CCA CA2 Earphones Review – CCA’s Redemption Arc

First Impressions

As expected, being a budget set, the CCA CA2 comes in simple standard packaging. There’s nothing remarkable about how the earphones were packaged and presented.

I don’t know if it was the good rapport, or it’s in my girlfriend’s favorite color, but I was immediately captivated by the unique choice of color variants online. However, after opening the box, the CA2’s faded color was a bit of a letdown.

Despite that minor bump, I still felt excited to review this unit. Aside from the color difference, I did notice a glue stain that seeped from the unit to the surrounding packaging which made me slightly nervous about the quality control.

While I was still getting over the small letdowns, I saw a difference between the cable depicted on the online listings from the actual one that arrived. 

I felt nervous reviewing these since so far, the CCA has yet to redeem itself, and it’s not looking so good and I was hopeful that there’ll be some dramatic plot twist.

Build Quality

Regarding the CA2’s price range, its build quality is above average. Its plastic shell isn’t different from other IEMs but this one has a bit of heaviness. 

My ears felt a bit of weight when I first used it and after some time, it didn’t bother me as much anymore. The large size of the earbuds may be one of the contributing factors behind the weight of the CA2.

The included cable is where I had problems. 

First, it didn’t match the one in the picture on the front side of the box. The braids weren’t also that secured and were separated at some parts. This cable I received looked like a distorted version of the one advertised and its pins were more elongated.

Second, the pins were loose, causing the cable to fall off at times which interrupted my listening sessions. There’s also an exposed part of the pin when it’s connected to the port of the earbuds. 

However, my main fear was that the IEMs themselves could fall off and get lost. Upgrading the cable may help with this problem.

The included ear tips were Starline tips, and they felt premium-ish compared to the standardized ones I was more accustomed to.

Overall, I can still say that the CCA CA2’s build quality is excellent for its price and it would sustain years of regular use.

Fit and Comfort

I find the CCA CA2 comfortable, specifically when I use the large ear tips, as they provided a good seal.

The earbuds are a bit large and could be a deal-breaker for users with smaller ears. I also struggled to find a sweet spot in my ears due to its large housing. If I were the one overseeing the CCA’s manufacturing, I’d recommend that they stick to the standard earbud sizes.

The fit may vary with different ear sizes, so my sentiment here can be subjective. Your choice of ear tip size may also help improve the overall fit and wearing experience.

Sound Quality

For an IEM priced under $15 or $20, depending on where you get it, the CCA CA2 performed better than I expected. I’ve gotten used to budget earphones with their generic sound, but the CA2 changed my views on entry-level IEMs.

It’s a V-shaped sounding IEM with a much smoother presentation, unlike other budget IEMs with the same sound signature.

Its bass has decent power that doesn’t interfere with other regions, while giving you the rumble you need and want. The midrange section isn’t as energetic as the bass region, but the forwardness of either male or female vocals makes the rest of the mix blend well with each other.

The energetic profile of the CA2s comes back at the treble section. It’s sparkly but not overly done and doesn’t cause much fatigue. The soundstage is above average, considering its price. It has a very good amount of width but needs more depth.

I’d give CCA CA2 a thumbs-up with their tuning as this makes them able to compete with other entry-level units at the same price point.

Bass

Being an IEM with a V-shaped sound, it’s no wonder that the CCA CA2’s main weaponry is its boosted bass.

There’s also a good, quick bass response that helps pick up deep notes and musicality in the bass region. The elevated bass gives the best amount of rumble the track needs if you’re looking for it. I like how the sub-bass performs with every track as it makes you feel the bass drums kicking in your chest. 

I looked for an available graph for the CCA and the bass is overly done, but it doesn’t get too much boomy. It’s moderated, has a controlled boom, and doesn’t overpower other regions.

Contrarily, the mid-bass has a slight problem as it bleeds into the mids, which is typical for IEMs within the price range.

The CCA CA2 would work best with most genres but specifically with EDM, pop, and rap. Also, turning up the volume adds a more substantial bass effect and gives a better listening experience.

Midrange

The mids, for me, is the part where everything becomes smooth and warm, considering the bass level of this earphone.

I wouldn’t complain much about the midrange of the CCA CA2, but it doesn’t give much energy, unlike the bass and treble. It also seems that the midrange is much more focused on the energy instead of being detailed.

I was surprised with how well the CA2 flawlessly delivered both male and female vocals. Female vocals have a pleasant timbre and thickness, while male vocals don’t sound thin and retained the body in them.

Still, some vocal enthusiasts may find this unit lacking in vocals due to it being recessed at times. Also, the upper mids weren’t much of a problem as everything sounds sharp and a bit detailed.

Treble

The CCA CA2’s highs are also energetic but well-balanced. The treble section isn’t overly sparkly, but it also doesn’t sit at the bottom. The highs are decent, safe, and pleasant and I’d appreciate it if CCA would stick to this type of tuning.

Instruments like electric guitars also have nice tonality and details, and percussions like cymbals and hi-hats are executed well with a lot of splashiness. The resolution is within average.

It’s worth noting that detailed instruments can get lost in some tracks with complex parts. It’s not muddy but it tends to lose some of the micro-details.

Conclusion

If you’re on a tight budget and looking for a decent-sounding budget unit, I’d recommend the CCA CA2.

The main issue is the included cable, which is faulty and doesn’t match the advertised one. Its fit and comfort might be a struggle at first but as time passes, you’ll get used to it and won’t feel anything with your ears while using it.

I think the overall sound quality is the main selling point of this unit. While there are a few noticeable shortcomings, these aren’t deal-breakers and won’t affect your listening sessions as it doesn’t cause much ear fatigue. 

Also, this unit works best with energetic tracks like EDM, pop, rap, and even rock.

Other IEMs have similarities with the CCA CA2, but I’d mainly recommend it as it can compete with or even dominate the ultra-budget market of IEMs.

This post was last updated on 2024-12-04 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.