Campfire Audio - Honeydew

- The perfect iem, if you like thick, warm, dark sound but do not want to sacrifice the details, expansiveness and air. Shimmer and sparkle are almost non-existent so vocals/cymbals/high hats will sound very different due to the dense coloration all through. But then, you are not getting this iem for vocals and ethereal symphonies, are you? You are getting it for the punch, grunt and growl, right?

- It is an extremely sensitive iem. Don’t be fooled by the relatively low 94dB sensitivity rating. The sensitivity of 94dB is measured at 17 mV, not at 1mW, and is just below Andromeda’s 7 mV but is much higher than Satsuma’s 67mV.

- The resistance is low at 17 ohms and it can be driven from any source but will really shine if run balanced from a clean slightly amped source.

- The pre-attached Foam ear tips did not work for me but the included Final Audio Es (5 pairs) were fine.

- Choose wisely. This iem is a specialist opening batsman or a strike bowler, not an all-rounder. It caters to a niche genre but serves it well and how...

As others (& more nuanced) reviewers have commented elsewhere, the Honeydew delivers very well at the low end. The verdict on the mid & highs are more varied. While they are surely not the strengths of this unit, the relative weakness does not come in the way of enjoying tracks that deserve IEMs that can handle bass well.

Though Honeydew may well be more suited for genres like EDM etc., I have been listening to the kind of music I normally listen to (Blues, R&B etc.), so that I can make some comparative evaluations. I found the V shaped sound signature sinfully addictive. But at the marginal cost of less airiness & less details in the treble side. For others to make more sense of my last comment, i must share that I am more of a open backed headphone person & that too with a leaning towards planar magnetics.

In the relevant price range I have (currently) only Rai Solo & A&K Diana to compare with. Comparative listening further strengthened my view that while the Honeydew may not be my first choice for a general listening session, I will surely search them out for certain tracks - tracks that benefit from an overall darker tuning.
& is that not the whole point of having different IEMS/headphones??

The cable, tips, casing, ergonomics, fit etc. are adequate for the price point. Without proper sealing the bass will be anemic & hence tip rolling is recommended. A NOT so minor glitch is the colour coding (red / blue/ right / left) on the sides. While they are present, it is very difficult to see the markings.

To be fair to the whole process of comparative reviewing, I am giving it a 4 star rating. However, when I am in the "Mellow Yellow" kind of a mood, it may well creep up into the 5 star zone. :)