Short answer: the CCA PLA13, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #422 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.3/5, at $88; the BASN Bmaster ranks #429, rated 2.0/5, and costs $91.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 450 in-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Intuaura Reference 2019 instead, ranked #5 at $34.99.
What the CCA PLA13 does well: A 13.2mm planar magnetic driver at 16 ohms and 100 dB sensitivity makes it easy to drive straight from a phone. Watch for: The top octave is pushed hard, with air about 9.3 dB above target and a 9 dB peak near 10.7 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance can turn splashy and fatiguing.
The case for the BASN Bmaster: The hybrid driver setup pairs two dynamic drivers with a balanced armature, and the wired connection means no battery or pairing to manage. The tradeoff: Presence from 3 to 6 kHz runs about 8.8 dB under target, with a 9.5 dB dip near 4 kHz, so vocals and guitars lose bite and sound recessed.
Buy the CCA PLA13. It is rated higher for sound quality than the BASN Bmaster and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| CCA PLA13 | BASN Bmaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $88.00 | $91.99 |
| Ranked | #422 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #429 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 53 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 49 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.19 dB standard deviation | 3.69 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 1 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 13.2mm planar magnetic | 2 x dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for CCA PLA13:
- KZ ZAS vs CCA PLA13
- CCA PLA13 vs Sennheiser IE 4
- CCA PLA13 vs Zero Audio Duoza ZH-DWX10
- Sennheiser IE 4 vs BASN Bmaster
- Zero Audio Duoza ZH-DWX10 vs BASN Bmaster
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
CCA PLA13: $88.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A 13.2mm planar magnetic driver at 16 ohms and 100 dB sensitivity makes it easy to drive straight from a phone. Across eleven hobbyist measurements on squig.link both sub-bass and bass sit about 3.4 dB above target and extend fully to 20 Hz, which suits listeners who want a bassy, warm profile with plenty of rumble.
Cons: The top octave is pushed hard, with air about 9.3 dB above target and a 9 dB peak near 10.7 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance can turn splashy and fatiguing. A 6.3 dB dip near 6.9 kHz sits right below that peak, making the treble uneven rather than smoothly bright. The iBasso IT01 rates higher and costs less.
Full CCA PLA13 review and specifications →
| Released | 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.19 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 13.2mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 53 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 177 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.99 |
| Peak | 6,104 Hz | +5.3 dB | 1.40 |
| Peak | 775 Hz | +2.9 dB | 1.35 |
| Peak | 2,329 Hz | -3.1 dB | 3.29 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -10.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,390 Hz | +3.5 dB | 1.15 |
| Peak | 3,939 Hz | +1.8 dB | 4.32 |
| Peak | 64 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.33 |
| Peak | 4,998 Hz | -2.3 dB | 5.93 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
BASN Bmaster: $91.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: The hybrid driver setup pairs two dynamic drivers with a balanced armature, and the wired connection means no battery or pairing to manage. In HypetheSonics’ measurement bass sits about 2.6 dB above the Harman target and sub-bass is close to target, so the tuning suits listeners who want a warm, bass-forward sound. It also rates higher than the 1MORE Quad Driver at a lower price.
Cons: Presence from 3 to 6 kHz runs about 8.8 dB under target, with a 9.5 dB dip near 4 kHz, so vocals and guitars lose bite and sound recessed. Treble and air are also down by roughly 3.7 dB and 8.1 dB, which leaves cymbals dull and the overall sound closed in. The preference score of 49 is well below what most listeners prefer.
Full BASN Bmaster review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.69 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 1 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 2 x dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,536 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.95 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -4.1 dB | 0.82 |
| Peak | 1,707 Hz | -5.4 dB | 1.07 |
| Peak | 4,911 Hz | +1.8 dB | 0.18 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,135 Hz | -3.6 dB | 5.21 |
| Peak | 9,859 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.95 |
| Peak | 5,469 Hz | +1.4 dB | 4.91 |
| Peak | 62 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.03 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons