Disclaimer: I would like to formally thank Kareena from Linsoul for providing us with a unit in exchange for an impartial and honest review. On behalf of the team at the Headphone List, we thank he r for his generosity and trust in THL.
Summary:
The Ziigaat Luna hyper-fixates on the subtle nuances and micro-details in the treble region, with a clean sheen and shimmer to synth stabs and saxophones evocative of a dreamy and floating dreamscape. Voicings and instruments are brought forward and presented in a chesty and breathy manner.
However, doubling down on its balanced-armature setup emphasises its artificial and austere timbre, further sabotaged by a detectable lack of sub-bass.
Pros:
+Tried-and-tested Ziigaat build and ergonomics
+ Dreamy mid-to-upper-treble extension
+ Excellent micro-detail retrieval and imaging prowess
Cons:
– Balanced armature timbre, with hollow note-strikes and body
– In-your-head collapsed staging
– Preferential tuning for specific genres
Introduction
Ziigaat, a flourishing brand under the Linsoul moniker, is pumping new IEMs like there’s no tomorrow. That is the churn-and-burn model that, frankly speaking, is obscene yet so enticing. Like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there seemingly is no end in sight.
And yet, that is precisely the allure of this bountiful hobby. The budget-oriented audiophiles do not need to suffer what they must. From kilobuck IEMs to measurebator budget-bangers, there’s something for everyone. Ziigaat is not an exception to this rule.
However, strict adherence to nascent tuning protocols makes Jack a dull boy. Thankfully, brands are starting to take infant steps away from ‘old’ and ‘new’ Metas, subtly tweaking tiny bumps and troughs to create safe-but-alternative flavors of tuning.
The Luna is one such IEM born out of controlled and cautious experimentation. Going old-school, the Luna is an exclusive 6-BA earphone: a sizeable array of transducers. Priced at $549, the Luna bears the driver architecture of a bygone flagship. The Luna is available for purchase at Linsoul’s official website.
Technology
Six premium balanced armatures
The Luna incorporates high-quality dual Sonion 39AY008 for sub-bass, two Knowles 32873 for midrange, and two Knowles 33518 for highs, each hand-tested and matched for perfect channel balance.
Tonal Balance
Tuned to ZiiGaat’s in-house target curve, the Luna boasts an 8 dB shelf at 250 Hz and a flat 250 Hz–1 kHz midrange for meaty low-end and clear midrange.
Unboxing
Because of the Luna’s pricing, which is almost double that of the Arcadia, the Luna comes in a more appropriate package, which is unmistakably Chi-Fi. Visually, it’s a premium offering, with the Ziigaat ‘black hole’ logo proudly adorning the top of its outersleeve.
Inside the box, you’ll find the following accessories:
- Ziigaat Luna
- S, M, and L spring-style tips and foamies
- Ziigaat faux-leather brown zippered hard case
- Silver-plated copper, quad-braid cable with swappable terminations
- Suede case insert for IEM storage
The Ziigaat Luna’s accessories fall within the ballpark of most Chi-Fi IEMs. Each inclusion covers every possible gap for immediate, out-of-box consumption with any source under the sun. However, at $549, Luna’s overall package is good, but not great.
Moreover, the suede insert in the provided case is quite difficult to manipulate. I constantly struggled to stow the Luna away, proving too cumbersome for day-to-day use.
While the Luna gets my thumbs up for its accessory package, it is mostly an uninspired affair.
Design and Build
If you’ve seen one Ziigaat, you’ve seen it all. This is not a derogatory observation. The Ziigaat design DNA has proven to be comfortable, wearable and durable enough to be the foundation of all past and future releases.
Like its predecessors, the Luna boasts 3D-printed medical-grade resin shells, each capped off with a steel nozzle and wire-mesh wax guard. Between each model in their extensive catalogue, there are only two visible differences: their faceplates and their printed serialisation in the inner portion of the shell.
The Luna’s faceplates are reminiscent of a surface on a distant moon, with a craggly exterior alongside a shoreline of speckled gold. It’s a visually attractive and highly detailed print that matches Luna’s namesake brilliantly.
As per my regular criteria, the shells are perfectly finished, with a seamless and spotless application of lacquer. There are no detectable imperfections, scratches, or pitting across both channels.
My only gripe is my love for a full-metal jacket over hypoallergenic resin. As someone who enjoys using their IEMs in outdoor settings, I have a natural preference for an indestructible shell that’s ready for the rigors of day-to-day living. However, this is a minor gripe that many audiophiles do not share, so your mileage may vary.
Comfort and Ergonomics
Like the Arcadia, there are no obvious material differences in terms of comfort and long-term wearability. Firstly, hypoallergenic resin is virtually feather-like in its weight, complementing long-term listening sessions and possibly a stage monitoring application as intended.
The nozzle length and circumference of each spout are fairly modest, aligning with most multi-driver Chi-Fi sets. It’s long enough to accommodate a plethora of aftermarket tips.
My ears typically rarely face problems with achieving a snug and taut seal with almost 90% of the IEMs I’ve reviewed. The Luna, thankfully, doesn’t buck that trend.
The standard headshake test failed to displace the IEMs in the slightest, left-to-right, up-and-down.
Balanced armature setups don’t typically need a physical vent to prevent excess air from building up in their chambers, but the Luna seems to be the black sheep of the balanced armature family. There is a notable vent seated behind the two-pin connectors on each shell, sealed off with a woven metal wire mesh.
Consequently, extraneous noise ingress is more prominent, albeit only moderately. Ambient noise, especially passing wind noise, causes music playback to distort audibly on occasion. While not a dealbreaker, it’s still an unwanted nuisance that breaks the immersion factor.
Cable Quality
The Luna comes shipped with a high-quality, silver-plated copper cable with a quad-braid configuration, furnished with satinized hardware at the Y-split and termination with knurled grooves.
In the hand, the length of cable drapes comfortably, with excellent malleability or zero proneness to memory or kinking. It’s not the most supple cable I’ve handled, but it scores an A+. The satinised, space-grey hardware is utilitarian but premium.
At the termination cap, the concentric grooves provided added grippability, which is especially necessary when swapping terminations on the fly. Like most swappable connectors, the receptacle at termination end uses a male 4-pin XLR configuration, with the swappable terminations themselves using a female 4-pin XLR configuration.
Swapping is a fairly straightforward task. As long as the cut-out notches are aligned correctly, both ends snap onto one another snugly with no physical rattle. In this instance, a threaded collar is not necessary. I don’t see any possibility of your termination-of-choice ever coming loose.
This is an excellent cable with no apparent faults.
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