Holocene
The new epoch of hi-fi
The Campfire Audio Holocene has a sound that is layered with rich, inviting detail, channeling the spirit of explosive expansion humankind is experiencing in our current geological epoch.
Holocene’s remarkably even and balanced frequency response curve conceals the speed and resolution of a true audiophile’s reference earphone.
Frequency Response
Listening: Jazz, Classical, Rock, Blues, RnB, Indie, Alternative, Folk, Psych Rock, Metal, Opera, Synthwave, IDM, Grunge, Neo-Soul, Podcasts, Vocal, Prog Rock, Yacht Rock, Soundtrack, Experimental, Country, Reggae, Podcast, New-Age
Production: Pure Reference, Guitar, Keys, Bass, Drums, Mixing & Mastering
Traveling in Time
Interior Mysteries Revealed
Holocene features a single custom-tuned driver for highs, and two independent custom-tuned drivers covering mids and lows. The drivers are combined and optimized using our signature 3D printed acoustic chamber design. Holocene’s harmony of driver and design will elevate your listening experience, taking you on a journey through the past, present, and future of Hi-Fi.
Traveling in Time
Interior Mysteries Revealed
Holocene features a single custom-tuned driver for highs and two independent custom-tuned drivers covering mids and lows. These drivers are combined and optimized using our signature 3D printed acoustic chamber design. Holocene’s harmony of driver and design will elevate your listening experience, taking you on a journey through the past, present, and future of Hi-Fi.
Beam Me Up!
Radiant Luminance Glow
The Holocene is adorned with glow-in-the-dark elements: the Campfire Audio inlay logo, the new ‘Smoky Glow’ cable overmolds, and the ‘Epoch’ case features. Charge them with light and enjoy the show when the lights go out, and the stars come into view.
The Holocene shell is machined from aluminum and anodized in an ‘umber’ finish. It is set with black tri-lobe screws and a black PVD finished stainless steel spout. Holocene is completed with our custom beryllium copper mmcx connector, ensuring years of stable performance from your cable connection.
Beam Me Up!
Radiant Luminance Glow
The Holocene is adorned with glow-in-the-dark elements: the Campfire Audio inlay logo, the new ‘Smoky Glow’ cable overmolds, and the ‘Epoch’ case features. Charge them with light and enjoy the show when the lights go out, and the stars come into view.
The Holocene shell is machined from aluminum and anodized in an ‘umber’ finish. It is set with black tri-lobe screws and a black PVD finished stainless steel spout. Holocene is completed with our custom beryllium copper mmcx connector, ensuring years of stable performance from your cable connection.
Epoch Encompassed
Supporting the SEAQUAL® INITIATIVE
Upcycled Marine Plastic in the form of SEAQUAL® YARN makes up the rugged outer layer of our Campfire Audio Holocene zipper case. Lume zipper and plaque provide exceptional glow performance, while the new smooth pulling plastic tooth zipper offers a superior experience.
Each case pattern design is unique, and truly one of a kind. Our ‘Epoch’ color palette ranges from rainforest greens to aquatic blues. Mysterious geometric shapes float freely and collide in unexpected ways. These are fun cases that protect your earphones and give you something fun to enjoy.
Smoky Glow
Cable Glow Up
Our new ‘Smoky Glow’ Litz cable features Silver Plated Copper Litz wire conductors and our popular tangle-resistant twisted cable weave. To compliment our new line of earphones we’ve added new Glow-In-The-Dark overmolds on both the MMCX connectors and the 3.5mm plug. The result of our overmolded ear-hook design is a lightweight cable that is a pleasure to use every day!
Its Glow Time
Lights out to watch it glow
Glow-in-the-dark elements bring some added fun to Holocene’s look – the Campfire Audio inlaid logo, the MMCX and 3.5mm overmolds, and details of the Epoch Zipper case all glow.
3D Printed Interior
Carefully Designed for Optimum Sonic Performance
Close attention to detail is critical to delivering you a superior musical experience from our earphones. Holocene features an acoustically optimized interior chamber design that allows its three drivers to deliver the very best sound quality.
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Terrell Cunningham (verified owner) –
Excellent. Shipping was very fast. So I had quick satisfaction. I paired them with a Plussound x8 series custom bluetooth cable, silver plated copper, type 6 litz cable.
This powers them very well. The sound is nice and full. Nice separation between mids and highs. Great bass response. A great value. They punch way above their weight class.
Pat Hogg (verified owner) –
Performance is far better than I had even hoped for. The more I ask the more they deliver! So fun. Performance and comfort! I stream Hi Res through Qobuz.
Doge (verified owner) –
They are very detailed, listening to ASMR made it pretty strange to hear the amount of raspyness in their voice. But also need to be paired with a good source, using from my computer audio port had very harsh highs, while my phone with apple adapter sounded much better. It also has a great and wide soundstage, with some depth to them. They deliver a very emotional and engaging listening experience in my opinion. The case is very vibrant in real life, which I wasn’t expecting! And the glow is a nice touch, the coating or whatever makes it glow – lasts for a while! It’s a pretty good duration of glow if that makes sense lol.
Richard Hawthorne (verified owner) –
The Holocene is truly reference audiophile quality IEMs. Upgrade with “balanced Super Smokey Cables” and something magical occurs. I’m a critical listener who looks for flaws and appreciates outstanding performance. There are no flaws – anywhere, only flawless sonic beauty. Why? The soundstage is big and realistic, as though you are standing among the musicians. The low-end is tight, accurate and with disciplined power. The mid-range is full and strikingly amazing. The high-end is perfect. Each range works together as one. Each note in all 12 octaves are seamless, accurate and flow together perfectly. The spatial imagery is exact. You are there! This is my 3rd pair of CA IEMs. The Holocene IEMs with the balanced 4.4mm Super Smokey cable are the finest in audio reproduction I know. For anyone quick to criticize, please try it for yourself first. I am delighted to own these amazing IEMs. Thank you Campfire Audio. – Richard Hawthorne
Alberto Romero (verified owner) –
First IEMs, audio quality is amazing. Comfortable, full of detail, and the case is super cool.
Titus de los Santos –
Really a fantastic IEM. Have owned some cheaper chinese IEMS in the price range around 400 euros but they didn’t sound as open and balanced as this one.
Older recordings in CD quality also sound good, MQA and Ultra High Res are not a must for these IEMs.
Now listening to Andreas Vollenweider on Tidal, Caverna Magica, a 1983 album.
They also had good recording technique back then.
This IEM is here to stay and now I’m only curious about the Andromeda……
Smonke (verified owner) –
After going from headset to headset, I finally looked for something with a “balanced”, neutral sound signature that wasn’t 1K, and I found the Holocenes
There are a few reviews on youtube on the Holocenes, and I would say that my experience and comments are similar to them.
My Holocenes came with (what I believe) to be the Final E series eartips.
With the eartips, I have used these things on long drives and they block out a lot of the wind drag noise that is associated with driving on a highway at speed limit speeds. I would say that the passive sound reduction and fit of these IEMs are excellent.
The sound signature is more neutral than anything I have ever had. I’ve used Astros A40, Steelseries Arctis, Audio Technica ATH-G1WL (yikes, way 2 much bass) and ATH-M60X (much more balanced). Compared to anything else I’ve had, separation is better (probably due to the 3 drivers on each bud) than anything else I’ve had, Clarity and sharpness is just as good if not better than the M60X’s, and the Bass isn’t kicking down the details of anything else in music that I listen to (A lot of soundtracks and techno). Detail-wise on everything else except for Bass, these things are just flat out great.
As many others have stated, if you REALLY, REALLY like Bass and want more of that, this will keep you wanting a Looooot as this thing doesn’t emphasize Bass at all, unless there are some clear bass elements that you would probably hear on $20 headphones. If you wanted extra bass “thump”, usually you’re not gonna get it out of these unless you go to the EQ settings and crank it up there
These things are easy, almost too easy to drive. Using my Schiit Hels with these, I have to turn down the volume down a lot in order not to blow out my ear drums (and the drivers most likely). Using this with any Desktop or Laptop setup shouldn’t be a problem. Using this with a DAC from Astro, Sennheiser, Steelseries or even the ROCCAT Juke (It works just fine with that I’ve tried) will probably work great. When I use these with the Sony Walkman NW-A55, the small player that had trouble powering the M60X’s, it had zero trouble running the Holocenes into the loud/uncomfortable region. Basically, these things will work with DAPs like peas in a pod, I don’t think anybody will have any trouble.
Build quality is great, the Aluminum and it’s finish make it a product that’s surely to last a long time (long as you don’t throw these on the ground all the time). Glow in the dark will work after exposure to bright light (like flood lights or sunlight) for a while, so the effect is ehhhh. The Mesh IEM bags that these things are a MUST to prevent the sound of the two IEMs Clacking in the case they come with
Speaking of the case, while it is very nice (Cushioned with what feels like soft floor rug on the inside), it is very cumbersome to put in the pocket, and is a lot larger than the Holocenes bundled up onto the IEM bags they come with. I used a $3 Earbud case from Walmart and it holds the IEM bag with the Holocenes nice and snug, and will fit in the pocket just fine (I think the IEM bag mixed with the semi-hard case walls provides more than enough day to day protection while moving).
Overall, I am very happy with these IEMs. For my music taste profile, they are gonna be my everyday go-tos when I have a chance to use them for years to come.
STEVEN FOLBERG –
I absolutely adore the sound of my Holocene IEM’s (purchased them from Bloom audio). They have a magically coherent presentation. Everything sounds of one piece. Tone, texture, it’s all there.
I have knocked off a star, however, due to my real disappointment with the fragility of the painted finish. I don’t know if these are anodized or how the color is applied, but every place on the housings where the angled lines come to a point has lost its brown color and the silver of the underlying metal shows through. At this price, I would expect something more durable. And I baby my gear as a rule. So, love the sound, but frustrated and disappointed in the fragile finish.
Edwin Choi (verified owner) –
These are quite possibly my favorite headphones now. For the most part, I’ve avoided IEMs due to how easily you can damage your hearing than with other style headphones. The closest I own is a pair of Sony WF-1000XM4’s (heavily equalized to reduce the bass) that I use for the ANC, convenience, and often when I forget to bring my concert earplugs (for dB reduction). Beyond that, I own B&W P7 and P9s, but they both suffered from the same issue I had with their 606 Stand mounters – you can only listen for so long before they cause fatigue. I mainly use a pair of Focal Elegia, swapping out the stock earpads with something more tuned to my tastes; for over-ear headphones.
When auditioning for new audio equipment I have several songs that I listen to – not because they are the pinnacle of perfection, but because of what they reveal. (1) Where Do My Bluebird Fly by Tallest Man on Earth – terrible mastering. (2) Myth by Beach House – easy for vocals and instruments to blend together. (3) I Need My Girl by The National – guitar and vocals tend to overpower all other instruments, especially when gear is forward sounding. (4) Winter White Hymnal by Fleet Foxes – great for imaging.
I also listen to a lot of techno (mostly minimal of the Berlin Techno variety), tech-house, and melodic house as well. While I enjoy going to clubs where you can feel each thump of the bass, it does not mean I want that in my everyday experience. I also listen to classical (mostly piano) and (obv) indie/alternative rock. But it’s usually the poorly mastered, over-accentuated tones that makes long listening sessions difficult for me.
I limit how long I listen to them out of abundance of caution, but I will say that these have been some of the most revealing headphones I have ever owned. The first thing I heard when I plugged them into my iFi Zen 2 Dac – noise! Plugged into the “portable” iFi iDSD Signature yielded far better results. If there were one thing I wish they had more of is warmth. But otherwise, am more than happy with the IEMs. They provide a similar “laid-back” sound as my Spendor Classic 4/5s.
You don’t need expensive gear to listen appreciate these. And as a PSA – having been someone who could hear higher frequencies than average, protect you’re hearing and don’t expose your ears to louder dB levels than is necessary for you to enjoy yourself! It may not happen overnight, but if you don’t protect your hearing, you’ll start to lose the ability to sense airiness.
Also, take care of the cables! If you damage any side of the interconnect, do not try and reconnect yourself (especially by stripping the wire)… Litz wires are non-conductive without melting the coating and tinning – a process that requires a high wattage soldering iron.
Eric Titolo (verified owner) –
Perfectly balanced. Great separation between low, mids, and highs. I honestly thought that IEMs could never match my full sized headphones. I was wrong.
Christopher Fisher (verified owner) –
I got these shortly after obtaining a pair of Andromeda 2020, which I am obsessed with. Well, I could easily obsess over these for many of the same reasons! Crystal clear mid and highs, satisfying bass and beautiful coherence between the drivers. There is ever so slightly more treble presence and slightly more upper midrange than the Andromedas. Bass is not as full as Andromeda, but full enough, and impactful. While not Andromeda, this earphone is also reference quality.
Mike R (verified owner) –
I have small ear canals and was worried these may not fit. No worries, I used the small marshmallow tips and wore them for 4 hours right out of the box. Sound is as described and a wonderful match for the jazz fusion I gravitate towards.