Campfire Audio Begins Shipping The New Relay DAC/Headphone Amplifier

The Campfire Audio Relay is a premium DAC and headphone amplifier designed for people who like to listen to music through headphones, whether at a computer or on a smartphone.

CAMPFIRE AUDIO

Last month, Campfire Audio announced a new portable DAC and headphone amplifier for those of us who just love listening to music through a pair of headphones or wired earbuds.

The boutique audio brand from Portland, Oregon, is the latest way to have hi-fi quality music on the move. The Campfire Audio Relay has some flexible features, is easy to use with smartphones, laptops or desktops and has enough power to drive even a high-impedance pair of headphones.

The new Relay DAC and headphones amplifier is about the size of a cigarette lighter and is powered by AKM’s 4493 SEQ DAC chip. The housing is made from lightweight aluminum with a precision-machined exterior.

The AKM 4493 DAC was chosen by Campfire Audio following auditions of some of the best-performing DACs on the market. The 4493 won the gig because of its technical specifications as well as its beguiling sound, which can draw out plenty of nuance in the music without fatiguing the listener’s ears. The DAC provides just the right amount of color to the music and projects an analog feel.

Despite its low-profile appearance, the Relay has a range of features for getting the most out of the music, however the user chooses to listen. A USB-C port connects the Relay to its host device, whether that’s a smartphone or a laptop.

There is compatibility with Windows and macOS computers. However, anyone still using Windows 7 or 8 will need to install a proprietary driver. The Relay also works with iOS and Android devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android devices must support OTG or UAC.

The Campfire Audio Relay will work with a wide range of devices and offers both a 3.5mm single-ended jack and a Pentaconn 4.4mm balanced output. Users can choose to use the output that best matches their earphones or headphones. If you have a 4.4mm connection for your headphones, that’s the one to choose if possible, as it will provide a slightly boosted and more nuanced sound.

The Relay’s sonic performance can be tweaked thanks to customizable parameters, which include selectable high/low gain, six digital filter modes and support for variable bit rates that go as high as 32-bit / 768kHz.

There’s support for both PCM and DSD playback and the Relay’s volume control has 60 separate steps. To control the media playback, there is a single button that can be used to play/pause music as well as skip and repeat tracks.

Rounding off the Relay’s features is a range of accessories, including a 6cm USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a microfiber cleaning cloth and a black cushioned Ripstop bag.

Pricing and Availability:

Campfire Audio’s Relay DAC and Headphone Amplifier is shipping now and available from Amazon, Campfire Audio,as well as a range of specialist audio retailers. The suggested retail price is $229 / £229.

Tech Specs:

• AKM SEQ 4493 DAC chip.
• Two ultra-low-noise, high-output drivers.
• High/Low gain modes.
• Six selectable filter modes.
• Media playback controls.
• 60-step built-in volume controls.
• 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs.
• DSD and PCM playback.