Sound Impressions: Mid-range
The organically premium feel of the bass also applies to the mid-range. The vocals are gently placed closer to the ears, making a gradual transition from the bass. The vocals introduce a bit more lushness than the lows. Having a dynamic driver-ish tone, Black Star’s mid-range has a gentle silvery tone, which doesn’t degrade the neutral timbre but only adds a touch of sparkly finesse to the vocals. Vocals have a neutral-thick body that makes them scale large and full.
As implied earlier, Black Star has a speaker-feel nuance that is also evident with the vocal textures. The vocals have the typical dynamic driver texture which makes them sound natural, creamy, and sweet. Yet Black Star makes the mid-range sound more engaging through its dense texture and deeply nuanced vocals. Vocals flow consistently in timbre and texture, not showing warps in tone or sibilance.
The general timbre is neutral-warm and the upper mids remain almost the same in brightness. Black Star just keeps a neutral brightness, so if you want vivid airiness the upper mids and the vocals may not be as refreshing – but otherwise, the upper mids should be fine for most. This would in fact be a plus if you hate the upper mids getting hot on many of the recent IEMs.
Sound Impressions: Highs, etc.
Black Star desires a refined and fatigue-free treble. High notes are calm approaches carefully, being more in a supportive position for the other frequencies. The treble quantity is relatively lesser than mids as well as being positioned slightly further away. However, I’d like to stress that the treble isn’t veiled, as the clarity is quite impressive despite the treble’s calm nature. It’s a common misconception (or just factual) that most fatigue-free sounding IEMs sound clogged towards the upper ends. Black Star doesn’t have that.
The trebles are relatively shiny and make clean division from the lower frequencies, the upper headroom is sparkled with treble details. Trebles don’t get extraordinary in technicality but are thoroughly agile and technical enough to complement the warm lows and mids. Trebles are like a refresher that allows Black Star to extend its upper headroom. The soundstage is neutral-large, which is right on the verge of being “grand”. The depth and largeness driven by the lows and mids are the main players that form the headroom, with the trebles adding good height to the space.
Compared to Solaris Stellar Horizon (Review link)
Although Black Star and Solaris: Stellar Horizon are significantly different in pricing, it would still be a good comparison as they have the same driver counts and a very similar look. Black Star has a more analog, musical sound signature that tilts more towards being warm. The bass quantity is more generous and offers thicker, warmer, and smoother bass kicks. Black Star keeps the bass less tight than Solaris: Stellar Horizon. Mids are thicker and more full-bodied on Black Star along with being warmer and darker in brightness.
Black Star’s timbre is also more vintage-like while Solaris: Stellar Horizon has a lively and active tone. However, when it comes to quality and performance, Solaris: Stellar Horizon inevitably holds a higher ground. High-frequency extension, transparency, resolution, and timbre are noticeably more advanced than Black Star. However, if you found Solaris: Stellar Horizon to be bright or lacking in low-mid body, Black Star would be a cheaper yet better alternative.
Compared to SoftEars Twilight
Both IEMs share the same gene that desires a natural, homogeneous dynamic-driver-like with smooth and creamy timbre. However, Twilight is slightly more linear in overall sound signature, being less v-shaped although still having musical and lively dynamics. Twilight’s staging is more enclosed than Black Star, as well as further controlling the reverbs.
The sub-bass is slightly lesser in quantity than Black Star but offers a cleaner and more agile bass. While both IEMs are in a very similar tier in overall performance, Black Star holds a bit higher ground as the ultra-low rumbles and trebles are a tad clearer than Twilight. However, the overall cleanliness and phasing accuracy are superior on Twilight, making an ideal choice that puts accuracy on a higher priority.
A Steal Deal by Campfire Audio
While other CA IEMs are often known for their vibrant and emotional sound, Black Star is Campfire Audio’s response to those who’ve been asking for a highly neutral, balanced sound. I’ve got my hands on Black Star out of curiosity but I feel like this may be one of my most frequently used daily carries, as it’s a perfect blend of technical accuracy and musical smoothness that keeps things fatigue-free even after long listenings.
Black Star is also competitively priced considering its performance as well as that Black Star could outdo Solaris: Stellar Horizon for those who are seeking a warmer and fuller sound signature, for one-third the price. In short, I’d call this a steal for the price, and a bang-for-a-buck event by Campfire Audio (although the cost isn’t technically a “buck”…) If you come across the chance to grab these before they’re gone for good, you better act quick!
