Introduction :
The company’s first IEMs with planar magnetic motors are the CCA PLA13. It’s entirely conceivable that the PLA13 are simply PR1s that CCA’s sister firm KZ rebranded. The PLA13 are among the least expensive planar IEMs available right now, which is quite an accomplishment considering that only a few years ago you would have to pay hundreds of dollars for the same opportunity.
In this evaluation, I’ll examine the PLA13’s audio performance and determine whether it’s worthwhile to join the planar excitement train at this price point.
Design :
The PLA13 has a fairly standard CCA/KZ appearance, with chunky earphones made of clear resin. I like the chunky form because it’s simple to grasp when putting or removing the earphones and they don’t protrude out too far from your ears.
The earphones are also very light and the form felt perfect for my ears. They are also very comfortable. The flexible silicone ear tips make an excellent fit and are comfortable. If I wanted to, I could wear them for a very long time.
The earphones have a typical 2-pin connector where the cord can be connected. For this amount, the cable is of sufficient grade. It has an L-shaped connection at the end, is lightweight, bendable, and of average length. Although slightly stiff, the ear hook twists are not bothersome. Microphonics are barely audible, and the wire does not hold any bends. Apart from the Y-split being a little too far down and being impractical to modify, I didn’t have any issues with it.
Quality :
Planar magnetic actuators are well-known for their high efficiency. By passing the voice coil through the diaphragm and then hanging it within a magnetic field with magnets on one or both sides, the complete surface vibrates evenly, eliminating any driver flex that can occur with dynamic drivers. It’s also very light, which makes it very fast. Planars are essentially the dynamic drivers’ equivalent of OLEDs. On paper, they are simply superior. However, the driver’s fundamental design is one thing, and how it’s constructed and tuned is another. It is conceivable to have a great dynamic motor and a mediocre planar. That is, in general, what we see with the CCA PLA13.
The PLA13 driver’s theoretical technological advantages are overshadowed by the customary v-shaped calibration used by CCA/KZ. Even a planar’s speed cannot compensate for the low end’s swollen and frequently boomy nature. Although the mid-range is good, the lows frequently overpower it. The treble is by far the worst component; it is excessively piercing and sibilant and can render some material intolerably intolerable.
The entire sound strikes listeners as strangely compressed and muffled, more so than the tone. The difference is astronomical when compared to my 7Hz Zero, an IEM with dynamic speakers that costs half as much. The Zero sounds wide and airy with distinct instrument separation and voice clarity in addition to being expertly adjusted. The PLA13, on the other hand, has enhanced bass and treble that makes the music sound like it was aired on FM radio.
Anyone acquainted with CCA and KZ settings will recognise this. Even in the contemporary IEM environment, companies can’t seem to shake their fixation with aggressive v-shaped tuning. There is a method for producing a v-shaped sound, but this is not it. It’s just too aggressive, like putting too much sodium to bring out the flavour. Despite the flat drives, powering the PLA13 was not a problem. You can simply power them using any phone with a 3.5mm port or Apple’s 3.5mm converters.
I just want to say that the microphone isn’t very effective. Voices don’t sound all that much better than most excellent Bluetooth earphones, and it is incredibly silent.
Opinion :
In principle, the CCA PLA13 is a fantastic device. Not too long ago, planar IEMs costing $65 would have been unheard of. The PLA13 are disappointing in reality, which is unfortunate because the evidence of the custard is in the eating. If you want to hear what a good v-shaped tuning sounds like, I would strongly suggest the aforementioned 7Hz Zero or the ever-popular Moondrop Aria.
