Compared to Campfire Audio Solaris: Stellar Horizon (Review Link)
Solaris Stellar Horizon is a newly revamped model of the Solaris series and a co-flagship model of Campfire Audio. Solaris SH (Solaris Stellar Horizon in short) has a more linear, neutral tuning compared to Trifecta. With a gentler bass, Solaris SH keeps the bass tighter and more agile than Trifecta, giving you a lesser sense of “bloated sub-bass” and more cleanliness.
Solaris SH also carries a finer and silkier texture, especially for the mids and highs. The airiness feels slightly more coherent and natural. Because of these, Solaris SH would be ideal for those who seek a finely analytical sound signature that tips towards a bright, airy tuning.
Meanwhile, Trifecta achieves fuller, thicker-bodied bass with superior ultra-low extension. There’s simply no compromise for Trifecta when it comes to comparing bass performance. Vocals are crunchier and also quite smooth, yet not as refined and silky-smooth as Solaris SH. However, Trifecta carries a more masculine nuance driven with solid power.
Vocals are more energetic while being neutral-bright, making it ideal if you’re sensitive to bright IEMs. The soundstage is a lot wider, deeper, and grand compared to Solaris SH. The upper-end openness is superior on Solaris SH but marginally. Both IEMs have distinctive differences in tuning while being equally charming, resulting in the decision of which one to grab is fully upon preferences and personal taste.
Compared to Nostalgia Audio Camelot (Review link)
Camelot is Nostalgia’s newest co-flagship IEM along with their new model, Tesseract. Trifecta and Camelot are rather similar in overall sound signature yet differ more and more as you dig into the details. When it comes to bass performance, Trifecta makes it clear that it’s the summit-fi flagship. The bass expansion, extension, depth, and scale are all definitely superior on the Trifecta.
The advantage of Trifecta doesn’t end on the bass, however. The sheer size and scale of the headroom or soundstage is noticeably larger on Trifecta, expanding several steps broader in every direction. Not stopping there, the highs on Trifecta are also mildly more on-focus and prominent. Now that’s surprising to me since Trifecta achieved such treble performance only with dynamic drivers while Camelot used electrostatic (EST) drivers.
Now reading up to this point might make you think Camelot has been defeated by Trifecta – but not exactly. The advantage of Camelot is that the overall sound is more organized and clean – or should I say the overall nuance is more accurate or “close to natural”. Nostalgia’s unique technologies (such as the proprietary spiral inner tubes) sure seem to do their job. Mids and highs are creamier in tone and more moist in texture which results in sweeter, smoother vocals and treble notes.
The last element to consider during this comparison is the price difference – Camelot is about $1100 lower in price than Trifecta. Considering the price difference and the sound signature differences, I’d say choosing between these two should still be fully done based on personal preference and not by its price tag. Not to forget mentioning that the performance differences are apparent but not “night and days”.
The Trifecta’s rather crunchy texture, bombastic sound production, and fully-based sound is something that could be polarizing in experiences, whereas Camelot has a more all-rounder sound that many could agree to its charm and simply enjoy listening to it.
Compared to HIFIMAN Svanar (Review link)
Svanar is Hifiman’s new 1DD flagship released after the RE2000, and it’s gaining very good impressions from many. Trifecta is “relatively” more shouty than Svanar with a bit drier in timbre. Svanar definitely holds a superior position when it comes to monitoring-level accuracy in tone, texture, and presentation. It just sounds correct and the way it’s supposed to be.
Though just like cooking an aglio o olio pasta – the traditional recipe doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more tasty. A drop of MSG or chicken stock brings the taste and flavor of the pasta to a whole new level. The situation is just like that between Svanar and Trifecta. Trifecta grasps the trophy when we compare in every aspect except the Svanar’s strengths I’ve mentioned which is the naturality.
Everything else on Trifecta is pretty much an upgrade from Svanar. Musical richness, extension, treble clarity, soundstage, bass extension, vocal fullness, and so on. Sheer accuracy? Sure, Svanar. Though performance and musical enjoyment to the maximum? It just has to be Trifecta. However, there should be a reason why strictly neutral IEMs like the Etymotic ER4 series are still living strong – it’s because absolute neutrality and neatness alone are good enough to appeal to us in a timeless manner.
So when it comes to comparing these two, although Trifecta surpasses Svanar’s performance in many ways, it would still remain unbeatable due to these IEMs focusing on totally different objectives. Is it going to be realness or the enjoyment? Red pill or the blue pill? The choice is yours.
Welcome to the Dynamic Dimension
Trifecta is not only a new chapter for Campfire Audio but also an inspiration for the audiophile industry towards dynamic drivers. I admire their creativity as well as that the product doesn’t stand on gimmicks but for genuine sound quality and performance. Trifecta’s powerful, lush, and massive sound is more than enough for those who love dynamic drivers but also crave multi-driver finesse and sound imaging. Its sound signature and charms may be polarizing if you’re used to a BA-based, lean, neutral-target tuning. However, as long as you’re familiar with dynamic-sounding IEMs, this trinity of dynamic drivers is one of the finest choices that will open a new dimension for achieving your endgame.
RELATED REVIEWS
Ara / Solaris 2020 / Andromeda (original)
Polaris II / IO / Atlas / Comet
Source Player: Cayin N8 BB
Eartips: JVC Spiral Dots++
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