In this feature, Nihal reviews the Campfire Audio Alien Brain, a new hybrid Dual-Magnet 10mm dynamic and 4 BA driver IEM with a cool external design. It is priced at $999.00.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank Campfire Audio for their support.
Click here to learn more about Campfire Audio products previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
Campfire Audio and I go way back. Back in 2019, I used to own an Andromeda, which was my first premium IEM.
After the Andromeda, I switched to the Solaris OG, which was a suitable upgrade. These two served me well for a couple of years.
Fast forward to today, I have moved ahead quite a bit, but the fondness for Campfire Audio has always remained. I have always tried to demo their new releases whenever I get a chance.
One thing I appreciate a lot about the brand is its eagerness to try out new and bold things. For me, Trifecta is one fitting example of such boldness.
Though it’s tough to keep up with so many releases from the brand, the latest two IEMs, the Axion and Alien Brain, are quite exciting. The Axion is a budget-friendly option, while the other, Alien Brain, which we’ll cover in this review, has a very unique design and is a premium offering.
Whether the sound is unique or not, we’ll find out in this review. I will also compare it to some notable IEMs in its price range.
Features
Campfire Audio’s Alien Brain is a hybrid IEM with five drivers. The drivers comprise a 10 mm Glass-PU Dual-Magnet Dynamic Driver and four high-performing custom balanced armature drivers.
Two of these balanced armatures cater to the mid-frequency range, and the remaining two act as super-tweeters, catering to the high-frequency region.
The dynamic driver is a new iteration of the driver introduced in Bonneville and Cascara, built with a new glass-PU diaphragm featuring a glass speaker dome and polyurethane coating. This new design helps in achieving a tight, controlled bass with improved bass texture and impact.
Campfire Audio’s Phase Harmony Engineering precisely controls the frequency spectrum by assigning it to specific drivers and shaping their interaction through specialized housings and damping.
This technique minimizes phase cancellation and enhances sound qualities like imaging and soundstage.
Design
Alien Brain has to be one of the quirkiest IEMs I have tried in recent times. We all know Campfire Audio experiments a lot with color and design, and their IEMs have bold designs, but Alien Brain has gone a step above the existing lineup.
The shell features a sci-fi-influenced design with a futuristic aesthetic, rightly justifying the name. The shells are similar in shape to the Solaris 2018 version but are smaller.
The shells are made from matte-finished black metal, offering a rugged yet lightweight look. These shells are smaller than the usual ones we come across.
The faceplate design includes a blue-accented, semi-transparent, glass-like enclosure with a ribbed texture. Through the faceplate, you can partially see the internal components like drivers and wiring.
There are elements of glitter on the faceplate; thus, exposure to light gives a shiny appearance. This faceplate design resembles a brain, with the internal wiring evoking the appearance of a network of neurons.
On the lower part of the body, an elegantly designed venting system is present, covered by a fine mesh. Along with the vent and the MMCX port, we have shiny blue-colored rings around them, adding to the aesthetics.
The nozzles are average-sized with a narrow and small body, topped with a mesh grille. The nozzles are positioned at an angle, which is supposed to give a deep and secure insertion. Overall, the Alien Brain stands out with its unique, albeit cool, external design.
Comfort & Isolation
I had a difficult time getting a proper fit with the Alien Brain. With the shell being on the smaller side, one would expect the fit to be very smooth, but the angled nozzle makes the fit tricky.
Once you are adjusted to the fit, the smaller size and weight do make them ideal for long usage. The corners of the shells are very smooth and do not create any pressure points.
Talking more about the fit, you need to choose ear tips that help with a deep insertion and help the IEMs stay put inside the ears. I would suggest using larger ear tips.
Once you have a decent insertion and a secure fit, you don’t have to worry much about the IEMs being pulled out or needing frequent readjustment.
The isolation level is decent, blocking out a fair amount of external noise. During my time with the Alien Brain, I didn’t experience any pressure buildup.
Ear Tips
The Alien Brain comes with three sets of ear tips: standard silicone, foam tips, and clear silicone tips. These all come in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
The generous selection of ear tips ranges from wide-bore to medium-bore to narrow-bore, catering to a wide range of ear types. All these ear tips have a soft finish, differentiating them from the usual ones we see.
The standard silicone ear tips have a very soft texture, but their smaller stems make them unusable for me. Since the fit is very tricky, you have to experiment with a variety of ear tips to see if the IEMs fit nicely. The angled nozzle makes the fit a bit challenging.
With most of the ear tips, the seal is improper, eventually leading to shallow insertion. I found that larger ear tips gave a better fit. Among the ones I tried, the Divinus Velvet tips and the Azla SednaLight ear tips fit well. I finally settled for the Azla ear tips.
Stock Cable
Campfire Audio has included two Time Stream cables with the Alien Brain, with different terminations of 3.5mm and 4.4mm.
The cable was originally introduced as part of the Chromatic Series Cables and comes in different colors. The one included with the Alien Brain has black adapters and Campfire’s favored MMCX connectors.
The wire is enamelled silver-plated copper, while the jacket is built with transparent insulation. The braiding is a bit different from the usual cables. It has a flat-style braiding where the wires lie side-by-side rather than being twisted.
The adapters and the Y-split are built of plastic material, due to which the cable does not feel premium. What they could have done is keep the cable modular and make the cable better instead of including two cables. For the price of this IEM, the cable just feels too generic and cheaply built.
Packaging & Accessories
Campfire Audio excels at including thoughtful, high-quality accessories in a remarkably compact package. Alien Brain is no different, and surprisingly, it is one of the most heavily accessorized IEMs from the camp.
The IEM arrives in a small box, which is predominantly black on the front panel with electric orange, white, and neon blue accents. The side of the box has a light grey tone, giving it a contrasting, premium feel.
A large, stylized image of the IEM and the logo on the top, with radiating circuit-like orange and white lines flowing in the background, gives a futuristic vibe. There are tons of accessories inside, so unboxing takes a while.
You get a pair of IEM cables in 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations and a USB-C portable DAC dongle, which can be used with mobile devices and laptops.
There are three packs of ear tips. Two are packed in paper pouches, and one is inside a small plastic case. You also get a cleaning tool, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a Campfire Audio pin.
Campfire Audio has always included mesh pouches for securely storing the IEMs, so I am elated to see my favorite accessory here too.
I cannot think of any missing accessories with the Alien Brain. For its price point, the user experience is fantastic, something Campfire Audio has consistently delivered with their releases.
Carry Case
With Alien Brain, we get a vibrant mustard yellow, magnetic closure IEM case. It’s compact and rectangular with rounded edges and a flap-style closure.
The leather used in the case feels premium, with its soft texture and pebbled finish. There is an embossed “Campfire Audio” logo on the front flap, giving it a subtle and elegant brand presence.
This case isn’t too big but has enough space to store the IEM with its cable. You can easily carry it around, making it usable while on the go.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the Campfire Audio Alien Brain were completed using a mixture of my main source, Lotoo’s Paw Gold Touch, and Astell&Kern’s SP3000. I paired the IEMs with the 4.4mm terminated stock cable and the Azla SednaFit Light ear tips, size M.
Summary
The Alien Brain has a balanced sound signature that immediately grows on you with its clean and natural timbre. It is one of the tunings where musicality is well-preserved, keeping the details intact without sounding dry or analytical.
With the Alien Brain, you get a deep, impactful bass range that remains well separated from the rest of the higher frequencies.
In the midrange, there is enough warmth and fullness, which gives the instruments and vocals good presence. The treble remains calm without sacrificing details and maintains a decent level of energy.
The tuning doesn’t emphasize extreme detail or sparkle; instead, it prioritizes a rich and full-bodied sound, focusing more on musicality and warmth than on analytical precision.
Bass
Bass is one strong aspect of the Alien Brain. In a nutshell, the bass is tight, articulate, hits quite hard, goes deep, and remains well-separated from the remaining frequencies.
Unlike a thick and heavy bass range that eclipses the rest of the frequency spectrum, such as that found on the Bonneville, the bass on the Alien Brain is quite controlled.
There is a well-judged balance of both sub-bass and mid-bass, neither of which you would find lacking in impact. The sub-bass, though not too deep, adds enough rumble and physicality to the low end.
Mid-bass has solid impact as well, imparting enough punch to satisfy bass lovers. For someone looking for the fun factor in the sound, you would be rightly served.
On bass-heavy tracks, there is an ample amount of impact, so genres like hip-hop and R&B are very enjoyable. The bass has a quick speed and does not possess a very slow, sluggish decay. This helps in maintaining a clean bass and improving the clarity of the low end, prohibiting the smudging of subsequent notes.
Talking about the quality of the bass, the texture and layering make it very resolving, presenting the details clearly. There is hardly any overlapping in the bass notes, so the notes produced from different instruments are easily discernible.
Midrange
With a non-intrusive bass response, the midrange stays clean and has a pleasant resolution. There is enough warmth in the midrange, making the experience immersive yet avoiding excess to remain very natural and uncolored.
There is an adequate balance of accuracy and musicality, so it caters well to people who enjoy some bits of neutrality without sacrificing musicality.
The midrange is forward in nature and places itself closer to the ear. The lower midrange has satisfying body and depth to it, which makes instruments like cello, guitar strings, and lower-register instruments sound natural and engaging. The clean timbre gives room for details to shine.
The vocals are very nuanced and bring out emotion very naturally. The upper midrange has a slight forwardness and is devoid of being sharp, providing a good extension to the midrange with a sense of openness. Alien Brain does justice to almost all the genres you throw at it.
Treble
In hindsight, the Alien Brain does an amazing job of balancing the frequencies. Nothing feels overly forward or emphasized, yet there’s enough presence across the spectrum that you don’t feel like anything is missing.
The treble isn’t pushed up front, but it still delivers on detail with impressive accuracy and a natural feel. There’s just the right amount of energy, shimmer, and sparkle, which never feels exaggerated or peaky, making it ideal for long listening sessions.
Trebleheads might find it a bit restrained, but I think most listeners will appreciate the balance Alien Brain strikes.
Compared to other Campfire Audio IEMs like the Trifecta or Solaris, which tend to emphasize the treble, the Alien Brain dials it back to a more refined, smooth, and controlled level.
Staging & Dynamics
Alien Brain delivers a soundstage that feels realistic and natural. The stage is not artificially wide, but it has appreciable depth and a tall vertical reach. It’s not the most holographic presentation, but it’s immersive enough, thanks largely to the depth that draws you in.
What stands out even more than the stage itself is the imaging. The spatial accuracy is excellent, allowing you to pinpoint instruments clearly within the mix.
Instrument separation is handled effortlessly; thus, nothing feels congested or overlapping. Paired with a clean and natural timbre, the overall sense of space is well rendered. Even on complex or busy tracks with multiple layers of sound, the IEM holds its ground. Y
ou can easily pick up individual details without them smearing into each other. The precise layering and solid instrument separation ensure that each element stays distinct, making it easy to appreciate the finer nuances and dynamic swings in the music.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
