ZIIGAAT ODYSSEY 2: Neutral Sound Awesomeness

Odyssey is one of the most important literature from Ancient Greece, and it's an epic poem conceived by Homer. It's a story about Odysseus’ adventures on his exploit in the decade-old Trojan War in which he and fellow Greek kings won, and then his journey to return to his kingdom is full of tribulations, misfortunes and schemes that he finally overcomes them with his willpower and acumen.

ZIIGAAT is now became one of the most prolific audio companies around as on how they continuous on improving their products that all we can that say that those model does really punch above its weight class as their recent product releases are quite impressive with their good build quality and some interesting implementation of portable audio technologies, provided more accessories inside of its packaging box, and the most important of all is the overall tonal performance in which they continue to refine it. This audio company is also known for its strong ties with LINSOUL, a prominent online trader and dealer of audio products coming from China in which they are solely the main distributor of their products.

What I have in my hand right now is their latest initial midranger model, The ZIIGAAT ODYSSEY 2 and this model is a collaborative project between them and Hangout.Audio, a Singaporean-based audio retailer founded by Crinacle and as we all know in the portable audio community on influential he was that he has a substantial global reach of followers and viewers due to his unabashed professional take on audio product with objectivity.

The ZIIGAAT ODYSSEY 2 has a hybrid driver configuration consisting of one dynamic driver and three balanced armature drivers. The dynamic driver that was used here is a 10mm with bio-cellulose composite also known as new generation paper cone diaphragm known for its lightweight and responsive properties which can deliver a sufficient punch and deep on its overall bass quality. The balanced armature drivers that were implemented in this unit were sourced from a reputable audio solution, KNOWLES, and these premium drivers are known for its exceptional performance that delivers a high level of clarity, accurate and detailed sound quality from their tiny profile yet quite power efficient. The Knowles RAF-32872 is a proven full-range BA driver that is known for its inherent warmth yet balanced, clean and natural sound reproduction from vocals and instruments that makes it an ideal to handle the midrange region entirely and ZIIGAAT implemented two of these BA driver models, while the treble region is handled by the Knowles RAD-33518 which is a tweeter-type of BA driver known for its excellent treble region as it is capable on delivering a crisp, clear and airy sound while maintaining a smooth and less-fatiguing sound quality.

The drivers were then encapsulated in a composite shell chassis made up of aluminium alloy on its cavity base frame, and a resin material on its faceplate. The aluminium alloy frame is quite sturdy yet lightweight; it has a velvety-like surface as it undergoes some processes like anodising and other plating treatment, while its resin faceplates were hand-poured that give some distinctive patterns of those glitter-y effects on each earpiece. The shells are medium-sized in a UIEM-type of form factor with a metal alloy nozzle in a medium length that will be versatile to almost all ear sizes that gives a comfortable fitting to  wear it for long listening sessions. Like all ZIIGAAT models before, it still utilises a proven and stable 0.78mm bi-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism for its detachable cable.

When it comes to comfortability, the shell holds firmly and it rests well into my lughole as its nozzles seal securely that it gives an excellent passive noise isolation that blocks unwanted external noises from the outside surroundings.

The stock cable of this unit is of good quality and it has a four-core structured configuration made of oxygen-free copper and silver litz that were braided to enhance both of its durability and flexibility to protect internal wires from external damages, better shielding from electromagnetic interference as it lessens microphonic effects upon contacting to other materials and then for consistent and stable signal data transmission for a lossless audio quality. The cable itself, like most of the modern custom cables, has a modular feature in which we can swap the interchangeable plugs between the standard 3.5mm single-ended plug adapter and 4.4mm balanced plug adapter one.

As for its product packaging, the ODYSSEY 2 is jam-packed with a substantial amount of quality accessories inside of its packaging box. And the contents were well-organised that makes the overall product presentation elegant and a bit sumptuous.

These are the following contents included in the packaging box:

• Pair of ZIIGAAT ODYSSEY transducer earpieces
• Stock cable with modular termination
• 3.5mm single-ended plug adapter
• 4.4mm balanced plug adapter
• Premium Hard-bound zippered leather IEM case
• Three (3) pairs of balanced bore grey-coloured opaque silicone ear tips in different standard sizes. (S,M,L)
• Three (3) pairs of balanced bore transparent silicone ear tips in different standard sizes. (S,M,L)
• A pair of memory foam ear tips.
• Two (2) pairs of nozzle grill filters
• Paperwork like warranty card and instruction card.

When it comes to scalability on amplification requirements, this set is quite sensitive as it will be easy to be driven that even a source device with a usual standard gain output will amplify it effortlessly. With a necessary power output, it will deliver a dynamic and full range sound that encompasses the whole frequency spectrum.

The ODYSSEY 2’s tonal profile aligns with a balanced-neutral type of sound signature in which is somewhat based on a modified DF (Diffuse Field) target response with some added accentuation on the low frequency on its consistent, neutral frequency response as it has slight emphasis on the bass with some precise and tightness, a balanced and neutral presentation on its midrange and a smooth and even treble response that gives that level of reference tuning with an accurate and natural tonal integrity.

LOWS/BASS:

As a neutrally-tuned set, it presents the overall bass quality in a balanced manner as it has a clear sub bass presence and a sufficient body on its mid bass texture. In that regard, it delivers a rumbly, precise and punchy yet well-controlled bass response that signifies its intended reference-neutral tonal profile.

There’s a good depth extension on its sub bass as it produces a reverberating and rumbling sensation that were generated from certain instruments like synthesisers, drum machine, bass guitars and double-basses. The mid bass texture is rather adequate that it gives enough body tone and impact on bass-clef instruments and also on deep, low male vocals. On how the bass-clef instruments sounds like; the bass guitars sound resonant and rasping, while double-basses have a bit weighty, sustaining and sombre sound, and the bass kick drums have a thudding and rumbly sound on every stroke. Meanwhile on low octave male vocal types, both bass and bass baritones have those deep reverberating sound but the vocal texture from them are rather less than of an ideal correct tone in terms of fullness and volume as they sound a bit less dense and dusky but it still has that rich and enough heft with some resonance.

MIDRANGE:

The midrange presentation of this one is pretty well-balanced, neutral and smooth with some warmth and energy that it won’t sound too sterile or lean as it conveys a more natural sound on both vocals and instruments. Another good quality from this frequency section is that it is also quite transparent, clear and detailed reproduction that it can be used for professional studio works for mixing and recording.

As to how it portrays all types of vocals, the male vocals have a sufficient note weight as it conveys the distinct characteristics from a sufficiently deep tone on the baritones up to the breathiness of countertenors. The baritones have mellow and rich sound, while tenors have clear and bright sound, and then the countertenors have a gentle yet expressive sound from their falsettos. On female vocals, contraltos have a sultry and smok-y chesty voice although its a bit lacking of depth and warm for some more  huskier vocals like Kim Carnes, Tracy Chapman, Stevie Nicks (Current) and Anita Baker, while the mezzo-sopranos have smooth, coppery and velvety sound, and the  sopranos have a silky, ethereal and mellifluous sound.

When it comes to instruments, on the string instruments; guitars sound crisp and balanced, violins have sensuous and calm sound on every motion on its bowstring and cellos have a mellow and gentle sound, while on the woodwinds; piccolos sound rich and clear, concert flutes have sweet and ethereal sound, clarinets sound mellow and rounded and saxophones sound sonorous and velvety. The brasses ones like trumpets, trombones and horns, they sound full, rounded and resounding respectively, and then the percussions, a precise and penetrating sound from snares while the tom-toms sound a bit rounded yet resonant, field drums have a sonorous sound with rich overtones, and a substantial and velvety sound from the kettledrums. The pianos sound quite balanced as they have rich, sweet and clear tones from them.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble quality of this one is in a smooth, almost linear and quite airy presentation that in my opinion, this one is one of the most refined, clear and delineating treble response that I've ever heard on this price bracket, although some ardent treble heads might a bit disappoint as they might perceived this one is on the lacklustre side of tuning due to its inherent smooth and inadequate brightness on its overall tuning. There is a minimal accentuation on upper-mids up to the presence section of the treble region as it gives some clarity and definition on the attack on instruments and enunciating vocals, and there is not hint of sibilance, stridency and tinniness that might affect the overall sound quality, and this will be a high recommended set for treble-sensitive folks out there.

In the brilliance section, I mentioned a while ago that it has an airy presence as the treble air has a good reach as it extends well with a substantial amount of harmonics. The cymbals have a lustrous and sizzling sound while the hi-hats have a shortened warm and resonant tone on its evident chick-y sound, a sweet and ethereal sound from celestas, and a silvery and shimmering sound from glockenspiels.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

The overall technical capabilities of this one is actually excellent, and while its sound/speaker stage projection isn't the widest nor the tallest one that I have tested in this price range, it still has that moderately roomy headstage. It has a reasonable width on its lateral span from left to right, a fairly decent height reach and somehow good depth that I can discern its distance from front to rear.

Its imaging presents a 3D-like stereo presentation with well-layered soundscape and a fine separation of musical elements in a black-coloured sonic canvas in which that even the most complex multi-instrumental tracks like jazz and symphony orchestra recording, this set can played them without a hitch nor that it sound veiled or congested.

The coherency performance of its hybrid driver configuration performs smoothly and there's not a hint of out of phase issues, probably due its excellent implementation on its electronic frequency crossover along with qualities of its transducers. The dynamic driver has a fast transient response on its low frequency response, while the balanced armature drivers deliver such clarity and detailed sound on mids and highs. This set also has a solid resolution capabilities in which its shows a firm contrasts on its macro-dynamics on highlighting different volume degrees of its dynamic range from quietest up to its loudness level on its instrumental section and chorale lines, while its micro-dynamics has a good sharp definition on extracting fine details, nuances and grains from an audio track like notational attacks, vocal delays and instrumental reverb tails.

PEER COMPARISONS:

ZIIGAAT CRESCENT

• Another ZIIGAAT model with a hybrid driver in the same price bracket.
• This one has two dynamic drivers and four Knowles balanced armature drivers encapsulated in a UIEM-type resin shell chassis.
• Like all initial mid-rangers from ZIIGAAT, this model is also jam-packed with accessories inside, including a detachable stock cable with modular termination termination feature.
• This one has a mild U-shaped sound signature with a tonality akin to warm-ish neutral sound.
• It has more rumbly and punchier bass response, a bit recessed but still has balanced midrange presentation with a bit more warmth and energy for vocals and instruments, and a bit brighter but still satiny and airy treble response.
• The technical capabilities of this one is actually excellent as it compares to the ODYSSEY 2, it has a bit wider and taller soundstage size.

LETSHUOER CADENZA 4

• An old model but excellent hybrid driver IEM from LETSHUOER in almost the price range but this one is still a bit pricey.
• The driver configuration of this one consisting of a 10mm beryllium-coated diaphragm dynamic and three balanced armature drivers from Knowles and Sonion encased in a composite shell chassis made of 3D-moulded resin on its cavity base and a sand-blasted metal face plate.
• As expected from LETSHUOER, this set is furnished with accessories inside of its packaging box, and it includes a stock detachable cable with modular termination features.
• This model has a balanced-neutral type of sound signature that has less colouration across its frequency range.
• It has a bit tighter yet rumbly bass response, a neutral and clean midrange presentation with enough warmth and energy for vocals and instruments, although the female vocals on this one is more crisp, airy and spacious sounding compared to the ODYSSEY 2, and a smooth but modest airy treble response.
• Its overall technical capabilities is somewhat on par with ODYSSEY 2's as it has similar soundstage size up to quality of its resolution capabilities.

JUZEAR 61T BUTTERFLY

• JUZEAR's old model with a hybrid driver set-up.
• The driver configuration consists of a single dynamic driver and six balanced armature drivers from mixed sources, custom (probably Bellsing) and Knowles, and they are encapsulated in a bit larger UIEM-type resin shell.
• This model's product packaging is also fully-packed with contents inside and one of those is a more premium- looking stock cable with modular termination feature.
• This one has a warm-ish neutral sound type of sound signature as it has some mild boost between lows and mids while maintaining that balanced tuning.
• It has a balanced bass response as it has a rumbly yet with punchy characteristics, a balanced with some slight added warmth to give that rich and smooth midrange presentation that benefits the vocal texture of male singing voices and on some instruments on percussive and brasses, and then, a smooth, balanced and airy treble presentation.
• On its overall technical performance, compared to the ODYSSEY 2, it has a bit wider soundstage span and a tad firmer macro-dynamics.

MYER AUDIO CKLVX D62

• MYER AUDIO's initial midrange set and it also has hybrid driver configuration.
• It has two dynamic drivers of different sizes and six custom balanced armature drivers housed in a bit large resin shell structure.
• This one is also fully-packed with accessories inside of its packaging box and it also has a premium stock cable with a modular termination feature.
• It has a mild U-shaped sound signature as it has more prominent sub bass, upper-mids and presence treble on its overall frequency response.
• It has more rumbly but a bit tighter on bass response, a recessed, less warm and a bit energetic midrange that gives a gleaming, crisper and sustaining sound on female vocals and strings instruments, and a bit brighter and airy treble response.
• It has a bit similar soundstage size projection with the ODYSSEY 2, but it has a rather decent layering and separation on its acoustic landscape.

As I put a conclusion of this product assessment, The ZIIGAAT ODYSSEY 2 offers one of the most matured tuning IEM in this price range that offers that almost reference-grade of tuning which is neutral yet balanced and delivers a faithful sound reproduction in which you can only hear in high midrange up to the top-of-the-line models from few years ago.  It also has competent technical capabilities in which it can perform effortlessly even beyond its price point which somehow surprises me given that I've tested a lot of models in this price bracket alone since I've been in this audio review hobby for a half a decade. The build quality is quite solid and the fitting is excellent as it rests within my lugholes and also it seals well that gives a good passive noise isolation, although I wish that it had a thicker stock cable.

Looks like that ZIIGAAT along with its partnership with Crin delivers this product successfully and that regard, this one will somehow cause some paradigm shift in the audio market and I'm still hoping for more partnerships between them.

The ZIIGAAT ODYSSEY 2 is now available online and it can be purchased through LINSOUL, and I will provide a non-affiliated link below.

LINK: https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-x-hangout-audio-odyssey-2

​

​

​

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: ZIIGAAT ODYSSEY 2

IMPEDANCE: 20Ω

SENSITIVITY: 105dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 25KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.25m

PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE:  (MODULAR) 3.5mm, 4.4mm

DRIVER UNIT(S):  (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER(S), (3) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVER(S)

PROS:

● Firm, lightweight and somehow well-built resin shell chassis.

● Its UIEM-type form factor offers a good fitting and also sealing.

● Implementation of newer generations of transducer, an improved biocellulose composite diaphragm on its dynamic driver and a premium and some newer Knowles balanced armature driver models.   

● Feature-packed with contents inside of its packaging box.

● Inclusion of ZIIGAAT large PU-leather storage case along with more types of eartips to choose from.

● Stock cable that features modular termination as it allows to swap with different types of analogue input plug.

● A neutral sound profile that will be pleasant to the ears of neutral heads.

● Also, this sound profile might be a good bridge between casual listeners and audio enthusiasts who want a warmer and coloured tonality, and hi-fi enthusiasts who are into neutral, balanced and accurate sound reproduction. 

● Punchy, impactful and reverberating bass response.  

● Tactile and snappy physical button keys and toggle switches.

● Smooth, neutral and well-balanced midrange presentation

● Quite a vocal versatile for both male and female, as it can give some plushiness, juicy and tender on male singing voice, while giving a smoky, sweet and silky sound on female vocals. 

● Almost all instruments sound natural with a realistic tone on them.

● Smooth and airy treble response.

● Well-defined layering and separation.

● Excellent resolution capabilities.

CONS:

● Absolutely not for bassheads due to its overall bass quality.

● Trebleheads might find its treble tuning a bit too safe and less shimmering on their specific treble quality preferences.

● Not for warmheads who want a fun and coloured tuning on their listening session.

● Not the widest soundstage that I've perceived in this price range.

● Wishing for a better quality on stock cables as I've seen better ones on other initial-level midrange models.

TRACKS TESTED: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *

Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*

Type O Negative - Black No.1 *

Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **

Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *

Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to ZIIGAAT nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to  MS. KAITLYN WU of LINSOUL for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.