Photo by Bonus Action
While I am relatively new to the world of IEMs, my love for these small, corded earbuds has grown rapidly. However, nothing could prepare me for the plunge I took into the deep waters of rich, unmatched sound that Campfire Audio’s Iris Hybrid IEMs provide.
The Iris Hybrid is a tiny, clear earpiece that holds an incredible secret. Inside these adorable little pieces of audio technology are powerful 10mm ADLC dynamic drivers that deliver a balanced, rich style of sound. You won’t find any Bluetooth on these. There are no touch controls. However, once you put them in and hit play, all the bobbles and extras of modern earbuds will fade from your mind, replaced with sound so rich it is like someone stuffed a live performance into your own head.
What is genuinely boggling about the Iris is that Campfire Audio has boasted these as an introduction to the HiFi audiophile world of IEMs. It’s hard to believe that this is considered the entry point, and that the sound can become richer, more complex, and more accurate the deeper down the IEM spectrum you go. All I know is that the Iris ignited a fire in my audiophile heart, and I won’t ever go back.
Key Details
- Developer: Campfire Audio
- Driver Style: Hybrid
- Build: acrylic body, stainless steel nozzle
- Style: Balanced
- Price: $349
- Sample Provided for Review: Yes
Powerful Sounds in a Tiny House
When first unboxing the Iris, these small, lightweight IEMs can be a bit daunting. The clear body is 3D-printed acrylic and weighs almost nothing. You can see all the wiring inside through the housing of the IEM, giving it a unique and skeletal appearance. This is elevated by beautiful stainless steel accents and nozzles.
The IEMs come with a collection of items perfect for first-time IEM owners. These include the 3.5 and 4.4mm Time Stream cables, a leather wallet, three different types of ear tips, a cleaning kit, and two mesh cushion bags.
My favorite of the ear tips is the clear silicon, which seals perfectly into your ear and naturally blocks out sound while you are listening. The foam was a close second, but it didn’t fit quite as naturally as the silicon.
I also appreciated the cleaning tool provided in the kit, which I use to carefully clean my IEMs after each use.
The inclusion of both Time Stream cables has been a game-changer for me. While I have used the Iris with the iFi GO Pod Max Bluetooth DAC, I quickly turned back to the included Time Stream cable options. The 3.5mm is crucial for regular use. I paired this with my iFi UNO portable amp, as well as using the standard cable with my Nintendo Switch 2. The 4.4mm cable is reserved for use at my desk with the Fosi K7 desk amp. The sound this cable offers is next-level and leaves me speechless every time I hook in.
Overall, this is the kit to get for a first-time IEM user. Everything you need to properly care for your IEMs comes with this bundle. You won’t find yourself unable to listen or frustrated with your options, as everything you need will be ready to go right from the start.
I Finally Understand What It Means To Listen Differently
I have tested dozens of Bluetooth earbuds in my time. From top-dollar designs with smart ANC and specialized sound delivery to the old Samsung Wireless earbuds that came with one of my phones back in the day, I’ve listened to just about every tier you can get. The goal has always been to find the best sound. To find an option that completely immerses you and changes the way music is experienced. I thought I’d found it in recent years. Some brands have greatly reduced the compression of wireless, and it makes a world of difference.
However, none of those options comes close to what happened when I plugged the Iris IEMs in for the first time. I didn’t know sound could be compiled like a tiramisu cake. Like pure, sugary dessert for the inside of your head. I sat, dumbstruck, as I listened through Owl City’s Ocean Eyes Deluxe album on Tidal, as if I’d never heard a chord of it before.
You can hear everything. Every guitar pluck. Every little nuance in audio. Every reverberation of a singer’s voice. The Iris captures all of it and delivers it to you in a life-altering way. I had no idea music could sound like that. It made me understand what musicians always say during documentaries about how they layer the sound together. In standard Bluetooth, you lose so much of that detail, and the Iris recovers it, giving you a glimpse into studio sessions, long nights, and painstaking musical painting.
As I’ve been reviewing the Iris IEMs, I’ve worked my way back through the albums most important to me, and I never knew that nostalgia could be warmed through with such color and so much life.
Iris IEMs Are Gaming Paradise
I mentioned above that I have paired the Iris with my Nintendo Switch 2, and for everyone who spends time trying to pair Bluetooth headphones to the console, please switch to IEMs. The Iris captures the sound of any JRPG beautifully, allowing the soundtracks of popular titles to swell around you as you explore. I think Final Fantasy VII Remake and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar were some of the most delightful combinations with these IEMs, as the balanced sound delivery works perfectly with the orchestral soundtrack.
While you won’t have a gaming mic on these IEMs, if you are playing solo and just want to enjoy the music, these are definitely worth pairing up with your console. Additionally, they cost about as much as a premium gaming headset, but can be used for plenty of other types of listening. Whether you get the Iris for music and pair it with gaming, or you want them to plug in and go while playing on the road, they are an amazing option.
Final Score – 10/10
At the end of the day, the purchase of high-end audio equipment always comes down to the person listening. If you are someone who isn’t interested in going on a personal journey while listening to your favorite songs, a regular old pair of headphones or earbuds will do just fine. However, for the budding Audiophiles out there looking to start their IEM journey, or those wanting something more sophisticated than a standard option, the Iris Hybrid IEMs by Campfire Audio are divine.
It’s not too often that writing a review tears me up, but the chance to try these IEMs and share my thoughts about them with other music enthusiasts is amazing, and I am pleased to say you absolutely need a pair of these. If you have the money to spend on a premium set of headphones, but you’ve never tried IEMs, I highly encourage you to put the pause on the earcups and smart Bluetooth buds and try the Iris IEMs instead. It’s a bit old school to listen to on a cable, but there really isn’t anything like it, and I believe everyone should get to have this experience at least once.
**Bonus Action was provided with a sample of the Iris IEMs by Campfire Audio for the purpose of this review**
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