Aful Cantor VS Campfire Moon Rover

The AFUL Cantor delivers a balanced and neutral sound signature, praised for its exceptional upper air, treble extension, and pristine clarity. While the bass offers sufficient dynamics without being thunderous, and female vocals sound natural, some listeners might desire a touch more punch in the upper mids (around 2-3kHz) and find a slight peak in the 4-6kHz region occasionally noticeable. The premium build quality stands out, featuring a unique and stunning "star night" face plate, a thick but comfortable shell with a slender nozzle, and excellent accessories. These include a slightly microphonic but otherwise nice-looking flat two-pin cable and an exceptionally plush case typically found on far more expensive IEMs.

Graph comparisons reveal the Cantor's tuning shares similarities with models like the Moondrop Blessing 2: Dusk and the AFUL Explorer, but it distinguishes itself with superior detail retrieval and dynamics. It competes impressively against significantly pricier offerings like the Elysian Annihilator in technical performance, offering a smoother presentation with slightly less sub-bass focus. The overall sonic presentation is described as sophisticated, refined, and highly engaging, creating a sense of music surrounding the listener. Minor tuning preferences aside – wishing for a bit more upper mid presence and slightly less energy around 4-6kHz and 8kHz – the core sound quality is highly regarded.

Representing strong sonic value despite its price point, the Cantor earns a high ranking for its unique and beautiful design, premium feel, and exceptional technical performance. While acknowledging excellent cheaper options like the AFUL Explorer exist, the Cantor justifies its cost with its detailed, airy presentation and overall package. It's highly recommended for those seeking a neutral, high-performing IEM, though a demo is advised given the investment. Ultimately, the AFUL Cantor is considered a treasure, fulfilling over a year of anticipation with its beautiful aesthetics and uniquely engaging sound.

Jaytiss original ranking

The AFUL Cantor lands as a flagship all-BA set with 14 balanced armatures at $800, packaged with a great-handling nylon cable and a handsome shell. The catch is fit: a very long nozzle with a metal insert demands a deep insertion, and comfort varies widely; AFUL’s stock tips are essentially required to keep that nozzle from poking and to restore some flex. Build and presentation impress, but the ear-fit can be fussy and the shells tend to stick out.

Tuning trends U-shaped: a lower-mid dip into a hefty sub-bass boost, relaxed upper mids, and noticeable upper-treble energy. When seated correctly, the set delivers crisp transients with a touch of “planar-like” pluck, good imaging, and clean BA bass that favors electronic thump over kick-drum slam; with the wrong tip or depth it swings to brittle/bright or muted. The midrange can read a bit thin, so the contrast comes more from bass/treble edges than from vocal saturation.

Compared with Symphonium Helios, both are all-BA and graph-adjacent, but Helios leans vocal-forward and smooth while Cantor is the more contrasty, fun listen that trades mid presence for excitement. Net: technically capable and competitive when dialed in, yet compromised by comfort and tip dependence. Final verdict: 3/5 stars—a better match for listeners with deep pockets and deep ears.

Super* Review original ranking

Campfire’s Moon Rover pairs a 12 mm planar with a compact titanium shell and a premium—but slightly quirky—accessory spread: a real-leather wallet-style case, a thin yet memory-prone cable (MMCX), and tidy branding extras. The heat-treated, rainbow finish reads more like pre-distressed denim than authentic patina, but fit and comfort are excellent despite sharp-looking edges, especially with shallow tips (e.g., Spring Tips). Measurements showed visible channel mismatch on the graph, though not audible in practice.

Sonically it’s a warm-neutral midrange with recessed upper-mids and an elevated treble that can verge on bright or splashy if the seal isn’t right, trading absolute smoothness for micro-contrast, crisp imaging, and a subtly “sandy” texture that gives an almost ASMR quality. Bass stays taut rather than big. Versus Campfire’s Ara/Andromeda-era shell mates, Moon Rover sounds more natural and less colored; against 64 Audio’s Solo planar it’s less bass-forward but more distinctive. At $1,200 there’s fiercer technical value elsewhere, yet this is the most compelling Campfire IEM in years—4/5 stars for a unique, textured listen that rewards good fit and treble tolerance.

Super* Review original ranking