Headphone Review: RHA CA200

RHA | Over-Ear Headphones | $ 29.99

RHA may not be the most known company within the US, but their mission of delivering good quality at a low price-point is shown in their CA200 over-ear headphones. Coming in at 30 dollars, this is the base-line offering from RHA. Although it is impressive for the price point, there is a little more to be wanted.

Specifications

Driver: 40 mm Mylar
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 113 dB
Impedance: 32 ohms

In the Box

RHA CA200 Headphones
Headphone Cable

For 30 dollars, I don’t expect much to come in the box.

Design

The CA200s are offered in two different flavors, black and white. They offer a glossy plastic body that has a nice glare to it and is attractive overall. Their small body doesn’t make them look obtrusive or flamboyant. However, they remain beautiful in their own way from a distance. Up close, you’ll find that the glossy surface becomes a fingerprint magnet. A single strip goes around the entire headband leading up to the RHA branding on either edge of it. The entire design is flashy, but also subtle at the same time. Overall though, I’m very pleased with the overall design.

The design of the RHA is very glossy and shiny.

Design: ★★★★½

Audio

These RHAs offer a classic V-shape in terms of sound signature. The bass and treble is boosted while the mids remain warm with a bit of sweetness. It’s not tuned to perfection, but it is still enjoyable nonetheless.

Bass

The low end on the CA200s is focused towards the lower-mid bass. This offers a big impact and slam. The end result is a more boomy sound that offers good depth. The depth leads to wonderful textures, despite being a bit solid, that are shown beautifully in your music. The CA200s do, however, lack that mid-bass balance with the rest of the spectrum as the lower bass overshadows them a bit.

Bass: ★★★★½

Mids

The midrange on the CA200s is warm and inviting. Despite this, clarity within the instruments not only is intimate, but very clear. Detailing, on the other hand is at a bit of a loss. Timbre is one of the areas that this headphone does excel well in. The vocals have a deep lushness in them, but also extend well to create great dynamics and sweetness. They, however, do have a tendency to be more sibilant than they need to be. Sound stage is on the larger end of the spectrum, partly due to the V.

Mids: ★★★★

Highs

The high end has a well-controlled, soft sparkle to it. It extends well into the higher octaves without problem. That said, energy is at an all time high with these, but still remains fatiguing. Sibilance is nowhere to be heard. There is a slight loss of micro-detailing though. Clarity is good throughout, as is separation. Overall, the highs aren’t fatiguing, despite being boosted, and actually are an overall joy to listen to.

Highs: ★★★★½

Audio: ★★★★½

Build

If I were to name one part of the headphones that was disappointing, it would have to be the build. Even at 30 dollars, I’ve seen headphones with build quality light years ahead of the CA200s. No case or pouch is provided which leaves them even further vulnerable.

Outside the padding, everything on these is plastic. The plastic doesn’t have a quality feel to it and actually feels a little fragile. The hinges and sliders are all matted plastic. Basically, the housings are light, but don’t feel strong by any means, which does give me a scare.

The housings are made entirely of plastic.

The headband is made of the same plastic that is used in the housing. Once again, weaker, not the strongest I’ve used by any means. There is a good flexibility to the headband which helps a little bit. Like the housings, the word fragile is all I can think with these. They aren’t a piece of glass, but feel very weak nonetheless.

Like the housings, the headband utilizes the same plastic that’s in the housings.

The cable does give the build a big step up. The cable itself is a thinner, but strong, braided cable. Tangling is non-existent with them as well, always a plus there. Although I’d rather it be a little stiffer, it’s still tough enough to last.

The fabric, braided cable is an upside to the rest of the materials used on the headphones.

The headphone jack and connectors bring it back down. The straight connector is small, and doesn’t have that quality feel to it. The strain reliefs are tiny in size, and look as if they tear a little easily. They are flexible, but offer no resistance to movement. The jacks themselves are gold plated which helps fight corrosion.

The headphone jacks are not the best, at least they are gold plated.

Build: ★★½

Comfort

Although I feel the build needed some fixing, the light plastics used do play a positive roll when it comes to comfort. These are probably one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve worn to date. The padding is nice and soft throughout. Break in periods are basically non-existent as well. Their lightweight design allows users to keep them on for hours. I really can’t say much more, they are really just comfortable.

The padding all around is thick, soft, and oh-so comfortable.

Comfort: ★★★★★

Value

These headphones can be had for 30 dollars on Amazon (through RHA). For the price, they offer a stellar sound, excellent comfort, and a flashy design that is a bit above its price range. The build is what turns me away from these though as it’s an Achilles heal, and a bad one at that. If you can get through that though, the rest of the package remains strong.

Value: ★★★★

Final Thoughts

I feel that RHA did a fine job on the majority of the CA200s. Outside the materials used, I feel strongly that the sound, comfort, and design is one that will be able to keep sales going. For 30 dollars, they do offer a well balanced package overall.

I’d like to thank Isabel for the review sample.

Overall Score

RHA CA200

† All prices are in US currency.
This review was written by the iFans.com Review Team. Cumulative scores are rounded to the nearest half or full star.
This accessory, product, or app was received as a sample. Thanks Isabel for the product sample.

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