So I just received my CCA CA16, ordered from the "Official CCA Store" in Ali Express.
I like them!
I only had time to make a brief comparison with the CCA C12 that I love (still do, but perhaps a little less). As a disclaimer, I am also not a reviewer or professional, just a curious amateur. Take my impressions with a pinch of salt.
The build is passable, probably what you would expect given the pictures circulating in the web. Black plastic shell - mine had minor leftovers of glue that were easy enough to remove with the finger. Comfortable to my ears, less so than the smaller CCA C12, but very ergonomic, and better than the KZ ZSX that was a hair bigger. The cable is the typical CCA Cable as can be found on the C12, but the store sent an additional silver plated cable (also similar, but of a different colour) as a treat for the early buy. The seller also sent an additional bag with foam tips.
The sound is great for a $60 earphone, but there are some clear differences from the CCA C12 in that it is less V shaped and mid forward - and not just upper mids, the lower mids too to my ears, though they still play nicely with the upper bass (minimal bleed). This makes it sound thicker compared to the CCA C12.
Mids are detailed, still musical, not dissecting like those of the Shure se535 that I sold for that very reason. Male and female vocals are natural and slightly forward. Instruments sound natural with good timbre, including brass (not metallic like the KZ ZSX) and guitars (the forward midrange does wonders for those). Pianos have body and sound luscious.
Treble is well extended and detailed, but can be masked by the forward mids. Snares and cymbals could probably be reproduced better if the CA16 had a better attack, even though it is BAs that we are talking about, but I can't say for sure if this perception is due to said masking. The CA16 still has the upper hand in the treble department, compared to the C12, the latter sounding thin in contrast.
Contrary to my worst fears, the bass is very well done, extended and textured (I can hear it below 30hz and almost all the way to 20hz), but it is more controlled than the CCA C12's. There is still a good amount of impact.
Imaging is also good, better than the C12's, though I found that soundstage is a toss up - on one hand there are more spacial queues with the CA16, due to its more detailed nature, on the other, the V "shapedness" of the C12 can make male voices and some instruments sound further away from the listener, either way they are not very far.
Looking forward to reading other impressions of them!