To the Moon and Beyond

Ratings

Pros

• Great bass from balanced armature drivers.
• Practically reference-quality sound across all ranges.
• Very good treble, striking a great balance between energy level, brightness, sparkle, smoothness, musicality, delicacy, and finesse.
• Excellent technical level, obvious micro and macro detail without being a clearly analytical sound.
• Very good sense of texture.
• Wide, expansive soundstage, with a touch of effervescence, volatility, holographic and surrounding.
• Very good layering.
• Typical construction and design of the brand, but totally ergonomic and insulating from external noise.
• High-quality, oversized zippered case that protects the product very well.
• Modular cable with two interchangeable plugs: 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL.

Cons

• The bass doesn’t perform at its best in my very low frequency pure tone test, but this is typical for BA drivers. However, its performance in this test is very good for this type of driver.
• The cable could be even better for the price.
• The interior design of the zippered case is not the most user-friendly when it comes to placing the IEMs inside. In addition, the size is large for carrying around.

Purchase Link

https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-luna

Link to the Store

https://www.linsoul.com/

Introduction

It seems that ZiiGaat is now the brand that will take over as one of the most prolific companies this year. The ZiiGaat Luna are not the brand’s latest IEMS to hit the market; that honor goes to the ZiiGaat Crescent (2DD+2BA, $279), while the ZiiGaat x Hangout Audio Odyssey 2 (1DD+3BA, $249) are in the starting blocks. But back to the model in question, the Luna are full BA Studio Monitor IEMS with 6 drivers per capsule. They use two Sonion 39AY008 balanced armature drivers as subwoofers, two Knowles 32873 balanced armature drivers as midrange drivers, and two Knowles 33518 balanced armature drivers as tweeters. With this, the brand aims to achieve flat mids, powerful bass, and studio precision with fast transients and crisp details. Designed for studio engineers and performing artists, the Luna offers the precision of a studio monitor with fast transients, warm vocals, and accurate imaging for reliable reference in dense mixes. Tuned to ZiiGaat’s internal target, an 8dB filter at 250Hz delivers powerful bass, a flat midrange from 250Hz to 1kHz maintains the fidelity of vocals and instruments, and crisp highs add just the right amount of detail.
The 3D-printed medical-grade resin capsules house hand-matched drivers and detachable silver-plated OFC cables, while hand-molded front plates and rigorous testing ensure durability and boutique style.
The included 0.78mm 2-pin cable is made of silver-plated oxygen-free copper for noise-free transmission. Its detachable design increases the longevity of the IEMS and allows you to customize the configuration for comfort or style. As is the current trend for IEMS in this price range, the cable comes with a detachable plug mechanism that includes two terminations: 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL.
Let’s see what these new IEMS have to offer in this review.

Specifications

• Driver Type: 2xBA Sonion 39AY008 + 2xBA Knowles 32873 + 2xBA Knowles 33518.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-32kHz.
• Sensitivity: 103dB.
• Impedance: 26Ω.
• THD: 0.57%.
• Jack Connector: interchangeable 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
• Cable Length: 1.2m.
• Starting Price: $379.

Packaging

The ZiiGaat Luna comes in a medium-sized box measuring 167x141x66mm. The brand logo is printed in white ink on the top of the front of the box. Below this is a real photo of the two capsules on a wavy blue background, with the model name printed twice in white letters. The bottom of the box changes color to a brownish gray and contains the model name and a description of the model in white letters. The back follows the same pattern as the front. The information contained at the bottom of the front is now at the top. In the center is the brand logo. Below are the brand’s details, as well as those of the importers. On one side of the box are the model specifications and icons for the regulations it complies with. On the other side is the model description, a QR code, and another EAN13 code. After removing the outer cardboard, you can see a completely black box with the brand logo in the center in silver ink. The box opens like a book and the lid is protected by a black foam base. The capsules are in a foam mold lined with black cardboard on top. Underneath is another black cardboard box containing the rest of the accessories. The complete contents are as follows:

• The two ZiiGaat Luna earbuds.
• A set of transparent crystal silicone tips in sizes SxMxL.
• A set of gray crystal silicone tips in sizes SxMxL.
• A pair of foam tips.
• A cable with interchangeable 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL plugs with a 2-pin 0.78mm interface.
• Large light brown leather case with zipper.
• A warranty card.
• An instruction manual.

The zippered case, which looks like real leather, is worth mentioning. It has a long-pile velvet interior with a removable base that allows the capsules to be placed separately from the cable, while the other side has a mesh pocket for storing tips or the other plug. It is a large, high-quality case. Perhaps the positioning of the capsules on the base is not the most natural, but the base can be removed to make more space, even to store an extra cable. For my taste, it is quite large. But perhaps others think it is very suitable for the price. The cable has interchangeable plugs and four strands of OFC copper plated with black coating. It doesn’t look bad, but it may be a little short for the price. There are two sets of crystal-type silicone tips, which is quite good, and a single pair of foam tips, which is somewhat symbolic. Great case, adequate tips, average cable, no other accessories.

Construction and Design

Unsurprisingly, the ZiiGaat Luna are very similar to the Arcanis. The ZiiGaat Luna are made of 3D-printed medical-grade resin. They have a medium-sized semi-custom shape. The outer surface is shaped like the African continent and has a three-color glitter pattern: green in the center, blue on the edge, and a shiny touch on the other side. The brand logo in silver is located in the center. The rest of the capsules are black, with a relatively thick edge and a hole covered with a metal grille. The connection interface is fully integrated into the surface of the body. The inner face is ergonomic and has two subtle protrusions on the edge. The model name is inscribed in gold letters in the center of the face, along with the text “L250071” for the left capsule and “R250071” for the right capsule. The nozzles are metal, 4.3mm long, with a base diameter of 5.5mm and a crown of 6.2mm. The nozzles are protected by a metal grille.
The cable is also similar, but only in terms of the conductor, strands, and ear guides. It consists of four intertwined strands covered in black PVC. The plugs can be removed using a snap-fit mechanism. The cable terminal is female and consists of a metal cylinder with three rings and two thick grooves. Near the edge, there is a white ink triangle that serves as a reference for adjusting the other part. The base is made of black plastic with four small gold-plated holes. The connector piece is a cylinder of the same dark, metallic color with four flat parts around it for easy grip. One of them has the brand logo in white ink. Next to the edge there is also another white ink triangle to align with the other end. Interestingly, the triangles do not line up perfectly when the two halves are joined. Once the halves are joined, the triangle on the piece containing the cable disappears under the plug cover. Both plugs are gold-plated and have a custom-made translucent, whitish plastic cover. The splitter piece repeats the construction pattern of the plug cover, but is approximately half the length. The covers of the 2-pin interface connectors are also identical in construction. The 0.78mm connectors are gold-plated and mounted on two black plastic bases with a blue or red dot on the short side to indicate the channel and polarity. Both cables have transparent ear guides.
The pin is a metal disc with two holes through which the cables for each channel pass. It works perfectly and is very effective at maintaining the fit, as the disc is difficult to move and remains relatively fixed.
I repeat that the shape and construction of the Luna is classic for resin IEMS, with that typical pattern on the outer surface that varies depending on the brand and originality of the designers. It is an effective design that does not offer anything new, but it is highly proven and effective.
This time, the cable has interchangeable connectors, which is appreciated, but the assembly is only pressure-fitted. The conductors are soft and manageable. On this occasion, the manufacturer has indicated in the model description that it is made of oxygen-free copper plated with silver. It is better than on other occasions, due to these interchangeable tips, but I think there are better cables in other models of similar price.

Adjustment and Ergonomics

If the design and size of the capsules are the same as the Arcanis model, I will repeat the content of this section with a new assessment at the end. The capsules are not the largest, despite being relatively thick. The nozzles are rather short, but very well oriented, as is usually the case with this type of 3D-printed resin IEMS. The insertion is shallow and allows me to use my large, foam-filled silicone tips that I made myself. This gives me a complete, very occlusive fit, minimal movement, and great isolation. Both the shape and the design of the inner surface are very suitable for my morphology, and I don’t notice any discomfort even after hours of use. The softness of the protrusions on the edges of the inner surface barely touch my ears, and the comfort remains unchanged with prolonged use. A basic design, but with details that allow for excellent ergonomics.
The extra bonus is that the Luna comes with two sets of adhesive silicone tips. I tried filling the larger tips with foam, as I usually do, and thanks to this new, more adhesive material, the fit is longer lasting and more durable, as the tips stick to the skin as if they were glued on. This increases both comfort and insulation.

Sound

Profile

The ZiiGaat Luna headphones have a slight V-shaped profile with peaks located at the transition from sub-bass to mid-bass and another located in the upper midrange. However, it is a fairly balanced profile, as it moves between less than 10dB from 20Hz to 15kHz, with the horn gain being its peak, followed by subtly decreasing, extended, sustained highs, although also contained in their energy level. Finally, as is often the case with models whose bass is generated by balanced armature drivers, the bass is rounder, more extended towards the lower midrange, and with less emphasis on the sub-bass end. This V-shaped profile creates a dip in the transition from bass to lower midrange, resulting in a certain lightness and less foundation and body in this area. However, the balanced profile across virtually the entire sound spectrum makes it a fairly homogeneous whole in all areas, especially in the bass, upper midrange, and treble, resulting in a fairly complete presence in these areas, all with a blend of musical smoothness, refinement, and analytical and informative capabilities that blend together with ample elegance.

Bass

The ZiiGaat Luna uses two Sonion BA drivers for bass, specifically the 39AY008 model. As I often say, BA drivers are not the most suitable for reproducing low frequencies naturally and realistically, but they are effective, accurate, and fast. This is something that can be noticed in the very low frequency pure tone test. The 20Hz tone reveals completely audible behavior, with a clear undulating, oscillating, and vibrating character, which executes the sound above the reproduced frequency. There is hardly any sensory or physical component. As the frequencies increase, the vibratory/wave-like character decreases, mainly because the oscillation becomes faster and the vibration less perceptible, turning into a continuous noise. At 40Hz, a more natural, real, and realistic sound is achieved, while the negative vibratory sensation fades away.
Another negative point I find in the bass generated by BA drivers is the amount of air they move. A dynamic driver moves more air than a BA driver, which is why the bass is more physical, dense, and voluminous, as well as having more weight and punch. However, the Luna drivers are capable of generating a certain amount of air, a punch above neutrality, and a good sense of volume and space, which enhances the quality and quantity of their bass. With these properties, the low-frequency performance of the two 39AY008 drivers is more convenient, adequate, and realistic than expected.
The bass drums are extremely compact, dry, fast, with very low decay, and linger very briefly in the environment. As I said, they have a relatively good level of impact, which is why the bass drums have more than enough energy and punch. The simple bass drums are well represented across their entire frequency range, being very effective and distinctive with each one, although slightly colored. It is true that the bass lacks depth, darkness, density, body, and physicality, but it feels effective, with great resolution, speed, and very well defined.
In the dirty, complex, and unfiltered bass test, the Luna IEMS prove to be more solid, realistic, and effective than expected. The undulating/vibrating character is practically negligible and has little influence when reproducing these heavy and difficult passages. Beyond a slight coloration, the Luna’s response to these complex situations is always under control, generating well-defined, layered layers in line with reality, capable of following very heavy bass lines without going overboard. In addition, their sound, as I said, feels quite natural, clean, precise, balanced, fast, never forced, and quite full, which is undoubtedly quite an achievement for a FULL BA. Bordering on excellent.

Mids

With a slightly softened V-shaped profile, I expected a more distant midrange, which would have meant a lower score given my preference for a fuller, more complete midrange. It is clear that it is slightly recessed, but the sound is so clean and transparent in the midrange that its timbre is very true to life. It has a touch of brightness to make it sound slightly excited, and a touch of warmth to give it weight and poise at the bottom end. I repeat that in person, the first half of the midrange is not the protagonist, but it is not a thin range that sits at a medium distance. Rather, it is capable of resurfacing fully, very well defined, complete from its base to its harmonics, as well as subtly detailed, without artifice or any metallic character. The micro detail that can be appreciated in this part is excellent without losing an ounce of musicality and without any analytical or cold aspect to the sound. The Luna speakers are warmer in their detail and level of resolution than expected and much more attractive due to their highly informative and expressive smoothness, becoming sweet, mellow, and pleasant to my ears. And all this happens without the notes being rounded, but rather well-defined and distinct.
The Luna’s midrange is neither dark nor dull, something that is noticeable even with warm sources and/or recordings. The Luna’s upper midrange has just the right amount of excitement to revitalize the sound, conveying the necessary brightness and the most desirable level of transparency. As a result, the Luna’s midrange is very clear, separate, spacious, airy, dimensional, distinguished, defined, and endowed with a high level of resolution. The Luna’s stratification capacity is very broad, capable of generating a spacious, full midrange with great volume. Even the level of texture is more than remarkable, lending an even more pronounced realism and richness to recordings.
While the male voices lacked a certain amount of weight and physicality, the female voices are perceived as complete, dense, detailed, full, and highly detailed, even textured and sharp when necessary.
Thanks to the volumetric and holographic dimension of the mids, the instrumentation has its own space, generating a very complete and musically rich presentation, placing the mids as a highly represented and prominent range, but also tremendously supported by both the lower and upper ranges.

Treble

The high end of the Luna has been tuned within a range of measured, restrained, smooth, detailed, expressive brightness, but also luminous, with a warm and sharp brilliance, if all that is possible. It is not crisp at first glance, it is not bright and shiny, but it does have sparkle beyond smoothness. You could say that these are natural, almost analog highs, but very complete and well represented.
The notes are very fine, delicate, very well defined, with a slightly decreasing energy level, but sustained well into the air zone. This gives the sound a harmonic fullness and a highly effective realism. There are no hollows, no areas of control, just a virtually complete extension.
At no point is there a sensation of blinding brightness, but rather it is bright enough to be visible and sharp, yet also sufficiently adequate and moderate to remain musical for hours without causing fatigue. It is never harsh, hard, piercing, suffocating, or sibilant. The Luna speakers are wisely and gently bright, polished, energetic, very clear and sustained, as well as delicate, very well defined, and sparkling. Excellent.

Soundstage, Separation

The ZiiGaat Luna are very detailed IEMS without being completely analytical, cold, or sharp. On the contrary, I find them quite musical and with a touch of warmth that makes them more pleasant. They are also highly technical, with great stratification, separation, height, and precision. They are very decisive, informative, and descriptive, but natural at the same time. The high level of precision provides excellent positioning of elements, and their open and airy soundstage makes the image more accurate and both vocals and instruments easy to locate.
The soundstage is wide, fairly horizontal, with a good three-dimensional and surrounding feel, with a noticeable sense of height, good depth, and a touch of sparkling, volatile energy. It has very good stratification, but the sense of depth is not as high as in the other axes or in other sets with a dedicated dynamic driver for bass. The elements are not only felt in the foreground, but also have a mid-range with many well-distributed elements that can easily move closer to the listener to gain prominence, thanks to the great separation capacity and the sharp resolution of the set. This creates a good holographic impression of the soundstage.
Texture is another strong point of this set and is surprising for Full BA IEMS.
As for macro detail, it is not a forced demonstration of this facet, but rather a very pleasant presentation. It is well balanced, fair, and more natural and realistic than other sets. On the other hand, the micro detail, without being a monster of detail, feels the same as the macro detail. It is where it should be and appears when it exists. It’s not enhanced and is perceived as separate and well-stratified, demonstrating the good resolution and technical capabilities of the set.

Comparisons

LetShuoer Cadenza 4

What would it be like if the Luna had a dynamic bass driver? The frequency response is closer to that of the Kiwi Ears Astral (1DD+6BA) than to that of the ZiiGaat Arcanis (2DD+5BA) or the Yanyin Canon Pro (1DD+6BA). But it is also closer to that of the LetShuoer Cadenza 4, which are more affordable. It should be noted that the Luna costs $379, while the Cadenza 4 costs $249. The LetShuoer configuration is 1DD dual chamber with 10mm beryllium-coated diaphragm + 1 Sonion BA + 2 Knowles BA.
The presentation of the Cadenza 4 is very high-end, very premium, clearly above the Luna: a cabinet-style box with a lid and a drawer, a classic round box with a screw-on lid and a black rubber-coated body. Modular cable with three angled ends, two sets of silicone tips… I think that in terms of value for money, the Cadenza 4 accessories are better, especially if we focus on the convenience of the round box and the LetShuoer cable. The ZiiGaat box is very good, but large in size, less convenient for my taste. And I find the cable somewhat inferior, although appearances can be deceiving. There are four strands for the Luna and two thick ones for the Cadenza 4, which may seem more rigid. But of course, the price is $130 less.
In terms of design, the Cadenza 4 are more eye-catching, relying on Heygear Technology to create their capsules. With an anodized aluminum outer panel, the capsule has been 3D printed in resin. Although the design and shape of the Luna is somewhat repetitive within the brand, I must admit that its ergonomics are superior. For the Cadenza 4, it has been quite difficult for me to find silicone tips that completely adapt to my morphology and can extract their full musical potential. I haven’t been able to use my classic large silicone tips filled with homemade foam, but have had to use even larger tips, I would say XL, and to fill it with foam at home.
If one takes a look at the frequency response of both IEMS, one can see that there are many similarities. The big differences are (if one can say so) in the bass and treble; the mids are very similar.
The Luna are significantly more sensitive than the Cadenza 4, which need more voltage to achieve the same sound pressure output, that is, the same volume to my ears.
The first difference I find between the two IEMS is density and weight. The Cadenza 4 has a heavier, more forceful sound, with that wall-of-sound feeling more similar to that of planar IEMS. On the other hand, the Luna seems less physical, more delicate, but also more open, defined, and decisive.
It does not appear that the bass of the Cadenza 4 is generated by a dynamic driver. In the very low frequency pure tone test, they do not perform well and seem to be generated by BA drivers that are not very good, as they have a clear vibratory/undulatory component. Even the dirty, unfiltered bass test is not good. This demonstrates that bass from good balanced armature drivers is not bad. The Luna improves on every aspect of the Cadenza 4’s bass, performing better in the very low frequency pure tone test, with an almost exemplary performance in the dirty, unfiltered bass test. Its sound and timbre are more realistic and it almost has more punch. Overall, I love the Cadenza 4. But what did LetShuoer do with its bass drivers?
Things change in the midrange, which is where the Cadenza 4s base their great sound. Here’s proof that graphs aren’t entirely reliable when it comes to what a headphone reproduces. The midrange of the Cadenza 4 is denser, with male voices more present and in the foreground. The lower midrange feels closer, more physical, and more corporeal than in the Luna. The ZiiGaat does not achieve the level of density that the Cadenza 4 does, and therein lies the difference that can make you love or hate them. I really like that density and proximity, but it also creates a more intimate, tighter, and more congested sound than the Luna, which are much more open, airy, and separated. The same thing happens with the upper mids; in the Cadenza 4, they are more focused and defined, very close, and with a timbre that I find more suitable.
The Cadenza 4s are in the same category as the Lunas in terms of extended highs but with controlled energy. But I think the Lunas have a little more sparkle and are crisper than the Cadenza 4s. The net energy level is very similar and the extension is almost the same, according to the graph. But I feel a greater sense of air, separation, brightness, and delicacy in the Luna, as if they were a step above in all aspects. And that’s while the bass of the Cadenza 4 seems to give more free rein to its treble.
The Luna’s soundstage is more expansive, with elements further apart, making it more surrounding and expansive. The Cadenza 4s are more focused, which is great for observing micro details. But the Luna headphones have better stratification, very good texture, and the micro-details feel more relaxed, obvious, and distanced from each other, resulting in a better sense of resolution, as well as volatility and a three-dimensional, holographic, and surrounding sound. The ZiiGaat Luna headphones are technically more complete and superior to the LetShuoer Cadenza 4, which are already good in themselves, but not as complete as the Luna.

Conclusion

I have always been very skeptical of Full BA headphones, such as the ZiiGaat Luna. However, I must openly admit that this model, which consists of two Sonion 39AY008 BA drivers, two Knowles 32873 BA drivers, and two Knowles 33518 BA drivers, is one of the best I have tried from the ZiiGaat brand and also with this type of configuration. The bass is impressive in its efficiency, control, development, and sonority. The treble is almost reference-grade. It has a large, wide, open, separate, airy, broad, very well-layered soundstage, with a touch of volatility that adds a very pleasant gaseous, holographic, and three-dimensional feel. The technical level is excellent, with great informative and expressive capacity, but it does not sound analytical, instead retaining a touch of warmth that gives it a very full musical sound, both in micro and macro details. The mids are well represented, with very good timbre and great definition and resolution. The only “but” is that I don’t feel them closer. Everything is there, but perhaps they lack a little more presence, body, and physicality in the central range to be perfect for my ears. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that the Luna is a reference set in my collection, and when I use them, I feel like I’m in the presence of something great. And I think that’s the best praise I can give them.
The ZiiGaat Luna are precisely what the brand has sought to achieve with them: an excellent studio monitor with great tuning, precision, resolution, efficiency, and musicality. This configuration and its great features are well worth the price, as it is clear that the drivers used are very appropriate, judging by the results achieved. It is clear that their performance is not completely all-round and that lovers of bass and other entertainment will not be satisfied with this set. However, for their purpose, they may not have much competition in their price range.

Sources Used During the Analysis

• iFi GO bar Kensei.
• EPZ TP50.
• Burson Audio Playmate 2.
• Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + OpAmp Sparkos Labs SS3602 + ifi ZEN CAN 3.
• Tempotec MARCH V.
• Tempotec V3 Blaze.