CCA CRA+ Universal In Ear Monitor

INTRODUCTION AND DISCLAIMER:​

The CCA CRA+ is an in-ear monitor (IEM) which uses a single 10mm dynamic driver per housing. HiFiGo sent me the CRA+ in exchange for my evaluation. The CRA+ retails for $33.

SOURCES:​

I used the CCA CRA+ with the following sources:

• Qudelix 5K
• Hidizs S9
• Apple Dongle

I tested the CRA+ with local lossless audio files and Spotify Premium. Visit my last.fm page to get an idea of what I listen to:
XenosBroodLord’s Library | Last.fm

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES:​

The CCA CRA+ comes in a small rectangular white box with a white slipcover. The slipcover pictures the CRA+ on the front and provides CCA’s contact information and technical specifications for the CRA+ on the back. Inside the box are the IEMs, a detachable .75mm 2-pin cable, 3 pairs of silicone eartips (S, M, L), and a user manual. The CRA+ does not come with a carry pouch or case.

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN:​

The CCA CRA+ has dark translucent acrylic housings with gold metal faceplates. The faceplates are fingerprint magnets. The housings have a pseudo-custom fit. There are two pinprick vents on the inner housing, one directly above the dynamic driver and one in line with the 2-pin connector. The acrylic nozzles have small lips for securing eartips.
The included 2-pin cable is typical of a KZ-type IEM. The cable uses QDC-style extruded connectors. “L” and “R” indicators are faintly embossed on the 2-pin connectors. The cable has chunky rubber hardware at the Y-split and 3.5mm jack, with substantial strain relief above the 3.5mm jack. The cable has pre-formed earguides without memory wire. There is no chin adjustment slider.

COMFORT, FIT, AND ISOLATION:​

The CCA CRA+ is worn cable-up. I found the CRA+ to be comfortable. Insertion depth is shallow and secureness of fit is tip-dependent. I had the most secure fit with Tennmak foam eartips. Most aftermarket silicone eartips I tried, including Moondrop Spring tips and Eartune Fidelity tips, did not feel secure even using the largest-sized eartips I had available. Spinfit CP100+ eartips were an exception. Isolation is above average. The CRA+ had moderate driver flex with most silicone eartips.

MEASUREMENTS:​

You can find measurements of the CCA CRA+ on my expanding squig.link database:
CCA CRA+ — Squiglink by Bedrock Reviews

SOUND:​

The CCA CRA+ has a V-shaped tuning.
The CRA+ has a fun and impactful level of bass. Sub-bass extension is excellent. Bass texture, articulation, and resolution are all great for the price point. There is more mid-bass than I prefer, but the CRA+ largely avoids mid-bass bleed.
The CRA+ has ample lower midrange body. Vocal intelligibility is very good for both male and female vocals. Male and female vocals are roughly equal in their emphasis, but female vocals have a hint of extra energy. The level of presence is appropriate given the overall upper midrange contour. Midrange clarity is adequate for the price point. There is a hint of plasticity and a moderate amount of compression to percussion.
There is a bit of extra sizzle in the lower treble, even with foam eartips. Still, the heightened treble emphasis is complementary to the engaging bass region. Detail retrieval is much better than I would expect from a $30 IEM, and trades blows with $80 IEMs like the Moondrop Aria and Dunu Titan S. Upper treble extension is stellar for an IEM of this price, and treble transient delivery is very crisp. Soundstage size is average, as are instrument separation and imaging.

SOURCE PAIRING:​

The CCA CRA+can be comfortably driven with nearly any dedicated source, including the Apple dongle. I did not notice hiss with any of my sources.

CLOSING WORDS:​

While I prefer the tuning of the Moondrop Chu in most areas, the CCA CRA+ offers tangible improvements to bass and treble technicalities for a modest price increase. The CRA+ is perhaps the best IEM to emerge from under the KZ umbrella and is one of the best IEMs at this price point from any manufacturer.
The CCA CRA+ can be purchased here:
CCA CRA+ Sports Game HiFi Noice Cancelling Metal In-ear Earphones — HiFiGo

The CCA CRA+ have been sent to me by Linsoul in exchange for the publication of this review. As usual, they have not requested anything specific but I will leave a non-affiliate link to the CCA CRA+ via their webstore on my blog.

This means that I will be as honest and unbiased as possible, as I always am, but it is always good to take into consideration that these IEMs have not cost me anything.



Intro…

As you probably already know, CCA are a brand owned by KZ. I have not been paying any attention to KZ lately, since the whole “non working driver” fiasco. Not because I specifically have anything against them, it is just that there are so many IEMs available on the market that I have no need for drama. In fact, the last set of KZ IEMs I was sent were the DQ6s (which I did a very brief impression video of) and the ZES which I didn’t even review (you really didn’t miss much there).

However, not long ago I reviewed the CCA CRA, the predecessor of the model I have here today, and I said that “what if the best KZ IEMs are not KZ?”. So, when Linsoul asked if I wanted to try the CRA+, I was more than happy to give them a listen and I am actually quite glad I did.

According to the publicity, they are an upgraded model with completely new drivers and while I take this with a grain of salt, there are noticeable differences between the original and the plus.



Presentation…

There is absolutely no difference in presentation between the original CRA and the CRA+, the same box, the same contents except for the cable ( in this case I have received the version with microphone) and generally the exact same everything. So, if you really want to know more about the white box, you can check my review of the original CRA.



Build and aesthetics…

The publicity jargon also says luxury appearance, which I guess means they are gold coloured. The originals were available in Black (actually a dark grey metal colour) and White, whereas the new CRA+ are only available in Gold.

That is literally the only difference I have been able to spot between the two.

Personally, I am not a fan of gold but I am not going to complain about it, these IEMs come in at around 27€ (at the time of publishing this review) and aesthetics are not something I worry about too much at this price, although I will say that the original CRA comes in under 14€, so these cost almost double the older model.



Sound…

So, we have established that so far there are very few (if any) differences between the two models, but in the sound category is where things start to stand out. Before I get into it, let me mention that my listening has been done almost exclusively with the Gryphon (with no EQ) and using both the stock cable and tips from the original CRA. My choice of tips and cable was to keep it consistent between the two, that doesn’t mean that different tips won’t react differently on each model, just that I haven’t tip rolled.

As a quick recap of the original, I said that they had a lot of bass, more than I would choose, but that it is very good quality bass and that although I wouldn’t use them all the time, that I liked them. In fact, they (the CRA) have actually been in my box of reference IEMs since then.

Well, the CRA+ seems to have kept the qualities of the original and changed the tuning slightly, making them more enjoyable (for me personally) than the originals.

Let’s take a quick look at the graph of the two:



(all measurements can be seen and compared on achoreviews.squig.link)

So, starting off at the bottom, there is quite a difference in the subbass quantity of the two, with the newer model having much less. Putting them through my usual “Chameleon” test by Trentemoller, this makes itself quite apparent. However, I will say that I don’t find myself missing any subbass in this song with the CRA+. There is still plenty there and is still above what I would usually choose in this region, it is just not as spectacular in the ultra lows as the original CRA is.

The CRA also did a good job of controlling this low end and the CRA+ keeps things just as well defined as the original. I can’t say that it is the most defined and clean subbass I have heard but it is still quite a way above other options, especially in such a low price bracket.

Moving into the midbass, there is slightly more presence on paper with the Plus, hower, it is more of the fact that the focus is moved from the subbass of the original to the midbass on the newer version, putting more emphasis on this range and seeming like it is more present than it actually is.

In this range, the midbass punch is very impressive, even without factoring in cost, with notes presenting themselves with authority and definition. This can make songs that have plenty happening in the midbass region come across more impressively on this new set. Personally this is not something that I enjoy, I mean, I like a little boost in the midbass on certain genres (such as classic rock etc), but I feel that the CRA+ is a little overdone in this area. Again, that is just a personal preference and I feel that it is something that will be very impressive for those that enjoy it.

The mids are very similar between the two, however, on the Plus there is a little more presence in the 2k range and that peak at 5k, as we start to reach into the higher frequencies, has been tamed quite a bit. This is something that pleases me, as I am not a fan of the 5k being above everything around it, but at the same time I feel that a little more in the 3kHz zone (rather than just the 2kHz bump) would have worked better to bring vocals a little more forward and avoid a little of the darker smoothness that has resulted from the actual tuning.

I am actually nitpicking here, it is really not bad and I prefer the tuning to many other sets that are much more expensive, however, there is always room for improvement

As far as detail, this is still an impressive set for the money, sounding very well controlled and offering details that are usually not as apparent on IEMs with this kind of tuning. It is not detailed to a level that will be mind blowing but it is more than adequate for the price range that it sits in, in fact, it would embarrass some options that go for 3 or 4 times the price.

Soundstage comes across to me as being around average, much the same as the original CRA, with good image placement inside the space that it works with. You can easily identify images and while it may not have all the details that I am used to hearing, it is not something that I would point out as being bad, far from it.



Conclusion…

I don’t think I can say that the CRA+ are not as good, or better, than the original CRA. When I first tried (and reviewed) the original CRA, I said that they were possibly the best KZ IEM to date, even if they are not officially KZ. In the case of the CRA+, I feel that most of my opinions regarding the originals can easily be referenced to these also.

Would I say that they are better than the originals, well it depends. For me personally, I prefer the higher mids of the CRA+, whereas I prefer the low end of the CRA, which takes a bit of emphasis away from the midbass and puts the focus on the subbass. Both of them are very good for the price and I think the preference will come down to the personal taste of each individual.

The new model is more expensive, but it is still way inside the bracket of what I would consider a cheap set of IEMs, therefore I don’t think that the price will be a deciding factor for the majority. The included accessories are also identical, so no points added or deducted there. I would say that, basically, it comes down to whether you prefer your slam to happen in the subbass or midbass regions.

(as usual, this review is available in Spanish both on www.achoreviews.com and on www.youtube.com/achoreviews)

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Disclaimer/s:

• KZ sent this unit to me in an exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that this review will try its best to devoid from any bias/es.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 5 days.


Source/s used:

• Hidizs AP80
• Not-By-VE Avani Realtek Dongle
• BaseUs USB DAC
• Zishan U1 USB DAC (AKM Variant)
• Cyberdrive Feather DAC
• Non-HiFi smartphone (realme 5i, Samsung Galaxy On7)
• Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM and configuration: Stock medium eartips, stock cable, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume, both high and low gain.

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Sound signature:

• U-shaped slightly leaning bright sound signature. Punchy, controlled bass, warm, smooth mids, extended bright highs.

Lows:

• Lows are elevated and are a great improvement when compared to the CRA. The bass is much more textured and/or detailed when compared to the CRA. The midbass is also much more punchier when compared to its older sibling. The midbass is a bit dominant over the subbass, which also results in more controlled lows with fast decay. Overall, the CRA+ can cater and will deliver punchy, elevated lows that will satisfy the majority of the genres, even those genres that require “earth-shaking” bass. The CRA is a bit bassier though, but I would sacrifice bass quantity for bass texture and detail.

Mids:

• The mids are slightly recessed and it makes the mids of its older sibling sounds like it has a gaping hole in the mids. There is a bit of midbass bleed but it is only enough for the lower mids to have some weight and thickness to it. Lower vocals are placed “correct” and not too distant nor too forward. Upper mids are elevated with good enough air, clarity and extension. There is a peak on very sibilant tracks or with tracks with poor or compressed recording but is far from being intolerable for most people like its sibling. As a result, the mids on the CRA+ is where I hear the drastic improvement the most. Its mids became more mature while keeping the necessary fun when the track needs it. Its mids became more open, forwarded a bit, and became more smoother by removing the unnecessary sibilance. The mids will improve further with the help of eartip rolling and proper source pairing as this scales with a bit of extra juice of power and pairing.

Highs:

• The highs on the CRA+ are bright but not as elevated when compared to its lows. It is also well extended and is a bit controlled when compared to the CRA. It does not suffer any thinness to some tracks when compared to its older sibling as well. However, it is also not as airy when compared to it. Detail retrieval is also average with decent presentation of nuances on most tracks, particularly those tracks with excellent mastering and recording (Ex. Rose-Colored Boy by Paramore).

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• The soundstage of the CRA+ is average for its price and also exhibits an average expansion. The soundstage also widens a bit depending on the pairing or eartips paired with it. Separation does not suffer any serious congestion when compared to its sibling and will only suffer congestion when the track is intended to sound very busy. Imaging is precise and does present vocal and instrument position fairly accurately.

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Comparisons!

Vs the Audiosense AQ0 (100 USD)

• The CCA CRA+ and Audiosense AQ0 nearly share the same sound signature: They both have an elevated bass response. However, the AQ0 has a bit more amount in the subbass while keeping it controlled and clean. As for the mids, both these IEMs has good amount of presence with the AQ0 a bit more refined and smooth in the upper mids. As a result, it does not have the upper mids peak compared to the CCA CRA+. As for the treble extension, the CCA CRA+ is a brighter and much more extended compared to the AQ0, while the AQ0 is a bit better on detail retrieval. Soundstage is also wider on the AQ0, separation is also better on the AQ0 by a bit, and the imaging are nearly the same.

Vs the BQEYZ Autumn, normal filter (200 USD)

• These two IEMs now are completely different in their sound signature. The CRA+ is noticeably bassier when compared to the Autumn, while the Autumn strives for a more textured, clean and natural bass response. The mids on the Autumn is noticeably more forward when compared to the CRA+ while keeping things free from peaks. Both of these IEMs have open mids, it’s just that the Autumn is more open when compared. The treble on the CRA+ is also more elevated when compared to the Autumn and has both good amount of extension. Detail retrieval is where the Autumn excels the most as its detail retrieval is excellent for a single DD under 200 USD. The soundstage is also much wider to the Autumn, separation is also cleaner, imaging is also much more precise when compared. However, they do share the same characteristic which is scaling as they scale with proper power and pairing.

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Pros:

• Improved the sound quality and removed the unnecessary sibilance from the CRA.
• Controlled yet lively sound signature.
• Punchy, controlled midbass.
• Mids are less recessed when compared to CRA .
• Extended yet non-harsh treble.
• Actually very good technical performance under 20USD.
• Sound quality scales with power.
• Decent isolation.

Cons:

• Instances of slight peaks on very sibilant tracks present, almost has the same level compared to the KZ EDA Hi-Res.
• Will sound “generic” when underpowered.
• A cable winder would be a very good treat for everyone (my nitpick)
• Eartips included slightly degrade the sound.

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The CCA CRA+ is a great departure to its sibling, the CRA, in terms of sound signature and quality. The CRA+ tries to sound more mature and controlled while keeping a bit of fun in its house sound. They improved the mids by a huge margin when compared to its sibling which made me literally smile the first time I used it out of the box. I was also surprised that this has the capability of scaling which you don’t usually see in this price segment. It does scale and improve its sound quality depending on the source and eartips you pair with it which is an appeal for the tinkerers and scientists of the hobby as they can mix and match this IEM to their liking. My only complaint this time is still the accessories they include to this IEM, because it does not give justice to the CRA+’s full potential.


Pairing recommendation/s:

• Source: A dongle will do such as the JCally JM10 as an example since this IEM scales with power.
• KBEar 07 eartips would be my top recommendation for this one to lessen the peaks while improving the width of the stage. Sony EP-EX11 eartips will also lessen the peaks but will also make the mids a bit more distant.
• As for the cable, I do not have any specific cable that I can recommend but I do suggest changing it if needed because the ear guides on the stock cable makes it hard for me to fit it properly.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos: