Campfire Audio Alien Brain VS Oriolus Szalayi

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Campfire Audio Alien Brain and Oriolus Szalayi are in-ear monitors. Campfire Audio Alien Brain costs $1,000 while Oriolus Szalayi costs $890. Campfire Audio Alien Brain is $110 more expensive. Campfire Audio Alien Brain holds a clear 0.7-point edge in reviewer scores (8.3 vs 7.6). Campfire Audio Alien Brain has significantly better mids with a 2.5-point edge, Campfire Audio Alien Brain has significantly better treble with a 1.8-point edge and Campfire Audio Alien Brain has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric Campfire Audio Alien Brain Oriolus Szalayi
Bass 8 7.6
Mids 7.5 5
Treble 7.8 6
Details 7 7.6
Soundstage 8 7.5
Imaging 7 7.6
Dynamics 8 8
Tonality 7.8 6.6
Technicalities 7.7 6
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough Campfire Audio Alien Brain and Oriolus Szalayi reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Campfire Audio Alien Brain Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Smirk Audio
Jaytiss Head-Fi.org

Average Reviewer Score:

8.3

Very Positive


Oriolus Szalayi Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Jaytiss

Average Reviewer Score:

7.6

Strongly Favorable


Reviews Comparison

Campfire Audio Alien Brain reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 8.8 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
So simple and nice it's hard to not love.
Youtube Video Summary

Alien Brain arrives as a single-DD + 4BA hybrid around $1,000 with a truly peculiar shell: the rounded, “alien cortex” faceplate is magnetic, uses MMCX, and can be tricky to seat. The unboxing is lavish—two cables (including 4.4 mm), a compact magnetic leather case, a USB-C DAC/amp, foams plus “sticky” tips, cleaning tools, and extras. Fit is the hurdle; tip-rolling is essential, but once positioned correctly, comfort and seal fall into place.

Tonally, this set pursues a balanced, all-rounder tuning with a near-ideal bass shelf, lively but controlled upper mids, and sparkly yet composed treble. There’s punch and detail without drifting into fatigue; extension is strong, but staging isn’t the most expansive and note weight isn’t “thumpy”—this isn’t a bass-head cannon, more a clean, grounded presentation. The FR shows a touch of 1 kHz energy and smooth ripples through presence/air that favor natural timbre over hyper-etched brilliance, making it a long-session, non-fatiguing listen.

Versus Campfire’s own lineup, it’s far more normalized than the colorful Trifecta, better extended than the warm Axion, and closer in poise to Moon Rover but with a bit more bass and refinement. Compared to peers like Dunu Glacier or DA Mecca, Alien Brain trades V-shaped excitement for cohesive neutrality, and avoids the upper-mid glare that can scare off listeners. Net result: a strong recommendation for those who can manage the fit and want a high-end Campfire that does something new—not the classic house warmth, not sterile flatness, but a realistic, well-rounded signature with broad appeal.

Mids: A- Treble: A+ Dynamics: A+ Soundstage: A+

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
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Oriolus Szalayi reviewed by Jaytiss

2025-10-17
Jaytiss 7.6 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
B Tech
BASS + BASS + BASS = fun? Maybe.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: C+ Treble: B Dynamics: A+ Soundstage: A

Campfire Audio Alien Brain (more reviews)

Campfire Audio Alien Brain reviewed by Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A- Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: A Dynamics: A+ Details: A- Imaging: A-

Campfire Audio Alien Brain reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 8.5 * score rescaled + normalized
4 community members have rated the Campfire Audio Alien Brain at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

Campfire Audio Alien Brain User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Oriolus Szalayi User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Campfire Audio Alien Brain Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.7

Gaming Grade

B+

Oriolus Szalayi Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

5.2

Gaming Grade

C+

Campfire Audio Alien Brain Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • The response is even and composed, lending itself to effortless genre hopping. Voices sit comfortably in the mix.

Average Technical Grade

A
  • The balance of resolution and space feels assured, keeping complex passages coherent. Layering is convincing on most studio mixes.
Bass A+
It delivers flagship-worthy bass, rich in both rumble and nuance. Reference tracks showcase its grip.
Mids A
The mids sound lush and articulate, capturing emotion effortlessly. Strings and keys shimmer with realism.
Treble A
The treble is exquisitely tuned, combining crystal detail with relaxed delivery. Micro-details emerge effortlessly.
Dynamics A+
The presentation feels expansive, letting micro and macro dynamics breathe. There's a sense of limitless headroom.
Soundstage A+
Immersive holography surrounds the listener, making the venue feel tangible and enveloping. It delivers a grand, cinematic presentation.
Details A-
Micro-details glide to the forefront effortlessly while timbre remains natural. Ambient cues are vivid and lifelike.
Imaging A-
You can literally point to where sounds originate across the stage. You can point to where sounds originate.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Oriolus Szalayi Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • It sounds pleasant overall, with some uneven spots that hint at room for refinement. Vocals remain pleasant despite the imperfections.

Average Technical Grade

B
  • Overall technicalities are acceptable, delivering enough clarity for casual sessions. Imaging is serviceable though not immersive.
Mids C+
The region sounds agreeable overall, delivering clarity without flashiness. Slight warmth keeps things easy-going.
Treble B
Expect crisp, well-balanced treble that keeps shimmer intact. You hear reverbs decay naturally.
Dynamics A+
The presentation feels expansive, letting micro and macro dynamics breathe. There's a sense of limitless headroom.
Soundstage A
Excellent spatial presentation that is wide, deep, and tall with precise instrument placement. Width, depth, and height all feel expanded.
Gaming C+
Fundamental left/right positioning with limited depth perception. Works for non-competitive gaming but lacks precision. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Campfire Audio Alien Brain User Reviews

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Oriolus Szalayi User Reviews

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