Introduction
The subsidiary company of KZ , CCA Audio, is well known around the chi-fi circle as the bolder and more innovative side of KZ that isn’t afraid of trying new designs to introduce to the market. With their bold releases, they do have some products that are well and not very well received but one thing is for sure good about CCA is their wallet friendly price. 2021 has been a great year for them as they have hits such as the NRA and the more recent CRA that have been well praised and gave birth to a new era of lower price, higher performance in-ears that is certainly a welcomed agenda. They have recently been rather active in pursuing new ideas to kickstart 2022 and they have decided to release a new 5 balanced armature model in-ears that has a different style of sound signature equipped with a new model of balanced armatures that promises better sound fidelity for users, the CCA CA10. They are priced somewhere in the middle of their line-up but designed quite differently than the others in terms of their looks. KZ Audio China has kindly provided us with a pair of the CA10 for an honest take on their performance and we thanked them for the opportunity. How will they sound with their combination of new balanced armatures? We will find out in this review.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the CCA CA10;
- Impedance: 25Ω
- Earphone sensitivity: 105dB
- Housing ; Metallic Surface+Resin+Metal Nozzle
- Frequency range: 20-40000 Hz
- Plug Interface : Convex Type 0.75mm Detachable Type With 3.5mm L Bending
- Cable Length: 1.2m User Selectable With Or Without Microphone
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 1%
- Balanced Armature: 5BA Per-side
Retail Price & Where to Get
Get your own CCA CA10 from KZ Acoustics’ official store at https://www.kztws.com/
Packaging & Accessories
With their cost going all into the production of the in-ears, the CA10 is packaged very basic with only the inclusion of a 2 core cable, 3 pairs of eartips, user guide and the in-ears all packed neatly inside a small thick black box. For the price paid, it would be nice to include a carrying case or bag as a good gesture in my opinion.
Design
On first look on the in-ears, they are huge in size and certainly as big as their flagship the CS16 and they will not fit those with small ears. They are built solidly and feel great on hand with a very light weight despite their large size. On the back there is a vent hole to regulate the pressure inside to provide a more comfortable fit but they do not affect the sound output in any major way. On the front nozzle, they are made with metal with a metal mesh with a rather small stem. They looked futuristic and professionally designed.
The cable provided is a simple 2 core 3.5mm silver plated OFC cable and can be chosen with microphone or without. The connectors are reversed 0.75mm 2 pins that are called Convex type connectors. Cable is soft, very flexible and their plugs are well made.
Inside the CA10 is equipped with 5 pairs of their all new balanced armatures that they have designed in house with KZ with a passive electronic crossover.
Gears Used for Comparisons
- FiiO M11Plus LTD
- Audio GD 28.38, dual clocks, Amanero USB
- Questyle M12
- Hidizs S9 Pro
- Etymotic ER3SE
- KZ ZEX Pro
- Astrotec Vesna EVO
- HZ Sound Heart Mirror
- Reecho SG-01
- Smabat Proto 1.0
- KBear Aurora
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The CA10 possesses a U shaped sound signature that has a huge bass response with a slightly recessed balanced midrange along with a strong, smooth high range. They are quite good with their detailing and have a rather inoffensive high range but an enormous bass response that is not typical to a balanced armature bass. Bass heads surely will enjoy the CA10.
Soundstage
Soundstage on the CA10 is mediocre as usual for an all balanced armature setup at this price but they do possess some air in their presentation. They have a good width and height in their sound’s but they have a more intimate feel to their signature making music sound closer to you but not to the point of sounding too closed. Their 3D representation is acceptable and they do sound right with their placements.
Separation and Timbre
The separation the CA10 produces is actually quite good for an all BA setup and I do feel that the crossover for them is properly made as the drivers seemed to work in harmony without any major issues. Layers are great as they possess very minimal to no congestion even with fast tracks. Timbre is quite accurate and they seem to sound quite natural but in some bass instruments they tend to sound a tad bit intense.
Drivability
Rated at 25 ohms, they are indeed very easily driven by any source be it your smartphone or laptop. They are not too sensitive and they do not tend to pick up noise. They do scale up pretty well with a decent setup like a DAC dongle, dedicated DAC/amplifier or a digital audio player. They are forgiving in nature as they sounded great with or without high resolution files but perform better with well mastered tracks.
The Bass (Low)
Enormous is the word summed to describe the bass on this CA10 that certainly mimics a dynamic driver bass. They are the frequency that stand out in their overall presentation suitable for a bass lover as they are boomy and huge. Though they are big in quantity, their quality surprisingly is good as mainly they do not bleed to the midrange and they are quite clean. They have the right balance of being boomy and fast providing an energetic bass response suitable for jazz or EDM genre. In terms of providing an organic representation, they do lack these criteria as they are a little over the top but they are certainly uber fun to listen to. Sub-bass is quite present to a dynamic driver level as they do rumble decently and they are rather good in their extension. Details are good for their price but I do prefer a little more clarity on their mid bass. Overall, their bass is quite good for a basshead as they manage to sound like a dynamic driver bass response but they are a little too much in quantity for my liking.
The Mids
The midrange on the CA10 is a mild recessed midrange that has decent clarity and details staying true to their balanced armatures setup. The midrange is quite thick and slightly warm in their presentation making music sound musical and fun. But due to their big bass response, the midrange is slightly overshadowed by the bass making some music sound a little unnatural but there is almost no bass bleed into the midrange which shows that they are well tuned. Vocals on the midrange are average but they do sound quite emotional and fun to listen to. They perform better on male vocals as they are thick sounding but female vocals are quite good as well. Technically speaking, their midrange does lack a professional monitoring sound as they do lack some micro detailing but they are enjoyable as they are fun sounding.
The Highs
The High range of the CA10 has a slight forwardness to it but does not sound peaky or possess any shout, instead they are smooth sounding high range. Details are present here with a good and clear presentation along with some sparkle. They do not possess the 9 khz peak like the ZEX Pro and they are more easy on the ears especially for those who are sensitive to high treble. What I do feel the CA10 lacks in this region is their crispness as their roll-off is quite early making them lack the air in some tracks. Treble is quite accurate and they do not possess any hint of metallic sound usually plagued balanced armatures. Hissing and sibilance is practically non-existent even with high powered sources. Overall, the high range that the CA10 possesses is smooth and detailed but lacks an airy performance.
Comparisons
VS KZ ZEX Pro
The original ZEX Pro is a hot topic item that is either loved or hated by some. They are a tribrid in-ears that has a neutral to flat sound and they indeed have a slightly harsh treble. In terms of size, the CA10 is bigger but comfort on both is good.
High range in ZEX Pro has a slightly more quantity but the CA10 is smoother overall without the peakiness and harshness but the ZEX Pro sounded more lively.
Midrange on the ZEX Pro has a better presence with better clarity but lacks the emotions that the CA10 possesses. Midrange on the CA10 is thicker and more enjoyable.
Bass on the CA10 totally trumps the ZEX Pro in quantity but the ZEX Pro bass has the edge in terms of their purity and pureness. The CA10 is for bassheads basically and the ZEX Pro is for bass purists.
The soundstage on the ZEX Pro is wider and slightly taller than the CA10 but in a small margin.
Overall, the CA10 is more fun sounding than the ZEX Pro if you can handle the 9 khz peakiness.
VS Astrorec Vesna EVO
The Vesna from Astrotec is their latest offering that is uber affordable and they cost slightly less than the asking price of the CA10. The Vesna EVO has a 2 pin 0.78mm replaceable cable and they sounded warmer than the original Vesna.
Bass on the CA10 trumps the Vesna in terms of their quantity. Clarity and details on the Vesna EVO is better and they sounded more balanced. Sub-bass extension on the CA10 is better but the Vesna EVO is more controlled.
Midrange of the Vesna EVO sounded more neutral and clearer. Midrange on the CA10 is thicker and has more emotions present. Vocals on Vesna Pro are more natural while the CA10 is more soulful.
High range quantity on both is similar but the Vesna EVO sounded airier and extended better. CA10 has more clarity and details while the Vesna EVO sounded more natural.
Soundstage on the Vesna EVO sounded wider but the Vesna EVO was airier.
Synergy
FiiO M11Plus LTD
The M11Plus LTD is my go-to digital audio player that houses 2 of the rare AKM AK4497eq dac chips with dual THX amplification that sounded awesome. High range on the CA10 sounded more polished and smooth with all the details and clarity intact. Midrange has a slight forwardness in their presentation and they sounded clearer than usual. Vocals sounded more lush with better placements. Bass has a more controlled presentation and they sounded sharper. Sub-bass has a more extended feel to it making them sound more enjoyable. Soundstage has increased in their width making music sound more holographic. Overall, I am quite satisfied with this synergy as the CA10 sounded more balanced overall.
Questyle M12
The Questyle M12 is equipped with a Sabre DAC chipset, the ES9281AC that has their own signature ‘current mode amplification’ all packed in a small package and they are my go to portable setup for my smartphone. Highs are extended and they sounded more crisp in their presentation, sounding more polished as well. Midrange sounded clearer and cleaner with vocals sounding more organic with a touch of warmth. Bass has been toned down mildly and they sound clearer and have a sharper impact. Soundstage remains mostly the same to my ears. Overall, they are my favourite pairing for an ultra portable setup.
Who Is It For?
The CA10 is for those who wanted a more punch in their music with a big bass presence that is suitable for a basshead. They are suitable for a fun enjoyable listening but not suitable for a critical listening as their bass might be too overpowering. They are suitable for movies and gaming as well as they are well coherent for an all balanced armature setup also they possess a good clarity in their presentation.
Final words
CCA Audio has certainly made an in-ears that is truly enjoyable for bassheads and audiophiles as well. They are indeed one of, if not, the cheapest professional 5 balanced armature in-ears that has a great and fun sound profile. Though their bass might sound a little strong, they do not bleed to the other frequencies and they are still able to sound clear. They are certainly the type of in-ears that are for pure enjoyment and they excel in that region. The size of the CCA10 is on the bigger side but they are fine for my ears as they do provide a snug fit. Soundstage is average but they are able to provide a holographic feel to them with great placements and layerings. Overall, they are well tuned in-ears but lack a more professional sound to cater to the serious audiophiles for a critical listening. A great job nonetheless from CCA given the low price for a well tuned 5 balanced armature in-ears.
