Closing thoughts
If you’ve made it to this point without skipping a line, you’ll know that HiBy’s Zeta is quite a revelation. Not only is it an excellent performer at its price point, it’s the complete package in almost every aspect I look for in a top-tier IEM.
Tonally, Zeta is a smooth operator, with a warm, inviting sound that doesn’t oversaturate the music with colour, staying true to the spirit of most modern recordings while adding some welcome meat to the bones of older, thinner-sounding productions. With a bass delivery that’s as precise as it is powerful, there’s a weighty foundation to almost any track I play, with an organic, natural midrange and a thicker, more relaxed treble that’s still sparkly when called for and has enough air for most.
Zeta is one of the few IEMs that lets me play right through my library, discovering new details and aspects to music I’m already familiar with, and I’m yet to find a track that has me reaching for the skip button. This is a rare quality that I prioritise and value above most others, especially when the price sits north of a kilobuck.
I’d be remiss not to mention the sub-par cable braiding quality, and the mysterious suction effect I get with certain tips, despite the venting. But these are nitpicks that are quickly forgotten once the music starts playing. I have even less to complain about in terms of sound quality, and while I’ve heard a more refined midrange to treble transition, there are few examples I can use to showcase a more appealing sonic presentation for my preferences.
Anyone who dismisses Zeta as just another companion IEM from a DAP maker is potentially missing the opportunity to hear one of the most enjoyable IEMs I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing at any price. In fact, at its price, I consider Zeta to be one of the best-value high-end IEMs you can buy today, and it gets my highest possible recommendation.
