Ziigaat shot to stardom this year has been exceptional to say the least as they bring a more premium product of IEMs that possesses amazing sound with a fair pricing reachable to all users globally. Their products such as the Luna and Lush released this year have truly amazed me as the sound and quality they bring to the table is truly special deserving a recommended product in their own segment. Recently they have just released a new hybrid in conjunction with their moon theme, the Crescent that is equipped with 2 dynamic drivers in an isobaric setup and 2 Knowles balance armatures to produce a unique yet highly competitive hybrid. A huge gratitude to Ziigaat for sending us a pair of the all new Crescent for an honest review and we appreciate the chance for us to get a chance to review them.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the new Ziigaat Crescent taken from their site;
● Drivers: 2DD + 2BA (10mm PET + 10mm LCP + Knowles 30262-163 + Knowles 33518)
● Sensitivity: 103dB
● THD: 0.57%
● Impedance: 26Ω
● Frequency Response: 20Hz – 32kHz
The Ziigaat Crescent can be purchased directly from their website as well as other platforms worldwide.
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging has a professional design with a clean look yet simple and it comes in a paper box with a hard paper box inside that is similar to the Luna. Beneath it we are greeted by the IEM head unit with a fully accessorised package in a separate box. The Crescent comes with a high quality hard leather zippered case that has a own compartment for the IEM, a high quality silver plated oxygen free copper modular cable, a 3 5mm plug, a 4.4mm balanced plug, 6 pairs of liquid silicone rubber eartips in 3 sizes, a pair of memory foams and 3 pairs of extra metal mesh and some paperworks. The accessories here are high quality as expected for a premium product and they are good to go with the supplied accessories.
Design
The design is the usual standard ergonomic custom IEM mould that has a medium sized shell that fits most ears with good ergonomics. It is a 3D printed medical grade resin with an artisanal painted faceplate that is unique to each pair. The artwork of the faceplate is based on a galaxial theme that has a purplish background with glittering stars in them alongside a silverish edge and honestly, the faceplate here is probably the most beautiful artwork IEMs I have seen so far. The shell is polished with a glossy sheen and the finishing is flawless. The craftsmanship of Ziigaat is no doubt amongst the best in the market and it shows their commitment to a premium product with the Crescent.
Driving the Crescent is a total of 4 independent drivers that consist of 2 dynamic and 2 Knowles balance armatures. The 2 dynamic drivers consist of a 10mm LCP diaphragm and a 10mm PET diaphragm that are housed in an isobaric setup that made them work in tandem where the LCP driver is in charge of bringing more warmth in the mid-bass while the PET driver bringing more depth into the sub-bass region. A single Knowles 30262-163 midrange driver with a custom port is tuned for the midrange and a Knowles 33518 is tuned for the upper range.
Their tuning here is highly tuned and features a robust 10dB sub-bass shelf that exactly cuts off at 250Hz producing a thumpy, deep bass response . The midrange is tuned to prevent any bloat or bleed coming from the bass which allows vocals and instruments to sound accurate, showcase their inherent warmth, and texture. The highs are tuned to give a natural sound that has a good bite with a full detailed highs that has great air.
The nozzle here is made from aluminum alloy and they are slightly on the bigger side with a 6.5mm diameter at the tip. They are fitted with a metal mesh to prevent moisture and dust from entering. The extra pairs of metal mesh is included in case one is clogged and it is a generous gesture from Ziigaat.
There is a vent that is closed by metal mesh on the top side of the IEM and they are to reduce pressure build up and also to provide some breathing room for the dynamic drivers. No flex is present which is great and shows a well vented design.
The Crescent has a standard flush 0.78mm 2 pin connection that is slightly tight.
Cable provided is a high quality braided silver plated oxygen free copper in 4 cores with metal parts including the chin slider. The cable is black in colour with a soft and pliable feel. It is a modular termination that has a screw-in type of connectors that doesn’t detach easily. A 3.5mm and 4.4mm plug is included in the package. The cable is also similar to the Ziigaat Luna and it has a balanced neutral sound that goes well with most IEMs.
Cable provided is a high quality braided silver plated oxygen free copper in 4 cores with metal parts including the chin slider. The cable is black in colour with a soft and pliable feel. It is a modular termination that has a screw-in type of connectors that doesn’t detach easily. A 3.5mm and 4.4mm plug is included in the package. The cable is also similar to the Ziigaat Luna and it has a balanced neutral sound that goes well with most IEMs.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby R6 III 2025
Questyle M15
Qudelix T71
FiiO BTR7
7HZ Artemis39
Hidizs S8 Pro Robin
Ziigaat Luna
Kiwi Ears Astral
Kiwi Ears Septet
Noble Django
Letshuoer EJ09
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The sound presentation present on the Crescent is balanced neutral sound that has an emphasis on the low region with a thick midrange and an extended high range. They have a mild U shaped sound due to their boost in the lows and a rather present high range but without any recessed midrange. The tone here is well balanced with a touch of bright tone that is tuned towards a warmer side of the spectrum and they have a superb musical sound that is highly enjoyable. Frequency range here is amazingly wide and they are tuned to produce a cohesive sound that has a full sound that is typical of a hybrid with near to none cohesion problems like gaps of hollowness.
Soundstage
The soundstage here is good with a wide and tall sound that is competent in their price range. The Crescent possesses a superb amount of air on both ends of the spectrum and they have a pinpoint, holographic spatial presentation which makes them also suitable even for gaming and movies. The soundstage here is immersive and has a slightly intimate soundstage while possessing a good headroom that doesn’t incur any boxy vibes.
Separation and Timbre
Separation here is amazing and they possess a top class separation of sound enabling them to give a superb stereo sound with no crosstalk issues and it’s even better on balanced mode. Tuning here is flawless for a hybrid as all the drivers are able to work in tandem producing a cohesive sound almost similar to a single dynamic driver setup. Timbre here is natural, full and rich with a full-bodied sound that produces a lively sound signature with no balanced armatures metallic timbre and although isn’t as good as a dynamic driver setup, they are similar which showcased a professionally tuned hybrid. The Crescent has a slightly revealing sound but this isn’t their strong suit as they have a rather musical, warm, rich, slightly coloured sound that has a natural, breathy timbre with great energy in the lows and highs.
Drivability
Rated at 26 ohms with a 103 db sensitivity, they may look easy to drive but I do find that the Crescent need some power to perform their best and they also need a little more volume to achieve normal loudness compared to other similarly spec IEM. A normal dongle won’t do justice for these IEM and a better source with ample power will scale the Crescent up rather significantly. They are quite sensitive to source matching as a warm, bassy source will actually make it too bassy and unnatural while a bright source will suit them way better by giving extra clarity with an increase in their overall technicalities. They are slightly forgiving in the type of files as they are able to show flaws in badly mastered tracks albeit marginally.
The Bass (Low)
The bass has a neutral boosted approach with a good mid-bass lift that has a tight, authoritative slam and the bass has an superb extension that gives the overall sound an airy feel. The isobaric dynamic here is implemented very well as the bass here is tastefully presented with superb energy with no distortion whatsoever even in loud volume. The texture here is probably the main takeaway as they are able to resolve the low region vividly that projects the layers of the bass cleanly without any bloat, muddiness or bleed present. Details are good and they have a clear bass with a high degree of clarity. The amount of bass is strong and dominant without any overpowering issues suiting light bassheads and great for a casual listening but might not suit purists or monitoring usage. The sub-bass here is indeed deep and has a good amount of rumble to complement the lifted mid-bass, preventing the overall bass from being uneven. I do find the bass here suits EDM, jazz and hip-hop tremendously for their speaker-like bass response.
The Mids
Midrange here has a neutral balanced sound with a mild forwardness to it that gives a good intimate sound that has a full-bodied, rich sound signature. The tone here is warm with a thick sound and they are a lush mids that is highly musical. Details here are great with a high degree of macro and micro details but leaning more towards the former. Clarity here is superb, atypical of a balanced armature clarity that is clean with great accuracy. The mids here has a well balanced tuning that blends well from the lower mids into the upper midrange region producing a deep overall sound that has a good amount of brilliance to give a lively sound without incurring any dullness. The resolution here is vivid, has a dash of colour and they are sweet and has a picturesque sound that is highly enjoyable albeit sacrificing some minor accuracy that lowers their transparency marginally. Vocal performance here is intimate, lush, colourful and soulful with a good balance of being brilliant and deep suiting male or female well but they aren’t as accurate for it to be a monitoring IEM.
The Highs
The high range here is mostly flat while still being neutral and the overall highs doesn’t have major spikes, thus producing a velvety smooth high range without being too polite or muted. Details here are superb with a clean and clear high range that is capable of presenting high nuances in a clean, natural manner. The sparkle is decent with a mild energy present and they have a crisp decay that adds to the overall funness of the Crescent. This presentation of a smooth high range does suit those who seek a laid-back sound while still able to prevent the overall sound from being dark or too lean, suiting those who seek a smooth high range that has great control. The high range extends very well with a very slow roll off that gives a lingering decay producing a superb airy sound and it does add presence to the overall high range. Treble here is well balanced with a mild lean towards the higher intensity and that gives the Crescent some extra clarity and energy while still instilling their overall smoothness. As for the timbre, the tuning of the balance armatures for the high range is actually on point as the Crescent do not possess any weird, unnatural metallic timbre which is a big plus in my book and the sound presentation of the Crescent to be rather organic without any forcefulness.
Comparisons
VS Ziigaat Luna (USD379)
The Luna by the same producer is one of their most recent creations and sporting 6 balanced armatures, they are tuned for a studio grade sound for professional but personally I do find them to be an all rounder IEM for their well tuned sound that isn’t dry nor boring. They do cost slightly more than the asking price of the Crescent possibly due to the higher number of drivers but they are playing on a level plane as I do find their performance to be somewhat similar albeit different tuning. Packaging wise is basically the same and the build is superb on both but I do prefer the Crescent faceplate for their holographic galaxial painting.
High range on the Luna does have a bigger amount by a little and they have a sharper and lightly livelier sound. Sparkle is livelier on the Luna but the Crescent do possess more air and they are crisper. The Crescent has smoother highs with a slightly lower intensity treble that sounded smoother while the Luna has a more correct amount of treble that has better accuracy.
Both of these sets have a great timbre that has near to no balanced armature timbre.
Midrange on both of these sets are similar with a thick, lush, intimate presentation with a neutral flat signature that is accurate. The same can be said with the resolution and transparency but I do feel the brilliance is better on the Luna due to the ascending transitions towards the upper mids.
Bass quantity here goes to the Crescent with their boosted lows and a deeper sub-bass. Luna bass response is more linear and accurate with a slight edge in texture. Extension is better on the Crescent with an airier bass.
Soundstage on both has similar width and height but Crescent seems to be a touch airier.
My pick: Both are equal but in terms of being accurate, Luna is the one but for a more musical performance, Crescent is the one.
Vs Kiwi Ears Astral
The Astral by Kiwi Ears might be one of the hybrids to beat in 2025. With a setup of 1 dynamic with 6 balanced armatures, they are poised to be one of the flagship in their lineup. The Astral does cost more than the Crescent, but the packaging of the Crescent is more complete. Build quality on the Astral has a more polished finishing but marginally. Both of these sets have a musical approach in their tuning with boosted lows.
The high range of the Crescent has a more relaxed treble and has less energy compared to the Astral. The amount of sparkle and crispness on the Astral is livelier along with a clearer high range that has more bite in them. Details on both are similar but due to the extra treble on the Astral, they do sound clearer. Timbre here has a slight edge on the Crescent with a more natural decay.
Midrange on the Crescent has a thicker body with a more intimate sound that is sweeter. Coloration on the Crescent is more evident and they do sound lisher and not as accurate as the Astral. Details and clarity does sound better on the Astral with better transparency but both of these IEM is highly resolving. Vocals sound cleaner with more accuracy on the Astral but the Crescent is more intimate and soulful.
Bass on both of these units are similar with boosted lows and an authoritative bass that is highly enjoyable. Details and clarity does sound slightly cleaner on the Astral. Sub-bass on the Crescent is deeper and has a better rumble alongside an airier lows.
The soundstage of the Astral does sound a tad wider but in a small margin as the thicker overall sound of the Crescent does mask the soundstage width a little.
My pick: Crescent for their value but overall sound both are very competent with a slight edge given to the Astral for better technicalities.
Synergy
Synergy here is actually pretty important for the Crescent as they do scale up pretty well with sources and a good clean, powerful source will bring the Crescent up another level. Source matching does lean towards the bright, neutral stuffs from the likes of Sabre, Cirrus Logic and others to even out the strong bass by providing a clearer sound but for some bassy sources, the bass may be a tad overpowered and the extra coloration might give a rather unnatural sound.
Good matching: Questyle M15, FiiO Q7, FiiO Q15, Hiby R6 III 2025, Qudelix T71, Hidizs S8PRO
Not so good matching: Hiby FC6, EPZ TP35, Cayon RU7, 7HZ Artemis39
Who Is It For?
The Ziigaat Crescent is a recommended product for audiophiles that wants a top class musical experience that is highly enjoyable for their amazing big bass sound with a thick mids and a rather inoffensive yet present high range. They are a good pair of IEM that suited daily usage for their near fatigue free sound and a comfortable fit. The Crescent do fit a casual usage for music enjoyment but not so much for professional usage as they do have a north of neutral bass that has some coloration in their sound. They are a superb immersive set that has a good, accurate soundstage and that makes the Crescent a suitable IEM for gaming and movies as well.
Suitable genres: Classicals, EDM, modern pop, pop rock, hip-hop, jazz, acoustics, metal
Not suitable genres: Jpop, ACG
Final words
The Ziigaat Crescent has certainly amazed me as their tuning of their products has so far been spot on and they have managed to give themselves an identity by producing consistent products that have their own warm, full-bodied house tuning. While the IEM scene has been well saturated, the Crescent is able to be a stand-out for their artisanal faceplate that might be the best I have come across and with their smooth, highly musical sound of the Crescent, I do believe that it will be a crowd pleaser that will stand the test of time. Yes the sound might not be as accurate or as clinical, but there is no doubt that the Crescent has a soulful magical touch that keeps me sucked into the music which is rare nowadays. Hats off to you Ziigaat.
I would rate this product a 4 and a half stars over 5.
Pros
- Great overall technicalities
- Great build and finishing with amazing faceplate artwork
- High quality accessories
- Highly musical
- Superb cohesion
- Superb separation with an organic timbre
- Good, airy soundstage
- Great overall clarity and details
- Good transparency, superb resolution
- Boosted bass that is deep, authoritative and dynamic with deep, impactful sub-bass
- Intimate, thick, full bodied mids
- Smooth, inoffensive high range with a good presence
- Balanced treble amount
Cons
- Slightly harder to drive (nitpick)
- Not for monitoring
- Not for trebleheads
- Bass might be too much for purists
- Some coloration present on midrange
- Micro details isn’t as pronounced (nitpick)