Gadget Audit

A collab between TRI Audio and Hawaiian Bad Boy?

TRI & HBB KAI

Some of us are afraid of the day that the Machines might take over the human race.

We have never anticipated that the Rise of the Departments came much sooner.

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https://www.facebook.com/105877047803414/posts/506187497772365/

👏👏 It's been quite a while from the last giveaway. The new one is on. Are you ready?

In this giveaway, 1pc Max and 3pcs in Blue Purple are prepared as prizes and 4 winners will be drawn out in total.

💢How to enter:
1. follow KEEPHIFI Facebook account
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Note: The above two must be done, otherwise your entry would be invalid

🎁Link to join the giveaway:
https://keephifi.com/pages/tinhifi-p1-max-kbear-ks2new-color-giveaway

𝗜𝗸𝗸𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝗶 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲

Ikko is going to have a big SALE on their Ali Express store from March 28, 2022 to April 1, 2022. Please check it out:

https://m.aliexpress.com/store/911896005?trace=store2mobilestoreNew&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.1000001.11.7cf170e8TS3Cr2

IKKO Official Store - Amazing products with exclusive discounts on AliExpress Discover the wide range of products from AliExpress Top Seller IKKO Official Store. Enjoy ✓Free Shipping Worldwide! ✓Limited Time Sale ✓Easy Return.

Sharing this program here. These might be useful for those with Unilateral Hearing Loss. Please share to your friends who might be needing these.

https://www.facebook.com/IKKOAUDIO/photos/a.600517120407641/1394972097628802/

World Hearing Day Giveaway👂
100 pairs of iKKO bone conduction headphone🎧
Customized for unilateral hearing loss /single side deafness users.
1. Follow+Share to let more people get it.
2. To assess applicant's hearing condition, please apply through below page before 2022.03.15
👉https://www.ikkoaudio.com/blogs/news-1/event-registration-for-ikko-itg01
3. Please fill in the correct contact email, we will start to debug the headphone when application ends. If there are any questions, we will contact you by email
4. The headphones are customized for unilateral hearing loss /single side deafness users, please do not apply if you do not meet the conditions, we will launch other activities later, stay tunned.
5. Ikko reserves all the rights to explain this giveaway.
Hearing Loss Association of America (Official Page)
HearStrong

𝗖𝗩𝗝 𝗖𝗦𝗘

A versatile budget hybrid IEM.

𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔:

The CVJ CSE is a follow-up to the CSA, and like its predecessor, it sports a hybrid driver configuration of a single Dynamic Driver and a Balanced Armature driver up top, close to the nozzle.

With the CSE, having been released three years ago in China and introduced to the international market back in 2020, along with the CSA, CVJ seems to have been able to establish their house sound.

At about $13, the CVJ CSE is a great option for an entry-level slight-v / almost balanced (albeit warm-ish) IEM.

𝘋𝘐𝘚𝘊𝘓𝘈𝘐𝘔𝘌𝘙: This unit was sent to us by CVJ in exchange for an honest review. This consideration does not affect our views and impressions of the product.

Audio preferences are towards a balanced sound, with slight emphasis on treble, air and sparkle, and a bias towards instrument details and separation. High tolerance on high frequencies, but also find deep, punchy bass to be enjoyable.

𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩:

Tidal MQA, Audirect Hilidac Beam 2SE & Fiio BTR5, iPod Classic Samsung Tab A8 with S-Pen (for 3.5mm Jack)

Stock tips and cable.

𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨: Sly by Herbie Hancock, YYZ by Rush, I Got Five On It by the Luniz, Summertime in the LBC by The Dove Shack, Old Judge Jones by Les Dudek, Various Queen tracks, Stop This World by Diana Krall, Heaven by Avicii, Nirvana Unplugged album, Various Bob Marley tracks, Brother to Brother by Gino Vanelli, various Electronic Dance Music, AC / DC, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins tracks, Iron Maiden Tracks, Various Jazz / Instrumental tracks.

𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙎:

The CVJ CSE has more of a mid-bass emphasis than sub-bass. The latter has just enough extension and presence, although the former is a little boomy and with a little bass bleed, which can sometimes muddy up the mids.

Overall, the bass is decent enough and tuned somewhat to be versatile across all genres, but hardcore bassheads may want a little more quantity.

𝙈𝙄𝘿𝙎:

The mids have a touch of warmth, and just slightly recessed. The bass has a tendency to overwhelm the mids a little, but the mids, in general, is decent.

Vocals have enough presence. Definition is good, decent clarity, and just enough texture.

𝙃𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙎:

The treble region is smooth and without peaks, and just have enough extension.

These have good clarity and details, and even has a little air up top, without getting harsh.

The CSE is also bit sparkly, but the overall treble presentation is smooth. Cymbal strikes have a bit of impact but not overpowering, and cymbal rides and crashes just have enough decay for them to be defined but not too overwhelming.

𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙃𝙉𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙎:

Soundstage is decent. Wide enough not to give it an in-your-head feeling.

Imaging is average as well, and if price is factored in, these are actually good when it comes to the placement of instruments.

Details and clarity are great, although the mid-bass bloom bleeds in some tracks which muddies up the mids. Both the mids and the treble region are detailed enough to make out all the instruments in the track.

Coherency is good, and the drivers are fast enough.

The CSE is also sensitive enough to be driven off direct to the 3.5mm jack of mobile devices, and sounds great with the iPod classic. Adding an amplifier gets them loud but doesn't necessarily improve the dynamics.

𝙒𝙃𝙊 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙎𝙀 𝙁𝙊𝙍:

The CVJ CSE is versatile enough to handle any genre you throw at them. These provide enough balance across all frequency ranges that all genres generally work.

These are a good option for those looking for a good all-rounder at a budget.

𝘾𝙊𝙉𝘾𝙇𝙐𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉:

CVJ seems to have been consistent enough in tuning both the CSA and CSE to have been able to develop their own house sound.

They have also been consistent in providing all the necessary accessories and then some, including the earphone pouch at this price point. Its also worth noting that these accessories are actually decent as well.

Aside from the mid-bass emphasis, these are not harsh nor sharp, and don’t have any other notable peaks.

Although the CSE doesn’t have anything that stands out in the crowd, the warm-ish, slight-v tuning is certainly something that makes the CSE something to be considered, especially for those who are budget-conscious.



𝙉𝙤𝙣-𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001784980346.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.slider_6000351686431.0

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘅 Keephifi 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀!

We would like to thank Keephifi for making this Keephifi Live Interview Event possible.

𝗞𝗭 𝘅 𝗛𝗕𝗕 𝗗𝗤𝟲𝗦

Hawaiian Bad Boy reinvents the KZ DQ6.

𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔:

The KZ DQ6 is one of KZ’s most popular IEMs back in 2021. Sporting three Dynamic Drivers each earpiece, this late-2020 released product is one of the best-tuned budget IEMs.

The DQ6S, aside from the new colorways, has retained the driver configuration but has a different tuning as developed by IEM reviewer Hawaiian Bad Boy of Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews (BGGAR).

At $33, the reinvention of KZ DQ6 is a great option at this price range.

𝑫𝑰𝑺𝑪𝑳𝑨𝑰𝑴𝑬𝑹: This unit was sent to us by KZ Earphones in exchange for an honest review. This consideration does not affect our views and impressions of the product.

Audio preferences are towards a balanced sound, with slight emphasis on treble, air and sparkle, and a bias towards instrument details and separation. High tolerance on high frequencies, but also find deep, punchy bass to be enjoyable.

𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩:

Tidal MQA, Audirect Hilidac Beam 2SE & Fiio BTR5, iPod Classic Samsung Tab A8 with S-Pen (for 3.5mm Jack)
Stock tips and cable.

𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨: I Got Five On It by the Luniz, Summertime in the LBC by The Dove Shack, Old Judge Jones by Les Dudek, Various Queen tracks, Stop This World by Diana Krall, Heaven by Avicii, Nirvana Unplugged album, Various Bob Marley tracks, Brother to Brother by Gino Vanelli, various Electronic Dance Music, AC / DC, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins tracks, Iron Maiden Tracks, Various Jazz / Instrumental tracks.

𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙎:

This is one of the best features of the KZ X HBB DQ6S. Hawaiin Bad Boy loves his bass, and this one does not disappoint!

Sub-bass goes deep, and has a good extension. The DQ6S can even handle the Miami Bass genre, and the sub-bass rumble can even be felt.

Mid-bass is punchy, and detailed as well. Bass guitars, and kick drums, all have a nice kick and impact, without losing the details.

The DQ6S has KZ’s “XUN” Drivers, which has been one of their best, and with the bass-centric tuning, this set should satisfy most bassheads out there.

𝙈𝙄𝘿𝙎:

The DQ6S has retained the V-Shaped tuning of its predecessor.

As expected of this kind of tuning, the Mids are recessed. There’s some minimal bass bleed into this region, but the general presentation leans towards the warmer end of the spectrum.

Male vocals have a nice weight and texture to them, as well as most of the instruments that live Mids section.

Female vocals, on the other hand, may sound a bit thin at times, and fall into the general recessed nature of the Mids.

Overall, the Mids are lush, thick, and warm, albeit a tad recessed particularly for female vocals.

𝙃𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙎:

The Treble region is smooth, relaxed, and just detailed enough to complete the package, at the cost of treble extension and energy.

Sibilance is minimal, and is barely there even in sibilance-prone tracks. Also, the smooth nature of the Treble minimizes fatigue.

Having a smooth treble region also has a few caveats. Air and sparkle could be a little lacking. Cymbal hits needs a bit more impact, and treble rides and splashes, while still present, needs a tiny bit more shimmer.

𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙃𝙉𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙎:

Soundstage and imaging, are both average. Stage is a little intimate, and pumping up the volume can create an in-your-face presentation. As far as imaging goes, the DQ6S does enough to be able to locate the general area of the location of the instruments, but is not accurate enough to be able to pinpoint them.

Coherency, considering that the DQ6S has three drivers, is excellent. There are no timbre issues, and the three drivers do sound like they’re working together to create a single unit.

Details and clarity are also average. Although the drivers are fast enough to handle buys tracks, they are not really the best when it comes to being able to define all the instruments clearly.

The DQ6S are also easy to drive, which means they can be driven off your phone without an external amplifier. Of course, having a decent dongle DAC at least could improve the overall performance, but adding more power doesn’t really improve them all that much.

𝙒𝙃𝙊 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙎𝙀 𝙁𝙊𝙍:

The KZ X HBB DQ6S is for those looking for a fun, basshead kind of set.

Hip-hop, RNB, Pop, and EDM tracks work best. Rock or Metal genres may also be serviceable, although these may not be the best for those.

Jazz, Instrumentals, and Classical / Orchestral music is not its strong suit.

𝘾𝙊𝙉𝘾𝙇𝙐𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉:

Hawaiian Bad Boy has his signature tuning in the KZ DQ6S, and it may very well be the best basshead set in the budget segment.

The rumbling sub-bass and the punchy midbass, and having a smooth Treble region, and with a safe but elegant faceplate design, all make the DQ6S an easy recommendation.

If to nitpick, it will be the fit that may not be for everyone; and that’s the only downside to this otherwise perfect V-shaped IEM below $50.



𝙉𝙤𝙣-𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠:

https://shopee.ph/KZ-X-HBB-DQ6S-In-Ear-Earphones-Sports...

𝗞𝗕𝗘𝗮𝗿 𝗞𝗦𝟮

KBEar’s budget hybrid IEM.

𝑺𝑼𝑴𝑴𝑨𝑹𝒀:

KBEar’s entry into the budget hybrid IEM segment, the KS2, is another option in the crowded V-shaped market.

At about $19, the KS2 is a fun but safe set.

𝘿𝙄𝙎𝘾𝙇𝘼𝙄𝙈𝙀𝙍: This unit was sent to us by KBEar in exchange for an honest review. This consideration does not affect our views and impressions of the product.

Audio preferences are towards a balanced sound, with slight emphasis on treble, air and sparkle, and a bias towards instrument details and separation. High tolerance on high frequencies, but also find deep, punchy bass to be enjoyable.

𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩:

Tidal MQA, Audirect Hilidac Beam 2SE & Fiio BTR5, iPod Classic Samsung Tab A8 with S-Pen (for 3.5mm Jack)

Stock tips and cable.

𝑻𝑹𝑨𝑪𝑲𝑺: I Got Five On It by the Luniz, Summertime in the LBC by The Dove Shack, Old Judge Jones by Les Dudek, Various Queen tracks, Stop This World by Diana Krall, Heaven by Avicii, Nirvana Unplugged album, Various Bob Marley tracks, Brother to Brother by Gino Vanelli, various Electronic Dance Music, AC / DC, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins

𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙎:

The Bass region on the KS2 has a strong emphasis on the lower end of the region. Sub-bass goes deep, and has a nice rumble. Definition is average for a V-shaped budget IEM, but the KS2 is fairly impressive on how deep it can go.

True bassheads may find the midbass punch a little lacking, but the overall bass presentation is actually more than enough for the average listener.

𝙈𝙄𝘿𝙎:

Despite having a V-shaped profile, the KS2’s Mids are not that recessed as compared to other IEMs in the budget segment. Most of the instruments that live in the Mid frequencies are represented.

The Mids, however, is influenced somehow by the bass bleed. Male vocals may sound a little veiled, as there is a tendency for that spectrum to be overshadowed by the bass region. Female vocals, on the other hand, may have a better presence than their male counterparts as they blend into the lower treble region.

Instruments in the lower registers also blend in to the bass region so they will sound a little darker than they should, and have a tendency to be lost in bass-heavy tracks.

𝙃𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙎:

The Treble region of the KS2 is decent to say the least. There is a fair amount of sparkle. Cymbal hits have enough presence, and cymbal rides and crashes have enough shimmer, but not overpowering.

Sibilance is minimal, and despite having some peaks in the treble region, the KS2 is not overly fatiguing.

The KS2 can certainly use a little bit more treble extension, but considering that this is a budget set, the tuning decision of KBEar to tame the treble region down a bit, probably to avoid getting harsh or shouty, is a good one. Having this kind of tuning in this segment makes the KS2 more of an outlier.

𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙃𝙉𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙎:

Technicalities is fairly decent on the KBEar KS2.

Soundstage and imaging, are both average. Staging is just wide enough. Imaging is also average; not precise but more of the KS2 giving the listener a general location of the instruments. Considering that there’s some bass bleed, being able to provide this level of imaging is quite a surprise.

Coherency is decent, and the drivers are fast enough to handle busy tracks.

Details and clarity are also average as a whole, but the KS2 could have done better if the treble is a little more extended, and if the bass bleeds are tamed down a bit. BA timbre is also minimal, but it’s there so there’s no denying the fact that these are using budget Balanced Armature drivers.

The great thing is, these minor concerns can be mitigated by playing around with an Equalizer. These respond to EQ, and one can even make the KS2 a little more balanced just by reducing the sub-bass region, elevating the Mids a bit, and customizing the Treble region to the listener’s personal preferences.

Best of all, these are easy to drive. The KS2 can be enjoyed even just plugging them in directly into a phone or tablet’s 3.5mm jack. Adding some power doesn’t really improve them all that much, however, but of course, plugging them in to a decent dongle DAC should improve the overall sound quality.

𝙒𝙃𝙊 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙎𝙀 𝙁𝙊𝙍:

The KS2 is for those looking for an option in the budget V-shaped, hybrid segment.

By default, these work well for R&B and Hiphop, EDM and Techno, and can be enjoyable for Rock, or even Metal tracks.

For Jazz, instrumentals, or vocal-centric tracks, a little equalizer adjustment might be needed but since these respond to EQ, the KS2 can be considered as an all-rounder in a pinch.

𝘾𝙊𝙉𝘾𝙇𝙐𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉:

The budget segment is a little crowded with IEMs mostly having V-shaped profiles, and the KS2 is no exception.

KBEar’s decision, however, to tame down the treble extension of their hybrid entry into this space, has made the KS2 a great option for those looking to get a budget IEM that is not shouty, and not overly fatiguing. That, and the great Sub-bass, gives it enough oomph to make it a fun, but also a safe set.



Non-affiliate link:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001134070208.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.productList_6001923545932.pic_11

Sharing the review of the TRI Audio Meteor! Great job P***s B Clarence , and congratulations!

Please follow us for reviews, interviews, and giveaways!

𝗖𝗩𝗝 𝗖𝗦𝗔

The affordable, balanced hybrid IEM.

𝙎𝙐𝙈𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙔:

CVJ has set their game apart from the crowd with the CSA, a hybrid IEM with one Dynamic Driver and one Balanced Armature Driver in each earpiece.

With the pricing set at around $10 in CVJ’s Official Ali Express store, this is a good option for those looking for a more neutral / balanced presentation.

𝘿𝙄𝙎𝘾𝙇𝘼𝙄𝙈𝙀𝙍: This unit was sent to us by CVJ in exchange for an honest review. This consideration does not affect our views and impressions of the product.

Audio preferences are towards a balanced sound, with slight emphasis on treble, air and sparkle, and a bias towards instrument details and separation. High tolerance on high frequencies, but also find deep, punchy bass to be enjoyable.

Apparently, early releases of the CVJ CSA seems to have been tuned towards a more v-shaped target. However, the unit on review is a later release and has already been tuned for a neutral presentation. Those early releases are no longer available in the market, so those who are planning to get the CSA will now be having the same tuning as the unit in this review. Be forewarned of these factors when comparing reviews of the CSA.

𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩:

Tidal MQA, Audirect Hilidac Beam 2SE & Fiio BTR5, Samsung Tab A8 with S-Pen (for 3.5mm Jack)
Stock white tips and cable.

𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨: I Got Five On It by the Luniz, Summertime in the LBC by The Dove Shack, Old Judge Jones by Les Dudek, Various Queen tracks, Stop This World by Diana Krall, Heaven by Avicii, Nirvana Unplugged album, Various Bob Marley tracks, Brother to Brother by Gino Vanelli, various Electronic Dance Music, AC / DC, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins tracks, Various Jazz / Instrumental tracks.

𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙎:

The CSA’s bass region has been tuned to be neutral.

The midbass is a little more prominent than the subbass, with the latter having a bit of a roll-off. The midbass has enough punch to give the CSA enough versatility to handle most genres, while the subbass is just enough to make its presence heard.

Both bass quality and quantity are just average, and the driver’s speed is also just average. Detail retrieval in the bass region is also average. There’s also some bleeding from the bass, and influences the overall presentation with its warmth.

These are not your typical basshead set, and CVJ’s intentions of making these a more neutral option is quite obvious in the bass region.

𝙈𝙄𝘿𝙎:

The Mids of the CSA is not recessed nor elevated, which is quite a surprise particularly in the budget segment.

With the lower Mids being a bit more prominent, the relaxed upper midrange, along with the slight bleeding of the bass, give the CSA an overall warm tonality. There is enough weight for the midrange frequencies resulting in to a full-bodied presentation. There seems to be a bias, however, for male vocals, and makes female vocals move towards the lower register a bit. The latter is not necessarily bad, as it will give female vocals a lot more body, but timbre will somehow be affected.

Details are average for the Mids section. There aren’t enough details for the CSA to stand out, but there’s also enough presence for it to be enjoyable.

𝙃𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙎:

Having a prominent and sometimes harsh and shouty Treble region seems to be a common trait for budget hybrid sets, particularly with those using Balanced Armature drivers.

However, for the CSA, the Treble region has again been tuned to have a relaxed presentation.

Details suffer a little bit, but this makes the Treble region non-fatiguing. Even sibilance has been toned down to a bare minimum, even with Queen’s Albums which are known to have the most sibilant of tracks.

𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙃𝙉𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙎:

The CVJ CSA is more of an average set when it comes to technicalities. All things considered, particularly with the pricing involved, does not necessarily make the CSA a bad option. On the contrary, having average technicalities at this price point is actually a win!

Soundstage and imaging, are average, more like a regular-sized room with two speakers off to the front and a little offset to the side, and does not have the pinpoint accuracy of more expensive sets. Details, and instrument separation are also average, and also has a tendency to get a little crowded in fast and busy tracks. Also another plus, is the minimal BA timbre, a metallic sound, caused by the Balanced Armature Drivers, which is common particularly with budget builds.

These are easy to drive, and sound good even directly plugged in to your phone’s 3.5mm jack. Being this efficient with their power demands mean that an external amplifier is not required, but of course, having a better DAC, even just budget dongle DACs, should improve the sound some more.

Having a bit of fun with an Equalizer is also possible with the CSA. These respond to EQ quite well, maybe except for the bass region. All the other frequencies from the midrange to the treble region can be adjusted based on preferences.

𝙒𝙃𝙊 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙎𝙀 𝙁𝙊𝙍:

Those who are looking for a balanced IEM on a budget will find the CSA to be a great option.

These work well with almost all genres, maybe except for those wanting to have a lot of subbass rumble like the Miami Bass genre, and busy tracks like Metal and some Progressive Rock tracks since these genres have a tendency to overwhelm the drivers.

The CSA works best, however, with vocal-centric tracks and instrumentals like Jazz, Blues, Soul, even R&B.

𝘾𝙊𝙉𝘾𝙇𝙐𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉:

CVJ’s plan of setting itself apart in the budget segment seems to have been implemented correctly with their debut product, the CSA.

Having everything you would need inside the box, including a carrying pouch which is welcomed addition and a nice surprise for a budget set, and the design and aesthetics of the CSA, just screams value.

The warm and balanced presentation, which some might find boring, particularly those who are used to aggressive v-shaped sets, allows for flexibility for almost all genres, and the non-fatiguing and relaxed nature gives the CSA the ability for it to be used in longer periods.

Despite being average in almost all aspects in sound quality, this is a win for CVJ in the budget segment, and the CSA is an easy recommendation for those looking for a versatile, budget, hybrid IEM.



Non-affiliate link:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001793417661.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.productList_6000352609114.pic_9

𝗖𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝟭𝟬

The 10 Balanced Armature Driver CCA CA10 is another unique product from CCA’s latest offerings.

𝑺𝑼𝑴𝑴𝑨𝑹𝒀:

CCA seems to be pushing the design limits and driver configuration with their latest product, the CCA CA10.

Coming in at $46, the CA10 has 5 Balanced Armature Drivers in each side, which strays away from the traditional Single Dynamic Driver or Hybrid Dynamic Driver with Balanced Armature Driver combo IEMs. This setup produces a unique presentation, and fans of fast attack and minimal decay might be in for a treat.

DISCLAIMER: This unit was sent to us by CCA / KZ Earphones in exchange for an honest review. This consideration does not affect our views and impressions of the product.

Audio preferences are towards a balanced sound, with slight emphasis on treble, air and sparkle, and a bias towards instrument details and separation. High tolerance on high frequencies, but also find deep, punchy bass to be enjoyable.

𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕:

Tidal MQA, Audirect Hilidac Beam 2SE & Fiio BTR5
Stock white tips and cable.

Tracks: I Got Five On It by the Luniz, Summertime in the LBC by The Dove Shack, Old Judge Jones by Les Dudek, Various Queen tracks, Stop This World by Diana Krall, Heaven by Avicii, Nirvana Unplugged album, Various Bob Marley tracks, Brother to Brother by Gino Vanelli, various Electronic Dance Music, AC / DC, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins tracks, Various Jazz / Instrumental tracks.

𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:

The CCA C10 comes in a black, minimalistic box. Flipping open the cover, the box reveals the IEM in a plastic covered presentation case, inset in black plastic holder. This is the usual presentation of CCA products in the price range.

𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅, 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝑨𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔

The CA10 looks like a work of art physically. The shell is made of white transparent resin and gets you a peek into the 5 Balanced Armature Drivers inside, along with the BA tubes for each of the 5 drivers converging into the output area of the nozzle.

The faceplate is metallic, with a green transparent resin window. The recessed CCA logo is set right in the middle of the window but is barely visible. The faceplate also has a vent hole which is protected by a metal mesh. The vent doesn’t seem to have any purpose sonically, since covering the hole with a finger doesn’t affect the sound. It does serve an aesthetic purpose, and it works well in this case.

As for the overall shape of the shell, the CA10 has an ergonomic shape, but they are on the thicker side of things probably to accommodate the 5 drivers and acoustic tubes. It is also worth noting that these also have wings on the back side of the shell, so this might affect the fit and comfort of the IEMs, particularly to those who are used to the typical wing-less design of most IEMs. Also, the included tips are of the low-profile type, so these might somehow affect the comfort and seal of some users.

The overall design of the CA10 is similar to the CCA CA16 Pro, with the only difference in the white opaque window in the faceplate of the latter, while the former has a green transparent one.

Build quality is fantastic; it also has enough weight to give you that premium, feel.

𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔

The cable, despite that plasticky-feeling, looks great. The .75mm angled QDC plugs lock firmly and place, and also has that transparent look similar to the cable. The 3.5mm jack is the of the L-type variant.

Also included in the box are a set of silicone eartips. The product in review came with the Medium tips in the nozzle right out of the box but one can choose which tips fit properly as it comes with Small, and Large Silicone tips as well.

The tips are of low-profile design, and sits rather close to the nozzle.

𝑩𝑨𝑺𝑺:

The pure Balanced Armature Driver configuration of the CA10 brings in a somewhat unique presentation in the bass region. The bass on these is fast and with minimal decay. Bass notes don’t linger as long as those produced by Dynamic Drivers, and whether this is a good or bad thing, will be a matter of personal preference.

These do pack some bass punch, but again, doesn’t have the same level of impact of the Dynamic Driver sets. Although the bass may need a bit of texture, the details are just enough to make them enjoyable.

With the tube design of the CA10, and with the speed of the BA Drivers, the CA10 doesn’t have bass bleeds.

The CA10 seem to more of mid-bass focused rather than sub-bass. There’s still a presence of the sub-bass, but these don’t go that deep.

𝑴𝑰𝑫𝑺:

The Mids on the CA10 is recessed. Even the Upper Mids region is a little recessed as well. Even without the Bass bleeding into the Mids, they are somehow overpowered by the Mid-bass and the Treble region in the overall presentation.

Vocals and instruments lack weight, and some instruments like guitars and the piano lose some of their harmonics in the process.

𝑯𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑺:

One would expect that having an all-BA Driver set would result in to a shouty IEM. Not in the case of the CA10. Sibilance is also kept to a minimum and only appears on the most sibilant of tracks.

The overall Treble region of the CA10, however, have some quirks. There is a bit of lower treble dip, and can do a better job at getting air and sparkle. Cymbal strikes seems to lack that bite, and cymbal crashes can use a little shimmer. These can also use a little bit of energy and Treble extension.

If you are into a relaxed Treble presentation, the CA10 will be a good option.

𝑻𝑬𝑪𝑯𝑵𝑰𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑰𝑬𝑺:

Coherency come as a surprise for a multi-driver set. CCA did a good job in this area.

The CA10 still has the BA Timbre, a metallic sheen, which is as expected with Balanced Armature driver sets in the price range.

Tonally, these are more of a U-shaped set, with a rather fast attack in the overall presentation.

These are also fairly easy to drive, even direct to the 3.5mm jack of your device. There might be a need to crank up to about 60% of the volume to get a decent musical experience with these, but these can also get pretty loud past that. Having said that, a decent dongle DAC / AMP dongle should increase the volume you can get out of these, and improve the overall dynamics as well.

The CA10 responds to equalizer quite well. Even the recessed Mids can somehow be mitigated by raising those frequencies a bit, and raising the sub-bass frequencies should get it a nice low-end extension. On the opposite side of the spectrum, playing around with some of the frequencies in Treble region is enough to tailor-fit these to your personal preferences.

𝑾𝑯𝑶 𝑨𝑹𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑺𝑬 𝑭𝑶𝑹:

The CA10 is a great looking IEM. The combination of the metallic faceplate with vent holes, and the transparent resin window give these a modern yet elegant look.

By default, these work well Hip Hop / R&B, Reggae, and even EDM Tracks. Jazz, Rock, Metal, Vocal-centric tracks, and Instrumentals, aren’t great right out of the box but most can be fixed by playing around with the Equalizer.

Due to the size and design of the shell and the included eartips, fit, comfort, seal and isolation might be a challenge for some, and may not work well right out of the box. These might not be a problem for the enthusiast-types who have no problems tip-rolling to find the best combination, but may become somewhat of an issue to the casual users.

Those looking for an intimate presentation, fast attack, love details, and not afraid to play around with the Equalizer settings, will be in for a treat.

𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑪𝑳𝑼𝑺𝑰𝑶𝑵

The appeal of having somewhat of a high-tech look, and having high-tech internals with its all-BA configuration (with acoustic tubes), may be what CCA is going for with the CA10.

Also, the CA10 might be targeted to the enthusiast-level audience, since some tip-rolling and playing around with the EQ settings will be required, so casual users might have a challenge with these.

Despite not sounding spectacular in its stock form, playing around with the Equalizer transforms the CA10 into a good all-rounder. The drivers’ speed, and their inherent ability to bring out details and resolution, is enough to make the CA10 a good option for those looking to get a multi-driver all-BA set at a budget.



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