A Pretentious Name

Ratings

Pros

• Warm, musical, analogue, organic and very pleasant profile.
• Great midrange.
• Precise bass.
• Great ergonomics.
• Excellent quality/sound/price ratio.

Cons

• The bass lacks darkness, punch, weight, physicality, and a more realistic, natural, and less coloured performance.
• The treble is soft.
• These IEMS do not offer a great deal of detail.
• The soundstage lacks depth.
• Minimum number of accessories.

Purchase Link

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

Link to the Store

https://www.linsoul.com/

Introduction

Once again, ZiiGaat has released a hybrid model with 1DD+4BA for a price of £149. The ZiiGaat Lush is a professional-quality in-ear monitor designed to deliver precision and accuracy. It has a cleaner and more precise sound profile, offering authentic studio monitor fidelity in every note. Equipped with a single 10mm PET diaphragm dynamic driver optimised as a dedicated subwoofer, the Lush delivers a powerful 9dB output at 20Hz for impressive bass sound. Its bass cutoff is precisely tuned to 200Hz, ensuring clean, controlled bass without unwanted distortion, while preserving the neutral clarity of the mids and highs. The Lush uses proprietary balanced armature drivers, with a custom dual full-range composite driver that powers the midrange with exceptional clarity between 200Hz and kHz. A custom dual tweeter system captures subtle micro-details in the upper treble, delivering a coherent and well-integrated high-frequency response without unnatural peaks or dips. Its three-way passive crossover network assigns each driver its optimal frequency range, ensuring powerful yet agile bass, authentic and neutral midrange, and detailed and clear treble without harshness. Each Lush unit is meticulously crafted from 3D-printed medical-grade resin. Hand-painted front plates and an individualised quality control process guarantee exceptional sound performance, superior craftsmanship, and premium packaging.
Let’s take an in-depth look at the full potential of the ZiiGaat Lush.

Specifications

• Driver Type: 1DD with 10mm PET diaphragm + 2 custom composite mid-range BA + 2 custom composite high-frequency BA.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-25kHz.
• Sensitivity: 103dB.
• Impedance: 17Ω.
• THD: 0.52%.
• Jack Connector: 3.5mm SE.
• Cable Length: 1.2m.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.

Packaging

The ZiiGaat Lush comes in a predominantly grey box measuring 159x119x43mm. On the front, there is a real photo of each capsule in the centre, above the letters LUSH repeated several times. Above is the brand logo and below is the model name and a description of the model, all in white letters. On the back, there is another photo of the capsules, with the model name and description at the top. From the centre downwards, there is the brand logo, a sticker indicating the 3.5 mm size of the plug and the brand details. There is a description of the model and a QR code on one side, while the product specifications are on the other side. Once the outer cardboard is removed, a black box with the box logo in grey in the centre can be seen. Under the lid, the capsules are displayed inside a black foam mould at the top and a black box with the logo in silver at the bottom. The black box contains the black zipped case, inside which are the rest of the accessories. In summary, the complete contents are as follows:

• The two ZiiGaat Lush capsules.
• A four-strand cable, 0.78 mm 2-pin interface and 3.5 mm SE plug.
• A set of grey silicone tips with orange core.
• A pair of foam tips.
• A zippered case.

The cable is decent, the zippered case is branded, a single set of silicone tips and a pair of foam tips. Almost the bare minimum for the price.

Construction and Design

The ZiiGaat Lush has capsules and a cable that are the same as the ZiiGaat Arcanis, only the pattern on the outer surface is different, so the description will be the same.
The ZiiGaat Lush is made of 3D-printed medical-grade resin. It has a medium-sized semi-custom shape. The outer face is shaped like the African continent and has a fine glitter pattern in two colours (silver blue in my case, although there is also a silver-only option). In the centre is the brand logo in silver. 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 side is ergonomic and has two slight protrusions on the edge. In the centre of the side is the model name in gold letters, along with the text ‘L250394’ for the left capsule and ‘R250394’ for the right capsule. The nozzles are metal, 4.3 mm long, with a base diameter of 5.5 mm and a crown of 6.2 mm. The nozzles are protected by a metal grille.
The cable consists of four intertwined strands covered in black PVC. The plug is a gold-plated 3.5 mm SE. The casing is a black metal cylinder with the brand name inscribed in black ink in the centre. It has a ring inscribed near the plug and two near the cable outlet. This outlet is protected by a double black rubber casing. The splitter piece is a smaller metal cylinder with two rings inscribed near the cable inlet and outlet. The pin is a metal disc with two holes through which the cables for each channel pass. They have a relatively large diameter, making them too easy to adjust and not as secure as I would have liked. The cables have ear guides. The 2-pin 0.78 mm connector covers are black metal cylinders with a conical shape at the cable outlet. The two pins are mounted on rectangular plastic pieces, red for the right channel and transparent for the left channel. There is a blue dot on the narrow side of the base of the 2-pin connectors to indicate polarity.
The shape and construction of the Lush is classic for resin IEMS, maintaining the typical external pattern that varies depending on the brand model. ZiiGaat maintains an effective design that hardly changes, even though it is a more economical model. The cable is too basic; it is soft and easy to handle, but there are no specifications about the conductor used, and it is only available in a 3.5mm SE termination. The cable certainly seems too generic, but it is more in line with the price of the current product.

Adjustment and Ergonomics

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 well suited to my morphology and I don’t feel 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.

Sound

Profile

The brand itself specifies that the ZiiGaat Lush offers a powerful output of 9dB at 20Hz for impressive bass sound. Its woofer crossover is precisely tuned to 200Hz, ensuring clean, controlled bass without unwanted distortion, while preserving the neutral clarity of the midrange and treble. According to my measurements, the sub-bass barely reaches 6dB. However, the profile of the Lush is close to the new and famous Meta curve, but smoother in the bass and upper midrange. It is a profile very similar to that of the Kiwi Ears KE4 but less energetic, with a midrange with a wider low plateau and a soft and delicate pavilion gain that prolongs a full energy level in the treble, but descends into the air zone. In this way, the profile feels relaxed, slightly warm and neutral, balanced, homogeneous, complete and musical.

Bass

The bass of the Lush has a certain colour, it is not particularly dark or deep, nor does it have as much presence, power or punch as its description might suggest. On the other hand, it feels fast, well resolved, tight, dry, without too much texture and well controlled. Its decay is not prolonged and its weight in the environment is not excessive. It is a precise, more technical bass, with a level of energy above neutrality, but not predominant. There is more presence in the mid-bass and somewhat more limited in the sub-bass.
In the very low frequency pure tone test, it is clear that this is a more sonorous than physical bass. The first note has a distinct audible and undulating character that is heard rather than felt, with the physical sensation falling to approximately 30%. It is necessary to go up to 30Hz to avoid the audible undulating sensation and to perceive a more real and natural bass. From here on, the performance becomes much more precise, fast and adequate in terms of sound. The translation to real music shows that it lacks power in the sub-bass and that it is not the most realistic, natural, deep or dark on the market in this price range.
In the dirty, complex, unfiltered bass test, control and a moderate level of energy are the predominant characteristics of the Lush. They do not stand out in terms of presence, nor do they generate much volume in the soundstage, which demonstrates a great deal of permissiveness and respect for the other frequencies, as they never exceed their range or come close to the midrange. The reproduction of the deepest bass lines denotes more colour than darkness, and that emphasis on the mid-bass detracts slightly from naturalness and realism. On the other hand, the set has low physicality, a more delicate body and a more compact punch, but with low weight. The bass of the Lush focuses on doing things well on a technical level, generating fast notes, distant layers, demonstrating a high level of definition and resolution in the low end, but losing physical and sensory properties that distance it from the best and most enjoyable bass for my personal taste.

Mids

The medium-low predominance of the bass and the smoothness of the treble promote the midrange as the star of the show. With a long, extended plateau and smooth, late-growing upper mids, the midrange is the most complete range of the Lush. The impact of the bass is minimal and distant, with no interference in the midrange. Even so, there is a certain level of warmth and a good physical and corporeal base, which avoids my dreaded existence of hollows and loss of consistency in male voices and instrumentation predominant in the first part of the midrange. The central range feels relatively neutral, broadly represented, homogeneous, and very well balanced. There is no clear component in the entirety of the male voices. The presence does not lean towards the base or towards details and nuances, but rather the weight is distributed throughout the entire frequency spectrum, something that is not at all normal or frequent in this price range. Without being specifically tuned, the midrange shines, supported by the bass and soft treble to enhance its naturalness, complexity, and complete and exuberant texture. And all this without the midrange sounding overwhelming in the mix, but remaining in a prominent position, yet not in the foreground.
The upper frequencies feel warm, without sharp edges or glare, remaining controlled, smooth, natural and organic. Don’t expect them to sound vivid, sparkling or sparkling. Here the body is more accentuated and the physical basis of the female voices is clearly perceived, against a more muted backdrop. Sibilance tends towards zero and the notes are more robust and with a certain thickness. The level of transparency and clarity is maintained thanks to an effective technical component, with well-defined and delineated notes, thanks to the skill of the BA drivers. However, the midrange is not the clearest or most evident. The organic, musical and warm feel prevails over technical skill, resulting in more obvious macro detail but less decisive micro detail, with slightly limited and less obvious depth and layering. The mids tend to cluster in closer layers and the background details tend to overlap, being more compacted due to a lack of depth. In this way, the mids feel more evident and full, but have less depth and richness in the background.

Treble

The treble has a downward energy that makes the peaks feel nuanced, rounded, and somewhat dark. The brightness and sparkle are initially revealed, but the mid and upper harmonics feel flattened, without much vitality or sparkle. The decreasing energy level extends to demonstrate a certain lack of airiness that helps to distance the elements, making them appear more volatile and gaseous. This is not the case, and the projection of the notes is more muted and rounded, accentuating the organic and analogue character of the sound, which suits the midrange so well but detracts from technical aspects such as resolution and micro detail.

Soundstage, Separation

The soundstage is remarkably wide, with good lateral separation and stereo imaging. The height is average and the depth is simply good. There is a certain three-dimensional effect, without any gaseous effect or volatility that provides a holographic or out-of-head sensation. Rather, there is a certain attachment to the listener, without the scene being intimate. But it is true that there is a predominance of layers at medium distance and in closer planes, which press on the listener in a slightly surrounding way, but without the sensation of depth being very high. In this sense, the macro detail is more evident and closer, while the micro detail is more overlapping and congested with the middle layers, making it more difficult to discern clearly. It is possible that the rounding of the notes and that sensation of a softer and more nuanced sparkle prevents a more evident level of resolution, as well as a more obvious separation of those layers. The right level of depth does not allow the layers to feel very distant, hence the compression observed in those more distant layers. For the same reason, the micro detail in the background is more nuanced.
The image is more than adequate, but without being very explicit or strict in terms of positioning, but rather in terms of provenance.

Comparisons

Kiwi Ears KE4

The Kiwi Ears KE4, with a starting price of $199, are one of the paradigms of the META curve. Internally, they have 2 DD drivers + 1 BA driver for mids + 1 BA driver for highs. The Lush are 1DD+4BA. In terms of accessories, both products are equally simple, even very similar, with only the colour of the coating and the metal covers changing.
The construction is quite similar, with medical-grade black resin and a colour change on the centre plate. The design is slightly more streamlined on the KE4, with more pronounced protrusions on the inner side, as well as on the edge. The Lush are more rounded. With few differences in design, there are also no differences in terms of ergonomics and comfort. However, I find the Lush more comfortable in the long run because they are rounder.
The Lush are slightly more sensitive, with higher sound pressure at the same volume.
The frequency response of both IEMS is similar, with a very close shape and profile. The Lush are flatter and more balanced, while the KE4 have a higher bass boost, around 2dB from sub-bass to 100Hz. The same happens in the upper midrange, with a gain of between 1dB and 2dB between 3kHz and 5kHz. There is also more air in the second half of the treble and air range in the KE4s. Are the Lush a softened version of the KE4s? It could well be.
The bass of the KE4s is clearly darker, deeper and less coloured. There is a clear difference in their timbre, which is more muted in the KE4s. The Lush have a little more texture, but the KE4s have more weight, physicality and impact in the sound. In the very low frequency pure tone test, the KE4s are better. The first tone is deep, dark, physical and sensory, with hardly any undulating character. In the Lush, this undulating character is clearly felt, with a more coloured tone, a sonority and timbre shifted upwards for its frequency. It is true that as the hertz increase, the quality of performance evens out, with the Lush improving greatly. But the colour and undulating character remain better in the KE4.
In the complex, dirty, unfiltered bass test, the Lush feels subtly faster and more controlled, with less decay. But I like the deeper, darker character of the KE4, which offers more realistic bass.
The midrange starts out very similar on both models. However, I find more lightness, sparkle, transparency, and clarity in the Lush, even though the KE4s have a bit more horn gain. The KE4s are somewhat warmer and darker, even a bit thicker, diffuse, soft, and dull.
The treble on the KE4s is a little sharper and brighter, while the Lushes offer a smoother, less extended presentation with less air.
The sound of the KE4s is somewhat more homogeneous and continuous. There is more transparency and separation in the Lush. There is not much difference in terms of micro detail, but the Lush are cleaner and that micro detail is more visible than in the KE4s, where the background is denser and thicker. There seems to be a darker and cleaner background in the Lush.
The soundstage is deeper, with more volume and weight in the KE4s. The Lush are a little more expansive, but seem a little flatter. The image of the Lush seems more precise because they are finer and give a feeling of better definition and resolution compared to the KE4s.

Conclusion

The sound of the ZiiGaat Lush is worth more than the sum of its sound bands. It has excellent mids supported by decent bass, but I wouldn’t choose it among my favourites. Even the treble is smooth and controlled, pleasant, but not too informative, realistic or natural to shine on its own. Nor does it stand out in terms of technical specifications, nor is its soundstage large or wide. But there is something about the overall sound that gives it that extra value. Perhaps it is because its organic, analogue sound, which moves between warmth and pale neutrality, is pleasant, gentle, enjoyable and relaxingly attractive. In my opinion, the name of this model could be considered pretentious. However, there is a real reason related to its name in its sound. And in that respect, ZiiGaat has achieved what it wanted at a fairly reasonable price.

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.