Short answer: the KZ Saga Balanced. It ranks #734 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $25.99; the CCA CSN ranks #818, rated 3.5/5, at $25.99. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The case for the KZ Saga Balanced: The Balanced tuning of the very cheap KZ Saga, a single dynamic IEM in a zinc alloy shell. The catch: Bass sits about 2.8 dB above target, a bass heavy balance.
What the CCA CSN does well: Across six hobbyist measurements on squig.link, bass runs about 2 dB above target with sub-bass only 1.4 dB short at 30 Hz, giving a warm, full low end that suits pop and electronic music. The catch: A 6.9 dB dip near 3.4 kHz sets voices back, while a 5.5 dB peak at 8.1 kHz can make cymbals and sibilants splashy, a V-shaped balance that will not suit neutral tastes.
Buy the KZ Saga Balanced. It is rated higher for sound quality than the CCA CSN at the same price, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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The Balanced tuning of the very cheap KZ Saga, a single dynamic IEM in a zinc alloy shell.
Amazon $25.99 eBay
Across six hobbyist measurements on squig.link, bass runs about 2 dB above target with sub-bass only 1.4 dB short at 30 Hz, giving a warm, full low end that suits pop and electronic music.
Amazon $25.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| KZ Saga Balanced | CCA CSN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25.99 | $25.99 |
| Ranked | #734 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #818 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 1 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 67 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.06 dB standard deviation | 2.64 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.76 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Impedance | - | 22.5 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 112 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | - | 20Hz - 40kHz |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the KZ Saga Balanced from audioamigo, fernandagunsan and koi; the CCA CSN from aftersound, bedrock, melatonin, precog, pw and vortexreviews, all via squig.link.
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