Closing thoughts
With the introduction of its new Chromatic Series of IEMs, Campfire Audio has clearly segmented and arranged its product line. The four Chromatic IEMs represent the core of Campfire’s twin philosophies in my experience: flair and value. I consider both Bonneville and its sister IEM Supermoon excellent value even in this tightly competitive part of the market, and both have more than their fair sense of flair.
In Bonneville, Campfire has created one of its most widely-relatable IEMs to date. It still won’t appeal to everyone, especially not those wanting a clean, neutral, technical, sound without any flirts of colour. Ironically, Bonneville is about as close to ‘neutral’ as I’ve heard a Campfire IEM, and is more than just adequately technical – it’s often brilliant, and in more aspects than one.
But mostly this is an easy-listening all-rounder that has the potential to be a real crowd pleaser. It has a pleasant, slightly warm, slightly dry, sometimes raw but always engaging tonality, and is still able to surprise with a projected sound here or there, or a powerfully emotive vocal delivery when you least expect it.
If it has an Achille’s Heel, it could be that Bonneville isn’t exciting enough or different enough, especially if that’s what you’ve come to expect from Campfire releases. I can think of a few other safely-tuned IEMs that are cheaper, or slightly more technical, or have more drivers and flavour-of-the-month technology (BCD anyone?).
But Bonneville isn’t trying to be those IEMs. It’s only a straight shooter in the sense that it presents music in a mostly familiar way, minus some of the aggression or deviations from the norm that are baked in to a fair few of its stablemates. It’s not overly bassy, nor a midrange specialist, nor particularly bright or ‘trebly’.
But it is one of the best-balanced, sweetest sounding, thoroughly engaging Campfire IEMs with just enough rawness that distinguishes Bonneville as a Ken Ball Signature IEM.
As always, don’t take my word for it; with a risk-free 30-day return policy, I suggest you get a pair and try it for yourself. In the meantime, I’ll be taking more notes, making some comparisons, and writing up a more detailed review of an IEM I suspect may yet evolve into Campfire’s best.
