Wired IEMs
Campfire Audio Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM
87Outstanding
$2,200
Full review dataCampfire Audio Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM vs Sony MDR-E252: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Campfire Audio Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM vs Sony MDR-E252, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Wired IEMs
Sony MDR-E252
Not yet scored
Price n/a
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Campfire Audio Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- Campfire Audio Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM
- Sony MDR-E252
HearWiki score
87
-
Sound
9.0
-
Value
6.5
-
Price (USD)
$2,200
-
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The Campfire Audio Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM is 42 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 42 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM202442 yr newer
- MDR-E2521982
Specifications
Astrolith - Dual Planar IEMMDR-E252
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $2,200
- -
- HearWiki score
- 87
- Not scored
- Released
- 2024
- 1982
- Driver
- 2× 14.2 mm planar magnetic
- -
- Driver type
- planar
- -
- Driver size
- 14.2 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 2
- -
- Frequency response
- 5 Hz - 25 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 8.2 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 94 dB/mW
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- -
- Voice assistant
- No
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- MMCX
- -
What reviewers said
Campfire Audio Astrolith - Dual Planar IEM
The Campfire Audio Astrolith is a premium dual-planar IEM that delivers a fast, clear, and highly detailed sound with impressive staging and technical precision. Its nearly flat impedance and very low distortion make it a strong performer, though it benefits from quality sources and has a couple of minor ergonomic quirks. Overall, it's a notable step forward in the brand's planar lineup, offering a cohesive and resolving listen for those seeking top-tier wired performance.
- Pro:Exceptional speed and clarity across the frequency range
- Pro:Very low distortion and flat impedance for consistent performance
- Pro:Wide, well-defined soundstage with precise imaging
- Con:Slight mid-bass bloom can color certain tracks
- Con:Stock ear tips are not very good and may need replacement
- Con:Best results require a high-quality source or amplifier
Sony MDR-E252
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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