CCA TRIO

CCA Trio Review: Effectively The Best.​

PRICE: $49​

PROS:​

• Ergonomic and comfortable fitting
• Variety on the tuning switches
• Well-balanced Harman bass-boost sound signature
• Thick but clean and smooth bass
• Clean, open midrange
• Clean, open treble
• Good technicalities compared to its predecessor

CONS:​

• Occasional sibilance
• Midbass tuck on UUUU might sound too lean for some people
• Not the most dynamic-sounding set

WHO THIS SET IS FOR:​

• People who want one of the best tuned budget Harman set
• People who want a clean but engaging sound
• People who want an improvement from the Rhapsody

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:​

• People who hate midbass tucks
• People who are treble sensitive
• People who want a more dynamic sounding set

RECOMMENDED GENRES:​

• Pop
• Rock
• Soul

SHORT REVIEW:​

Arguably one of their best consumer tuned release today, the Trio embodies the famous Harman sound signature that has ravaged the market but does so in a way that replicates more expensive sets. A distinct tuck in the midbass and upper midrange energy while using 3DDs made the Trio arguably one of the best sets to get if you liked pure Harman. It’s not the most technical or most dynamic in the market and still has a long way from competing with the giants, but this is by far their best iteration of Harman by far. RECOMMENDED

FULL REVIEW:​

KZ and fam have been pushing the boundary of how good audio can be in the budget realm. Rhapsody is marked as their latest trend of following the Harman 2019 target and thanks to its success, you can almost hear the cash being made from them capitalizing on this. So how does their second entry fair into the KZ pandemonium? Let’s talk about the CCA Trio!

DISCLAIMER: The Trio’s were sent over by CCA in exchange for my honest impressions. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. I was not paid. Rest assured, my thoughts and opinions on this product will be of my own honest opinions and will not be affected by the facts beforehand.

MAKE IT CCA, MAKE IT HARMAN PT.2​

Their second release into the Harman-infused era, the Trio at first glance would seem like the upgrade to the Duo. But due to its radically different design and the Trio’s release being months after Duo, the former takes on their later sound trends that we’ll be discussing later. So now, one should ask whether the Trio being released so close to the Rhapsody is worth the money or is another sidegrade.

UNBOXING​

The unboxing experience of the Trio is very similar to other KZ/CCA sets with the box showcasing the illustration of the IEM and the inclusions being your usual KZ cable, Starline eartips and some paperwork. What makes the Trio special is that it comes in the special Chinese New Year outer packaging and a free voucher. Yay!

BUILD & FIT​

Talking about the internals, the Trio features 3 8mm Dynamic Drivers. Not much information outside of that, but it’s interesting that they created a special 3D-printed slot just for the drivers which is not usually a very KZ/CCA move.



This is probably one of the biggest changes on the Rhapsody that I genuinely appreciate they did. The fit of the Trio is considerably better than the Rhapsody both in how it fits and how it seals.



The Trio features your usual aluminum faceplate and resin inner shell that we’ve seen in their sets before, but the Trio has a somewhat smaller profile that doesn’t completely fill up your ear like the Rhapsody did. I genuinely found the Trio to be a very comfortable set to use over long listening sessions without much fatigue in the ear (minus the cable). It’s very stable with a good seal, although not as good as Rhapsody, and it just looks and feels nice.

I’m not a big fan of the Trio on the faceplate and I feel like putting it on the shell would’ve been more tasteful, but I could just erase that myself. I’ll choose not to, for now.

SOUND​

NOTE: As the Trio features tuning switches, I’ll be talking about the sound of the stock configuration of UUUU (all up) and comparing it to the other modes in their respective section.

Sound Signature:​

The CCA Trio features a U-shaped sound signature with big but well-controlled bass, slightly tucked and open mids, and a forward, energetic but generously presented treble. It has just a very slight metallic tinge in the upper frequencies, but nothing that stands out too much.

Source Pairing and Drivability:​

The Trio is about average to slightly harder to drive compared to the usual sets I’ve tried. It’s not necessarily a tank in terms of how much power it needs, but using a dongle DAC does improve its sound quality, particularly dynamics and smoothening the top end.

Ideal Listening Volume:

Bass:​

The bass of the Trio is big, bouncy and deep. A similar story to the Rhapsody, it makes the music feel alive. Just not at the level of the Rhapsody. Nonetheless, it’s a very fun bass presentation that gives a lot of low-end instruments body and weight while not breaching and bleeding into the midrange which bass tuck lovers would absolutely love. If you look at the FR graph of the Trio, you can actually see how cleanly it tucks down at 200hz which is something you never see in this price range besides the DSP IEMs and the venerable Zero (we won’t mention its younger brothers as the way they do it isn’t as good as Trio)

Notable tracks that do really well with the Trio is Heart Don’t Stand a Chance which excels with big bassy sets. Especially with how well-defined that bass is, the track sounded real meaty and thick on the Trio without really intruding into .Paak’s vocals, for better or worse, made the mids sound quite clean.

Probably my gripe about the bass here is, well, it’s not quite the tightest or most well-defined kind of bass. Now sure, you can argue that for this price range, it’s not really a con more than it is a nitpick. But as someone who wants budget gear to get better, I want to mention these things. The bass can sound a little sloppy at times with the attack on notes sounding a little soft and puffy sounding. The track Wake Up by SOS is a prime example of this as the bass in this track is big but a little bit loose. It does better than its older sibling, the Rhapsody. But it still lags compared to some of the more refined DD sets in the price range like the Simgot EW200.

Mids:​

Giving credit where credit is due, the mids of the Trio are genuinely clean and open-sounding. It’s not going to break any records for its price as there are sets that balance out the midrange just a little bit better than the Trio, but the Trio being able to tuck at 200hz is a feat on its own. This has the effect of making the lower mids sound clean and open while having a big bass.

A track like Show You The Way by Thundercat is the perfect track to showcase this as this track has a lot of low-end energy that could potentially bleed and color the midrange. On the Trio, the vocals are largely untouched and there’s this sense of clarity and openness in vocals.

What makes it even better is that the upper mids are just as equally as well balanced as it doesn’t overemphasize the vocals like other Harman-inspired sets. A track like Through The Fire by Chakra Khan, even in the last chorus where she goes really high up, it never gets harsh or sharp. However, there are certain parts where there’s a slightly grainy quality that I’ll be expounding upon in the treble section.

My only nitpick about the mids is that it occasionally lacks character. It’s very clean and open-sounding, but there’s just not a lot of character. The lower mids don’t have that texture or engagement that I usually look for (but that’s probably just me not liking a tuck at 200hz that much) and the upper mids are forward, clean but generally safe without really bringing anything out. This is a good thing for most people, but I do prefer a little bit of spice in my vocals.

Treble:​

Admittedly, the treble of the Trio is pretty good for its price. It’s generally inoffensive but can still provide a good amount of air and clarity. It brings out percussive and soprano vocals quite nicely with a really good amount of energy without really sounding overly bright or harsh.

Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain is a great example of how nicely done the treble of the Trio is. It’s borderline getting too hot, but the overall presentation of the percussive instruments as well as the banjo guitar-sounding instruments is just perfect and presents them with a surprisingly nice timbre.

However, there are definitely some instances of sibilance on certain tracks. Between The Sheets is a track that showcases this treble roughness, but is a generally great track to listen to in the Trio. It’s just that in certain passages, especially when there are S and T sounds some roughness is present.

The air is pretty good, but nothing spectacular. You won’t expect vocals and instruments to sound airy and floaty, but it’s a generous amount of air that those sensitive to treble won’t find harsh and trebleheads such as myself would find adequate.

Technicalities:​

The technicalities of the Trio are surprisingly decent for its price.

Starting with the dynamics, it was definitely something that I both loved and hated about the Trio. In the context of the Rhapsody/Castor Bass style tuning, this is definitely a step up. However, it’s still not quite at the level of pure Dynamic sets, even the likes of the EW200, in terms of dynamic contrast.

Headstage was definitely where I was most surprised as I didn’t expect it to sound that wide. It’s not out of your head, but respectable enough to separate itself from most sets in its price range. This also applies to the imaging that, while not holographic, allows me to pinpoint some instruments better than some IEMs in this price range.

Separation and layering are still unfortunately not the cleanest or most accurate, but it’s respectable for its price. It separates simple tracks really well, but clearly struggles on more complex tracks.

OTHER TUNING VARIATIONS​

DDDD

• This configuration is the opposite to the all up (duh) as it instead puts the emphasis on the low end while still keeping a U-Shaped sound. The treble hotness is tamed here which is the ideal configuration for those who found the treble of the all up to be too hot

UDDD

• This configuration boosts the bass further from the DDDD configuration which starts bleeding into the midrange, but further tames the treble region. Mids are less open sounding and it starts sounding like a basshead set

UUDD

• Simply, turn the trio into a basshead set. Mids are now drowned in the bass but is a more focused bass-centric set with still decent amount of detail

DDUD

• Tames the bass slighly from the UUUU configuration. Brings out the upper mids and treble slightly up, but oddly isn’t as sibilant sounding as the UUUU.

DDUU

• The brigthest, thinnest and coldest sounding configuration. Better suited for trebleheads because the tendency to be too hot is most evident here

REAL WORLD USAGE:​

Casual Use:​

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t use the Trio more while doing menial tasks than I wanted to. The Trio’s entire package from how it fits to how it's tuned just makes it perfect for long wearing and listening periods. The tuning is honestly perfect for any kind of media thanks to the generous bass boost allowing for some content to sound more lively, vocals having a good body and clarity and the treble being generally fatigue-free. I genuinely loved using the Trio for casual use

Gaming Use:​

Just like its younger brothers, the gaming performance of the Trio is superb. Big bass to bring out immersion, clean mids to make sure there’s no smearing and the mids sound open, and a generous upper mids to treble to bring out the micro-nuances. Another solid gaming set from CCA, which since the release of the Castor-Bass has become my default gaming IEM and recommendation.

COMPARISON:​

VS CCA Rhapsody​

• The older brother that continued what KZ has started, this is basically another step up from the formula. Improved dynamics, improve midrange timbre, better details and better separation. Heck, even the fit was improved as the Trio is considerably smaller than the Rhapsody and no longer has air pressure build-up. Overall, it’s just another improvement from a similar cloth

VS KZ Castor Bass​

• Like the Rhapsody was to the Castor, the Trio is almost twice the step up from the Castor Bass. It improves basically everything the Castor had better than the Rhapsody did, but the Trio does tame the bass energy a little bit more compared to the Castor. But as whole, the Trio is two steps up from the

VS Simgot EW200​

• The fight is much closer here compared to the Rhapsody before, but the fundamental difference is still present. The EW200 is a more dynamic, brighter and more coherent set compared to the Trio’s more fun, engaging and forgiving sound. EW200 is still ahead in terms of overall clarity, detail and separation, but the Trio doesn’t lag behind, especially in headstage and overall fun factor.

VS Truthear Zero: RED​

• This is by far the closest comparison I can make with the Red in this price range so far. It’s still drastic to call it a “direct competitor”. But where the Trio added 1 more dynamic driver to the Zero Red, it also added more fun. The Zero has a darker, warmer, and more relaxed sound compared to the Trio’s more fun sound, but both sets take the boosted bass, clean mids and inoffensive top-end. Where the two divert is how much each end is boosted. The Zero has a less generous boost and a more linear midrange while also smoothening up the top end to be less “fatiguing” and more relaxed. This has the effect of the Zero sounding potentially more boring but also more neutral.

VS Binary x Gizaudio Chopin​

• Like the Chopin was to the Variations, the Trio is to the Chopin. Both sets follow an eerily similar Harman-infused sound with extra midbass, a slightly deeper tuck, and a sharp elevation directly in the ear gain. The difference is that, fundamentally, Chopin is still a more refined-sounding set compared to the Trio. Bass sounds deeper and more engaging on the Chopin while it sounds more single-noted on the Trio. The Trio lacks the technical chops and dynamic energy that Chopin has which, for almost 5x the price is almost to be expected.

CONCLUSION​

One could argue that the Rhapsody should’ve been given a little more time in the oven to become Trio, but we all know how KZ works. They’d rather make small incremental upgrades on pre-existing concepts rather than put all their eggs in one basket. The meme about KZ just making a pro version of their recently released set is justified when you look at their release patterns.

However, I genuinely think that the Trio is a massive step up from those that came before it. It’s considerably more refined, more balanced, and more technical than ever. Heck, even if I’m not a fan of this tuning, I’d confidently say this is probably the best KZ out in the market if you’re looking for something fun and well-tuned. It’s not perfect, no IEM is. But this is probably the best you can get if you just want something that you’d enjoy in any listening session. And for that, I’ll give credit where credit is due and congratulate CCA for further improving the status quo.

Thank you for reading my review on the CCA Trio! If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below:
https://www.kztws.com/products/cca-trio-legendary-3dd-iem

If you have any questions, you may contact me on my Facebook page or at my email: obodioreviews@gmail.com

Enjoy music!

CCA Trio Review​

​

CCA Trio​

Intro​

Hello, today I have one of the latest iems from the very popular audio brand KZ/CCA named the CCA Trio. As most of you know, CCA is actually a sub-brand of KZ Audio and usually works in tandem with KZ. Some folks think that CCA is the slightly more upscale brand of the two. Of course, there is no solid proof of such a claim, but many folks feel that way. I will say this, CCA is probably KZ’s biggest competition and vice versa, so they have the budget market cornered folks. Anyways, I was very happy to be getting this latest 3DD multi-driver iem as I was very curious how well CCA would be able to pull off a triple DD set. KZ/CCA has had past experience in dealing with triple dynamic drivers as years ago (2 years) they crafted the KZ DQ6 which consisted of one 10mm DD and two 6mm DD’s. It had some issues and some questions that I’m not going into here but I’m sure it did very well in sales. Next, they had the offshoot of the DQ6 in a collaboration effort with HBB (Hawaiian Bad Boy) from YouTube’s “Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews” called the KZ X-HBB DQ6S. I never actually heard that set but from what I was told the treble was tamed and there was a general refresh of the tuning. Honestly, KZ/CCA has had so many multi-drivers sets, and hybrid sets that I’m pretty sure no company on earth has released as many. Basically, they’ve had the experiential working knowledge to… figure things out.

KZ/CCA​

I’ve conducted many reviews of this brand in the last few years and for the most part I’ve come away impressed enough to say that each of their iems competes. In their price points that is. Below is a quick look at some of those reviews.

– AS16 Pro
– VXS
– CRA+
– PR1 Hifi
– EDCX
– Linglong
– ZVX
– D-Fi
– X-HBB PR2
– Duo
– EDXS
– AS24
– Krila
– AZ20
– ZAT
– Rhapsody
– PR3
–ZSN Pro 2

So yes, I’ve seen the progression of KZ/CCA iems over the course of the last couple years and I cannot help but think that they’ve certainly figured out this whole “iem making” business. They will always release more than anyone else and each will always be an incremental upgrade over the last in each series. This one I’m reviewing today is especially cool. I will always be a huge DD fan and I’m even more excited over a 3DD configuration. So, without further ado, the CCA Trio everyone…

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:​

-Kztws.com
–Linsoul

Disclaimer:​

I received the CCA Trio from KZ Audio as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. KZ has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to KZ and thanks for reading.

Gear used for testing​

–Ifi Go Blu

–Aful SnowyNight

–EPZ TP50

–Fiio Q15

–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2

–Shanling M6 Ultra

Packaging / Accessories​

This should be rather short as CCA doesn’t usually add in the most elaborate unboxing experience. However, we know this, and this should not be a surprise to anyone. The Trio came to my home in a small black box. Once you open the box you’ll see the Trio. Under the earphones is the cable, the tuning switch tool or “Sim-card tool” as well as the eartips. Nothing crazy going on and it’s the usual from CCA.

Eartips​

As always, it’s a good thing to get some more KZ Starlines tips and that is exactly what is packaged in the box of the Trio. CCA provides three sets in total of the Starlines (S, M, L) as well as one set of medium sized foam tips. Now, I love Starlines and when you need them, they can be perfect. However, I instead went with KBear 07 large sized tips. I do feel the Trio benefits from the 07’s as the upper midrange calmed down a hair and the bass becomes the slightest bit punchier and more impactful. That said, you are more than fine simply using the provided KZ Starline tips.

Cable​

The cable is the same KZ/CCA cable we’ve seen for years. The same QDC style 2-Pin SPC cable in a white/opaque sheath or outer liner. The cable is perfectly fine for any listening needs on 3.5 single ended. In fact, I used this 3.5 cable for any single ended listening. I did end up using the TRN Redchain modular cable as it pairs perfectly in aesthetic and color matching. Most of my listening is done using 4.4 balanced and so the Redchain is a good cheap cable that works like a charm, sounds good with the Trio and looks dope. Cables matter. That said, if you only have enough money for the Trio and the Trio alone, then you will be perfectly fine using the included cable.

Build / Design / Internals / Fit​

Build / Design​

The CCA Trio is built with some good materials as this is one area that most CCA sets do well against the rest of the market. Usually they are built well, surprisingly well actually. The Trio is no different. Built using a clear hard plastic for the shell and CCA chose to use a very nice alloy faceplate. The faceplates look very nice with the usual stylistic approach. You’ll notice a cursive “Trio” written on the faceplates and a raised surface with three long vents as well. On the back of each unit is the four tuning switch manifolds. Discreet enough and looks cool too. The Trio has this gun metal color on the faceplates, which is very cool. Overall, the Trio is built very well and designed just as nicely. Certainly, one of the better-looking sets in the $40 price point. To add to that, the build is very ergonomically sound, but also pretty darn big too. So, keep that in mind. The Trio has to house 3 dynamic drivers and so of course they are pretty big. The nozzle is medium length as well. All things considered, CCA did a great job crafting this set, it’s good looking and is built well.

Tuning Switches​

To the Chagrin of many of my fellow hobbyists and us reviewers, CCA once again went with tuning switches to change up the sound to small degrees to suit your preferences. Folks, I’ve been through enough of these tuning switch reviews to know that there is never a good way to go about explaining them. At least not in an efficient manner. However, CCA makes it all pretty easy to understand. The Trio has four switches in total, 1,2,3,4. For review purposes “1” means a switch is “on”, and “0” means a switch is “off”. So, if I were to have the first two switched on and the last two off, it would look like this… “1100”.

What do they do​

Switches 1 & 2 operate the bass region by pushing them up. Switch one adds a dB or two and switch two adds a dB or two to the low-end. Simple as that. Next, switches 2 & 3 do the same thing but instead of adding to the low-end, they add db’s to the mids and highs. Each switch only represents a dB or two and so it isn’t the greatest change, but it is a change. Out of all the configurations, I happen to like the first three switches up and the last one down. I actually like listening to the Trio in the “1110” configuration the most. To be honest, I also like all switches up (1111) as well. However, for critical listening purposes I mostly listened with “1110”. Like I said, KZ/CCA makes their switches pretty easy to understand and simple.

Customizable Audio Experience with 4-Level Adjustment
The CCA Trio introduces a built-in professional filter with a 4-level switch, allowing listeners to customize their audio experience. Whether seeking deep, resonant bass or bright, airy highs, a simple toggle of the switch can satisfy any preference, offering a diverse auditory landscape that caters to all genres and moods.
CCA Promotional​

Click to expand...

Internals​

I don’t know much about the three dynamic drivers inside of the Trio’s housing. In fact, all I can really tell you is that each shell sports three 8mm dynamic drivers. Naturally the Trio are of good size to accommodate these drivers. CCA also added in a three-way electronic crossover to separate each 3rd of the mix. There really isn’t much more to say other than I feel the Trio has some 1uality drivers inside.

Full-Range Output with High-Performance Triple Dynamic Drivers
The CCA Trio earphones feature an innovative set of three 8mm dynamic drivers, each meticulously tuned to deliver unparalleled audio performance across the full sound spectrum. From deep bass to crisp highs, the CCA Trio ensures every note is captured in stunning detail, offering listeners a truly immersive sound experience.
Precision 3-Way Crossover Technology
With precision electronic three-way crossover technology, the CCA Trio achieves a flawless segregation of bass, mid, and high frequencies. This advanced design allocates each frequency range to its dedicated driver, minimizing interference and delivering a pure, balanced sound that remains faithful to the original recording.
CCA Promotional​

Click to expand...

Fit / Isolation​

The CCA Trio are pretty large folks. So, take that into consideration if you have trouble fitting larger earphones. I quite literally had zero issues getting an awesome seal and a good fit. I have no idea how this set will fit your ears but I’m willing to bet they will fit okay, with minimal fidgeting around in your ears. This body style and shape has been used many times in the past by KZ/CCA and it is one which works. Isolation is about average. This is not a set meant to attenuate all outside noises. However, they aren’t bad.

Drivability​

The CCA Trio is rated at around a 15–20-ohm impedance with a sensitivity ranging from 101-103 dbs of sensitivity. These values fluctuate depending on the switch orientation you may be using. Generally, the Trio is very easy to drive. Using my Fiio UTWS5 doing basic chores around my house had plenty of headroom and the UTWS5 only provides about 50mW at 16ohms. That was also a good pairing. I do find that a touch more output and use of better sources really helps a lot. This should go without saying. Using the Aful SnowyNight was a very nice pairing as the tonalities of both seemed to mesh very well. The IFi Go Blu also is great for the Trio. Honestly, out of all my sources I found that none of them really sounded “bad”. I feel the Trio is an easy set to pair with most source tonalities. All of my daps paired pretty well too. The Trio is one of those sets which is like a “tweener” in its tonality. Warmish/neutral seems to work well with most sources from my experience.

What do you need​

I honestly don’t feel you need anything crazy powerful. Like most sets, the Trio did sound a bit tighter and slightly more refined with a touch more juice. That said, I’m sure the Trio will sound perfectly fine off of a simple 3.5 phone jack. Obviously, if you have a more refined source then the Trio will sound that much more refined itself.

Condensed Sound Impressions​

From the get-go I was impressed by the Trio. Let’s just get that out of the way. The Trio has a warmish-neutral tonal color, probably leaning more to the warm side, but not straight up warm. There’s some levity and air to the sound as well which counters that warmth very well. I would call this a slight V-shaped sound to a U-shaped sound depending on your switches. The sound is smoother than crisp and more musical than anything else. In fact, musicality is probably the Trio’s greatest strength which is a good thing to be for a set of earphones. The Trio has some good energy too with more expressive macro-dynamics. Nothing dull about the sound on this set. I hear a good dynamic balance without any one area of the mix masking over any other area to a detrimental degree.

Quick Sound between the 20’s​

The bass has plenty of thump and rumble but also has tighter control than I expected. It is certainly atmospheric but not laggy or muddy. There is a nice emphasis which has the quantity to keep things fun and interesting but is also clean enough to manage more complicated tracks. The midrange is nicely open with a very convincing and realistic timbre. The mids are smooth across the board with fairly well-defined note edges and good transient attack through sustain. The mids have a more substantial note body and don’t come across thin or dry in any way. Open, nice air between instruments and musically adept. The treble has some brilliance to it which adds needed levity and openness to the sound. Details emerge pretty well even though the treble is pretty smooth. Not crunchy or crisp. The stage has good width, better than average as well as good depth which makes for a more 3D type of listen with decent layering to my ears. Details aren’t the Trio’s superpower, but they also aren’t bad at all. Separation is about average to slightly above average from the smoother portrayal of my music, but imaging is actually very good.

Bass Region​

The bass can bang folks, it can rumble, and it has some decent speed and impact. Not to basshead levels but still nicely emphasized in a way that the listener can have some fun. In general, I probably wouldn’t refer to the low-end as “speedy”, but for what it is I hear some nicely textured and more concise transients. Actually, I feel the transients come across more organic, unprocessed, yet also corporeal with a little vigor. Not perfect, not dry, fast, or precise in its note speed, but it also isn’t slow and lethargic. The bass has a slightly softer leading edge as it isn’t rock hard, you don’t have glass lined note outlines. Hammer wrapped in a sock type. However, inside of that slightly softer crested note is a nicely dense, compressed and rigid note body. There’s weight to it. There’s fullness within the bass region. The bass has a certain richness to it that is tangible with good extension into the lowest of lows. That all said, I’m not calling this basshead. It’s just a more elevated bass. Enough to be fun, enough to satisfy on hip-hop tracks with nice bass drops or grumbling bass guitars.

Sub-bass​

The sub-bass does have a more reverberant and haptic feel as the extension down low is pretty darn nice. Now, this is a $40 iem so let’s keep some perspective as I write, and you read. If you dig a pretty deep sub-bass, that doesn’t overtake anything else, and doesn’t encroach upon other areas while keeping pretty tight reigns on its cadence and note definition then… You may like the Trio. Again, not basshead. I may have to repeat that a few times. I’d call it just above moderately deep in pitch. Listening to “Heavy is the Ocean” by Bush, I love the feel to the bass right at the outset of this song. The grumbling and guttural bass is just enough to be felt in my ears, as the bassline heads towards the main verse. Like I said, just above moderately deep. The sub-bass is textured with a hearty fullness.

Mid-bass​

I feel the mid-bass is only slightly more emphasized than the sub-bass region, but they actually play in concert very well. I like the quantity tuned into the Trio’s mid-bass as it is just enough to bring upon a nice bass drop in the track “2040” by Lil Baby. The bass guitar has that fullness to it that I like in most any track I put on. Like in the track “West Texas is the Best Texas” by The Panhandlers. The Trio pumps out some nicely bulbous kick drums too. For instance, the kick drums (which hit in a bullish sequence) on the track “Billie Jean” by Weezer are wonderful. They are convex and condensed, with that good hollow boom and rebound. It’s hard to find faults here actually, for the price that is. I feel the mid-bass offers a relatively tight note structure with natural sounding decay. Not too fast and not slow or prolonged. The transients fit the overall theme of the lower half of the mix. Atmospheric, fun, but pretty clean for a $40 iem. This mid-bass will also not come across as basshead but it does have that fun element to it. Another nice thing is that the mid-bass only slightly warms up the midrange as it doesn’t really bleed into it in a negative way for my tastes.

Downsides to the Bass Region ​

The biggest issues with the bass will come from fans of…well… less bass. Those who enjoy that crystal clean and refined low-end that keeps an unblemished midrange with no bleed… will likely not be impressed. There are plenty of folks who really don’t enjoy an emphasized low-end. There are instances in bass heavy tracks where portions of my music are slightly masked but nothing too egregious and horrible. For the most part this is a fun low-end that keeps a nice dynamic balance with the rest of the mix. Also, straight up bassheads will probably keep moving.

Midrange​

Musical. That’s the midrange. It’s musical, it’s smooth and it isn’t oversaturated in pinna glare. At least in my “1110” dip-switch orientation. That can change a little bit with the last switch turned on and the low-end switches turned off (0011). At any rate, I like how CCA chose to tune this set. The note weight has nice authority to it. There is substance there. It isn’t some papery dry and thin sounding set. Yes, CCA sacrificed a little bit of separation, but it was worth it. For what the Trio is, I find resolution to actually be pretty nice. Not perfect though. Perfect resolution is reserved for a different kind of tuning. This is just like I said, it’s musical, melodic, and emotionally charged with what sounds to me to be an organic timbre. Warm-neutral throughout. Slightly warmer in the low-mids and gaining some levity, air and vibrance as you head into the upper-mids. Nothing that strikes me as unbalanced, strident or offensive either. The midrange is not recessed to any great degree as the sound field is closer to the listener. I wouldn’t call it forward per se, but simply not as recessed as some V-shaped iems in the Audioverse.

Lower-midrange​

The low-mids offer up nice male vocals with some good heft to them helping men to sound like men. Deeper voices which resonate in the lower register like Avi Kaplan in “First Place I Go” sounds awesome. His voice is deep as it hangs around partially into the bass region too, but the nice thing is that his voice is clear and without any form of a veil. In “Azalea Blooms” by Muscadine Bloodline, the lead singer comes across smooth and highlighted against the backdrop of a beautiful harmonica and strumming acoustic guitar. The Trio does a nice job of keeping the emotion in a song. I find that thinner and dryer sounding iems don’t really push that feeling quite like a warmer and melodic sounding set. The Trio is the latter. Dermot Kennedy‘s track “Rome” is another that sounds better on the Trio than with some other notable sets. His voice can very easily sound too knife-edged and sharp at the crest of his notes. His voice is just that way. Anyways, on the Trio I hear a crispness, but it doesn’t derail into a grainy, sharp or metallic sounding mess. I won’t say that the Trio is a low-mid lover's dream, but for $40 it isn’t bad by any stretch.

Upper-Midrange​

In the upper-midrange I find that CCA kept a close eye on where and how much pinna rise they were going with. I feel the Trio takes me just up to the point of vibrance and puts a cap on it. I don’t hear anything that is overtly glaring or shouty. Again, maybe in the right switch settings you’ll get a bit less of a tonal balance but where I listen at the upper-mids are at a very nice level. Enough to add shimmer but not enough to turn the volume down. Note weight still has somebody to it and notes in this region hold onto that emotional sounding atmospheric type of replay. Listening to Gabrielle Aplin in “Half in Half Out” is a pleasurable experience with the Trio in my ears. Her voice is whispery soft, feathery even. She sounds realistic, natural to the ear and the melody which follows her voice sounds wide and engaging. Ashley Monroe sings “Hands On You” and her voice is forward with nice timbre. Warm, but not without some glow to it, some added luminescence. The bass which surrounds her is deep and authoritative which adds a great contrast to her silky vocals. Females sound nice on the Trio.

Further thoughts on the midrange​

The midrange is not one that will change your life, but it is good for what it is. This is not a midrange dominant iem and so there are certainly sets that display even better midrange characteristics. Most midrange instruments come across nice, for the most part anyways. Strings, percussion, woodwinds…. All come across rather naturally depending on your switches. Let’s put it this way, I hear nothing that is a huge turn off. Tonality and timbre are great, and the midrange carries some nice musicality for $40. Like I said, most instruments come across decently separated, not like some sets created for a more technical approach. Better than one should expect a $40 V-shaped triple DD to sound. Actually, I think midrange separation is better than I expected. Imaging is also very good, and the stage has nice depth in this range which is a nice thing to hear.

Downsides to the Midrange​

As far as issues go, not everything is for everyone. This is true no matter the cost. I realize that I’ve said some pretty nice things thus far about the Trio and I wouldn’t walk any of that back. It’s a nice sounding set. However, some folks want that analytical and flat sound. Some people want an even darker, more robust sound as well. Separation of instruments could be even better than the Trio presents them, and even detail retrieval in the midrange could be better as well. Of course, you have a slightly smoother, richer and decently weighted sound, which doesn’t always bode well for most technicalities. That said, the Trio has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of concerning its midrange tuning. Separation is better than it should be, Imaging is great, details are also better than they should be and the sound is natural, clean enough and resolute for the tuning.

Treble Region​

The treble region is also a smooth affair with an adequate amount of brilliance while creating a nice and cohesive balance with the rest of the mix. I hear some nice resolution up top too with fairly nice detail retrieval, decent separation and again we have good imaging (as far as I can tell). Extension is nice, I don’t hear anything splashy. For instance, the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike don’t sound like sheened out splashes of treble. Flute sounds melodic and even resounding at times with likeable and pretty realistic timbre. Violins sound silvery and melodic as well. Nothing scratchy, abrasive or out of tune to my ears. Again… as far as I can tell. Understand, these are my subjective impressions and opinions so do take that into consideration. It’s not a perfect science figuring out what “is” or “isn’t” good timbre. It’s all in the ears of the beholder. What I like is the subtle warmth yet moments of brilliance when a track calls for it. Like I’ve stated multiple times, the balance is such that no one area of the mix stands tall above the rest, but also… each area is represented very nicely. That includes the treble region.

Not for treble-heads, but nice…​

This is not going to be a set that brings out all of the treble heads though. Of course, it’s not every day that you hear good treble under $50. The Trio does a lot well, I’ll say that without skipping a beat though. I would think that treble junkies would want an even more spiked treble experience, more shining brilliance, more treble bite and crispness and a quicker decay. However, with all that said, the Trio illuminates details very nicely with better than adequate separation of instrumentation in the treble region. There’s space for instruments to spread their legs… so to speak. There’s room to operate and cleaner lines along note edges. I don’t hear a ton of grain or tiny auditory particles floating around the sound field. Obviously, the recording will dictate a lot, source will dictate a lot too, but for the most part the Trio handles the treble region much better than I expected. At this point, the Trio is looking more and more like a good all-rounder.

Downsides to the Treble Region ​

Speaking of downsides, I would first say that treble heads will likely want more of an emphasis up top. More clean and structured bite for treble notes. The Trio comes across a bit smoother rather than crisp and so note definition is a bit smoothed over and not as precise as a set tuned with the treble quality in mind. I could also say that decay is a bit more natural rather than snappy and super tight. However, at the end of the day it all comes together nicely for the Trio and the treble experience is actually quite good.

Technicalities​

Soundstage​

This is an area that I was surprised to see defy my expectations. I was expecting a more congested stage, but the Trio proved me wrong. I actually hear very nice width. Extending past my ears and stretching the stage in a slightly more realistic manner than I’ve been used to for these prices. Depth is also something which surprised me. There is actual depth that comes across as a 3D rendition of my music. It leans holographic which is really awesome to hear. All in all, the stage is very nice. You have good extension both ways and a more expressive mid-section with decent macro-dynamics which all seems to give depth to the sound to my ears. This is not a flat plane of sound but instead there is some convexity, some roundness.

​

Separation / Imaging ​

Separation is right above average as a whole. Some areas are better than others though. Also, some tracks are better than others too. Separation isn’t perfect when listening to congested tracks all the time but that’s to be expected. Though, by-and-large the Trio does better than many sets at creating a distinction between instruments and vocals. This is especially great considering the type of tuning we have on this set. Smoother and richer doesn’t usually equate to above average separation. Imaging is even better. I hear good imaging in fact. I’ll tell ya’ folks, I am surprised at how well the Trio does in all categories of Technicalities.

Detail Retrieval​

I know I’ve already gone over this, but detail retrieval is definitely above average for the $40 price point. The only caveats would be heavily bass driven tracks and seriously congested tracks. Everything else is quite good. The Trio does a nice job at bringing out the subtleties in my music. Breath in a mic, the rebound from strings, different harmonics, the crowd in live tracks etc. are all better than expected. All the while the sound is actually fun, expressive, macro-dynamics are boisterous enough and there is actual fun energy. This is a great set for the price folks. Trust me (okay you don’t have to trust me) I don’t review anything I don’t like.

Is it worth the asking price? ​

I couldn’t (with a right mind) declare the Trio “not” worth the measly $40 it cost to own this set. The Trio is simply another great addition to the under $50 price bracket. To think that KZ/CCA tuned a 3DD set to sound this good is a huge testament to them. My hats go off to all the sound engineers and tuners. Is it perfect? C’mon, I’m not saying that. I’m also not saying it’s best in its price point or “tops in class”. Not saying that. I am trying to get across to the reader that the Trio is a benefit to any collection if what I’ve described aligns with your preferences.

The Why…​

The bass is fun, tight enough and impactful enough. Midrange is smooth, tuneful and musical without leaving out the technical stuff. The treble has such a nice transition from mids to treble, nicely toned-down brilliance, good extension. The stage is above average, Imaging is nice too. Separation of elements within the stage are decent too. Believe it or not, the tuning switches do subtly change the sound. Build is good enough. The look and appearance are dope. Yes, it’s worth every last penny.

Competition​

However, the under $50 price point has to be one of the most difficult price points for any iem. There are a whole host of great sets that do a wonderful job of replaying music. Sets like the Simgot EW200 (EW200 Review), CCA Rhapsody (Rhapsody Review), Truthear Zero Red (Mahir’s Zero Red Review) EPZ Q1 Pro (Review coming soon), EPZ Q5 (Q5 Review), Rose Technics QuietSea (QuietSea Review), Celest Pandamon (Pandamon Review), BGVP P05 (P05 Review) among many others (yes, I know I left many out). Also, if you spend about $20 more you get into the Artti R1 territory which is another 3DD iem and it is marginally better in almost all regards, not to mention the other sets hovering just one price point higher. The point is, it’s a tough price bracket to try to stand out. The benefit of the Trio’s tuning is in its dynamic balance. It can be an all-rounder type set and can replay many genres well. I think for the price and even against the competition, the CCA Trio is an easy set to rec. Worth every penny.

Ratings (0-10)​

Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the CCA Trio ratings below, that would be $35-$50 iems of any driver configuration. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $35-$50 US is a pretty large scope of iems and so seeing a “9” (for example) should be a special thing. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.

Aesthetic ​

–Build Quality: 8.9 Build is nice

–Look: 9.0 Understated and cool looking

–Accessories: 5.5 CCA not known for good unboxing.

–Overall: 7.8

Sound Rating ​

–Timbre: 9.3 Timbre isn’t bad at all for a $40 iem.

–Bass: 9.1 Fun, deep, authoritative bass.

–Midrange: 9.1 Musical, easy in the ears.

–Treble: 8.9 Non-Offensive, smooth, clean.

–Technicalities: 8.7 Better than expected.

–Musicality: 9.5 Musicality 1st iem.

–Overall: 9.1

Ratings Summary:​

Folks, I spend too much time deliberating amongst myself about each rating. I don’t think that the Trio ratings above will cause much of a stir, unless you simply don’t like the sound. I rated the Trio against any and all iems between $35 and $50 US. That’s a boatload of iems, folks. I don’t really feel I have many ratings that would garner much anger from the crowd. The Trio is a good set, plain and simple. If you are in the market for a fun set, with a nice balance, within the price range, then it’d probably be good to at least include the Trio into that searching. I don’t think I would change a thing about the ratings. However, if I was pushed to change anything I’d possibly say the “Treble” could be a hair higher. Also, depending on what you enjoy, the “Bass” rating may be a bit higher than some would like. That’s about it.

Conclusion​

To conclude my full written review of the CCA Trio, I first have to thank KZ/CCA and Tyvan Lam for providing the Trio in exchange for a feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I cannot thank you enough.

Final thoughts on the Trio​

Looking at the landscape of iems under $50, I cannot fathom a world that the Trio isn’t at least in consideration for one of the better sets in this price point. It does a lot correct, and I love to see where KZ/CCA goes from here. If for whatever reason you are really wanting to try out a triple dynamic driver iem, but don’t have a ton of money to spend then I certainly feel that the Trio is worthy of your time. Another fine job from KZ/CCA. This set is a certain recommendation.

Other perspectives ​

Please seek out other reviewers’ perspectives on the CCA Trio. It’ll only benefit you. Don’t just stop at my opinion, because my opinion is only one opinion. Yes, I think this set is fantastic, but others may dislike it. That’s the nature of the hobby. We are all very much different. Each one of us. We all have different likes and dislikes, musical libraries may be different, hearing ability may be different too, and a number of other areas which speak to the differences in every opinion. I think you’ll be doing yourself a “solid” by scrolling through Google looking for reviews. With that said, I’m done. I hope this review has helped. By the way, I ran out of time to conduct comparisons so hopefully I can get those edited in later. With that, I hope you are all well and good. Stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!

Introduction​

CCA has always been “the handsome sister brand” of KZ, famous for offering more balanced and mature tunings than those of the KZ line-up..
The CCA Trio (also called “The Legendary 3DD IEM”, come after the much praised Rhapsody and their name also suggests they are somewhat related to the less recent CCA Duo.
In this review, I’ll try to give my opinion on these and will do some comparison with other similarly priced products.

Disclaimer: the CCA Trio were sent to me by CCA free of charge so that I could write an honest review. This review represents my personal opinion on the set and it is by no means a promotional or paid content.
At the time of the review, the CCA Trio were on sale for around 40$ at KZ’s official webstore.

Technical Specifications​

• Driver Configuration → 3 x DD
• Impedance → 15 - 20 Ω
• Sensitivity → 101-103dB
• Frequency Response Range → 20Hz-40kHz
• Cable → 1,20m 5N copper silver plated cable with 0.75mm 2-PIN QDC connectors
• Plug Type → L-type gold plated 3.5mm jack connector

Packaging​

Nothing new under the sunlight as the Trio come with the same packaging as older KZ and CCA products:

• The CCA Trio
• One pack of starline eartips (S, M, L) and one set of medium-sized foam tips
• The detachable 3.5mm cable with 0.75mm 2-PIN QDC connectors
• A SIM Card removal needle (needed to move the switches)
• User manuals and instructions

Design and Build Quality​

The CCA Trio are slightly smaller with similar thickness and identical nozzle size. I would have really liked a smaller font for the “Trio” label on the shell, but this is very subjective. The dark-silver faceplate is glossy and elegant, and there are three diagonal-striped holes that should be open, even though I’m not sure if they are vents or if it’s just a decorative part of the shell.
The switches are located on one side of the IEM, but the reason why the switch panel is not symmetrical between the two IEMs is still unknown to me.
The nozzle is not as wide as on other sets but it’s not a small nozzle either.
Overall, the Trio are well built and feel sturdy and very solid in the hands.

Cable​

The stock cable is again nothing special: it’s the same cable that KZ and CCA have been including for ages now, and even though it’s not bad (per se), I still think a small effort to include an even better cable could be done, since other brands have already done that.

Comfort and Isolation​

Comfort is generally good even though those with very small ears could find the shell thickness annoying over prolonged listening sessions. In any other case, they fit very well and have a solid grip.
Isolation is more than enough for outdoor listening sessions.

Sound​

GEAR USED FOR THE TEST

• DAC: Topping E30
• AMP: Topping L30, Fiio A3
• Mobile phones: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Xiaomi Mi A3, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Moondrop May’s DSP cable with PEQ=0
• Dongle: Apple Type-C dongle, Truthear SHIO
• Portable DAPs: Benjie S8/AGPTEK M30B
• Other sources: Presonus AudioBox iONE, Elgato Wave XLR, KZ AZ10

Do they need an amplifier?
The CCA Trio don’t need an amplifier and there aren't any tangible differences when they are connected to a dedicated amplifier.

Sound signature
The sound signature depends on the switches’ positions. The first two switches have impact on the bass, the other two twitches have impact on mid&high frequencies. Basically, setting the first bass switch in the UP position increases the low end, but if the second bass switch is also switched in the UP position, then the low end increases even more. Same applies for the mid&highs switches.
There are many possibilities and one can really try playing with them, but this review will be based on the UUUU combination, which leads to a U-shaped signature.
Moving the switches in different ways by starting from this position helped me understand the various effects of the switches, but your mileage may vary of course.

This is the UUUU config (UP, UP, UP, UP), since all of the switches are UP (the image looks inverted but it's clear since both letters and numbers are upside down):



Lows
The low-end is punchy with an elevated bass and a rumbly sub-bass that has decent extension. Bass textures are average, but there’s a good punch and enough tightness. With the right switches’ setting, basshead will also be satisfied (the DDDD setting, for example, has lots of bass and similarly forward treble so you’re basically getting a nicely done basshead set.

Mids
The midrange is recessed but overall it’s presented nicely. Instruments are reproduced in a natural way and female vocals come across in a balanced way with basically no sibilance (it only occurs in very rare cases when tracks are prone to get sibilant), but male vocals could use a bit more warmth for sure.
Overall, it’s well tuned midrange and it’s refreshing to see KZ finally giving the midrange a chance to stand out even when the bass and the treble are the stars of the show.

Highs
The treble is for sure brighter than average, so it might not be up your alley if you’re treble sensitive, but it’s not annoyingly bright. Detail retrieval is average and the upper end extension is not among the best out there, but it’s a set with which most people will be ok for long listening sessions (except for those who are very sensitive to treble).
The overall smoothness of the Trio in this switch setup is pleasant, I gotta say, since it has a well tuned treble, nothing more and nothing less.

Soundstage is average and so is the imaging.

My favorite combination of the various switches: UUUU.​

The UUUU combination focuses on sub-bass instead of bass and strikes a good balance between the low-end and the treble. Thanks to this, the midrange also pops out as very natural and pleasant.

Some comparisons:​

CCA Trio UUUU vs CCA Rhapsody UUUU​

The difference is pretty clear: the Trio are U-shaped while the Rhapsody are V-shaped. It may seem a very small difference but it’s easy to notice that going from one set to the other.
The Rhapsody have more bass and sub-bass and also the low-end extension is a bit better, they have a more recessed midrange, warmer male vocals, more forward upper-mids and a slightly brighter treble that packs a better upper-end extension.
The Trio, on the other hand, have a less recessed midrange, a slightly inferior resolution and a smoother treble response which makes them a bit less resolving in the treble area. Let’s say that the Trio go for a bit more smoothness by sounding more natural whereas the Rhapsody sound a tad more artificial but pack slightly better technical performance.
The soundstage and the imaging are a notch better on the Rhapsody, but the difference is very small.
Build quality is the same, even though the Trio kinda look more premium. Comfort-wise, the Trio are smaller, but the Rhapsody somehow manage to be a tiny bit more comfortable (at least in my ears); isolation is very similar instead. The stock cable is the same.

CCA Trio UUUU vs CCA Duo​

The Duo has no switches and have a bass light signature whereas the Trio tend to have more bass and less treble in the DDUU config (which should be the configuration with the least amount of low-end). The sub-bass extension is better on the Trio, whereas the Duo have a speedier (yet even less textured and punchy) bass. The midrange is leaner, more forward and less engaging on the Duo, warmer and more recessed on the Trio. Vocals sound much more natural on the Trio. The highs are more emphasized and have better extension on the Duo, that sound more detailed yet also more fatiguing and less natural than the Trio.
Soundstage and imaging are is a bit better on the Trio.
Build quality is good on both sets but the Trio feel a bit sturdier and look more premium, while the Duo are a tad more comfortable. Isolation is comparable. Stock cable is the same.

CCA Trio UUUU vs KZ PR2 (no-mesh version)​

From a tonal perspective, it’s a free win for the Trio since the PR2 were a bit messy due to the mesh-drama.
The sub-bass and bass have better textures, speed and control on the PR2 thanks to the planar driver, but the Trio have a more natural decay and no planar bass so those who like DDs may like the Trio more. The midrange is more natural on the Trio, even though male vocals and acoustic instruments sound better on the PR2, that also have slightly better instrument separation. Female vocals sound more natural on the Trio whereas sibilance is a lot more frequent on the PR2. The PR2 are more detailed and resolving in the treble but they are also a lot more fatiguing and unnatural: the Trio win hands down in this regard.
Soundstage and imaging are better on the PR2.
Build quality is similar, comfort is similar and isolation is better on the Trio. The stock cable is identical.

An opinion on KZ/CCA products turnover​

Even though my review is generally positive regarding this product, I’d really like to point something out regarding KZ and CCA’s recent behavior on the market: while I appreciate the fact that they have shown lots of improvements in the last couple of years, I cannot deny that their very high product turnover is not healthy (both for the market and for the customers).

The more the market becomes competitive, the more difficult it is to recommend some products over others, because competition forces brands to adhere to some standards and fight for the best price in order to become value kings.
Specifically, since I am speaking about a CCA product in this review (which is under KZ’s hate) It’s very hard to recommend KZ and CCA sets sometimes because in less than a week or two a new version is likely to pop-up and start a new hype.
Somehow, their marketing strategies still work because they offer fun sounding IEMs at affordable prices and their name is quite popular online, but the truth is that I really wish they could focus more on less products of higher quality and with better technical performance.

All in all, I don’t like the fact that there’s a really short timeframe between two releases, as this leads to very similar products with few-to-none advantages in buying every model, but this isn’t something we can control I don’t think KZ is going to slow down in the near future.

Final Thoughts​

CCA has been releasing solid IEMs characterized by respectable tunings, and The CCA Trio is no exception, coming both with a well balanced sound and tuning switches that make them a pretty versatile set.

The CCA Trio are an improvement over the Duo and a much more mature set when compared to the PR2, but the Rhapsody have set a slightly higher bar that the Trio cannot reach from a technical perspective.
Despite what I’ve just said, though, the Trio do better in the overall tonality and reproduces music in a more natural way, also thanks to the less recessed midrange and the use of a full-DD configuration instead of a hybrid one.

Do I recommend it? Well, it really depends on what you currently have.
If you already have a CCA Rhapsody or Castor Bass, I’d stick with them since this is not a big upgrade. If you instead come from a cheaper or older set and think that the Rhapsody may be too V-shaped for you, then the Trio can be considered as a nice add to CCA’s product portfolio (and to your inventory).

CCA Trio
Kate, the social media representative from KZ, contacted inviting me to test the new Trio IEM from CCA.

CCA (Clear Concept Audio) is a sister company of KZ (Knowledge Zenith). The company produces parallel models to KZ as well as original designs. Among its most successful models are the CRA, C16, CKX and the new Rhapsody. The Trio is its latest design featuring three 8mm dynamic drivers and four tuning switches and retails for around $40.

Purchase link:
https://www.kztws.com/products/cca-trio-legendary-3dd-iem

The Trio comes in the familiar CCA/KZ small white box with a monochrome image of the IEMs on the front, the CCA logo at the top and the model name "CCA Trio" below, along with a description of the product in English and Chinese. The specifications and company information are printed on the rear of the box.

Sliding the box open reveals the IEMs in a plastic tray below which the accessories are stored below a cardboard flap.

The contents comprise:

● CCA Trio IEMs
● Silver plated 2-pin cable
● Three pairs of "Starline" tips (S, M, L)
● One pair foam tips (M) pre-fitted
● Tuning switch lever
● Documentation

The IEMs are very well made and have a similar build to the recent KZ Castor and Krila models with a metal faceplate and clear resin body allowing a view of the components within. The earpieces are fairly bulky with a good weight to them. The Trio's glossy black faceplate is attractively contoured and bears the model name in a gold script font. There are three diagonal vents for the dynamic drivers and channel identification is provided on the top of the unit next to the clear plastic 2-pin sockets. The four tuning switches are mounted on the rear of the unit.

Internally, there are three 8mm dynamic drivers fitted in a 3D printed housing, separated by a three-way crossover network covering the sub-bass, bass and midrange/treble.

The supplied cable is a silver-plated copper type with a clear sheath, clear plastic QDC connectors and a 90° angled white plastic plug and is 1.2m long. Channel identification is provided but is a little difficult to read. The ear guides are rather stiff but do result in a secure and comfortable fit and the cable is less prone to tangling than previous CCA/KZ designs, although there is still no chin slider provided.

Tuning Switches
The tuning switches on the earpieces provide a variety of tuning options. Switch 1 increases bass by one level, switches 1 & 2 together increase bass by two levels. Switch 3 increases midrange and treble by one level and switches 3 & 4 together increase midrange and treble by two levels.

The principal source was an Xduoo X20 DAP. A Hidizs AP80 Pro X, a digital radio and a smartphone were also employed. The stock cable and medium Starline tips were used and a burn-in period of 100 hours was allowed to settle down the components. For the purpose of testing, all switches were set to "off". Thus configured, a good fit, seal and isolation were obtained. Sensitivity was slightly lower than average with a somewhat higher volume level than normal needed for the best results.

Sound Quality
From the very beginning, the Trio displayed a natural timbre and a well-balanced tonality which adapted well to a variety of genres. No particular frequency range was overemphasised and the overall profile was on the warm side of neutral. There was a good sense of weight in the bass with fine resolution and texture whilst the midrange was open, spacious and natural. The treble was clean and nicely extended with no undue harshness and there was plenty of detail. Staging was expansive in all three dimensions with the height particularly noticeable. The overall impression was warm, inviting and musical.

Bass
The bass produced by the Trio was rich, full-bodied and weighty. There was good timbre and texture and excellent extension with a natural decay. Sub bass dug deep with a healthy rumble and mid bass provided a satisfying kick whilst speed and transient attack were on point.

"Dusk" by Franz Waxman is a piece from the score of the psychological thriller
"Night unto Night". In the recording by the
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra under John Mauceri, a mysterious and spooky introduction leads into an impassioned part for strings with an emotive violin solo. After a brief quotation of the theme, a dynamic and powerful interlude follows featuring a large percussion section in which the bass drum features prominently. The Trio reproduced this impressively with an incisive initial strike and rebound of the skin while the natural decay merged seamlessly into the hall ambience. The piece ends with a romantic epilogue representing the victory of love over conflict in which the basses and cellos displayed a warm and rich tonality.

Jonn Serrie is an American synthesist best known for his space and planetarium music. "The flow of Time's Arrow" appears on his album "Thousand Star". Delicate high frequency effects and melodic synth patches introduce the track. A gently descending theme is supported by sub-bass tones and lush chordal accompaniment and the weight and depth produced by the Trio really set the scene for an imaginary space journey populated by twinkling electronic percussion and crystalline elements. The deep bass foundation possessed a rich, full texture which was perfect for this kind of material.

Midrange
Following on from the bass, the Trio's midrange emerged from the low frequency region with just a touch of extra warmth which added an attractive bloom to cellos, bassoons and male vocals. The timbre throughout the range was natural and the upper mids were a touch brighter, giving instruments and female vocals some character and projection. There was plenty of detail on offer and little evidence of recession. Separation and layering were of a high standard and there was a good balance between the musical and technical.

"Reverie" is a track from Bruce Mitchell's New Age album, "Earth Heal". It is a romantic solo piano piece in the classical style and is beautifully recorded and performed. On the Trio, the timbre of the piano was very realistic with sustain and overtones authentically reproduced and crisp transients adding a little spice to the proceedings and helping to bring the performance to life. The contrast between the flowing melodic sections and the more dynamic and percussive passages was notable and the whole piece gelled together in a musically satisfying fashion.

Holst's "Moorside Suite" for brass band was composed in 1928. In the recording by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band under Elgar Howarth, the Trio showed its capabilities with a natural timbre to all the instruments ranging from the smooth tones of the trombones and tuba to the more incisive sounds of the trumpets and cornets where there was a real bite and shimmer. The lively folk-inspired melodies were delivered with verve and excitement and the rhythmic qualities of the faster passages came over wonderfully well with the separation in the choral sections handled adeptly and the percussion in the final movement displaying good transient attack.

Treble
The treble flowed seamlessly from the upper midrange without too much "pinna gain", resulting in a gentle transition. The tonality was clean and smooth with good extension and a natural timbre commensurate with a competent dynamic driver. Detail retrieval was above average and there was a good deal of subtlety in the presentation. Separation was also of a high standard with a similar level of resolution. The overall impression was musical but still possessing good technical ability.

Pachelbel's "Canon in D major" is a much-recorded work but has rarely received such an elegant rendition as in the version by the Jean-Francois Paillard Orchestra on Erato. Taken at a slow tempo, it brings out the stateliness of the melody and allows the detail of the counterpoint to be appreciated. The tonality of the strings, the separation of the ensemble and the detail of the harpsichord continuo were all attractively portrayed by the Trio with a clean delivery and plenty of space between the instruments. The balance in the performance was nicely judged and the excellent resolution and extension in the treble brought out the harmonic qualities of the violins convincingly.

German multi-instrumentalist Georg Deuter has produced many albums in the New Age genre. His compilation album "Sands of Time" was released in 1991. From it, "Alchemy" features fast-paced intricate rhythms inspired by Eastern music. Bells, acoustic and electronic percussion combine to produce a hypnotic effect filled out with a subtly changing synthesiser accompaniment overlaid with woodwind and chanting. The Trio managed to present all this as a coherent whole while enabling the individual strands to be followed clearly. The delicacy and detail of the high frequency sounds were adeptly portrayed with sparkle and precision, remaining smooth and totally lacking in harshness while at the same time maintaining a musical quality.

Soundstage
The staging was one of the more impressive aspects of the Trio's performance with a notable height and above average width and depth. Movement within the stage was clearly presented and both layering and separation were of a high standard. Crucially, the Trio reproduced the staging faithfully according to what was in each recording rather than exaggerating it.

"Leeward Sail" is a piece from the album "Dolphin Smiles" by Steve Kindler and Teja Bell. It begins with acoustic guitar high in the centre of the image accompanied by keyboards on the left and strings on the right. An impactful kick drum is added and then the melody is introduced by Teja Bell's guitar and Steve Kindler's violin playing simultaneously, producing a distinctive sound. The Trio reproduced this accurately, retaining the characteristics and the positioning of the two instruments while retaining the effect. Later the two soloists play separately in a kind of dialogue, which was very effective. The stage was filled in a notably three-dimensional fashion and the ambience of the recording studio was conveyed very realistically with excellent separation and layering.

Charles Dutoit's series of recordings with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra on Decca is legendary and his version of Holst's "Planets Suite" is a fine example. Throughout the piece, the atmosphere at St Eustache, Montreal was conveyed authentically and the locations of the various orchestral sections were accurately delineated. The front to back perspective was particularly well realised and the interplay of the woodwind and strings was in perfect balance. The varying timbres of the different instruments as they successively shared the melody were clearly differentiated and the impression of each soloist occupying their own space was another outstanding feature.

Comparisons
KZ Krila
The Krila is a recent design from the company and is a dual hybrid IEM employing a 10mm dynamic driver, the second generation Xun unit, and the latest iteration of the well-known 30095 balanced armature. Like the Trio it has four tuning switches. It is well made with a metal faceplate and resin body and has a similar cable to the Trio. The Krila was set with all switches off.

The Krila has a V-shaped profile. Its detail retrieval is crisp and immediate and different in timbre from the Trio, which is to be expected with a BA, rather than a dynamic driver, handling the high frequencies. It is technically competent and the treble is similarly extended but brighter, with a less natural timbre and sometimes a little overemphasised. The midrange is nicely contoured but has a more noticeable rise in the upper region compared to the Trio. In the bass, the Krila's Xun driver is subtly different with good weight, rumble and impact, and is a touch tighter in its delivery. The Trio is warmer here and perhaps loses just a little bit in definition. Soundstage on both models is of a similar extent with the Krila's brighter top end giving the impression of more detail and the Trio excelling in space and atmosphere and feeling more natural.

KZ Castor
The Castor employs two dynamic drivers in a stacked configuration. Bass duties are handled by a 10mm unit dealing with the frequency range up to 200 Hz while the midrange and upper frequencies are covered by an 8mm driver. It is very well made with an alloy faceplate and resin body. As with the Krila and Trio, all tuning switches were set to the off position.

The profile follows the Harman curve, a generally V-shaped frequency response, but the midrange is only slightly recessed. The treble is brighter than neutral and, like the Krila above, sometimes becomes rather emphasised. The Trio is more neutral with a smoother treble but with no loss of detail and is more extended than the Castor. The Castor's bass is a little more coloured, with a small amount of bass bleed, which is absent in the Trio, possibly due to the separation of the two units dedicated to the bass. In the midrange, the two are fairly similar with nothing much to separate them, except for the upper region which has a touch more pinna gain making it somewhat brighter. Soundstaging in both models is broadly similar with the slight increase in brightness on the Castor flattening the perspective by a small degree.

KZ PR3
The new PR3 features an upgraded 13.2 mm Planar unit with a "Nano-level" silver plated membrane and electronic filter tuning. The cable is a silver plated OFC type with a 2-pin 0.75mm connector and a gold plated 90° angled 3.5mm plug.
The PR3 is a semi-open design with a clear resin body. The gunmetal coloured alloy faceplate has a grille of diagonal parallel strips, three gold hex bolts.

The PR3 has a well-balanced, neutral profile with a clean and precise bass, an expressive midrange possessing good timbre and an energetic, bright treble showing excellent detail and extension. The soundstage is spacious with good layering and separation making it easy to follow individual strands in the music. The volume needs to be set somewhat higher than normal, which is often the case with planar drivers.

Compared to the Trio, the PR3 has a cleaner and brighter quality with a quicker response and decay which gives it a slightly different timbre. It is superior in technicalities, especially in the treble which is very extended and detailed. The Trio is warmer in nature with a more natural timbre but lacks the immediacy of the PR3. Both have a generally neutral midrange but the Trio derives some warmth from its mid-bass whereas the PR3 with more of a sub-bass focus is cleaner in this region. The Trio has a stronger bass presence which is more satisfying but the PR3 has better speed in the low frequencies. The clean and open nature of the PR3 results in an impressive staging which is more precise than that of the Trio. The Trio is easier to drive with the PR3 needing substantially more power to give of its best. In many ways the Trio and PR3 are complementary, each having its considerable merits.

Conclusion
The more recent releases from CCA and KZ have shown a marked improvement in timbre compared to the older models. Gone is the deep V shaping with dominant bass, recessed mids and sometimes aggressive treble with the tuning now more inspired by the Harman curve. The Trio is a good example of that.

Building on a solid bass foundation with a natural timbre and decay, there is a largely neutral midrange which is smooth in character. The treble is clean, smooth and extended with a high level of detail and the soundstage is expansive. There is a satisfying musicality to the presentation. These impressions are based on the switches all in the "off" position and using them will result in different profiles. In general, they will make the final sound increasingly V shaped as they are engaged, thus providing a choice of tonalities.

Well made and comfortable to wear, the Trio ticks all the boxes and performs at a significantly higher level than would be expected at the price and I consider it to be the finest model from CCA I have heard. It is highly recommended.

https://www.kztws.com/products/cca-trio-legendary-3dd-iem




Specs:
Impedance: 15-20 ohms
sensitivity: 101-103dB
20-40kHz
3.5mm
0.75mm QDC two pin
Silver plated cable 120cm

Equipment used to test:
ifi Diablo-2 , ifi Gryphon, TempoTec V6, Questyle M15, Hidizs S9 pro +, Fosi DS1, Simgot DEW4X, ETC.


Packaging:
The CCA Trio came in pretty Lunar New Years wrapping paper.
Inside was the simple box that we are used to from KZ products. Documentation was excellent.
Inside is the unit, their standard silver-plated cable, foam tips and Starline tips in three sizes.
Contruction:
The Trio is made well the body is on the chunkier side like the rhapsody, made from resin and with a nice-looking metal faceplate. I found them comfortable, but I can't say they will fit smaller ears well. I switched from the default foam tips to the medium Starline as I like them better myself. Isolation was very good and above average for its price. The Trio uses three 8mm legendary dynamic drivers with two being housed inside a black holder and one near to the nozzle. It has 4 switches that mildly change the bass and mids but it's not as noticeable as other models.

Sound Impressions:
The Bass: The Bass on the Trio is not as deep as others from the company but has a good, controlled impact, there is a nice rumble when called upon but is by no way a Bass-head IEM, I found the Sub-Bass less prominent than the Mid-Bass that had a nice slam with good speed and more than adequate texture. Bass in general is well balanced and natural sounding.
The Midrange: The Mids present nicely, there is a mild warmth and texture to them. The vocals both male and female are forward and smooth with no shouty or peaky spikes. I found them pleasant, and they had good clarity and decent separation. While not as technical as the Rhapsody the Mids here sound very pleasant to the ear.
The Treble: The Highs on the Trio are excellent on various levels of enjoyability. They are extended to a safe level, have a mile sparkle and air to their presentation and are not peaky at all. while not the most details they do sound organic and open.
Soundstage: The Trio has a nice open sound to it while not huge its big and organic sounding, placement is very good and defiantly could work for casual gaming.

In Conclusion:
I like the Trio, its made well looks very good and has a natural and pleasant, and without harshness, U-shaped signature, it is not as technical as the Rhapsody and yet sounds amazing. I think KZ/CCA are heading in a good direction with their latest creations and the Trio is a enjoyable well-balanced IEM.