CCA C10

Didn’t know what to expect as these were my fist ten driver ( five each side) earphones but these blew me away, CCA has been doing great work in the budget section and these are no exception. For under $50 you get a high quality built IEM with a aluminum back-plate and solid resin front in a choice of three colors.

The sound is balanced well with good punchy bass and a smooth transition through the frequencies.
This would be a great addition to the new audio enthusiast IEM collection as it is low cost but a high quality IEM.

Some clarification... my personal review is amateur(mostly my hobbit and sharing thoughts with my pal) and not professional. Mostly based on initial impression before and after burn-in (Which mean I listen to songs of genre with no EQ setting, same player at the same volume before and after burn-in to compare any difference). If you are interested to know a little more regarding KZ upgrade cables, please look at my ZS10Pro review. In general, what I find is similar when using different "upgrade cable", so I will not repeat here again.

Since I own both C10 and ZS10Pro, I uses ZS10Pro as the day-to-day iem for the more accurate replication of frequencies and wider soundstage. But when it comes to songs relying on vocals, such as live/acapella I prefer to use the C10 for the fact of close to unnoticeable sibilance and exceptional clarity in the mids

Accessories(7.5/10)
As per my review with the KZ ZS10Pro, the accessories including the stock copper cable is pretty decent. But I would have "expected" something more from the middle range products. Maybe the silver-plated 4 core?

Bass & Sub-bass (9/10)
Based on my listening, the bass is not as strong as the ZS10Pro. But I still give it a 9 because in no ways it feels lacking. In fact due to the nature of lesser bass it does not make your head thumps as if you were having a headache. After burn-in: the bass seems to become slighlty more prominent.

Mids & Vocals (9.5/10)
I love the mids and vocals! Both male and female. It sounded very soothing, hardly hears any sibilance at the higher mids (which is pretty common) unless you are giving special effort in listening. Great clarity, managed to pickup breathing in songs which I did not previously realised was there in other earpieces I use. After burn-in: Might be due to stronger bass and highs, the mids and vocals does not stand out as much, but the clarity is still very good, made this statement for I listened to songs with lesser bass/highs and the vocals still *thumbs up*

Highs & Treble (9/10)
I tried listening to some classical and symphony. How should I put it? Felt like a live performance/recital. I mainly listened to Grand Piano and Violin pieces. The soundstage is wide, allowing accurate reference of where the source was. Simply put, LIVE experience. After burn-in: As mentioned, there is a increase in highs and treble making pieces especially the classical more "eargasmic" and of course in turn, make the iem feel really classy!

Sensitivity/EQ (9/10)
This earpiece is really sensitive. Like the KZ ZS10Pro, I put the volume at only 25% when typically it is around 32% for the older/less sensitive KZ earpiece. EQ in my opinion is more sensitive in C10 compared to ZS10Pro, in fact I have a hard time trying to get a nice EQ on my AP80 that I gave up (too sensitive hahaha). My life would be much easier if the dB were in +/-0.1 interval instead of +/-0.5. I give it a 9 simply for the fact that using a professional application with more delicate interval, you can acheive much more.

Comfort (9.5/10)
Slightly less heavy than ZS10Pro, thus making it less stressful on the ears. Tucked well in the ears with ergonomic design, comfortable to wear for hours. Does not have the warm sensation even with prolonged use.

Full review to come on these. Currently, I'm putting them through their paces and comparing them to the ZS10Pro and ZSNPro. In the meantime, I do highly recommend the C10 if you want one of the best middle-of-the-road in-ears on a budget of less than $50.

CCA C10

Introduction:

If you’ve never heard of CCA until recently, you’re not alone. CCA stands for Clear Concept Audio. They came out of nowhere in 2018, and have been steadily releasing a number of budget earphones ever since. CCA models are built well, have appealing tuning, and are delivered at a budget friendly price.

Well, as it turns out, CCA is a sister company of the budget earphone kings: Knowledge Zenith (KZ). This has both pros and cons. On the one hand, Knowledge Zenith (KZ) has a long history of producing solid performing earphones. They’ve perfected their manufacturing practices and provided killer bang for the buck value. In addition, manufacturing facilities, components, and engineering experience can be shared between the 2 companies. However, at the same time this creates additional saturation in an already saturated ChiFi market. With this saturation is the possibility of ‘side-grades’, caused by the overlap of seemingly similar models with similar tuning between the 2 companies. Regardless, I’m excited for the future, and only time will tell what the long-term outcome is.

With that said, let’s take a closer look at the C10 and see what it has in store for us.

Specifications:
Drivers: 1xDynamic (10mm), 4xBalanced Armatures (2x50060, 2x30095) per side
Crossover: Yes
Impedance: 32ohms
Weight: 29g
Sensitivity: 108dB
Frequency: 7-40,000Hz
Cable: 0.75mm 2-pin, removable, 3.5mm 90-degree plug, mic and no-mic versions available
IEM colors: Black, cyan, purple

Packaging:
The C10 comes in a small cardboard white box that is standard if you are familiar with Knowledge Zenith (KZ) earphones bought in the last few years. It’s nothing special, but it’s perfectly adequate and serves its purpose. You buy IEMs to listen to, not because they have a great box, right? The inner box has a clear plastic cover that shows off the C10 shells. And I know it sounds trivial, but I appreciate the small lip cut into the cover for easy removal. The IEM shells are mounted in an EVA foam layer, providing protection during shipping. The accessories (cable, spare eartips, and paperwork) are located underneath.



Accessories:
The included eartips are all silicone type - 1 (pre-installed) pair of smooth silicone tips (black color, single flange, medium bore, M size), and 3 pairs of ‘Starline’ tips (black color, single flange, medium bore, SML sizes). Starline tips are one of my favorite tips, as the black ones are made of soft and flexible silicone, and they fit well enough for all day comfort.

The cable is a removable design, with 4-wires in a braided configuration. The C10 is available with and without an in-line microphone (mine being the no-microphone version). The microphone version has a single control button, providing music and phone call control (but no volume control). The plugs that attach to the IEMs are knurled aluminum with color coded indicators (blue=left side, red=right side). The termination uses a 2-pin (0.75mm) design, with the same ‘keyed’ design shared with other Knowledge Zenith (KZ) IEMs. This ‘key’ has a flat end and a curved end to help indicate what the proper orientation of the plug is. The cable itself is a good balance of being not too heavy/thick, but not too light/thin either. It’s iron grey in color, and has good strain reliefs at the Y-split and 3.5mm end. The 3.5mm end is a 90-degree L style plug. The cable also has pre-formed ear guides, which are secure yet flexible. This is a welcome departure from the annoying bendy memory wire Knowledge Zenith (KZ) has been using for years.

It is definitely one of the nicer ‘upgrade’ cables I’ve seen on a stock Knowledge Zenith (KZ)/CCA cable, and the pre-formed ear guides alone make the cable worth it. My only gripes with the cable are the lack of a chin slider and how low the Y-split is located, both of which make the cable quite prone to tangling. I’d love to see a factory-applied chin slider at some point in the future, but for now you can add one of your own. A small rubber o-ring works well as a makeshift chin slider, and this helps prevent tangles considerably.



Build:
The CCA C10 has an acrylic (polymer resin) shell that comes in 3 transparent colors - black, purple, and cyan. You can see the internals of the C10 through the shell. The back cover is made of a zinc-aluminum alloy, with a matte silver finish and the CCA logo with “BAx8 DDx2” printed on it.



Zinc alloy is heavier than aluminum, but the zinc alloy back cover gives the CCA C10 a premium heft, without being overly heavy to wear. The C10 body shares the same shell as the Knowledge Zenith (KZ) ZST, ZSN, and ZSN Pro. The only differences with the shell are:

• The ZST has an acrylic shell, acrylic nozzle, and acrylic back cover. It is the lightest of the 4 IEMs, partly due to the 100% acrylic construction, and partly due to only having 1xDD and 1xBA drivers.
• The ZSN has an acrylic shell, aluminum nozzle, and aluminum back cover. It is heavier than the ZST, mainly due to the aluminum nozzle and back cover.
• The ZSN Pro has an acrylic shell, aluminum nozzle, and zinc alloy back cover. It is heavier than the ZSN, mainly due to the zinc alloy back cover.
• The C10 has an acrylic shell, acrylic nozzle, and zinc alloy back cover. It is heavier than the ZSN Pro, mainly due to the 3 extra BA drivers compared to the other ZSx models.

The shell is very smooth, and there are no sharp edges. It’s very comfortable to wear, even for extended periods. The overall fit and finish is excellent, with no mismatched seams or excess glue gooped everywhere. Each shell has its own channel indicators, written on the side as “C10-Right” and “C10-Left”, along with “10 Hybrid technology”.



CCA really wants to make sure you didn’t forget that the C10 has 10 drivers, as they wrote it not once but twice. As much as I can joke about it though, just 4 or 5 years ago this would have only been a pipe dream when speaking about budget earphones. It really shows how far things have progressed, and we are very fortunate to have access to this level of earphones nowadays.

The nozzle is 6mm wide, and is what I would consider an average/medium length. This allows either a shallow or deep insertion, depending on the eartip used. Speaking of eartips, there is no eartip lip on the nozzle. This is a peeve of mine, because the eartips can slide around on the nozzle (making the eartip crooked and affecting fit). Or even worse, the tip can pop off and stay behind in your ears when you remove the earphone. I don’t know why manufacturers don’t just put a lip on every single earphone without fail. There is absolutely no logical reason not to have a lip on every IEM nozzle.



Sound:
So how does the sub-$50 CCA C10 sound? In 1 word, impressive. But let’s see what that means exactly.

First I’ll mention the gear used for testing: xduoo X3 (with stock and Rockbox firmware), iPhone SE (with both headphone jack and Apple lightning adapter), iPod Classic 5G with Rockbox (with both headphone jack and line out dock adapter), FiiO E12A Mont Blanc and FiiO A5 headphone amplifiers.

Despite being 32ohms, the CCA C10 is easy to drive without using an amplifier. In fact, I really didn’t notice any improvement when amped. It sounded fine on all sources, including right from my iPod and iPhone SE.

As far as the sound profile, the C10 are definitely not as v-shaped as most Knowledge Zeniths (KZs).

Bass
The sub bass hits hard when called upon, and has deep extension. But at no time is it overwhelming. The dynamic driver’s bass is smooth and linear, but I wish it had the kind of instant speed possible from balanced armature bass drivers (required for genres like Heavy Metal and Industrial). Luckily there’s no mid-bass bleed, which is a common issue with a lot of budget ChiFi (not so with the C10). Overall, the bass has a warm presentation, which is meaty and satisfying.

Midrange
I was relieved when I first heard the C10, as I was expecting the deeply recessed midrange that’s all-too-familiar. Not so with the C10. We get a nice thick midrange with forward vocals. Brass instruments and acoustic guitars sound great, and are perfect for jazz, folk, and country genres. Just like the bass, we get nice warm mids without the tinniness that can often ruin otherwise good midrange.

Treble
Although the treble of IEMs like the ZS6 never bothered me, I get the feeling the folks at CCA/Knowledge Zenith (KZ) learned their lesson with regards to aggressive treble. There is plenty of sparkle and air, without treble being harsh or fatiguing. There’s also no ssssibilance, thanks to a dip between 6-7kHz. Upper treble does roll off, which is apparent in crash cymbals for example. Treble that’s good without being bad can be a fine line to walk, and the C10 pulls it off nicely.

Isolation
The isolation is excellent, with minimal sound leakage. There are vents on the C10, but they are both facing inwards against the ear. The isolation isn’t as extreme as the Knowledge Zenith (KZ) ZS3, ZS3E, or ZS4, but you have to really crank the volume on the CCA C10 for external users to hear your music leaking out.

Soundstage
The soundstage is average in both width and depth. It reminds me of a larger-than-average night club venue vs a cavernous cathedral. Sorry, no 3D holographic ‘in your head’ feeling many people look for. However, imaging is good. I would have liked to have slightly better instrument separation.

Conclusion:
If you’re sick of the typical deeply v-shaped budget ChiFi, and are looking for something a bit more balanced with vocals that shine, the C10 is a great option. With a warm and smooth presentation, it’s relaxing and easy to listen to (especially with low-fi sources like music streaming apps on a phone). Amping is not necessary to get the best out of the C10, which makes it an easy choice for on-the-go mobility. Midrange is forward without being dominating. The low end digs deep, with an authoritative rumble. And treble has sparkle without being harsh or too aggressive. It’s excellent for genres such as EDM, pop, jazz, and country.

CCA C10 Review :



SOUND:8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9.5/10
DESIGN: 9/10
VALUE: 9.5/10


INTRO :

KZ chinese audio company is became legendary among budget audio enthusiast and even if they lauch new model every month, the one that really stand appart became less frequent. KZ ZSN is a great example of a hit, and ZS10 a good example for a miss.

But, that wasnt enough for KZ to saturate the market with numerous multi drivers budget earphones, and they decide to create an affiliated brand call CCA. This most likely is a company department for more serious tuning, or at least, different sound signature than we are use too with KZ. I think its a place to experiment more balanced sound.

One of the numerous complaint KZ soundsignature have is about the upper mids harshness, and CCA C10 look like to be the very answer to this. It offer a smoother mid range without lacking its fowards approach, wich will please lot of budget audiophile including myself.




Still, this is an entry level earphones, so we cannot wish for miracle, especially from KZ company, this C10 use the very same drivers than ZS10, wich is one Dual magnetic Dynamic driver and 4 entry level BA. The BA’s in there aren’t particularly refined, wich will explain you can’t tuned to achieve life like rich timbre and ultra sparkly treble. Nonetheless, for a sub-50$ iem, the tuning is examplary in a lot of aspect. Let’s see why in this review.


You can find the CCA C10 for less than 30$ HERE.



DISCLAIMER : I wanna thanks Jim for selling me at very discounted price this earphone. As Jim know, I do not bit my tongue before sharing impressions and always stay objective in my subjectivity, so this is my real unbiased toughs. Deal with it.

SPECS:
1. Product Name: Original CCA C10 In-ear Earphone
2. Brand: CCA
3. Model: C10
4. Earphone type: In-ear
5. Impedance: 32Ω
6. Earphone sensitivity: 108dB/mW
7. Frequency range: 7-40000Hz
8. Interface: 3.5mm Gilded
9. Plug Type: L curved
10.Cable Length: 1.2m±3cm
11.Color: Black, Cyan, Purple
12.Whether with cable: Yes
13.Earphone interface: 2Pin connector
14.Whether with mic: Optional
15.Whether can replacement cable: Yes
16.Driver unit: 4BA+1DD hybrid driver unit



ACCESSORIES, CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN :



UNBOXING is nothing to wow about, and we cannot complaint at the price we pay for having the minimum wich is earphones, twisted cable of okay quality (better than stock KZ one) and 3 extra silicone eartips pairs.



CONSTRUCTION is quite impressive for this price, and I would same the same at 50$. Housing is half plastic half metal and the metal plate is beautifully design and have an elegant and pricier look than any KZ earphones I try with the exception of ZS6. For a hybrid multi drivers iem, the size is quite small, but its thick and nozzle is big, so I don’t suggest it for very small ears.



The cable is an upgraded version of stock 2pin KZ one, the connectors are made of metal and L jack is of better quality. For the type of wire, its the same as KZ, all copper OFC twisted cable. It have a non-memory ear hook, wich I find more adequate even if im not a fan of ear hook.



DESIGN is great and quite comfy. As i’m post trauma about how disastrous was the fit of gigantic KZ ZS10, I was afraid the C10 would be too big, but its not the case here. I guess its about same size than KZ ZSN, wich is neither too small or too big, just normal universal custom size. The nozzle angle help insertion and is well thinked. All in all, this is irreprochable design and construction from CCA.

ISOLATION is great, thanks to thick back metal plate and no venting hole in the back, sound leakage is minimal too and you will really need to crank the volume like crazy to became noisy.

SOUND:


OVERALL impressions is for once quite positive, because its hard to dislike this type of beefy, slightly darkand well layered sound presentation. As CCA is a KZ company, I was afraid about tuning cohesion of multi driver, that it either sound too unbalanced, artificial or harsh in upper mid rang or highs. So, when I put the C10 in my hear and discover an enjoyably warm U shape soundsignature with good mid presence and smooth upper treble, I was quite relieve. As well, I wasn’t feeling this is a multi driver hybrid in my ears but more of a big well tuned dynamic driver : this said it all, C10 instead of searching for agressive wow effect choose a more permissive and laid back approach, and solve ALL problems encounter with the KZ ZS10 that use very same drivers, wich is : out of phase bass, harsh upper mids, artificial sound and uncomfortable fit.


SOUNDSTAGE is rather average, it have intimate widness, but lack deepnest and an around your head feel. For a multi hybrid earphones, there no holographic spaciality due to a lack of air between intruments.


LOWER END is more emphased than mid bass and warm overall bass presentation. It’s a little dark and sloppy, but have great body and weight. Presentation is a little slow and timbre is very soft. We have good slap nonetheless and enough control to avoid a boomy presentation. Sub line are quite well defined and stay in the background with enough transparency to avoid messy rumble. It dig very low, I just wish decay was tigher and attack have better grip.


MID BASS have round, soft punch, again, its not very fast in attack and timbre is softened. Separation from mid range is great and kick keep its place in imaging, wich give extra much needed presence. Tough mid bass is a little mixed up with lower end it do not create a messy boomy presentation, more an organic one.


MID RANGE is quite fowards and well rounded, without any harsh peak to it, timbre is on the dry side but have good attack, decay isn’t very present tough and imaging is just average. Even if overall mid range is quite rich and detailed, it do not sound particularly natural and have an opaque smoothness to it that tend to make congested overcrowned music, in the sens that all this instrument can’t fit properly in this rather small spaciality. This is why I prefer listening to jazz trio, classical quartet or simple electronic or pop with the C10. Vocal are very clean and do not feel recessed, but if there too much instruments playing with it in mid range, it will not stand out and loose presence.


TREBLE is well extended with an overall tamed approach in texture and some extra upper range brilliance that never sound aggressive. Lower and mid treble isn’t emphased, but still quite linear and around 10khz we have a peak that extract some micro details and give more presence to percussion, again, its not particularly sparkly, but have some brilliance to it. Transient response between driver is quite good but I find the cymbals quite splashy and dry, especially when it mix with other percussions, drums and electric guitar.


AMPING is not needed even at 32ohm, i don’t heard any improvment using portable amp and in fact it can make the sound more messy due to extra lower bass push.




SUB : 7/10


MID BASS : 7.5/10


MID RANGE : 8.5/10


TREBLE : 8/10


TIMBRE:7/10


ATTACK:8/10


DECAY:7/10


SOUNDSTAGE:7/10



COMPARAISONS :



VS TRN V80 (30$) :



SOUNDSTAGE of C10 is wider and taller and have a more holographic imaging to it, while, sometime, V80 can sound deeper but in artificial and quite bizarre manner, due to a lack of mids presence.

BASS of C10 is more controled and richer with more extension in both end, but have less fowards midbass than dryier more agressive V80 slam. V80 having less sub bass, it can feel better controled wich is just an illusion due to dryier presentation that still mix up a little like the C10. It lack body and have a sens of forced rumble to it where the C10 have a juicier body and smooter timbre.

MID RANGE of C10 is more covered fully from 1khz to 6khz, while the V80 is recessed in lower mid and have peak in upper mids that can create sibilance and give an artificial presentation to vocal. Mids feel thin and dry compared to C10, wich make them more recessed.

TREBLE is brighter with the V80 and have more unbalanced peaks, some in upper mids and other in upper highs, this make razor sharp highs, giving some extra micro details to the cost of making sounding splasky cymbals and giving a dark hint to mid frequencies. C10 have more finesse in timbre and softer and more transparent treble with better transient response between drivers.

CONSTRUCTION of both iem are nicely done, V80 being smaller but less comfortable due to hard shape with longer nozzle.




VS Vsonic VS3 (55$) :

Soundstage is deeper and more around your head with the VS3, while the C10 is wider and more intimate. VS3 give a hall like soundstage that have a hint of darkness due to impressions of being distant of music source.

BASS of C10 have thicker timbre and more slam, there more sub extension and presence, and overall presentation is more lively than dryier bass of VS3, in another hand, this lighter presentation benifit control and tend to give better control as C10 bass can be sometime sloppy and muffle mid bass.

MID range of C10 is again thicker and richer but have less airy presentation than VS3, even if C10 is more bassy, VS3 sound more V shape due to more recessed mids. VS3 have brighter presentation with more grain but instrument separation feel better and more agile than C10.

TREBLE is more extended with VS3 and give more sparkle and decay to highs, attack as well gain more grip than C10 wich feel smoother with upper treble roll off. Level of details is better on whole range for C10 with the exception of upper highs, where VS3 have extra emphasis that can extract more micro details but to the cost of an unbalanced frequencies response.

The construction of C10 fell of better quality, as its half hard plastic and metal, as well its smaller and more comfortable than VS3, wich I struggle to wear for long time due to big housing.

All in all, C10 is more W shape and smoother-richer sounding while the VS3 is lightly U shape with hall like soundstage and brigther treble.




VS SHOZY 33 (55$) :



SOUNDSTAGE is taller, deeper and more airy than C10, with about same wide. Shozy sound more around your head.

BASS have more sub presence with the C10, making them more bassy, but less controled and sloppy compared to tigher lower end of Shozy that move less air on mid bass and permit better clarity and weightier rounder punchy mid bass. Shozy tend to warm lower mid range more than C10 too.

MID RANGE is brighter and more fowards with C10 where it feel a little more recessed with the Shozy, timbre is more detailed with C10, but dryier compared to thicker vocal of Shozy.

TREBLE is more extended with C10 and extract more details and texture, highs are crisper but Shozy have more decay due to an airier imaging with smoother upper treble that give a more natural sound and make sound C10 a little cold.

CONSTRUCTION is good with both, but I find the C10 more comfortable even if bigger, due to some fit issue with small nozzle lengh of Shozy.




CONCLUSION :



Having try so much chi-fi iem sounding the same as well as having some type of bass or treble issue, I really respect the fact that C10 tuning go for a more balanced and smoother approach than most of its competitors in sub-50$ range.

The fact that there no mid range harshness and that the bassy soundsignature do not make this smooth mid range recessed is something to applause here.

Even if timbre and treble lack some refinement and lower bass can go out of control, its really hard to judge severly this 30$ multi drivers earphones because all in all it sound enough balanced and well tuned to offer an exciting and lively musicality that will not create ear fatigue if your not sensible about sub energy.

All in all, tough i’m not as excited as the hype hysteria around C10 would suggest, I consider this CCA second attempt very impressive for the price and a keeper unlike lot of KZ earphones I own and don’t like.

For more reviews and audio products impressions, give a look to my NO BS BLOG

Hello everyone!

I’m really happy to bring here a review of the CCA C10.
I was really curious to hear what the hype said on this product so here we are.
Getting these free doesn't influence my final thoughts.

I remember you that you can find me on my official website as well: https://www.yourstingyfriend.altervista.org



I'm attaching the youtube video in which i speak about the C10 as my first video in the channel:


I just wanna precise that my impressions are subjective and that listening experience can change depending on source, tips and so on.

Test were made on:
- Galaxy S7 Edge Smartphone
- Presonus AudioBOX iONE connected to my PC with no Enhancements actived
- AGPTEK M30B/Benjie S8 DAP

Technical specs:
Drivers: 1 x 10mm DD + 4 x 6mm BA
Sensitivity: 108dB
Impedance: 32ohm
Frequency Response: 7 Hz - 40000 Hz
Cable lenght: 1.2m±3cm Detachable (0.75mm PINs)
Plug Type: L-type

PACKAGING
Carton package with CCA C10 indication and a photo of the C10 printed on.
There’s no carry case, just the IEMs, cable and tips (4 pairs of tips, 3 of them are the KZ Starline ones). A little carry case would have been appreciated as some companies like NiceHCK usually provides it even with some 4$ earphones.



CABLE
Cable is pretty similar to the one used on the ZS7 with a softer touch compared to it.
It seems like this cable is the classic copper cable that KZ has been selling as upgrade cable on their store.
My version features a microphone on the cable, and there’s no chin slider on the cable, making the Y of the cable being a bit prone to tangling.



CONSTRUCTION AND INTERNALS
Shell is made of plastic with metal faceplate that remembers you how many drivers do they feature.
The overall build feels very solid, well assembled and transmits a sense of longevity.
There are 2 vents on the plastic shell that were maybe done to prevent driver shell and help the DD.
There’s the usual nozzle grill while the nozzle lip isn’t featured. A little downside, but very important for me. This do not influence so much my impressions but it is something to fight with if you’re an addicted tip roller like me eheheheh



COMFORT AND ISOLATION
The C10 are really comfortable to me, making them easy to use and non fatiguing even after some hours.
I find the ZS7 comfortable too but these are a step up in terms of comfort and isolation.
The smoother shape makes them really sweet in terms of fit.



SOUND
Let's get into it.

Now the critical factor that decides if something has to be tried or not: how do they sound?
I mainly listen to EDM subgenres, Dupstep, Future Bass, Euphoric Hardstyle, Bass House, Midtempo and downtempo, darkwave, drum'n bass, but i even listen to many vocal tracks, moreover female ones.
I always search for IEMs that have a little bit of emphasis in the lower region, and can sacrifice mids with some recession if they still sound clear and natural. I love vivid and sparkling highs if they're not at a headache level.
V-shape signature is my favourite one.

Lows: Low region is pretty engaging. Sub-bass has good extension without being emphasized like on the ZS7. I personally prefer the rumble of the ZS7 but that’s just because i do like exaggerated sub-bass, so the C10 do really well in any case. The bass is slightly emphasized giving the basses a good punch. Kickdrums sound full and very impactful.

Mids: Mid-bass region is a bit over the top, but not in a bad way. Male voices sound full making the mid region a bit warmer and immersive. There’s a bit of recession as the bass gains a more relevant place in many cases. The bleed is anyway coherent, you can understand precisely that this is the signature CCA wanted and that the mid-bass bleed is not negative.
The upper mids are a bit emphasized giving female voices a touch of freshness and energy. They do not sound intimate as i like but natural and well reproduced. Sibilance can be there but very few times (in 20-30 song, just 2 songs had sibilance in my case, and their mastering was pretty aggressive in the high region without so much compression).

Highs: Highs are splendid and not fatiguing at all. Lower treble has a bit of emphasis while the upper treble gets down smoothly running over the spectrum. There’s a lot of air and sparkle alongside with a good amount of detail but microdetails could be a little bit more studied. These are really suited for treble sensitive people imho: brilliant in a good way.

Soundstage is above average in my opinion with great depth, width and height. Imaging is wonderful with good instrument placing and separation.

A little comparison with ZS7:
Sub-bass on the ZS7 is way more extended with greater rumble. Bass is well textured in both IEMs but CCA C10 has bit more boosted bass. Mid-bass is more forward on the C10. Mids are more recessed on the ZS7. Female voices sound more intimate on the ZS7. Highs are more detailed on the ZS7. Soundstage is wider and deeper on the ZS7.
ZS7 are more capable if we speak about technical ability, while the C10 have a smoother signature and timbre that could maybe be better for an everyday use (imho) in mobility, even thanks to the better isolation and comfort.
ZS7 are more suited for analytic e technical listening experience than the C10.

SUMMARY
CCA, which should be KZ’s sister company, did a very good job with the CCA C10. The driver configuration is even the same as the ZS7’s one, and drivers should be the same, just tuned differently.
I personally cannot put these out of my ears as they’re very engaging, natural and organic. It’s hard to say, but i think i like these more than the ZS7 as daily drivers overall.
I hope CCA keeps doing well like they did with the CCA C10 and i will update my review if these get better over 100hrs like many people say.
I will even try to amping as soon as i buy a portable amp.
At the price they’re being sold, they’re a steal in any case.

Greetings,

Today we're checking out a new earphone from a new brand, the CCA C10.

CCA came out of nowhere with a number of products that have raised some eyebrows; the C04, C10, and C16. The C04 features a 1+1 hybrid setup with one balanced armature (BA) and one dynamic driver (DD) per side, while the C16 has a whopping 8 balanced armatures per side. Besides the number of drivers being crammed into their products drawing attention, it also seems that CCA is spin off from Knowledge Zenith, masters of the budget realm. This is evident in the accessories, ear piece shells, and more obviously from the application of KZ branded armatures visible through the plastics.

The C10 we're checking out today splits the difference between the C04 and C16 with a 4+1 hybrid setup. With one dynamic and four balanced armatures per side, it immediately makes me think “rebranded ZS10”. Is it? Let's take a closer look.

Disclaimer:

The thoughts within this review are my own subjective opinions based on a couple months with the C10. They do not represent CCA or any other entity. At the time of writing it was retailing for 41.99 USD on Amazon.

Source:

The C10 is quite easy to drive. I tended to pair it with neutral or bright-leaning DAPs like the Shanling M1 or Walnut V2S because it is a very warm, mid-bassy earphone and darker DAPs made it too thick sounding.

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. My preferences for earphone tuning are quite relaxed and as such their is no one signature I look for. The HiFiMAN RE800 Silver, Brainwavz B400, and Massdrop x MeeAudio Planamic are examples of earphones with wildly varied signatures that are enjoyable for different reasons. I generally listen at very low volumes, so keep this in mind when perusing my thoughts on how an earphone sounds.

Specifications:

• Driver: 4 BA + 1 DD
• Frequency Response: 7-40,000Hz
• Impedance: 32ohms
• Sensitivity: 108dB/mW
• Weight: 29g

Packaging and Accessories:

The C10 arrives in some very KZ-esque packaging. On the front of the exterior sheath covering a compact cardboard box is an image of the C10's earpieces with the cable installed. It does a good job of showing off the beefy connectors and preformed ear guides. You also find the usual CCA branding and model info, as well as information that it is a hybrid earphone with ten drivers total. Flipping to the back of the sheath you find CCA's location and contact information as well as the earphone's specifications.

Slipping off the sheath reveals the C10's earpieces under a plastic cover, tucked tightly into a cardboard and foam insert. Under the insert are the accessories and documentation. In all you get:

• C10 earphones
• 0.75mm 2-pin copper cable
• Single flange ear tips (s/mx2/l)

Overall this is a very basic accessory kit. It's interesting to see that the tip selection is identical to what KZ provided with the ZSN. The pre-installed medium tips are not the usual “Starline” model, instead featuring a smooth finish and very flexible silicone. The extra tips found in a sealed bag are all “Starline” models with the grooved bore.


Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

The C10 sees a nice step up in build quality over it's little brother, the C04. With improved acrylics and a metal back plate, I get mixed vibes of KZ ZSN and Fidue A85 Virgo. ZSN influence comes from the basic shape of the shell while the A85 influence can be found in the matte silver colouring and wavy accents. In my opinion the C10 is a lot more attractive and premium feeling in person than in pics where the metal plate has a plasticy look. In hand it carries a weightiness that isn't common in budget gear, though it's not so heavy that comfort is impeded. In additional to simply feeling good, the build quality is great with no sloppy moulding or misaligned parts. Even the metal grills were installed neatly, though I have seen a couple examples of those falling off. Looking through the clear shell you can see how neatly the five drivers are installed. They didn't load the C10 with glue, only adding what was needed to hold the drivers in place. Overall these are wonderfully built shells that wouldn't feel out of place on a significantly more expensive product.

The braided copper cable is good and will be familiar to anyone that has bought a recent KZ since it's the same, minus new hardware. This also means it takes on the same qualities. It is flexible and doesn't transmit much noise, but the y-split is set too low making it easy to tangle unless you store it carefully. The memory wire KZ often uses has thankfully been replaced with well-shaped preformed ear guides. They do a great job keeping the cable in place around the ear, so no complaints there. I was pleased to see this cable equipped with the knurled metal 2-pin connectors KZ uses on one of their upgraded cables. They look nice and the knurling makes removing the cable quite easy, should it be needed. The y-split is also quite nice with some pretty extreme strain relief where the cable enters from the bottom, and splits leading to each ear piece. The latter is where relief is often omitted, so props to CCA for including it. The cable stumbles slightly when we get to the 90 degree angled jack. The good is that the strain relief here is also fantastic. The bad is that there is no extension for the 3.5mm plug to accommodate cell phone or DAP cases, and since the plug is somewhat chunky you're likely to find they interact in a way that is not desirable. My LG G6 has a very simple, thin, clear rubber case over it with a fairly spacious hole around the headphone jack. The C10's plug sits flush with the body of the phone but rubs against the case so really any movement causes it to dislodge slightly. So yeah, if you're planning to use the C10 with a device that has a case, you're probably going to need to swap to a different cable or forgo the case.

In terms of comfort the C10 is fantastic. But, as seems to be the case lately those with smaller or oddly shaped outer ears might want to be cautious checking out this model because it's not particularly small and is meant for over ear wear only. Luckily I don't fall into either of those categories and as such the C10 is a gem to wear for long periods. The absence of any sharp angles or weird shapes means it tucks into my outer ear naturally.

Isolation is about average to slightly above which caught me by surprise. Outside of the ZSN, none of the other earphones I've used with a similar shell were particularly outstanding at blocking outside noise thanks to the relatively shallow fit, so I don't know what makes the C10 different. Maybe it's because all that interior space is filled with drivers instead of air? Either way, these worked great outside and in noisy areas and I'd happily take them with me on my travels.


Sound:

I need to applaud CCA right off the bat for taking KZ's armatures and tuning them to be so impossibly smooth. Looking through the shell and seeing a bunch of KZ armatures, then popping the C10 back into my ears makes me want to do a double take because there is no aggressiveness, no harshness, no sibilance or roughness, and no readily apparent peaks. Somehow they made these armatures smooth and tame, yet without any sacrifice to speed, detail, or clarity. Very ZS10-like. You can actually listen to The Crystal Method's "Grace feat. LeAnn Rimes" through the C10 and it's not a screechy scratchfest. Super impressive. Despite being reasonably mellow, the presentation is still quite spacious and airy too with a convincing distance between notes. If you're treble sensitive and looking for a solid budget hybrid, here you go!

The mid-range is much the same. Warm and silky smooth with great articulation and coherence. It blends in very well with the treble and bass, though the lower mids do see a touch of interference from the low end as the C10 is quite mid-bassy. Still, male vocals sound wonderful as evident tossing on Daft Punk's "Touch". Paul Williams tones are deep and full with tons of emotion and nuance. It's pretty great. Female vocals are served well too as heard on Jessie J's "Bang Bang". Jessie and Ariana sound powerful and distinct while Nicki's rapping is on point and free of the nasal tone some cheapo earphones apply. Timbre is excellent with the acoustic guitar on Porcupine Tree's "Baby Dream in Cellophane" sounding just right. Attack on each strum is solid and confident and decay hangs for just a brief moment. The only complaint I could levy here, and it's more of a preference thing, is that the mids could stand to be a couple dB more forward. That or reduce the bass a bit.

Speaking of bass, the C10 has lots of it. It extends well and provides a good bit of visceral feedback on The Prodigy's "Thunder", but the mid-bass bloom is a bit much at times and can make the C10 boomy. Most of the time it is tight and well controlled and can take on quick double bass, such as on Havok's "Covering Fire", pretty easy. Despite the quantity of bass on handle, it can be nimble when it needs to. Texturing is a little lacking at times as I found running through Tobacco's discography as their grungy bass is smoothed out more than it should be. I guess that's good if you listen to lots of lo-fi music or highly compressed files ala. Soundcloud or Youtube.

The C10 provides a good sound stage experience for a budget headphone, but still not much beyond average. You get none of that in-your-head feel. Instead, music plays just beside your ears. I find the stage deeper than it is wide, so while the C10 will toss effects off in the distance, the movement is limited. The depth certainly helps with layering and separation though, keeping instruments and effect distinct and from blurring or smearing each other. Imaging is smooth but slightly vague making pinpointing locations of instruments or effects less accurate than on something like the single armature Brainwavz B100.


Select Comparisons:

KZ ZS10 (46.00 USD): Both earphones are warm and bassy with the C10 showing more upper treble emphasis and a more prominent lower mid-range. C10 seems better with male vocals while the ZS10 seems more at home with female vocals. Bass on both is mostly focused on the mid-bass with similarly good extension (C10 has a slight edge here), limited texturing, and general performance. I don't hear a significant enough difference between the two to say that I have a preference in that metric. Sound stage is very clearly in the ZS10's camp despite the lack of upper treble. It provides a much more spacious experience making the C10 seems almost intimate in comparison. It also does a better job of moving sound accurately from channel to channel and comes across more layer with better instrument separation. Micro-detail goes to the ZS10 and while its mid-range is more recessed, it remains clearer. Even though neither of these two have the treble energy I crave, the ZS10's much larger sound stage and improved technical abilities have me preferring it over the C10 in terms of sound. C10 is superior in terms of build and fit though, thanks to the metal face plate, improved cable hardware, and smaller, ZST-style shell.

BQEYZ KC2 (57.99 USD): The C10 has a warmer, mid-bassier presentation with less treble energy overall. KC2's mid-range is more even and forward with improved clarity and detail. KC2's treble provides more information but isn't as well controlled or smooth as on the C10. KC2's bass extension is just as good but the balanced is skewed less towards the mid-bass and more towards sub-bass. C10's bass is less textured and softer feeling overall with less speed and punch. Sound stage on the KC2 is wider and deeper with better imaging, layering, and separation. Overall detail and clarity goes to the KC2. It simply sounds like the better performer, but it is brighter which the treble sensitive out there will want to shy away from if they tend to find budget hybrids too sharp. Build of the shells is in the KC2's hand thanks to the well-machined, aluminum construction. The cable sucks though and I'd take CCA's any day. I really don't know why people like BQEYZ's cable. Sure it has a chin cinch but that's not particularly useful when the cable is stiff, retains all the kinks and bends from initial packaging, tangles even more easily than CCA/KZ cables. In cool weather it all gets worse to boot.

Final Thoughts:

CCA is proving themselves to be a worthy entrant in the budget earphone sphere. Yes, they are taking KZ parts and drivers and re-tuning them while applying a new brand name, but it seems to be working. There are similarities between KZ's ZS10 and the C10, but they definitely are not the same earphone in a different shell.

The C10's warm, v-shaped signature is super smooth and quite refined with a decent sound stage and acceptable technical ability. For me personally, the mid-bass quantity could stand to be toned down a bit and once I start comparing to some other cherry-picked earphones in the price range, the level of detail on offer falters a touch, but it's still an enjoyable listen and this style of tuning would make for a fantastic daily-driver. The build quality is quite nice as well, especially that stylish metal face plate which gives them some heft and a more premium look in person. Like many products nowadays, they feel and sound more expensive than their sub-50 USD price tag would suggest. If you pick them up while on sale or do some digging, they can be had at a price that absolutely shames what you could get from an equivalently priced product from a more mainstream brand. I would like to see CCA do more to differentiate themselves from KZ via more unique packaging, less parts sharing, and maybe toss in a carrying case which is something many customers seem to lament being omitted.

Otherwise, the CCA C10 is a well-designed and pleasantly tuned earphone that should appeal to a wide variety of listeners that enjoy warm and bassy earphones. It's a good value and a safe pick if you want to snag a solid performer in the sub-50 USD realm.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler


Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock - Skelethon (Album)
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (Album)
Elton John - Yellow Golden Brick Road (Album)
King Crimson - Lark's Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp - Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians (Album)
Infected Mushroom - Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack - Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco - screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt - Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bone) (Album)

First off, I received these free of charge in exchange for an honest review

There was a bit of hype around CCA recently and I had to get in on the action after stepping away from purchasing ChiFi gear but still following relatively closely. Simply put...these has become my go to sub $100 IEM. It's solid, balanced sound is engaging and never fatiguing. I've tested this straight out of a Sony ZX300a, ES100, ES100 paired with Little Bear B4-X for portable. Desktop setup is an Ifi Micro DSD BL paired with a JDS Labs El Amp. It paired well with everything.

The stock tips are very good but I've decided to go with Dekoni Bulletz foam tips. The stock cable is nice though is prone to tangle, no biggie, I opted for a nice 8 core balanced cable from Kinboofi (purchased on Amazon). I don't notice a big difference with balanced with the C10 but I always go for balanced because, why not?! These are comfy and not heavy so they are easy to wear for hours should you choose too. I got them in the Purple and they are gorgeous.

Sub bass has a deep rumble with a good punch, mid bass is in line with the sub bass to my ears with good texture. Mids are spacious allowing for a nicely layered almost holgraphic sound. Treble extends nicely with just the right amount of crispness to sound airy but not too bright or piercing. These are pretty forgiving of poorly recorded music, this rely more on a fun sound rather than analytical.

Vocals are a strong point, a good amount of intimacy without sounding too thick or shouty. Intelligibility is a strong point here.

The stage depth, width and height is about average for where ChiFi is at for the most part nowadays. Long gone seems to be the narrow, congested staging of past earphones in general.

All in all, this is a solid offering and my go to recommendation. This is the type of gear that can show audiophile beginners that not a lot of money can give you a great sound you didn't know can be had.

INTRODUCTION/DISCLAIMER:

The CCA-C10 is an in-ear monitor with a hybrid driver configuration (1DD+4BA per side) that retails for approximately $28 at the time of this review. I purchased the C10 from the Nicehck Audio Store on AliExpress for $.1 with the expectation of a fair and objective review.

This review can also be read on my blog here.

SOURCES

I have used the CCA-C10 with the following sources:

Hidizs AP60II > CCA-C10

Windows 10 PC > JDS Labs The Element > CCA-C10

Windows 10 PC > Hidizs AP60II > CCA-C10

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Global > CCA-C10

Pixel 3 > Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle > CCA-C10

I have tested these headphones with local FLAC, Spotify Premium (256/320 kbps Ogg Vorbis), Youtube Music (256 kbps AAC), and Google Play Music (320kbps MP3).

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The CCA-C10 comes in a small rectangular white box. The box pictures the CCA-C10 on the front and gives the manufacturer’s contact information and technical specifications for the IEM on the back. Inside the box are the IEMs, a detachable .75mm 2-pin cable, 4 sets of eartips (1 generic black silicone, 3 KZ Starline-type [S, M, L]), a user manual, and a warranty card. The CCA-C10 does not come with a carry bag or case.

BUILD QUALITY / DESIGN

The CCA-C10 is almost identical to the KZ ZSN in design, with a zinc alloy faceplate and a clear acrylic body. The CCA logo is printed on the faceplate along with the total driver count. The model name, “left” or “right”, and “10 Hybrid technology” are printed on the side of each housing. Each earpiece has small two circular vents on the inner face of the housing. Despite these vents, I experienced moderate driver flex when inserting the earphones. The nozzle does not have a lip for securing eartips.

The cable is braided copper with aluminium housings for the 2-pin connections and a rubber L-shaped housing for the 3.5mm jack. The 2-pin housing have blue and red markings to indicate left and right. The cable has pre-formed ear-guides without memory wire. There is no chin-adjustment choker. The cable is very tangle-prone and seems to attract static electricity.

COMFORT / FIT / ISOLATION

The CCA-C10 is intended to be worn cable-up only. Comfort is excellent but getting a secure fit is difficult because the nozzles are at a strange angle relative to the housings. I felt like the nozzles would migrate out of my ear canals while wearing the C10s. I had to use the largest included Starline-type eartips to get a good seal. Isolation is average.

SOUND
The CCA-C10 has a very mild airy V-shaped tuning. The extended and forceful sub-bass is the first thing I notice when I use the C10. The C10s have the best sub-bass I have heard on a sub-$50 IEM. Mid-bass is elevated without overwhelming either the sub-bass or the lower mids. The bass response is very quick for a dynamic driver with regards to both attack and decay. Bass texture is somewhat dry.

The lower mids are present and smooth without being either recessed or over-emphasized. Upper mids are more prominent without going overboard with presence. Detail retrieval is impressive for the price. There is a hint of sibilance on female vocals.

Treble is crisp, erring on the side of smoothness while still preserving an impressive amount of clarity. There is a good deal of air but not a ton of sparkle. Transients are convincing.

Imaging is realistic. Instrument separation is above average. Soundstage is wider and deeper than average.

MEASUREMENTS

My measurements were conducted with a Dayton iMM-6 microphone using a vinyl tubing coupler and a calibrated USB sound interface at a resonance point between 7.5 and 8k. The measurements are presented with 1/24th smoothing and without compensation. Measurements above 10k are not reliable.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCE PAIRING

With a sensitivity of 108dB and an impedance of 32ohms, I do not feel the C10 benefits noticeably from dedicated amplification. The C10 does not hiss.

COMPARISONS

CCA-C10 (1DD/4BA) [$28] vs Yersen FEN-2000 (1 DD+1BA) [$24]

The FEN-2000 is more V-shaped than the C10. The tonality of the C10 is more realistic. The FEN-2000 has similar sub-bass extension and a larger midbass hump. The C10 has quicker bass decay. The two IEMs have similar lower midranges. The FEN-2000 has a more aggressive upper midrange. Despite this, the C10 has better detail retrieval. The C10 has a more natural-sounding midrange. The FEN-2000’s treble is more energetic, with greater sparkle, but is rather grainy, especially at higher volumes. The C10 has quicker treble decay. The FEN-2000 is more detailed and airier but is harsher. The C10 has a larger soundstage and better instrument separation. The C10 has better imaging. The FEN-2000 is harder to drive and may need a more powerful source if attaining adequate listening volume is an issue with a smartphone. The FEN-2000 is less comfortable but has a more secure fit.

CLOSING WORDS

Despite a mediocre cable and accessory selection, the CCA-C10 represents a killer value for an entry-level hybrid, with good build quality, a balanced sound signature, and great detail retrieval.

With thanks to CCA who provided these for me to review, I'm pleased to say I have no hesitation in recommending the CCA-C10 10 Driver, yes 10 Driver and hybrid to boot! IEMs.
Fit
Is as close to perfect as I've found for my REALLY annoying ears! They have the classic olive shape that I'm a huge fan of.
Isolation
Is high, it was always going to be with the snugness of the fit. Angled drivers push halfway into the ear canal. Pretty soon one gets the impression of being under water without there being music pumped through.
Comfort
These are metal driver shells and detachable cable terminations, yet they are machined smoothly enough to make them sit very comfortably inside the ear. The around the ear memory wiring works perfectly. The cable is heavy enough to enhance the solidity of the fit without unduly pulling on the driver shells.
Sound
Is first rate! Balanced, controlled, powerful and detailed. For a $41 IEM.... I ran them through the Hifiman Supermini balanced connection, they work just great through it even though they are unbalanced. Don't ask me how the Supermini has some cool stuff going on with it.... If you are worried about harshness or an overly crisp sound signature or the C10 being tuned for the Asian Market and being bass light, there is nothing to concern yourself with. This is fatigue free listening.
There is very little to criticise about the CCA-C10 4BA 1DD IEMs. None of the below are likely to effect a purchase and must be pit in the context of a crazy $41 price tag!

There is no tightening sleeve on the cable which means that it will rather loose below the ears. They are currently not on sale on Amazon.co.uk so will incur a small customs fee, taken at time of purchase, from those outside the USA. They don't come with a carry case. I am of the opinion that if costs and shipping weight need to be cut, these would be the places I'd compromise on rather than the earphones themselves.

The CCA C10 is a new design from a relatively new company, Clear Concept Audio, which is a sister company of KZ (Knowledge Zenith), and the C10 shares some components with previous KZ models. It is a hybrid design, with five drivers per side (1 DD + 4BA), hence the name C10 (10 drivers in total). The Dynamic driver is 10mm in diameter and has a dual magnet and titanium diaphragm. The BAs used are 2 x 50060 and 2 x 30095, the same units as the KZ ZS10, but in a different configuration.

The earphones come in a similar packaging to KZ models, in a plain box with a photograph of the earphones, being presented in a tray below which are the 2-pin detachable cable, spare eartips and documentation. The earpieces have a zinc alloy faceplate which is similar in shape to that fitted to the KZ ZSN but with a different surface design, bearing the CCA logo and the words “DDx2 BAx8”. The rear of the earpiece is formed from a clear acrylic material through which the components can be seen, and the words “10 hybrid technology”are written on the side. The cable is a braided copper type with aluminium plugs featuring a knurled design. The fit and finish of the units is very good, being of a much higher quality than the ZS10, for example. Comfort was superb, with the pre-formed ear hooks fitting very well, and the inner surface of the earpieces being smooth and perfectly contoured.

Initial impressions were excellent, the sound being well-balanced with an attractive “live” feel. Detail retrieval was noticeable. There was an overall brightness to the sound. Testing was carried out using a Hifi Walker H2 DAP connected to a Fiio A5 amplifier, via line out. I conducted a 100-hour burn-in before auditioning critically, after which the initial brightness settled down. The pre-fitted tips fitted well, but I exchanged them for JVC Spiral Dots, which gave an improved seal.

I have to say that these are the best IEMs I have so far heard (I have tested more than 25 different models). The overall balance was just about perfect with no part of the frequency range emphasised. The open, airy quality of the sound and balance suited every genre of music equally. In more detail:

Bass

The bass was perfectly balanced. It reached deep but never imposed on the midrange. Because there was no mid-bass hump, the bass seemed subdued on first impression, but when real low frequencies came in, the response was excellent. In Albinoni’s “Adagio” by the Guildhall String Ensemble, the organ accompaniment had real depth, impact and texture, providing a perfect backdrop for the soaring strings. Everything was in perfect proportion. Electronic music also benefited from the precision, speed and agility of the bass. Mark Dwane’s “Siren’s Song” from his album “Archives 2” has a fast-moving sub-bass accompaniment. Every note was clean and well-defined with depth and slam and was easily discernible above the electronic and vocal lines. The sound was very different from the V-shaped profile of the ZS10 and was much more musically satisfying.

Mids

The mids had a remarkable clarity and detail, not being recessed at all, even though bass and treble were both clear and present. A good example of this was in Charles Ives’s “The Unanswered Question” performed by the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein. This piece features a hushed string background, punctuated by staccato parts for brass and woodwind. The different timbres of the instruments and their impact were portrayed beautifully, creating a wonderful sense of atmosphere and an otherworldly feeling, exactly as the composer intended. Al Stewart’s classic “Year of the Cat” has a superb production by Alan Parsons. The introduction features piano, percussion and guitar and each strand was clear and easy to follow. Al Stewart’s voice stood out clearly with the studio reverb adding atmosphere and space. The sax and acoustic guitar solos in the middle of the song came over with great impact and immediacy. A wonderful performance.

Treble

The treble was reproduced beautifully, with no discernible peaks or harshness. There was good resolution and delicacy, the finest details being presented clearly. Matthew Clifford’s “Accumulus” is a synthesiser work with a classical structure performed on an arsenal of keyboards. The main theme is in a high register and was perfectly clear and smooth. Electronic percussion had clarity and sparkle. In “The Young Prince and Princess” from “Scheherazade” by The Kirov Orchestra, it was easy to hear that the string section was composed of separate instruments, rather than a “block” of sound. The ambience of the recording venue was airy and spacious, giving the impression of a live performance.

The C10 IEM is a total success. It uses the same drivers as the KZ ZS10, but is tuned differently. The ZS10, in comparison, has a noticeable V-shaped profile and the bass seems somewhat detached from the rest of the range. There is an elevated presence region which leads to a pronounced peak in the treble, producing some harshness and sibilance. The C 10 does not suffer from these artefacts. Its internal structure is different, with the BA drivers arranged differently.

With quality build, excellent comfort and superb sound, CCA have come up with a winner. They have now become my#1 IEM and my go-to pair.

INTRO
CCA seems to be a daughter company of Knowledge Zenith, because it uses partially, in modified form, the cases of already existing KZ In-Ears (C10 - ZSN | C16 - AS10), as well as drivers in different configurations (BAs of the ZS10 - BAs of the C10), but also brings in own elements, like the cable connector, design of the housing plate, or concerning the drivers and their tuning. It will be interesting to see which way the two companies take. With the C16 (8 BAs) CCA breaks the 100 € mark for the first time, which KZ has so far successfully undercut, but has not yet come up with such a configuration.


HANDLING
The housing of the C10 is basically the same as that of the KZ ZSN. Only the metal housing plate is different and will probably serve the recognition feature of CCA in the future, since the same is also found in the C16. In addition, the version numbers of CCA seem plausible at the moment (C04 - 2 drivers per side, C10 - 5 drivers, C16 - 8 drivers), which doesn't always seem very logical for KZ. However, this will probably change as soon as more 5 drivers in-Ears from CCA come onto the market, unless you consistently open a new series such as CCA K10 or similar, in a new, but within the series similar design.

Like the KZ ZSN, the C10 is more than comfortable to wear and the isolation is above average. In contrast to many other in-ears from KZ, you also have the feeling of holding a premium product in your hands, within the price category.


SOUNDS
Here I would like to consult the comparison to the KZ ZS10, because they share not only the same number of drivers with the same setup (1*DD & 4*BA), but also exactly the same BA drivers.

The bass doesn't differ too much from the ZS10. They both deliver nearly the same depth and have a dry mid-bass punch. However, the bass of the C10 is rounder and more dynamic. The bass of the ZS10, on the other hand, is more sterile. Here you quickly realize that the dynamic driver of the C10 is different from that of its brother.
It can give any genre the impact it needs. Whether Rock, Jazz, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, or Electro. In the rarest cases he can easily exaggerate it, because the bass of the C10 is by far not a child of sadness. But it doesn't rob the mids and highs their place, it just knocks from below on the basement door of the ground floor from time to time. I would describe it as fun, dynamic and textured, although the latter is not its main focus. It provides a warm but natural sound.

The mids are surprisingly present for the V-signature. In any case, they are much more musical than those of the ZS10 and the voices are more in the foreground and have a considerable body. If you like, the mids are exactly between the ZS10 and the ZS7, as they are a bit more "In Your Face" with the ZS7, as well as more playful and spacious.
So if you don't like it so direct, but don't want to search for the mids while listening to a song, the C10 is the right choice for you. Everything sounds very natural and well separated. Especially guitar-heavy music is fun, like for example "All of it" by Cole Swindell, or "Moving On" by Paul Weller. Here you also become aware of what the C10 can do on stage. We have vertically observed the voice behind the forehead, the guitars at eye level and the strings already above the head. Coldplay's "Fix You (Live in Buenos Aires)" gives you an insight into what is possible in width and depth. The audience is felt everywhere in the head and outside.

However, the song, as well as True Colours (Chlara), has a small point of criticism and these are the sibilants. They aren't overly accentuated, but pop up from time to time. But that's all in the framework!
The trebles are generally quite crisp, but without getting too sharp or sounding metallic. The metallic sound we get with the ZS10 is more pronounced, but the treble is more relaxed. Nevertheless, the high frequencies of the C10 do almost everything right. Clear and detailed, they buzz around in your head and provide a great 3D experience. And it never gets unpleasant or too sharp.


OUTRO
It's impressive what CCA does with the C10, because although they share the drivers of the KZ ZS10 except for the dynamic ones, they are much better tuned, placed and adjusted. In addition there is the entry price of almost 33 € which is more than justified for these in-ears. The C10 doesn't disregard the mids within the V-signature and gives us a fun and balanced sound.

BUY HERE:CCA Headphone Store

Used Songs:
Fix You (Live in Buenos Aires) – Coldplay
Algorithm – Muse
True Colours – Chlara
Jumpsuit – twenty one pilot
Prayers – Good Charlotte
Moving On – Paul Weller
All of it – Cole Swindell
Get Your Shirt – Underworld

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*The CCA C10 can be purchased form the official CCA Headphone Store*

Overall impressions : With 20 hours of Burn in process . The overall sound signature is V-shaped without Doubt with more forward sound. There is a big Impact being conveyed with these IEMS but not overdone.There is a good balance between the highs mids and lows which is the main draw factor of this IEM. The layering is very good and the articulation is premium. There is some scientific type of sound articulation going on where one gets the impression of being in premium quality studio. A good impactful factor is present. Overall in between a audiophile and fun factor IEM.Overall these IEMs present the aspect of aliveness :- quality of sound reproduction which gives an impression that the performers are present, in person, in the listening room with body , bearing a quality of roundness and robustness in reproduced sound. "Gutsiness." and best described as a "lively sound without coloration" is present.Overall very musical IEM with the right amount of body oriented sound , articulation and coherence without overdoing or excess in any part of the sound

Treble: Tricky to describe the treble characteristics of the C10. They are best described as nowhere here nor there but in no way lacking.Better than average details and clarity. No harshness or sibilance present here but at the same time not smooth or not having a roll off early. They are of a slight grainy nature in some instances with hard hitting "tin sound" impact.The treble is open and transparent with some body . There is a well rounded form to the treble with airyness. Note that the airiness here is not present as sparkle which most people relate to the notion of "air" but more of a different variety where there is a well rounded sound with hard crispy edge floating in a soundstage. The treble is part of the soundstage and there is some sparkle like reverb present depending on if the source material calls for it .Crisp is more present than sparkle.Treble overall is not too clumsy, thin or flimsy. Just the right body and shape.Those who are used to sparkly IEMS will not miss anything here..

Mids: Perfectly placed. Neither recessed nor too forward. There is a good "shape and form " present with a bright tonality and transparency in the mids.They are not too steely or not too harsh but just right. There is some crisp present that articulates similar to the treble characteristics.They are right in their place without creeping up to the treble.Both male and female vocals come across extremely well with body and shape form.No graininess or grittiness is present.A smooth body and sufficient transparent charactistic is present.One of the best mids heard in a a budget IEM.

Bass:Without doubt, the classic V-shaped bass just in the right amount. There is no excessive mid bass present to cloud the soundstage or early roll off bass. The sub bass digs deep enough without being overly dominant and spreads widely in the lower spectrum of the soundstage. The bass is kept in its place without creeping up to the mids. the overall bass is more sub bass or lower mid bass oriented than mid bass dominant in line with a deep V shaped signature . Regarding details , they sound smooth and coherent without obscuring details or clarity coming through the soundstage.

Soundstage: Open with ample depth, height and width containing a "live" sound. Lots of background acoustical space present here. There is very good separation , some micro details with clarity and instrumentation. The same amount of depth and width present. Not too wide or narrow. The instumentation comes across as floating in 3D space togther with clarity, decent transpareny and instrumentatio without coming off as too thin or flimsy but with the right body. There is a good amount of ambience. One good characteristic of the soundstage is the cocktail-party effect , controllable ability to separate-out, on the basis of direction alone, one sound source from many coming from different directions. It allows you to follow one voice among the others at a noisy cocktail party.as when a sound has the timbre of a close listening seat but the perspective of a distant one.Overall a very musical soundstage is present.


Tonality: A mixture of warm and cold sound tonality.Bright, brilliant but also dark whch relates well to the energy content found in reproduced music.Quite apt for musicality.





Select comparison with KZ ZSN: I have both these IEMs and have used them extensively The C10 has same V -shaped sound signature. With the stock cable and eartips. my first impressions have the sound signature very close to ZSN but with a difference. The frequencies and layering are kept in their place without the mid/vocal harshness or the overly steely sound signature of ZSN. The vocals are not overly forward like the ZSN. the musical qualities are better than the RSN. the stage is more holographic than RSN. There is more depth articulation in the stage. overall the C10 manages to sound better in all aspects.