The CCA PLA13 is the company’s first IEM with a planar magnetic driver. It’s entirely possible that the PLA13 was rebranded to PR1 from his CCA sister company KZ. At just $65, the PLA13 is he one of the cheapest planar IEMs you can get today. This is quite an accomplishment, as just a few years ago you would have had to spend hundreds of dollars for the same privilege.
In this review, we’ll explore the PLA13’s audio quality and assess whether it’s worth taking the plane Hype Train at this price point.
design
The PLA13 is a somewhat typical CCA/KZ design with chunky earbuds made from clear resin. Personally, I like this thick shape because it’s easy to grip when putting on and taking off the earphones, and it doesn’t protrude from my ears.
The earbuds are also very comfortable. The shape is just right for my ears and they are very light. The silicone eartips are soft and have a good seal. You can wear it for hours depending on your needs.
The earbuds have a standard 2-pin connector for connecting cables. The cable is good enough quality for this price. It’s light, flexible, reasonably long, and has an L-shaped connector at the end. The bend in the earhook is a little stiff, but not uncomfortable. The cable has no bends and minimal microphonics. The Y split is a little too low for what I would like, with no way to adjust it, but other than that, I had no complaints.
You can get earbuds with or without a mic. The microphone cable has one button for answering or ending a call and play/pause. If you got a mic cable, make sure your amp supports his TRRS connector. However, this is not a problem with most USB DACs and adapters. I tested with a Shanling UA2 and an Apple Lightning to 3.5mm adapter and had no issues, but the mic only works if the adapter has his ADC or is passive.
performance
Planar magnetic drivers are known for their excellent performance. By passing the voice coil through the diaphragm and suspending it in a magnetic field with magnets on one or both sides, the entire surface vibrates uniformly, eliminating driver deflection that can occur with dynamic drivers. It’s also very light, so it’s very fast. In fact, Planar shows what OLED is to his LCD for dynamic drivers. On paper, they’re just better.
However, the basic design of the driver and how it is constructed and tuned is a whole other matter. It’s possible to have a really good sounding dynamic he driver and a poor plane. And that’s more or less what we see in the CCA PLA13.
Whatever technical advantages the PLA13 driver might have in theory, they would be drowned out by the typical CCA/KZ V-tuning. The low end is bloated and often boomy, and even plane speed can’t make up for it. The treble is easily the worst part. It’s overly sharp and sibilance, and can make some content absolutely unbearable.
More than the tonality, it’s the overall sound that sounds strangely compressed and muffled. Compared to my 7Hz Zero, it’s a half price IEM with a dynamic driver and the difference is the difference between day and night. The Zero is not only beautifully tuned, but also has an open and airy sound with instrumental separation and vocal clarity. PLA13, on the other hand, sounds like you’re listening to his FM radio broadcast of the same track with boosted bass and treble.
Those familiar with CCA and KZ tuning will know what this sounds like. Unfortunately, the brand’s inability to overcome this aggressive obsession with her V-shaped tuning is no different in his modern world of IEMs. There is a way to make a V sound, but it’s not. It’s too aggressive and the same as adding too much salt to bring out the flavor.
Despite the planar driver, powering the PLA13 was not an issue. It can be easily powered from a cell phone with a 3.5mm port or Apple’s 3.5mm adapter.
Simply put about the mic, it’s not very good. It sounds very quiet, and voices don’t sound much better than most good Bluetooth earbuds.
Conclusion
The CCA PLA13 is a good product in theory. $65 for a planar IEM was something you’d never heard of until a while ago. Unfortunately, pudding proof is to eat, and the PLA13 is actually a disappointment, and if you like a more balanced tuning, I highly recommend his aforementioned 7Hz Zero. If you want to hear a good V-tuned sound, I highly recommend the popular Moondrop Aria.
