Campfire Audio Andromeda 10: Ten Years, Ten Drivers

Campfire Audio turns ten this year, and Andromeda 10 is how we mark the moment. Ten years of hand-built production in Portland, Oregon. Ten balanced armatures per side. Andromeda 10 expands our most storied in-ear monitor into its largest configuration yet, carrying the signature that defined us into a new decade.

A Decade of Andromeda, Hand-Built in Portland

Campfire Audio began in 2015, founded by Ken Ball in a small Portland workshop. Our original Andromeda followed soon after, built around five balanced armatures and a green anodized aluminum housing that became instantly recognizable. Almost from the start, Andromeda found its audience among listeners who cared about jazz, acoustic recordings, and the fine texture of a well-recorded voice.

Ten years later, we still design and hand-build in Portland, Oregon, with a small team, many of whom have been with us for years. Andromeda has stayed in near-continuous production across that decade, refined through Andromeda 2020 and reimagined as Andromeda Emerald Sea, yet always recognizable as itself. Across ten years, Andromeda has been a fixture in audiophile listening rooms and a frequent reference point in reviews, praised for a sound that flatters real instruments and real recordings. That reputation grew through word of mouth and years of repeat listening.

Few in-ear monitors earn that kind of longevity. Andromeda 10 is our way of honoring it, and of pushing the platform further than we ever have.

How Many Drivers Does Andromeda 10 Have?

Andromeda 10 doubles the classic five-armature layout to ten balanced armatures per side: four low, four mid, and two high. This is our largest balanced armature array to date, and every driver earns its place.

Four low-frequency drivers deliver bass that reaches deep with punch and texture, staying quick and accurate while leaving the rest of the presentation clear and open. A new NEMC (noise-elimination mid circuit) assembly gives the four mid-drivers room to flourish, calming the resonance and noise that can build up inside a dense armature array. Two high-frequency drivers extend the top end with air and detail.

Holding it all together is TAEC, our tuned acoustic expansion chamber. This proprietary spatial element reflects and resonates driver output with precision, expanding imaging, layering, and soundstage so recordings open up around you. The result is incredible detail, resolution, speed, and accuracy, carried with rich note weight, impact, and a subtle touch of warmth. Where our original Andromeda used five armatures to establish a signature, Andromeda 10 uses ten to expand it, adding resolution and space while keeping the character intact.

Why We Moved From MMCX to 2-Pin

Andromeda 10 is our first in-ear monitor to feature 2-pin connectors. We designed the installation to sit recessed into the housing, which adds stability at the connection point and improves long-term durability.

For listeners who like to experiment with cables, 2-pin opens up a wide and well-supported ecosystem of aftermarket options. The recessed fit keeps connections secure through daily handling and repeated cable swaps, and it gives the whole assembly a cleaner, more integrated feel in the hand. This also reflects how we think about serviceability: a connector that holds firmly and swaps cleanly is one you can live with for years, which matters on an in-ear monitor made to be enjoyed for a long time. Moving Andromeda to 2-pin is a meaningful step in how the platform is built, and it sets the foundation for the connectors we carry forward.

How Does Andromeda 10 Sound?

Andromeda 10 keeps the sound that made the name, tuned just north of neutral, with a presentation that feels natural, open, and easy to listen to for hours. Vocals sit forward and lifelike, instruments carry real body, and the treble stays lively and refined.

Our tuning philosophy has always started with the music rather than the spec sheet. We select and combine drivers, then apply acoustic treatment and chamber design to draw out their strengths and settle their weaknesses. With Andromeda 10, that process delivers greater clarity and expansiveness than earlier Andromeda expressions, more resolution across the frequency range, and a wider, more three-dimensional stage, all while preserving the rich note weight and gentle warmth that define our classic Andromeda signature.

Andromeda's just-north-of-neutral tuning is why it has long been a favorite for jazz and acoustic music, where timing, texture, and the space between instruments matter most. That same balanced approach gives Andromeda a broader versatility too, translating just as well across rock, electronic, and vocal-forward pop as it does the genres it's best known for. Andromeda 10 carries that strength forward with more resolution to reveal it, offering detail and accuracy for critical listening alongside a musicality that keeps you returning to your favorite albums, whatever you're playing.

Andromeda 10 vs Andromeda Emerald Sea

Emerald Sea and Andromeda 10 are two expressions of the same heritage, each voiced for a different listener. Emerald Sea leans into warmth and midrange texture. Andromeda 10 returns to the classic Andromeda tuning and adds resolution and stage. Both are hand-built in Portland, and both wear the Andromeda name proudly.

For a wider view of this tier, see our Best IEMs Under $2,000 guide.

Standard and Launch Editions

Andromeda 10 comes in a standard model and two limited Launch Editions, all sharing the same internal architecture and the same sound.

The standard model wears our Classic Green anodized aluminum housing, lightweight and familiar, and ships with our Time Link modular cable with 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C DAC connections. The Launch Editions step into PVD black stainless steel shells finished with a black or gold Damascus steel cover, paired with a custom 4.4mm cable featuring gold-plated conductors. Each Launch Edition is limited to fewer than 225 units.

Whichever finish speaks to you, the listening experience is identical. The differences are housing and cable, chosen for how they look and feel in the hand. The sound is the same across all three.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many drivers does Andromeda 10 have? 

Andromeda 10 uses ten balanced armatures per side: four low, four mid, and two high. This doubles the classic five-driver Andromeda array for greater resolution, soundstage, and detail.

What connector does Andromeda 10 use? 

Andromeda 10 is our first IEM with 2-pin connectors. The recessed 2-pin installation adds stability and durability, moving on from the MMCX connectors used across earlier models.

How does Andromeda 10 sound? 

Andromeda 10 keeps the classic Andromeda signature, just north of neutral, with rich note weight and a subtle touch of warmth. Our largest armature array adds greater clarity, resolution, and soundstage.

How is Andromeda 10 different from Andromeda Emerald Sea? 

Emerald Sea pursues warmth and midrange texture with five dual-diaphragm armatures. Andromeda 10 returns to the classic Andromeda tuning with ten armatures, delivering greater clarity and expansiveness.

Is Andromeda 10 hand-built? 

Yes. Andromeda 10 is hand-built in Portland, Oregon by our small production team, continuing ten years of Andromeda craftsmanship since our founding in 2015.

What is the difference between the standard and Launch Edition Andromeda 10? 

Both share the same internal architecture and sound. Launch Editions use PVD stainless steel housings with black or gold Damascus finishes, while the standard model uses Classic Green anodized aluminum.

Ready to Hear Ten Years?

Ten years in, Andromeda is still hand-built in Portland, Oregon, and still unmistakably itself. Hear where the story goes next: explore Andromeda 10 and the limited Andromeda 10 Launch Editions, and find the finish that matches your setup.