Special thanks to the owner of the Perth branch of Addicted To Audio, Dan, for allowing us to audition and take photos of both the Solstice and the Andromeda 2019 in their beautiful showroom. We appreciate the staff's kindness in assisting us.
Overview
The Solstice is Campfire Audio's 2nd venture into customs, marketed to be a custom version of the famous Andromeda. I auditioned this pair of IEMs with my Sony ZX300 for an hour before making brief comparisons with the Andromeda 2019. Each【X】denotes a reference for some test tracks used to come to this conclusion.
Sound Impressions
The Solstice sports a massive sounding mid-bass which edges just over the well-extended sub-bass【1】. The pseudo-rumble from the BA woofer in the sub-bass is clearly audible and has sufficient presence within the mix【2】.
The broad bass boost lends fullness to the vocals【3】. For me, the richness in the midrange is well-controlled and does not tread "muddy" territories. The broad bass boost also avoids excessive energy in the lower mids to steer clear of vocal honkiness. Being north of neutral favouring a lusher presentation, I can hear why the Solstice may not fit the bill for those who prefer a clean and pristine vocal playback.
The full-bodied midrange is well-complemented with a gentle upper midrange response【4】. This allows for a smoother playback whilst bringing out low level details in the recording. On top of its smooth but clear midrange tonal quality, the midrange scores another point with its great resolving ability.
While I felt that the treble lagged behind the midrange in articulation during playback of cymbals and hi-hats【5】, it still bolstered the mix with clarity and a good sense of air. As much as I love the midrange tonal quality, crash cymbals sound splashy especially in busy metalcore mixes【6】. These attributes form the basis of my bittersweet feelings for the Solstice.
However, another aspect the Solstice excels in lies with its headstage and imaging. I suspect that allowing the drivers to fire freely within the interior acoustic chambers of its "Solid-Body Design" complements the airy treble to give an incredibly spacious sound - instruments are panned across an enormously wide X-axis. The ample height along the Y-axis fuels an excellent sense of ambience during live performances as the crowd cheers soar【7】.
I have to add that CA has nailed the UIEM demo fit, for my ears at least. They sit almost flush against my ear and the shell housings have long nozzles which create a deep fit, almost like my pair of CIEMs. Unfortunately, the Solstice is not available for purchase as UIEMs.
Andromeda 2019 Comparison
Based on my description of the Solstice's sound signature, users of the original Andromeda may not recognise both IEMs to be sonically similar. In my opinion, the Solstice can be a standalone product in CA's lineup without being associated with the Andromeda.
The Solstice has a larger mid- and sub-bass emphasis than Andro 2019. The Andro 2019's midrange is much thinner and sounds more distant than the Solstice's intimate full-bodied sound; this makes the Andro 2019 sound much "cleaner" in comparison.
As compared to the Solstice's smoother playback which I daresay is a relatively safe tuning, the Andro 2019's upper mids may divide users who enjoy it for the clarity and those who find it a tad too abrasive. Although the Andro 2019 edges out the Solstice with treble articulation airiness in its presentation, the Solstice outclasses the Andro 2019 with a wider sounding headstage than the Andro 2019 (which is already very wide on its own).
All in all, the sonic differences between the Solstice and Andro 2019 are large enough for me to say that they are likely to appeal to 2 completely different music tastes. In fact, keefi boi said that he preferred the Andro 2019 for its upperhand in clarity. On the other hand, I preferred the Solstice for its intimate spatial details and super-wide headstage despite its Achilles' heel in the treble. I am excited to give the Solstice another listen with more of my favourite tunes in future!
I hope you've enjoyed my short impressions of the Solstice! Join the discussion on Reddit and stay up to date with our latest reviews and impressions on Facebook and Instagram :)
Test tracks for reference: Artiste 1 – Song 1, Song 2. Artiste 2 – Song 1…
The 1975 - Sincerity Is Scary, If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know). Billie Eilish - bury a friend, everything i wanted.
Falling in Reverse - Popular Monster, Drugs. Joe Hisaishi - My Neighbour Totoro (Dream Songs).
Of Monsters And Men - Wild Roses, Stuck In Gravity. Andrew Lloyd Weber - 'Til I Hear You Sing, Memory.
MY FIRST STORY - Missing You, With You. Coldrain - COEXIST, THE SIDE EFFECTS.
ONE OK ROCK - Cry Out, Taking Off. Royal Blood - Figure It Out, Hook Line & Sinker.
Crystal Lake - Apollo, +81. Bring Me The Horizon - Sleepwalking, Shadow Moses.
Bring Me The Horizon - Live at the Royal Albert Hall. ONE OK ROCK - with Orchestra Japan Tour 2018.