Rising from the grave—I mean, the ashes MSRP around IDR 400,000 in Indonesia This IEM was provided by CCA Hifi for me to review.
This review is subjective, written as objectively as possible, but it cannot be denied that it may be influenced by personal preferences.
The opinions in this review are accurate at the time of writing. However, my views may change with the future development of audio technology and my increasing personal knowledge.
This IEM is most suitable for genres: * Rock * Slow rock * Pop
This IEM is less suitable for genres: * Songs with somewhat shouty vocals
PREFERENCES & DAILY SETUP
My sound preference is V shaped, mild V shaped, U shaped, Neutral to warm, essentially, as long as there is bass, I tend to like it. I prioritize timbre and coherence over technicalities in general. A good sense of 3D layering holds significant value in my eyes, err, ears.
Genres I like: * Hiphop * Orchestra/Film Scoring * K-pop * Nu rock * Any genre with a fast tempo
INTRODUCTION
CCA is a brand that needs no further introduction to the Indonesian audiophile community; it feels like you've often encountered them, and perhaps most of you have owned a pair from CCA before. Something many people might not know is that CCA Hifi is no longer affiliated with KZ; they are now under the umbrella of ND Audio. The Phoenix is a CCA IEM that isn't exactly brand new, but let's say it's one of their attempts with a new image.
Will CCA rise from the grave, or in cooler terms, "rise from the ashes"?
This IEM was reviewed using the stock cable and the Hidizs ST2 Pro cable, stock eartips size M, with a moderately deep fit. Sources used: 1. Laptop 2. Cayin RU3 3. Hidizs ST2 Pro
ACCESSORIES
The box gives a simple and elegant impression, honestly not what you'd expect from the unboxing experience of a 200k IDR IEM. After removing the front cover, you'll be treated to a fairly unique box-opening experience: opening the "double doors" of the box that split to the right and left, just like double doors in a house. The phoenix with its holographic(?) image will greet you, and ta-daaa... the CCA Phoenix appears.
Here are the contents of the box: * 1x CCA Phoenix Driver (IEM) * 1x 3.5mm Cable * 1x set of Eartips * 1x Phoenix picture * 1x Pouch
CONFIGURATION & DRIVEABILITY
The Phoenix has a single dynamic driver using Liquid Crystal Polymer as the diaphragm material, complemented by a dual magnet system. In theory, this should produce clear and tactile sound. With an impedance of 33 ohms and a sensitivity of 133dB, this IEM is very easy to drive.
Plugged directly into a laptop, it needed about 38/100 volume steps to reach my normal, moderately high SPL. Plugged into the RU3, it needed about 35/100, and plugged into the ST2 Pro, it only needed 20/100 (laptop volume). So it's very easy to drive, no need for anything fancy.
FITTING
I like the fit; it's comfortable and feels like it "disappears" in the ear. The braided cable feels light, and the stock eartips are surprisingly comfortable, even though the eartip texture isn't particularly supple. The Phoenix sits nicely perched in my ear canal, not feeling cramped, nor does my ear feel fatigued.
SOUND IMPRESSION
BASS:
The Phoenix's bass leans more towards the mid-bass wile the sub-bass gives enough rumble, so it's more about the punch, but in terms of quantity, it's small and just enough for the thump from percussion instruments. The sub-bass itself is still appears if the song requires it, though overall the atmospheric sensation from sub-bass is lacking.
In the opening of "Through the Fire and Flames," the bass has a somewhat slow speed; the space between drum kicks feels blurred, or simply put, it struggles to keep up. If you're a basshead, or looking for an IEM with thunderous bass, you might not suit the Phoenix.
MIDRANGE:
How about the midrange? Overall, it has a somewhat thin sensation. The warmth that often colors an IEM's character feels somewhat lacking here. This can create the perception that vocals have good separation from the bass and midrange. In songs like jazz that sometimes need that lounge feel, it feels less enjoyable, but general songs like Pop will sound clear and pleasantly detailed, especially if you're switching from a typical headset.
Male and female vocals, as explained above, tend to be thin, and sometimes feel—how to put it—like when you sing into a mic while breathing out too hard, so there's a shrill sensation. This is most noticeable in somewhat husky, wet vocals like Sia's in "Chandelier"; the "sharp" feeling is quite pronounced. Meanwhile, male vocals suit songs that are somewhat whispery or sound like they're whispering perfectly; Charlie Puth's songs feel breathy and wet, "We Don't Talk Anymore" became my personal favorite for the Phoenix's presentation.
TREBLE:
The treble has a sensation of being made more forward and is quite attacking at times for me. Cymbal instruments feel more forward and more detailed, although in some songs they sound quite metallic. A minor nitpick is the splashiness; sometimes it feels too long and less natural.
What I quite appreciate is the sense of airiness. In the intro of "Marcel" by Her's, it feels expansive and spacious, so I can enjoy it well enough.
TECHNICALITIES
SOUNDSTAGE: The soundstage is like an open space, with an airy sensation making high notes feel like they soar high. If depicted, it's like attending a concert on a soccer field, open and wide.
IMAGING AND LAYERING: The imaging has a floaty, somewhat blurred sensation. It's not sharp and focused, so it lacks pinpoint accuracy regarding the sound source. The layering is also just according to its price and the performance of a single dynamic driver; the front-to-back separation isn't very distinct.
TIMBRE: The timbre I perceive leans towards metallic, both in vocals and instruments.
SYNERGY I plugged the Phoenix into the Cayin RU3, Laptop, and Hidizs ST2 Pro. I have to choose the ST2 Pro as having better synergy than the other two sources. The ST2 Pro can slightly add weight to the vocals and somewhat reduce the shrillness in the midrange.
PERSONAL BIAS
In terms of personal taste, the Phoenix isn't an IEM I would normally listen to. I prefer a bit more warmth for the overall presentation.
What I dislike the most is the artificial feel of its wide openness; it feels artificial and even creates a floating sensation. It's like looking in a bathroom mirror, but the mirror is foggy. But on the other hand, this type of presentation makes colossal songs or film/game soundtracks feel more thrilling, more majestic, like you're entering the world of that game, precisely because of that spacious, wide sensation.
For gaming, the Phoenix is suitable for RPG-themed games that usually have more immersive, orchestral OSTs. Imagine playing The Witcher 3 in the swamps of Velen; the mystical feel would be even stronger. Wow, peak cinema!
FINAL VERDICT
The Phoenix brings a new breeze to the world of IEMs under 500k, which, quite frankly, is a massive battle royale. All brands are competing to get a piece of the pie in the market with the largest consumer base in Southeast Asia—specifically here in Indonesia. Perhaps the Phoenix is not exactly my taste, but it's not a bad IEM for their first foray into this auditory arena.
Big thanks to CCA for giving me the opportunity to try the Phoenix; they are heading in the right direction. Who knows what they will serve up tomorrow. See you soon on the next episode of Pokemon!
SONGS USED: • Frank Sinatra – Fly me to the moon • Avril Lavigne – Sk8ter Boi • Lisa – Money • Hans Zimmer – Pirates of the carribean • Blackpink – Typa Girl • 50 Cent – In da Club • Nao Touyama – off • Utada Hikaru – Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence • Linkin Park – Faint • Eminem – Till I collapse • Versailles – Philharmonic Quintet – Silent Knight
