Review Of The CCA Rhapsody 

Introduction

Chinese company CCA has impressed many audiophiles with their high-quality and affordable products since their debut. However, I have only tried one of their products before which is CCA CRA, and now I got the opportunity to test their latest model: the Rhapsody. I was curious to see what CCA had to offer, as I have heard a lot of praise for their IEMs. The Rhapsody is a 2DD+4BA hybrid IEM with a 4-stage switch design. In this review, I will explore whether the Rhapsody can live up to the high standards that CCA has set for themselves. Yet, prior to that, I have to specify some details.

Disclaimer

*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “Rhapsody.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Rhapsody based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification

The CCA Rhapsody is a 2DD+4BA hybrid IEM that employs a dual dynamic driver configuration for the low and mid frequencies, and four balanced armature units for the high and ultra-high frequencies. The dynamic drivers are 8mm in diameter and have a composite diaphragm, while the balanced armature units are 31736 models from Knowles. The frequency division technology ensures a smooth and coherent crossover between the drivers, resulting in a balanced and detailed sound signature. The frequency response range is 20-40000 Hz, the sensitivity is 102 dB, and the impedance varies from 15 Ohms to 20 Ohms. The total harmonic distortion is less than 0.5% at 1 kHz. The earpieces are made of metal and have a 3D printed cavity, which enhances the acoustic performance and the comfort. The earphones also feature a 4-stage switch design, which allows the user to adjust the frequency bands and the tuning styles according to their preferences. The earphones come with a detachable silver-plated copper cable, which has a 3.5 mm plug and a 0.75 mm two-pin connector. The cable length is 1.2 meters and the cable has a dual-braid design to prevent tangling. The earphones also come with six pairs of eartips in two different styles and three sizes.

Sound

I did try a lot of CCA products, but at first I wasn't interested in them. Then, the CRA came along and became my favorite CCA IEM after that. I never wavered in my interest in CCA, and now I realize how stupid I was. When I heard, I knew this was the best CCA IEM I had ever heard. The Rhapsody is possibly the best IEM I have heard at this price point. It is certainly among the best. Nowhere did I feel that anything was anything other than precisely what I liked—balanced with a clear midrange and subbass emphasis—and if I thought that wasn't enough, the tuning switches helped me remain enthralled with the IEM. I'm grateful to CCA for providing a high-quality IEM at such a reasonable price. The switches are really helpful, I assure you. I believe the technical aspects seem reasonable given the price they are being offered at. Allow me to elaborate on why.

Treble

The treble is handled incredibly well; in fact, the extension and seamless, coherent response bring to mind Thieaudio Monarch MKII or Hype2. Although the rounded notes produce clean details, they also create a mellow and pleasant experience. I can hear hints of BA timbre occasionally, but these usually have custom house-made drivers that have advanced significantly and sound just as good as the last BA-configured IEM I've heard from CCA or KZ. The vocals sound fuller and more pleasant thanks to the expansive, airy, and wide upper treble, which also provides a good exposure of details and clarity from the instruments. The vocals and instruments are able to produce enough details to maintain a silky smooth response without sounding monotonous because the lower treble is cohesive and has a good amount of energy, without being overly forward or mysterious. As a result, the treble region presents itself in a pleasant, fluid, and clear manner overall.

Mid Range

In terms of quantity and quality, the mid range is expressive. I think the balance between the upper and lower mid ranges is ideal because the lower mid range gives the upper mid range just the right amount of warmth, making the upper mid range sound more soothing and natural. Naturally, compared to some other IEMs in this price range on the market, they aren't as precise or detailed. However, I think the answer was a smooth and safe one. The cohesive response seen in the lower treble is also present in the upper mid range, but with more weight notes and a more organic presentation. When listening to female vocals, the lower treble did have a slight sibilant sound, but the response does not permit any peaky or sibilant sounds. The instruments sound natural and enhance the vocals, which are light and open in tone. It is advantageous that the lower mid range sounds weighty and hazy with details because it gives the higher frequencies—such as peaky, metallic, or hot—a more robust and warm foundation. As a result, the mid range presents itself in a pleasant, natural, and silky manner overall.

Bass

The tuning switches are very helpful when it comes to bass. The tuning switches alter the expected bass response, which is the reason. This IEM is ideal because it emphasizes and subdues the sub bass and mid bass without affecting or altering the higher frequencies. Those who prefer greater emphasis or less bass can choose to subdue their presence. Later on, I'll go into more detail about it. No matter how many tuning switches you use, the sub bass is the main focus, giving your ears a subtle rumbling sensation and making your punches feel powerful. While the bass doesn't really leak into the mids, it does provide warmth that flows into the lower mid range, which is sufficient to support the audible slams and thumps. Even though the bass has the potential to be extremely powerful and impactful, the details and quality fall short of expectations, but this is not a drawback because the response feels natural. Overall, the bass region is presented in a thick, organic, and customizable way.

Technical Performance

Regarding the technical performance, I believe it is comparable to other products in this price range. Allow me to elaborate.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation

The stage's width and length allow for a spacious sound with clear imaging, but it could have been sharper, which would have, in my opinion, resulted in a poorer tonal balance because of the limitations of the BA drivers. Notes have a sufficient amount of separation because they sound far away, making it easy to determine where the sound is coming from.

Speed & Resolution

Overall, the resolution sounds good and better than I had anticipated because the macro details are sufficiently expressive while the micro details are less noticeable. Notes are attacked and decayed at a suitable pace to prevent a chaotic reaction.

Sound Impressions 

Tuning Switches

To be honest, I didn't think the tuning switches worked because I didn't hear the treble getting tamed or aggressive or the vocals being forward or subdued. However, as I listened more, I realized that the bass was changing. In other words, the switches essentially emphasize or subdue the mid- and subbass. Technically speaking, the second switch helps to emphasize the mid bass below 300 Hz and a 2-3 db increase in sub bass, while the first switch does very little to nothing. When the third and fourth switches were hit, the mid bass was somewhat muted and the sub bass became more noticeable and impactful in the mix. Hence, depending on your preference, using two or three switches together helped emphasize the mid- or sub-bass. The combinations that I felt were the most effective and truly made a difference were:

a. 3rd & 4th - Here, the bass felt more accurate and in control, while the higher frequencies were more lively and clear because of the subdued bass.

C. 1st and 3rd - The sub bass region is being emphasized more and the mid bass presence is being subdued in this combination, but the overall response is still the same—it just has more rumble and control over the thumping response.

Sources

Sony WM1A - Using the WM1A to listen, I could hear a much cleaner, smoother response with better stage and separation. Although the treble energy was a little muted, the sound was still more expansive and open. The emphasis on the mid range made the vocals in the mix more powerful. Also, there seemed to be more depth to the bass. All in all, the sound was smoothed and softer.

Tempotec V6 - When using the V6, the response sounded more lively, particularly in the treble range, where the normally gentle and seamless response started to sound a little forward. A lively and captivating sound was created overall with this response, which made the details feel more in-your-face and the bass response feel more tactile and prominent.

Tracks

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion

To sum up this review, I'll be frank and say that the best-sounding IEM for under $40 should be purchased by anyone with that kind of money. Every frequency range—treble, midrange, and bass—is adjusted to suit the preferences of the majority of listeners. With a well-balanced sound and a bass that can be adjusted, it creates a smooth, coherent response with just the right amount of detail to keep you interested. The CCA Rhapsody was fantastic, and I heartily suggest these.