CCA Lyra Earphones Review – The 7Hz Salnotes Zero Alternative?

First Impressions

The CCA LYRA came in a white-sleeve box, similar to the packaging of other Chi-Fi brands like KZ and TRN. Since KZ owns CCA, it’s no surprise that the packing is almost the same. 

The presentation of the CCA LYRA is as simple as can be but the IEM itself was impressive.

I was very much astonished by the overall design and I found them quite pleasing to look at. The design elements like the contours and imitation diamond pattern added a nice touch to the aesthetics.

The accessories include three sets of silicone ear tips in different sizes (apart from the pre-installed pair), a high-purity silver-plated cable, and a user manual.

Build Quality

The CCA Lyra’s build quality is nothing short of impressive – you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.

The Lyra features a transparent resin shell and a piece of zinc-alloy faceplate which is pretty standard with budget sets. 

However, CCA did a great job executing the design and build. Even though it’s made of plastic, the shell feels quite durable and can withstand heavy use.

The accessories are pretty standard as well and of decent quality. They get the job done, but I’d recommend swapping them out for an improved listening experience.

Fit and Comfort

The CCA Lyra does an exceptional job in terms of fit and comfort. The contours that CCA implemented on the shell contribute much to this. 

Although the Lyra is wider due to its ergonomic design, I had no problems with fit and comfort.

The only issue I have is the stock silicone ear tips that came with it. Since they’re pretty cheap, they don’t quite offer the best fit and seal, which can be a big problem for some. 

Nonetheless, they’re still usable although I highly recommend getting a better pair of ear tips. I swapped mine out with a pair of KZ T400 Memory Foam Eartips and they worked brilliantly.

The molded ear hooks on the cable were comfortable since the cable is relatively light, and you can get away with using the Lyra’s cable. 

However, you can swap the cable out since it’s detachable. You can use a better-quality cable – whichever suits you best.

Sound Quality

The CCA Lyra has a sound signature that’s reminiscent of the 7Hz Salnotes Zero. It has a neutral and balanced sound.

Bass

When it comes to the bass frequency, the CCA Lyra focuses more on the mid-bass rather than the sub-bass. 

Although you may not get as much rumble or extra oomph as typical V-shaped IEMs, the bass is still present on the Lyra, with the upper bass being a lot more present.

One disadvantage is that it does suffer from a bit of a mid-bass bleed, and unlike other IEMs, the bass is a bit far back in the mix and very occasionally presents itself. 

It has a very soft texture and a soft decay and can be unnoticeable at times.

Besides that, the CCA Lyra’s bass maintains clarity and is well-balanced, sitting just right with its natural tuning.

Mids

The mids on the CCA Lyra don’t sound recessed in the mix, making me think that it doesn’t have a V-shaped sound signature even though some reviews suggested it. 

The mids are pretty forward and still present in the mix, although they’re not as overpowering or dominant as some may think.

Although they accurately present micro-details, I prefer a bit more subdued mids than the Lyra has but it still boils down to preference.

Treble

The highs on the CCA Lyra are apparent and do not have any muddiness to their sound, even when driving them a little bit more than usual.

Overall, the treble presentation is pretty smooth. 

Compared to my other sets from CCA, it’s evident that the brand has put in more work in improving the overall tuning of their newer products.

Test Tracks

I’ve tested the CCA Lyra on different genres of music to get a proper understanding of how they sound and here are my findings.

• Metal / Rock – Instruments were lush and accurate in terms of presentation. Even on high-gain parts on the tracks, the CCA Lyra retained clarity and control over the lower and upper midranges. The more subdued nature of the bass frequencies complemented the whole track with a touch of texture on the bottom end. The vocals didn’t get muddied because of the great sound separation and sound imaging. Tracks used: Mayonaise (The Smashing Pumpkins), Playing God (Polyphia), Ignorance (Paramore), Cold (Korn)
• Pop – On tracks like Closer, the snare hits and kicks sounded a bit dry and flat, which ruined the song’s mood. However, on tracks like Snooze, the bass was okay but the vocals were phenomenal. The sound separation and sound imaging also did some wonders on the tracks. Tracks used: Snooze (SZA), Closer (The Chainsmokers, Halsey), Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
• Hip-Hop – The CCA Lyra’s sound signature highlighted most of the essential things in the tracks I’ve used. The vocals sounded great, and the instruments were presented with great detail. The overall mix was balanced and well-controlled. Even though the sub-bass is lacking, the upper bass region compensated for the hard-hitting beats on the tracks. Tracks used: LOVE. (Kendrick Lamar, Zacari), Cash In Cash Out (Pharell Williams ft 21 Savage & Tyler the Creator)
• R&B / Soul – The vocals on the test tracks remained in front of the mix, with the instruments complementing it Although the bass lacked rumble and presence, it still gives a bit of texture to the bottom end of the mix. Tracks used: LA FAMA (Rosalia, The Weeknd), Blessed (Daniel Ceasar), Moonlight (Kali Uchis)

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an alternative to the 7Hz Salnotes Zero, the CCA Lyra is a decent option as it’s slightly more affordable. 

Even though the Salnotes Zero is a relatively better set in terms of sound, the Lyra is still worth considering.

For just under $20, depending on where you get it, the CCA Lyra is a stunning-looking pair of IEMs with very good sound quality. 

This post was last updated on 2025-03-20 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.