Campfire Audio’s latest single planar IEMs are among the best in business.
- Excellent build, fit, and isolation
- Fast, tactile planar bass
- Excellent macrodynamics
- End-to-end extension
- Excellent timbre for a planar IEM
- Microdynamics could be better
- Lower-mid scoop robs baritone vocals of their natural heft
Campfire Audio has a rich history of offering some of the most popular TOTL IEMs around. The OG Andromeda have become bonafide cult-classics, whereas the likes of Solaris and Ara have their niche and following.
The Campfire Supermoon is the first ever planar magnetic IEM in Campfire’s lineup and part of the Chromatic series.
The tuning of the Supermoon is rather unique in Campfire’s lineup. Usually the bass and treble get more focus in Campfire’s house sound, while the mids take more of a back seat. The Supermoon buck that trend by focusing on midrange clarity without sacrificing the bass punch or treble crispness.
All that sounds fine and dandy but in this hyper-competitive market, merely being good enough is not good enough. Thankfully, the Supermoon have a few more tricks up their sleeve.
Read on.
One Minute Review Video
Design and Build
The Supermoon sport Campfire Audio’s patented “Solid Body design” where the drivers are arranged within a 3D-printed acoustic chamber.
The resin shell body has a near custom-like fit even for the Universal model. Campfire offers the option for custom shells as well, with Audiophile (shallower nozzle) and Artist (longer nozzle) specific fittings available.
One point of contention might be the bland look of the shell, as competitors offer hand-painted shells in the TOTL space, while some go for a transparent inner shell that displays the pretty interiors.
Campfire spiced things up by adding a mirror-polished, stainless steel faceplate. This steel piece adds some character to the shell design but can get smudged up quickly, so keep a cleaning cloth handy.
Unlike Bonneville, Supermoon’s nozzle is slightly elongated and tapered. This change in design makes it easier to achieve a deep fit and maximum isolation without much discomfort.
Cable
The stock cable is similar to the Timestream cable you get with Campfire Audio Trifecta. It’s an eight-core, flat-braided cable with slightly stiff sheathing. This stiffness can be bothersome for those who want ultimate flexibility, but I’ve found it manageable.
The best aspect of this cable is how easy it is to detangle. Due to the flat braiding, kinks rarely form. I also found the Beryllium-coated mmcx connectors to be good quality, so looking for aftermarket options is unnecessary.
Comfort
Supermoon offer the best isolation when paired with foam tips and inserted deep into the ear canals. The nozzle shape is not as thick and stout as it was on the Bonneville, resulting in better comfort when used with foam tips.
Under the Hood
Campfire Supermoon utilize a 14.2mm full-range single planar magnetic driver placed inside the 3D-printed housing.
Unlike most budget planar magnetic IEMs that merely place the drivers inside a CNC-machined or 3D-printed shell with no specific acoustic chamber in between, Supermoon use the entire shell as an acoustic chamber.
The curves on the shell are responsible for “shaping” the sound radiated by the driver, along with ensuring phase coherency. Other than that, we do not get much information about the magnet array, diaphragm thickness, or substrate material for the voice coil.
How Do the Campfire Supermoon Sound?
The general tuning of the Supermoon can be labeled as “U-shaped,” albeit that is an oversimplification of things.
Allow me to digress for a bit: summarizing the tuning of an IEM by saying it’s “U-shaped” or “V-shaped” adds more confusion to the mix. V-shaped usually refers to a subdued or masked midrange, but to which degree is a question you cannot answer easily.
Nonetheless, Supermoon’s tuning is the exact opposite of Bonneville’s tuning regarding the mids and the treble. The depressed upper-midrange gives way to some noticeable pinna gain, while the upper-treble is further dampened to elevate the presence region.
All these changes result in a sound signature that focuses on the clarity and immediacy of attack. Perceived resolution gets a boost as a byproduct.
Bass
Campfire Supermoon have some seriously “tasty” bass response.
It’s planar bass in all its goodness: speed, punch and slam, and even good texturing.
In Polyphia’s Playing God, the sub-bass rumble hits hard and fast. Even during fast basslines there is no smearing. Note separation is excellent, and the transition from sub-bass to mid-bass is gradual instead of the abruptness that Harman-tuned IEMs often showcase.
The upper-bass is not boosted enough to bleed into the lower-midrange. As a result, midrange clarity is retained while the low notes sound full and meaty. If you prefer quality bass and want some solid sub-bass rumble, Campfire Supermoon have that in spades.
Midrange
The mids are forward, especially with female vocals, and focus on clarity.
I’d get my pet peeve out of the way first: the lower-mids lack weight and appropriate “thickness” for baritone vocals. The scoop between 400 – 800 Hz is the main reason behind this.
The easiest and cheapest solution is to use EQ to fill out this region. If you prefer a more “hardware-based” approach, you can try a tube amp (Cayin C9’s tube mode took care of that for me).
The upper-mids are forward, resulting in female vocals being the center of attraction. Guitar strums also have some added sharpness and presence, as heard in Damien Rice’s Cannonball. This does not get overbearing, just that you notice the subtleties more readily.
With a deep fit and for most tracks, the upper-mid shout is not an issue for me. It does become noticeable in tracks with sparse instrumentation, little to no bass presence, and high-pitched vocals.
Treble
Campfire Supermoon have excellent treble with adequate sparkle and airiness.
The treble extension is remarkable, with no sudden dips or peaks, rather a smooth fall-off until 20kHz.
However, for IEMs like Supermoon that require deep insertion (and are even designed for such), an intentional shallow fit just for the sake of measurements can be misleading. For that reason, I had to insert the IEMs deeper than normal into the coupler for the measurements shown above.
Foam tips also tend to reduce airiness, while silicone tips will have less of an impact there. As such, tip rolling is recommended. However, I stuck with foam tips on the Supermoon as I found it to aid in comfort and not affect the treble to a noticeable degree.
One of the issues that budget planars suffer from is the metallic timbre and tizziness in the treble region. Supermoon avoid all that, with cymbals and hi-hats sounding pristine and the resonances have a natural fall-off.
Technicalities
Overall resolution is excellent in the bass and treble regions. Some low-level details are masked in the midrange but with some EQ to fill in that lower-mid gap you can bring it back.
Staging and imaging are excellent. There is a sense of true “holography” as instruments can pop up from any direction. A case in point is Amber Rubarth’s Strive. Most planar IEMs other than Audeze’s offerings struggle in this aspect, so it’s great to see that Campfire has held on to its traditional strength.
The Supermoon is excellent at rendering the layering of backing vocals and instruments. The overall sense of macro-dynamics is superb, even though microdynamics (subtle shifts in volume) are less apparent.
Pairing notes
While the Supermoon are easily driven by many modern dongles, I found that some pair better than others.
The Lotoo PAW Gold Touch has a very low noise floor and paired well with the Supermoon, albeit the bass was not as controlled as the LPGT used in conjunction with an external amp like the Cayin C9.
In terms of dongles, the Cayin RU7 is a fantastic match with the Supermoon. The treble is silky smooth, and the bass has great control, even though the overall sense of physicality is slightly reduced. Stage width is exceptionally wide with the RU7, and overall, this is a highly recommended pairing for Supermoon owners or potential buyers.
The best pairing I experienced with the Supermoon is the desktop Questyle CMA Twelve Master. This particular DAC-Amp is meant to drive far more power-hungry planars, and the extra current in lower impedances helped bring the best out of Supermoon’s drivers.
The layering and staging are exceptional in this setup, and the macrodynamic punch is off the charts. In short: as engaging a sound as they come.
Comparisons
Campfire Supermoon vs Hidizs MP145
This comparison is quite unfair to the Hidizs MP145 as they cost about 1/10th of the Supermoon. However, both have a single, 14mm planar driver inside, and many have questioned if the price premium of the Supermoon is “worth it”.
First things first, the build is the exact opposite between these IEMs. Supermoon go for a resin shell with pseudo-custom fit, while the MP145 have a solid Aluminum chassis with a large and heavy profile.
Comfort and isolation, as a result, go for Supermoon, but the MP145 feel more solid in the hand. Accessories are better on the Supermoon, thanks to better stock tips.
As for the sound, the MP145 have a bassier, warmer tuning with less extension in the treble. The bass does not have the same note separation, and the upper-mids are hazier. Stage depth is better on the Supermoon and imaging is noticeably more precise.
Lower-mids, however, are better tuned on the MP145, resulting in a superior rendition of male vocals. The price is also far lower, making it a better value proposition.
Overall, I consider the Supermoon to be the “planar to beat” in terms of technical aspects, but the MP145 are excellent value.
Campfire Supermoon vs Sennheiser IE 900
Sennheiser’s single-dynamic driver flagship, the IE 900, have been my daily driver for the better part of the last year. The fit is phenomenal (especially when paired with the Custom Comfort tips), and the sound they produce belies their diminutive footprint.
In terms of build, the Supermoon are the opposite. Due to the much larger driver size, their shells do not allow as inconspicuous a fit as the IE 900. Then again, we are here primarily for the sound differences, and this is where things get interesting.
The IE 900 have a more subdued upper-midrange, but the treble range is noticeably brighter. Moreover, the sub-bass is not as boosted as on the Supermoon. Despite that lack of sub-bass focus, IE 900’s bass is some of the best you can find at any price-point.
The sheer physicality is combined with a sense of dexterity that is rare even years after IE 900’s release. The Supermoon have more impact in EDM and pop tracks, though, and tracks with a sub-bass focus.
I prefer the midrange tuning on the IE 900 comparatively. The thinness in the male vocals is not an issue on the Sennheisers, unlike with the Supermoon, and pianos and keyboards have a more realistic timbre.
It’s the treble that will divide opinions. With the Custom Comfort tips, the IE 900 treble smooths and has great extension. Unfortunately, regular tips sometimes make the treble overly forward. This is an issue that Supermoon avoid for the most part while offering a similar resolution.
Staging is deeper on the Supermoon, while the IE 900 have a wider placement of instruments. Macroynamics are class-leading on both IEMs, while microdynamics are more noticeable on the IE 900.
In the end, I’d happily keep both of these IEMs in my collection. If you are treble averse, then the Bonneville are better suited, while those preferring a more natural midrange voicing should gravitate towards the IE 900.
Where to Buy
Who Should Buy This?
Those looking for planar bass; clear, well-defined mids and highs, alongside a custom-like fitment. Also, if you want the best available single-driver planar IEMs, the Supermoon is the way to go.
Final Thoughts
If it’s a planar magnetic driver that you want in a pair of IEMs, Campfire Supermoon are perhaps the best in the market considering overall usability, tuning, and performance.
The timbre is natural, unlike the budget planars, and the overall resolution and tuning are competitive considering their peers.
I do wish that the lower-mids were better tuned in stock form, and the microdynamics could be better. But neither are dealbreakers for me, and the latter might even be unnoticed by many.
So, the Supermoon earn their keep as the best closed-back planar IEMs around, and also one of those “kilobuck” IEMs that you have to audition to get a taste of the high end.
Company Overview
Established in 2015 in Portland, Oregon, Campfire Audio primarily operates in the premium segment of IEMs and headphones. An ardent focus on craftsmanship and artwork separates Campfire Audio from the rest of the industry. The Andromeda and Solaris are two of the most well-known TOTL IEMs from the brand, garnering a cult following years after their release.
What’s in the Box?
- Campfire Supermoon IEMs
- Carrying pouch
- 4-wire SPC cable
- 6 pairs of tips
- Cleaning tool
Technical Specifications
- Form: IEM
- Driver: 1 x 14mm planar magnetic driver
- Impedance (Ohm): 15.5 ohms
- Sensitivity (dB): 94 dB/mW
- Weight (g): 9g
- Frequency Response (Hz): 5 Hz – 20 KHz
- Removable Cable: Y
- Source Jack: 3.5mm/4.4mm
- Cup/Shell Jack: mmcx