I purchased the Phoenix in the November sales for $32aud (approx$20usd) with no expectations other than to see if it lived up to some of the review expectations. I'm driven to give it a full fledged review due to the fact that I can't take it out of my ears and prefer it to some of the 200 to 300 dollar sets coming thru my review station.
So what you get for very little money is a single dual magnetic 10mm driver with a custom LPC diaphragm in a full metal shell with a high quality .78 2 pin socket. And what a driver! It's pace, rhythm and timing is first rate. I'm a fan of metal housings. They generally have a more focused energy than resin or 3D printed shells in my experience. There's a decent cable included and a soft leather pouch.
Testing setup.
My stored Hi res Flacs played from my HiBy DAP and amplified with a KAEI TAP2. The DAP and amp have great synergy and adding in the Phoenix with a GY HIFI 320 copper cable and Eltech Baroche tips is the final key in this synergy chain. A reminder I am listening with my setup and my ears and your experience may differ.
The sound
What I am hearing is an airy energetic and open sounding IEM with a generally neutral character. I'm getting a good bass feel with a solid mid bass and sub bass on tap when the track requires it. The bass is fast and clean with excellent timbre. Kick drums sound full and punchy and the rest of the kit has good attack.
Do I mention Phoenix is easy to drive but will scale with more power and can be dial up to hurtful levels (not recommended).
Pianos have resonance and natural decay. Mids are open and airy. They tend to be analytical and uncoloured. Neutral and uncoloured. Vocals also sound natural and uncoloured. I enjoy this type of tuning, where others prefer warmth for vocals.
The CCA Phoenix has an extended and elevated treble which is both smooth and yet very detailed. I like the way it opens up the sound and allows every instrument to shine. Acoustic guitars in particular have a nice crisp metallic resonance. Micro details are easy to catch. Looking at layering and imaging I would describe the CCA as good average. The sound is more open, resonant and atmospheric rather than precise. I'm not knocking that. I'm enjoying it. Reminds me of the MP145 planar presentation.
Some track impressions.
Nevermore,Deadheart in a Dead World. Plenty of dynamics and speed but probably not the ultimate in bass impact. Good mid bass impact and the guitars and high hats have suitable bite and splashiness.
NeObliviscaris , And Plague Flowers the Kaleidoscope
The electric violin enters with soaring intensity leading to the double kick bass drums that hit with good ferociousness. The whole track has a grand and epic feel with the Phoenix and while metal heads will crave more bass thickness I find the levels to be ample. The speed of the drums are handled well by this set.
Monkey Madness by Sycco is arrestingly fast and punchy. The fat bass drops are deep and the sub bass really rumbles. The song is a complicated concoction of sounds around the vocal but the Phoenix delineates eachsound cleanly with perfect imaging. The stage has great headroom andwidth. Sycco's vocals have air and naturalness.
TexasTea by Post Malone. Don't tell me that Phoenix lacks bass with this monster of a track. Heavy and impactful. Post's voice has a slight metallic edge I will admit. Works well with the atmospheric soundstage.
Lana Del Ray , Music to watch boys by. a dreamy track with a full bass heavy floor with Lana's voice airy and breathy. With the full production and backing vocals this track comes across as a wall of sound sprinkled with keyboards and synth sounds.
Comparisons
Tanchjim Fission Single DD alloy body. $130 USD
Identical! Well almost. Phoenix has a little more sparkle in the treble and a teeny bit more depth in the bass. Fission is a hair more warm but both sets are fairly neutral. I'm sure I could not separate them in a blind test
NF Audio NM20 Single DD Resin body $118 USD
On a copper heavy cable and with Penon Orange tips the NM20 has a deeper more forceful sub bass response . Again a neutral tuning with a good detailed treble and an open sound tells you why I enjoy Fission and Phoenix. The CCA is a lighter and more airy version of the NM20. A little more laid back compared to the more aggressive Tanchjim presentation
Punch Audio Martillo
2DD 2BA 1 Planar resin body $330 USD
The basshead Martillo on a technical Verus Modi cable and Spinfit W1 eartips is actually a quite nicely balanced IEM. It's a little light on mid bass and the vocals are a little less forward that the other sets. The twin DDs do add a nice warmth to the sound. The extra low bass is always present and draws attention away from the treble which is smooth and has less emphasis than the other sets. I miss that sparkle and life that the Phoenix brings to the party.
Conclusion
To my ears and in my setup the CCA Phoenix is a dynamite set and the bargain budget set of 2025.