- Cortini loves Campfire IEMs so much that he approached founder Ken Ball
- The result is Clara, a hybrid driver configuration elite set of IEMs
- Clara IEMs are now available, price $1,999 / £1,999 (around AU$3,900)
Sometimes the story of a beautifully symbiotic hi-fi partnership and how it came to be feels just a little too good to be true. The story as it is told (and according to committed audiophile and mutual friend of both parties, John Darko) involves longtime lover of Campfire Audio products, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and celebrated NIN synth/bassist, Alessandro Cortini. The story goes that Cortini humbly pitched the idea of a collaborative in-ear monitor effort to CA’s founder, Ken Ball, a little over a year ago. No, not the other way around; it is not like that. And he said yes, guys!
Behold, the resulting product is one of the most stunning-looking pairs of IEMs I’ve seen in years—not to mention a wearable set of wired earbuds to support a musician who’s been on heavy rotation in my ears since 1988 – I don’t care if the story has been embellished a bit.
I’ve also been a long-time fan of the niche Portland Oregon IEM maker’s output since discovering it in 2018, including the excellent Trifecta, Fathom, Solaris Stellar Horizon (which still ranks handsomely in TechRadar’s best wired earphones buying guide) and more recently Moon Rover.
But Campfire Audio x Alessandro Cortini – specifically Ken Ball on design and production; Cortini on headshell type and overall sound? This is different. This might just be the perfect fabric.
Clara: no, you can’t take it
So what’s (ahem) underneath it all? It will be the latest iteration of Campfire’s dual magnet dynamic driver. Then there’s the advanced dual-diaphragm balanced armature driver for the midrange, plus Campfire’s signature dual super-tweeters, paired with the brand’s proprietary Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber (TAEC) technology.
This is Campfire Audio so I would expect some visual theater and sure enough they don’t disappoint aesthetically. The Clara IEM features a printed transparent acrylic finish with navy blue interior elements so you can see inside and feel closer to its many drivers.
Pricing? Sure, but take a deep breath. You’re looking at $1,999 / £1,999 (around AU$3,900 where it retails).
Something I can never have? Quite possible. But I’m not hurt by it – I’d absolutely love to test them if I even can. Watch this space…
