CCA NRA

For this this review I've decided to test a somewhat new format. I've tried to reduce it to the most useful and necessary information, making reading and especially skimming easier. We all sometimes lack time to read in-depth articles, so this review should offer an alternative. Let me know how you like this format.

You'll find more reviews in this style here on Head-Fi or on my website Flightless Bird.

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Frequency Response​

About the IEM​

• Good and comfortable fit, even for longer periods of time
• Somewhat generic design we've seen plenty times from CCA/KZ and others
• Small scope of delivery, only 3 different tip sizes of rather basic tips
• Mediocre cable at best, just good enough at that price point
• EST resp. MST-drover (magnetostatic) as unique selling proposition at this price point.

Honestly, at that price point, the IEM and its accessories are good enough, no more and no less.

Sound Impressions​

• Subbass virtually non-existent
• Pleasant, relaxed treble attributable to EST/MST-driver?
• Unnatural timbre, sound feels somewhat artificial and robotic
• Lack of detail, especially on male vocals
• Overall relaxed, not very intrusive sound

Even at roughly 20 US-Dollar, the sound just isn't good enough anymore. While this also speaks for the good alternatives at that price point, this also shows that the focus probably was more on the driver technology than the sound.

Comparisons​

Blon BL03​

Advantages CCA NRA:
+ Treble
+ Relaxed sound
+ Comfort
+ Design

Advantages Blon BL03:
+ Bass
+ Details
+ Cable
+ More exciting sound

KZ DQ6​

Advantages CCA NRA:
+ Treble
+ Relaxed sound
+ Cable
+ Details

Advantages KZ DQ6:
+ Fit and comfort
+ Bass
+ Vocals
+ One (if not the) best KZ/CCA IEMs tonality wise

Conclusion​

The CCA NRA isn't necessarily a bad product. I'd just prefer a couple of other IEMs at the same price over the NRA. Blon's BL03, KZ's (CCA's sister) own DQ6 or Moondrop's SSP are all similarly priced but offer a more complete and mostly better sounding package.

The NRA might still be a nice experience for interested buyers, offering a somewhat unique driver configuration at such a low price. Especially the treble region really profits from the magnetostatic driver.

All in all, the NRA aren't a must-have IEM for every collector like the BL03 might be, but they surely are worth a look if you're looking for something (technically) different. The sound isn't disappointing but also not overwhelmingly amazing.

Would you pay extra for perfection or do you prefer to be more budget-conscious? The guest of this review CCA NRA checks both boxes to a degree.


Packaging and accessories are fine for the price range. The stock cable is different; KZ/CCA was normally using braided copper cables all across their products. This is a thick double-strand cable. Doesn't get tangled easily but it's very stiff, especially in the cold weather. Stock ear tips have a unique shape, they are different than what we see in most IEM’s. I didn’t have any issues with it but keep in mind I have small ears. People who are older than 35 or live in European countries will probably have issues with it. They mostly do.

The design of the earpieces is a mixed bag of feelings; they offer comfort with thin nozzles, I appreciate that but this is at the expense of being able to use mainstream aftermarket ear tips. Although they do have a lip for the ear tips to hold on these nozzles are tiny. You can always sacrifice one of these ear tips to make an adapter on the go. Just cut the core of the ear tip and leave it on the nozzle; budget range problems require budget range solutions.

They have good comfort and ok levels of isolation. Cable microphonics are not an issue but there is an issue that I think everyone should be aware of; the only venting hole that this IEM has is located on the bottom of the earpieces. Outside noise is not an issue but if there’s a wind blowing that will create turbulence on the venting hole. Creating a massive noise. This is the only fatal flaw I have experienced in this model. Because you cant easily avoid it; you either have to use your hoodie or just tape it; possibly affecting the bass performance.

Speaking of bass, let's talk about the sound.

CCA NRA has a detailed yet laid-back presentation with a rather balanced and sightly mid-focused sound characteristics.

Bass has good levels of detail, it's kinda soft but acceptable considering the price range. but I wouldn't count on this IEM to handle bass-heavy rock and pop genres.

Mids have noticeably good levels of detail and imaging quality. Vocals string instruments and cymbals have very good levels of detail and texture. This is something that you can’t find easily in this price range. most of the other options in the sub 30$ segment usually use cheap BA drivers or skip the BA’s all together. Leaving you with either poorly calibrated or sharp mid characteristics. Or veiled-thin vocals. Magnetostatic driver performs better than cheap BA’s in this regard. While BA drivers in this price range perform ok when they are tuned properly they don't have the texture of this modified dynamic driver.

Treble is another area where this setup shines. It's fast, spacious and well textured. Percussions and string ınstruments have a very soft yet detailed presentation you cant find in a BA driver in the budget segment. And ‘s’s ‘t’s ‘p’s have no sibilance or overly pronounced characteristics. They are detailed and soft.

Soundstage and imaging.

Soundstage is average but imaging and instrument separation is good on what this model excels. For bass-heavy tracks its not that good. But for more mid-treble focused ones it's great. The layering and the texture on the vocals is better than what BA containing hybrids.

Amp requirements and pairing is not an issue with NRA. Even the lowest end of smartphones can drive them. But they are easily reflecting the sound characteristics of the source. Its picky on the source in this area. Be sure that your source is clean.



Conclusion: in sub 30$ you usually get a slightly or overly V-shaped sound signature that performs ok on a wide range of genres. But they tend to disappoint in the instrumental and orchestral tracks. You don't get that fine detail and texture in the high hats, strings and cymbals. Yes a higher-end option like Whizzer Kylin HE-01 gives this to you easily but that model is on another level pricewise.

If you are listening to any genre that uses natural elements like leather drums, flutes, cymbals and strings this model is something that you can enjoy for a very low price. But if the songs or albums that you listen to have thicker bass notes like artificial bass you won’t be getting the same experience in this segment.

CCA NRA fits well with orchestral and instrumental tracks, jazz, and traditional folk songs. But for more modern bass-heavy genres it doesn't perform that well. Sure the magnetostatic driver performs well enough for you to enjoy the instruments residing on the mid and treble area. But the bass doesn’t have the necessary speed thickness and texture for you to enjoy the more bass-heavy tracks. It DOES provide a good experience with live recordings thanks to its transparent and detailed treble and mids but falls short with studio recordings. Had the manufacturer used a more refined Dynamic driver like the one on the TRN TA-1 that I reviewed recently it would perform well in the bass segment as well. and it would also improve the overall imaging and staging capabilities. I hope they can improve in this area. Electret drivers have good potential but the manufacturer needs to be careful with them. With proper tuning, they can shine better than BA’s but if you limit them to a certain budget the setups they are used with tend to underperform. NRA performs ok with most genres and shines with some certain ones but it could have been way better if it had a better dynamic driver and a more polished tuning on the lower frequencies.
I think the sweet spot for an IEM that uses this magnetostatic driver is around sub 40$ I appreciate the affordability but not for expense of the real potential of a component. I'm not exactly an expert but in my opinion this magnetostatic driver would work better with a Titanium dynamic driver like the one on the TRN TA-1.
While I think CCA NRA is a good option I also think that it's real potential is limited by its low budget range.
This product was sent to me by keephifi.
You can check out the CCA NRA via link down below.
https://keephifi.com/products/cca-nra

CCA NRA MINI-REVIEW

TONALITY: 7.6/10
TECHNICALITIES: 7.2/10
CONSTRUCTION:8/10
SOUND VALUE: 7/10

Disclaimer: I don't do this with joy...it is forced and uninspired review labor. CAA take my little nephew in hostage, if i don't do this review they will keep him for chain work in their NRA and ZEX factory.

TONALITY: Thick warm'ish W shape, balanced with slight mid bass emphasis and upper mids boost.

TIMBRE: Grainy, bright, neither natural or artificial but can feel like it's filter through a transistor radio some time.

SOUNDSTAGE: Quite wide and tall but with zero deepness to it.

IMAGING: Poor, hollow and hazy, compressed layering, lack of instrument space for proper separation.

RESOLUTION: Average to poor for the price, especially when it come to proper definition of instrument or micro-details.

BASS is the worst part of NRA to my ears, the slam is loose, tone is warm and timbre is grainy, this isn't clean bass at all and extension is not natural, while it doesnt intensely bleed on mids, their no proper separation neither. Transient-attack is slow. Definition is hollow. Kick drum and sub-bass easily mix togheter. Harmonic distortion is anothetr issue.

MIDS lack lower harmonic, so piano or male vocal can sound a bit thin or distant, female vocal in other hands are quite fowards in presence. Timbre is natural enough here, imaging isn't well articulated so everything feel stick togheter which can be a plus in term of cohesion but not in resolution. Slight sibilance can occur with female vocal but not in a problematic way, still it affect naturalness and make it sound a bit ''plastic''. Between lush and dry are the mids, neither too warm or bright, it's the kinda mids that isn't addictive or musical to my ears.

TREBLE might be the best aspect of the NRA, but in a half-done way....in fact, it feel like we listen to a prototype IEM not a fully achieve one. If we can find a bit of air, it's between mids and upper treble. Highs are the most snappy aspect of the sound as well as fastest in attack. It doesn't have decay, neither sparkle, and minimal brilliance to it. We can say it's dry, but in a EST way....similar to planar and piezo....but, man....perhaps it's my pair that have bad QC,but i can hear buzzing and sound artifact....anyway, percussions can sound quite good (crisp but thin), even when complex and varied in colors...that's when I can see EST potential and get excited.


COMPARISONS

VS KBEAR KB04 (1DD+1BA-22$)

Cleaner, clearer, brighter and more vividly balanced is the KB04.
Clarity and imaging is at another level here. Attack speed too.
BASS is tighter and punchier yet better separated, it's more textured and transparent too.
MIDS are crisper, cleaner, brighter, more centered and articulated, more transparent. Timbre is thinner, more textured but less natural. Female vocal are more intimate, less wide and upfront.
TREBLE is fuller and better balanced, it dig more sound info and is more emphasis. NRA feel it dig half-part of sound info.

All in all, tonality of the NRA is smoother and less cold than KB04 which is notably superior technically.

VS FINAL E1000 (1DD-30$)

Better balanced, smoother, fuller, lusher sounding. More warm-neutral. Tonality refinement is at another level here.
Clarity have greater amount of sound layers, more texture and feel unforced.
Soundstage is more holographic, bit less tall, bit deeper and feel more open.
Imaging is notably superior in instrument placement and layering even if it suffer from lack of air which is similar to NRA.
BASS is a bit flatter and more rolled off in sub bass, you have less rumble but less muddyness too. Tone is more realist. Speed is similar but control is better.
MIDS are fuller, lusher, wider, thicker. Both male and female vocal sound more natural and smooth. Layering is better articulated too.
TREBLE is more relaxed, less snappy but richer in tone nuance and texture. Thicker highs with more organic balance.

All in all, NRA is a piece of garbage compared to E1000. Its like Adele (or Agnes Obel) singing against a nobody using Auto-tune.

CONCLUSION

Sure, I can't say the NRA are plain bad for the price, the tuning hold up togheter and is well balanced as a whole, a sirupy thick whole. For those that doesn't know me, i can go overly grumpy when my expectation are let down and this is what happen with the EST tech in this...i was expecting something better than cheap BA or piezo which isn't the case. I don't see the point of talking about NRA and getting excited with its EST when **** **** was launch 5 years ago and offer a way more impressive and immersive sound with better technicalities but slightly less balanced tonality. KBear KB04, Tanchjim Tanya, Final E1000 or for 10$ more BQEYZ KC2 all offer a more impressive sound value than these overrated NRA. Do we need another ''jack of all trades, master of none''? If so, the NRA is there for you!

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PS: thanks to Keephifi for the review sample. You can now tell CCA to release my nephew.

For more honnest reviews, give a look to my website:https://nobsaudiophile.com/