Campfire Audio Announces Orbit True Wireless Earbuds

The audible advantages of high-quality in-earphones with the best available drivers, cables and connectors have generated a sizable enthusiast market that continues to thrive, even while consumer electronics moved rapidly towards wireless. Campfire Audio is a renown designer and brand in the in-ear space and has now decided to go true wireless with the Orbit, a truly different design that makes fun of mainstream references.
  These days, differentiation in extremely competitive markets, such as true wireless earbuds, is at the top of the list for most product managers. Small companies such as Campfire, a boutique, low volume maker of earphones established in Oregon since 2015, would naturally struggle to make a difference in a space dominated by the larger brands and technology companies, with margins squashed by an undifferentiated mash of Chinese OEM clone products.

Enter Orbit. It might not be Campfire's best seller and most likely not even a very profitable idea, but it certainly will get noticed by its design irreverence and unique style. The brand's first-ever true wireless earbuds have been created using the same approach the company uses for all of its earphones - an attention to detail that is reflected in its acoustic performance. Orbit is pitched as "an earphone that sounds good" and looks beige. The Orbit earbuds feature a custom-built 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) dynamic driver, encased with the battery, microphone, electronics and Bluetooth module in a sharply-edged enclosure. This is akin to the company's early designs, notorious for its prominent screws, accentuating the "hand-built" character, very unusual in consumer electronics. The IPX5-rated earbuds come in a compact case, also with marked edges and a green interior to contrast with the beige. Eco-chic or simply kitsch, the design language certainly doesn't inspire the "high-quality" message of a US $249.00 product. But then again, this is a Campfire product, and nothing the brand does is standard.

Detailing the acoustic design, Campfire describes its intentions as "big and bold". The earbud enclosures and the case are made of matte ABS in order not to add weight, with contrasting stainless steel spouts - the critical part that needs to properly support the eartips and has direct impact on the sound. Campfire says that the battery should last up to 8.5 hours, with 30 hours of charge available in the case, and rapid charging over USB-C when needed.
  Unlike the beige finish, the custom, 10mm full-range drivers should deliver "rich detail on a spacious sound stage." And the company adds, "The acoustic design of the driver chamber further refines Orbit’s performance. This means the sound you enjoy is the sound we’ve created even before Orbit is wireless. By creating a fun and engaging earphone before adding wireless components, we can ensure that when Bluetooth is the bridge between the earphone and the device, the sound reflects our original acoustic design."

Campfire also explains that it has been working on this new product for over two years, and wanted to make sure that it was truly a Campfire Audio product. And obviously it launches with all the latest technology that users would expect in 2023, including Bluetooth 5.2 with Bluetooth LE support, AAC and aptX Adaptive codecs - which means that if we have a source transmitting aptX HD in optimal conditions, these will support it. The Orbit TWS earbuds come with three sizes of foam tips and three sizes of silicone tips plus a short USB-C to USB-C cable for charging (nice, no one needs more 2m cables). Of note, the beige charging case is also Qi compatible, so users can simply drop it on any wireless charging pad. Inside the box, Campfire also added its signature Campfire Audio lapel pin. If anyone asks why did we buy beige earbuds with sharp edges, we just have to shown them the pin.
www.campfireaudio.com