Be careful! I just did exactly what you are proposing and experienced terrible distortion from the Comets. Campfire rep tells me they can't handle the voltage from the Dragonfly. So they're going back. I am loving the Cobalt with Etymotic ER4XRs though.
@@stockbrian Wow I have just ordered the Dragonfly Cobalt. Also am contemplating a pair of used comets for a very good price to connect to the Cobalt. Is this a one off or is the distortion across the board with the comets and the cobalt ?
@@sunnydayz77 I scoured the internet, including Reddit and could not find an answer to whether the Campfire Audio Comet worked alright with the Audioquest Dragonfly Red DAC based on the above. I have since purchased both products and they work wonderfully together. I do not have any distortion -- they sound great! @JohnDarko thanks for the excellent video. It drove my decision to purchase and these are my first IEMs. Cheers.
Campfire does outstanding work. I love my Andromedas. They are in my ears every single work day. I push them with an iFi Nano LE. Source is my cell phone. You will need a UE Buffer Jack to get the impedence right. Btw the iFi GTO filter that was recently made available to their lower lines is something special. The combination of the IEM and dac/amp just makes me smile.
I guess the title is sort of accurate, as while I had heard of the Comets well before this video ever came out, I've never seen them referred to as 'budget'.
Been following you for awhile. Have really appreciated your insight as I’ve delved into the world of hi-fi. I happened to bump into this video and it felt like you made it for me. I deeper dived into Campfire Audio and the Comet IEM’s. Found the ones I wanted and they’ll hopefully arrive soon. Again, diggin your work.
i was leaning towards the fiio f9 over the ear iem headphones, but i love the fact that with these you are not forced to use them up over the ear. You mainly use them straight down. I am able to deal with cable noise so these earphones are perfect for me in terms of the sound i am looking for and the ergonomics.
I remember when I bought a pair of these after watching your review. To my disappointment, my Galaxy S8 did not drive them well at all. Massive distortion across all frequencies. I'll be purchasing an LGV35 phone soon, and will most likely give these another try. Just a little warning for those who might think about getting these for smart phone use.
I don't think so V35 will make much difference. He is using V30 but still increasing the Volume. LG have one of the best Amp inside their phone compare to any other phone. From my point of view u would need a separate dedicated amp to get best out of it.
The cheap products pouring out of China include things like the BLON bl03 & the Urbanfun YBF, which cost €35 & €65 respectively. While being just as good sonically as much more expensive gear. Both are dynamic drivers, the YBF is Beryllium based. They are astounding at pretty much any price, especially the YBF.
A budget is an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time. The word budget has been misused by most people, thinking that budget means a low amount of money, wich is wrong
I’ve heard of them. Personally I think the BGVP DM6 is just a touch better, sound and most definitely comfort, DM6 can also be had for $150-199. Both are fantastic IEM’s regardless of $. Cheers!
this product is just a straight up insta-buy for anyone that doesnt have a nice IEM yet. im wearing them now in fact lol they just sound wonderful. the presentation and accessories included are quite nice too. also, even though 48 ohms looks pretty high, they are just fine played through a smartphone. however, they sound noticeably better through my audioquest dragonfly black.
Honestly the Comet was one of the most boring IEMs I've heard to date. The balanced armature's limitations shine through, with the bass being one note and the treble extension not being too great. The Comet isn't bad as far as BA IEMs go, but for $200 I would steer clear. I only say this cause having owned it, it's one of my biggest audio regrets.
I got a pair and they sounded so thin and tiny that I had to return them. And it wasn't a driving problem since I tested them with a decent Technics se m100 amp. Its a pity since the looks and build quality are on a league of their own.
I have them and they’re still just as good as when they came out. You can do better for your money sound-wise, but if you want something solid that’ll last the rest of your life and sound good, these are still a very good bet. Better than anything in production now.
Thank for this review. Your descriptions led me to buy the Comet IEM’s. I own a set of Grado Statement headphones for times I have to listen more privately. After some time with them, I would say that for the money; I consider the Comet’s a bargain. Thanks
So, which are better, normal high-quality earphones or IEMs? Just for the sake of music genres like adult contemporary, retrowave, synth, techno and lo-fi? As I only listen to these genres.
imo the Tin audio T2 is a much better budget iem. Made from cnc aluminum, mmcx connectors, look great, €33, - shipped & they sound bloody great for the price!
What do you mean much better budget iem? Better than what? T2 and Comet are 6 times more different in price. Also mmcx connection is the worst connection that you can find, and most of the best earphones use 2 pin standard (or some proprietary), and even those very few that stick with mmcx usually use custom lock mechanism so it doesn't die in half a year like on all Shure earphones. Also looks and "cnc aluminum" shouldn't be factors for buying an earphone :)
Really think you should try some of the stuff coming out of China, not the low end but something like the BQEYZ KC2 or for something high end the BGVP DMG. Awful names, amazing gear
I can confirm the comet has little to no bass in the traditional sense. But I do own multiple IEMs so I'm very satisfied with comet's solid, punchy and quick bass.
Nice one John but I'll have to say at sub 200 usd the Yamaha EPH 100 does a much better job in terms both ergonomics and SQ at an aprrox 50% lower price point.
Well yeah. There are bunch of really entry level craps from 3 - 150$, mostly lifestyle items like Beats, Bose and such, or simply cheap earphones for those that just need handsfree or something. Budget real iems for actual listening to music or even professional use (hence IEM name) start from 100-300$ as lower end, mid-range is ~300-900, higher end 1000 - 3600$. Also 200$ for something that you could use couple of hours per day for like 5 years is really not that much, people pay for a damn sneakers 200$ for half a year or a 1000$ for a phone that they use less than earphones and change it in a year or two.
Have you had the chance to listen to Sennheiser IE80's and can you compare those to them? Also I feel like every iem should be treated with some nice otoplastys. They really enhance every iem by a lot!
Chris Clark ceramics is the bomb for reference 👍 My favorite Chris Clark album from the period that Warp records released better stuff. Check out Wevie Stonder Kenyan Henry EP (not Warp)
Not really a "budget" IEM when they hit 200.00. To me, budget is under the 100.00 range and the four IEM's I use are well in that price range. 80.00 is the the highest price one I have (Tin T4's, the rest are under 50.00)
@@DarkoAudio My AKG K712 for sure and according to clavinetjunkie (another reviewer on UA-cam) also stuff like the HD650. I guess that range of full size dynamics. They are a bit treble shy but very coherent and balanced.
Is this the comet for sure and not the atlas? Cuz the orion is priced higher and you are telling me that this sounds better than the more pricey iem from the same company? Pls someone verify. Also, the body of the comet looks a lot more edgy and boxy and looks like the atlas, the comet, as seen on the website looks more rounded than this. Pls verify
I hate how they make all my other headphones feel lame and cheap. Even my lofi Grado SR60 seem off. They destroy my Etymotic earbuds which were my most expensive previously. On the plus side it makes my music library new.
Thanks to this review I just ordered the Comet (my first IEM!) I'm now going to order the AudioQuest's DragonFly Cobalt you reviewed the other day.
Be careful! I just did exactly what you are proposing and experienced terrible distortion from the Comets. Campfire rep tells me they can't handle the voltage from the Dragonfly. So they're going back. I am loving the Cobalt with Etymotic ER4XRs though.
@@stockbrianThanks for the tip!
@@stockbrian Wow I have just ordered the Dragonfly Cobalt. Also am contemplating a pair of used comets for a very good price to connect to the Cobalt. Is this a one off or is the distortion across the board with the comets and the cobalt ?
@@stockbrian would you recommend the Etymotic ER4XR or the Comet ?
@@sunnydayz77 I scoured the internet, including Reddit and could not find an answer to whether the Campfire Audio Comet worked alright with the Audioquest Dragonfly Red DAC based on the above. I have since purchased both products and they work wonderfully together. I do not have any distortion -- they sound great! @JohnDarko thanks for the excellent video. It drove my decision to purchase and these are my first IEMs. Cheers.
Again an excellent video. I like your no-nonsense, straight forward, very informative, very competent, nicely filmed and entertaining style.
Campfire does outstanding work. I love my Andromedas. They are in my ears every single work day. I push them with an iFi Nano LE. Source is my cell phone. You will need a UE Buffer Jack to get the impedence right. Btw the iFi GTO filter that was recently made available to their lower lines is something special. The combination of the IEM and dac/amp just makes me smile.
I guess the title is sort of accurate, as while I had heard of the Comets well before this video ever came out, I've never seen them referred to as 'budget'.
You’re reviews are quite good...and your use of the English language (grammar, diction...)is polished for a listener. Excellent delivery.
Was stuck between these and the Fiio FH5. Liked the straightforward quality of these. So I bought them thanks to your great review!
I'm at that stages also, how you finding them
This a late reply but the FH5 basically shits all over the Comet. Very different tuning though.
Been following you for awhile. Have really appreciated your insight as I’ve delved into the world of hi-fi. I happened to bump into this video and it felt like you made it for me. I deeper dived into Campfire Audio and the Comet IEM’s. Found the ones I wanted and they’ll hopefully arrive soon. Again, diggin your work.
Another great video, excellent production, audio and editing. Campfire is from my home town Portland Oregon. Love my Comets.
Can you do an update for this ? Check out the Comet's successor, the Campfire Audio Satsuma.
Thanks for all the great content, John. You're really the only reviewer that I find relatable and relevant to me.
Thanks for this review John, I just received and I am using them with my Shanling M0. Keep up the good work...
You can’t find them anymore, not at the original price. They’re $360 in Amazon.
€200 on Amazon.de www.amazon.de/Campfire-Audio-Comet-Kopfh%C3%B6rer-Kulthersteller-Edelstahl/dp/B07CY6J1KH/ref=asc_df_B07CY6J1KH
I like the way you clicked them together at the beginning 👍☺️
i was leaning towards the fiio f9 over the ear iem headphones, but i love the fact that with these you are not forced to use them up over the ear. You mainly use them straight down. I am able to deal with cable noise so these earphones are perfect for me in terms of the sound i am looking for and the ergonomics.
Good review. Like the "Real World" feel of the production.
The Comet. I've got a number of IEMs now, but this is still a big favorite. Very distinctive sound. Ear catching.
Richie1 which other IEMs do you have?
the word budget is very subjective
I remember when I bought a pair of these after watching your review. To my disappointment, my Galaxy S8 did not drive them well at all. Massive distortion across all frequencies. I'll be purchasing an LGV35 phone soon, and will most likely give these another try.
Just a little warning for those who might think about getting these for smart phone use.
Thankyou for sharing as I am in a similar situation
I don't think so V35 will make much difference. He is using V30 but still increasing the Volume. LG have one of the best Amp inside their phone compare to any other phone. From my point of view u would need a separate dedicated amp to get best out of it.
Big bass..... Which dynamic armitur driver earphones?
Great quality video with really good insight on the sound sig. Keep uploading and thanks!
That's the key: to not just unbox and fade to black but to say something about the sound.
Probably the best iem $200 can buy? Nice review John 👍🏻👍🏻
They’re not $200 anymore, more like $360.
@@pablovi77 Dafuq
The cheap products pouring out of China include things like the BLON bl03 & the Urbanfun YBF, which cost €35 & €65 respectively. While being just as good sonically as much more expensive gear. Both are dynamic drivers, the YBF is Beryllium based. They are astounding at pretty much any price, especially the YBF.
$200 is not a budget option at all though. It's more like a middle market. Budget would be anything below $100 like Tin T2.
One man's floor is another man's ceiling.
Harz.exe I agree, but audiophiles lives in a world of their own .
@@DarkoAudio We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at (apparently) someone else's floor.
3:05 uh oh, detaching MMCX just to untangle it?
that'd wear out the jack suuuuuper fast. 😅
Very good information here, really loving your take on all things audio here! Keep going!
Like the idea of a tuned BA that multitasks bass, mids and treble!
I'm confused. AUD 399 for some iem. The word budget really has very different meaning for different people. FFS
At what point does Budget end and Mid Range begin? It's all relative.
Idk I’d consider 200 the upper end of budget. To me 1000+ is high end, and that leaves 250-999 probably as midrange?
maybe can try tinhifi t2, overall well balanced "real" budget iem
A budget is an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.
The word budget has been misused by most people, thinking that budget means a low amount of money, wich is wrong
ive been on the fence but im sold now, thanks John
Very nice review!
I’ve heard of them. Personally I think the BGVP DM6 is just a touch better, sound and most definitely comfort, DM6 can also be had for $150-199. Both are fantastic IEM’s regardless of $. Cheers!
Myk Wazowski i have both. I prefer dm6 too overall BUT comet really sounds more natural for me.
Very clever design, and they look cool too. I believe the shells are made in China, but they put them together in Portland.
this product is just a straight up insta-buy for anyone that doesnt have a nice IEM yet. im wearing them now in fact lol they just sound wonderful. the presentation and accessories included are quite nice too. also, even though 48 ohms looks pretty high, they are just fine played through a smartphone. however, they sound noticeably better through my audioquest dragonfly black.
What would be the current model, or an alternative?
I want to live in Ken Ball’s expansion chamber
Honestly the Comet was one of the most boring IEMs I've heard to date. The balanced armature's limitations shine through, with the bass being one note and the treble extension not being too great. The Comet isn't bad as far as BA IEMs go, but for $200 I would steer clear. I only say this cause having owned it, it's one of my biggest audio regrets.
I got a pair and they sounded so thin and tiny that I had to return them. And it wasn't a driving problem since I tested them with a decent Technics se m100 amp.
Its a pity since the looks and build quality are on a league of their own.
$200 is "budget" now? I guess I only need one kidney.
In this hobby it is :)
@@josephstalin7995 budget to mid I'd say i consider budget iem for less than $150
I consider Budget IEM to be under 500, midrange is between 500-1000 and highend starter is 1000-1800 and over that is only ridiculous stuff.. 😸
Would you still rate the comets today, or would you go for a newer alternative?
I have them and they’re still just as good as when they came out. You can do better for your money sound-wise, but if you want something solid that’ll last the rest of your life and sound good, these are still a very good bet. Better than anything in production now.
John, amazing video. Great editing. Yikes.
Thank for this review. Your descriptions led me to buy the Comet IEM’s.
I own a set of Grado Statement headphones for times I have to listen more privately.
After some time with them, I would say that for the money; I consider the Comet’s a bargain.
Thanks
Thanks for your videos.What is actually your best IEM for acoustic music like Classic and Jazz ? Thanks
So, which are better, normal high-quality earphones or IEMs? Just for the sake of music genres like adult contemporary, retrowave, synth, techno and lo-fi? As I only listen to these genres.
Does Ken call it "drop forging", or is that what the production method in fact is termed?
Would you review Tin HIFI T4 as well
I heard Tin HiFi P1 is really good, and it is cheaper than Campfire.
@@dannyng5427 they cheaper because they made in china, but don't get me wrong chi-is great they are great price/performance
imo the Tin audio T2 is a much better budget iem. Made from cnc aluminum, mmcx connectors, look great, €33, - shipped & they sound bloody great for the price!
What do you mean much better budget iem? Better than what? T2 and Comet are 6 times more different in price. Also mmcx connection is the worst connection that you can find, and most of the best earphones use 2 pin standard (or some proprietary), and even those very few that stick with mmcx usually use custom lock mechanism so it doesn't die in half a year like on all Shure earphones. Also looks and "cnc aluminum" shouldn't be factors for buying an earphone :)
please provide examples of dynamic driver IEM"s as i want big bass.
Also, what are the price on these and are they still the budget friendly choice for 2020??
Really think you should try some of the stuff coming out of China, not the low end but something like the BQEYZ KC2 or for something high end the BGVP DMG. Awful names, amazing gear
Between comet and bgvp dmg, which one you would prefer and why? I am considering between these 2...
What model SpinFits did you use?
Bought them on the strength of this review but sending back. Really weak bass even with dac and equaliser. V dissapointed
Andrew Clark mine have lots of bass and I don’t use a dac or anything like that
@@kappasike He probably just wants more bass than you do, but I think these are good enough for me as well.
I can confirm the comet has little to no bass in the traditional sense. But I do own multiple IEMs so I'm very satisfied with comet's solid, punchy and quick bass.
@@realismartmoment how did they feel in your ears, did they feel heavy and fatigue
Great review
Some really good ones from China these days tho
Stop buying Chinese junk, Campfire audio, made in the USA
@@clarenceboggs2406 with parts straight from china
Clarence Boggs stop buying anything made in China, i dare you, shabi
Nice one John but I'll have to say at sub 200 usd the Yamaha EPH 100 does a much better job in terms both ergonomics and SQ at an aprrox 50% lower price point.
kindly, hell no :)
I can't find these anywhere
Can't find any new in the UK. £250 on eBay used.
Don't even bother using them with weak/low output source - they need some "juice and quality" or else they sound like 10$ IEM 's.
$200 bux for "budget" buds? Sheesh!
Well yeah. There are bunch of really entry level craps from 3 - 150$, mostly lifestyle items like Beats, Bose and such, or simply cheap earphones for those that just need handsfree or something. Budget real iems for actual listening to music or even professional use (hence IEM name) start from 100-300$ as lower end, mid-range is ~300-900, higher end 1000 - 3600$. Also 200$ for something that you could use couple of hours per day for like 5 years is really not that much, people pay for a damn sneakers 200$ for half a year or a 1000$ for a phone that they use less than earphones and change it in a year or two.
Very nice!
Have you had the chance to listen to Sennheiser IE80's and can you compare those to them? Also I feel like every
iem should be treated with some nice
otoplastys. They really enhance every iem by a lot!
Not heard the IE80. Sorry.
@@DarkoAudio thanks anyway :)
What is an otoplasty?
Chris Clark ceramics is the bomb for reference 👍
My favorite Chris Clark album from the period that Warp records released better stuff.
Check out Wevie Stonder Kenyan Henry EP (not Warp)
Guitars do sound great with these don't they! Never enjoyed Metallica - Master Of Puppet's so much before 🤘
“WHAT’S IN THE BOOOOOOOOOOX??!!!”
Which dynamic driver IEM for that big bass ?
Campfire Atlas.
Not really a "budget" IEM when they hit 200.00. To me, budget is under the 100.00 range and the four IEM's I use are well in that price range. 80.00 is the the highest price one I have (Tin T4's, the rest are under 50.00)
Cheap Chinese IEMs are now so amazing. Massive props to the crazy cheap BLON 03 and the amazing sound it puts out. Simply incredible.
I would not be surprise if the Blons sounded better than the Comets. They are that good.
It's almost like a baby sheep
I like that eyeglasses.
They look heavy.
Can you wear it over the ear?
Yes
I really disliked these which was a massive disappointment considering I generally quite like single BA iems, ERP4, Westone's and FA1's
Also look at the Etymotic ER3XR. $140 and it beats full size cans twice as expensive for detail.
Which "twice as expensive" headphones does it "beat"?
@@DarkoAudio My AKG K712 for sure and according to clavinetjunkie (another reviewer on UA-cam) also stuff like the HD650. I guess that range of full size dynamics. They are a bit treble shy but very coherent and balanced.
Thanks for specifying.
You said well "heavy than most iems"...they do fall from my hears, I tried them on canjam london2018. Good review!
Is this the comet for sure and not the atlas? Cuz the orion is priced higher and you are telling me that this sounds better than the more pricey iem from the same company? Pls someone verify. Also, the body of the comet looks a lot more edgy and boxy and looks like the atlas, the comet, as seen on the website looks more rounded than this. Pls verify
I'm looking for that really big bass. But I'm on a tight budget that's why I'm here lol
So it sounds like you would recommend these over the Orion?
Definitely.
Thanks, after watching this I went ahead and got them.
200$ is far from budget even when taking into account that the best professional IEMs cost thousands.
What kind of spinfits are you using?
The ones that ship inside the box.
I hate how they make all my other headphones feel lame and cheap. Even my lofi Grado SR60 seem off. They destroy my Etymotic earbuds which were my most expensive previously.
On the plus side it makes my music library new.
Which Etymotic did you have? What did you like about them the most?
😀
Why the F would you need drop forging? Took enough physics and calculus in college to understand this is smells like 💩.
looks ugly to me
200$ budget IEMS? No thanks.