If you’ve been searching for the best IEM under 2000 that works equally well for both gaming and music, the CCA XYRAA might just be what you’ve been waiting for.
I’ve been using it as my daily driver for about a month now — gaming sessions, music listening, daily commute, even movie nights. And honestly, this one surprised me more than I expected.
Now, there are already some solid options in this price range. We have the 7Hz Salnotes Zero which is amazing for competitive gaming and balanced sound, the KZ Castor Pro for bass lovers, the Tangzu Wan’er for smooth music, and the Moondrop Chu 2 for a clean neutral experience. All of them are great in their own way.
But here’s the thing — none of them truly nail both gaming AND music in a single package. The Salnotes Zero is a legend for competitive gaming, but when you switch to music, especially bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop, it feels flat and boring. The Castor Pro gives you the bass, but it’s not tuned for gaming clarity the way the XYRAA is.
That’s exactly the gap the CCA XYRAA fills. It promises something called “dual-scene tuning” — one IEM optimized for both gaming and music. Does it actually deliver? Let’s find out in this detailed review.
CCA XYRAA Specifications
| Driver Configuration | 10mm Metal-Composite DD + Custom 30118 BA |
| Type | Hybrid (1DD + 1BA) |
| Impedance | 27–33Ω |
| Sensitivity | 108–110 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 40kHz |
| Cable | High-Purity OFC Detachable Cable |
| Connector | 0.75mm 2-Pin Gold-Plated |
| Plug Options | 3.5mm / Type-C (with or without mic) |
| Latency | Under 17ms (Wired) |
| Build | Zinc-Alloy Faceplate + Visual Resin Shell |
| Sound Signature | V-Shaped (Bass + Upper-Mid Boost) |
What Makes The CCA XYRAA Different?
Before we get into the sound quality, let me explain why this IEM stands out from the crowd at this price point.
Hybrid Driver Setup at Budget Price
Most IEMs under ₹2000 use a single dynamic driver. The XYRAA, on the other hand, uses a hybrid configuration— a 10mm metal-composite dynamic driver paired with a custom-tuned 30118 balanced armature driver.
Now, you might be thinking — “hybrid drivers at this price? There must be a catch.” And that’s a fair concern because historically, budget hybrid IEMs have struggled with BA drivers sounding metallic and unnatural.
But here’s what genuinely surprised me: the BA driver in the XYRAA sounds remarkably natural. There’s no metallic taste, no artificial harshness. This is honestly the first time I’ve experienced a BA driver at this price range that doesn’t sound like a budget BA. CCA clearly spent time tuning this one properly, and it shows.
The dynamic driver handles all the low frequencies — bass, sub-bass, the heavy stuff. While the BA driver takes care of the mids and highs with precision and speed that a single DD simply can’t match.
The “Dual-Scene Tuning” — Real or Marketing?
CCA markets the XYRAA with something called “dual-scene tuning” — claiming it’s optimized for both gaming and music. Let me be completely honest here.
There’s no physical switch. There’s no button to toggle between gaming mode and music mode. It’s the same sound signature regardless of what you’re doing. So yes, the marketing term is a bit exaggerated.
But the result is real. Here’s why it actually works:
The XYRAA has a deliberate 4–6kHz frequency boost in the upper-mids and presence region. This specific frequency range is exactly where critical gaming sounds live — footsteps, gunfire, weapon swaps, ability cues. At the same time, this same frequency boost also makes vocals more forward, instruments more energetic, and the overall music presentation more lively and engaging.
Combined with the deep V-shaped bass response, you get an IEM that genuinely performs well in both scenarios — not because of any special mode switching, but because the tuning itself is intelligently designed to serve both purposes.
It’s marketing language for a genuinely smart tuning decision. And I respect that more than hollow buzzwords.
Sound Quality — Detailed Breakdown
This is where it matters most, so let’s break it down frequency by frequency.
Bass — 9/10
The bass on the CCA XYRAA is easily its strongest feature. The 10mm dynamic driver delivers deep, physical sub-bass that you don’t just hear — you feel it in your chest. It has that rumble and weight that bassheads will absolutely love.
The mid-bass is punchy with a fast attack. When a kick drum hits, it hits hard and moves on quickly — there’s no lingering mushiness or bloat. This clean bass delivery means that even though the bass is elevated, it doesn’t bleed into the mids and muddy everything up.
The separation between sub-bass and mid-bass is surprisingly clean for this price. You can clearly tell where one ends and the other begins. At higher volumes, the bass can become slightly dominant, but at normal listening levels, it’s controlled and tight.
One thing I noticed — the bass dynamics are volume-dependent. At moderate volumes, you get a controlled, refined bass. Push the volume higher, and the bass emphasis becomes much more prominent. Finding your sweet spot is key.
Bottom line: This is one of the best bass responses I’ve heard under ₹2000. Deep, punchy, controlled, and genuinely fun.
Mids — 7.5/10
The mids are where the XYRAA’s V-shaped tuning becomes apparent. Because both the bass and the upper frequencies are elevated, the lower mids take a slight step back. This means some instruments in the mid-range can feel slightly recessed compared to what you’d hear on a flat-tuned IEM like the Salnotes Zero.
That said, the upper mids are where the magic happens. Thanks to the BA driver, vocals — especially female vocals — sound bright, engaging, and forward. Male vocals have enough warmth to sound full and realistic, but they’re definitely not the star of the show here.
If you’re someone who values absolute vocal accuracy and natural midrange presentation, the Salnotes Zero is still the better choice. But if you want mids that are exciting, engaging, and full of energy, the XYRAA delivers that in spades.
Think of it this way: the Salnotes Zero shows you what the artist intended. The XYRAA shows you a more colorful, energized version of it.
Treble — 8/10
The treble is handled entirely by the custom 30118 balanced armature, and this is where CCA really impressed me.
At this price range, BA drivers usually sound metallic, thin, or harsh. The XYRAA’s BA is surprisingly smooth and natural-sounding. Hi-hats, cymbals, string instruments — they all sound detailed and extended without that annoying artificial shimmer that plagues most budget hybrid IEMs.
The treble extension is excellent. There’s enough air and sparkle to give the sound an open, airy quality. However — and this is an honest caveat — on some specific tracks with already bright mastering, the treble can get slightly sharp and edgy. It’s not sibilant in the traditional sense, but sensitive ears might notice an occasional peak.
For the vast majority of listening though, the treble is detailed, clean, and surprisingly refined. The transient response of the BA driver (approximately 0.08ms) means that fast passages and complex cymbal work are reproduced with impressive speed.
Soundstage & Imaging — 7/10 and 7.5/10
The soundstage is above average for the price. It’s not going to give you the wide, expansive feeling of open-back headphones, but for a closed IEM at this budget, there’s enough width and some decent depth to work with.
Where the XYRAA genuinely impresses is imaging. Thanks to the hybrid driver configuration, the left-right separation is clean and the positioning of sounds is accurate. In gaming, you can genuinely tell whether a footstep is coming from the left, right, in front, or behind you. The channel sweep is smooth with no stuttering, which matters a lot for directional audio cues.
Gaming Performance
Let’s be real — this is one of the main reasons you’re probably looking at this IEM. So let me give you an honest assessment for both competitive and immersive gaming.
Competitive / FPS Gaming — Valorant, CS2, BGMI, Free Fire
For competitive FPS gaming, the XYRAA performs very well. The 4-6kHz boost directly targets the frequency range where footsteps, gunfire, weapon swaps, and ability cues sit.
In Valorant and CS2, footsteps are clear and directional. You can identify whether someone is above, below, left, or right with reasonable accuracy. Gunfire sounds impactful and distinct — you can tell different weapons apart. Weapon swap sounds are crisp and immediate.
The wired connection means under 17ms latency, which is essentially zero perceivable delay. What you see on screen is exactly what you hear — no Bluetooth lag, no encoding delay.
However, I need to be honest: for pure competitive gaming where every millisecond of audio precision matters, the Salnotes Zero is still slightly better. Its flat tuning gives you a cleaner, more clinical representation of directional audio without any frequency coloration. But here’s the reality — 95% of gamers will never notice this difference. The XYRAA is more than capable for competitive play at any level below professional tournaments.
Immersive / Single-Player Gaming — GTA V, God of War, RDR2, Genshin Impact
This is where the XYRAA absolutely dominates everything in its price range.
That deep, punchy bass transforms explosions, gunshots, and environmental sounds into something you physically feel. Playing GTA V with the XYRAA, car chases feel cinematic. In God of War, the Leviathan Axe sounds heavy and impactful. Background music is rich and enveloping.
Dialogue remains clear and forward despite the bass emphasis, which is important for story-driven games. The overall presentation is cinematic, immersive, and genuinely exciting in a way that flat-tuned IEMs simply can’t replicate for casual gaming.
If immersive gaming is your priority, the CCA XYRAA is the best option under ₹2000, no contest.
Build Quality, Design & Comfort
Design & Build
The CCA XYRAA features a zinc-alloy “liquid metal” faceplate formed through high-pressure injection molding. In hand, it feels premium — way more premium than anything at this price has any right to feel. The mirror-finish Titanium Black colorway looks genuinely striking.
The rear shell uses a skin-friendly visual resin that’s lightweight, anti-allergenic, and transparent enough to let you peek at the internal driver configuration. It’s a nice aesthetic touch that also serves a practical purpose — you can visually verify the hybrid driver setup.
Cable
The included high-purity OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper) cable with 0.75mm 2-pin gold-plated connectors is… functional. It does the job, the sound quality is fine, and the gold-plated connectors ensure a clean signal. But the cable material itself feels average, and the ear hooks can be a bit stiff.
The good news is that the detachable 2-pin design means you can easily swap it out for a better aftermarket cable whenever you want — or even go Bluetooth with a compatible 2-pin adapter.
Comfort
Comfort is generally good. The resin shell is lightweight and the ergonomic shape fits most ear types without issues. I wore these for 3-4 hour gaming sessions and extended music listening without any significant discomfort.
However — and this is important — you NEED to replace the stock ear tips. The default silicone tips that come in the box are subpar. They don’t seal well, they affect the bass response, and they can make the treble sound harsher than it should. I strongly recommend switching to aftermarket tips like SpinFit or KBear 07 for the best experience. This is not optional — it makes a noticeable difference.
The XYRAA has more character, more bass, and more excitement. The Chu 2 is for people who want balance; the XYRAA is for people who want fun.
Final Verdict — Should You Buy The CCA XYRAA?
The CCA XYRAA is, in my opinion, the best gaming + music IEM under ₹2000 right now. It’s not perfect — no budget IEM is — but it fills a gap in the market that genuinely needed filling.
For the longest time, if you wanted a budget IEM for gaming, you had to sacrifice music enjoyment. If you wanted fun bass-heavy music, you had to accept average gaming performance. The XYRAA is the first budget IEM I’ve tested that does both things well in a single package.
The hybrid driver setup delivers a sound that’s engaging, fun, and technically competent. The build quality punches above its weight class. And the gaming performance — especially for immersive single-player titles — is the best I’ve experienced at this price.
Buy the CCA XYRAA if:
- You want one IEM for both gaming AND music
- You love bass-heavy, V-shaped, energetic sound
- You play immersive/single-player games
- Your playlist is heavy on EDM, hip-hop, Bollywood, rock, or pop
- You want a hybrid driver IEM without spending a fortune
Skip the CCA XYRAA if:
- You play competitive FPS at a professional/semi-professional level (get the Salnotes Zero)
- You’re a classical/jazz purist who needs flat, accurate reproduction
- You’re very sensitive to bright treble
- You prefer neutral, analytical sound signatures
The CCA XYRAA isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It knows exactly what it is — a fun, engaging, gaming-focused IEM that also rocks for music. And at its price, it does that better than anything else I’ve tried.
Strongly recommended. 👍
Quick Comparisons
Here’s how the CCA XYRAA stacks up against the competition:
CCA XYRAA vs 7Hz Salnotes Zero
This is the big one. The Salnotes Zero has been the undisputed king of budget IEMs for competitive gaming and balanced listening. So how does the XYRAA compare?
- Bass: XYRAA wins by a mile. Deep, punchy, physical vs. clean but minimal.
- Mids: Salnotes Zero wins for natural vocals. XYRAA is more exciting but less accurate.
- Treble: XYRAA’s BA driver gives it an edge in detail retrieval.
- Competitive Gaming: Salnotes Zero has slightly better directional precision.
- Immersive Gaming: XYRAA dominates. Not even close.
- Music (EDM/Hip-Hop): XYRAA. Much more engaging and fun.
- Music (Classical/Jazz): Salnotes Zero. More accurate and natural.
Verdict: If you ONLY play competitive FPS at a high level and listen to classical music, get the Salnotes Zero. For literally everything else — gaming + music combo, immersive gaming, bass-heavy genres — the XYRAA is the better buy.
CCA XYRAA vs KZ Castor Pro
Both are V-shaped, both have punchy bass. But the XYRAA’s hybrid driver gives it better treble detail, and the 4-6kHz gaming boost gives it a clear advantage for gaming use. The Castor Pro has interesting tuning switches, but the XYRAA is more focused and coherent.
CCA XYRAA vs Tangzu Wan’er
The Wan’er is warm, smooth, and made for music lovers who want a relaxed listening experience. The XYRAA is more energetic, more exciting, and significantly better for gaming. Different audiences entirely.
CCA XYRAA vs Moondrop Chu 2
The Chu 2 offers a clean, neutral-ish sound that’s pleasant and inoffensive.
