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Cj09
5
Oct 29, 2018
Campfire audio Atlas or these babies? anyone heard both ? I want something detailed, but on the warmer side of the spectrum, close to what some consider a "fun" signature
jaydunndiddit
3262
Nov 15, 2018
Cj09No question about it, the Atlas. They're my dailies and I also have the Solaris and Lyra II. I returned both the Andro and Andro S (the Solaris is superior to both IMO). I was very underwhelmed when I listened to the K10. It has A LOT in common with the Shure 846 without their wonderful low-end texture but do have better treble extension and more air. Still, they're a safe sound and really are a jack-of-all-trades. The Atlas gives me feelings of my 2.1 ch setup. Maybe not to the extent of the Solaris but the fact that a single DD can even get that close is well beyond impressive. The Atlas also hits HARD. It's laughably funny as it's so grin inducing in the best possible way. The sub-bass speed and decay are reminiscent of a woofer from a loudspeaker. If you're at all familiar with that, then you have a solid idea of what the Atlas sounds like overall (for me, this is a huge compliment). They also have some nice treble extension and sparkle but it may be too pronounced for some. I'm treble sensitive and unless I have the volume turned up to 11, the treble is quite composed and lively. Which is wild considering how thick and weighty the Atlas can sound. The treble is just right and cuts through the wall of sound the Atlas can produce. Mids are pulled back just enough but never sound lost. You will never listen to the Atlas and think anything in the mids are too forward or shouty. I'm pretty sensitive to sounds in this range (2k-4k) so I may be a bit biased here and why I ended up returning the pair of Andro's. The (pure silver litz) cable and accessories are better on the Atlas and I find the fitment substantially better. The Atlas just disappear into my ear. The K10 always made their presence known and I had to fight for them to stay still or they would work their way out of my ears and mess up the seal. The coating is also prone to chipping. The Atlas is 3 solid pieces of stainless steel and look swanky AF. They also have a nice weight and I am quite sure you could swing them and bludgeon any and all enemies to death if the situation ever arose. Either way, this wall of text was just my endorsement for the Atlas. Buy them and don't look back. I know they have caused me to give my other IEMs a whole lot of side-eye these days.
Cj09
5
Nov 15, 2018
jaydunndidditThank you for the very in-depth review. I actually pulled the trigger on the Atlas and they got delivered today. So far no regrets , they sound great
jaydunndiddit
3262
Nov 15, 2018
Cj09Congrats! I absolutely love mine they'll only get better with some burn-in. I normally don't believe that nonsense but Ken Ball from CA made it very clear the ADLC driver does change over time with burn-in (even provided graphs to demonstrate this). The bass will tighten up but will lose a tiny bit of quantity (trust, this sin't a bad thing) and the highs are a bit more mellowed out. Still enough sparkle but not as eye-opening bright as they were to me on first listen. I also use Comply SmartCore tips with mine and vastly prefer them to the CA marshmallow foams or Final E tips. Probably due to preference but everything else makes the Atlas sound thinner which to me is not the point of this IEM whatsoever.
FOBean
125
Nov 17, 2018
jaydunndidditGreat info as always Jay!!! You've already made me decide to get the Solaris's and sell my Andromedas, so as soon as I sell them, I'm ordering the Solaris's 😎👍😇😁🎧 I'd love to try the Atlas's as well, but for now, my CA Dorado's and the new Solaris will definitely be making me happy for a long time to come!!! I also have some Westone UM Pro 30 V2 IEM's for live monitoring my audio recordings, but those are easily the most comfortable and isolating IEM's I've ever owned, so I don't want to get rid of those either! CA Solaris and Dorado + Westone UM Pro 30 (2nd Gen) will be plenty for me for awhile. And thanks for the K10'S info above too! You and I seem to have similar tastes in TOTL IEM's, so now I feel better about not trying the K10's out, at least for right now! And since the Solaris IEM's have the ADLC DD, those will probably require some burn in too? I wasn't a believer in the whole burning in thing until I got my Andromedas and Dorado's. The Dorado's DD Definitely benefitted from some burning in and now they sound wonderfully rich and balanced, with a tighter and more textural low-end!
TacoHerder
199
Nov 27, 2018
FOBeanThose new Solaris suffice a bass head? Really interested in them but if they dont really have good low end I would rather save my money and possibly get the Atlas.
jaydunndiddit
3262
Nov 27, 2018
TacoHerderThe Solaris is toned down compared to the Atlas. It's more equivalent to the Lyra II in that regard. If you want bass, then get the Vega or the Atlas. I had the Vega and now the Atlas and Solaris and enjoy this pairing over the Vega/Andromeda. And as far as the hybrids go, the Solaris easily sits atop the Polaris and Dorado. I like both for different moods but if you want really good woofer quality bass, look no further than the Atlas.
jaydunndiddit
3262
Nov 27, 2018
FOBeanI missed your original question but yes, the ADLC driver definitely needs some burn-in. Same with their beryllium coated drivers (thought not as much) and their PVD driver in the Cascade needs something like 100 hours before it really starts to settle. This is all per Ken and I trust his word as they are his creations (same reason I use foamies with my CA gear as that's what Ken generally tunes with).
TacoHerder
199
Nov 27, 2018
jaydunndidditThanks for the input. I own a set of Empire Ears Bravado iem's. While I love them, they are rather large and at work they tend to get annoying. Was looking for a smaller footprint in my ear. I think the Atlas might be a good fit for me, but those Solaris look damn good.
FOBean
125
Nov 27, 2018
jaydunndidditThanks again, Jay! And I agree, both my Andromedas and Dorado's have Comply Isolation+ large foams on them and the sound is really energetic and balanced! One more question Jay, but how do the Solaris's fit your ears compared to the Andromedas? I am totally looking forward to getting the Solaris's, but when I saw side by side pictures of the Andromedas and Solaris's (on Super Audio Best Friends), I have to admit I'm a little worried about them fitting my ears nicely 😩😢
jaydunndiddit
3262
Nov 27, 2018
FOBeanMuch much better than the Andro's IMO. If you look and can compare, they are VERY close in design and shape to Noble IEMs. They might have a slightly larger and longer stem but they fit very well and are secure. They're also a lot lighter than you would think. I use a size smaller Comply than I do for the Atlas and that seems to work quite well. If I'm at home and don't have to remove them as often as I do in the office, I use the Comply Comfort SmartCore. My absolute favorite due to their unique stem design.
FOBean
125
Nov 27, 2018
jaydunndidditYou RAWK Jay 😎👍🎧 You've basically made me become a believer in the new Solaris's! I just bought a new 400gb SanDisk Ultra Micro SD Card and pre-ordered the new Shanling M5s DAP, so next week when I get the M5s paid off, I'm going to sell the Andromedas and buy the Solaris's. If I'm not happy with them, I can just return them and rebuy the Andromedas!!! Aren't the Comply Comfort tips the more rounded ones? I tried those with my Westone UM Pro 30's that I still have and didn't like those at all compared to the Isolation+ and Sport+ tips, but maybe I just needed to try the Medium Comfort+ tips instead of the Large ones!
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