CCA DUO: DYNAMIC DUO PLEASURE
Dynamic drivers are a type of transducers that are quite common as they are easily available in the supply. Its function was to simply convert the electrical signals into sound waves via voice coils that are suspended between the points of a magnet then react to the diaphragm to disperse the air pressure. It is given that it produces a deeper bass response but will not give you the best full range sound that a dual and hybrid can achieve.
Oi! mates and fellow audio enthusiasts out there, It's been awhile since I did a review on a CCA (Clear Concept Audio) product. So finally, I got one and this time it's their latest offering on the entry-level segment.
Well, I'll be straight on this one. One of the reps of CCA/KZ actually asked me if I'm still available to do a product review on their latest offering. To be honest, I'm quite sceptical on the performance of most dual dynamic drivers IEM in both tonal and technical aspects given that I did some reviews of these IEMs with similar driver set-up and mostly, I find it insufficient and quite unimpressed due to inadequacies of their technical performance. But due to my curious nature, I'll give it a chance.
This is CCA DUO, this is CCA's first attempt at implementing dual dynamic drivers on their products. Dual dynamic drivers became a norm and popular set-up in under £78/US$100 as dynamic drivers are easily available in the supply market and easy to manufacture too. CCA DUO employs a two new generation of micro dynamic drivers (probably modified XUN ones), they both have a 7mm in dual-clambered structure. The said set-up will give a richer, more dynamic and even a noticeable improvement of its resolution proficiency. It appears that these drivers are also connected with acoustic tubes to provide seamless sound waves towards the end of a nozzle.
These drivers are encapsulated in a shell chassis made of composite materials. The faceplates are made of aluminium alloy with a sort of misshapen sleek curve pattern which give a futuristic look and its cavity base is made of high quality acrylic resin moulded via 3D-printing process. Like all CCA products, it still uses a QDC-type of 2-pin connector as its detachable mechanism. It is also noted that it uses memory foam ear tips as its stock ear tips set-up.
Regarding its fitting and comfort, CCA DUO did a good job on designing its overall shell outline as its contours fit well into my lugholes without any discomfort or wear fatigue. It gives me a decent noise isolation as it is able to block some external noises coming from the outside surroundings. But here are some of my advice, try to find a better ear tips, if you are not comfortable memory foam ear tips and using its stock silicone ear tips wont deliver the same sonic performance as they sound a bit unrefined, that's why look for proper ear tips that simulates the sound quality from its stock memory foam ear tips set-up.
Like all CCA and KZ products, when it comes to product packaging, CCA DUO's product box are rather bare bones and economical as they try to reduce its price as much as possible to be reasonably cheap to purchase.
Here are following contents inside of its packaging box:
■ a pair of CCA DUO.
■ a 2-core SPC in 3.5mm SE termination plug stock cable.
■ a pair of memory foam ear tips.
■ Three(3) pairs of black coloured narrow bore ear tips in different standard sizes.
■ Instruction manual.
CCA DUO is definitely easy to drive as it only needs a decent amount of power output from its sources. It can be amplified from devices like smartphones and tablets with some decent volume level and it can deliver a very dynamic and full range sound that we expect for.
As for its tonality, CCA DUO has this mild-U shaped sound profile which is leaning towards more of a bright tuning. It has some noticeable emphasis on lows, a neutral and linear midrange and an elevated high frequency. It seems that CCA properly optimised the dual dynamic driver set-up for specific frequency ranges.
LOWS/BASS
Even the bass frequency sounds elevated, it doesn't qualify to be a basshead's bass quantity that might perceive them as too lean sounding but it has some quality that will suit its tuning orientation. It has a tight to punchy, precise and clean bass response that some other dual dynamic drivers are hardly able to achieve . I felt those grumbling and reverberations from sub-bass focus instruments like low-toned bass guitars, octabasses and synthesisers.
Midbass has an ample texture on its note weight to have a more balanced sound on bass guitars, bass kick drums and bass-baritone vocals. Bass guitars have that rasping and resonant sound to give that particular roar while bass kick drums also have that resonant sound but with a thudding sound too as I clearly hear those fast double bass pedals from extreme metal tracks. On bass-baritone vocals, it has a sufficient deep and texture to give dark and ample density on its tone.
MIDRANGE:
For dual dynamic driver set-up, it is probably the one of cleanest midrange presentations that I heard in this particular driver configuration so far. It sounds transparent, neutral, bright and brimming with energy that it will benefit more on female vocals, woodwinds and even string instruments while male vocals and brass instruments will sound a tad less engaging and less telling in my opinion.
Baritones and contraltos seems to have a sufficient lushness, smooth intonation and decent rich tone from them but they have less darker pitch. Tenors have a reasonable brassiness and spiciness sound from them as I listen on either modern pop and rock or classical operatic artists. Mezzo-sopranos and countertenors have an agile, coppery and tender sound as I listen to Cecilia Bartoli, Andrea Corr and Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac era). Last but not least, soprano vocals, this type of voice will sounds better on the DUO whether it's a dramatic type, soubrette, lyric and even coloratura ones that this set will execute almost flawlessly. Its tone really captivates me as they have a gleaming and silvery sound that a soprano vocal qualities should possess.
As for instruments, when it comes to strings, it gives more crisp, bright and lingering tone on guitars then a vibrant and sustaining sound on the violins. Woodwinds like concert flutes have a bright and penetrating tone while picollos have intense and bright sound then on saxophones and clarinets, they have a reedy, incisive and menacing sound from them. Brass like trumpets and horns have brilliant and vivid sound while trombones have less warm and tad soft sounding in my preference. Percussives like toms and field drums have hard and sonorous sound while snares have sharp and bright tone.Timpanis have that dry sounding and marimbas have these hollow and resonant sound. Pianos seems to have brighter tone as they sound crisp and brilliant but there are some instances of being tinny sound (depends on ear tips you used especially on silicone ear tips).
HIGHS/TREBLE:
As I mentioned before that the treble response of DUO is somehow depends on what particular ear tips we are using. Memory foam ear tips gives a tad smoother and less offensive treble quality but on the stock silicone ear tips, it gives a tad brighter and shrilly response but it has better airy extension. Upper mids appears to have some boosts as it gives a definition on vocals and percussive and rhythmic instrument attacks while it has a good clarity (for a micro dynamic driver) on the presence part of the treble region. It is also noted that on stock silicone ear tips, it has some occassional sibilance and a tad sharpness but on other ear tips from third party like TANGZU SanCai it lessened it to the point I consider it as well-controlled.
The cymbals sounds crisp, brilliant with good amount of sizzle while the hi-hats have that shortened buzzing sound to give that distinctive chick sound. Then on glockenspiels, it has brilliant, metallic and striking tone from them. For a dual dynamic driver set, it has a good amount air and remakable sparkle that a new generation of micro dynamic driver was able to deliver it impressively give the supposedly limitations of these type of drivers.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
Based on my observation on how I perceived its sound/speaker dimensions of CCA DUO, they have a rather moderate size within my head room as it has fairly average width span but it was a good height reach and excellent depth.
As for imaging, it seems to have a typical two-channel stereo presentation where I was able to position of instruments and vocals within its stereo spatial field with good coherency to point it out. It also has good separation and layering as it has a good spacing between each instruments and vocals while its tonal and frequency layers are decently arranged and properly stack on its sonic canvas that really impressed me that these dual or triple dynamic driver set-up that really surprises me so far. It can manage to handle some complex tracks like Jazz ensemble and multi-instrumental musical movie scores but on a full symphonic orchestras, it really shows the limitation of drivers on handling these tracks but for now only few sets like this ser can decently do a playback on it.
The cohesive performance of both dual driver are quite capable to deliver a faster transient response while it able to project a clarity and detail from it. It has a capable resolution capabilities as it has a solid and well-defined macro-dynamics as it able to execute a good notation attacks while it has a excellent detail retrieval (for a micro dynamic driver) as it able to retrieve some nuances and note subtleties from audio tracks.
PEER COMPARISONS:
QKZ X HBB KHAN
● A clash between competitors, KHAN's
other dynamic driver has larger size as it uses a 10mm in tandem with other 7mm dynamic driver. Like the DUO it also has composite materials of its shell chassis but its overall design aesthetics are unoriginal as I saw it to other sets with almost identical form factor. As for product packaging, KHAN fares better as it has more inclusions and better product presentation although it is bit pricey.
● Compare to DUO, KHAN's tuning has a more coloured tonality as it has more V-shape sound and more warmer sounding compare to the DUO. It has a more boomy and authoritative bass response albeit it has has a sullied midrange and less bright and more relaxed treble to its sounds a tad veiled and low resolution sounding in my opinion. There's nothing to say about its technical capabilities as it was too average and nothing to stand out on it as they are incomparable with DUO.
TRIPOWIN KAILUA
● Another dual dynamic driver configuration set that will be compared to the DUO. While it has larger 10mm but it is tandem with smaller supporting 6mm driver. Unlike the DUO, its shell chassis are made of solid aluminum alloy but the fitting and comfort is rather challenging but the TFZ/NX7 type connector is more solid and sturdy than QDC-style connector. Product packaging of this set is pretty basic but at least it has an included IEM storage bag.
● Regarding its tonality, KAILUA has a warmer, v-shaped sound signature that makes it more coloured sounding compared to the almost neutral sounding DUO. It has more dominant bass, warmer vocals which are quite good for male vocals and some female vocals too like contralto and dramatic mezzo-sopranos. It has a more smoother and relaxed treble response but it has a rather meagre sparkle and airy extension. As for technicalities, it is quite inferior compared to the DUO in almost all aspect from sound/speaker stage up to the resolution capability.
As I end my review on CCA DUO, this is actually a very surprising moment given my qualms and uncertainties on IEMs with dual dynamic driver configuration. CCA DUO somehow proves me wrong that a properly implemented dual driver configuration will show its true potential and on how it will render the best effective method to deliver such fine sound quality.
CCA DUO will probably became my stamdard reference on the entry-level dual dynamic driver IEMs for incoming products with similar driver configuration. And if you want an almost neutral sounding set that sounds clean, detail and emanates clarity on resolution in under £28/US$35, then this is definitely a good recommendation.
CCA DUO is now available at KZ Official Store, it also available at LINSOUL too. Check out the provided unaffiliated links down below.
Also checkout my reviews on other CCA products:
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: CCA DUO
IMPEDANCE: 18Ω
SENSITIVITY: 106dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: QDC-TYPE 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.75MM)
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (2) DYNAMIC DRIVER
PROS:
△ Shell chassis are well-built and quite a looker too for its price.
△ Unanticipated performance of its dual micro dynamic drivers.
△ Memory foam ear tips as its stock ear tips?....probably.
△ Tight to punchy bass response to give that sense of cleanliness across the frequency range spectrum.
△ Neutral, transparent and bright midrange.
△ Quite good on rendering female vocals to have an energetic and silvery tone.
△ Sufficiently bright and detailed treble response.
△ Remarkably, it has an ample air for a micro-dynamic driver.
△ It has a respectable separation and layering performance for this type of driver configuration.
△ Good resolution capabilities for a dual dynamic driver set.
CONS:
▽ It appears that it is sort of lacking of impact and authority on its bass response. (Sorry, bassheads… definitely not for you)
▽ Stock cable, It is quite outdated that there are some entry-level have already better stock cables.
▽ Few male vocals sound a tad leaner particularly on baritone singers.
▽ Quite an ear tip dependent, put up a stock silicone ear tip on this one, you will hear it what I mean.
▽ A cautious reminder for treble-sensitives folk out there who aren't comfortable to memory foam ear tips, you need to find a better ear tips that suits for you.
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 *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
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 send my gratitude to TYVAN LAM of KZ/CCA for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
Comments
Post a Comment