more like makes it more evident. It's a great set for texture and detail.

Kicking things off with the low-end (pun very much intended), The Moon Rover highlights what planar magnetics can do well in the bass frequencies This isn't a set that overpowers you with the bass. It's not about that. Instead, it's about the quality and speed and texture of what it's delivering. In Tom MacDonald’s Church (his best and completely non-political song), the bass line is thick and so textured that I can’t help but imagine the vibrations of a speaker cone. There’s also enough impact to drive powerful kicks with a distinctness that dynamic drivers sometimes struggle with. Each blast on Bullet for My Valentine’s No More Tears to Cry is clean with rapid starts and stops but is still able to resolve the longer decays of deep reverb.

The mids and highs go hand in hand on this set. The planar drivers do an excellent job of capturing the attack and texture of string instruments like acoustic guitars, but also brass instruments like trumpets. That fast attack gives them a lifelike presentation. There's a crispness to the sound that steps above many of the lower priced planars I've tested in the last couple of years. Campfire’s tuning expertise elevates the listening experience to levels that approach over-ear headphones. It genuinely surprised: I did not expert the Moon Rover to be such a noticeable step up from sets like the Timeless or Letshouer S15, but it unquestionably is. 

Vocals step forward a bit here. I especially like listening to Zach Bryaen and the stripped-down nature of many of his early songs. That subtle rasp that characterizes his voice sounds sweet. On the other hand, female vocals like Adele's Rolling in the Deep are also enrapturing with a classic huskiness That does the bluesy nature of her voice, the justice it deserves.

The soundstage is reasonably wide without feeling exactly expansive. Instead, the emphasis is more on depth and clean layer separation. Even in very busy tracks like I Believe by Killswitch Engage, I could easily identify each instrument and layer, even when they were closely matched, like doubled up guitars or vocal tracks. This quality also sets the Moon Rover apart. There are lots of great planar IEMs for layering and clarity, but there’s that little extra shine here that makes it stand out.

Because of this, I would say that this is a decent set for gaming. I didn't find any need for spatial audio such as Dolby Atmos. Instead, the natural stereo separation and the depth of the soundstage offer reliable positionality and an ease with picking out competitive cues like footsteps. Even in single player games, I really enjoyed the clarity in detail for its immersiveness and ability to bring environments to life.

Rounding things out, it's important to note that comfort is quite good on this set. The design could easily make you wonder whether or not you would have sharp edges digging into your ears, but you can rest assured that that's not the case. In fact, with the right ear tips, they can be quite comfortable. The nozzles are well-sized for medium to small ears and can accommodate larger listeners with larger ear tips. In my case, I was able to find a good fit with both the silicone and memory foam ear tips, but did wind up swapping to my Azla SednaFit Xelastec II tips since they are my preferred style. They worked perfectly.

Overall Impressions and Final Thoughts

Given the high regard I've held other Campfire Audio earphones in, I was hopeful and yet slightly anxious that the Moon Rover would deliver once again. I needn't have worried. Despite the fact that planar magnetic earphones are no longer rare, Campfire Audio reliably sets itself apart with distinction. The design and look is unique and presented with craftsmanship. The sound profile is really the differentiator, however, as it captures the most beloved qualities of planar magnetic drivers in over-ear headphones. It’s detailed, crisp, and layered such that, though it’s not completely neutral, it is revealing and a very fun listen across genres and types of content. It doesn’t come cheap, but the Moon Rover is a great example of why audio enthusiasts and musicians would consider spending so much to experience sound in such a fresh and immersive way.

The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Articles may include affiliate links from which we may earn a small commission to help support the site. Authors do not earn affiliate revenue or commissions.       

9.0 Amazing
Pros
  • Beautiful handcrafted shells
  • Simply fantastic for details and texture
  • Deep soundstage with excellent layering
  • Comfortable fit over extended listening sessions
  • Balanced tuning with just the right amount of emphasis on the bass and detail regions in the mids and highs
Cons
  • Single-ended cable with no alternative options


GameByNight

Christopher Coke

Chris cut his teeth on MMOs in the late 90s with text-based MUDs. He’s written about video games for many different sites but has made MMORPG his home since 2013. Today, he acts as Hardware and Technology Editor, lead tech reviewer, and continues to love and write about games every chance he gets. Follow him on Twitter: @GameByNight