Latest news with #KenBall
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Campfire's new IEMs are no mere in-ears, they promise you the moon
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick Summary Cambridge Audio's Grand Luna ear buds are the firm's first hybrid planar-balanced armature hybrids. Each hand-treated pair is visually unique. Priced at £1,399 / $1,399 a pair, they are for true audiophiles. Campfire Audio has added a new pair of high-end IEMs to its headphone hangar – and these ones are out of this world. The Grand Luna earphones are the firm's first ever planar-balanced armature hybrid headphones, and because of the way they're made, each pair is completely unique. They sport a new version of Campfire's 14mm planar magnetic driver, and here the it's teamed with two custom precision-tuned balanced armatures. According to the brand's founder and lead acoustic designer, Ken Ball, "Grand Luna is the perfect balance of new and intriguing tuning, design, and materials, while having a performance that is incredibly accessible and versatile." Campfire Audio Grand Luna: key details and pricing The headphones deliver an extremely wide frequency response of 5Hz to 30kHz, and impedance is 13 ohms. The Grand Luna also introduce a new modular cable system that we'll also see in future Campfire Audio IEMs too. It comes with three interchangeable terminators: a 3.5mm single-ended, a 4.4mm balanced, and a USB-C DAC with a Cirrus Logic Master HiFi CS43131 chip. On the outside, the in-ears feature a hand-treated stainless steel lid that's been flame-treated to give it a more colourful appearance, before being brushed to remove blemishes and rough edges. That treatment makes every pair different. The lid is attached to 3D-printed, transparent red shells. As we've come to expect from Campfire Audio, there's a generous collection of goodies alongside the IEMs themselves. You get a compact leather case with magnetic closure in "blood moon" red, three sizes of silicone ear tips, three foam and three "high and clear" ear tips, a microfibre cleaning cloth, a cleaning tool, and a ten-year anniversary lapel pin. The Campfire Audio Grand Luna earphones are available from today, 8 August, for a recommended price of £1,399 / $1,399 (about €1,612 / AU$2,879).
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Forbes
Campfire Audio's New And Affordable Relay DAC/AMP Is Made For Headphone Listening
The new Relay DAC/AMP from Portland's Campfire Audio is making its debut at this weekend's CanJam ... More London. Portland's Campfire Audio has announced a premium and portable hi-fi solution in the form of its new Relay DAC/AMP. With its flexible features, Campfire Audio says the Relay has enough power to drive high-end headphones. 'Relay is the culmination of an exhaustive and expansive search for the best sonic qualities, form factor, and functionality possible to meet the demands of modern, portable hi-fi,' explains Ken Ball, founder and lead acoustic designer at Campfire. Ball added, 'We hope that it gives users the high level of performance they expect from bulkier devices, with the flexibility of variable parameters and the convenience of a compact, robust form factor.' The Relay DAC/AMP has both 3.5mm single ended and balanced 4.4mm outputs. The new Relay DAC/AMP uses AKM's powerful 4493 SEQ DAC chip housed in a precision-machined and lightweight aluminum housing. The AKM 4493 chip was selected by Ball, following an extensive evaluation process, for its technical prowess and engaging sound. Ball says the chip imparts just the right amount of color and a touch of a classic analog sound signature. The new DAC/AMP includes a range of features that help the user dial in performance and integrate the Relay into their portable hi-fi setup. There is USB-C connectivity and the Relay is compatible with Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android platforms. The Campfire Audio Relay uses the AKM 4493 SEQ DAC chip. The Relay can be paired with a wide range of devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops or gaming PCs. Fitted with both 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs, users can choose to use the output that best matches their earphones or headphones. The Relay's sonic performance is boosted by customizable parameters, which include selectable high/low gain, six filter modes and variable bit rates up to 32-bit / 768kHz. With both PCM and DSD playback, a precise, 60-step built-in volume control and built-in media playback controls, users can customize the sound to suit their tastes. Rounding off the Relay's talents is a range of accessories, including a usefully short 6cm USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a microfiber cleaning cloth, plus a black cushioned Ripstop bag. The Campfire Audio Relay will make its UK debut at CanJam London this weekend. Campfire Audio's Relay DAC/AMP is available now on Amazon and from a range of specialist audio retailers. The suggested retail price is $229 / £229.
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Campfire Audio Launches Its New Alien Brain In Ear Monitors
The new Campfire Audio Alien Brain IEMs contain five drivers in each earpiece including an ... More innovative dynamic bass unit with a glass dome. Portland-based Campfire Audio has announced its second new pair of IEMs in a month. The all-new Alien Brain earphones are the next entry in Campfire's acclaimed line of hybrid-design, in-ear monitors. Alien Brain IEMs are described as having 'an expertly tuned sonic signature paired with Campfire's renowned, hand-crafted build quality.' Ken Ball, founder and lead acoustic engineer at Campfire Audio, explains: 'Building on over a decade of earphone design and engineering, we expanded the legacy and boundaries of what is possible in a dynamic-BA hybrid, with the all-new, five-driver Alien Brain. The price performance of the new Alien Brain was one of our main goals here. Get your close encounters of the hi-fi kind with the all-new Campfire Audio Alien Brain!' With the launch of Alien Brain, Campfire's dual-magnet dynamic driver has had an innovative update with an all-new 10mm glass-PU diaphragm. As a dedicated low-frequency driver, this new dynamic driver has a glass speaker dome and a polyurethane diaphragm, bringing a new flavor of bass presentation while keeping all the strengths of Campfire's dual-magnet line. The Alien Brain IEMs from Campfire Audio are supplied with a new 32-bit/384kHz USB-C DAC dongle. Complementing this new dynamic driver are two mid-frequency dedicated balanced armatures that have been tuned by Campfire's acoustic engineering team for precision, detail and emotive quality. Rounding out Alien Brain's driver complement are two high-frequency balanced armatures for a crisp treble and wide soundstage. The five drivers in each earpiece and their tuning elements form a sonic signature that ranges from an impactful bass drop or the delicate nuances of a classical symphony to a sound that Campfire says is low-fatigue and eminently listenable. Housed in a sleek, black PVD full CNC stainless steel shell, the Alien Brain IEMs have a modern aesthetic along with durability and resonance control. A combination of high-grade materials and ergonomics provides a robust and premium feel with comfortable wear for long listening sessions. Campfire's new iridescent dome lid rounds out the playful and striking design of Alien Brain. Alongside enhanced performance comes an upgraded accessory pack. Alien Brain IEMs are bundled with Campfire's new 32-bit/384kHz USB-C DAC dongle, offering high-quality performance with portable devices. Two more new additions to Campfire's already accessory pack are a compact leather carrying case and High & Clear high-traction silicon ear tips. Campfire Audio's new Alien Brain IEMs will be available later this month from a range of retailers. The suggested retail price is $999 / £999.
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Forbes
Campfire Audio Reveals Its New USB-C Axion Earphones With Built-In DAC
The new Axion earphones from Portland's Campfire Audio can plug directly into the USB-C port of a ... More smartphone thanks to a built-in DAC chip. Ever since most smartphone makers removed the 3.5mm stereo headphone jack from their products, we've been forced to opt for either wireless Bluetooth earbuds or invest in an external DAC and use regular wired earphones. Now Campfire Audio has announced its new Axion earphones as an alternative to wireless. While some wireless earbuds can sound very good, if you are an Apple iPhone user the the wireless sound quality you are able to access is capped at the limit of the AAC Bluetooth audio codec. It's not a bad codec but it isn't lossless and it isn't high resolution. Boutique earphone brand Campfire Audio decided it was about time that music lovers were given more choice when it comes to the type of earphones they can use with their smartphones. The Portland company set about designing a pair of high-end and wired earbuds that use a USB-C connection and a built-in DAC for suppluing upgraded sound quality. The Axion earphones from Campfire Audio feature removable cables so the connection can be replaced ... More if damaged. Despite their premium sound quality and fresh styling, the new Axion are the Campfire Audio's most accessible pair of earphones yet. The Axion feature a new, full-range silicon dynamic driver featuring enhanced tuning. The Axion also include an integrated, high-resolution DAC for turning digital sound into high-quality analog waveforms. The new earphones also have black-and-clear styling as well as USB-C connectivity. 'We set out to provide a high-performance, accessible entry into the world of high-fidelity, portable audio. Axion checks all boxes when it comes to true hi-fi on the go; incredible sonic performance, plug-and-play usability, lightweight and comfortable,' says Ken Ball, the founder and lead acoustic engineer at Campfire Audio. Designed to be easy to use with any USB-C smartphone, the Axion have a high-quality integrated USB-C cable with an embedded 32-bit/384kHz DAC chip that delivers reliable and high-fidelity audio with a wide range of smartphones, tablets, laptops or portable gaming devices. The Campfire Audio Axion headphones have a built-in DAC and a three-button inline remote control. As a further benefit for smartphone users, the Axion's USB-C cable also has an in-line microphone and an intuitive three-button remote that enables users to manage their phone calls, adjust volume levels and control media playback without having to reach for their smartphone all the time. At the heart of the Axion, the full-range silicon dynamic driver uses innovative technology that blends a unique design and compact size that's similar to a balanced armature driver but with the more fulsome sound quality of a dynamic driver. The driver has been precisely tuned using Campfire Audio's years of acoustic engineering experience and the brand claims the Axion provide users with a smooth and balanced sound. The Axion earphones are Campfire Audio's most accessible model to date and they will appeal to anyone who wants to move from using Bluetooth wireless earbuds to a higher-quality wired design with a high-quality DAC for decoding hi-res digital audio files. Pricing and Availability: The new Campfire Audio Axion earphones will be available towards the end of April from a range of retailers, including Amazon. The suggested retail price is $249 / £249.
