The CCA CRA is the latest single IEM dynamic driver from the sister brand of KZ. The CRA is the company’s entry-level model, starting at just $ 15. CCA’s combination of price and reputation for producing high-value products has led to a noticeable buzz around this affordable IEM. We just had to get a unit in to see what it is.
Design and comfort
The CRA has a fairly standard design for CCA / KZ products, with a chunky design molded to the shape of the ear. The sturdy shape makes it very easy to hold and place the earbuds inside the ears compared to some of the more delicate competitors. Despite this, the earbuds aren’t that big and don’t protrude too much from the side of the head.
CCAs have a clear resin shell with a piece of zinc alloy stuck on the outside. The small piece of metal has a super glossy finish and looks great. The rest of the earbuds also look good with the clear plastic giving a great view of the single-driver unit inside.
The supplied cable is of reasonable quality for the price. It’s a bit thick but it doesn’t crease and doesn’t have audible microphones. The cable connects to earphones with a QDC connector found on other KZ and CCA earphones. In fact, this cable is found on many other KZ and CCA products. It’s a decent cable and even has built-in ear hooks, unlike the mediocre fixed cable from the recently reviewed Moondrop Chu.
The cable comes with a built-in microphone and there is no option without a microphone as far as I know. You can always replace the cable if the device you are connecting to does not support a TRRS cable.
The overall build quality of the CRA is remarkable for the price. Without any prior knowledge, it would be impossible to guess that these retail for just $ 15, with overall material quality superior to products 3-4 times the cost.
CRAs are also very comfortable. The shape fit my ears quite well and the bundled silicone earbuds were comfortable. I was able to wear them for hours without any effort.
Performance
Audio quality
The CCA CRA features a single 10mm dynamic driver on both sides. The CRAs are tuned to have a V-shaped sound which is not unusual for CCA / KZ products, but this is one of the more subtle and refined tones I have come across from the two brands.
CRA’s bass is forward but not overwhelming. The low-mid has a bit of added warmth that rarely becomes intrusive or overlaps significantly with the low-mids. Bass performance is impressive, with a good amount of rumble and thud but without overdoing it.
The bass of the CRA is more pronounced than that of the KZ ZEX Pro (aka CRN), particularly in the upper bass region. The ZEX Pro, as a result, sounds cleaner and the CRA is slightly more bloated. The similarly priced Moondrop Chu is by far the leanest with a neutral bass presentation at the limit.
The midrange of the CRA has good tonality and tonal characteristics but is slightly set back in the mix. This is most noticeable when listening at low volumes and the vocals, for example, are not as engaging or present in the mix.
Mid-range performance is a marked improvement over other CCA and KZ products (except ZEX Pro). The CRA doesn’t have as dramatic a V-shape as its stable mates, which makes for a more balanced sound signature.
Treble performance is also quite decent. There is a hint of sibilance and sharpness in some notes at higher frequencies, but the sound never gets harsh or tiring.
The overall hue of the CCA CRA is very pleasing and one of the best I’ve ever heard in this price range. The ZEX Pro is overall the better of the two and the Chu is still the one to choose if you prefer a neutral sound, but the CRA is simply fun to listen to and in some cases actually has a better, more natural tone than the ZEX Pro.
In terms of technical performance, the CRA performs quite well. There’s a good level of detail and resolution in the sound, something the ZEX Pro isn’t particularly good at and also a sore point for some other budget IEMs like the BLON BL-03. The imaging and soundstage are mediocre, as is usually the case with most IEMs.
Overall, the CRA sounds pretty impressive for the price. It’s almost unfathomable that you can now get such good sound at this price point. And it goes without saying, but while they only cost $ 15, they easily outperform even the most expensive wired earbuds on the market. But anyone interested in wired audio already knew that.
Conclusion
At just $ 15, the CCA CRAs are exceptional value IEMs and an even better deal than the $ 20 Moondrop Chu. The Chu has a great neutral tone for the price, but the CRA has more fun tuning without being bass guns. or as high as some of the other models at this price point. The CRA also has a much nicer cable and design and overall feel better built despite the lower price point. They are a simple and highly recommended purchase for anyone looking for a pair of entry-level IEMs.
Thanks to Headphone Zone for providing the review unit.
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