Hello , Today’s review is about CCA Xyraa - a gaming hybrid iem priced around 20$

Disclaimer : This unit was sent out to me by the CCA Brand in exchange for an honest review. Everything is my own impression / experience and is not influenced by the brand or any other person. Thanks to Garcia Kate from CCA for sending me this unit.

About

CCA Audio (Clear Concept Audio) is a Chinese high-fidelity audio brand which used to be sub-brand of KZ (Knowledge Zenith). Founded in 2014 in Dongguan, China, CCA operates with its own R&D labs and manufacturing facilities, focusing on engineering precision and modern design. The CCA Xyraa is a hybrid IEM featuring a 10mm dynamic driver and a customized 30118 balanced armature driver. It has a mild V-shaped sound signature , now lets get into the finer details.

Pros :

~ Good Detail retrieval

~ Sounds sharp and fun to listen to

~ Fits comfortable in my ears

~ Imaging is good

~ Love the bass

~ Treble’s spicy, I like the energy.

Cons :

~ Treble might not be for everybody

~ Staging is average, feels narrow at times

~ slight unnatural timbre

~ Cheap packaging and accessories (nitpicking)

Sources used

Snowsky echo mini

Ipod 5th gen

Aiyima h1 amp

Fosi Sk02 desktop dac/amp

Build and Technical Specifications :

The Xyraa is built with a resin plastic shell and a zinc-alloy “liquid metal” faceplate. The faceplate is high-pressure injection molded, it has a mirror-like finish that looks premium. The shell is opaque, so there’s no driver sneak peek happening here, just a clean, sleek look with a distinctive circular design on the face plate that looks fancy. You could see the inside via the side and the back as it is transparent. Ergonomics are good for my ears, fits like a charm and feels no pressure or discomfort during listening. The stock eartips seal well, I didn’t see any reason to change the eartips for fit purposes, but tips like dunu candy or final ear type e might be good pairing to even out the slight harsh upper region. The nozzle is of standard size and gets the job done. the typical KZ “Meh” cable that everyone knows. It’s not that bad, but it’s nothing to talk about either. The QDC 0.75mm 2-pin connector is standard, the ear hooks are okay. Overall, Xyraa is built sturdy, looks premium and has a solid feel to it. Xyraa consists of a Hybrid 10mm Dynamic + 30118 Balance armature driver and a Polymer-Laminated Metal Diaphragm known for its fast response.

Frequency Range - 20 Hz – 40 kHz

Impedance - 27 Ω

Sensitivity - 110 ± 3 dB

Box contents :

• 1× CCA Xyraa IEM (1 Pair)
• 3× Eartips (S/M/L)
• 1× High-Purity OFC Dual-Parallel
• 1x User Manual

Sound profile :

Bright, detailed and energetic set. Average staging , good imaging and detail retrieval is on point for the price range. Sounds a little narrow / slightly in your face at times. But the separation capability is something that actually makes CCA Xyraa stand out for its price. I played CODM and BGMI ( PUBG ) and the placement of footsteps or gunfire were very accurate and though the sound signature being on the brighter side, didn't cause me any discomfort or pierce my ear, I wouldn’t call this warm / soft - but its not as shouty either. The only thing I dislike here is the slight artificial timbre / sound, it sounds good but not tonally pleasant for me.

Lows

Sub-bass is very well extended, rumbly and enjoyable. but lacks the composure or grip. It’s better described as “Quantity over Quality”. The Mid-bass has decent texture and impact to it without feeling bloated, it is controlled and sharp to listen to. The powerful bass presence is very fun and engaging to listen to.

I wanted to explore new music and I stumbled upon Too Old To Die Young by Brother Gege, an American Folk song which was used in Quentin Tarantino’s Django unchained, it is such a powerful track with deep bass throughout the track and clean solo vocals placed well within the mix. I am really pleased with Xyraa’s Bass attack here, it’s thunderous, rumbly and doesn't overdo it too much to hollow out vocals. Vocals sounded crisp, nothing was veiled or recessed here.

Midrange

Mids are well done, You could hear things well without them feeling dull / veiled. Even though the bass has a impactful presence, there is minimal bleed into the mids and doesn’t soup out the mix generally, but it does have slight trouble in presentation due to slightly narrow soundstage, feels a little more like in your face rather than around you. Both the female vocals and male vocals have enough note weight to not sound thin, but female vocals can be a bit sibilant at times depending on track you are listening to. The vocals are on the good side of this iem, vocals are sharp, clean and sits well within the mix without being shoved way backward. The upper mids do get a little noisy and feels chaotic / clustered all over the region in some energetic tracks that have too much going on in the background, but the imaging is fine. You can identify the instruments and place them quite easily. Apart from the overall tonality - which is a bit unnatural, there is nothing that bad here.

I am listening to Brain Stew by Green day and the guitars at the beginning sound so clear and the drums are snappy. But there is slight distortion at the volume I am listening to ( slightly above mid volume ), I had to turn down the volume to listen comfortably or clearly. It’s not overly shouty but just bright. The instrumental separation is good, distinguishable. After 2 minutes in the track, everything is slightly mixed up. This part does sound a bit worse usually in this budget segment iems which are tuned for the masses to be warm or safe, but Xyraa did it decently well, due to its good separation ability and bright tone, the sound seemed less confusing and more forward / open than i expected.

Treble

This is where things get interesting, this is where Xyraa is different to usual to usual iems in this budget, treble here is sparkly and lively. I wouldn’t call this smooth and I felt the sibilance to be volume dependent, on a moderate volume which is listener’s comfort spot , the treble isn’t piercing or hurting, but when volume is increased, it sounds shrill. While being Sparkly, it doesn’t noise out the entire upper frequency. It has good detail and airiness with a good energy that is engaging and fun to listen to. But the sound in general can get fatiguing over time in longer listening sessions. for someone who wants a smoother or more neutral listen, can occasionally cross into sibilance territory ( again, volume dependent ). It’s not as airy but quite sharp, people with sensitive ears might have a problem with high volume, but in lower volumes, I find it to be okay. It doesn’t sound that thin in lower volume either. So, listenable at moderate volume. Energetic treble, not a refined one. It’s lively and present, but don’t expect it to be smooth, push it with the wrong tracks and the roughness will show up.

Chandelier by Sia, is the track I am listening to right now. Sia’s voice reaches into upper registers frequently, and the Xyraa’s sibilance tendency makes this a tricky listen at higher volumes. At moderate volume the airiness and detail in the treble actually do her vocals justice , present it forward without completely crossing into harshness.

Comparisons :

GK kunten :

Very good textured mid-bass, rumbled and tight with punchiness. Doesn’t feel muddy or overly boosted. GK Kunten is the closest rival to the Xyraa in treble character, but with a rougher edge. Its treble can sound grainy or sibilant. The Xyraa is more refined than the Kunten’s treble the Xyraa has sparkle and airiness while the Kunten trends more toward gritty brightness. Both are energetic, but the Xyraa handles it with more composure.

GK Streak :

GK Streak is the most technically accomplished set here. Fun U-shaped tuning with real bass authority, cleaner lower mids than expected, and treble that stays lively without getting harsh. Better in almost every technical way. But vocals are flat and treble is dull compared to Xyraa.

Tangzu Waner Sg 2 :

Tangzu Waner SG2 is the safest and most refined here. Well-balanced with vocal-centric mids, controlled bass that avoids muddiness, and smooth treble that avoids sibilance and fatigue. Wide and deep enough soundstage with well-done instrument positioning. It lacks the Xyraa’s excitement but beats it in vocal naturalness, staging, and long session comfort. The go-to recommendation for most people.

7hz x Crinacle Salnotes Zero 2 :

7Hz Zero 2 is the warmest and most relaxed of the group. Bass-boosted with natural tonality, smooth gentle treble, and assertive but not dominant vocals. Surprisingly spacious soundstage that punches above its weight class. Less exciting than the Xyraa but more forgiving and easier to live with daily. Great all-rounder.

KZ Castor Bass improved bass edition :

CCA Xyraa sits closer to the Castor than the others in terms of fun factor, but it’s a very different kind of fun. Where the Castor is warm and smooth, the Xyraa is bright and sparkly. The Xyraa has more treble energy and detail, better imaging, and vocals that sit more naturally in the mix. The Castor has more raw bass quantity and a more fatigue-free listen. For long sessions the Castor wins, for engagement and detail the Xyraa wins. Neither has an impressive soundstage and both feel intimate and in your face, though the Xyraa edges slightly ahead in imaging precision.

In one line each - Xyraa is exciting, Waner SG2 is safe, Zero 2 is warm and easy, Kunten is raw value, Streak is technically the best, Castor is for bass-heads.

Final Thoughts :

When I got this unit, I didn't expect much from it as it being a gaming iem, I thought its just going to be flat or tuned to be average / dull. But Xyraa surprised me, They weren’t lying about the “Dual scene Acoustic Tuning” part. For something that’s gaming oriented, this does the job well musically too, Gaming wise you would want your earphones to be open and revealing, and CCA Xyraa does that pretty good. Musically, the energizing sound is quite engaging and fun to listen to. And I really like the fit, it’s very comfortable in my ears. i find this to be a very fun set to listen to, the bass is very good, the vocals are good, the staging is good, technically everything feels right except for the slight treble harshness which does help the iem sound open and detailed. If you are looking for something that’s sharp enough to sound energizing, fun and not too sharp that it cuts your pocket ( 20$ ) this is the way to go. its a Solid choice. if you want something warm or safe sounding - this is not it for you.

Aria Ear Sylva - A Cozy Warm Feeling

Pros:

~ Very Natural sounding

~ Organically lively tonality

~ non sibilant , non fatiguing sound signature

~ Sub-bass is fun

Cons:

~ Mid-bass could be better

~ missing a little energy in the highs (Personal preference)

Hello Everyone, Today's review is on Aria Ear Sylva, priced 160$ is a tough contender under 200$, let me tell you why.

Thanks to Aural Café for sending me this unit as a part of tour for review purposes.

Disclaimer : All my Impressions are my own and subjective and not influenced by anyone.

About the Brand

Aria Ear is a Vietnam based Hi-fi brand established in 2023 Making their way out into the world of Hifi audio with their debutants Azuri and Sylva.

Azuri and Sylva are the fruits of 2 years of Meticulous Research and Development by Aria Ear. Aria Ear have thoughtfully come out with the Azuri and Sylva, where Sylva is lenient towards organic musicality, while the Azuri’s true intention lies within the details. The name Sylva, Sylvia or Silva in Latin means “Wood” or “Forest“. Let us dive into more information about the "Sylva of the Forest."

I will compare Sylva to Azuri in segments, the difference is not day and night - but at the core, they both serve different purposes. Sylva being Cozy warm, and Azuri being Scrupulous.

Build

Sylva’s shell is 3d crafted with resin and has large scales like textured faceplate. The subtle tint of green and blue color is a nice essence. The size of the shell is a little big for my small ears but I did not feel much discomfort. The 6N OCC copper cable is decent and feels sturdy. The leather case is good , a nice add on. I already covered their engineering and tech in the review of Azuri so I wont put all that here, but will try to be informative without dragging much. 10mm birchwood diaphragm driver - The use of birchwood as a diaphragm is one of the key elements, it’s scientifically more durable and acoustically more organic than the usual metal diaphragms making it a good choice as Aria Ear’s intention with the Sylva is to provide organically natural and warm sound. Sonically, it has internal damping properties that help subdue resonances and distortion resulting in a clean and more accurate sound production. It is thicker and heavier than the li-mg ( lithium magnesium ) Diaphragm in Azuri, so to overcome this, Aria Ear integrated a Dual Magnet Structure for the Sylva.

Sound Profile

Sylva has a Warm, Organic Timbre and Sweet Tonality while not compromising on details by a mile. The imaging and separation is decent - i could pinpoint the instruments and the subtle details in tracks that are complex or has a lot going on in the background. Layering is nuanced, the soundstage is holographic, wide and feels open.

Lows :

The sylva’s low end really stood out to me because of its control and immersive tuning.

The bass is textured, controlled. Not snappy or authoritatively punchy or has that slam but its not too underewhelming, initially it was not enough for my usual taste, but after a few hours of listening in, it kind of grew on me. I gave a listen to Xanny by Billie Eilish, Sylva’s precision in low end control is displayed here, handling the fast panning elements with accuracy and clarity. When you listen to music like Angel by Massive Attack, you will immediately notice the precision in the bassline . The iconic Billie jean by Michael Jackson is always one of my go-to to test the bass. The Thump mid-bass presence is pleasant but not satisfactory enough to my liking, I feel like the mid-bass is a little underwhelming but the sub-bass is good, a little more mid-bass would be have been great . Comparing it to its Akin - Azuri, Sylva has taken the lead here by having a better low end rumble and presence. Although both of them are very identical in the mid-bass aspect, Azuri has better punch but Sylva feels a little more organic, I still like the bass of my NF ACOUS NM25 though, its more agile and tight - it might not be as warm or smooth as the sylva, but sure has that snap and punch that i love.

Mids :

The Mids of Sylva are Sweet and Emotional having decent imaging and wide soundstage with realism and naturalism. Just like the Azuri, Sylva also has a midrange tuned to be precise, clear and balanced. Sylva takes it to a level up from Azuri when it comes to natural timbre or sound signature making vocals feel more emotional and felt, instruments more lifelike. There is no dryness that I sometimes feel in the NF ACOUS NM25 and NM20.

In the track Crawling by Linkin park, the entirety of instruments and vocals are coherent, the layering is quite articulate. The bass do not bleed into the mids, not a hint of sibilance even while Chester is screaming his lungs out. I was listening to this track Just the two of us by Grover Washington Jr ( ft Bill withers ) and got mesmerized by the harmony in between instruments and melodious velvety vocals of Bill Withers, Especially the Saxophone.

Then I shifted to Brain Stew by Green Day ( Punk rock/ Alternative rock ) and I could feel the guitar just riff through my ears, the feel of the strings were clear. The instrumental presentation of Sylva in general is more tonally pleasing and lush compared to Azuri and the NM25. I like the vocal presentation, carries well with texture and tone, not feeling hollow or artificial.

Highs :

Smooth and Soulful with a touch of airiness. To Test out this range, I tried some jazz tracks ( not usually my genre ).

Lonesome Lover by Max Roach , a track with Hi-hats, ride cymbals and the saxophone sounded harmonious without a hint of sibilance or harshness. They sound crisp and metallic with good texture due to the airy extension in the treble region. The transients attack is not as quick as the azuri, but feels more melodic, Clifford Jordan’s saxophone highs convey raw emotion, notes sustain with bite yet decay smoothly.

I like the Sylva here more than the Azuri, although being very identical, The Sylva feels more musical, yes the Azuri has that extra slight spark and a little more sharpness in the highs, and I am all for the sparks and shimmers, But presentation wise, the Sylva is well rounded and more comforting to listen to. The treble in sylva is smooth, airy and free of sibilance or harshness. It felt as if I was listening to headphones at some point due to its impressive open soundstage and clarity.

Thanks to the work of Birchwood diaphragm and Helmholtz resonance system damping the excess energy and resonances to provide a warmer, cleaner and natural sound.

Final Thoughts

Coming from something highly detailed and bright like NF ACOUS NM25 ( the iem that I daily drive ), Sylva seemed like not my cup of tea at first even though I like the naturality it portrays. I missed the engaging and bright energy that I feel with the Nm25. But after a few good hours, I started to like this. This is a good set for those who seek natural timbre and tone that's warm and comforting to pull out an "all nighter" easily. I think Aria Ear has done a good job with Sylva - making sound Lively, Emotional and Organic. Sure, it does miss out that little sizzling spark or high end detail or basshead bass, but has a mid-bass that does not bleed, Sub-bass that trembles, vocals that drive feelings through, Imaging that's crystal clear, Staging that’s spacious making Sylva a good buy to anyone looking to get something that performs well. For under 200$ I think this is a very good set to have that can almost do it all and is a great value for money proposition.