CCA CA10 "Euphonic Monotony"

Let me put this section here first. I think this IEM really needs it, applying my EQ will make the CA10 sound more open and will fix the recession in the vocals. There’s no problem with the driver resolution/speed, the tuning of this IEM is what pulls it back. Fixing CA10 tonality through EQ, makes it a total beast, like the vocals, the bass texture, the microdetails all of that are just majestic.

Don’t worry I will make the EQ process easy, just import and forget, you don’t need to know about parametric equalization to use my EQ presets.

Steps

1. Download Wavelet through playstore, then download the CA10-Tonality Fix v1.4 below.

2. Turn on and click AutoEQ in Wavelet then import the txt file you've downloaded.

3. Enjoy.

CA10 Tonality Fix V1.4: Download

This is my fourth iteration of this EQ preset, I’ve referenced it to my CA10 measurements and confirm the sound by ear. Older versions contain a proper pinna gain but it makes the female vocals strident. If you are curious about those versions, check the old preset folder.

Specifically, you can check the pictures below to know what the EQ is doing to the frequency response of CA10.

I will assess the CA10 with stock cable, KZ starline tips, no EQ and Abigail as a source. Comments will be added for sound changes in CA10 EQ version.

Bass: 4/5

The bass in CA10 is big, punchy and tight, if you are somehow familiar with the KZ ZEX bass, the nature of the bass is somehow similar with that IEM. However, unlike ZEX which has an elevated sub-bass, CA10 sub-bass is more polite and the mid-bass is more prominent on the frequency spectrum. The bass speed is also moderate and is not too dry nor too boomy (somehow resembles a dynamic driver bass). The tight, textured and authoritative presentation of bass in the CA10 may satisfy bassheads, for neutral-heads however the bass will be too boomy.

Midrange: 2.5/5 (With EQ: 4/5)

Female and male vocals both sound recessed and like they are being scooped out of the mix. Vocals are also thin in some tracks. There are also some instances of harshness, especially when the vocals are hitting those high notes. Instrument fundamentals are okayish, but they lack details and nuances.

Comment: With EQ the vocals become forward, less shouty and more sparkly. Instrument fundamentals also became more nuanced and details in the midrange starts to pop out.

Treble: 3/5 (With EQ: 4/5)

CA10 treble is designed to comfort you rather than give you details. Any harshness or sibilance are smoothed out with the CA10. The treble also has that soft tone which makes the overall sound dark and narrow (maybe become an issue with some people who like airiness). But even if the sound is narrow, the resolution in the treble area is somehow decent. If you are okay with a not so precise, sparkly and crisp treble then you will like the CA10.

Comment: With EQ the sound becomes more open and details starts to pop out, still narrow sounding, however instruments have more bite and sparkle to them compared to non-EQ.

• The coherency between the 5 balanced armatures is somehow decent. Unfortunately, there’s still a noticeable metallic sheen to some of my tracks and it feels like the balanced armature that handles the midrange is having a hard time controlling the harshness and peaks.

• Soundstage does not have that out of the head feel and may sound intimate depending on the track, some people may also classify it as congested. Imaging and staging are so-so since the instrument feels 2D-ish and don’t have physicality on the stage.

• Separation is excellent. The instruments can be located one by one without any effort at all.

• Driver speed/resolvability is excellent. The balanced armature that handles the bass region is quite nice, it handles fast and complex bass passages without any sweat at all and texturing is also quite good. Midrange and treble drivers’ resolvability are also excellent; however, they are bottlenecked by the tuning. Listening to the CA10 feels like the drivers are not in their max potential.

CA10 vs CRA

I really don’t know what to say about this, tuning wise CRA is miles ahead compared to CA10. However, the driver resolution of CA10 and its bass presentation and tamed-down treble presentation can be a pro for some people. Unfortunately, CA10 does not play my library that well… for that reason CRA wins.

Comment: EQing the CA10 using my presets, makes the CA10 win by a large margin.

CA10 vs CA16 Pro

Let's shorten this comparison, CA10 is just the CA16 Pro Lite (yeap, that's what it is). If you have an extra budget, I’d highly recommend you go with CA16 Pro instead, CA16 Pro is more refined sounding and vocals are more satisfying compared to CA10. Plus, the bass in CA16 Pro is much dynamic and enthusiastic compared to CA10, you also don’t need to EQ the CA16 Pro to correct its tonality. CA16 Pro wins.

CA10 vs ZEX Pro

The vocals in ZEX Pro are much controlled, more intimate and more correct sounding than the CA10, I don’t really get why the CA10 is being compared to the ZEX Pro, even frequency response graphs shows that they are miles different from each other. CA10 upper midrange and lower treble is also more prone to harshness compared to ZEX Pro smooth midrange response. Bass is also cleaner and tighter in ZEX Pro. I really don’t want to compare these two, since CA10 does not stand a chance in this comparison, however just want to point out that their midrange presentation isn’t the same. ZEX Pro wins but CA10 wins in resolution and driver EQ capability.

Stock cable will work fine for the CA10, however there’s also some noticeable improvement when using different eartips.

1. KZ Starline Tips: My default eartips, well-balanced and will add some treble energy to the darkish nature of CA10.

2. Sony EP EX-11 Tips: May sound too bloaty sometimes, but the upper midrange harshness that occurs in some tracks are subdued.

3. Spinfits CP100: Okayish, like the KZ Starline but more comfortable.

4. Generic Foam Tips: Will make the bass less bloaty and will subdue the lower treble, however upper midrange harshness will show in some tracks.

5. Stock Tips: Worse tips for the CA10, don’t use.

Tested Synergies

Companions of Weakness Set

(Abigail + CA10 with White KZ Starline Tips and Stock Cable)

Restores some air that the CA10 missing, makes the soundstage a bit wider (wider than the three other dongles). Extracts some details in the midrange, and makes the vocals more nuanced than the other three. However, vocal harshness may occur at some tracks which can be solved through EQ. Bass is tight and textured in this synergy and bass bloat is significantly reduced.

The Cousin of Details

(Tiandirehne CX-31993 + CA10 with White KZ Starline Tips and Stock Cable)

Sounds narrower than Abigail, but microdetails are more pronounced in this synergy. Vocal harshness is also more subdued than Abigail. Bass is also more dynamic and enthusiastic in this synergy, but is bloatier than Abigail.

Boom Boom BakuMIDS

(Avani + CA10 with White KZ Starline Tips and Stock Cable)

Say goodbye to air and brilliance frequency even more, and make way for the bass and midrange. Almost same stage as Abigail but bass is boomier and vocals are a bit weightier/raspy. With the improvement in the midrange, the sparkle and open-ness takes a bit hit, this synergy is more relaxed but less detailed than the two above.

Shown in this section are the frequency response of the CA10. The measurements are taken by a Dayton IMM-6 Mic with a DIY Tube Coupler, so assume that this measurements are not that accurate compared to the graphs released by the reviewers who have an IEC-711 coupler. Suggestions about this section are always welcome.