ZiiGaat Horizon Review: Like Staring Into The Sunrise

ZiiGaat is a well-known name in the ChiFi arena. They’ve been on an absolute spree of releases these last few months, and the latest addition to their lineup is out. The ZiiGaat Horizon is a new tribrid IEM featuring one dynamic, two balanced-armature, and two planar drivers. Its bright, raw sound signature and blistering upper-register performance are compelling properties for some listeners, but is the Horizon a worthy buy for you? Well, let’s get into it.

You can find the Horizon for sale on Linsoul, for $329.

About My Preferences: This review is a subjective assessment and is therefore tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind:

• My ideal sound signature would be one with competent sub-bass, a textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and an extended treble.
• I have mild treble sensitivity.

Testing equipment and standards can be found here.

The Big Picture

Pros:

• Strong technical performance, especially in the upper-register
• Substantive, deep bass
• Bright, resolute midrange
• Solid eartip selection
• Spacious case

Cons:

• Over-emphasized upper-mids
• Occasional sharpness
• Tangle-prone cable
• Hollow resin shells

Tech Specs

• Drivers: 1x dynamic, 2x balanced-armature (Knowles), 2x planar (composite)
• Impedance: 24Ω
• Sensitivity: 102dB
• Cable: 0.78mm 2-pin w/ modular (3.5mm, 4.4mm) termination

Sound Signature

The Horizon is a visceral, raw, and intense V-shaped IEM. Its bass is lifted and prominent, as is its upper-midrange. If fact, the Horizon’s upper-midrange has an almost-dominant presence, pushing vocals and higher-pitched instrumentation front-and-center. The Horizon’s treble is bright and energetic, but sits just below the upper-midrange in terms of emphasis.

Certain styles of music and mastering lead to intensely immersive experiences. Take the lonesome soundscape of Highland’s Apparition; Chevelle: texture and micro-detail abound, with the Horizon flawlessly capturing every slap of the pick on metallic guitar string, every rasp of fingers sliding on frets, and even the subtle frays in the vocalist’s performance. The Horizon’s formidable brightness and energy in the upper-midrange is its greatest asset under these conditions, allowing it compete with much pricier IEMs.

Busier tracks are also quite enjoyable on the Horizon, provided they maintain darker, warmer mastering styles. For example, Mantra by Bring Me The Horizon is not sharp at all, even at higher volumes and during high-hat-heavy sections. The Horizon’s strong substantive bass presence lends drums and bass guitars a sense of weight and authority, forming a concrete and dynamic presentation. No Way (Bassnectar Remix) is likewise bright, but not uncomfortable.

That said, there’s certainly tracks in my collection that are unfriendly-enough to demand that I listen at lower volumes. The vocals sizzle in Walk on Water; 30 Seconds to Mars, leading to discomfort at my normal listening level. Woman by Wolfmother is free from vocal sizzle, but features high-hats with quite a bit of bite — enough to make me want to drop the volume a tad. Foam eartips helped address this effect, but did not eliminate it.

And while my relationship with the Horizon’s upper-register is mixed, its lower-register suits my preferences quite well. Bass guitars are weighty and clear, thanks to the Horizon’s well-tuned lower-midrange and sub-bass. Electronic music is not just listenable, but enjoyable. The Horizon is capable of punching and rumbling, and does so in sufficient quantities to quench my thirst for bass on tracks like Reaching Out (Fred Falke Remix); Nero. The bass line’s “wall-of-sound” effect is rendered very well, allowing the Horizon to fill-out the sound-stage nicely. The deep drum-synced guitar-chugs in Sometimes You’re the Hammer, Sometimes You’re the Nail; A Day to Remember punch their way off of the Horizon’s drivers with weight and shape. The Horizon doesn’t produce the most-immersive reproduction of this track, but does so with both clarity and tactility.

Unboxing

The Horizon features ZiiGaat’s standard packaging. You can find very similar boxes for the Crescent, Luna, Odyssey 2, and more. That’s fine, though, as this style of packaging protects the IEMs pretty well.

Build

The Horizon features ZiiGaat’s standard resin shells. They’re hand-painted and decorated, then machine polished. The Horizon’s faceplate is visually-pleasing, and is stylistically-similar to its siblings.

The Horizon has metal nozzles, which is a relief. The alternative is plastic nozzles, and those are notoriously unreliable.

The top of the Horizon’s shells host its 0.78mm 2-pin sockets. They appear flush and seem to have been installed well. The back of the Horizon features a large mesh-covered vent to relieve internal pressure.

The Horizon’s cable is modular and features a 3.5mm and 4.4mm swappable termination. This cable lacks an affirmative locking mechanism, meaning it is held-on only by friction. This isn’t a very secure design and can lead to premature wear for those that handle their IEMs often. The cable itself is sleeved in a basic black plastic and is somewhat tangle-prone. A thicker, softer cable would do wonders for hand-feel, though ZiiGaat rarely deviates from this basic design.

Comfort

Comfort is a metric that relies heavily on factors influenced by your individual ear anatomy. Mileage will vary.

The Crescent is light and fairly average in terms of size. I was able to get many consecutive hours of comfortable listening from the Crescent using its stock clear eartips. The stock cable is fairly ergonomic and didn’t cause my ears any irritation. It also feature minimal microphonics, making the Horizon easy to use while moving around.

Accessories

Inside the box you’ll find:

• 3x Pairs standard silicone eartips
• 3x Pairs clear silicone eartips
• 1x Pair foam eartips
• 1x Semi-hard carrying case

This is an acceptable accessory package. I really like the clear silicone eartips, and run them on a few non-ZiiGaat IEMs as well. The foam eartips are basic, but usable for those that enjoy foams. The included carrying case is the standard ZiiGaat case does a good job protecting the IEMs. It resists crushing forces fine, and repels silts and dust.

The case is also spacious-enough to fit a full-sized portable DAC or compact DAP. I easily fit the HiFiMAN SuperMini and some eartips. The Hidizs AP80 Pro MAX, with its leather case equipped, could also fit, albeit with near-zero wiggle room.

Comparisons

Comparisons are selected solely based on what I think is interesting. If you would like me to add more comparisons, feel free to make a request in the comments below!

ZiiGaat Crescent

The Crescent is a cheaper hybrid ZiiGaat IEM coming in at $279. It has two dynamic and two balanced-armature drivers per side and lacks the Horizon’s treble-bound micro-planar drivers. The general recipe for the Crescent’s sound signature is the same as the Horizon’s, but the details are different.

The Crescent is brighter, but less-midrange focused. It has a cooler, less-prominent lower-midrange and a smoother, less-raw treble. The Horizon is much more intense, owing to its considerable upper-midrange emphasis. The Horizon’s treble is extremely detailed, and surfaces details a little-more easily than the Crescent in spite of its lesser emphasis. The trade-off, here, is that the Horizon sounds a little grittier and grainier. Both IEMs are sizzle-prone, but the Crescent is better-behaved on hotter-tracks than the Horizon is. The Horizon’s extra upper-midrange energy is more-tiring for my ears, even if it does yield some improved technical capabilities and micro-texturing. The Horizon has one-fewer dynamic driver but actually has a more-engaging and better-sculpted bass response than the Crescent. The Horizon’s mild increase in warmth pairs well with its healthier mid-bass speed, making it more-appealing for bass-laden tracks like Daydreamer; Flux Pavilion.

Choosing between the two IEMs is difficult for me, as I am sensitive to both of them. The Horizon is the more performant of the two, but costs and extra $60. If you’re not sensitive to midrange or treble sizzle, then the Horizon, in spite of its higher price-tag, is probably the way to go. Its improved bass response and phenomenal detail retrieval make it quite the spectacle. The Crescent is comparatively pedestrian, though listeners who prefer relaxed bass and mids may find it more appealing.

Xenns Mangird Tea Pro

The Tea Pro is an eight-driver hybrid featuring two dynamic and six balanced-armature drivers per side. It runs around $360, making it a bit more expensive than the Horizon. For the extra cash, you get metal shells, a bespoke cable, and a bigger accessory package. I’m a big fan of the Tea Pro’s build quality, and would like to see something similar on more future ZiiGaat models. The Horizon feels comparatively cheap in the hand, in spite of being so close in price.

Sound-wise, the Tea Pro is fairly close to the Horizon. Its upper-mids are less-emphasized and don’t have the same level of reckless energy that the Horizon has. The Horizon is brighter and maintains a more-dramatic upper-treble. The Tea Pro can, in rare cases, feel a little sharp — which is a far-cry from the Horizon’s more-consistent outbursts. The tradeoff here is that the Horizon better-captures metallic timbres and shimmery textures. The Tea Pro renders them, but doesn’t feel as life-like. The Tea Pro is a little warmer and has a broader, more-active mid-bass presence. The Horizon has a similar amount of bass, but doesn’t rumble with as much body as the Tea Pro. Electronic music is pleasant on both IEMs, but a little-more immersive with the Tea Pros.

My preference between the two is the Tea Pro. Metal shells, a nicer cable, and improved sonic comfort make for a more-enjoyable experience for me. The Horizon may have better upper-treble extension and a small lead in overall resolution, but that’s not a big-enough factor for me to look past its overly-energetic upper-register.

HiSenior Cano Cristales

The Cano Cristales is a 10-driver hybrid IEM that goes for about $400. It’s a proper V-shaped IEM with prominent bass, a recessed lower-midrange, and bright treble. Well, I say bright, but it really doesn’t sound bright compared to the Horizon. The Horizon is significantly more-energetic in the upper-midrange and upper-treble, only falling in line with the Cano Cristales around its lower-treble. This makes the Horizon sound “lean and clean”, but relatively tiring over extended listening sessions. The Cano is bassier and more-relaxed in the upper-register, making it quite easy to spend time with. The Horizon’s upper-treble and upper-mids dominate its sound signature, allowing it to surface certain textures more-easily than the Cano. That said, the Cano captures and renders them well and integrates them better into the mix. The Cano Cristales isn’t as raw and intense overall, making it sound smooth by comparison.

If you’re a basshead, you’ll also probably enjoy the Cano’s increased mid and sub-bass emphasis, as its kicks and rumbles harder than the Horizon. While the Cano Cristales does run you an extra $70, I think that the improvement in refinement is worth it for all but the most-dedicated treble-heads.

Kiwi Ears Astral

The Astral is a leaner, more-linear IEM featuring one dynamic and six balanced-armature drivers per side. It comes in at $300, making it slightly-cheaper than the Horizon. Both IEMs are bright, but the Horizon has a much-more prominent upper-midrange and lower-treble presence. The Astral has a somewhat artificial emphasis on its upper-treble, giving it a bigger sense of “sparkle”. The Horizon is more-intense than the Astral, and one-ups it on upper-register performance, eking-out a detail or texture that the Astral buries. The Astral has a slightly-warmer lower-midrange, but lacks follow-through in the lower-register thanks to its mid-bass tuck. The Horizon’s lower-register is more complete and significantly more-satisfying on drum-heavy tracks like F.Y.M; A Day to Remember. Electronic tracks, like Runaway (Yacht Club Remix); Galantis, likewise benefit from the Horizon’s improved mid-bass presence.

Between the two, I’m going with the Horizon. While I am sensitive to its upper-mids and treble, the Astral isn’t exactly comfortable to listen to either, thanks to its upper-treble spike. The Horizon better-aligns with my usual listening preferences and presents a more-flexible sound signature that is still perfectly-listenable for me at lower volumes.

Melody Wings Venus

The Melody Wings Venus is a newcomer to the IEM scene, but a strong performer nonetheless. It features one dynamic and three balanced-armature drivers and costs about $168. The Venus comes with 3D-printed resin shells and a metal nozzle, making it physically similar to the Horizon. It has a decent accessory package, but has a smaller case and lesser stock eartips. I like the Venus’s stock cable more than the Horizons, as it comes with a modular USB-C termination and feels better in the hand.

In terms of sound, the Venus is warmer and less-bassy than the Horizon. Its frequency-response is gently V-shaped, making it less-dramatic across the board. The Venus’s treble is sufficiently-bright to capture airiness, but doesn’t have the immense emphasis in the upper-treble that the Horizon does. This makes the Venus less prone to “sparkle”, but also less prone to sizzle. The Venus is overall much smoother, but at the cost of perceived (or perhaps actual) resolution and performance. The Horizon is bright and boisterous, thrusting detail and texture in my face, regardless of my sonic comfort. Those with less-sensitive ears will likely appreciate the Horizon’s immense performance and technical ability — but the Venus is much easier for me to listen to over time.

Conclusion

The Horizon is an aptly-named, bright IEM. Its tribrid driver configuration yields immense performance, but at the cost of sharpness. The Horizon’s habitual intensity makes it well-suited to those with ears not sensitive to treble or upper-midrange energy. While the Horizon may indeed be an improvement on the Crescent and some earlier ZiiGaat models, it still lacks the upper-register restraint I need for comfortable long-term listening. The Horizon’s underlying performance is all there — it just needs a gentler-disposition to make it fully-accessible for sensitive listeners like me.

Who This is For

• Treble-heads
• Those who want bright V-shaped sound signature
• Buyers who enjoy exotic driver configurations

Who This isn’t For

• Treble sensitive listeners
• Listeners seeking balanced upper-midrange emphasis
• Bassheads
• Those seeking reference-style sound

As always, happy listening!