The $249 Campfire Audio Orbit is the brand's first truly wireless design Not only does this bad boy crush category leaders like the AirPods Pro 2 in sound performance, it also ranks among the best audiophile headphones

The spec sheet, consisting of a custom 10mm dynamic driver, liquid crystal polymer (LCP) diaphragm, and Bluetooth 52 with aptX codec support, improves sound across all media platforms The cool design and generous playback time (on a single charge) are also appealing However, because Campfire puts audio first, it doesn't focus much on other areas such as connectivity, software, or special features

Nevertheless, Orbit will satisfy the audio-oriented music lover If sound quality is your goal and you don't care much about extra features, read on

When it comes to audio, Campfire Audio has hit it out of the park Acoustic chambers and drivers give these buds a wide, high-impact soundstage that accurately positions instruments and vocals for a deep listening experience

The minimal bass line of Jay-Z's "The Story of OJ" is more vibrant on the Orbit, and small details like the piano playing scattered throughout the track stand out Switching up a notch on the low end to Johnny Guitar Watson's "A Real Mother For Ya," the track's heavy analog synthesizer tickled my ears and raised the bar with a stunning reverb that decayed smoothly Even the auto-tuned bridge, hi-hat taps, and sporadic horn blows sounded crisp and clear over the bass-heavy production

What impressed me most about the jazz recordings was Orbit's superb stereo imaging Listening to Kirk Lightsey's live rendition of "Heaven Dance," I felt like a band member on stage There are sections where you can feel the drummer hitting the cymbals on either side of the drum set, which provides great stereo sound More importantly, the separation between the instruments was the best I've heard from wireless earphones under $250 The sound of each instrument moving around made for a more realistic listening experience

Most of my listening time was spent on Hi-Fi music streaming platforms like Tidal Hi-Fi and Master tracks were in heavy rotation and sounded significantly better than Spotify's catalog I don't want to leave the impression that Spotify tracks sound bad While the lows and mids were well represented, the clarity and reproduction of the Tidal tracks were unparalleled However, we understand it is aptX Adaptive, which gives Orbit a wireless audio boost by dynamically scaling the bitrate and adjusting the quality for Android device users Android devices work well

The Campfire Audio app allows you to customize Orbit's sound profile using the equalizer, but this feature is not very insightful, at least from a viewer's perspective There is a default EQ and seven presets (unnamed) that automatically adjust the sound by emphasizing different sonic characteristics Most of the changes are noticeable, but since none of the presets have names or descriptions, and no frequency curves are shown, the average listener will have a hard time identifying them accurately

You have to trust Campfire Audio's sound judgment If you don't like the default EQ or presets, you have the option to create a sound profile by playing with the 7-band EQ

Since active noise cancellation is not available, you are left with passive noise isolation with silicone tips that seal tightly around the ears This does not block out ambient noise as effectively as ANC, but is sufficient to fully listen to music in a semi-noisy environment such as a chatty living room or park

With eight hours of use on a single charge, the Orbit lasts longer than most high-end models The lightweight, sleek-looking charging case provides up to 30 hours of additional playback Wireless charging is included in the package, but not fast charging; not many battery draining features like ANC or voice activation are included, allowing 2-3 days of use before recharging This is plenty of battery life to pack into a stylish and unique design

These buds are constructed from solid plastic and come IP55 rated for sweat and water resistance We like the little gold branding on the top edge of each bud The all-beige look is also sexy and blends nicely with the mint green inside the case; the Orbit also offers a comfortable fit for extended listening

Connectivity issues with the Orbit are tricky I felt like I was testing a beta version of this bud, as the left bud constantly dropped out and paired inconsistently with recognized devices I had to manually pair the bud almost every time I took it out of the case

It is nice that there is a companion app to customize the sound But that is the only advantage Most people can live without ANC, but the lack of essential features like ambient listening mode, customizable controls, and the ability to find your buds really hurts The app also tends to crash from time to time

Other popular features found in similarly priced rivals include auto pause/play, Bluetooth multipoint, one-tap Google Fast Pair, fast charging, and Sidetone (one of five underrated wireless earbud features to use) Digital assistance (Google Assistance/Siri) is also available, and Campfire Audio's microphone array demonstrated excellent voice recognition, executing voice commands quickly and capturing vocals clearly during calls

$249 sounds expensive for a bud with far fewer features than most of the best wireless earbuds But a few things must be considered: the Orbit sells for one-third the price of Campfire Audio's wired buds, but offers audiophile sound

The bass-forward sound brings vitality to contemporary music tracks, and the different presets enhance the sound depending on the content Gorgeous design, precise touch controls, and longer battery life (on a single charge) than AirPods add to Orbit's list of strong selling points

Campfire Audio's Orbit earbuds were frustratingly plagued by unstable connections and inconsistent pairing and communication range during my testing In addition, the buggy app needs fixing and lacks high-end features (ANC/ambient mode, multipoint technology, etc) However, this can easily be fixed in the next firmware update

Ultimately, the app and connectivity issues mean that these Campfire Audio wireless earphones are a worthwhile investment only if you prioritize sound quality above all else If that's okay with you, your money will be well spent Otherwise, consider other top performers like the Shure Aonic Free or the Sony WF-1000XM4 that offer premium sound with more features and reliable connectivity