CCA FALCON – PURE AND ARTICULATE

INTRODUCTION:

An interesting signature! An IEM coming out of CCA with a Dual Dynamic Driver setup in a budget segment made me excited. Previous releases namely Xyrra, Polaris and Phoenix made their places in the crowded market with their solid sound signatures.

One thing in common they had was a juicy bass with just a single dynamic driver and this made me excited when I received the CCA FALCON with dual DD setup. Contrastingly, this is tuned different! Despite the usage of Dynamic drivers this has a thin bass profile with top notch transparency!

Out of curiosity, I checked their websites for what its marketed and came to know that this is a GAMING iem. And now I can safely say that it truly stands to its marketed name.

CCA FALCON SPECIFICATIONS:

Driver Type: Dual Dynamic (7mm DD, 8mm)

Frequency Response: 10Hz – 20kHz

Impedance: 25

Sensitivity: 104dB

Cable Connector: 0.75mm 2Pin

DISCLAIMER:

This unit was provided by CCA Official (Garcia Kate) mam in exchange for my honest opinion. Despite this being a reviewer’s unit, the views are based on my observations hence it’s not an influenced one.

CCA FALCON BUILD AND DESIGN:

The alloy faceplate and the resin body enclose the dual dynamic drivers in a secure fashion. Despite the cheap build, they are sturdy enough with no aesthetic flaws. The semi-open back design pattern and the grill on the faceplate adds up the aesthetic values as well as the sonic performance.

The stock ear tips feel different that the usual star line ear tips. The ear tips are softer now thereby the fit feels more secure and comfortable. The stock cable however is the usual one that we get with the budget IEM’s.

The Falcon does comes in a Type C variant that has in built DSP in it with EQ presets for customisable sound signature. The 3.5mm version has a L shaped connector with strain reliever for enhanced durability.

SOUND ANALYSIS:

TONALITY: Neutral with Natural Timbre

SIGNATURE: Neutral Bright

USECASE: Purely for gaming – Thin bass profile with elevated 7k and upper mid region goes well for gaming. Those footsteps and gunshots are clearly picked up by the Falcon. The added bonus is the wide stage presence, transparent background and the faster transients with sibilance in check.

BASS Profile:

A contrasting view is observed in relation to its driver setup. Despite the usage of two dynamic drives, the bass feels lean. The mid bass lacks the weight and slam thereby producing a weaker bass response. The subtle sub bass presence shows up if the tracks call for that rumble, otherwise they stay out of the line without any intervention.

So, what’s the verdict? Does the above impression mean they are tuned poor? No! This just targets a different set of consumers. For gaming especially, we need something that exhibits lean bass profile with more upper mid emphasis and that’s what is seen here. As an advantage, this lean bass does make the mid-section more transparent and cleaner which suits the consumers more into gaming, podcasts, calls etc…

MID-SECTION Analysis:

The excellence of Falcon is seen in its mid-section. The clean and transparent mid profile with elevated upper mid (7k region) makes every gamer to want this! The clean mid profile brings up the vocals with natural tone in a forward accent. Thought the lower mid sound leaner, the clarity that it brings on to the table beats up the negative.

The emphasized upper mid profile gives the female vocals and gun shots a new life. They bring up the vivid character to the presentation thereby the whole scene feels refreshing and open. The semi open back design of Falcon elevates the experience up a notch by showcasing a wide stage. The wide scene allows the Falcon to set up the background instruments in their positions precisely.

TREBLE PROFILE:

Falcon expresses an open treble profile that goes well with its marketing. The sharp treble presence is required for an engaging gaming experience to point out the footsteps and gun shots with great precision. The shimmer is expressed well in the falcon with adequate detail retrieval in the top end. Immense brightness is appreciated in its presentation thereby delivering an airy top end.

All this goodness is done by keeping the sibilance in mind. Even the complex tracks don’t affect the Falcon! The track separation and sibilance are well under control. The trumpets and percussion instruments show up with precise attack and decay. Though the note edges appear sharper, they never tend to be fatiguing, rather they boost up the vivid character of the presentation.

TECHNICALITIES:

Detail Retrieval: Above average for its price! Extracts the essential nuances with ease and definitely needs appreciation in its segment.

Staging: The semi-open back design and transparent background help the Falcon in showcasing a wide stage presence with moderate depth for a holographic stage.

Imaging and Layering: The wide stage helps the falcon in positioning the instruments precisely. The faster transients add as an additional bonus for boosting the layering of Falcon. The notes are neatly layered out based on their depth for an immersive listening experience.

VERDICT:

Amidst the usual signatures, the Falcon is the one that rose with an interesting signature in the crowd. Despite by using the Dual Dynamic drivers, the brand tuned it in such a way to make them sound PURER AND ARTICULATE which many budget brands failed to do it. If you are a gamer and even if not one, this can be a good pick to create a different favor to your listening.

POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES:

Pros:

1. Neutral Profile with Bright Tint
2. Forward Midsection
3. Transparent Background (Vented Faceplate)
4. Wide Staging with Fast Transients
5. Value Proposition

Cons:

1. Thin Bass Profile