The CCA PLA13 are the corporate’s first IEMs with planar magnetic drivers. It is fairly doable the PLA13 are simply rebranded PR1 from CCA’s sister firm KZ. At simply $65, the PLA13 are one of many least expensive planar IEMs you will get as we speak, which is sort of an achievement since only a few years in the past you would need to spend lots of of {dollars} for a similar privilege.
On this evaluate, I might be trying into the audio high quality of the PLA13 and assessing whether or not it is value getting on to the planar hype prepare on this worth vary.
Design
The PLA13 have a considerably typical CCA/KZ design with chunky earbuds made out of clear resin. I personally do like this chunky form because it makes it straightforward to seize when inserting or eradicating the earbuds they usually do not stick out a lot out of your ears.
The earbuds are additionally very comfy; the form felt good for my ears and they’re additionally very mild. The silicone ear suggestions are tender and create an awesome seal. I might put on them for hours if I wished to.
The earbuds have a regular 2-pin connector for attaching the cable. The cable is of good-enough high quality for this worth. It is mild, versatile, and fairly lengthy with an L-shaped connector on the finish. The bends for the ear hooks are a bit stiff however not uncomfortable. The cable doesn’t retain any bends and microphonics are minimal. The Y-split is a bit too additional down than I would like with no option to modify however apart from that I did not have any complaints with it.
You may get the earbuds with or with out a microphone. There’s a single button on the microphone cable for answering or ending calls and to play/pause. When you get the microphone cable, be certain your amp helps the TRRS connector however this should not be a problem with most USB DACs and adapters. I examined with a Shanling UA2 and Apple Lightning to three.5mm adapter and had no points, though the microphone would solely work if the adapter additionally has an ADC or is passive.
Efficiency
Planar magnetic drivers are recognized for his or her superior efficiency. Passing the voice coil by the diaphragm after which suspending it inside a magnetic subject by having magnets on one or each side causes your complete floor to vibrate uniformly eradicating any driver flex that may occur on dynamic drivers. It is also very mild, which makes it extraordinarily fast. In impact, planars are to dynamic drivers what OLEDs are to LCDs. On paper, they’re simply higher.
Nevertheless, the essential design of the motive force is one factor and the way it’s constructed and tuned is one other matter altogether. It’s doable to have a extremely good-sounding dynamic driver and a shoddy planar. And that is kind of what we see with the CCA PLA13.
No matter technical superiorities the PLA13 driver might have in idea, they’re drowned out in CCA/KZ’s typical v-shaped tuning. The low finish is bloated and sometimes boomy and even a planar’s velocity can’t make up for it. The mid-range is okay however is commonly drowned out by the lows. The treble is definitely the worst half; it is overly sharp and sibilant and may make some content material completely insufferable.
Extra so than the tonality, it is the general sound that comes throughout as oddly compressed and muffled. In comparison with my 7Hz Zero, an IEM with dynamic drivers that prices half as a lot, the distinction is night time and day. The Zero, apart from being masterfully tuned, additionally sounds open and ethereal with distinct instrument separation and vocal readability. The PLA13 alternatively appears like listening to an FM radio broadcast of that very same observe with boosted bass and treble.
Anybody accustomed to CCA and KZ’s tuning is aware of what this appears like. It is unlucky that the manufacturers can’t recover from their obsession with this aggressive v-shaped tuning even within the trendy IEM panorama. There’s a option to do a v-shaped sound however this is not it. It is simply too aggressive and the equal of including an excessive amount of salt to convey the flavour.
Powering the PLA13 wasn’t a problem regardless of the planar drivers. You may simply drive them from any cellphone that also has a 3.5mm port or Apple’s 3.5mm adapters.
A fast phrase on the microphone: It isn’t superb. It sounds awfully quiet and voices do not sound that a lot better than most good Bluetooth earbuds.
Conclusion
The CCA PLA13 is a superb product in idea. $65 for planar IEMs would have been remarkable not too way back. Sadly, the proof of the pudding is within the consuming, and in observe the PLA13 are disappointing. I’d extremely suggest the aforementioned 7Hz Zero for those who like a extra balanced tuning or the ever-popular Moondrop Aria if you wish to hear what a great v-shaped tuning appears like.