The last mystery item was actually the Atlas sent by the good people over at Campfire Audio in Portland Oregon, and like every package from them, it's always filled with wonder. The minimalist box and basic design was identical to the rest of the line with a difference in color, imagery and for the Atlas, a bit of a change in the accessories and the replacement of the standard cable with the fantastic pure silver cable.
The Atlas is a heavier than the Comet but not so heavy that it'll fall off your ear easily, for this I just used my JVC Spiral Dot tips for a minimum nozzle ear canal distance and least restrictive of bores. And like the Comet, the body of the Atlas is sturdy, smooth and a fingerprint magnet (thankfully am not that cleanliness obsessive). Nozzle grill design is identical, same as with the tip lip, as well as the basic geometrical design cues. For this beauty, it was only fitting I use the WM1a to base the first impressions, so lets get started.
The first song from Clair Marlo, Till They Take My heart Away was presented in an almost analog vibe, like good room speakers were placed in an acoustically sound proof room for your your solo listening pleasure. The bass (which is normally not that palpable in this song) feels like it came from speakers that were so near to my ear, it sounded and felt reassuring. The upper mids are a little forward, and female vocals sounds rather thick, emotive and clear. The Atlas' treble sounds crisp and airy, where the whole performance feels spacious and well separated.
Daft Punk's Get Lucky sounded like I was in a club, the male vocals sounded a little bit forward, the stage sounded wide and the bass beats felt great and carried strength without overwhelming. It's responsive enough that when bass is needed, no matter the intensity, you'll hear it and most times feel it. Male vocals are thickish here but the detail and clarity gets the words in your ear without any trouble. The treble area isn't very busy on this track but they sound fun and atmospheric.
Stone Temple Pilots Creep was a surprise, I didn't realize how much pressure the bass drum taps could generate but that's not the only thing that caught my attention, the clarity and separation of the acoustic guitar strums amidst the drum and bass guitar that sound strong, along with the vocals that sound intimately close are all really good. The available space presents the music in an open manner, decluttered and distinct. Male vocals here are thick but Scott Weiland's voice sounded clear, a bit husky and sonorous while the instruments will drown you in details if you try to pick out every nuance while listening.
Overall, the Atlas is quite shocking in a very wonderful way, a strong speaker like bass that doesn't eat into the mids, mids that eat you up in the details, and a goodly extended, crisp and airy treble that wont hurt gentle ears. This is an impressive IEM and I'm honored to be able to delve deeper into this with a proper review after some me time with it.
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