Latest news with #KenBall
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.
