Maturing Over The Years?

Released in 2024, the ZiiGaat x HBB Arcadia arrived during a pivotal time for the brand, as they began collaborating with prominent reviewers to refine their tuning and better understand the tastes of the audiophile community. The Arcadia quickly stood out as one of the most well-received fruits of that effort with a bass-forward IEM shaped by the signature preferences of Hawaii Bad Boy. Built around a single dynamic driver paired with dual Knowles balanced armatures, the Arcadia delivers a classic V-shaped tuning that is both mature and deeply musical. Now, as we look ahead to 2026, the IEM market has only grown more saturated. The question is: how does Arcadia’s legacy hold up in an era crowded with new contenders? We’re here to find out.

A huge shout-out to the team of ZiiGaat and Linsoul for the sample pair of the ZiiGaat x HBB Arcadia for us to have an honest take. We are not affiliated nor taken any form of monetary exchange for this review and this review is solely an honest view of the product.

Functions & Specifications

Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the new Ziigaat Horizon taken from their site;

• Drivers: 10mm topology diaphragm + Knowles 29689 + Knowles 33518
• Sensitivity: 106dB
• THD: 0.8%
• Impedance: 12Ω
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 23kHz

The ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia can be purchased directly from their website and Linsoul official site as they are the main authorised seller of Ziigaat’s products.

ZiiGaat x HBB: Arcadia

ZiiGaat x HBB: Arcadia

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging here is actually pretty basic and simple, straight to the point that focuses mainly on the product material. Here what’s included in the packaging;

• 1 × Pair of ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia IEMs
• 1 × Detachable 4-Core Cable (0.78mm 2-pin) in 3.5mm
• 3 × Pairs of silicone ear tips (S/M/L)
• 1 Pair of Black Foam Eartips
• 1 × Carrying case
• 1 × User instruction card
• 2 Pairs of metal mesh
• 1 × Warranty card

Personally I would prefer a choice of 4.4mm balanced cable and a better case at this price point but at the end, the product quality matters most.

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 uses a 3D printed medical grade resin build and they are well casted with a perfect finishing as they are polished to a glossy perfection. The faceplate has 2 tone iridescent glitter flakes with gold on top and green on the bottom in solid black resin with their brand in the middle. They have a shiny, flashy look that is eye-catching and looks rather premium. Every IEM head is serialized on the inner part of the IEM with the HBB logo printed on the right side.

At the heart of the Arcadia is a hybrid that consists of 2 types of drivers. They implement a 10mm topology dynamic diaphragm that is designed with nano-particle layers that create distinct topographical patterns on the surface for superior sound dispersion. Driving the midrange and high range is a Knowles ED 29689 and RAD 33518 and they are known to deliver natural, reference-class midrange with outstanding clarity for vocals and instruments. The tuning employs an 8dB sub-bass boost that cleanly cuts off at 200Hz and a flat, natural midrange that makes it ideal for studio monitoring for their uncolored sound. The RAD 33518 tweeter gives extended highs with a mild peak above the 8khz and beyond that is present and smooth at the same time.

The nozzle here is made from aluminum alloy and they are slightly on the bigger side with a 6mm diameter at the tip. They are fitted with a metal mesh to prevent moisture and dust from entering.

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 as they are a well vented IEM.

The Arcadia has a standard flush 0.78mm 2 pin connection that is slightly tight and they are plated in gold.

Cable provided is a basic 4 core oxygen free copper braid cable in black. The cable only comes in 3.5mm single ended and no 4.4mm balanced option which plenty of users might want to have at this price range.

Gears Used for Comparisons

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

The sound presentation of the Arcadia is a classic V shaped tuning, almost an L shaped with a boost in the bass region and flat, extended highs that lean towards a mildly dark tonality. They have a slight warmth in their midrange with excellent extension ls on both ends of the spectrum that gives a wide dynamic range possessing a great amount of air. The Arcadia do a musical sound presentation while having great technicalities that balance between being clinical and fun suiting a vast usage scenario. The overall clarity of this set is superb with a clean and clear sound profile that is detailed and mostly accurate.

Soundstage

The soundstage here is expansive with a decent width and height, competent in their price range. The Arcadia possesses a good 3D holographic spatial soundstage that is accurate which makes them a good pair of IEM for gaming and movies as the sound placements are correct and directionally easy to distinguish. They are an immersive IEM with a diffuse sound field that is slightly intimate and having an open sound signature with a decent headroom that isn’t boxy or too closed in.

Separation and Timbre

Separation here is great with a wide dynamic range that gives a wide stereo sound with no crosstalk issues that is able to scale up better with balanced connectivity. The tuning here is cohesive that blends all the drivers quite well without any major incoherency present but still not to the level of a single dynamic driver. Timbre here is rich and piercy possessing great energy especially in the low range. They have the proven technicalities of the ED 29589 and are tuned to be colourless in the midrange and having a highly resolving sound that is vivid for a more enjoyable sound steering away from being too clinical or sterile.

Drivability

Rated at 12 ohms with a 104 db sensitivity, they are easily driven by any source as they don’t need much power to sound great with adequate amount of loudness. The Arcadia does not pick up noise easily for their lower sensitivity making them a good pair of IEM for casual usage. Scalability here is average but they do perform better with a good matching especially with a neutral bright source but matching with some bassy source will actually make the bass a little too strong for my liking. The Arcadia is quite revealing and they are able to show some flaws in the recording, thus a good mastered track or higher bitrates files will actually give a cleaner overall sound. They are able to pass as a monitoring IEM as advertised but there are plenty of specialist IEMs at this priced range that offer a more neutral overall sound.

The Bass (Low)

The bass has a healthy boost that is a little north of being neutral that has the authority when called upon and the bass here is energetic with a good amount of meat with a punchy tightness in their slam. The mid-bass lift here is actually nicely done as they are present without being overpowering and they are a fun bass that sounds natural. Details and clarity here is great with a well textured bass that is both clean and clear that shows a high quality dynamic driver bass. Resolution and transparency here is great, giving a vivid and accurate bass that plays well with most genres. The bass here has a fast pace enabling them to handle busy tracks without being muddy or bloaty and also no bleed is present here. Extension of the bass is great with a slow roll off that gives the bass a lingering effect with great air that transitions seamlessly into the sub-bass. Sub-bass is also slightly lifted giving a full overall bass and they possess a strong, clean rumble that dives deep. The bass amount here actually does suit some bassheads but not for hardcore bassheads that yearns for an earthquake level type of bass.

The Mids

Midrange here has a flat sound, leaning towards a slightly recessed type of midrange but they are neutral and balanced that has a focus in the lower midrange well alongside a smooth transition in the upper midrange without any gaps or hollowness. The midrange here has a mild amount of warmth that gives the midrange a rich sound with some lushness and they are accurate in their presentation. Details here are superb with good macro and micro details retrieval capabilities with great clarity that is typical of Knowles balanced armatures legacy. The midrange here is highly resolving with rather colourless mids and they are vivid, capable of giving a transparent midrange that plays the mids without any alterations. Space here is also great in the midrange as their flat presentation actually gives them a spacious sound that isn’t too forward but they do come off as a little recessed partly due to the high bass amount. Vocal presentation is fairly balanced with their smooth highs and boosted lows, they are able to give vocals good depth but having an average amount of brilliance. Instruments sound mostly on point but for some woodwind instruments, they may come off as a little tame.

The Highs

The high range here is a neutral flat highs that is inoffensively smooth while still having a decent presence. Sparkle here is good with a mild crispness but they do lack a lively, energetic sound, instead they are leaning more towards a laid-back type of high range that is fatigue free that suits treble sensitive users. Details here are good with high nuances portrayed well without any sibilance or hiss and the high range here has the capabilities to show high range nuances cleanly. The pace here is commendable and they are able to play well with piercing sound like ACG or metal genres smoothly and they possess a natural timbre that isn’t plagued with metallic overtones. Resolution here and transparency here is decent as they are able to sound accurate although lacking bite. Treble here is extended with a balanced amount but might sound a little laid-back marginally. That being said, for those users who seek for a smooth, fatigue-free sound signature without being muted or too polite may find these a good option.

Comparisons

VS Punch Audio Portazo (USD189)

My current favourite basshead IEM, equipped with 1 dynamic and 2 micro planar tweeters. Mild V shaped sound with huge but well executed bass with a livelier overall sound versus the Arcadia.

High range

• Portazo has more sparkle and crisper. Details and clarity are better with more energy but a little piercy.
• Arcadia high is smoother and less piercy with a touch more air.

Mids

• Arcadia has more naturalness with better transparency
• Portazo aren’t as recessed and they are slightly clearer in details

Bass

• Bass amount on Arcadia is slightly bigger and meatier with a tighter slam but there’s some bleed present. Details and texture are similar.
• Portazo has a more refined overall bass with a deeper sub-bass rumble. Bass is strong but still in control.

Soundstage

• Portazo does sound wider with a slightly bigger headroom.

Vs Fatfreq Deuce (199USD)

Ultimate basshead IEM with dual dynamic drivers. True L shaped sound with FatFreq bass cannon driver that gives an almost overwhelming bass amount. Accessories are better on the Deuce but not so much on packaging and build quality.

High range

• Arcadia has a livelier sparkle and crisper. Details and clarity are better with a quicker pace.
• Deuce decay is smoother and less piercing with more extended highs.

Mids

• Arcadia has more details and clarity as well as better resolution.
• Deuce has a more forward mids with a more natural timbre
• Vocals sounds cleaner on the Arcadia but more natural on Deuce

Bass

• The bass amount on Deuce is bigger and meatier with more energy, too overwhelming for my taste.
• Arcadia has a more textured, cleaner and clearer bass with lesser bleed present.
• Sub-bass depth and rumble on Deuce is bigger but lacks accuracy.

Soundstage

• Similar in width and height but air is better on Deuce.

Synergy

Good synergy: Neutral balance, slightly warm sources.

Examples: 7HZ Artemis39, Qudelix T71, Hidizs S8 Pro, Questyle M15, VE Devastator, Kiwi Ears Allegro Mini

Not so good synergy: Bright, bassy sources

Examples: FiiO Q15, FiiO KA5, EPZ TP30 Pro, EPZ TP35

Power requirements: Easily driven with average scalability

Who Is It For?

Suitable genres: EDM, modern pop, hip-hop, classicals, metal, rock

Suitable Usage: Drummers, gaming, movies, bassheads, casual listeners

Not suitable genres: Acoustics, ACG, Jpop

Not suitable usage: Monitoring, critical listeners, treble sensitive users

Final words

The ZiiGaat x HBB Arcadia has aged well and remains a top-tier IEM in 2026. Of all the HBB collabs I’ve tested, it strikes the best balance between technicalities and musicality. The price is steep for their configuration and the accessories included could be better, but the build and design are indeed exquisite. Soundwise, it offers north-of-neutral bass with a polite treble which is a tuning that may deter purists but delivers an undeniably exciting, enjoyable listen that’s earned a permanent spot in my rotation.

I would rate this product a 4 over 5.

Pros

• Decent technicalities
• Solid build with great finishing and striking design
• Superb cohesion
• Superb separation with a wide dynamic range
• Organic timbre, great musicalities
• Wide, tall and airy soundstage
• Great overall clarity and details
• Highly resolving and with good transparent
• Strong, meaty, punchy bass with deep sub-bass
• Neutral, accurate and clean mids
• Good high range presence with smooth, fatigue-free sound
• Natural, sparkly, crisp high range
• Laid-back treble
• Easy to drive

Cons

• Not for trebleheads
• Bass might be a little strong
• Treble may lack energy
• Slight recessed mids
• Mids may sound a tad thin with certain sources
• Not for monitoring (nit-pick & subjective)
• Sub-par accessories for the price