Campfire Audio Satsuma the sibling of the CA Honeydew. An entry level earphone from CA that sets up the ‘siblings of the summer 2021/2022 in both Northern and Southern hemispheres.
More information here: https://campfireaudio.com/shop/satsuma/
Price: US$199
Once again the fabulous B9scrambler has already submitted a review for the Satsuma to Head pie:
I would even suggest skipping my poor text and just enjoy the photos and go straight to b9scramblers excellent detailed write up. Where he sums up the Satsuma as a refined Comet in a better shell, plus his excellent write up on the Honeydew and more.
Guess for me its just pretty pictures this time…
This review was placed on the shelf for several reasons. I was enamored by the Holocene and Mammoth that arrived at the same time,
And also the famous B9scrambler submitted his usual excellently done review for Satsuma (and Honeydew) which held the fort at the time: https://www.headpie.net/2021/06/campfire-audio-satsuma-orange-justice.html?m=1
Last but not least, a small point but one that i could not mentally overcome was when i was ready to unbox and take photos the season for oranges had passed. Rendering my photographic vision impotent. I hd to wait. Then i did buy some the other day, a large bag to suit my purposes of oodles of piles of oranges and the Satsuma…which my daughter ended up eating a good over half off.
And here we are…onwards!
‘The Campfire Audio Satsuma has a sound that is both natural and balanced. The clarity and spatial accuracy of Satsuma’s presentation transition effortlessly from studio monitor to everyday listening companion. The bass is plucky and tight, thanks to the ported balanced armature. The 3D-printed acoustic chamber elevates the top-end extension for exceptional detail and air. ‘ - CA
Visual impressions
Aka audio pron eye feast
Gorgeous premium unboxing as always from Campfire without excess box size nor wasted space. Nicely done.
Usual bevy treasure trove and tips and tricks
Warranty and starter card
Cable magic
‘ A lightweight, streamlined version of our classic ‘Smoky Litz’ cable. This new ‘Smoky Lite’ cable features 4 silver-plated copper conductors and our Custom Beryllium Copper MMCX connectors.’- CA
Satsuma!
Satsuma!
‘A 3D printed acoustic chamber shapes the frequency response curve to optimize the performance of its full-range ported balanced armature driver. The addition of the rear port on the balanced armature gives us just the right amount of bass from our full-range driver.’ - CA
Head pie sound impressions
The Satsuma like the Honeydew come in at a tender time for the world. It is fitting that a company releases entry level products at a time when many are tightening their purse strings.
The Satsuma and Honeydew are different sides of the same coin in a way.
The Satsuma is a full range single BA model.
The Honeydew is a single 10mm DD.
At this point i must say i do enjoy both models, fit, ergonomics and sound. But i do find my writing a bit redundant as B9scrambler has already covered both models well already on this site. In a way i will probably just end up echoing his thoughts i expect even though i have not looked at his two reviews for a while.
But lets continue and i will briefly add my thoughts and perhaps having two sets of opinions may help someone who is trying to decide on whether to part with their hard earned cash.
I do recall b9scramblers frequency charts showing the Satsuma and Comet laid over top of each other and were very close if not the same.
The shells of both are quite different. I think the Satsuma shells are more likely to please and fit better for most people.
The shells themselves are very light, and not made of metal as most Campfires are.
Additional
The Honeydew (shell is pretty much the same size as the Satsuma if not exactly) compared to other Campfire shell sizes and nozzles.
In short,
If you are wanting an entry level earphone that is also high quality then i would recommend either model.
Perhaps you want an on the go burner, or something for the gym and to save you more totl IEMs from sweat etc.
The Satsuma is more even, but full with detail
Whilst the Honeydew is a bit more lively and musical with a slight v shape.
Once again i bow to the mighty b9scrambler
Thank you to Campfire Audio for sending the Satsuma to Head pie for ‘review’.
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