Cardboard box simple but nicely designed. Small (only enough space for the carrying case that contains everything else), but I think that's better than wasting space and resources.
Quite decent amount of accessories (carrying case, cleaning brush tool, silicone tips, foam tips, SpinFit tips, Campfire Audio Pin); at least all one needs. I especially like the small Campfire Audio pin, and I am absolutely serious about it when I say that besides the shell design and colour, it was my main deciding factor to buy the in-ear.
The carrying case looks nice and is softly padded on the inside, but I don't like it at all and am using a case I built on my own. Except for that the soft material inside is highly likely to release micro dust particles, the walls collapse to the inside when the case is closed, which obviously limits space, so that the shells will rub against each other and ultimately scratch and damage the green coating. I would've preferred a more protective case to be included, one comparable to the one my Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors came with, or comparable to those that are included with many other CIEMs (where each shell has its own department).
The green colour is by the way somewhat darker than expected, it's more like "forest/fir green" (at least when it's not illuminated directly or if one is in a rather dimly lit environment).
The shell design is unique and beautiful. Along with the green colour,
it was the reason why I bought the Andromeda for my collection. Build
quality is good as well. I would have preferred recessed 2-pin sockets
instead of MMCX though.
The cable is of high quality and nice, but not the visually and haptically best cable I've seen used on an in-ear.
The Andromeda has undergone some mild changes over time (known are a change of the nozzle length (it's slightly longer now), nozzle material (or at least finish; they're polished instead of matte now), different screws, and last but not least shell design (another bevel was added for less edgy, more comfortable shells)).
What's not so nice about the (supposedly stainless steel) nozzles is the formation of condensation water.
Five BA drivers, triple-bore design.
Sound:
I'm using my Andromeda with the largest included silicone tips as well as low impedance sources (output impedance usually below 0.5 Ohms).
It's probably interesting to note that the Andromeda is a true hiss magnet - if the Amp or DAP isn't perfect in this regard, the Andromeda will unveil any hiss mercilessly. It's even a good bit more sensitive to uncovering hiss than my Ostry KC06A and Shure SE846, two in-ears that are already very (near extremely sensitive) in this regard. That said, it is truly extremely sensitive. Low impedance devices that don't hiss show any audible hiss on Andromeda at all are my RME ADI-2 DAC (IEM output) as well as Leckerton Audio UHA-6S.MKII (low gain). The Andromeda is even so sensitive that it makes my otherwise pretty perfect and beloved iBasso DX90 hiss mildly (my SE846 and Ostry are basically hiss-free with the DX90).
Tonality:
Warm, full sounding v-shape.
Bass around 8 dB north of diffuse-field neutrality; bass starts to rise around 700 Hz and reaches its climax around 100 Hz, although 200 Hz are already almost just as full. Ultimately it's a bass elevation that concentrates more on the mid- than the sub-bass that is however almost as present as the midbass (so no roll-off here).
The lower mids are on the fuller side, but not unnaturally so. It's a moderate, pleasant, natural sounding warmth.
The upper mids and presence range take an audible step back, wherefore bright vocals lack some of their shimmer.
The middle highs, just like the lower highs, take on a relaxed approach, just to return with a peak in the upper highs. And this very peak can be borderline sharp, borderline peaky, borderline unpleasant. For a more realistic treble response, I wish that the peak were a little further above, and/or less narrow and/or less present. That said, I tolerate my Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi 10's, Audio Technica ATH-IM03's or Pai Audio MR3's as well as the UPQ Q-music QE80's treble clearly better than that of my Campfire Audio Andromeda. So yeah, in terms of tuning, I'd wish for a more realistic, less sharp upper treble response. Sure, the Andromeda is an in-ear that's rather tuned for fun, but that peak is definitely borderline too sharp at times.
- - -
In terms of tuning, the NocturnaL Audio Atlantis has a quite similar tuning in the lows and lower mids, but the more neutral midrange in comparison (its upper mids/presence range and central mids are a lot like that of my UERM) and is more linear in the highs, without the Andromeda's added brightness (yeah, in terms of tuning, I prefer the Atlantis, and it is also objectively more naturally tuned).
The Brainwavz B200 (the "old" original one with black shells, not the inferior and differently tuned v2 with clear shells and removable cables) is quite similarly tuned in the lows as well, but a good bit darker in the highs.
My Audio Technica ATH-IM03 is also somewhat comparable in terms of tuning in the lows, although somewhat less warm/full sounding in the lower mids in comparison. The Andromeda is more relaxed in the middle and lower highs (whereas the IM03 is closer to my UERM and the Atlantis in terms of tuning here, although ultimately a bit more relaxed in the middle highs) whereas the Audio Technica is more reserved, less sharp in the upper treble (so it's got the more realistic v-shaped signature in comparison).
Resolution:
The resolution is very good and justifies the price.
In terms of details, the Andromeda is truly among the most capable in-ears on the market. I'd place it somewhat above my Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors and Audio Technica ATH-IM03 in terms of resolution, and also slightly above the NocturnaL Audio Atlantis in some areas. It's about in the performance range of my InEar ProPhile 8. All in-ears are of course tuned (more or less clearly) differently, and all resolve very, very well, with some having slight advantages in some areas over the others and vice versa.
The only area that seems to lack a bit behind, although very resolving on its own, is the midrange, but that's mainly due to the relaxed upper midrange/presence range.
The highs are very resolving, so the sharpness and lack of ultimate treble realism is forgivable to some degree. Note separation is excellent.
The Balanced Armature bass takes on a more dynamic approach with more body, rumble and softness (and longer decay) compared to many other BA woofer implementations, however with still very good control. One cannot deny that this visceral, dynamic, rumbling bass character is highly fun and pleasant. Bass details are high as well. Tracks with very fast and complex bass lines lead to a somewhat reduced cleanness in the lows compared to tighter BA bass implementations due to the Andromeda's bass's comparatively longer decay for BA standards, but the green in-ear never really struggles, and this rumbling, visceral quality provides, as mentioned previously, a lot of fun, is very addictive, and suits the in-ear's rather fun tuning approach.
Yes, the lows are among the Andromeda's key qualities.
Soundstage:
Very large, open and three-dimensional. Ultimately somewhat more oval than round.
Precise layering, placement and separation.
Conclusion:
Indeed very resolving and with a highly fun, addictive bass presentation as well as a large, open soundstage, however borderline sharp in the highs at times, lacking ultimate treble realism (there are other v-shaped IEMs with a more pleasant, less sharp high note approach), and therefore ultimately somewhat over-hyped.