John Darko
New from Campfire Audio: Orbit — the Portland headphone company’s first true wireless IEM. Pop the angular two-tone plastic beige case and we find each IEM held magnetically in place on either side of a battery indicator. The bright green interior reminds us that we’re not dealing with a mass market manufacturer whose design choices are more conservative. The Orbit IEMs themselves follow the distorted pentagonal shape of some of Campfire Audio’s wired models – think: Andromeda or Ara – where each earpiece mirrors the two-tone/two-piece design of the case. Each is finished with a stainless steel nozzle and grille.
According to the press release, the outer flat surface of each Orbit serves as a touch control with the accompanying app permitting touch control customisation, a 7-band EQ (with presets) and firmware upgradability. A “high-quality” microphone ensures that phone call quality is up to snuff.
On the inside, we get Bluetooth 5.2 with support for SBC, AAC (for iOS) and aptX Adaptive (for Android), a battery that promises 8.5 hours of playtime – a cut above many rivals – with an extra 30 hours coming from the case. The charging port is USB-C but Qi wireless charging is also supported.
Audio nerds will want to know that each Orbit houses a custom full-range 10mm dynamic driver with a Liquid Crystal Polymer film diaphragm for “clarity, space and energy for an overall engaging and rhythmic listen”.
This new TW IEM will need to deliver sound quality at a level above the Apple AirPods Pro 2 or the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 if it is to compensate us for the absence of active noise cancellation. I look forward to finding out firsthand when I put the Campfire Audio Orbit through its paces in early 2023.
The Orbit is available to buy now directly from CampfireAudio.com, some Amazons and selected retailers worldwide. Price? US$249 / £249.
Further information: Campfire Audio
