Linsoul ZiiGaat Horizon are fantastic, especially for $300ish. They are just so clean and detailed. They punch way above their weight. You'd probably have to spend twice that or more to begin to hear any added resolution, imaging, or soundstage.
But they may sound odd to you coming from AirPod Pro Max, which are warm and bassy, "fun" sound designed for typical consumers, not audiophiles. However I bet you would learn to really appreciate their refinement and begin to hear all your music in new ways, noticing subtleties you never actually heard before.
As a noob to IEMs, you'll really want to prioritize comfort. Some have huge nozzles which can become painful to someone not accustomed to IEMs. Some aren't vented, which can cause painful pressure to build inside your ear canal. I have a pair of highly regarded Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite that aren't vented. I loved them until they gave me trouble on a long flight, which sucked because my AirPods were dead. The ZiiGaat Horizon fortunately have a nice venting system and are very comfortable.
I completely agree with diminishing returns; however you also get what you pay for up to a certain point. Unlike cheaper IEMs, the Ziigaat Horizon has dynamic, balanced armature, and planar drivers each handling the frequency ranges they are best suited for. The design works beautifully.
I am also well aware of the placebo effect with expensive gear. Rather, I prioritize bang-for-the-buck. I critically listen to my new gear, comparing them to current and old, eager to return the new item if it doesn't impress. I'm biased the other way because I actually hope to get my money back!
The $329 Horizons are objectively better to my ears than the $249 Orchestra Lite, which were certainly superior to my $50 Crinacle Zeros.
The other consideration is the reality of this hobby is when you buy cheap, you'll soon crave the next step up, & then the next... I could have saved myself $300 if I had gone straight to the Ziigaat Horizon.
I had comfort issues with both. Orch Lites are not vented, so pressure buildup for long sessions can be an issue. Crinacle Zero are vented; however have a notoriously large nozzle that many including myself felt in my ear.
For me, the Horizon was just right.
Soundstage the Horizon and the Arete stand out, the Top Pro and Astral are good as well.
Imaging, many of them are really good, not ranking them but these are the ones that comes to mind for imaging. The P7, the Astral, the Dusk, the Horizon, Studio 4 and the Top Pro
The Pilgrim is very neutral, it feels like nothing is boosted, it reminds me of the Hexa but with better technicality. The Top Pro is a bit brighter, more exciting and I wanna say technically is slightly better than the pilgrim. To me the Top Pro is the way to go for sure.
The Horizon kinda reminds me of the Astral but wider, brighter and better at details retrieval. The soundstage is wide and open probably due to the elevated treble, it gives a sense of mystical, surreality and dreamlike to certain songs. I like it a lot
I tried the Monarch, it sounds really nice but honestly the difference between the Top Pro and The MK4 in terms sound quality wasn’t worth the huge difference in price. Diminishing return is at its peak once you reach the $500 mark.
Really this will comes down to one thing, and one thing only.
Will your ears like the Semi Custom Shell of the Astral, or will you have to opt for the standard flat shell shape of the Horizon? Its that easy the two are close enough together that it doesnt really matter what you pick, you just need it to be comfortable.
The Horizon comes off as cleaner, and has good staging to my ear, but the Astral feels more enveloping, and has more height to it. Is is my preferred gaming IEM.
The Horizon has slightly more detail, and perhaps a little better separation, the mids in male vocals come through a little more pronounced on the Horizon, but where it "struggles" (and i use the term mildly here only in direct comparison of these two directly) is in the bass department. First, there is slightly less bass on the Horizon than the Astral, and second, the decay is faster. This makes the bass feel a little more thin, and when contrasting with the more vibrant mids and slightly more pronounced upper treble on the Horizon, it can make the bass feel that much lower positioned. Now, for YOU, and your music tastes, the faster bass and better mids may be far more appealing in terms of overall response. Me, i listen to a lot of electronic music, and generally more bass focused tunes, so i prefer the bassier slower decay of the Astral.
For me, the Astral was more than good enough to make the Horizon feel irrelevant. Once you get to $300+ i start to get a little more picky and choosy on what my taste is, and dont want to replicate sameiness. So i kept the Astral (which i have no fitment issue with), and skipped the Horizon.
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7Hz
7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2
76% positive of 493 users
Budget gaming pick, but poor cables and polarizing bass.
Adorable-Mulberry633
