Campfire Audio Fathom Review – Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness

Pros –

Excellent accessory set, Sensational build quality and ergonomic design, Familiar yet more accurate tuning, Improved end-to-end extension, Excellent imaging

Cons –

Bass is a touch tubby, Less holographic than Andro, Sensitive to hiss and output impedance

Verdict –

The Fathom appeals to those wanting an upgrade over the previous Andromeda variants and successfully fills the gap created by the more radically changed Emerald Sea as Campfire Audio’s premium all-rounder.

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About Campfire Audio –

Campfire Audio is a boutique audio company from Portland, Oregon that started life as ALO Audio in 2015. Their team consists of audio engineers, designers, and craftspeople giving them a well-rounded skill mix. At the time, the chief focus was on AMPs and cables but this soon grew to include IEMs as well where the name Campfire Audio was born. Campfire Audio partners with local companies and have expended efforts to improve the sustainability of their products. With a focus on acoustics, materials, and meticulous attention to fine-tuning, the company aims to deliver artisan earphones catering to all tastes and preferences.

Introduction –

Campfire Audio has been hard at work recently, both expanding their product line and updating their top hits from years past. The Andromeda was one IEM that proved to be a big hit with the audiophile community, and it is easily the company’s most iconic model. It appealed to many with a warm yet detailed tuning that delivered great versatility. Since, it has been tinkered with and re-released numerous times with this cycle culminating in the Emerald Sea. This was the most radical departure from the original design, bringing a complete redesign and a notably fuller and warmer tuning. However, the considerable price increase and altered tonal balance meant it alienated many fans of the original Andromeda. The newly released Fathom fills this void in Campfire Audio’s lineup and is somewhat of a spiritual successor to the original Andromeda. In turn, it can be considered the company’s new BA-based all-rounder. The Fathom offers the same price point as the original Andro, a more capable 6-BA platform, and the updated shell design from the Emerald Sea in a handsome black finish.

The Fathom is available for $1059 at the time of writing. You can read more about it and secure one for yourself at Campfire Audio!

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Chris very much for reaching out to organise a review of the new Fathom. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the earphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

Contents –

• Page 1: Intro, Unboxing, Design
• Page 2: Sound and Source Pairings
• Page 3: Comparisons & Verdict

Specifications –

• Drivers: 6 Custom-Made BA Drivers
• Crossover: 3-Way with Phase Harmony Engineering
• Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 20 kHz
• Impedance: 11.7 ohms
• Sensitivity: 94 dB

Behind the Design –

Custom-made Balanced Armatures

As opposed to the Andromeda which uses 5 balanced armature drivers and the Emerald Sea which uses 5 Knowles dual-diaphragm drivers, the Fathom uses 6 customized BA drivers at its core. These drivers are source from both Sonion and Knowelse and were designed to cover a specific frequency range. They are crossed over in 3 pairs with dual dual-diaphragm Knowles woofers, dual Sonion mid drivers, and dual Knowles super tweeters. 

Phase Harmony Engineering

A spiritual successor to Solid Body and T.A.E.C, phase harmony engineering involves design measures that ensure phase coherence and high resolution. As opposed to a usual tube and damper setup, Campfire Audio uses a 3D-printed acoustic chamber/waveguide with custom damping values. This enables superior high-frequency sensitivity, improved imaging, and overall a more resolving sound with less distortion.

Unboxing –

As I was sent a pre-production unit of the Fathom, I didn’t receive the official packaging but all the accessories that will be included are present. It’s a familiar experience to the more expensive Emerald Sea albeit omitting the 2.5mm Time Stream cable. Besides this, you get a similar authentic leather folding case with magnetic closure only in a matching black colour. The case also sports a carabiner, and it has a rainbow PVD coating that matches the IEMs too. A black breezy bag Jr is also included which is a new carrying case offering a similar padded mesh construction to the breezy bag micro but has one large internal pocket accommodating both the IEMs and cable.

It closes with a zipper and sports a shoulder/lanyard attachment for easy transportation. Unlike the micro, it does not separate the earpieces so care must be taken to place the IEMs in gently to avoid scratches. However, a micro breezy case is also included should you want to be extra careful. Also in the box are two of Campfire Audio’s new Time Stream cables, one with a 3.5mm single-ended termination and one with a 4.4mm balanced one. A cleaning tool and Campfire Audio pin make a return in addition to 3 pairs of silicone ear tips and 3 pairs of memory foam Marshmallow tips.

Design –

If you haven’t had the pleasure of handling one of Campfire Audio’s IEMs, you’ll find that the Fathom sports one of the most polished and impressive metal shells on the market. This is a 2-piece aluminium shell design with a black anodized finish. The silhouette is identical to the Andromeda Emerald Sea making it sleeker and more ergonomic than past Campfire Audio IEMs if less industrial in its aesthetic. You can tell Campfire Audio has mastered the art as the Fathom showcases flawless solidity in the hand and offers perfect tolerances with no panel gaps and refined, smooth edges. The PVC-coated iridescent accents add visual flare to an otherwise unassuming package.

As per usual, Campfire Audio employs Berrylium MMCX connectors that offer a better service life and tighter tolerances than regular connectors. The included Time Stream cable showcases a unique flat design with an internal braid comprising 8 silver-plated copper conductors. The TPU jacket is extremely pliable and has no memory and minimal microphonic noise transmission which makes it easy to live with. Due to the flat design, the cable does require some care when coiling for storage to avoid twists and tangles. I appreciate that Campfire Audio includes multiple cables in the box too which provides alternatives if one breaks.

Fit & Isolation –

The new CFA BA shell is slightly slimmer and more compact than their previous angular shells but not by a huge degree. Still, they are relatively compact, especially for a 6-driver in-ear, and the Fathom achieves a relatively low profile fit as a result. The rounded inner face also makes them more accommodating of different ear shapes and the lack of hard edges and angles prevents hotspot formation. I found the combination of an elongated and perfectly angled nozzle alongside the rounded profile provided excellent wearing comfort and a very stable fit.

They position very neutrally in the outer ear and cause no hotspots for me over time. Being fully sealed, passive noise isolation is exceptional, especially with the dense metal construction. There is some wearing pressure, but it isn’t as pronounced as on some other sealed monitors, perhaps due to a larger internal air volume. With memory foam tips, you would struggle to find an IEM that isolates better than the Fathom making them a top choice for frequent travelers or those valuing strong passive noise isolation.

Next Page: Sound Breakdown