CCA Phoenix VS Kiwi Ears Belle

Youtube Video Summary

$30 budget set with a surprisingly solid build: a metal faceplate for added durability, a light, comfortable shell that isolates well, and a flat 2-pin socket for easy cable swaps. The included tips are a fair assortment, and the stock cable—3.5 mm, soft on skin, non-microphonic, chin slider, and clear L/R markers—feels perfectly fine for the price. Aesthetics are simple and clean, and overall fit and finish inspire confidence.

Sonically, Belle shares DNA with Kiwi Ears Cadenza but shifts slightly: a touch more mid-bass for extra warmth and punch, a quick driver with good detail and pleasing treble for the tier. The trade-off is a mildly U/V-shaped balance where the midrange can sit a bit behind on complex mixes—vocals may feel slightly scooped with the occasional boxy/nasal hue and potential fatigue on treble-forward tracks. On graphs this presents as a bass shelf with elevated upper mids/air, yielding a fun, engaging listen with decent extension. Versus peers: more agreeable tonality than many at the price; very close to Cadenza (Belle’s upper treble is less scratchy and staging/fine grain feel a touch better), while sets like Tanchjim Bunny lean flatter/more neutral and 7Hz Zero sits calmer through the mids. As a value pick now, Belle earns a full recommendation; existing Cadenza owners may not find a dramatic upgrade and might consider stepping up to something like K4 instead, but for first-time buyers Belle is a fun, cohesive update in Kiwi’s budget line.

Youtube Video Summary

CCA Phoenix marks a fresh start under ND Audio with a polished metal shell, normal 2-pin socket, improved accessories, and a budget LCP single dynamic driver. On the graph it rides above the Harman target from the upper mids through treble, which reads bright at higher volume; low-volume listening is more agreeable. The driver quality is the story: fast, controlled, and unusually clean for the price, and with a touch of EQ it shows notably better clarity and composure.

Bass is a tilted profile with less sub-bass and a modest mid-bass lift, giving a tight, bouncy punch that suits pop, EDM, and hip-hop. The leaner shelf reveals the mids with good separation and minimal bloom, while the treble extends strongly but is too energetic in the 3–7 k region, flattening stage at louder levels. Trim the 3–20 k region by about 2 dB and staging gains dimension and imaging snaps into place. As a sub-30 USD set for tinkerers, Phoenix is a standout driver held back by hot tuning out of the box.

Youtube Video Summary

Kiwi Ears Belle aims straight at listeners who want a warm, bassy and extremely smooth presentation around the $50–60 mark. The low end is the main event here: there’s plenty of impact, thickness and rumble, giving the sound a rich, weighty character that can feel almost Diablo-like but with a bit more vocal presence. Up top, the treble and upper mids are very tame with basically no peaks, so vocals and highs stay relaxed and non-fatiguing even over longer sessions.

That relaxed top end comes with trade-offs in technical performance. The Belle doesn’t really push out much treble sparkle, the vocals stay smooth rather than crisp, and the overall presentation can lack that wow factor in detail and air. With so much low end in the mix, separation and transients take a slight hit, and sets like the KZ Zenith, Aüra Ultras and Clean are described as clearly more capable when it comes to raw resolution and definition at a similar price point.

From a value standpoint, Kiwi Ears Belle is not the default choice for detail chasers or technical heads, especially with stronger performers nearby in the price bracket. Where it makes sense is for those who want an extra-warm, thick, very bass-forward IEM that stays ultra-smooth and easy on the ears, with decent scaling but no sharpness. In that context, Belle comes across as a solid, cozy option—especially if picked up on sale.