Andromeda (Original/Base Model)

Started with the OG 2017 CFA Andromedas, have since upgraded to the Dunu Glacier, with another sidegrade in the Mysticraft Myth. Honestly, each purchase has been well worth it, considering how different they sound and how much has changed since 2017 (the Andromedas still have their place though). Compared to mid-range IEMs like the YU9 Que or the Aether, there is a significant difference that more than justifies the price increase imo. It's like instead of the music being in your head, you're truly in the music. Surprisingly, a good DAP has made a bigger difference than I'd ever expected.

I’m glad they improved on design and most important venting. I had their OG Andromedas back in 2016 and it was unbearable - very uneven pressure buildup in the ears. How’s comfort on these? Rounded shell seems like an improvement too coming from sharp edges on the OG. If you score somewhere Meze Rai Penta (either open box or discontinued special) give it a try too. Magical.

Campfire Audio Emerald Andromeda would be my pick.

I think around 300$ is the sweet spot. I have tea pros (349$), a noble k10u (1600$) and a campfire andromeda S (1059$) and the difference is just around 20-30%

Cheapest endgame to me would be tea pros (349$) they sound so good and that bass is 👌 I also have kilobucks from before like the Andromeda S (1049$) and noble k10ua (1600$) they are better in resolution and soundstage but not that big of a difference compared to the tea pros.

Got a tea pro and a noble k10ua then bought a used campfire Andromeda S. I don't know why but it's my preferred sound signature (intimate and clear mids) didn't buy anything after.

Don't underestimate the Andromeda. They’re an older set and have been surpassed by many newer IEMs in terms of sheer detail. But it’s the sound signature that deserves its legendary status. It’s still one of the most spacious and smooth-sounding IEMs, and I would love to listen to it again just for that.

Look I own about 10 or so pairs of iem's and it still remains the pair that impressed me the most but I highly doubt that it's the best in its price range to this day. It's just the best I own in this regard.

I’d say the first break point is somewhere around $300ish, then the next break point is “entry” kilobucks around $1k. So for the first break point IEMs like Dusk, anything Xenns, Thieaudio, Softears, so on and so forth, and for the second break point you have a lot of solid options like Monarchs, Dunu Glacier, CFA Andromedas, 64 Audio U4S, etc. Edit: to clarify, those are the points where I think you get the biggest jumps in quality relative to price points around them. So I don’t think it’s as worth it to move beyond that $300-$400 price point unless you’re jumping up to $1k.

For the most part yes, although entry kilobucks start to get pretty unique. Good example could be something like the Andromedas, I’m not aware of anything else that really gets similar to the tuning of the Andromedas (not even the later versions of Andromedas themselves lol)

I would almost flip those honestly, at least in my experience - from $20 to $300 you get better/more controlled upper treble and the like, while with kilobucks you get more unique tunings (think things like Andromedas or the IER-Z1R or something)