Hidition Viento VS Campfire Audio Alien Brain

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Hidition is framed as an OG IEM house (founded 2003), and the Viento is praised as the rare decade-old set that still sits in the top tier. Released in the height of the driver wars, it rejected driver-count inflation for a 4-driver, 4-way crossover architecture—each BA handling its own band: sub-bass, lower mids, upper mids, treble. The result is “efficiency” engineering that prioritizes clean division of labor over headcount, following the neutral lineage of the NT6 while modernizing with a subtle sub-bass lift.

The Viento’s two-switch system is highlighted as unusually precise: one switch for sub-bass, one for lower mids, yielding four distinct tunings—A (neutral), B (sub-bass boost), C (lower-mid warmth), and D (both). It’s noted that the custom shell outperforms the universal demo (which can sound a bit bright/shouty due to fit depth), making this one of the few customs actively recommended. In 2023 it sits at S- on the ranking list: versatile across configs, close to an IEF-neutral target, and—relative to today’s market—“cheap” at about $1,000 from Zeppelin & Co. Overall, the Viento is portrayed as lightning in a bottle: enduring tuning, elegant engineering, and real-world usability that keeps it in regular rotation years after release.

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Hidition Viento B aims for a reference-lean balance: a leveled sub-bass shelf to around 200 Hz, a lean lower midrange, and very emphasized upper-mids with a notable mid-treble lift. On paper it graphs cleanly, but in practice the contrast thins out note weight and exposes a ringy decay on upper harmonics, pushing cymbals and sibilants forward more than natural.

Technicalities are mixed. Microdynamic contrast is the standout, with low-level inflections popping more readily than peers, yet imaging and stage size hover around average for the price. BA timbre remains audible, and the elongated nozzle that mimics a CIEM fit can be uncomfortable unless a deep insertion is possible; the CIEM version is said to mitigate several of these concerns.

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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.