Here is a comparison of using the iFi IEMatch 2.5 with the Campfire Solaris. It has a small effect on the bass, but generally not a huge impact like the andromeda, which is like this:
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Glad the Solaris seems to be getting some love here…it’s my favorite earphone and the one that made me realize I didn’t need big bass to be totally satisfied. If it’s allowed I could post my impressions from head-fi over here.
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That’s certainly allowed!
Below are some impressions of mine of the Campfire Solaris that I jotted down a few months ago shortly after purchasing them:
Campfire Audio Solaris Impressions
"Sitting here enjoying my coffee and my Solaris on the first day of spring break proper and it feels like a good time to jot down some impressions. Before I say anything I want to take a moment to re-emphasize the importance of trying something for yourself, or at the very least taking everything you read online with a massive grain of salt. I’m fairly new to the world of high-end IEMs and in the comparatively brief time I’ve spent perusing forums and reviews I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing can substitute for actually LISTENING to something with your own ears. Pick any great IEM you want and if you read enough you will find people who hate it, people who love it, people who say it excels at this or that and others who say it’s weak in those exact areas. So many times I tried to get to the bottom of whether a particular IEM was right for me and I’d only find myself bewildered at all the varying opinions and perspectives. Even people who are often in line with my views and preferences will occasionally say things I disagree with-- it’s all part of being human. Psychology is a funny thing-- you can read 100 glowing impressions of a product but all it takes is one false note to throw everything into doubt in your mind.
Another thing is that it seems to me that people in this hobby are prone to a funny sort of auto-suggestion. You can read dozens of glowing impressions and then someone will come along and say something like “I tried to like it but I noticed a hollowed out sparkle register in the lower mid-treble and I couldn’t get over the tonally imbalanced dynamics of the sub-bass tangential to the mid-bass-- here are some graphs which back that up”. Invariably following that there will be a string of new impressions, and a few of the originals will come back and say “well I liked it originally but when listened to it again I really noticed that hollowed out sparkle register in the lower mid-treble and those tonally imbalanced dynamics of the the sub-bass tangential to the mid-bass”. Then along will come someone like me who doesn’t know any better who will think “oh wow I was considering pulling the trigger on this, and I have no idea wtf any of that means but it sounds bad…maybe I should hold off”. Then later on I’ll get to try the thing for myself and I’ll think something like “I don’t know what any of those people were talking about-- this thing sounds amazing.”
I had similar experiences with the Atlas and most recently the Solaris. I almost passed on the Atlas because I put too much stock in the words of a prominent internet reviewer. Had I done that I would have missed out on one of the best sounding IEMs on the market right now. The point: there is no substitute for hearing something for yourself-- we are all different. It’s true that I am fortunate to live near a Campfire Audio distributor. If I lived in Toronto I’d probably be in the Empire Ears thread right now raving about the LX because that’s what the store there carries. But the point still stands-- no two of us react the same to the same stimuli. And just hearing something in a shop briefly isn’t enough. Having an IEM is like being in a relationship-- you get wowed by certain features off the bat, but those little quirks you gloss over initially might drive you mad in the long term. Find any IEM on the market and there will be people who love it and people who trash it. All of that being said…
Prior to having the Solaris I had thought that my ideal was along the lines of a V shaped signature with a robust and powerful low end and just enough sparkle and detail in the treble. While they’re both amazing IEMs I much prefer the Atlas to the Andromeda-- I’m not a fan of BA bass in general and, as much as love the detail and precision of the Andro, in a pinch I would rather have the bass of the Atlas…and I did for a few weeks before picking up Solaris. When I went to demo Solaris my idea was to pick up something to compliment the Atlas. I had read many impressions of Solaris that said it lacked bass or that “bass heads need not apply”. With that in mind I figured the Atlas would be main daily with Solaris stepping in every now and again to give me something different. I then made a playlist of songs I felt would sound great on Solaris (and a few Atlas favorites for comparison) and headed to Headphone Bar in Vancouver to try it out.
A note on fit: I am a large man with a large head and large ears and the Solaris fits me perfectly. Even Travis at headphone bar commented that the Solaris fits me as well as the Andro fits him. The memory wire holds it in my ears perfectly, it doesn’t protrude at all and I can wear it for hours comfortably. Also, make sure you find tips that give you a good seal. I have read a few impressions by people who complained of the “hollowed out mids” but were able to mitigate it with the right tips.
When I arrived at Headphone Bar on Saturday I had been listening to the Atlas straight for a number of hours-- so I had impressions of its signature firmly in mind. I was able to sit down in the shop with an Andromeda and Solaris for over an hour going back and forth between the two forming impressions. Regarding the Andromeda, it was just like I remembered from prior demos-- amazing in its own right but not my ideal signature. It would never satisfy me as my sole daily like the Atlas did. When I tried Solaris I was totally blown away. Expecting a lack of bass I found all, or at least enough, of the Atlas sound present to totally satisfy me. Instead of a lack of bass I found near perfect balance. I don’t have the vocabulary to really do this justice but all I can say is that when listening to some of my favorite tracks for bass ( Exodus by Bob Marley or Not Exactly by Deadmau5 to name two) I found absolutely nothing lacking. Instead what I found was the meaty dynamic bass of the Atlas thumping below me with the precision, detail and sparkle of the Andromeda whispering in my ears. Having previously been listening to these same songs on the Atlas for much of the previous day and month I didn’t find myself missing anything at all.
In addition to the Atlas quality bass Solaris delivers a vastly increased soundstage with all the best features of the Andromeda woven in and around it. I stand by my original impression: Solaris is Andromeda plus bass-- a beautiful synergy of the best of both the Andromeda and the Atlas. When I first demoed the Atlas I fell in love with its massive sound. The Solaris takes that massive sound, stretches it out and fills in all the spaces with detail, holography and pinpoint precise nuance. Put Another way, listening to the Atlas feels like you’re in a small room (though it took the Solaris to make me realize it was small) with the bass and treble in the forefront (ie., a V) and everything else a little bit further back. The Solaris takes that same bass and treble, puts it in the centre of a bigger room and surrounds it with lush layers of extra detail and mid/treble flourish a la the Andromeda. So while it’s true that the low end doesn’t dominate with the Solaris like it does with the Atlas-- you can still very much tell that it’s present, only dispersed over a larger soundstage. Quite frankly I find myself too wowed by all the detail, sparkle, precision and space that have been added to mind the decreased emphasis on the lower end. Again, I still sense it there, I don’t feel it’s lack, rather I’m too busy focusing on the Andromeda-like loveliness that’s now filling the gaps. It’s not at all what I was expecting bass-wise from the Solaris based on the reviews I’d read…maybe the lesson is that I’m not a basshead after all?
When I got the Atlas I raved that it was all I ever wanted-- but with the Solaris it’s all I ever wanted from the Atlas plus everything I didn’t know I wanted from the Andromeda. I have probably close to 30 hours on the Solaris and it’s only getting better and better. When I went to try it I imagined that I would prefer Atlas maybe 70% of the time and use Solaris for the remaining 30% but what I’m finding is that just about everything sounds way better, fuller, on Solaris. There is a bit, maybe 5% of my music that I would rather listen to on Atlas, but this mostly (I think) boils down to poor mastering. The Atlas is more forgiving of this than Solaris in this regard. My takeaway from all of this is that maybe my preference is for a more neutral sound signature-- and with an IEM as honest and well executed as Solaris it’s a match made in heaven.
One thing about Solaris that is unique for me is that it’s perfectly satisfying to listen to at very low volume. Usually I’m one to crank the volume-- I was always resisting the urge to do this on Atlas. With Solaris I can sit there with my Fiio M9 on 30 and not miss any detail, bass or sound quality. I will not be looking at new IEMs for a very long time. It these are at all on your radar, and you have the ability to try them without putting yourself out too much, you owe it to yourself to do so. If you have the Solaris and the means check out In the Gallery by Dire Straits-- it brings to the forefront everything Solaris does best. I have admittedly not heard a wide variety of TOTL IEMs so I can’t do any worthwhile comparisons-- all I can say is that, for my tastes and preferences Solaris does everything right. Nothing is lacking-- and, again, this is coming from an Atlas fanboy, so take that for what it’s worth. It sounds cliche but my heart just says “Nicely Done”.
Edit: After a week and probably close to 60 hours of listening one thing I’m appreciating more and more about the Solaris is how balanced and cohesive it is. Nothing stands out yet at the same time everything stands out. I’ve never tangibly perceived such a sense of unity from portable music before-- I can focus on each level and be totally wowed but at the same time sit back and appreciate how seamlessly it all blends together. If I were to chime in on the burn-in factor at this point I would say that as the hours wear on with this unit the sound becomes more and more cohesive. When I first tried it there was a vague sense of each of the different layers working to carve out their respective spaces but as the time wears all on of that dissolves into a serenely engaging unity. It doesn’t matter what I’m listening to-- I can engage with each of the different layers if I choose but it’s also easy to sit back and embraces the whole of the sound and not be distracted by any particular layer of it. Whether it’s due to actual burn in or psychological burn-in who’s to say but I think it stands as a testament to the quality of the tuning on this thing (for those who prefer a more balanced signature). "
It’s been over 4 months since I wrote that and in the time since I’ve picked up a Sony ZX300 which has been my main player in the time since. My impressions with the ZX300 are basically the same except to add that the Sony player adds a bit of analogue-like richness to the sound. I suppose my tastes veer to warmer sounding DAPs. On the whole he Solaris excels at staging, balance, separation and imaging and I’m still just as in love with as when I first got it. I’m looking forward to getting a Cayin N6ii in the mail soon and will post some pics/impressions when I do.
Campfire Audio Display at Headphone Bar
Fit
Beauties
Conclusion
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Such a great write up. I like your style. You’re very lucky to have a store like this near you too. I really enjoyed reading this.
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Thanks man…yes I am very fortunate…being able to demo gear before you buy it is so important.
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@jrockwell great write up…makes me miss having them… but for me I can’t get past the ear pain…I was just not meant for IEMs lol. Your thoughts on them more or less line up with how I felt about them… I tried hard to make them work, and even considered just dealing with ear pain… but alas it wasn’t meant to be =)
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Thanks man…that’s a bummer about the fit though…it seems to be a deal breaker for a number of people with these. For me though they fit my ears like a proverbial lock and key so I’m pretty fortunate.
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I got mail today 
Too soon for detailed impressions but off the bat I’m very happy and suspect I may have found the perfect dap for my needs and preferences. Sound is rich, powerful and satisfying…the Solaris responds very well to extra power. Extension, details, imagery and separation are all enhanced. Looking forward to more time with this beautiful combination.
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So after two weeks of experiencing something of a dark night of the soul(aris) I’m officially back in the club. At the end of last month I ordered a Sony IER Z1R, entirely out of curiosity and love of Sony products in general and not due to any inherent dissatisfaction with the Solaris. Upon receiving the Z1R I was deeply impressed with its bass and treble extension and overall sexiness-- to the point that I was prepared to make it my main IEM. Fortunately I didn’t rush into anything and I kept my Solaris on hand for the last couple weeks.
Long story shortened-- yesterday, after two weeks of struggling with the fit and just over a week of listening exclusively to the Z1R, I switched over to the Solaris and I was struck by how much I’d missed its beautiful balanced sound, robust midrange, detail retrieval and holographic soundstage. Another thing that jumped out at me after many days of not hearing the Solaris was how coherent and “whole” its presentation of sound is. The Z1R is a great sounding IEM, but after switching back to Solaris I found myself really noticing the recessed midrange and comparatively confined soundstage. In addition to that I remembered how well Solaris fit me-- I can wear them for hours comfortably whether on the couch or out and about. They are substantially lighter than the Z1R and I can easily forget they’re there. For a few hours yesterday I did some a/b’ing between the two with some of my favorite tracks I found that I actually preferred the sound of the Solaris a significant percentage of the time. I think that in a rush to embrace the Z1R initially I glossed over many of the strengths of the Solaris. This method of switching to one IEM exclusively for a period of time and then back to the other to see what I notice is a good way to ascertain the strengths of each in a more definitive way. Ultimately they both have their strengths-- for me it’s treble/bass extension and definition on the Z1R & balance, a more robust midrange, resolution and an airy and holographic soundstage on the Solaris-- however I’m finding that lately my preferences tend more towards the balanced presentation of the Solaris to the mild V of the Z1R. Factoring in the fit issues, and what are imho certain superior technicalities, and the balance has tilted decisively in favor of the Solaris for me. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise-- the Solaris is a TOTL IEM on par with the best on the market and if balance and coherence combined with delicious DD bass is your thing, then I’m not sure there’s anything better out there right now. Sometimes we need to branch out for a bit to really appreciate the greatness of the things that we have. In a nutshell: Solaris FTW!
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Glad we both think the same thing about the Solaris ! It really is an awesome IEM and it all comes down to personal preference in the end. I have also purchased the Z1R and find that the balance of the Solaris is more important to me than the visceral impact of the Z1R. I have the QDC Anole VX on the way, so I will be comparing it with the other TOTL IEMs I have on hand. For now though : Solaris ftw !
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I too have come to the conclusion that it’s very difficult when dealing with TOTL iems that to have one iem to cover all bases. I have my U18t’s, Andromedas and my SE846’s. Allo of these bring something to the table and I couldn’t part with any of these at the moment. The U18’t gives me detail and resolution in spades and is the most detailed thing I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. As a detail where who likes my sound analytical and as detailed as possible these are my favourites to listen to. However sometimes I crave a different sound and my trusty old Shure SE846’s give me a great contrast in sound with great bass and lovely clear mids. What they don’t do is any kind of treble, even with the white treble filters in place and a liberal dose of EQ. The tone of the SE846’s isn’t class leading but it’s good enough to be able to enjoy music and relax. The Andromeda gives me the great Campfire sound that I love too. It’s such a great allrounder offering what I want in an iem, detail and great treble and decent technicalities. Though nothing I have tried yet comes close to the U18’t.
I must say I want to try other top of the line iems as I am very greedy. 
. But joking aside I feel that the Solaris would be a great iem right up my alley as would the Z1r from Sony. Though what i would really like is a better DAP. I’m looking at you Cayin. All i need now is Cash…
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Judging by the lack of activity in this thread I’m assuming that I’m the only one from around here who took the plunge and pre-ordered the SE Solaris? It’s supposed to start shipping within a week and I can’t wait!
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I picked up a pair of these used last month to try out and I have to say they’re pretty amazing. I paired them with a Dragonfly Cobalt to use either on my Android phone or my laptop, and am fairly astonished that I can now enjoy high-end sound when I’m at the gym or on the road. They make music (TIDAL, Qobuz and/or computer files) so involving that on many occasions I’ve stayed up way too late into the evening just to listen. I’ve never used IEMs before so that takes some getting used to, and I’m still not sure it’s for me, no matter how good the sound. (My Mr Speakers Aeon Closed seem to be much better for long plane flights, in terms of cutting out the noise, and psychologically, the cushy earpads help me relax … instead of fiddling with the IEM placements or knocking the Litz wire loose by accident). All that said, the word “holographic” is no hype in describing the Solaris, and the design and finish is pure class. Without a doubt, the best headphone I’ve yet owned (after Grado SR60, Sennheiser 650, AKG 701, HiFiMan He-400 and Mr. Speakers).
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While I don’t have a lot of experience with IEMs, if I were to own a pair it would be the Solaris. While they are not cheap, compared to other less expensive IEMs I have tried, like the Westone UM Pro 50, I can confidently say that the Solaris are worth their price.
For me, they are the ZMF Verite of the IEM world in that they provide great pleasure as well as being technically very proficient. Both are well balanced but not neutral, with emphasis on the upper bass that provides what I call, a guilty pleasure of warmth but the bass is still tight, detailed and has slam. Both are well articulated in the upper octaves, have great detail retrieval and speed but are not harsh sounding. Both have a tonally rich and lively midrange and both image very well while providing a very spacious headstage. Neither are as punchy or dynamic as others in their class nor do they have a sparkle that some find addictive but they are some of the least fatiguing earphones I have tried as they tend toward a more creamy, rich sound. With all that said, they nonetheless do sound quite different from each other for a variety of reasons other than the obvious.
It’s too bad I can’t keep the Solaris in my ears for more than 15 - 20 min as the discomfort overwhelms the sonic pleasure they provide.
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The special editions look dope AF!!
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Can’t wait to demo mine!
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I would love to get the Se Solaris myself. But alas my wallet says no. Congrats and please let us know how you get on with them.
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Hello and welcome @Steve_Dollar.
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Hello,
Great content above, thank you all for your time spent reviewing and giving you impressions.
The Solaris is still at 1499 and the Atlas is currently 899, is the difference between the two worth it to spend an added 500 to get the Solaris? Or will I get a similar experience with the Atlas for less?
Thank you for your help.
I recently got the Empire Ears Legend X, I love them but the Treble is a but cut off. So, I am looking for something similar for using on the go, as the Empire X are great, they are 2200 and do not wish to take them out of the house. Seems like the Solaris has the bass and detail that I am looking for.
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