CCA PLA13 Planar Magnetic Wired Earphones Evaluation: Good Starter Possibility for Audiophiles

Lately, the audiophile pastime has change into significantly extra inexpensive for rookies, attracting many extra folks to the fold. That is due to the fast development and international unfold of ‘Chi-Fi’; entry-level IEMs from China look and sound fairly good, and do not price an excessive amount of both. The emergence of fine moveable DACs has additionally largely lined for the dearth of three.5mm sockets on fashionable smartphones, making it potential to arrange a good moveable audiophile equipment on a funds.

I’ve had an opportunity to check many Chi-Fi merchandise, the newest of which is the CCA PLA13. Priced at Rs. 3,999 in India, the CCA PLA13 has planar magnetic drivers — one thing distinctive to merchandise on this worth section — which promise nice sound high quality. Is that this the perfect audiophile-grade wired IEM you should purchase for lower than Rs. 5,000 proper now? Discover out on this assessment.

The CCA PLA13 has small ‘home windows’ on the entrance of every earpiece, letting you take a look at the planar magnetic driver inside

CCA PLA13 design and specs

The code-like alphanumeric naming of the CCA PLA13 suits in reasonably properly with the final look and really feel of the earphones, which arguably pulls off the clear aesthetic a bit higher than the Nothing Ear 1 (Evaluation). With massive plastic earpieces and a shiny dark-shaded exterior, the CCA PLA13 feels strong and appears nice. The backs of the earpieces are reasonably straightforward to look via, whereas the fronts have small ‘home windows’ that allow you to look into the innards, particularly the planar magnetic drivers.

Different fascinating design elements embody the bass vents, clear cable, and the lengthy extension for the ear ideas that provides the CCA PLA13 a safe in-canal match. The cable appears to be like good, has a microphone and one-button distant, and is removable and replaceable, with commonplace 0.75mm two-pin connectors to plug into the earpieces, and a 3.5mm plug for the supply gadget or DAC. Sadly the cable is kind of tangle-prone, however is properly insulated to minimise cable noise.

Whereas the match of huge IEMs tends to usually be tough, the CCA PLA13 is kind of straightforward to placed on and take off, though the earphones themselves are a bit heavy. The ear hooks on the included 1.2m cable are fairly properly made, and stayed securely in place round my ears whereas the earpieces have been worn.

Like most wired audiophile-grade earphones, the CCA PLA13 has a 3.5mm plug for connectivity

The CCA PLA13 has 13.2mm planar magnetic drivers, with a frequency response vary of 20-20,000Hz, an impedance ranking of round 16 Ohms, and a sensitivity ranking of round 100dB. The impedance ranking makes it straightforward sufficient to drive the earphones even with peculiar supply gadgets similar to a laptop computer or smartphone, however pairing the CCA PLA13 with even a primary moveable DAC could make a major distinction within the listening expertise.

CCA PLA13 efficiency

With regards to private audio, the idea of tuning is vastly underrated, and the hassle that goes into tuning could make even peculiar {hardware} sound higher than costlier however poorly-tuned equipment. Nevertheless, that does not take away from what superior gear brings to the desk, particularly when paired with cautious tuning of its personal. Whereas the CCA PLA13 is probably not as impressively arrange because the way more inexpensive (and dynamic driver-powered) Moondrop Chu, it manages to ship expectedly higher efficiency on the entire, because of its glorious planar magnetic drivers.

For my assessment, HeadphoneZone (the distributor for CCA in India) supplied me with the iFi Go Hyperlink DAC/Amp, which paired properly with the earphones and helped draw a bit extra energy and drive, aside from making it potential to plug immediately into each, iOS and Android smartphones, as supply gadgets.

The cable is usefully removable, though it is adequate that you just will not instantly really feel the necessity to change it

This made the general setup pretty compact and moveable, so that is one thing that you could discover if you happen to’re on the lookout for an excellent on-the-go audiophile setup. I did additionally join the CCA PLA13 on to my laptop computer often for this assessment, with notable variations within the loudness and the way the sound felt at roughly equal quantity ranges on totally different gadgets. The DAC made it potential for the earphones to sound louder with none audible harshness within the sound, so the PLA13 undoubtedly advantages from having the very best enter sign.

Listening to Pasilda by Afro Medusa, the CCA PLA13 supplied an immersive and full of life sound from the get-go, with first rate efficiency throughout the frequency vary. Whereas there was a good quantity of assault and drive within the low-end, the bass did not really feel fairly as impactful and deep as on the extra inexpensive Moondrop Chu, even when the lows sounded a bit extra detailed, and appeared to increase only a bit decrease. Certainly, it is an arguably extra refined strategy to the bass, and one which higher agrees with the philosophy of audiophile listening.

With the quicker and extra diversified Faux Awake by Andy Moor, the responsiveness of the mid-range and highs on the CCA PLA13 have been higher highlighted. Sharpness and element in even the upper bass frequencies was noticeable, offering spectacular element ranges throughout the monitor with out the sub-bass overpowering the remainder of the monitor via an excessive amount of assault. On the entire, it is a fairly balanced strategy to the sound, highlighting element and notion, and steering away from any apparent biases.

The one variant of the CCA PLA13 bought in India has a microphone and single-button distant, so you should use it as a hands-free headset or recording gadget with suitable supply gadgets. This performance works fairly properly if you happen to want it, though this does come throughout as considerably dated and inconvenient within the age of wi-fi audio.

Verdict

Many would argue that the kind of driver is not all that vital, and there are circumstances the place even the standard dynamic driver sounds glorious, such because the Rs. 14,990 Sennheiser IE 200. That mentioned, the concept of getting technically superior planar magnetic drivers on a funds IEM is interesting, and the CCA PLA13 delivers a enjoyable listening expertise that’s targeted on element and refinement.

Whereas there are many choices for a starter audiophile, the CCA PLA13 is a comparatively cheap wired IEM headset that is likely to be price contemplating when you have a funds of round Rs. 5,000. It is best to ideally pair it with a good funds DAC for greatest outcomes, but it surely’s straightforward sufficient to simply plug in and get going, if you have already got an excellent supply gadget with a 3.5mm socket.

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