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Apple may have killed wired earbuds on mainstream phones, but the premium IEM (in-ear monitor) market is still alive and kicking. Companies like Campfire Audio deliver some professional-quality IEMs that remind us why we still need wired headphones. The Campfire Audio Fathom is a new set of IEMs that would satisfy any audiophile.
If you’ve seen one pair of earbuds, you’ve seen them all, right? That’s not true. While much of the world has moved onto TWS earbuds, there are still companies out there that still offer wired solutions for their smaller monitors. If you’re an audiophile, then you know that wired is the way to go if you want superior audio quality.
Let’s not mince words; the Campfire Audio Fathom are a premium pair of headphones. As such, you’re going to be paying a premium price for them. Buying them will set you back $1,049. We’re talking about some seriously high-quality hardware, so if you’re going to pick up a pair, you’re getting your money’s worth.
What makes these IEMs worth a downpayment on a car? Well, let’s dive in.
The Campfire Audio Fathom are a pair of incredible IEMs
Sure, the price is punchy, but these IEMS pull through with both power and presentation. Let’s start off with the look of these things. Campfire Audio went for a certain aesthetic with the Fathom. These are gorgeous IEMs with their black casing. That’s juxtaposed to the rainbow PVD fasteners. You’ll see the rainbow metal around where you plug the headphones in and around the microphone holes.
This is a pair of beautiful IEMs, but they also have a premium build. Most headphones (especially your typical store-shelf headphones and earbuds) come with plastic casings. In the case of the Fathom, they have an anodized aluminum casing. This helps give them a more premium feeling in the hand. Along with that, the aluminum is more sturdy, so your IEMs are much more durable.
Internals
So, what precious innards is that aluminum casing protecting? Obviously, with a price tag of more than a grand, you’re dealing with some seriously high-quality tech. The Campfire Audio Fathom use a set of custom-tuned dual armature drivers. Each bud has several drivers, and they’ve all been assigned to a specific section of the frequency spectrum. So, rather than getting one driver that’s in charge of handling everything, you know that you’re getting drivers specially tuned to give each part of the spectrum attention.
While most IEMs use several drivers in each bud, the Fathom use a whopping six drivers in each bud. So, they cover the full frequency spectrum, which creates a much more detailed sound.
There are a pair of tweeters that handle the highs, a pair of mid-range drivers, and a pair of BA low-end woofers to handle the low-end. These, coupled with the overall shape of the casing help create an incredibly-detailed audio experience.
Specs
The Campfire Audio Fathom have a frequency response of 5Hz – 20kHz, which is pretty typical for most headphones on the market. They have an impedance of 1.7 Ohms @ 1 kHz. As for the SPL (Sound pressure level), we’re looking at 94 dB @ 1 kHz: 6.75 mVrms. Campfire Audio states that these IEMs produce less than 1% Total Harmony Distortion.
What comes in the box?
When you buy a pair, you’re getting eight Time Stream Cables, a handmade leather case, a small zipper case, a two-pocket IEM pouch, and an assortment of tips. You’ll get six marshmallow tips (Small, Medium, and Large) and six silicone tips (Small, Medium, and Large).
If you’re an audiophile looking for your next favorite pair of IEMs, then look no further than the new Campfire Audio Fathom.