The much too early comparison between the
CCA Trio vs
KZ ZS10 Pro 2
This one is still, in my opinion, too early to call, but I can tell you, these two can TRADE BLOWS!! UUUU for each for even playing field.
Treble : KZ ZS10 P2 >> CCA Trio - Treble is an easy win for the KZ. The shimmer, air, and tonality take me back to the Hifiman RE0, but with more control. It's a type of treble that you usually find in well tuned EST's (DUNU EST112/Mofasest Trio/SFR MT300), where it's ethereal and shimmers and it just goes until it feels like ending. The Trio's treble is darker, has less air, and just doesn't have the same extension, though neither has any real spikes or shrills and are controlled. I just like the tonality better on the KZ.
Mids : CCA Trio > KZ ZS10 P2 - Very close. KZ has a tad more warmth, but really, not much more. Both are vocal forward, but Trio is slightly more forward, and maybe the Trio has fuller vocal presentation both male and female? Guitars bite nicely for both, but the KZ has more note weight than the Trio when it comes to piano, keyboards, etc. Trio has slightly, ever so slightly, more detail reveals in the mids, but it's negligible.
Bass : KZ ZS10 P2 > CCA Trio - I know some owners of the Trio said the bass can seem a bit unrefined at times, and I also can agree to an extent, but this is not a problem with the KZ. The bass is resolving, elastic, punchy, has presence, does not bleed into the mids, is clean and fast. You can make out individual notes and plucks, and when you need thump and sub bass, there's plenty of that available, especially in UU mode. It will please bass lovers just as much as treble heads. The Trio can provide that, just not as resolving and definitely not at the quantity. I personally have nothing against Trio's bass. I enjoy it.
Resolution : KZ all day. One of the strengths of this IEM is that the resolution is top tier, even against some of my more expensive units, and is more resolving and clear than the IE600, Shangri-La, IE800, EA1000, EA500LM, and pretty much punches even with the Aures. Trio has decent to good resolution, and was one of my beefs from the start, as well as others. It could be better, and the KZ are better.
Stage and Imaging : CCA Trio = KZ ZS10 P2. I put the CCA first, though it's even, because if this was a photo finish, the nose might be the Trio? From the beginning. the special sauce of the Trio was it's amazing orbital and flexible stage, with equally excellent width, depth, and height. with black background, good spacing between instruments, and near pinpoint imaging on the stage. It's what made many of us say WHOA!! So I think the KZ comes close, but....maybe...not quite as orbital as the Trio? It's got really good staging and imaging, but maybe not quite the depth, though height is good too. Even stevens?
Detail retrieval : Man, I'm conflicted! CCA = KZ? Both EXCEL in details and in presenting things in the music you might have considered hidden. The KZ are more resolving and clear overall, with the Trio being warmer, but both can spit out deets, reverb trails, obscure notes, and peel complex tracks like an onion with aplomb. Both are detail monsters, but taking different sonics to get there.
Verdict? Didn't I say at the top of this novel that it's still too early for a verdict?! Well...it is! So stop asking. Go away!
***Sorry. Crappy photo. I have to bolt to the store for a bit. No time. LOL
