Disclaimer: I formally thank Chris from Campfire Audio for providing us with a unit in exchange for an impartial and honest review. On behalf of the team at the Headphone List, we thank him for his generosity and trust in THL.
Summary:
The Campfire Audio (CFA) Alien Brain borrows from nascent, tuning orthodoxy, favouring a ‘Harman-centric’ neutral-warm tuning, with a highly-textured mid-bass punch and a well-extended, resonant treble.
The Alien Brain is arguably one of their most technical achievements to date, on the proviso that you can see past the kitschy, peculiar theming.
Pros:
+ American-made QC and exceptional PVD-finished stainless steel chassis.
+ Analytical yet balanced tuning is genre-agnostic and forgiving.
+ Exceptional detail-retrieval and dynamism.
Cons:
– Deviation from CFA house sound may prove ‘unforgiving’ to some.
– Polarising design philosophy may ‘alienate’ (sorry) some audio enthusiasts.
– Not-as-premium packaging compared to its forebears.
Introduction
CFA is a recognisable name that either attracts undulating praise or a vociferous volley of criticisms. Founded in Oregon, CFA staked its claim in the audiophile battlegrounds with their universally-acclaimed and still beloved Andromeda.
But since then, CFA has boldly deviated (not always) from the Andromeda’s tuning, offering a diverse and expansive catalogue well-suited to niche tastes. In this increasingly homogenous hobby, this is anathema and sacrilegious.
Today, we’re actually reviewing a product that serves as a regression to the mean: an evolution of the vaunted Harman-tuning, albeit with calculated peaks, troughs and divots for an stand-out listen. That product is the Alien Brain.
In the bloated world of Chi-Fi, original designs are a rare breed. The Alien Brain certainly takes the cake for having the ‘most original’ appearance. Priced at $999 USD, the Alien Brain can be purchased directly at Campfire Audio’s website.
Technology
Five-driver hybrid array
Alien Brain features a five-driver hybrid architecture, building on Campfire’s legacy of premium IEMs. At its core is the updated Dual Magnet Dynamic Driver and a series of four balanced armatures.
Phase Harmony Engineering
Like the CFA Fathom, the Alien Brian is mechanically damped through acoustic shell geometry and the partitioning of the frequency response with a targeted, active crossover.
Unboxing
Traditionally, I’ve come to expect a bespoke packaged strewn together from Italian-quality printing paper, adorned with Masonic-like copy and a cavalcade of eye-popping colours. The Alien Brain is its own beast.
Firstly, the box is made of extra-thick cardboard with sci-fi theming. From bold lines to futuristic typefaces, it’s very different yet on-brand given the earphone’s striking namesake.
Inside, you’ll find the following accessories.
- Timestream cables (SPC OCC cables) in 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm unbalanced.
- USB-C to 3.5mm Hi-Res DAC.
- Eartips (Silicon and Foam in S, M and L).
- New Magnetic-closure leather case in mustard yellow.
- Breezy bag micro or jewellery pouch for each shell/channel.
- IEM cleaning tool.
- CFA-themed pin.
It’s a comprehensive package that sets a high standard for the entire industry. But, I can’t help but find myself longing for the playful charm that other models typically exuded.
Design and Build
You will either love the Alien Brain or hate it. The translucent, bulbous purple faceplate mimics the contoured, bald head of a xenomorph (please don’t sue me). Look closely, and you’ll be able to see the intricate array of drivers and wires powering the Alien Brain. It’s a strange mix of grotesque and awesome.
Build-wise, this is a fabulous IEM. The Alien Brain’s PVD-coated stainless steel shells have a satisfying heft in the hands, with a cold lustre and powder-coated finish. The rainbow-esque threading on the MMCX end of each shell is a nice visual flourish that complements its daring design.
Comfort and Ergonomics
If you’ve seen my review of the Darkstars, the Alien Brain shares the same ‘Solaris 2020’ like form factor — elongated with a rectangular shape. I found them compatible with my ear-shape, albeit with a bit of finessing when first setting them into place.
The nozzle is finished with a glossy surface, which can make swapping tips a bit of a hassle. Because of its moderate length, I had zero issues acquiring a snug fit with the included M silicon tips.
In spite of the increased heft of stainless steel, I found that the weight differences are negligible, with long-term wear proving to be a non-issue. However, keep in mind that its larger footprint means they’ll stick out of your ear a little more.
Cable Quality
The Timestream cables from CFA have been a mainstay since their Chromatic series. They feature an annealed, OCC SPC cable with a generic 3.5mm and 4.4mm termination that aren’t swappable. I personally find it strange that CFA hasn’t implemented a swappable termination system.
The actual length of the cable features a flat two-cores that splits and feeds into both L and R shells. Featuring a ‘flat-ribbon’ like profile, it is fairly flexible and malleable for day-to-day consumption, but it does display an unfortunate tendency to retain a small amount of memory.
I think the cables are excellent, but the cheap plastic termination and MMCX caps could be replaced with metallic accents for a premium aesthetic and durability.
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