Campfire Audio is closing out its 10th anniversary year the only way Campfire knows how—by flooding the market with yet another piece of gear that actually earns its oxygen. Following the Alien Brain IEM, the Axion IEM, and the Relay Dongle DAC, the Portland crew is back with Iris, a $349 hybrid in-ear monitor aimed squarely at listeners who want Campfire’s house sound without having to buy fewer presents this year because of tariffs.
It’s a holiday-timed release with real teeth: a clean, transparent 3D-printed shell, hybrid driver architecture, and the same design sensibility that’s defined Campfire’s 2025 blitz. Elegant, durable, and very on-brand, Iris is built for anyone looking to step into high-fidelity personal audio without tripping over boutique prices.
Designed for Everyday Listening
Iris is built for people who want solid sound without turning their backpack into a portable audio lab—first-timers dipping into HiFi, longtime Campfire fans who need something that can survive actual travel, or anyone hunting for a gift that won’t make the recipient Google “impedance” before using it.
“With Iris, we wanted to capture the spirit of Campfire in its simplest, most approachable form,” said Ken Ball, founder of Campfire Audio. “It’s a straightforward, easygoing IEM—familiar, but still carrying the clarity and character people associate with Campfire.”
Built on Campfire’s Acoustic Foundation
Iris follows Campfire’s familiar engineering blueprint: a 10mm ADLC (Amorphous Diamond-Like Carbon) dynamic driver handles the lows and mids with grip and warmth, while a premium balanced armature takes care of the highs without drifting into the icepick zone. Together, the hybrid system delivers a relaxed, musical signature that stays engaging over long stretches—more “listen all day” than “analyze the waveform.”
The fully transparent 3D-printed acrylic shell isn’t just aesthetic drama; it lets you see the internal layout, vents, and stainless-steel hardware that give the housing its structure. A vented design keeps air pressure even, helping the dynamic driver breathe properly, while the lightweight, ergonomic shape ensures comfort during extended listening sessions.
Premium Touches, Right Out of the Box
Iris doesn’t show up empty-handed. Campfire packs it with a level of accessories you’d normally expect from models much higher up the food chain, which makes the $349 price—and the holiday timing—land even better. Everything here is practical, well-built, and designed to keep the IEMs protected, clean, and ready for daily use.
You get Time Stream Metal cables in both 3.5mm and 4.4mm, a rarity at this price point, plus a gray leather wallet case that feels more boutique than “entry-level.” Campfire also includes its Breezy Bag Jr mesh zipper case and Breezy Bag Micro two-pocket mesh pouch for easy travel and storage. Three full sets of foam, silicone, and High & Clear silicone ear tips (S/M/L) make fit-dialing straightforward, and they round out the kit with a microfiber cloth and IEM cleaning tool so the transparent shells don’t end up looking like a crime scene.
The Bottom Line
Iris is Campfire Audio’s most grounded 2025 release—a hybrid IEM built for real-world listening, priced to pull newcomers into the fold, and tuned with the warm, clear signature that’s kept the brand relevant for a decade. From the ADLC dynamic driver and balanced armature pairing to the transparent 3D-printed shell and stainless-steel hardware, Iris feels like a proper entry point into Campfire’s ecosystem rather than a watered-down teaser. The accessory kit is unusually generous for $349, reinforcing that this is meant to be a daily-driver, not a drawer queen.
Campfire has not yet published the full technical specs—impedance, sensitivity, and frequency response remain under wraps—but we’ll update as soon as they’re released. For now, Iris slots neatly between Axion and Campfire’s pricier models, delivering approachable HiFi with just enough engineering muscle to keep seasoned listeners interested.
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