CCA (Clear Concept Audio) - Hydro

They really could have do away with the tuning switches, it is mainly for low frequency, while the bass is not at the level you will feel the need to tune it down. So far it is very clear and detailed, very suitable for vocal focus tracks like most of what I would listen to like JPOP including anime songs, Chinese POP or even KPOP. For those electronic tracks with strong bass, I think I would enjoy more with CCA Hydro.

I think I prefer KZ Zenith compared to PRX... there is something with PRX sound that I do not quite like.. hard to pin point to what it is. KZ PRX is detailed but somehow I dun quite like it as much. And you definitely need to use a more powerful source to run it like balanced output from a DAC AMP, I mean you can use 3.5mm if it provides enough power. My favorite IEM is still CCA Hydro.

Quite different. Hydro is much more Bassy, better instruments including strings, thicker note weight, bigger soundstage. Za12 is more sharp, a little bit more detailed and resolution, brighter. Both good for the price.

Big shells, like sonata, hydro.

Haven't heard the other 2 but am very happy with the hydro in my collection.

The CCA Hydro is a very good iem, and very underrated. Comes with mic or without, and even with a HQ cable for 10$ more. It fits within the 200$-250$ segment for less than half the price.

I'm very impressed with the CCA Hydro iem's. I've bought 3 sets of iems during the summer sales. Whereas the hydro is the cheapest of the 3 sets I've bought (others are juzear 61t and kiwi ears punch). Still the hydro sounds like a very good competitor against sets wich are around the 200$ segment.

Damn it! I just ordered them from Amazon a couple days ago, they just came today, paid $156.06 with tax. On another note, I just spent an hour listening to different songs & I'm pretty happy with them! For IEMs, I've also got S12 Pro, 7Hz Timeless & the Simgot SuperMix 4's & I think the Hydros are my favorite so far. I've got to do some A/B testing with the other IEMs, but first initial impression, I'm very happy with them, they've got more bass than I expected they would have.

I've only really messed with the treble switches so far, the 2 bass switches I left on because I love bass. In my opinion, the CCA Hydros are too bright with the treble switches on. I haven't tried turning the bass switches off yet, I'll tinker with them next time I give them a listen, perhaps later tonight. I also just picked up some used IEMs from eBay, Thieaudio Oracle Mk3's, they were listed for $450. I think those might be my 'endgame' IEMs, they sound amazing! They've got more bass than the CCA Hydros & the midrange & treble are incredibly clear. I'm now thinking about selling all of them on eBay, except for the Oracle Mk3's & I'll keep CCA Hydro's as a backup.

Hydro are definitely better than the EA500LM but you will have to eq them a bit to get the right sound you want. The Hydros are also not as heavy as the ea500lm so the comfort is really nice as well. I use the hydros on 1100 and just lower the bass using eq. Also the ea500lm in the sound comparisons is not entirely accurate as it doesn’t sound that thin/sharp in person when you listen to music with them.

cca hydro has a rly nice upgrade cable for a few bucks more. i wouldn't call the build very cheap it's good for the price, just the connector is something to be careful with.

edc pro, zenith, cca rhapsody/trio, zs10 pro 2 and cca hydro are all competitive.

separation a bit harder since headphones have wider stage and iirc sundara had good separation, but detail for sure, my cca hydro and truthear nova i had have more detail than both sundara and lcd-2c. kima 2 I've heard is good it looks a bit warm, maybe not detail focused, but should still be fine. if you want detail i would get something like nova, hydro, em6l, defiant, maybe ziigaat crescent, xenns tea pro for higher end and still bassy.

CCA Hydro has a very engaging tuning for hip-hop, rly good bass punch, pleasant tonality.

Yes it’s great maybe the best for hip hop if you pick the right one My choices KZ edc pro - super budget option 5$ just sounds good overall. Kz castor pro bass (black) - 10-15$ give you that mid bass punch and slam Kz saga bass - 10-15$ give you that sub bass rumble and thump Kz zs12 pro x (with the tuning switches set to Up up down down) - overall amazing bass sound and texture but it’s 30-50$ CCA hydro - the king but it’s 80-100$ My personal pick is zs12.

I will share my head-fi signature below (it’s long). I have/had most iem’s that are mentioned. I wanted also to buy the DaVinci but it was recommended not do buy them. For example I like the Ziigaat Arcadia (186,-) more than the Punch (449,-). Prices, and even graphs, don’t tell the whole story. It like someone said, most important question is if you enjoy them. Also Doscinco is very good. Headphones: Fiio FT1, PSB M4U, Corsair HS70, Grado SR60X (rebought). IEM’s: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+, NiceHCK Himalaya, Hidizs MP145, Artti T10, Aoshida E20, Ziigaat X HBB Arcadia , Tripowin X HBB Kailua, QOA Adonis New, HifiMan RE2000S Pro, Faaeal Iris 2.0, Faaeal Anchestor, Aful Explorer, CCA Trio, CCA Hydro, 7Hz Five, Kz EDC Pro, QKZ MDR, Kbear Rosefinch, Yincrow X6. DAC/Amplifier: Hiby R4, Fiio Q3 MQA, Ifi hip dac 3, BGVP T01s , Olaf dual Bocheng chip dongle, NONAME 4.4mm dongle with Apple C101 chip, Aqua Nexum. Tested but send back: Inawaken Dawn-MS, Fiio Q11, iBasso DX180, Joyodio Shine, Fiio Q3, Kz X Libra, Fiio JD3, Sony WF-C500, JBL Tune 130NC, Sennheiser HD 650, Simgot EW200, HiFiMan Sundara, Philips Fidelio X3, Philips Fidelio X2HR, Dali IO4, QOA Vesper (DOA), BeyerDynamic DT 900 Pro X, Beyerdynamic DT 990 32Ohm, HiFiMan Deva Pro wired, Moondrop Kato, Moondrop Blessing 3, Truthear X Crinacle: Red, Tangzu X HBB XuanNV, 7Hz Timeless, Simgot Supermix 4, Tangzu Wan’er SG, Austrian Audio HI-X15, XSL X-One MK4, Sony WH-1000XM5, ThieAudio Hype 2, Owned but sold: SMSL C200, Fiio JM21, 7Hz Timeless AE, Tripowin X 0DiBi: Vivace, Simgot EW-300, Denon AH-D5200, Artti R1, Aful Performer8, Jabra 75T Active Elite, TRN Conch, Ikko oh300, Fiio FP3, HiFiMan HE400SE Bilateral (China edition), Kefine Delci, iBasso SR2, Koss PortaPro, Ziigaat Nuo, Ziigaat Doscinco, Ziigaat X Jay Audio Estrella, Ziigaat Odyssey, Ziigaat Cinno, Ziigaat Cincotres, Grado SR60X(rebought), Kiiboom Evoke, Kiwi Ears Quartet, 7Hz Legato, 7Hz Salnotes Zero, 7Hz Sonus, 7Hz Timeless II, Etymotic ER2XR, Fatfreq X HBB Deuce, Blon BL-03 II, Kiwi Ears Crinacle Singolo, Faaeal Poppy, Qkz Cl8, Faaeal Rosemary, Sennheiser ie200, Fiio FH7S, Fiio JD7, Fiio FF3S, Fiio FF5, Fiio FD3, Hidisz MS3, Hidizs Mermaid MS2, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Qkz X HBB, Meze 99 Neo, Moondrop Chu 2, Grado SR325X, HiFiMan RE800 Silver, HiFiMan RE400i, Kiwi Ears X HBB Punch, Kiiboom Evoke, 1more Penta P50, Artti T10 Pro, Kz ZEX, Kz ZVX, Kz PR1 balanced edition, Kz X HBB PR2 (first batch), Kz PR3, Kz Castor bass edition, Moondrop Chu, Kz Krila, Kz ZEX Pro, Kz LingLong, Kz DQ6, Kz ZS10 Pro X and Denon AH-C620R🤮 (Worst IEM ever, possible AE imitation). Sources: Tidal, Ipad Pro M4 13’, iPhone 16 PM, Hiby R4 Wishlist: Ziigaat Lush, Ziigaat Arcanis, Fiio M21.

I got the Hydro and the KZ zs12 pro. Both are great and totally different. I prefer more flat sound with good mid range forward. I'm wondering how the Sonata sounds in comparison. Looking forward to your reviews! Many thanks!