Shine Amongst The Stars

Ziigaat, specialized in ear monitors maker that oozes with enthusiasm that started from making OEMs, now famed for their amazing IEMs catalogue and known for their collaborations with reviewers producing some instant classic IEMs like the Arcadia, Arete, Estrella and many more. Over the years, they have been evolving to be one of the best IEM makers with their know-how and now they are a trusted, staple brand in the audiophile community. Continuing with their evolution, Ziigaat has recently released a rather intriguing IEM, the Ziigaat Luna that is poised to be a professional, studio grade IEMs and a flagship product by them. The Luna is equipped with 6 balanced armatures that consist of drivers from Sonion and Knowles with Ziigaat’s house tuning while staying in the realm of a pure studio grade in-ear monitors. A full balanced armatures IEM is a rarely seen setup nowadays and it is great to see how they perform with the new generation armatures.

A shout-out to Ziigaat for sending us a pair of the Luna for an honest review and it is an honour for us to get a chance to review them.

Functions & Specifications

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

• Shell: 3D Printed Resin Body + Aluminum Nozzle
• Driver: 6BA Sonion 39AY008 + Knowles 32873 × 2 + Knowles 33518 × 2
• Sensitivity: 103dB
• THD: 0.57%
• Impedance: : 26Ω
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-32kHz.

The Ziigaat Luna can be purchased directly from their website as well as other platforms worldwide.

ZiiGaat Luna

Packaging & Accessories

The packaging is professionally designed with a clean look yet simple and it comes in a paper box with a hard paper box inside. Beneath it we are greeted by the IEM head unit with complete, high quality accessories packed in a separate box. The Luna 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 foam and some paperworks. The accessories here are high quality showcasing a premium product and they are ready to go without any need of 3rd party cables or eartips.

Design

The design here is your standard ergonomic custom IEM mould that has a medium sized shell that fits most ears. It is a 3D printed medical grade resin with handmade, painted faceplate that is unique to each pair. The faceplate is a combination of dark green with blue and iridescent glitter at the edges alongside their brand embossed on top and they are stunning up close. The shell is polished with a glossy sheen and the finishing is flawless. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is no doubt amongst the best in the market.

Driving the Luna is a total of 6 high quality, famed balanced armatures that comprises dual Sonion 39AY008 subwoofers that deliver solid, controlled bass, 2 Knowles 32873 drivers handle the midrange and a pair of Knowles 33518 tweeters. All these drivers are hand matched to give a perfect channel balance.

The Luna is tuned to ZiiGaat’s in-house target with an 8 dB sub-bass shelf cutting off at 250 Hz for punchy lows that have no bleed. The 250 Hz – 1 kHz midrange remains flat, adhering to a studio grade midrange tuning to give the vocals and instruments perfect accuracy.

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.

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 air in the sound reproduction.,There is some pressure build up though but isn’t as bad till it causes discomfort but in return we do get a superb isolation.

The Luna 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 sounded well balanced and suits the Luna in sound and style reducing the need for an upgrade cable.

Gears Used for Comparisons

Songs list

Tone and Presentation

The tone present on the Luna is a very well balanced tone that isn’t too bright nor dark and albeit leaning mildly towards the former, they possess a good amount of warmth in their overall sound suiting a vast range of genres. Their presentation is mostly neutral flat without any major emphasis on any region that gives an accurate sound reproduction without any major alterations. Frequency range is wide enough to give a good amount of air and the Luna is tuned to project sound inwards rather than giving an out of head sound that gives a rather focused, intimate presentation useful for monitoring purposes. The Luna is certainly a well balanced, transparent set that plays the music as natural as possible and they are a revealing set.

Soundstage

Soundstage here is decent with a wide and tall sound but pretty average in their price range. The Luna possesses a good 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 apart from monitoring. The soundstage here is more towards an intimate soundstage and they do possess a good headroom that doesn’t incur any boxy vibes.

Separation and Timbre

Separation here is amazing and they are tuned to give a clean separation of sound enabling them to give a superb stereo sound with no crosstalk issues even in single ended mode. Tuning here is really on point as all the 6 drivers are able to work in tandem producing the sound in perfect cohesion almost tit for tat compared to single dynamic driver setup. Timbre here is natural, full and rich with a full-bodied sound that produces a lively sound signature with little to no typical balanced armatures metallic timbre although isn’t as good as a dynamic driver set. The Luna is indeed a revealing set but they aren’t a sterile, cold or thin sounding set but rather the opposite as they are slightly warm with a full sound that is very enjoyable to listen to. A safe yet fun tuning, if that makes sense.

Drivability

Rated at 23 ohms with a 103 db sensitivity, they are easily driven with any source with ample loudness and they do scale up marginally with cleaner sources by giving better overall clarity and refinements in the high range. They aren’t picky with the type of sound the source that you feed them as the neutral flat nature of the Luna matches well with most sources, be it bright or warm, they will sound great so it mostly comes down to preference. Me personally would prefer a bright source to take their clarity to another level. The Luna is a revealing set and tends to show flaws in badly mastered tracks or compressions in low quality source which is useful for professional usage but not so much for portability although still usable.

The Bass (Low)

The bass has a neutral approach with a mild mid-bass lift to give a good slam and has the authority when called upon. Bass here do have a similar feel and texture to a dynamic driver but they aren’t as meaty. The details here are full with superb clarity that gives a clean and tight bass without any bleed present into the midrange. The pace of the bass is fast and nimble, capable of catching up with complicated, bassy tracks like  some EDM without any muddiness or bloat. Bassheads may want a bigger presence but I do find the bass fits most users out there as they are accurate, organic and have a dynamic feel to them. The bass here possesses a trait of a high quality balanced armatures with a highly resolving bass that has great imaging producing a vivid bass that is also decently transparent. Extension here is good with a slow roll off that gives a good amount of air. Sub-bass amount is decent with deep dive that is airy with a clean rumble. The mid-bass does have a better presence here than the sub-bass in a small margin.

The Mids

Midrange here has a neutral sound with a flat presentation that has full-bodied sound alongside with a dash of warmth. These aren’t your usual thin, cold, sterile mids usually found on typical studio sound, instead they have a unique twist with thicker mids that gives a lush and sweet feel to them while staying within the bounds of neutrality. Details here do sound better on the macro part with a satisfactory micro details retrieval. Clarity here is splendid with a clean and clear sound with no muffled sound present in any scenario. Resolution here is first-class and maybe one of the better resolving sets I have heard in a while as they are vividly presented with a little colouration that is lively and still capable of being as natural and transparent at the same time. Vocal reproduction is natural, vivid, sweet and accurate with a balanced presentation for most vocals, be it male or female, the Luna vocal performance is great with adequate brilliance alongside a deep, intimate sound. The same can be said for instruments as they sounded accurate, clean with a great clarity and it is safe to say that the mids here is an all-rounder midrange that ticks most of the boxes.

The Highs

The high range present here is mostly flat with a touch of bright sound signature that gives an extra kick in the overall clarity. The 8 kHz to 10 kHz does have a mild peak that gives a good sparkle and they have a mild, natural crispness to them alongside a good amount of energy. The high range here isn’t for those who seek a laid-back, darkish type of high range as they do have a good presence here but I do find the high range relatively inoffensive and they are not too aggressive. Details here are superb with high nuances being portrayed with a crystal clear manner as expected from balanced armatures handling the high range and the timbre here is good but this isn’t as natural as a dynamic driver set as there are instances of metallic timbre on certain sources in a small margin. The high range does have a very slow roll off at the end that gives a good amount of air in the overall high range. Treble does mildly lean towards a higher intensity side that gives a clearer overall sound without sibilance or harshness.

Comparisons

VS Moondrop A8 (USD666)

The now discontinued Moondrop A8 that houses 8 balanced armatures per side and they are a classic all balanced armatures set that has been my go-to IEM for years now. They are famed for their amazing accuracy with a smooth, vivid sound that is highly technical. Surprisingly, the Luna does sound eerily close to the A8 in terms of their tone and resolution but the A8 do cost almost double the asking price of the Luna when they were launched a few years back.

High range on the Luna does have a bigger amount by a little and they have a sharper and slower roll off that has better air. Sparkle is livelier on the Luna but both of them are crisp. The A8 has smoother highs with a slightly dialled back treble that gives less fatigue but the Luna is more fun and lively due to their extra energy. Timbre here does slightly go to the A8 with almost no metallic sheen.

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 is another region where both of these sets share the similarities in terms of quantity and quality albeit with minor differences. Details do sound a tad clearer on the Luna with a tighter slam but texture does sound better on the A8. Sub-bass does dive deeper with a bigger rumble on the A8.

Soundstage on both are similar for their closed shell but the A8 does have more pressure build up and might be uncomfortable with certain eartips. The Luna does have better air in their overall sound.

My pick: Both are practically the same with minor differences so the Luna does have the upper hand in value for being priced lower.

Vs Noble Ear Django (USD 999)

The highly famed Noble Ears are a more premium brand from the west and the Django is a similar 6 balanced armatures setup with a costly retail price partly due to their fame and a more complete packaging that includes a Pelican 1010 micro case but the cable included is very basic. Django fit does feel more ergonomic for their smaller size but they have a thicker and don’t isolate as well as the Luna. The Django do have a more laid-back tuning that is suited for those who are treble sensitive and they have more coloration in their midrange with a less technical presentation versus the Luna.

The high range of the Django has a more relaxed treble and might lack energy when compared to the Luna. The amount of sparkle and crispness on the Luna is livelier along with a clearer high range that has an airier feel. Details on both are similar but due to the extra treble on the Luna, they do sound clearer.

Midrange on the Django has a thicker body with a north of neutral sound that focuses more on intimacy and enjoyment. Coloration on the Django is more evident and they do sound sweeter albeit not as accurate as the Luna. Details and clarity does sound better on the Luna with better transparency but both of these IEM is highly resolving. Vocals sound cleaner with more accuracy on the Luna but the Django do sound lusher.

Bass on the Django has a bigger volume with a bigger mid bass lift but the texture and clarity here goes to the Luna with a quicker pace. Bass on the Luna is accurate with a tighter slam but Django has a bigger slam that is still very controlled. Sub-bass on both dives quite deep but the rumble on the Django is more evident.

The soundstage of the Django does sound a tad wider but in a small margin and the thicker overall sound of the Django does mask the soundstage width a little.

My pick: Luna for their value, accuracy and cleaner overall sound but the Django do sound more fun and enjoyable.

Synergy

Synergy here is actually pretty simple for the Luna as they are easily driven and have a neutral flat sound that matches most sets but preferentially I do prefer a bright warm source like Cirrus Logic and certain Sabre based chipset that doesn’t has the infamous glare that will exacerbate the metallic sheen. The Luna also does perform better with cleaner sources as they are slightly susceptible to picking up noise and a high quality source will scale up the Luna well although marginally.

Good matching: Hiby FC6, EPZ TP35, 7hz Artemis39, Hidizs S8 Pro, FiiO Q7, Qudelix T71, Moondrop MIAD01, Questyle M15, FiiO BTR7

Not so good matching: FiiO KA5, FiiO Q7, EPZ TP30

Who Is It For?

The Ziigaat Luna is actually a very practical, all rounder IEM that suits a wide range of users as they have great technicalities that sound accurate while possessing a full bodied sound that is highly enjoyable for most genres out there. They are indeed a balanced set that is fun to listen to without sacrificing quality but for some that are highly sensitive to treble, a certain bright source will have a more piercy sound for some harsh genres like metal, Jpop etcetera. Their accuracy and immersive sound are also suited for movies and gaming.

Suitable genres: Classicals, EDM, modern pop, pop rock, hip-hop, jazz, acoustics etcetera

Not suitable genres: Deathcore/hard metal

Final words

Ziigaat certainly have something truly special here, at least for me, as they managed to tune a fully balanced armatures professional studio IEM into a highly enjoyable set that is rarely seen especially in this price range. The Luna is a capable all rounder that has the ‘wow’ factor for having a full bodied sound that possesses a superb, dynamic bass, an accurate midrange along with a lively, crisp treble. The build here is above average with high quality accessories including the liquid silicone rubber eartips and a practical leather case enabling them to justify their asking price. The Ziigaat Luna managed to take over the role of the Moondrop A8 of being my all-time favourite fully balanced armatures setup all with a lower price. The setbacks are rather nitpicking like slight pressure build up and rather intimate soundstage but 1 thing here is for sure, they are just jovial to listen to.

I would rate this product a 5 stars and a recommended Audiomonsta seal.

Pros

• Great overall technicalities
• Great fit and solidly built
• High quality accessories
• Balanced tonality
• Great extensions on highs and lows
• Decent, airy soundstage
• Highly musical
• Natural timbre
• Great clarity and details
• Good resolution, superb transparency
• Accurate, textured, fast bass with good mid-bass
• Sub-bass depth and presence
• Intimate, full bodied mids
• Sparkly, crisp highs that is present without inoffensiveness
• Balanced treble
• Easy to drive and match in source

Cons

• Not for treble sensitive users (subjective)
• Not for bassheads
• Slight pressure build up
• Intimate soundstage (nit-pick)