7th Acoustics Supernova VS Campfire Audio Alien Brain

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Hand-built in Indonesia with customizable abalone faceplates, Supernova feels like a boutique step up in value: a handsome, slightly medium-large shell, stable fit, strong isolation, and a tasteful, beefy copper cable. The only nit: a smooth nozzle with no tip notch means soft tips can slip. Overall execution—build, comfort, and the personal order-to-chat experience—delivers a “next level” vibe uncommon around $750.

Tonally, this is a clean, body-intact neutral with a touch of sub-bass lift and a tasteful push in the lower treble. Midrange is the star—full, natural, and richly timbred without the hollow lower-mid dip of leaner targets. Treble is well-extended, linear, and textured, giving transients snap without tipping into sibilance. Technicals impress: tight bass attack, clear separation, precise imaging, and strong micro-contrast that keeps dense mixes like The Cure’s “Disintegration” organized and alive. Caveats are mild: listeners sensitive to lower-treble energy should note its presence, and the low end—while punchy—still reads as BA bass with less sub-bass “flutter” than a dynamic driver.

Against peers, Supernova blends the fuller midrange charm of Moondrop Blessing 2 with the technical grace of Moondrop S8, yet sounds more natural than either. Symphonium Meteor offers bigger bass and a lush stage but trails in separation and mid texture; S8 feels smoother with even stronger 3D imaging but less body. Taken together, Supernova’s tuning, texture, and boutique fit/finish make a compelling all-rounder—and an easy five-star recommendation, especially for those who value lifelike mids and crisp, controlled sparkle over maximal slam.

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Supernova’s calling card is its treble: extended, butter-smooth, and startlingly even. No peaks, no weird dips, no BA glare—just airy shimmer with spot-on decay that stays stable at any volume. It rivals the best under $1K and even brushes the Symphonium Helios (OG) for finesse, yet remains less bright and more relaxed. Despite being all-BA, there’s no BA timbre. Dynamics feel controlled rather than fiery—big chorus swings (think “Run Away With Me”) are rendered cohesively without harshness, trading adrenaline for refinement.

The low end is clean, tight, and well-separated—not a sub-bass sledgehammer. Sets with DDs like Hype 2, EJ07M, or Monarch dig deeper and rumble harder, but Supernova’s bass gives body without smearing. Vocals sit mid-forward but not shouty, a hair warm from mid-bass/1.5k lift; extension around ~3k could use a touch more presence for extra “head voice,” yet the overall presentation remains natural and unfatiguing and scales beautifully with volume. Versus Moondrop S8, Supernova trades a bit of the S8’s clinical separation for fuller mid-bass weight and more textured, even treble; the S8 keeps a leaner, clearer stage and more vocal gain.

Comparisons sharpen its profile: against EJ07 (OG/KL), EJ07 offers darker tonality and stronger sub-bass immersion, while Supernova is airier and smoother up top. ThieAudio Monarch series: Mk1 has snappier vocal clarity, Mk3 hits harder with bass texture/slam, but Supernova wins on treble quality and macro-smoothness. Neon Pro can feel more engaging at mid volumes with firmer low-end and crisper imaging, whereas Supernova shines when cranked, remaining composed and immersive. Net take: an “endgame”-leaning, balanced all-rounder for those wanting refinement over fireworks—genre-agnostic, not a treble-head blaster or bass cannon, and short on “special sauce” theatrics, yet consistently excellent where it counts. Availability is the real enemy; production scarcity makes it hard to snag.

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7th Acoustic Supernova brings a 6BA setup at around $850, dressed in pretty shells but a bit bulgy for the fit. Packaging quirks and micro-print gripes aside, the included Versus Audio cable (permanent 4.4) looks flashy and feels premium. Tip rolling from Dunu SS to Render shifts the presentation, but the core signature stays smooth to a fault—vocals sit a touch further back, treble hints at a lift then fades with different tips, and only the occasional techno track shows bass that carries well. It’s the kind of tuning that’s impeccably polite yet tip-dependent and rarely grabs attention.

Across sources—from a warmer Alpha Pro chain to other amps—the Supernova keeps a straight face: competent, clean, and ultimately boring for the price. Against known yardsticks (neutral “glass-of-water” sets, bass-heavy options, or value champs like Kiwi’s Astrals), the Supernova doesn’t carve a clear identity; it’s smooth without the thrill. Final takeaway: lovely looks, nice cable, but the sound feels meh at this tier—barely meeting the bar where musical moments should pop. On the value meter, the cable helps, the tuning doesn’t; there’s been better—and for less.