CCA CSN Earphones Review – The Hybrid IEMs to Look Out For

CCA CSN

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Current testing methodology is v1.2

Release Date
April 1, 2021
Price
$29.99
Weight
0.106 oz
Size
4.02 x 2.87 x 1.22 in

The CCA CSN is a hybrid IEM offering from the Hi-fi audio company CCA. 

It features a 10 mm dynamic driver paired with a 30095-pattern Balanced Armature, making it a hybrid.

It goes for around the price of $20, which is pretty affordable. For their price, tese IEMs exceeded my expectations and you’ll find out why in this review.

Best Value

CCA CSN

An excellent value option with great tuning.

4/5
Price Range: $
Brand: CCA
CCA CSN- Packaging

TL:DR;

I’ve been looking for another pair of hybrid IEMs to add to my collection for quite some time. Then I came across the CCA CSN through a friend and decided to take a shot and buy them for testing.

I was surprised by its quality and design. I immediately fell in love with them and have been using them intensively ever since.

The CCA CSN is one of the few purchases I’ve made that excited me, and it performed well beyond my expectations.

The Specs

  • Driver:  10mm Dual Magnetic Driver + Customized 30095 Balanced Armature
  • Cable:  3.5mm Silver-plated Cable
  • Frequency:  20Hz-40000Hz
  • Impedance:  22.5Ω
  • Sensitivity:  112dB

What’s in the Box?

  • CCA CSN earphones
  • 3 x pairs of silicone ear tips
  • 2-pin silver-plated cable
  • Instruction manual

Stuff I like

  • Energetic
  • Excellent amount of detail and sound resolution
  • Punchy bass

Stuff I like less

  • Metallic timbre
  • The vocals were a bit muddy

Comparable products to consider

TRN MT1
TRN MT1

With a punchy bass and clear midrange, the MT1 is tuned with a balanced sound that works well with most genres.

First Impressions

The CCA CSN came in a similar box that we’re used to seeing with budget IEMs from brands such as TRN. 

The packaging had nothing special but we all know that what’s important are the IEMs inside.

After unboxing the CCA CSN, I was blown away by how good they looked. I found them stylish and unique, and I immediately fell in love with their design.

I was also surprised by their size, which is more significant than most IEMs I’ve owned. 

Even for its relatively larger size, it managed to provide a snug fit for my ears, which was entirely new to me, and I love the isolation that it provides.

Build Quality

The CCA CSN is well-built and well-designed. 

These IEMs have great aesthetics to them, which puts them on par with more expensive models. Plus, the way they fit is unique which justifies their price of just around $20.

They have a resin shell with a zinc alloy faceplate in a matte gray finish, which looks excellent.

CCA CSN Finish
Rugged zinc metal shell with matte finish | Make Life Click

The included cables feel tremendous and look durable, as they’re thicker than most cables on IEMs within this price range.

The included ear tips were made from silicone but they feel flimsy for my liking so I would probably swap them out in the future.

Overall, the build quality of the CCA CSN is superb, and I wasn’t disappointed by it.

Fit and Comfort

The CCA CSN’s unique shape design is relatively more significant than most IEMs. Its large and unique design provides a snug fit for your ears resulting in better isolation.

Some may find the shape of the CCA CSN uncomfortable, and this could be a deal breaker. 

The fit and comfort of these IEMs are hit or miss and will depend on the user’s ear shape and size. In my case, however, I found them comfortable enough even for extended periods of use.

Sound Quality

It was my first time trying out an IEM with a U-shaped sound signature, and it was an exciting experience. 

When first testing out these IEMs, the first thing that stood out for me was the punchiness and clarity that it was able to present.

Bass

The bass on the CCA CSN is substantial in a mix, and it’s one of their highlights. The amount of definition from the bass is enough to make it stand out among the rest.

I enjoyed its punchy and energetic presentation, which is one of the factors that I gravitate toward these IEMs when I want to listen to fast-paced tracks.

CCA CSN on the Packaging
Designed with in-ear noise reduction function | Make Life Click

Mids

The mids were clear and pretty forward in the mix, although there were times when I feel like they lacked a bit of body, as male vocals tend to sound a bit muddy on certain tracks that I’ve listened to. 

Conversely, the upper mids have a bright presentation that compensates for the lower midrange’s lack of body.

Treble

The treble on the CCA CSN has excellent detail to them. 

One thing I liked about the treble of these IEMs is that it has little to no amount of harsh frequencies. Since I am a bit treble-sensitive, this was one of the main selling points of these IEMs.

Music Listening Impressions

I have tested the CCA CSN on different genres of music to get a proper understanding of how they sound, and here are my findings.

  • Metal/Rock – The CCA CSN works exceptionally well for this genre, as its energetic highs and punchy bass tuning worked wonders on the tracks, especially in highlighting the different instruments present. Tracks used: Bulls on Parade (Rage Against the Machine), Rest In Peace (Extreme), Enter Sandman (Metallica)
  • Pop – The treble tuning of these IEMs worked well with the vocal harmonies on the test tracks. The sound separation stood out as it created an accurate presentation of how the vocals are separated within the mix. Tracks used: Positions (Ariana Grande), Get Free (Lana Del Rey)
  • Hip-hop – The CCA CSN provided a punchy bass response upon listening to the tracks. On the test tracks, the bass was substantial in the mix, making it more enjoyable to listen to. These IEMs caught up with busy tracks and the bass combined with the treble produced a rather lively sound. Tracks used: After Party (Dan Toliver), Redbone (Childish Gambino)
  • Indie – I commonly use tracks like Space Song to test out the sound imaging of an IEM, and these IEMs performed well. Although it presented a good amount of detail, the midrange lacks body, but that’s a preference thing. Other than that, the CSN sounded great in this genre. Tracks used: Over the Moon (The Marias), Space Song (Beach House), Wings (So Yoon and Phum Viphurit)
CCA CSN - Cables
Featuring upgraded silver-plated cable | Make Life Click

After testing the CCA CSN, I was impressed with what it brought to the table for its price – good detail retrieval, energetic and punchy bass, and a great listening experience overall.

Conclusion

The CCA CSN is an excellent value pair of IEMs with great sound quality that can punch above its weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ONE?
CCA CSN Hybrid Dual Drivers in-Ear Headphones, 1DD+1BA HiFi Stereo Noise Isolating IEM Wired Earphones/Earbuds/Headsets with Detachable Cable for Sports/Workout/Game (with MIC, Blue)
CCA CSN

The quality and design are well thought out, and it’s a steal for just around $20. It has an overall safe tuning, making it possible for anybody using these IEMs to find something they like about them.

I’ve been using these IEMs non-stop, and they earned a spot on my list of favorite pairs in my collection, which speaks volumes about how good they are.

Overall, the CCA CSN is a great value option, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

CCA CSN Finish
CCA CSN
Sound Quality
Build Quality
Comfort and fit
Value for money
Reader Rating0 Votes
4.9

A man of many interests, Querho is passionate about discovering new things that stimulate the mind. When he is not writing about the things he is passionate about, Querho can be found making music at his home studio.

This post was last updated on 2024-03-25 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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