CCA CRA : Truly Budget, Trebly Starlet

 If you think of a budget IEM, what are your expectations? Cheaply build? few accessories? badly tuned? Not at all to be exact as the audio market became even more competitive that some brands  make their ultra-budget range products even more compelling to the consumers who were in tight budget or starters on audio hobby. That’s the current situation on the portable audio market and CCA isn’t a stranger on that matter.

 

We are aware on CCA's standing on the budget segment like her well-known and super popular sister that won the hearts among the budding hi-fi audio enthusiast, Knowledge Zenith (KZ) as they both keep releasing products in monthly basis. CCA currently release their newest ultra-budget IEM, The CCA CRA.

 

CCA CRA is a single Dynamic Driver IEM which has a decent quality polycarbonate shell with a half metal alloy faceplate as its aesthetic choice. It is on a medium-size proportion that it really fits well on my medium-size lug holes. When it comes to isolation, it blocks at least 70% of the external noises from the outside due to its well-thought ergonomics as it fits well in my ears without any discomfort and fatigue. There are two vent holes for escaping excess air pressure coming from newer dynamic driver with dual magnetic layer tech which has very thin diaphragm and made of composite polymer for better treble response and separation of instruments and vocals. CRA uses a QDC-type connector like most CCA products which still that I have qualms in this kind of connector.

Like most entry-level and ultra-budget level products in Chi-fi brands. the packaging of CCA CRA is very plain and stale as it has only basic included accessories like the IEM shells, extra eartips of different sizes, a smooth, parallel SPC OFC cable with a L-shaped 3.5mm termination jack and an instruction manual.

  These set are pretty easy to drive as they can be powered up by decent sources like smartphones and tablets. They are already loud at 40% volume level that they do perform consistently in any devices.

 

As for its tonality, what was its sound signature. CCA CRA has a V-shape tuning as bass and treble are noticeably elevated over the mids as it on a notch in the frequency range spectrum.

 

LOWS/BASS

  As a single DD IEM, I expected a very responsive and tactile bass, it delivers but there are some caveats that I will pointing it out later.

The bass has that impact, fast response and well-presented within the frequency range, its a fence-setter in between being punchy and boomy. The sub-bass is more prominent in CCA CRA as it has good depth reach that you will hear a discernible rumbling on it especially in electronic bass instruments such as drum machine machines and synthesizers in most electronic music.

Mid bass somehow a bit lacking in my hearing preference as it has that insufficient slam that I usually want to hear at least a more substantial texture especially on bass kicks and bass guitars as I want to hear a more authoritative, sustaining and weighty. CRA gives a bit dull and hollow sounding on those instruments.

I can also hear a tad of bass bleeds in some tracks despite of that less texture mid bass that is quite unusual in a physical sense.

 

MIDS:

  As an audio enthusiast that loves a more prominent midrange on the tuning. I can surely describe the mids of this IEM is bit recessed in my liking, they sound more on a thinner side but they still remain sounds very articulate, clean and surprisingly, they are well-detailed of its asking price for a cheap single IEM.

It give a more importance on female vocals over male vocals as it gives a more open, sweet and bright while male vocals are bit lacking on density note as it sounds more soothing and subdued.

Instruments on more a bright timbre ( some instruments produce some BA-like metallic timbre in some tracks) that it gives a crisp and cacophonous sounds on guitars, violins and pianos. Percussive like snares has a shrilly and metallic characteristics rather than a precise and penetrating that I usually prefer.

Overall, compare to some ultra-budget IEMs out there when its comes to mids quality,  CCA CRA is somehow a bit an improvement over its competitors in some ways.

 

HIGHS/TREBLE:

  This is where I’m quite impress on how it renders the treble quality, its has good extension and clarity for a single DD (probably due to that thinner diaphragm that improves the treble response even further). It is on bright side in my treble quality scale.

 

Upper mid/lower treble peaks are a bit prominent and have some glare on this one as sibilance and a hint of harshness are noticeable on some tracks especially on female vocals and even male vocals are also present (specifically on David Bowie and Freddie Mercury  tracks). Despite of these perceived unpleasant aspects, they still remain clean and stay at the threshold that doesn’t bother to most listeners except for treble sensitives.

 

I really like how the cymbals strikes were presented here as they sound more natural, has that shimmer and well-extended nature while hi-hats has a defined shorted crisp tune.

In general, CCA CRA has good resolution and decent treble quality for a single DD and its given price range. As I expected its more geared on macro details performance but micro-details performs decently to be commendable.

 

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

  This is where the CCA CRA's weakest point and its overall technical aspect.

The sound field dimension are still balanced and well-proportioned. The width of a perceived stage is bit constricted and confined in my liking as they are just narrow to average size. Though, it has good depth and considerable height ceiling that  makes the shortcomings on the wideness.

Imaging and separation doesn’t even perform impressively on this one as the sense of spacing on between instruments and vocals is a meagre one. As for imaging quality especially on layering aspects are not that particularly well-layered and accurate as they are on more on a vague and fuzzy cue and on some way, it just performing decently in stereo panning perception.

 

As for coherency performance, it performs very cohesive and precise as it was a strongest asset of most dynamic drivers IEMs that it is well less sound “out of phase” and distorts less.

 

As I put my conclusion on this review. It seems that the ultra-budget range is even more competitive as ever. CCA delivers a lively, fun and engaging product for a budding audio enthusiast who wants an improvement from just a mediocre sounding consumer earphones that you usually found on easily available on stores or market. Definitively, if you look on its asking price, you will certainly well-satisfied on its performance and price to ratio value as it provide a well-tuned and balanced sounding IEM.

CCA CRA is currently at very cheap and affordable price of $14/£10.

SPECIFICATION:

 MODEL: CCA CRA

IMPEDANCE: 25Ω

SENSITIVITY: 99dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  20Hz - 40KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M

PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNITS: One (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER

 

PROS:

·         Cheap, a budget friendly for a novice in audio hobby.

·        New, nimble dynamic driver

·        Good fitting as it insert well on the ear canal

·        Very versatile tuning for most genres

·        Commendable treble quality

·        Laudable clarity and decent resolution capability for an ultra-budget IEM.

 

CONS:

·        Bass bleeds is present in some tracks, male vocals and bass instruments are bit jumbled up.

·        Some instances on being harsh and sibilant on some tracks.

·        QDC-type connector

·        As usual, a mere essential contents and packaging.

 

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

 

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

 

P.S.

I am not affiliated to CCA nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

 

 Once again, I would like to thank Jeff Yang for providing this review unit, I truly appreciate on his generosity towards me and other reviewers.

 

 

If you are interested this IEM product from CCA, Just check out the link below:

Shopee (SEA market): 

https://shopee.ph/product/573093318/15711663407?smtt=0.68155269-1642868118.9