KiwiEars Astral

Craftsmanship: The Astral sports a sleek 3D-printed resin shell and comes in two vibrant colors: blue and yellow. Its faceplates are sprinkled with iridescent flakes, giving each pair a unique and eye-catching look.

Comfort: The Kiwiears Astral offered me comfort for long listening sessions even above 4 hours, with a secure fit that stays in place without causing discomfort. They also provide above-average passive noise isolation, making them a great choice for use in noisy environments like the bus and a cafe or restaurant. The shell is smooth and rounded in shape and should fir everyone well.

Accessories: The Kiwiears comes with a pleather case that’s noticeably smaller than its competition and barely fits the IEM and cable. It has a set of tips and replacement filters that is basically it. The Astral disappointed me with its lack of accessories at this price point.

Sound Impressions: The KiwiEars Astral deliver a warm, blissful low-end extension, and despite the deep sub-bass rumble and punchy mid-bass kick, they have a speedy decay and immaculate control. This keeps the midrange clean, free from muddiness or any trace of distortion. It just sounds natural and reminds me of listening to a good shelf system with Sub and full range speakers.

The Midrange on the Astral is well placed with good separation and an almost neutral presentation, while not overly detailed it is highly clear and smooth / detailed with a decent amount of note weight and both male and female are equally presented and have enough energy to be enjoyable.

The treble of the Astral is nicely extended, with no harshness or unevenness. It feels perfectly balanced, offering a gentle brightness and a pleasant touch of air and sparkle. There is a natural crispness and above-average detail, all without any splashiness or sharp peaks.

The soundstage on the Astral is fairly wide but lacks a bit in depth and height. While it’s not holographic or massive, it would still be great for gaming. The imaging is well done and there is enough accuracy in its soundstage to be engaging in my opinion.

In a nutshell:

The KiwiEars Astral is a well-tuned IEM with a pleasant, moderately technical character, making it a highly enjoyable and versatile choice for most listeners.

Ziigaat Horizon

Specifications:

Driver Type: 1DD (10 mm biological diaphragm) + 2BA (Knowles 30262-163) + 2 Planar (custom composite dual planar drivers).

Frequency Response: 20Hz-35kHz.

Sensitivity: 102dB.

Impedance: 24Ω.

THD: 0.55%.

Jack Connector: Interchangeable 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL.

Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.

Cable Length: 1.2m.

Starting Price: 329$.

Let us start with the opening of the product, the packaging of all the Ziigaat product in the price range are similar. Good packaging with adequate information on the back. Inside one finds the Horizon then a box with all the accessories including a large case, inside the case smoke and clear tips in 3 different sizes and a set of foam tips, the cable and its two adapters 3.5mm and 4.4mm. The tips are very similar in sound profile, so I’m not sure why they are included and not a set of wide and narrow bore instead. The cable is well made but is meager compared to the others I have used in this price range. For example, both the KiwiEars Astral and Punch Audio Martilo have a much thicker and better-looking cable included with them. It seems every Ziigaat seems to skimp on cable quality at $300+ range as for the case I personally like it because it can fit a small DAP or dongles along with the IEM.

Build wise most of my Ziigatt collection is very similar, medical grade resin with smooth rounded edges the exception to the rule is the newer Ziigaat Odyssey 2 that uses a metal body but still has that familiar look. I found the Horizon to be excellent at isolation with the medium stock clear and smoke tips, I don’t care much for foam. It was comfortable and did not bother me even after a day’s use.

I know looking at the graph the whole ziigaat line look very similar but there are big differences in each one as well as similarities.

The Ziigaat Horizon sound impressions:

Bass wise the Horizon is the quality of the bunch with an impact both deep but also detailed. Akin to a well-placed studio monitor, by far not anemic but at the same time not anywhere Bass head levels. Mild warmth and incredible speed make the Bass both enjoyable and tactile. It is more towards a well-controlled quality Bass experience than say the Kiwiears Astral with its super impactful deep wide subwoofer style warm bass.

The Midrange on the Ziigaat is more of a natural yet transparent tuning, the lowers do not touch the mids at all making them have just enough body in the lower and plenty of air in-between instruments to relish every detail there, vocals are perfectly placed just Infront of the instruments without being right in your face. There are good separation and clarity throughout, and the emotion can be heard from both male and female vocals equally.

The Highs of the Horizon are crisp and airy with a delicate detail that sounds very open and natural without the harshness and uneven spikes of some IEM in this range.

The Soundstage of the Ziigaat Horizon is amazing it is quite wide offering immaculate imaging and fine details not bogged down by busy recordings. There is both a good feeling of depth, Hight and wide-open space that feels immersive and holographic. This is probably the best stage from a ziigaat so far.

In a Nutshell:

The Ziigaat Horizon is a rare IEM offering both competent technicalities and wonderful synergy it is highly enjoyable as long as you know what to expect. No for Bass and Treble focused listeners, yes for everyone interested in detail and enjoyability!

Oneodio StudioMax1

Let us start with the packaging, its big and gives one that premium feeling, inside one finds the Studio Max1 sitting in there waiting for me to use it with enthusiasm, there is also a strange little box thing, it is the Oneodio M1 transmitter giving the Studio Max1 an ultra-low latency performance to its already great Bluetooth and wired capabilities. You will also get a long cable with both a 1/4 and 3.5mm end, a smaller 3.5 to 3.5mm with a full-sized adapter and a USB- C to A cable as well as a pouch that turns into a small backpack.

Oh yes and the simple but cool M1 low latency transmitter.

I put them on and began listening, the pads are super plush, and clamping force is light even on my big head. construction is mostly plastic like their other headphones but solid and no creaking or noises could be heard. There’s metal under the headband, but it’s also nicely padded.

My first listening was with the Bluetooth, and I was blown away.

I’ve been impressed with a few Bluetooth headphones before, but this one really caught me off guard. Honestly, I was expecting a bass-heavy, V-shaped tuning.

The Studio-Max1 delivers a rich, tight, and punchy low end with impressive clarity and impact. Both the sub-bass and mid-bass have great speed and texture, never lingering too long. It’s not often I get such satisfying control and slam.

Bass is forward and also wide, akin to a nice set of floor speakers in a small room.

The midrange has a slightly warm yet balanced, almost neutral presentation, with excellent forward vocals. Both male and female voices sound natural, carrying good body and emotion.

The Treble has a good amount of air and sparkle but is smoother in its tuning with no sharp edges. Still, it sounds great and I can hear each instrument with good clarity and spacing.

The SM1 surprised me with its very well-done technical Bluetooth performance, it is not an open back audiophile headphone but compared to the masses of V-shaped or Harman wireless it sounds more focused even if it’s still very fun and enjoyable. Soundstage is vast and has good depth as well with accurate placement and space.

Wired the SM1 loses a little stage and gained more bass but ultimately there basically the same tuning just with slightly less brightness and air in the presentation making it more Harman with Bass forward.

The list of features includes the M1 it gives the SM1 a slightly less bright sound but very close to the original.

The M1 boast an ultra-low latency (20ms)

The Studio Mx1 features Bluetooth 5.3 for easy pairing with phones, tablets, and PCs. It also comes with 3.5mm and 6.35mm wired cables for use with traditional audio devices. Boasting an impressive 120 hours of playtime in Bluetooth mode and 50–60 hours with the dongle, it’s built for extended listening. It is also certified for Hi-Res Audio and LDAC, with LC3 decoding support for lossless wireless transmission. Experience exceptional wireless listening and Dual-Mic ENC Clear Call – Dual-Mic ENC intelligently separates your voice from background music or crowd noise making it ideal for taking calls near or in crowded places.

In a nutshell: The Oneodio StudioMax 1 is a particularly unusual Wireless/ Wired set of headphones. both useful for DJ work, music enjoyment and games or movies. a good well-rounded device providing great sound with comfort as well.

Simgot SuperMix 5

So, let’s talk about what’s in the box, build and package.

Inside one finds the super mix, a better case, two sets of tips in sizes small to large a good cable and the adapters both single ended 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm the package itself is very similar to the original only purple now instead of green. I found the fit snug in my ears, and I usually don’t usually have many issues with IEM even super chunk KZ AS24 pro. isolation was super good as I couldn’t hear much on a busy Bus with them on, I wore them the entire day with the stock tips and without discomfort.

Let’s talk about the equipment used because it has change drastically since I started this year’s reviews.

Before I was really chaotic picking random stuff depending on my mood or what was just in to review. Now I like to use the same equipment give or take a few things. I do not use Bluetooth for testing unless the item is Bluetooth only, I feel even with LDAC the sound is changed too much. I don’t use EQ or aftermarket tips and cables testing as well, because the product is sold with its own. My reviews are stock only, after I’m done I will of course experiment and fine tune things to my liking. I used the ifi Valkyrie, the SMSL DS20, the Fiio KA13, Tempotec V3 Blaze and the Tempotec V1 for this review. For some after thoughts I used the Fiio CP13 cassette player and the DM15 CD player and Onn DVD player to bolster my opinion and for music enjoyment.

My Files are mostly WAV, DSD, Flac and some higher MP3 files but I do like to stream music when out if possible. While Rock, EDM, Jazz and Metal are old favorites, but I listen to a vast and eclectic list of music types depending on my mood. Everything from Taylor Swift to Herbie Hancock and Slipknot to Dwight Yoakam.

So, let’s talk about the sound. To me music is so much like coffee so many IEM like so many distinct flavors and rich notes of different coffee beans from around the world. The Simgot SM5 is akin to a rich smooth Jamaican Blue mountain coffee with its richness and smoothness.

Sound Impressions:

We will start at the Bottom and work our way up as usual. The Bass on the SM5 is not an overpowering monster as is with some of my favorite IEM, it falls into the lightly lifted Subregion with a mild but speedy Mid-Bass impact, and this is fine because it is less fatiguing for a long listening session and I like neutral also depending on what I’m listening too as well.

The Bass is fine for every type of music, but Bass fans might find it a little subdued and calm compared to say the Punch Audio Martillo. Still there is good texture and it sounds quite natural and pleasant to this one’s ears.

The Midrange on the SuperMix 5 is very clear with low distortion and no bleed interruption from the Bass. While the notes are not as richly bodied as some, they do have good energy and some subtle warmth. Vocals are placed in front of the instruments and perhaps even the stage in the grand scheme of things. I didn’t find them shouty just crisp and less harsh compared to the SM4, they seem much safer tuned but just as enjoyable. There is less space between the instruments here but none the less it is good. I think in general the SM4 was more critical and the SM5 is more musical and enjoyable or at least in the long run.

The Treble is fairly simple to be explained. It is speedy with a nice smooth but natural overall performance; there is a fair amount of air and brilliance up top without the spiky and harshness of a overextended boost. I can hear the crashing, and it’s so quickly dissolved with a good recording one hears everything without sharp edges that some IEM have. Not good for the treble heads but the sensitive to treble will like this one, I think.

On the Technical side the SM5 is a bit less than its predecessor. With the Width not overly large, just above an average width but wide by many standards, it does have excellent Depth and Hight with a spot on imaging and could work for casual gaming.

In a nutshell:

The Simgot SuperMix 5 is a different IEM compared to the SM4 and while both are great, we should take into account what we are looking for in a IEM especially at the price range. I found it to be a very musical, warm and enjoyable set I could keep in my rotation permanently.

Periodic Audio Nitrogen

Transducer Diaphragm: Cotton-based paper

Transducer Surround: PEEK polymer

Transducer Frame: 316 Stainless Steel

Transducer Magnet: N48H Grade Neodymium

Enclosure Body: Tritan™ copolyester

Protective Grille: 316 Stainless Steel

Bonding Compound: Cyanoacrylate Adhesive

Sealant Compound: Polyvinyl Acetate

Mounting Tips: Medical Grade Silicone and Urethanes

Connector: IDEEL 2.5mm TS compatible connector (tip hot, sleeve ground)

Performance Specifications:

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 25 kHz

Impedance: 16 Ohms nominal

Sensitivity: 99 dB SPL at 1mW in ear

Power Handling: 200 mW continuous

Peak SPL: 119 dB

THD: Less than 0.7% THD at 1mW

Those not familiar with Periodic will find the unique style cable and dual 2.5mm connection a little odd, but according to them it is more robust than two pin and MMCX. The package includes the Nitrogen, a metal tin carrying case, both a full-size adapter and an airplane adapter. The barrel shape of the Nitrogen is chucky but provided a decent seal and comfort.

I found the Nitrogen to be much different sound wise compared to the others I own like the Magnesium and Beryllium; those were more towards a V-shaped and more robust in the lowers.

The Nitrogen comes in much more refined and neutral The Bass is not anemic by any means just more linear in its presentation with a less emphasized punch. There is good speed and details.

The Midrange on the Nitrogen can be clear and with a mild warmth and more intimate in its vocals but still placement is realistic.

Treble has air and mildly sparkles but is not harsh or over energetic. Its safe and detailed.

The technicals are good, soundstage is very accurate but not wide or deep, just natural like sitting in a small room listening to monitors on your desk.

Ear Acustic Audio STA-Hi-End

Specification:

Driver Configuration: 10mm Ultra Clear Analysis Dual Magnetic DLC Diaphragm + 6mm Composite Diaphragm Dynamic Coil Unit

Sensitivity: 110dB

Impedance: 30 ohms

Frequency Response Range: 10-30,000Hz

Wire Specification: 0.78mm Dual Pin Oxygen-Free Copper and Silver-Plated Wire Mixed Weave, 1.20m

Inside the Box:

1 x EarAcoustic Audio STA Hi-End Series

2 sets of wide and normal bore ear tips with 3 pairs each

2 core cable

Hard shell carrying pouch

User Manual

Ear Acoustic audio is TFZ, a company I once was a big fan of.

Opening the rather large box one finds the very nice-looking IEM and a big round case, included like above is the tips and the cable and documentation.

The shape reminds me of the great KBear Diamond from the past. I found it fit my ears well and provided good isolation and comfort.

Sound wise I find it very similar to the other EAA I tested the STA-K, I think this one offers a little finer tuning and details, but both are fun.

The Bass of the Hi-end is well delivered with a nice impact and minimal distortion. I find both Sub and Mid Bass well implemented and akin to a nice set of full range speaker with a sub. The Bass is nicely textured, and Sub is a small distance from the mId making the MidBass stand out in clarity. Speed is average and there is little bloating to me.

The Midrange of the STA is amazing; it has little to no recession despite this being a bass set. Vocals stick out for being well bodied and rich/ smooth like silk. Both Male and Female vocals are very pleasant and sound quite natural.

The Treble of the STA HE is energetic and has a nice crisp presentation with decent air and openness. Instruments a clearly head and it has good separation.

The Technical side of the IEM is presented above average with a moderately wide soundstage and a little more height than depth. imaging and accuracy in general are good.

In a nutshell: The Ear Acoustic Audio (TFZ) is a well-rounded Bass driven IEM with good performance for cost and it looks fancy too!

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Punch Audio Portazo

The punch audio IEMs are synonymous with Bass The Portazo is not unique in this manner rather a further evolution of the gentleman’s Bass cannon. Inside the package is the units with small medium and large tips in a smoke silicon and the same in foam. The case is large and roomy and could fit a small dongle or BT receiver. The cable is very similar to its much more expensive sibling and also modular something I like very much.

Isolation was excellent with the stock tips for me, I prefer the silicone, and the medical grade resin was comfortable for all day use.

Sound-wise, the Punch is similar to the Martilo, but the bass feels better delivered on the new one, with more energy in the upper range.

Sound Impressions:

The Punch Audio Portazo delivers a robust low-end impact thanks to its impressive hybrid internals. The sub-bass is impactful and well-textured, while the mid-bass is punchy with good speed and power, though it slightly trails behind the sub-bass and lacks the ultra-fast response some music genres demand. It shines with classic rock and jazz but struggles a bit with speed metal. Overall, the bass is satisfying for most listeners, though hardcore bass heads seeking deeper, more detailed lows may want more. The midrange is as expected for a set with strong sub-bass: warm, lush lower mids that sound decent but recessed, with male vocals carrying richness and body but lacking energy. Female vocals fare better, with a lift in the upper mids giving them more forwardness and brilliance. Depending on the source, the mids can sound quite good, with minimal bass bleed compared to other bass-heavy IEMs, though some still remains. The treble is smooth yet present, not the most open or airy but offering good detail and a natural, controlled sound. It’s a safe tuning that suits the unit well, though a touch more sparkle would be welcome. The soundstage and technical performance sit slightly above average for a V-ish or U-ish tuning, though imaging and width are just average for the price. Not ideal for gaming, but solid for most music.

In a nutshell:

The Punch Audio Portazo is an enjoyable set with stellar build quality, nice accessories, and a fun, engaging sound.

Ziigaat Arcanis

The ZiiGaat Arcanus is a universal IEM priced at $399.00, featuring a hybrid setup with dual 10mm dynamic drivers and five Knowles balanced armature drivers in a 4-way configuration.

Inside the box is a simple yet adequate amount of accessories to get started. You get a case, a non-balanced cable, a set of silicon tips in 3 sizes and one set of foam tips and some replacement filters. The Arcanis is a little older and has the old-style case. The build quality is as expected beautiful looking faceplates with a nice rounded medical grade resin body.

I found the comfort to be perfect and the isolation with the stock tips to be excellent. I personally would have liked a balanced option for a flagship.

Equipment used:

I used the SMSL DS20, ifi Gryphon and Valkyrie and the Tempotec March 3m and V3 blaze as well as the NiceHCK Octave dongle.

Specifications:

Driver Type: Dual dynamic driver with 10mm PET diaphragm, 2BA Knowles 29689, 2BA Knowles 32873, 1BA Knowles 33518.

Sensitivity: 106dB.

Impedance: 12Ω

THD: 0.42%.

Jack connector: 3.5mm SE gold-plated.

Capsule connection type: 2Pin 0.78mm.

Starting price: 399$.

Listening now to the Arcanis now for some time. I can say it is far more refined than the Arcadia and has a deeper bass response than the Crescent.

The dual subwoofers produce a amazingly detailed and unique bass profile that is wide and deep but so mature and balanced. Listeding to bass heavy music the Arcanis rumbles well with both control and authority, on faster metal songs the bass speed and fine tuning are apparent.

The Midrange on the Ziigaat is well done, a mild bleed perfectly acescents the lowers giving warmth to male vocals and instrument to create a nature lush sounding presentation while the uppers are slightly boosted to give energy to female vocals keeping thing balanced and natural. Vocal placement is slightly in front and perfectly clear.

The Treble on the Arcanis is almost neutral in its presentation with a mild lift but no spikes or harshness. The energy is well controlled but has good sparkle and air. Cymbals and other instruments sound detailed with enough crispness to be enjoyed.

The technical side of the Arcanis is immersive and accurate, it has a nice open soundstage with great separation and imaging at an almost reference level.

In a nutshell the Ziigaat Arcanis is a proper flagship offering a balance of great performance with high enjoyability, I personally like this one best out of my Ziigaat collection best.

Punch Aidio Martilo

Specifications / Technical Details

DRIVERS : 1 planar driver / 2 balanced armatures (Knowles RDE) plus 2x8mm dynamic drivers

SENSITIVITY : 100dB @ 1kHz

FREQUENCY RESPONSE : 10Hz-22kHz

IMPEDANCE : 9 Ω @ 1 kHZ

CABLE : 2-Pin 0.78 mm to 3.5mm/4.4mm (modular plugs)

1 Micro Planar Driver + 2 Balanced Armatures + 2 Dynamic Drivers,

priced around $329.

Okay let’s start with the packaging. Cool eye-catching graphic here on this first try of a brand I’ve never used before. The soft, smooth feel of the medical grade resin and guitar pick shaped shell are excellent for all day use as is the passive isolation with the provided tips. the case is large and fits everything nicely, while the cable is thick and modular it is coated well and doesn’t tangle easily, honestly one of the best cables I have seen in this price range. The provided tips are adequate and comfortable.

Testing, as always, starts with the same tracks and my go-to devices like the Tempotec V1, V3, V6, and March III, along with the iFi Gryphon, Valkyrie, SMSL DS20, SP200, and my collection of dongles. After the thorough testing phase, I’ll occasionally pair it with other equipment, and over time, I form my thoughts and opinions about the item.

Sound Impressions:

The Punch Audio Martilo presents with a robust lower impact from the wonderous hybrid internals. The Sub-Bass is impactful and well textured. MidBass is punchy and has a good speed and power but slightly falls behind the Sub in most instances and lacks a super-fast response needed for certain types of music. Although it was very good listening to classic rock and jazz its didn’t o so well with speed metal and the like. Still the Bass is good for all but the most decerning Bass Heads looking for a deeper and yet better detailed quality lower end.

The Midrange of the Martilo is as expected with a heavy and wide Sub response, warm and lush lower mids fall behind the music and sound decent but recessed, male vocals have body and a richness but lack energy. Female vocals sound a little better due to a lift in the upper midrange and sound more forward and brilliant. Depending on the source the midrange can sound pretty good as there is little bass bless compared to other heavy bass IEM but there is still some there.

The treble comes in smooth but not lacking, while not the most open and airy sounding extension there is a good amount of details there and things sound natural and tame. Its a safe tuning but works good for this unit, still I would have liked more sparkle up top.

Soundstage and overall technical performance is slightly above average for a V-ish maybe U-ish tuning but in this price-range, perhaps just average in overall imaging and width. Definity not good for gaming but decent for most music.

In a nutshell:

The Punch Audio Martilo is a enjoyable set with stellar build, good quality accessories and its very fun!

Ziigaat Odyssey2

Specifications:

Driver Type: 10mm second-generation bio-cellulose diaphragm dynamic driver, 2 Knowles 32873 balanced armature drivers, 1 Knowles 33518 balanced armature driver.

Frequency Response: 20Hz–25kHz.

Sensitivity: 105dB.

Impedance: 20Ω.

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.19%.

Jack Connector: interchangeable 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL.

Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.

Starting Price: $249.

Let me start by saying Ziigaat is a company that recently caught my eye, my first IEM from them was the Cinno a warm and slightly dark sounding IEM with unique and natural tunning. They’ve gone from great budget offerings to major flagships in just a short time. The company has been on of my new favorites for a short time now with brands like KiwiEars, Dunu and Punch Audio. The Box is adorned with satisfactory information and graphics. Inside is the OD2 , a very large case, the nice but thin modular cable, tips of various sizes and the 3.5mm- 4.4mm connectors. I would say the accessories are more than adequate.

The build is stellar with its metal shell and beautifully made faceplate. Comfort is as expected from a flagship and should fit almost everyone nicely. I found the passive isolation very good with the stock tips included.

Sound wise:

The lower end of the Odyssey-2 is profoundly delivered to my ears with precision and speed. The SubBass hits just right with a nice mix of texture and control, MidBass has the punchy vibe i am looking for without sacrificing the overall quality of the details. In short this is not a Bass cannon but rather the technical sniper shooting each hit to my eardrums with accuracy.

The Midrange on the odyssey starts with warmth and a gradual lift to upper brightness but don’t let this scare you, you won’t find any harsh shouty vocals getting in the way of enjoyment here at all. What this does is give you all the richness needed for male vocals to shine and the vivid female vocals to enjoy in one unit. It makes the mids have a nice tonal balanced feeling and keeps them natural and grounded.

The Treble of the Ziigaat is more towards relaxed and smooth with adequate air and sparkle, enough so to make you think there is more to it until it reaches the fast roll off. This makes it very safe for treble sensitive people and keeps your ears from harsh spikes and brighter equipment is still enjoyable with the OD2.

Technicals on the Ziigaat Odyssey 2 are impressive to say the least, well placed instruments with good details and separation, vocals in front of the instruments and a wide and immersive soundstage with great imaging top off the list of my likes.

The Ziigaat OD2 is a more mature V-shaped IEM than the Bass heavy original, very competent and safe tunning that doesn’t bore me is a hard task but its accomplished well here and I like almost everything about this one.