CCA CRA

CCA CRA- “PSEUDO RESOLVING”



Just like my previous post where I was hallucinating that these can be used for mixing, I was completely wrong!

To give an analogy, if you want your 1080p video look much clearer, you can increase its brightness, sharpness, and contrast, but they will never be comparable to 4k in terms of resolution.

DISCLAIMER:

As usual, these were provided by KZ free of charge. I will try my best not to be biased, and I think it is possible because I did not spend my money on these. I will be fair and give the PROS and CONS of this IEM.
But as much as I would like to rank them, I think it is pointless because my cons can be a pro to others and my pros can be a con to some as well. This is a subjective hobby after all, and we chase different tastes in music.

SETUP:
All stock. Stock tips, stock cable.
Shanling M3x using Hiby player, shanling player

SOUND PROFILE:
Oh man, it’s hard to classify this. I agree with John Tay. Sometimes they are neutral with subbass boost.. sometimes neutral with treble extension emphasis, sometimes balanced. They resemble a lot with Monks SM in the vocals and treble region.

But there is one thing I am sure of, they don’t have enough midbass and upper bass to lower mids emphasis. I don’t really know what’s going on. It can be a subbass bleed, too fast driver that it lacked decay, or just they are not so resolving.

However, they do have clear and forward sounding vocals with very good treble extension. So, it catches more details than Heart Mirrors. But having very good treble extension does not always translate to better sound production, at least for me. They are not full sounding.

WHO IS IT FOR?
They are good for people who are starting out in the hobby. Although there is emphasis on the treble, I don’t really find it offensive. It is good for people who likes to listen to JPOP vocals, KPOP, western POP, anime songs, metal, some rock, alternative. Well, I can say probably it can pass as an all-rounder, but there is really a problem in the midbass for me, and I will explain that later.

TECHNICALITIES:
Soundstage is average, not wide, but above average in height, with little to no depth. Because of the lesser stage depth, layering of instruments is not that good, so it sounds like just one plane, as mentioned already by other reviewers. Instrument separation is quite good because of the fast driver. Decays are fast, but it is up to you if it’s a con or not. For me personally, I wish they have a bit more decay to give life and emotion to vocals.

PROS:

clear and forward vocals. -All Jpop tracks sounded good. Yoasobi, Yorushika, Eimi Fukada, Milet, Ado, Asuka Kirara etc. sounded eargasmic.

-because of the height of stage and recessed midbass, I guess this pushes the vocals forward giving them enough clarity.

snare sounds really good
-The snares have this air extension that can be captured in the upper mids to treble. And when this air is captured, it sounds tight and “springy”. 311 and incubus snares sounds really good particularly the tracks “under my umbrella” and “love song”

cymbals sound sharp and is not too splashy.
-They are not as peaky as the ZEXPRO for my ears. Although it can sound thin and can still be unnatural at times.

detail retrieval is above average in the upper mids to treble

Vocal layering is great.
-In the chorus of the track “all of me” by John Legend, you hear that autotuned vocal layering, and it is quite clear.

very good and tight subbass that has a fast decay -I don’t know it this is a pro or a con, because at times, the fast decay can make the kickdrum sound thin.

Now onto the cons. I don’t know man. The CRA is really good for the price. I might just be nitpicking, but the lack of emphasis in the midbass bothers me a lot. I am sure they sound fine for others. Don’t get me wrong, they deserve the hype. Just that midbass. It feels incomplete to my ears.

CONS:

it lacks the midbass punch.
-In the track “on the ground” by rose, the bassline sounds thin. Though you hear and feel the subbass, but it felt like the bass drum is out of tune or untightened.

-Similarly, in the track
“ordertaker” by Parokya ni Edgar, the kick drum lacks weight as well.

treble can extend too much at times.
-In sinne Eeg “we’ve just begun”, the cymbal strikes at 0:50 sounds unnaturally clean.

-It can also sound overemphasized at times. In the track “could you be loved” by Bob Marley, those high hats sounded like disco tweeters.

bass guitars may lack body and clarity.
-In hiromi’s “flashback”, there is a bassline that switches from F to B chord, and it was kind of hard to discern. There is also a steady A chord around 5:35 and it was not that clear for me.

-Another example is the track “by the way” by red hot chilli peppers, the bass line at 0:33 was also kind of blurred. Although I understand that the track is not really mastered well, I can clearly hear that bassline even on Heart Mirrors.

lower harmonics on guitars are blurred as well.
-The undertones of the 6th and even the 5th string of the guitar in Ed Sheeran’s “photograph” is basically non-existent, higher pitched, or just sounds thin. It sounded like he was strumming a ukulele, or a nylon 1st,2nd and 3rd string.

difficult to discern fundamental notes when catching chords.
-“Disease” by matchbox twenty has a pretty good bassline in my opinion, but it just did not feel complete to my ears.

CONCLUSION:
The CCA-CRA certainly is another well-tuned IEM. Very good tuning, balanced sounding to my ears, sometimes neutral with emphasis on both ends. However, a good graph does not always translate to a good listening experience for everyone. Today, I learned that I should not give much focus on reading graphs anymore. Of course, graphs are important as a baseline on how an IEM would sound, but the final verdict should be at that time when you put them on your ears. If it were not for that midbass, I would have praised the CRA even more. The tuning should match with the driver speed. If you have noticed, fast drivers from renowned companies always have that midbass bump. And I guess that is to compensate for the decay. I could be wrong. I don’t know really.

DO I LIKE THEM?
-actually yes. For the price of $15, you cant really fault them that much. I just have high expectations of how they would sound based on the graph provided by BGGAR..But then again, graphs only tell half the story.

IS IT WORTH TO BUY?

Of course, they are good. But yeah, this hobby is subjective, and we have our own preferences. Take my review with as much salt as you want.

Quick Introduction​

No, CCA/KZ didn't send this unit to me. I bought it by myself with my own personal money, although I would love to receive a review unit from them Anyway, the unboxing experience of CCA CRA was totally standard and doesn't hold anything special by any means. You will only get three pairs of ear tips, the cable, and the IEM itself.

If you want to see my IEM Rank List, you can access it here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15FKnagMKxWUSA5DNRIoFAAwpUCSuceocMoMJGIPUqo8/edit?usp=sharing

Build & Fit​

The first thing I noticed when I pull my CCA CRA out of the box is that it looks damn cool. I ordered the silver one, which suits my liking. The shell is made from resin, but there's an aluminum faceplate with the CCA logo written on it. The cable was pretty nice too, different from what you would get in this price range. Although, I would like mine to be more flexible so it would be easy for me to insert it into my case.

As for fit, I think that they're very comfortable, even for long listening sessions. I could easily wear this for 3-4 hours without feeling any discomfort whatsoever. The tips that came out of the box are also nice. I wear the medium-size ones, as they fit my ears better. If you have tried something like the KZ EDX before, CCA CRA has the same type of fit overall.

Frequency Response (Source)​

CCA CRA has a v-shaped kind of tuning, where there is an emphasis on the bass, especially sub-bass, and the treble area around 4-6 kHz. What I personally love about CCA CRA is that it has a good extension on both ends. The bass extends well, the same goes for the treble. However, CCA CRA still possesses the peeks around the treble area just like the other KZ/CCA products.

Sound Quality​

Source: Cyberdrive Aura DAC and Jcally JM20, with music playing on USB Audio Player Pro through my Samsung Galaxy A32. I also used my phone alone with Apple Music to listen to CCA CRA as they are fairly easy to drive.

Notes: CCA CRA tends to produce some white noise when I connected it through my Cyberdrive Aura DAC at low volumes. So, make sure you DAC is capable of driving sensitive earphones with low noise.

Tonality/Tuning​

Low/Bass​

Not gonna lie, but CCA CRA has one of the best bass performances under $20. It punches really deep due to the extension of the sub-bass. Usually, KZ iems with this of bass have bad bass control, but CCA CRA is a different breed. Although it has a great bass depth, it doesn't get boomy to the point where it's bleeding into the mids. The attack is pretty fast for a single dynamic driver, which makes it suitable for listening to literally all music genres that you like. It also has a good rumble when listening to bass-heavy songs. Not to mention, it has just the right amount of bass quantity. I had a pleasant experience listening to this with EDM, J-Pop, and rock tracks. But, I don't suggest you listen to tracks with double pedals as CCA CRA would have a hard time catching up with them. Personally, I really love this kind of bass approach, and CCA CRA has portrayed that really well. For what it's worth, I use CCA CRA on a daily basis because of the bass itself.

Mid/Vocal​

As it pursues a v-shaped kind of tuning, the mids on CCA CRA are a tad recessed and fall behind the bass and treble. However, the mids especially vocals on CCA CRA are clean and clear with good detail levels. However, due to this sound approach, the mids can be harsh at times, and there's a slight hint of sibilance when listening to badly mastered tracks. I have no problem with it, as I can still enjoy listening to the vocals with lots of enjoyment.

High/Treble​

Just like the bass, CCA CRA is probably one of the best IEM under $20 when it comes to treble performance. The treble on this thing is exceptional. It has a really good extension, even my Tin T2 Plus became shy if compared to CCA CRA. Also, the treble has just the right amount of spark so I can easily listen to this for a long time without any fatigue. It also has some airiness to the treble, which makes it a perfect candidate for orchestra tracks. However, I can't help but notice some metallic timbre when listening to cymbals. The texture can still be harsh at times, but luckily my ears can accept that. If you're sensitive to high frequencies, then I'm afraid that CCA CRA is not exactly what you're looking for. But if you can withstand sparkling trebles, you will appreciate the treble on CCA CRA as much as I do.

Technicalities​

Separation​

CCA CRA has a decent separation, especially in its price range. Instruments are separated really well, with a good amount of micro details.

Soundstage​

The only downside of CCA CRA when it comes to technicalities lies within the soundstage. It is below average and can be cramped to some people. For me, I have no problems with it, considering the fact that I don't listen to live tracks that often. Although I would like more headroom for my listening experience.

Imaging​

Just like the separation, CCA CRA is average if we're talking about the imaging. I could still pinpoint instruments and know where they're coming from. However, due to the soundstage, the instruments come across in an almost cramped space. Though once again, I have no problems with it.

Quick Comparisons​

CCA CRA ($14) vs KZ EDX ($10)​

In short, the CCA CRA completely destroyed KZ EDX, both tonality and also technicalities. The bass on the KZ EDX doesn't punch that deep, and sometimes it bleeds into the mids. The mids are sibilance, to the point where I can't bear listening to the EDX for a long time. Last but not least, KZ EDX has some serious metallic timbre and it can get very harsh at times. Tonality aside, KZ EDX does not compete with CCA CRA when it comes to technicalities as well. CCA CRA is one step ahead of the KZ EDX in terms of separation and imaging, although they have the same level of soundstage.

CCA CRA ($14) vs Tanchjim Tanya ($23)​

If we're comparing these two, it all comes to personal preference. CCA CRA is more fun to listen to and has a more edgy sound overall, while the Tanchjim Tanya has a laid-back kind of tune with a lot of smoothing going on. CCA CRA has more punch and most importantly, it's deep. The vocals sound more open, clear, and detailed but can be harsh and sibilant at times. The treble also has more sparkle and air to it. Tanchjim Tanya, on the other hand, does the exact opposite. Tanchjim Tanya's bass doesn't punch that deep and has a good amount of mid-bass punch. The mids sound more natural, smooth, and sweet. There's some smoothing going on in the treble area. It lacks sparkle and lacks airiness to it.

In terms of technicality, both are on the same level, but CCA CRA has more details, while Tanchjim Tanya has a wider soundstage. For the rest, they come pretty close to each other.

Conclusion​

For under $20, CCA CRA is a must-buy. It is a fantastically tuned v-shaped iem with a good amount of details. The bass is deep, punchy, and extends well, the mids are open clear, the treble is sparkling and airy at the same time, and most importantly, it is very extended. CCA CRA is a true all-rounder set that can fit any type of genre that you're listening to. Do you like rock tracks? Buy CCA CRA. Do you like orchestra tracks? Buy CCA CRA. Do you like EDM tracks? Buy CCA CRA. Do you like J-Pop tracks? Buy CCA CRA.

Disclaimer: I received this review unit for free from CCA/KZ themselves, thank you very much. (I also bought a unit personally at my own expense, which is why I have 2 units.)
Review is done with my mod, which is explained down below.

Price: 14 usd

Specifications:
Impedance: 34ohm

Sensitivity: 105db

Frequency: 20HZ-40kHZ


S/M/L silicone clear tips



Cable: 2 core cable, plastic divider/connectors. The plastic cover around the wire is either transparent black/clear depending on the iem color (black or silver).






(black version)




(Silver version)


Build: Entirely plastic shell with transparent clear/black depending on the version, nozzle has a lip for the tips. The stock mesh (protection and also dampener) is pretty fragile though.

Fit: fits like their older iems, with no wing and is very secure. Average size.

Comfort: Very good, does NOT have the wing that some of their newer iems got which was NOT comfortable for me.

Isolation: Average, nothing special.

Mod: Remove the stock filter, put 1 piece of “Sony General Foam” in the nozzle and put a “500 mesh” on top. (links to the material at the bottom.)

Setup: Schiit Asgard 3 (low-gain, volume around 8 o´clock), stock tips L, stock cable 3.5mm, 500 Mesh + Sony General Foam

Lows: Elevated mid and sub-bass, sub-bass focused with epic texture and clean despite the big elevation, fast and tight. Mid-bass texture is a bit worse than the sub-bass, but still very good. Extends very low, although it doesn’t rumble that much due to the quick decay, so it isn’t fully a basshead set.

Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), clean due to the speed and tightness, although a bit more quantity would be better, good texture. The (02:55-03:01) section with the chopper is clean and hearable.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), very clean and texture is quite good, still on the tighter and faster side while the quantity is elevated.

Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), very impressive extension and it does rumble although not that much (fast decay). Punch quantity is high but clean due to the speed and tightness, good texture.

Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), Very clean and elevated bass with lots of texture, fast and tight.

Mids: Excellent female vocal tonality, clean and neutral placement with great timbre. Male vocals are also very good tonally and has good timbre but can sometime lack some warmth (clean though) and are slightly recessed. It doesn’t have forward vocals though, so it isn’t for vocal lovers but it does do them very well for V-shaped iem.

Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Excellent vocal tonality, clean and neutral placement with very good timbre. Instrument tonality is also very good, with great timbre and is clean.

Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), vocal and instrument tonality could be slightly brighter but very good timbre, clean and neutral placement (vocals).

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), vocals aren’t shouty, but treble is a bit peaky.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), none shouty vocals but treble is peaky.

Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), Very good vocal and instrument tonality, clean and very good timbre, slightly recessed vocals.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality could be warmer, but clean and has good timbre.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t sharp with very good tonality and timbre.

Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), chaotic due to the imaging and slightly peaky treble.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality could be warmer and with more texture, clean and has good timbre. Violin tonality is excellent, great treble-extension, timbre and clarity.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), very good tonality, airy and clean.

Soundstage: Very wide, impressive depth and airiness.

Tonality: V-shaped, balanced between warmth and bright, and not particularly thin nor thick note-weight, very versatile.

Details: Extremely good (punches way above its price range) macro and micro-details.

Instrument Separation: very good separation and does not struggle with busier tracks, imaging is average and nothing special (although very good for the price).

Songs that highlight the IEM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdgvEulj0LU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y1RjtBaRWk https://soundcloud.com/djfusiont/king-of-dubstep-vocal-beats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh11u95kimU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMRxHpcKjEY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INTpLH-prt8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbLPbGGaOBg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLBBRuVDOo4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSzyI3u5DFo

Good genres: Great match for my library, but Trance and EDM works the best.

Bad genres: Great match for my library, but Hip-hop and R&B are the weaker genres due to the fast/tight bass.

Comparisons:

IEM: CCA CRA (STOCK), stock tips L, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), identical bass, slightly warmer overall on the modded version.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), identical bass, slightly warmer overall and more refined treble on the modded version.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), identical bass, slightly warmer overall and more refined treble on the modded version.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Extremely similar but a bit peakier on the stock version.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), sharper and more fatiguing on the stock version.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), better tonality on the modded version due to it being slightly warmer and less peaky treble.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a bit sharper on the stock version.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Identical with the Cello. Violins are a bit sharper on the stock version but otherwise identical.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit peakier on the stock version.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), Identical technicalities and timbre.

Overall: The modded versions is basically refining the weak spot of the stock version while not making any big changes to it overall.



IEM: KZ DQ6 (High-Density Tuning Foam), Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, cable A3 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower on the CRA with similar rumble (although faster decay so it is cleaner on the CRA). Punch quantity is higher and more textured on the CRA as well as faster/tighter. More tonally correct on the CRA and a bit better timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), similar quantity but a bit more textured on the DQ6 while it is faster/tighter on the CRA. More tonally correct on the DQ6 but a bit better timbre on the CRA.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the CRA, but a bit more textured and more quantity on the DQ6.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality is a bit better, cleaner, more detailed and with better timbre on the CRA and a bit more forward. Instrument tonality is a bit better on the DQ6 but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), cleaner on the CRA and a bit brighter, more fatiguing, similar peaky treble.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal tonality is similar but cleaner, more detailed and better timbre on the CRA. Instrument tonality is better on the DQ6 but cleaner, more detailed and better timbre on the DQ6.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), similar electric guitars but a bit more fatiguing due to the brighter tonality on the CRA but better timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture and timbre are a bit better on the DQ6 but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA. Violin tonality, timbre, treble-extension, detail and clarity are a lot better on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is a bit better on the CRA due to the airier, cleaner and more detailed treble as well as better timbre.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a bit wider and deeper on the DQ6. Imaging, separation, macro-detail and timbre are better on the CRA, micro-detail is a lot better on the CRA.

Overall: The CRA is the better iem, from timbre, technicalities to most of the tonality, although the DQ6 has the bigger soundstage and does have better mid-bass.



IEM: Fiio FD5, Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, stock cable 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles a bit more on the CRA. Punch quantity is higher and more textured on the CRA, similar tightness but a bit faster on the CRA. More tonally correct and slightly better timbre on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), similar texture and tightness, but a bit slower and more quantity on the FD5, cleaner and more tonally correct on the CRA5 with a bit better timbre.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the CRA due to the faster and a bit lower bass quantity, similar texture.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), a bit more forward vocals on the CRA, a bit better tonality and timbre, cleaner and similar detail. Instrument tonality is slightly better on the FD5 but cleaner and similar detail on the CRA.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier and peakier on the FD5.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are better on the FD5, but cleaner and similar detail on the CRA. Timbre is similar.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a bit sharper on the FD5, but brighter and more fatiguing on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture and timbre are better on the FD5 but cleaner on the CRA. Violin tonality, treble-extension, clarity and detail are better on the CRA but timbre is better on the FD5.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is slightly better on the CRA, cleaner and airier, similar detail.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a lot wider, deeper and more holographic on the FD5. Separation and imaging are similar, more micro-details on the CRA but similar macro-details. Timbre is similar.

Overall: CRA is tuned better and competes with the FD5 in technicalities and timbre.



IEM: Tanchjim Oxygen, Final Audio Type E tips LL, cable A6 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends and rumbles a lot more on the CRA. Punch quantity and texture are a lot higher on the CRA, but faster/tighter on the O2. More tonally correct and better timbre on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more texture and more quantity on the CRA, but faster/tighter on the O2. More tonally correct and better timbre on the CRA.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner and more detailed on the O2 due to the lower bass quantity, faster and tighter bass, less textured though.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocals are more forward, cleaner, more detailed, more tonally correct and better timbre on the O2. Instrument tonality is better on the CRA, but more detailed, cleaner and better timbre on the O2.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier on the O2, similarly peaky treble but more fatiguing on the O2.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality are a lot better on the CRA, but cleaner, more detailed and better timbre on the O2.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a bit sharper on the CRA but overall brighter and more fatiguing on the O2.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the CRA but better timbre and detail on the O2. Violin tonality and treble-extension are better on the CRA but better timbre and macro-detail on the O2.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the CRA but cleaner and better timbre on the O2.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a bit wider but a lot deeper on the CRA. Imaging, separation and macro-detail are better on the O2 while micro-detail is better on the CRA.

Overall: They are very different in tonality, while the O2 is more of a specialist for acoustic/vocal genres, the CRA is the more versatile one and the only genres the O2 is doing better than the CRA are the acoustic/vocal stuff. O2 does have an edge in technicalities and in timbre, but they are still quite close.



IEM: Sony MDR-EX800ST (Filterless + PEQ), Final Audio Type E tips LL, stock cable 3.5mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles more on the 800ST. Punch quantity is similar but more textured on the 800ST while it is faster/tighter on the CRA. More tonally correct on the 800ST with similar timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity and more textured on the 800ST, tighter/faster and cleaner on the CRA. More tonally correct on the 800ST with similar timbre.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the CRA due to the faster/tighter and lower bass quantity.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality is similar but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA with a bit better timbre. Instrument tonality is a bit better on the 800ST but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA with similar timbre.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), shoutier on the 800ST and similarly peaky treble.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality are a bit better on the 800ST but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper and more fatiguing on the CRA, similar timbre.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are better on the 800ST but cleaner and similar detailed on the CRA. Violin tonality, texture and timbre are better on the 800ST but better treble-extension on the CRA and similar detail.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the 800ST and timbre.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), Soundstage is leagues ahead on the 800ST in both width and depth. Imaging and separation are a bit better on the CRA and more detailed as well. Timbre is similar.

Overall: The CRA is more technical and more balanced tonally than the 800ST. But I do prefer the 800ST due to its bass and stage (which are both a lot better).



IEM: GS Audio GD3A, Elecom EHP-CAP20 tips L, cable A6 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles more on the CRA. More punch quantity and a lot more textured on the CRA a bit faster/tighter on the GD3A. More tonally correct and better timbre on the GD3A.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more quantity on the CRA and a lot more textured, faster/tighter on the GD3A. More tonally correct and better timbre on the CRA.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the GD3A due to the faster/tighter bass, but a lot more textured on the GD3A.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality is a bit better and cleaner on the GD3A, similar detail, vocal quantity and timbre. Instrument tonality and timbre are slightly better on the CRA but similar detail and clarity.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), vocals are shoutier on the GD3A but peakier treble on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are better on the CRA, similar macro-detail but cleaner on the CRA.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a bit sharper and brighter on the GD3A.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre, texture and detail are better on the CRA. Violin tonality, timbre, treble-extension and detail are better on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality, timbre and cleaner on the GD3A.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a bit wider on the GD3A but deeper and more holographic on the CRA. Imaging and macro-detail are similar but better separation and micro-details on the CRA. Timbre is better on the CRA.

Overall: They are both aiming for the same type of tonality, but the GD3A is pretty much doing the (almost) same thing better. If you want a hybrid, with less bass texture and upper-treble the GD3A is better though, otherwise just get the CRA.



IEM: Sony XBA-N3, Final Audio Type E tips LL, cable A6 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower on the CRA but rumbles more on the N3. Punch quantity is higher on the CRA, more textured and faster/tighter. More accurate tonality on the N3 and timbre is slightly better as well.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), higher quantity on the N3 but more textured, cleaner, tighter and faster on the CRA. A bit better tonality on the CRA with better timbre on the N3.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the CRA due to the much lower bass quantity and faster/tighter bass, similar texture.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), vocal tonality, clarity and detail are better on the CRA as well as a bit more forward, while timbre is a bit better on the N3. Instrument tonality and timbre are better on the N3 but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), slightly shoutier on the N3 but peakier treble on the CRA and more fatiguing.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are a lot better on the N3, slightly more forward as well but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper on the CRA but more tonally accurate while timbre is better on the N3.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are a lot better on the N3 but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA. Violin tonality, texture, treble-extension, clarity and detail are better on the CRA but a bit better timbre on the N3.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), a bit better tonality and timbre on the N3 but better clarity and detail on the CRA.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), similar width but deeper and more holographic on the N3. Imaging and timbre are better on the N3 but better separation and detail on the CRA.

Overall: They are both quite different, the N3 is a more relaxed, warmer and mid-bassy sound than the CRA which is more energetic and sub-bassy.



IEM: LZ A7 (Pop-Black, High-Density Tuning Foams), Final Audio Type E tips LL, Cable A3 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends lower and rumbles a bit more on the CRA. Punch quantity is higher on the CRA and more textured as well as faster/tighter. More tonally correct and better timbre on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), similar quantity but more textured on the A7 while it is a bit faster/tighter on the CRA. More tonally correct on the A7 but a bit better timbre on the CRA.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the CRA due to the faster/tighter bass, but similar quantity with a bit more texture on the A7.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality, timbre and clarity are a bit better on the CRA and a bit more forward, similar detail. Instrument tonality is better on the A7 but better timbre and clarity on the CRA.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), similar non-shouty vocals but a bit peakier treble on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality is better on the A7 and a bit more forward vocals, but cleaner on the CRA.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper but more tonally correct and better timbre on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, texture and timbre are a bit better on the A7 but cleaner and more detailed on the CRA. Violin tonality is somewhat similar but better treble-extension on the CRA, similar detail and clarity.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the A7 but a bit better timbre on the CRA with similar detail and clarity.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider soundstage on the A7 but a bit deeper on the CRA. Imaging and separation are better on the A7 but similar detail.

Overall: They are pretty even with technicalities, tonality wise the A7 is the warmer and more relaxing one while the CRA is more energetic.



IEM: Shuoer EJ07m, Final Audio Type E tips, Cable A6 4.4mm

Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a bit lower on the 07m but rumbles a bit more on the CRA. Punch quantity is higher, more textured and faster/tighter on the CRA. More tonally correct and slightly better timbre on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), similar texture but more quantity on the CRA, similar tightness but a bit faster on the CRA.

Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), similar speed and tightness but more quantity and texture on the CRA.

Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality, clarity and detail are better on the 07m and also more forward vocals, timbre is better on the CRA. Instrument tonality and timbre are better on the CRA while detail and clarity are better on the 07m.

Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit shoutier on the 07m while the treble is peakier on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are better on the CRA. A bit more forward vocals and more detailed on the 07m.

Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are sharper but a bit more tonally correct and with better timbre on the CRA.

Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are better on the CRA but a bit cleaner and similar detail on the CRA. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, treble-extension and clarity are better on the CRA, similar macro-detail but more micro-detail on the 07m.

Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and timbre on the CRA, cleaner on the 07m.

Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), wider on the CRA but a lot deeper and more holographic on the 07m. Macro-detail, Imaging and separation are better on the 07m while micro-details are better on the CRA. Timbre is better on the CRA.

Overall: Tonality for my library is a lot better on the CRA and timbre is also better on the CRA being a single DD, but if you want a more balanced tonality then the EJ07M is better. Technicalities are indeed better on the EJ07M but the difference is not big at all (Diminishing return).



Conclusion: If you haven’t ordered the CRA already and if I didn’t make it obvious enough, I can´t recommend this enough. Price be damned, its performing way higher than it is priced at, they probably forgot a digit or 2 when it was put on sale.

Graph:

PEQ:

Sony EX800ST (filterless):

low-shelf: 25hz, Q:0.6, gain: 4db

low-shelf: 50hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 5.5db

low-shelf: 100hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 6db

peak: 2000hz, Q: 2, gain: -2db

peak: 3987hz, Q: 2.53, gain: 6.1db

peak: 5595hz, Q: 4.28, gain: -9.4db

peak: 6117hz, Q: 1.14, gain: 1.5db

peak: 8000hz, Q: 5, gain: -2db

High-shelf: 10 000hz, Q: 0.7, gain: 4.5db

Preamp: -10db

Mod material links:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002875037663.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003707507573.html

Cable source:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...zTm4ei7HEfP8AI1zxswrMw2ho/edit#gid=1801072063

Reference/test songs:

Disclaimer:

• GKEarphones.ph/Sir Jeff Yang sent me this unit in an exchange for an honest review. Rest assured that this review will be free from any bias/es as much as possible.
• The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
• No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
• Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 5-10 hours per day, 4 days.

Source/s used:

• Hidizs AP80
• Not-By-VE Avani Realtek Dongle
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (WM1811 DAC)
• Non-HiFi smartphone (realme 5i)
• Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP

IEM and setup configuration: stock tips, stock cable, any form of EQ and MSEB off, 40-60% volume.

Sound signature:

• V-shaped sound signature, leans to the brighter spectrum. Controlled lows, recessed, nearly clean mids, bright upper frequencies. Below average soundstage, average imaging, and separation. Excellent detail retrieval for its asking price point, nearly the same as the KZ ZEX Pro.

Lows:

• Lows are present and controlled. Bass is punchy rather than being boomy. Decay is on the faster side and is sufficient for most tracks. Midbass bleeds slightly into mids, adding warmth to the lower mids. Overall, the lows are slightly elevated, controlled, and will please bassheads on a tight budget.

Mids:

• The mids are presented in a recessed manner. Lower mids are warm and may sound distant at some tracks. Male vocals have decent weight. Upper mids exhibit above average clarity for its price point with enough air and sparkle, but experiences sibilance on sibilant-prone tracks. The sibilance is tolerable on my experience but will vary depending on the user’s hearing sensitivity. Overall, the mids are good enough for most people but have some compromises as anticipated in this budget range.

Highs:

• The highs are bright and well-extended with a very good sense of air. Excellent detail retrieval, this IEM is one of the best IEMs I have owned and auditioned for under 20$. Overall, the treble of the CCA CRA is one of my favorites in the budget segment. It is the best for its asking price, but can never outperform the most detailed IEMs under 100usd such as the HZSound Heart Mirror and BQEYZ KC2.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• The soundstage is below average to my liking, it sounds like everything is inside your head. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t narrow by any means, it is just a little bit smaller compared to the KZ EDX, NiceHCK DB1, and KZ EDX Pro. Separation is also average, it can handle most tracks with a fair bit of congestion on very busy tracks. Imaging is accurate enough but not precise.

Comparison/s!

VS NiceHCK DB1

• The NiceHCK DB1 sounds airier when compared to the CCA CRA. The DB1 also has a wider soundstage. Mids are also less recessed on the DB1. The sibilance on the DB1 are also non-existent. However, the CRA packs more punch in the overall sound when compared to the DB1. The CRA sounds more bodied when compared. The bass is also textured on the CRA compared to the DB1 which suffers less textured lows. Imaging and separation are nearly the same.

Pros:

• Another compelling option for an all-rounder IEM under 20USD
• Controlled, punchy bass
• Fun sounding IEM that sounds good on most tracks
• Excellent detail retrieval for its price
• Very good fit and isolation for most people (subjective)

Cons:

• There is still some sibilance on sibilant prone tracks
• Below average soundstage compared to some IEMs within the price range under 20USD
• Barebone accessories (but this is already cheap in terms of price, so manage your expectations).

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos:

CCA CRA - It's Illegal!​

First of all I would like to thank my buddy Daren Lee for this unit. Been spending a few days with this CRA now, but I just don't have the time to do a full review. So perhaps I just share my quick impressions on my thoughts on this nifty piece.

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To my ears, out of the box the CRA is a bright sounding unit. Timbral balance being closer to neutral, but not as organic or analogue as how I normally prefer. Focusing more on crisp and cleanliness of dynamic transients. Decidedly the tuning is not the normal KZ house sound I am familiar with, the reason being the lower frequencies are not boosted like what can be heard from the likes of KZ EDX or ZEX.

So, for a start. The Treble is very crisp and pronounced. However it does lack some of the airy smoothness on the decays. Markedly rolled-off slightly if compared to the likes of HZSOUND Heart Mirror. In stock form this is very audible, so after a very brief session I swapped in my trusted Kinera Leyding that helps taming down any hint of Treble aggression and some added smoothness to the decays. Treble energy and euphony level, thankfully is not as aggressive as Heart Mirror or KZ ZEX Pro, to me this is a plus - but Trebleheads may disagree. Again it is clean as it is crisp, however ultimately I feel that it lacks organic touch that takes away the feel of realism. In this regard I consider KZ ZEX (non Pro) treble to be more organic and smoother (after cable and tips swap). What bothers me as well, slightly, is that CRA does not jive well with Lo-Fi or aggressive music. So I would not use CRA for anything Metal/Rock/Indie, something that has lots of cymbal splashes and treble peaks. Keep it to Pop/Jazz/Classical/Folk music and it's all good.

As for the Bass. The presentation draws comparison to my beloved Etymotic ER2XR. It is fast, neat, and moderately pronounced. Definitely no hint of Bass bleeding into anything. However, unlike ER2XR, CRA lacks Bass micro details and textures, while being clean it can also sounded flatter on some tracks. But this is nitpicking from me. Perhaps if I am being critical, the Sub Bass suffered a bit from quick and prompt decays that at times barely audible, giving the impression of being rolled-off. Otherwise the overall performance of Bass is quite commendable for something this cheap. I have heard more expensive IEMs that performs worse.

Mids, it is wholesome as it is moderated sensibly. Not as recessed as how it is heard from the normal KZ/CCA tuning. Instruments and vocals exhibited great density and imaging. Not exactly warm nor does it sounded flat - natural I would say. Depending on the source, plugging CRA to something like Ovidius B1, CEntrance DACport HD, Cayin RU6, Lotoo PAW S2, Avani and iFi ZEN Stack will help to present the Mids with richer textures, but not so much with ESS based DACs. Ultimately, I can't really find any glaring cons on Mids for me to bitch about, regardless of price point.

Technically CRA is actually quite impressive. The soundstage is natively wide and spacious. There's good sense of space with proper breadth and cleanly defined spatial imaging. It is holographic enough to instill dimensional sensation.
Speed and resolution are quite commendable too, being single DD makes it easy for CRA to attain dynamics coherence and resolve even busy tracks. Details retrieval being quite good for Macro, but slightly off for Micro.

Efficiency is another great element for CRA. It already sounded amazing paired with 1 Vrms Avani. Scaled up higher with DACport HD at 4.1 Vrms and the only improvement I heard, headroom gets larger with more space allocated between the notes. Same case scenario of 15.1 Vrms of iFi ZEN Stack. Otherwise the overall presentation is consistent.

For a $12 IEM, CCA CRA is illegally good. This thing totally smashes the competition within the price bracket of up to $30. However I must admit that my current personal preference has evolved more towards "less euphonic" sound, of which I still prefer the more organic sound of ZEX (non Pro) over this CRA. But for those liking something clean, crisp and mildly bright, CRA is a no brainer.

CCA CRA
V shaped
Safe tuning

Disclaimer: The test unit of this review was provided by GK earphones in return for an honest review of the CCA CRA. All of the impressions on this review is mine alone. Your experience with the iems may vary with the conditions you will subject it into.

Bass
well detailed and clear mid bass, with ample sub bass. It is in the just right amount and a slightly more than that of ZEX Pro. a slight bleed that sometimes overpowers the midcentric instruments (kimi to lu hana - AKG) although most of the time presentation is clear and has only a gentle thump with the occassional booms.
4/5

Mids
the piano sound full and smooth and the guitars have a good twang sound when needed but the sound lacks sustain at some tracks. the voices have good quality despite being recessed. Still for this asking price I believe this is a good pair.
3.5/5

Treble
The highs of the CRA is well controlled. The amount of highs is enough for me but a bit on the fast decay side of things. the sibilance is negligible with only a little amount(unless you look for it) to nothing. the CRA shares a bit of the ZEX Pro tuning with a bit of more highs which I personally appreciate because of the apparent clarity and sparkly sound it gives. CRA 's treble quality is good for its price. It has ample body that can support the ring not to sound thin and offensive but as I mentioned it also decays fast.
4/5

Sound stage, separation and Clarity
Soundstage is pretty standard to this price range. the size is comparable to a studio or music room. Which can suit your solo listening session or not. separation is ok, I can identify certain instruments while other times there are instruments that sound similar that it don't become easily identifiable. the clarity is good. layering is nothing to write home about but overall good enough.
3.5/5

Ergonomics, Styling, Accessories and Price
I love the looks of the CCA CRA, with the minimalist nameplate on the side and the accent of metal and clear plastic. The pair fits good for me without fatigue for long hours. The color of wire could have been better though since the copper cables doesn't create a monotone effect on the color combination of the iem. Accessories are pretty bare bones, with ok pair of silicone tips. for its asking price CCA CRA offers a competitive pair. For a casual listener and those on a budget this is a good buy.
4/5
If you wish to improve the performance of the CCA you could change the tips to foam tips or something like Final E tips. The foam tips makes the bass more tighter while the Final E tips makes raises the apparent clarity of the mids.
Changing the wires to balanced termination instead of se introduced some changes for me. Even using stock tips the clarity and bass tightness has improved. The instruments also appeared more separated. Although this might have also boosted the highs a notch up since the volume of listening I am comfortable was reduced to 80 from 90 in the Pioneer XDP300r.

If you are interested you can purchase them here

https://ph.xiapibuy.com/product/573093318/15711663407

https://www.kztws.com/products/cca-cra

Summary

Another fantastically tuned set by KZ/CCA, the sound signature is mild U-shape with emphasis in the upper treble region. The driver speed is very speedy and handles my complex track with ease and finesse. The tuning is similar to the well-known Blon BL-03, but with tighter bass and a much extended treble. The sound of the CRA will make you focus on the micro details due to the driver not rolling off at the upper treble, kind of the same as how Heart Mirror makes you hyper-focused on the music. Both males and female vocals are precise, clear, and detailed, and for the price, these are the best vocals you can get no cap. The treble is amazingly good, like this is unreal. You can’t get a better treble than this for the asking price. It's better than Heart Mirror in my opinion. The treble is way extended and has good control and sparkle. Instruments that lie in the treble area are sharp, clean and clear.

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Disclaimer

• I like to thank KZ/CCA for providing me a review unit of the CCA CRA.
• Jeff from KZ sent this unit for my honest opinion and assessment.
• Rest assured that this review will be bias-free.
• As always, since our ears have different shapes and resonances, your mileage may always vary.
• This review will be quite long and wordy apologies in advance. hehe
• You can check My IEM Rankings for better visualization and shortened comparison to my other IEMs.
• As always don't forget to take my review with salt and always cross reference

Preliminary

• I've used the CRA for 5 days with different sources and tips, played different tracks ranging from pop to bossa nova (except metal).
• I've also tested the CRA with stock cable and eartips, and with CX-31993 as the source, I’ve also tried Avani, Abigail and other low powered sources like Xiaomi Mi 4, however only CX-31993 reduces the brittleness/glassy feeling that CRA somehow has.
• My library mainly consists of Japanese music, so if you’re a fan of them like me, then we might have the same taste. I also listen to various genre like hip-hop, rap, orchestra etc. but not that often compared to the Japanese ones.

My Target Sound Signature
My target sound signature is crinacle’s IEF neutral with sub-bass boost or Harman 2019 v2 with reduced upper mid gain. However, V-shaped or U-shaped will also work as long as there are sufficient technicalities. Congestion, bass bloat, and muddiness are a big no for me.

Equipment

• CX-31993 (Main Source)
• Avani (ALC-5686)
• Abigail (CX-31993)
• LG V20
• Xiaomi Mi 4

Thy Frequency Spectrum

This is the best KZ IEM when it comes to treble reproduction. It's so sparkly, detailed, and extended, even my Heart Mirror became shy in the treble when I tried the CRA. Bass is clean, tight, and textured, but some of my complex tracks induce some kind of mid-bass bleed (which can be mitigated with a clean source). The midrange is also good for the price; it's clear, defined and has enough weight, but it’s not that emotional sounding compared to ZEX Pro and Heart Mirror.

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Bass: 4.75/5
Very fast, clean, punchy, and tight. Midbass bleed sometimes shows in some of my complex tracks. Think of CRA bass like BL-03 bass but way tighter, cleaner, and punchy. The bass rumble is amazing and doesn’t overshadow any of the melodic frequencies. Its position on the stage is on the back of my head. The bass is very good for the price; the tapping of the drums, bass riffs, kick drums, etc. is still audible but not that distinct compared to ZEX Pro.

It will also not satisfy bass heads, as the overall sound focuses more on the treble, and the bass just plays a supporting role in the whole frequency spectrum. Finally, CRA has some of the cleanest bass I’ve heard, along with ZEX Pro. Excellent

Midrange: 4/5
Male vocals have enough raspiness and weight to them, while female vocals also have that nice sparkle. However, their tone is on the analytical side compared to being musical or emotional. Instruments like pianos, guitars, violins, and others are detailed and clear, but they are kind of dry and brittle and don’t have the airiness or warmth that makes them natural sounding. Aside from those nitpicks, this is the best vocal and instrument reproduction you can get for the price. Like, no $20 IEM comes even close.

Treble: 6/5 (Yes, they are "that" good)
Wow, this is the best treble I’ve heard in an IEM so far. Even my Heart Mirror can’t come close to it. The treble is way extended, making instruments like cymbals and strings sound as sharp as a razor knife. Aside from being excellently tuned in the treble area, the details in this area are also retrieved with ease and poise, and its sibilance control is just a . The boost in the upper treble region is excellently done, making the music airier, wider and more open-sounding. It also makes your music more aggressive but not harsh or peaky. Excellent, fantastico, wow.

Technicalities

• Since this is a single dynamic driver, the coherency is excellent, and the transition from bass to midrange to treble is quite smooth, even if the overall sound has that dry tinge to it.
• The soundstage is wide and has excellent width and height, while the depth is below average (the stage is more spacious than ZEX Pro and Heart Mirror, but less natural). The soundstage is like their old KZ offerings (holographic stage) but more refined and has more space.
• Separation is superb for the price. You can locate the instruments one by one, but they are kind of muddled together in a 1D plane (see Figure A below). Unlike ZEX Pro, CRA's portrayal of instruments does not have that physical feel to it, making it somehow artificial.
• Driver speed is unbelievably fast (it’s like a BA) that it became a con. The speed is so fast that the notes induce some brittleness to them, like the notes are unstable or the overall sound lacks the proper reverb to make instruments sound natural. However, with this characteristic, CRA will handle complex and metal tracks with finesse and without breaking a sweat. I also can’t detect any congestion even with the bass hitting as hard as it can, the vocals are still clear and well-defined, and the treble is still delicious.

The Radar Chart

The charts below show how CRA performs, this is still a subjective approach but the chart can give you a bigger picture of what you're trying to purchase. Moreover, the chart only takes into consideration all of the IEMs I have tried so far which is around the price range of $10 to $80. If you want to see a comparison to higher priced gears kindly check other reviews.

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Music Analysis

Kindly, click the title of the section to listen to the tracks

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1. Hamu Test “Multiple tracks arranged by Hamu” (Played in HibyMusic)

The tracks in this section, will test the IEM ability to naturally replay and stage musical instruments like piano, guitar, violin and drums. This section will also test imaging, detail retrieval and separation. So far, the only IEM I have that masterfully replay this section are ZEX Pro and Heart Mirror with rating of Superb. Most of the tracks here also hates V-shaped IEMs.

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CRA replay of guitars in these tracks are dry, still has enough definition and clarity however it is far from being natural sounding. Drums are detailed and precise, drums have that nice kick, depth and punch to them. Wind instruments are not so natural sounding like ZEX Pro and are more in the sterile side rather than being musical. Detail retrieval is top tier, it retrieves detail with ease, however there’s a feeling of brittleness to the notes, like they are glasses that easily breaks on the stage. Cymbal’s life and death are properly portrayed and is never harsh sounding or too bright. Piano is okay, there’s enough weight in the lower notes, however like the issue with the other instruments, upper notes are somehow too sharpened or sterile.

CRA imaging with the said test tracks are excellent for the price, I can locate the instruments in the holographic stage, however, there’s some instances where they are muddling in front instead of being placed around my headspace. Imaging is excellent, staging is meh. Separation of the instrument are quite fantastic in this IEM, somehow beats my Heart Mirror and ZEX Pro when it comes to separation. Truth to be told, the CRA dynamic is so fast that there’s some instances where I thought “Am I listening to a balanced armature?”.
Replay Rating: Above Average



2. Daydream by Kenshi Yonezu (Played in HibyMusic)

Male Vocals, Staging, Bass and Imaging

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Kenshi's voice at the start is somehow dry while also being weighted and detailed. Due to the dry nature of the vocals, there’s no sense of emotion to Kenshi’s voice. The cowbell at 01:25 are still audible and full of details even with the bass guitar and drums jamming as hard as they can. The piano at 02:27 are nuanced and audible even there’s many things happening in that part of the track. The backing voice at 03:38 is so satisfying like I can hear how they approach the stage and leave the stage, fantastic. Imaging is also excellent, I can easily locate the drums, the cowbells, guitars and piano on the stage. Bass is unbelievably amazing in this track, its clean, tight and full of texture, best bass presentation I’ve heard so far.
Replay Rating: Excellent (Superb for BASS)



3. Toumin by Yorushika (Played in HibyMusic)

Female Vocals, Guitars, Staging, Harmonics and Bass Response

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Very good replay by the CRA, the drums snaps and kicks at the start is portrayed with clarity, cleanliness and punch. The guitars are also detailed even if they are dryer than usual. Sui’s voice is also well weighted, nuanced and sparkly, however there’s a sense of dryness to them, the dryness is not bad in any way, it’s just that this IEM may not suit vocal lovers. Staging is also very good, however unlike ZEX Pro, the instruments are not placed around my headspace instead they are mushing in front for space. CRA also plays this track with more energy and bite than ZEX Pro and BL03, if you like energetic signatures CRA will suit you well.
Replay Rating: Average



4. Make it Rain by Ed Sheeran (Played in Tidal Masters)

Male Vocals, Stage, Guitars and Treble Quality

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Wow, CRA detail retrieval with this track is quite unreal, I can somehow feel the atmosphere that the track wants to convey. Ed Sheeran’s voice is also accommodating, warm and lovely, it never feels lean or lacking, near being emotional. Staging of this track is also excellent, it feels like I’m in the wide soundscape where Ed is singing in a concert hall while the instruments are in front of me. The bite of the guitar and cymbals are also quite enticing, it’s sharp but never harsh or peaky, it somehow gives life to this track. Amazing
Replay Rating: Superb



5. God of Ink by SawanoHiroyuki feat mpi (Played in HibyMusic)

Guitar Timbre, Male Vocals, Treble Quality, Staging

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Now, this is where the CRA shines, this track needs some energy to sound good and CRA give that energy with poise and finesse. The drums snaps and kicks, guitars and piano are properly nuanced and are well defined (quite fantastic replay with CRA, beats my Heart Mirror and ZEX Pro). The male vocals are also not too bright nor too warm, kind of in the middle, very good representation of the male vocals, very nuanced and detailed. The cymbals are also very detailed and never approaches the harshness territory, excellent upper treble control. If you like SawanoHiroyuki or tracks with the same vibe/genre I’d recommend the CRA more than ZEX Pro or Heart Mirror.
Replay Rating: Superb



6. Oort no Yume Nagi Yanagi (Played in HibyMusic)

Sibilance Test, Female Vocals, Lo-fi Test

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The replay is quite good, treble control of CRA with this track is quite unreal. Nagi’s voice is quite good however, it’s a little sharp for my taste. The atmosphere is also excellently portrayed by the CRA, the background noises are still audible and is never jumping to me at any point of the track. Piano are also clear and detailed, and still quite satisfying even if it’s sharper than usual. Nagi’s little breaths are also audible and quite lovely, really captures the emotion that Nagi portrays in the track.
Replay Rating: Excellent

Comparison
CRA vs ZEX Pro
In my opinion, CRA is not an upgrade to ZEX Pro. They just fill different niches. ZEX Pro captures people who like relaxed and natural-sounding signatures, while CRA captures people who like energetic and aggressive signatures. If we talk about technicalities, both have cons and pros. ZEX Pro has a more natural feel to its soundstage while also images instruments amazingly, while CRA has a wider and more artificial stage but mushier when it comes to staging. Both CRA and ZEX Pro almost have the same resolution, with CRA retrieving more details in the upper treble and ZEX Pro retrieving more details in the lower frequencies. When it comes to tuning, all I can say is that CRA does not fix the ZEX Pro problem, instead it creates another issue where it becomes too sharp and a little glassy compared to ZEX Pro. I think the perfect tuning for me is ZEX Pro but with reduced roll-off post 10kHz (and not adding a peak there). The roll-off is fine for me since it makes the ZEX Pro more accommodating for longer listening sessions. Overall, with my library, ZEX Pro wins. CRA is too aggressive for my taste more than Heart Mirror.

CRA vs ZEX
CRA stomps ZEX in any way possible... like it’s not even a joke. CRA is cleaner, the bass is more satisfying, there’s almost no midbass bleed, the vocals are detailed and clear, CRA retains the energy and dynamism of ZEX without being harsh or peaky, CRA is more coherent, and the clarity and resolution of CRA is miles ahead of ZEX.

"It seems like it has become a tradition that every new KZ release will overshadow the old budget ones." F for ZEX. CRA wins.

CRA vs CA16 Pro
Would you look at that as a budget offering wanting to fight with the more expensive KZ offering? The CRA almost replaces the CA16 Pro if it is not for the imaging and staging. CA16 Pro, still has peaks and is a little harsh in higher volumes when compared to CRA, but its technicalities (staging, imaging, detail retrieval, speed) are simply far superior. A little push with CRA and it can easily beat the CA16 Pro. CA16 Pro wins.

CRA vs Blon BL-03
Now this is the fight. If you think that the BL-03 lacks the bite and technicalities, and that the bass is too muddy or slow, then CRA is the upgrade you are looking for. Like, CRA is just an analytical version of BL-03 (tighter bass and way extended treble). However, what CRA fails to capture, which BL-03 easily portrays, is the natural feel of the vocals. If you haven’t noticed yet, I’m always noting the brittleness of CRA (this characteristic especially applies to the vocals). To be honest, CRA tuning is very excellent for the price, but it sounds artificial and a bit dry compared to BL-03. The carbon diaphragm of the oppoty gives life and character to the vocals. Yeah, I can say that the vocals are more detailed and nuanced in the CRA. However, most of the time, it fails to capture the emotion that the singer wants to express in a song. With that, there’s no competition. They are both good for what they specialize in doing. CRA is more speedy, technical, and energetic. BL-03, on the other hand, is more organic and natural sounding. Tie

CRA vs KZ EDX
NO. Same scenario with ZEX, CRA is better in every way can’t comment anymore. F for EDX. CRA wins.

CRA vs Heart Mirror
Yeah. NO. I don't understand why people are saying that CRA is an upgrade to Heart Mirror, yeah NO. Like the scenario with BL-03, Heart Mirror has that enticing vocal reproduction that CRA fails to capture, I can say that CRA is better in treble than Heart Mirror, however Heart Mirror does not have that glassyness/brittleness that CRA has, Heart Mirror is more natural sounding and more pleasing to listen to compared to the aggressive and energetic nature of CRA. Technicalities is still better in Heart Mirror since instruments are not mushing on the stage compared to CRA. Heart Mirror also has that natural feel to the stage like what ZEX Pro has, CRA is just too artificial in my opinion. Heart Mirror easily wins.

Mods
Stock cable and eartips will work fine for the CRA, however there’s also some noticeable improvement when using different eartips. Cable upgrade is not required.

1. Sony EP EX-11 : Good eartips, subdues the sharpness that CRA has, also makes sure that the vocal has enough weight to complement with the brightish nature of CRA.
2. Stock Tips : Recommended, if you think that CRA is already good sounding for you, don’t change ear tips as it somehow alters the sound. Go narrow tips if you think that CRA is too sharp, go wide bore if you think it’s too bassy (which will never happen lol)
3. Spinfits CP100 : Average, I still recommend stock tips, however if you think that stock tips is not that comfortable you can try this eartips instead, the caveat is that it will make your CRA more v-shaped.
4. Foam Tips: Widens the stage, makes the notes leaner, not recommended.

Tested Synergies

• The Organic-inator
  (Avani + CRA with stock eartips and cable)
  Very good pairing, however it will subdue some of the micro-details that CRA has. If you think that CRA is too sharp or bright you can try this combo. It will also reduce the brittleness that the CRA has, and give more warmth to the vocals and instruments.
  
  
• Detail Madness
  (Abigail + CRA with stock eartips and cable)
  Vocals are more artificial but is more detailed, sparkly and nuanced. Also, will make CRA stage wider than Avani. Bass has good texture and punch, it’s more visceral than the Organic-inator synergy. Microdetails will pop out more, imaging will be more distinct and less mushy. However, since this synergy will make CRA more detailed, the brittleness nature of CRA will also show more often. Overall, will make CRA drier and more analytical.
  
  
• Bread and Butter with Sugar on Top
  (OG CX-31993 + CRA with stock eartips and cable)
  Perfect synergy, will remove the brittleness that CRA has in most tracks (brittleness still there in acoustic and jazzy tracks). Detail retrieval and tonality is like the Detail Madness synergy but is more organic and natural, this synergy is in the middle of Avani and Abigail synergy. If you want to retain the details of CRA without going to the two extremes (organic and analytical) then this synergy is the best, in my opinion.

Technical Aspects
Shown in this section are the frequency response of the CRA. The measurements are taken by a Dayton IMM-6 Mic with a DIY Tube Coupler, so assume that this measurements are not that accurate compared to the graphs released by the reviewers who have an IEC-711 coupler. Suggestions about this section are always welcome.

As you can see in the graph, CRA has a larger peak at 5kHz, the said area makes guitars, violins and pianos sharper than usual, ZEX Pro is more polite in that region. Additionally unlike ZEX Pro, CRA does not have the dip below 8kHz (Brilliance Region) making air frequencies more pronounced resulting to CRA sounding more spacious, open and detailed.

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CSD Plot Parameters and Analysis are based on this blog:
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/tutorials/how-to-interpret-graphs/csdwaterfall-spectrum/​

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Recommend Tracks/Genres
Rock, Modern Pop, Old Pop, RnB, Trance / EDM, Hip-hop, Rap, BGGAR Library, Some Japanese Music (Sawano Hiroyuki, King Gnu, Eve, etc.)

“Not that good” Tracks
Bossa Nova ☹ (Too sharp and sterile), Orchestra (Too sterile and energetic), Acoustic (Guitars are too sharp), Live (Stage is too artificial), Jazz (Vocals needs that “emotion”), and Some Relaxed Japanese Music (Japanese tracks that needs warmth/sense of space to the vocals)

Shop Links
Buy at KZ Official Website：CCA CRA
Bread and Butter with Sugar on Top Dongle: CX-31993

Overall Rating
C (Same Sound Rank as the Blon BL-03)
A (Relative to Price)
Recommended but there are better options.

Final Words
Hey, thanks for reaching this part! Hope you enjoy the read, even if it is quite long....

DISCLAIMER:
The CCA CRA was sent to me by KZ in exchange for an honest review. No monetary exchange took place. This is 100% my honest opinion.

Link to buy from Official website of KZ:
https://www.kztws.com/


Bass:
The low end is quite present on this iem. The sub-bass is emphasized with a pretty far extension. The sub-bass has a strong rumble that makes it feel physically present as if like you can feel it vibrating through your body. The mid-bass is a bit recessed in my opinion as it does not have that punch and slam that I am looking for, but it is still enough to present the bass guitars and drums. The bass is not overly warm, but still possessing a good amount of warmth.

Mids:
The mids are not overly emphasized and in my opinion is slightly natural. The male vocals have ample weight and body to make it sound rich and deep while the female vocals sound angelic and comforting. The upper mids are forward thus making this pair sparkly and it may be a bit bright for some. The upper mids are energetic, giving the female vocals life and energy.

Treble:
The treble sounds natural and it has no shortage of energy. The treble sounds sparkly and again the female vocals are well presented with it brimming with life and energy. The instruments such as the cymbals and the electric guitars have a bit of a peak and they are well-present in tracks, although might be a bit peaky to some. The extension is excellent.

Soundstage & Imaging:
The soundstage is pretty intimate. The stage is pretty wide with it being 180 degrees wide, but the stage lacks depth with it only being about 2m deep and the height is about 3m high. The imaging is decent, being able to hear all the different instruments and their locations. The detail retrieval is also average.

Verdict:
This IEM has a u-shaped curve which emphasizes the sub-bass and the upper-mids and treble. Overall the IEM sounds pretty natural due to the gradual gain in the upper-mids. In my opinion, this IEM is not for bass-heads as it is lacking that punch and slam which I do prefer. In conclusion, I feel that for $22usd this IEM has a good tuning and I am very surprised that they are even able to sell it this cheap. So if you prefer this type of u-shaped tuning, natural sounding vocals, then i do recommend this for you.

For reference, check out my video: