ZiiGaat - Lush

I like the Zigaat lush, it is indeed Luscious and very good for vocals and ASMR.

**Hello everyone!** Today I am going to review the brand new ZiiGaat Lush, a 1DD 4BA drivers IEM, that was sent to me by courtesy of Linsoul Audio in exchange for my honest review. Let's jump into it! TL;DR: Pros:  ✅ Neutral tuning with sub-bass boost, makes it easier to listen for long, with no fatigue, a neutral take on the "new meta", if you will. ✅ Bass sounds natural, where it is not too boosted, but not the most prominent. ✅ Mids are not too forward, makes it easy on the ears, but still give body and shine for vocal and instruments, and stay uncolored. ✅ The treble is well extended, open, and airy. ✅ Natural sounding in general, reference like, uncolored. ✅ Good imaging, soundstage and separation. ✅ Beautiful and comfortable shell, no pressure buildup or whatsoever. ✅ Large carrying case with secure place to keep a dongle or ear tips. Cons: ❌ The mid bass is not the most prominent here in terms of impact, but it does give body and depth for instruments and vocals, not Harman like. (that's what makes it sounds "natural" IMHO). ❌ You might find this tuning boring, as these are meant to be "studio monitors", be aware if you seek for a fun or V/U shape IEM. ❌ Treble might be spicey in some tracks (a rare case, it depends). ❌ Has slightly driver flex. **My goal in my reviews is to make it easier for everyone to understand the terms audiophiles often use, so even if you are a beginner and this is all new for you, you can feel comfortable understanding all the terms and make a better decision for yourself.** # A little bit about myself​ I thought it could make it easier for you to understand what I am listening to, and if we are audio soul mates, maybe this review will talk to you more personally  I mainly listen to pop music and instrumental music, such as Lindsey Stirling. I am also an EDM lover, who enjoys both sides of the spectrum: bass and treble. My favorite artist, for example, is Snail's House, and I also listen to a lot of monstercat releases. Are we audio soul mates? # A little bit about this IEM – ZiiGaat Lush​ This iem is a hybrid IEM, featuring 1DD and 4BA configuration, where the Dynamic Driver is being used as a subwoofer, 2BA for mids, 2BA for highs, in a three-way passive crossover. A passive crossover in IEMs is a passive electrical circuit that splits the audio signal coming from the amplifier into different frequency ranges, so each driver knows what it needs to play. So, in this case, the DD gets to play the bass, 2BA gets to play the mids, and another 2BA gets to play the highs. ZiiGaat (Zero In Ideas, Grow and Achieve All Together) market this IEM as a "Studio Grade Hybrid IEM". But does it deliver? Let's find out! **What's in the box?​** In the box you will find: * Large carrying case. * One type of silicon ear tips (S, M, L). * 2x foam ear tips * 3.5mm cable. * The IEMs themselves. # Carrying Case​ The carrying case provided here is large, and surprisingly pocketable. It has enough room to store the IEMs and has a secure place to house a dongle and/or ear tips. Moreover, it is branded with the ZiiGaat logo and feels premium. Overall, great case, I like it. # Ear Tips​ The silicon ear tips provided here are pretty good. That said, you get only one type of them, in 3 sizes, and that's it. But in my opinion, it is enough if they are good. And yeah, they are. The medium ear tips worked well for me. There are also 2x foam ear tips provided, which I tend not to like, but if you are into it – you are given this option. # Cable​ The cable provided here is good, beautifully branded with the ZiiGaat logo. Feels quality, with a working chin slider in the Y split. But I found it to tangle sometimes and to have memory. But I always say, this is something that can be replaced later, it is not the end of the world, but it does need to be mentioned. # Build Quality & Fit and Comfort​ The IEM is made of resin and has beautiful triangley, glittery and sparkly faceplate. They do not catch lots of attention but still look pretty. They have a vent on the top, and I did not notice any pressure build up while wearing them. But one thing I must mention that is they do have slightly driver flex, which means, when you wear them, they will make a plasticky noise. It is not loud but noticeable. Is this bad? Not really, you won't notice it while using it. The nozzle might be big for some, but for me, it wasn't, and I could wear them for long. Overall, except for the driver flex, they get a pass here. # In Terms of Sound​ ​You can find the graph [here](https://squig.link/lab/avishai/?share=ZiiGaat_Lush). As you might see from the graph, these IEMs are following the "new meta" tuning, which means, neutral with a bass boost, where the boost is more on the sub bass rather than the mid bass. To me, they do sound warm/neutral and uncolored. But as always, let's break it down. # Sub-Bass​ *The sub-bass, which covers the lowest frequencies and often delivers the rumbling sensation rather than distinct sounds.* The sub bass on these IEMs is well boosted, but not too much, it goes to the point that you do get a lot from it, but it is clean and doesn't take all the attention from the rest of the frequencies. Overall, well done for a neutral IEM. # Mid-Bass​ *The mid-bass, where the bass becomes more distinct and perceptible, is equally well-executed. In this range, you hear kick drums and some male bass vocals more clearly.* The mid-bass here, in contrast to the sub bass, is not very boosted. It doesn't have that punch and impact that you might find in V-Shaped IEMs, but rather a relaxed and natural mid-bass. For example, kick drums and male/low vocals sounds full and natural, relaxed, and not shouty, very uncolored. It goes well with this tuning, as I found it makes it easy on the ears, and blends well with the rest of the frequencies. And at the same time, it gives a little warmth to the music, the little touch that makes everything sound very natural to my ears. One thing to mention, the mid bass here was fast enough to handle the crazy drums of BABYMETAL, this is something many IEMs I tried failed to do, and to me this is a test for how fast the mid-bass is (but still, it is not the most impactful and punch, I would say neutral). # Mids​ *The mids are the home to most instruments and vocals.* The midrange here is, act surprised, very neutral. Nothing stands out here in contrast to each other, vocals are not too forward, instruments sound full bodied and natural. Not shouty, has little warmth. It sounds reference like. For example, listening to the Wicked soundtrack was an experience, the soundtrack sounded so lively, so engaging, everything has body and depth, it was like sitting inside the concert and experiencing the movie again. The vocals sounded so natural, the vocals didn't stand out too much from the instruments, they blended so well altogether. It is not something that any IEM can deliver, IMHO. The neutral/warm midrange is well appreciated, as someone who likes U / V shape tuning more, it was a new thing to explore and made me love it. The ability to listen for a long time with no fatigue, no shouty, it’s a first for me. But I must warn you, if you are looking for a fun midrange, more V/U shape, it might not fit you well. The midrange here is very uncolored, reference like. But you might appreciate it if you already own a well V/U-shaped IEM, this could be a great addition to your collection. But still, I think you should be aware of what you are getting into. Neutrality is not for everyone, but something nice that I think is nice to experience. Well, I talked too much, but to sum up, the midrange presentation for no surprise do sound neutral and warm, nothing is too forward, very uncolored, great for instrumental music or live concerts. # Treble​ *The treble, which captures high-pitched sounds like cymbals, violins, and higher synthetic tones, adds brightness, sharpness, and sparkle to the music. However, excessive treble can lead to harshness or fatigue.* It might not seem like it from the graph, but the treble here is well extended. It is airy, open, but not too much. Cymbals crashes, violins, etc.... sounded natural and well separated from the rest of the frequencies. Surprisingly, I find these also to work well with Snail's house music, where he loves to put a lot of synth and lows. But for EDM, I would probably look elsewhere to a more U / V shaped IEM. But still, I am surprised that this IEM can be that versatile and play well with this complex, trebly tracks. There is a good contrast with the bass, so it doesn't sound bright overall. Again, the tuning of this IEM is intended to be neutral, and in my opinion, it does deliver that. A little warning, to anyone who is listening to music such as Snail's house, which has a lot of synths, and is sensitive to treble, it might be spicy, to my ears at least. I can handle it, but if you know you can't, then be aware. That said, **it is a rare case**, and if you don't listen to a lot of EDM and music that has tons of synths in general, you are good. Most of the other EDM music I listened to, didn't have this problem. # Technical Performance​ # Imaging​ *Imaging is the ability of the IEM to separate the left or right positions, put anything in the correct direction.* The imaging capabilities of this IEM are very good, you can pinpoint easily where everything is located within the stage, and it is well executed in this IEM and matches the performance expected withing its price range. # Soundstage​ *Usually in IEMs this term is overused, but in general the soundstage is the feel of openness and wideness of the sound. For example, if the IEM provides a congested feeling to the sound, everything sounds in the middle, this is bad soundstage.* The soundstage in this IEM is wide and open, in live recording it sounds very spacious and lively, a whole experience. # Layering & Separation​ *Layering & Separation is the ability to deliver you any piece of instrument or vocal in its own place, separately. The better it gets, the more resolving the IEM will be.* The layering in this IEM is good, but it is doesn't stand out in my opinion. It is good, but not the most prominent point of this IEM. On the other hand, the separation is good, and you get good separation between the bass, mids, and treble. Vocals are not too forward in contrast to instruments, which makes it sound more neutral and natural, just how you are going to experience it in real life. Given this neutral tuning, you do get good detail retrieval. As it lets each frequency shine on its own, and no frequency steals the show from each other. # Comparisons​ *Comparisons could give you a better idea of where this IEM stands within the market.* **Kiwi Ears Aether​** The Kiwi Ears Aether is a 15.3mm Planar IEM. Well, well, well. This one is interesting for me. There is 10$ price difference, which might make it hard to choose between the two, so I will try my best to make it easier for you to choose between the two. The Aether in comparison to the ZiiGaat Lush is leaning towards being V-Shaped, it has better bass punch and impact, also has relaxed upper midrange and relaxed treble that is open and airy. I find the imaging on the Aether to be better than the ZiiGaat Lush, and stage a little more open, but not that much. For EDM and pop music, I ended up picking the Aether more, as it offered a more fun experience with its V-Shaped tuning, that was also not very shouty. But still, there is something special about this ZiiGaat Lush, the reference sound, that nothing stands out from each other, and made it fun to listen to live recording, or in long listening sessions with not fatigue. Do you want neutral sound? Relaxed sound? Experience the "new meta"? Do you listen to live recordings a lot? ZiiGaat Lush is for you, for sure. Do you want a more V-Shaped sound? Forward vocals? Impactful and punchy bass? Fun IEM for EDM? Then get the Aether, it will fit you better, and you will probably find the ZiiGaat Lush too boring to your preference. # Sliivo SL41 Mk2 ​ The Sliivo SL41 Mk2 is also an hybrid IEM, featuring 1DD and 4BA's driver configuration. Compared to the ZiiGaat Lush, it sounds more U-Shaped, where you get a lot of bass and a lot of treble. The midrange, especially vocals, sounds more forward in the SL41 compared to the ZiiGaat Lush, and the treble is much more boosted. The bass on the SL41 also goes deeper, but the mid bass feels recessed. I would say, the choose between the two is just as the Kiwi Ears Aether, you can ask yourself the same questions. The ZiiGaat Lush will offer you more neutral and relaxed listening experience, while the SL41 will be more fun to listen to. **There is still a question that hasn't been answered yet: Is it really studio grade IEM?** Just so you know, there is no clear definition of what "studio grade" is, but there are some standards that *most* of the professionals agree on: * Flat frequency response graph as possible. * No coloring to the sound. * Good separation and low distortion. So, to answer that I needed to ask my friend who is working in a studio and asked to remain anonymous. I described to him my feelings and impressions on these IEMs, and combining with their graph, he approved them to meet his expectations of being a studio grade IEM. Boring, doesn't try to impress you too much, just reveal the music with no added color. Reference like. So yeah, the ZiiGaat Lush indeed delivers what it promises to deliver. # To Sum Up​ The ZiiGaat Lush is a great IEM for anyone who is seeking for the most neutral, uncolored, IEM. With its well boosted sub bass, and neutrality from the mid-bass to the treble, the ZiiGaat Lush does stand out from its competitors, and take the crown of being a solid neutral option under 200$. I could easily listen to the music for a long time with no fatigue, even with complex tracks that has tons of energy, it was able to reveal all the details from them without sounding shouty, very reference like. That said, you might find the tuning of this IEM boring, as nothing really stands out. If you are used to U / V-Shaped IEMs, this will give you a different experience, as they do what they are claimed to do – being a studio grade IEM. Listening to live recordings, such as the soundtrack of the Wicked movie, was a whole experience; Very lively, natural, like I am in the concert. The technical performance of these IEMs are very good, and does meet the expectations from an IEM in their price range: good imaging and stage, good separation. That said, it should be noted that these IEMs do have slightly driver flex. Is that terrible? Not really. Except that, their fit and comfort was good for me, and I didn't feel any pressure buildup or whatsoever, and I could wear them for long. Overall, I think it is a solid option for a studio grade/neutral IEM under 200$, and if you already own many U / V-Shaped IEMs, it might give you another tuning to explore in your collection, something different. Listening to music with no added color is interesting but could be boring. Something to explore.  The ZiiGaat lush can be found in Linsoul Audio store for 179$ in [this following link](https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-lush) (unaffiliated) Big thanks to Linsoul for making this review possible, and thank you – the dear reader, for reading this review. I hope to see you in my next reviews! – Avishai (avishifi) ♥

Same problem of bass shelf + air emphasis. You could get a 'Meta' set and EQ an inverse U-shape with low and high shelves, but if EQ isn't an option then there aren't that many good choices. I've heard praise for the ZiiGaat Lush for avoiding a U-meta, but its treble is contentious depending on fit.

I'd recommend Ziigaat Lush based on your preferences. If you EQ your Waner to match it how'd you like the signature?

You'll definitely grow on the signature if you liked the sensitive areas and lush is special in its price segment. If you liked the sound then I definitely recommend it. Also if you feel like you'd want more bass the Lush reacts to impedance changes so you could add an impedance adapter to boost bass (it also boosts treble a little bit). https://hobbytalk.squig.link/?share=ZiiGaat_Lush,ZiiGaat_Lush_75

Zigaat Lush would be a direct upgrade. ie more neutral warm. Xuan NV imo is better than the Red Zero. Better than Artii 10 as well.

Zigaat Lush with Moondrop spring eartips. Without those tips it's mid. With those tips, it's amazing. Tanchjim Origin / Tanchjim Fission (they look identical on frequency response graphs). Fission is pretty much the same but cheaper parts, cheaper price but almost the same sound. I've been using the Tanchjim Origin for critical editing for voiceover and mixing. Dunu Titan S (original)

I bought the Tangzu Wan'er Studio Edition about 4 days ago and honestly that thing is awesome. If I had to realistically choose a next step up above that...I'd say..Zigaat Lush (with moondrop spring eartips). I totally get what you're saying though. The Wan'er Studio I personally actually ranked higher than Hexa, ER2xr and IE200 for enjoyability. It sounds better than those 3 on vocals. It's quite an amazing IEM for only $20. This was my video review of the Wan'er Studio Edition. So you can definitely tell I was shocked at how good they were: https://youtu.be/ke0K9piq3jo

Zigaat Lush with Moondrop Spring Tips (large) is basically an HD600 for my ears. Even when I monitor with it — speaking into a mic and listening back — it’s dead-on with my voice. Crinacle Dusk (analogue mode) also sits right in that HD600 zone. ======================= Random and slightly crazy thought: grab a neutral mic like a RODE NT1 4th Gen or Austrian OC818, then monitor your voice through different IEMs. It’s kind of a trip — one will sound thin and bright, another warm, another exactly like you. I swear it lines up with their tonal balance The Truthear Pure with Tang Sancai balanced bore (green for me) is pretty close to Hd600 too. Don't use the stock eartips though. It's mud with stock eartips.

I feel like this is the cycle of Hexa. Cycle 1: Hi! I'd like a neutral sounding IEM. Cycle 2: (parrots) HEXA! (buys Hexa) Cycle 3: Oh no. I don't like Hexa. Cycle 4: Halp. I need another IEM. So a few alternatives to check out: \- You might like the Truthear Pure much better. Just use Tang Sancai balanced eartips with it \- You should check out the Zigaat Lush. A warm neutral sound. If you pair it with Moondrop spring tips it sounds really nice. Since you mentioned you have the Senn HD600, you'll feel right at home. When people say the Hexa is like an HD600, I actually don't agree with them and say that (this, the Lush) is closer to the HD600. \-You might like Explorer. It's a chill and sit back kinda IEM \-You might like the Celest Pandamon 2.0. It's currently about $9. It won't wow you right away but over time it grows on you. It's kinda like how the Explorer is. I recommend pairing it with Kiwi ears flex eartips since it really works well with the Pandamon 2.0.

It's pretty close with Moondrop spring tips (Large) imo :D. Definitely far far closer than Hexa for dang sure.

Sure thing! Right after Listener’s comment, I literally put both on just now :D Both the Pure (with Tang Sancai tips) and Lush (with Moondrop Spring tips) get much closer to the HD600 than the Hexa. I did a silly test — grabbed a mic, spoke into it, and switched between the headphones to hear how my own voice playback compared to the 600s. Started with the HD600, then tried the Pure and Lush — and honestly, both got pretty close. The Hexa though? Heck no. It sounded like I was talking through a scraggly RØDE NT1-A, haha. TL;DR: Both are way closer to the HD600 than the Hexa.

So I actually kinda bought a ton of IEMs to answer this question too. I was trying to find something that works for voiceover, for mixing, for critical editing, and for checking how mics sound in reviews. If I had to choose under $300, here’s my categories: * Mixing: Neutral enough to translate well on different setups (HD6xx, speakers, etc.) * Critical editing: Can it expose bad audio or does it hide flaws? * Monitoring: How good it is for hearing your own voice accurately. * Enjoyment: Just how fun it is to listen to. Letshouer Galileo Mixing: Excellent Critical Editing: Excellent Monitoring: Excellent (voice literally sounds just like me when monitoring) Enjoyment: Low Moondrop Blessing 2 / Blessing 3 Mixing: Excellent Critical Editing: Excellent Monitoring: Excellent Enjoyment: Low (pretty harsh, basically MDR-7506s in IEM form) Zigaat Lush Mixing: Excellent Critical Editing: Below average unless you crank the volume on sibilant spots Monitoring: Excellent Enjoyment: Good

Etymotic ER2XR / ER4XR Mixing: Below average (soundstage is too 2D) Critical Editing: Excellent Monitoring: Excellent Enjoyment: Okay Crinacle Daybreak (surprisingly) Mixing: Depends—more “Meta” neutral than Etymotic-style Critical Editing: Excellent (picks up sibilance like crazy, great for catching issues) Monitoring: Excellent Enjoyment: High Xuan NV (big surprise) Mixing: No, too much bass Critical Editing: Excellent (vocals are super accurate for both male and female) Monitoring: Iffy—low impedance can be weird with interfaces like the MOTU M2 Enjoyment: High Thieaudio Legacy 2 Mixing: Excellent Critical Editing: Excellent Monitoring: Excellent Enjoyment: Decent Cadenza 4 Mixing: Excellent Critical Editing: Excellent Monitoring: Excellent Enjoyment: Excellent Orchestra Lite Mixing: Excellent (surprisingly neutral—not bright like Blessing 2/3, not warm like Dusk or Lush) Critical Editing: Excellent Monitoring: Excellent Enjoyment: Excellent Basically the Studio4 but more revealing with sibilance instead of smoothing it out. Hexa I don’t really recommend it—too many fit issues and inconsistent impressions. If you do try it, use wide-bore tips (not narrow). Video explaining why: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x-T8el9fbs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x-T8el9fbs) Hope this helps.

Softears Studio 4 (better for female vocals, ie kpop) Xuan NV (great for male and female vocals. Imo better than Truthear Nova. But soundstage is lacking on Xuan NV). But it's a hell of a deal for $67. Great artwork box. Great eartips (usually 20 bucks). Great cable. Great sound. Kiwi Ears Astral (better for female vocals. But no penalty for male vocals) Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite (better for female vocals) Cadenza 4 (great all-rounder) Juzear Defiant (at least the unit I have; mine works fine. Vocals are spot on for male and female vocals.) YMMV but I feel like Zigaat Lush has good vocals too.

Damn. A lot of the ones I think hit the mark are either discontinued or recently went out of stock. I really wish they still had the Westone Mach 60s deal for $350. They used to have this deal where it was the Westone Mach 60s + Ifigo for $350. That imo is pretty spot-on accurate with vocals, microphones, etc, and doesn’t compromise on soundstage. Overall it’s like perfect for your application. But yeah, they don’t have the deal anymore. That said, here’s what I’d recommend, trying to calibrate to what you’re saying. Since you have the Studio 4, I can calibrate to that. If you want something with more bass than Studio 4, accurate vocals, but less soundstage and technicals than Studio 4, you can go for the Xuan NV. They’re basically like the Audio Technica M50x, over emphasized bass but accurate vocals. They imo completely replace the Audio Technica ATH-E40. TLDR: accurate vocals, exaggerated bass, not as good soundstage. Shure SE846, 1st gen or 2nd gen, but go 1st gen. Use the neutral blue filter and either the included yellow sponges or just plop on a Final Audio E large. This imo gets pretty close to JBL 305s. Don't bother with the 2nd gen. The only draw of the 2nd generation is the red filter and the red filter isn't even good. Blue filter is closer to neutral. Zigaat Lush with Moondrop spring tips. I tested a bunch of tips but for some reason the Spring tips help a lot. These have an HD600 tonality and sound. It does tend to dull out sibilance a bit, so it’s not good for critical editing, but it’s pretty warm-neutral. Tanchjim Fola, but use the D filter. D filter equals a better Nora. Warmer than Truthear Hexa, but a bit less warm than Truthear Pure. This is the Truthear Hola upgraded, if you have it from years past, but with better technicals and better vocals. Hard to explain, but you’d only understand this if you have all of these to understand: Truthear Hola, Truthear Pure, Truthear Hexa. Totally different company though. If you use the S filter (default filter) it'll sound like a 90% Tanchjim Origin. Which still actually is useful for your application too. Dusk, Tea Pros, RSV Mark 1 if you’re looking more for the Meta sound and you think Meta is neutral. Beyerdynamic DT70IE. These are very accurate with vocals, but also have bass. These are sort of a refined version of the Xuan NV. Think Xuan NV but better soundstage. A bit overpriced as all Beyer stuff are, but even voiceactors swear by this (they talk about how accurate vocals are on it). I have it and these have amazing comfort. I feel like the fair price for this is $300, but these are great for what you’re looking for. Cadenza 4. Odd choice, I know. But I pegged these as accurate enough for mixing and critical editing. No weak bass on these. Vocals are accurate. U-shaped. Excellent for enjoyment. You might love these. Letshouer Galileo. This is honestly the closest I’ve seen to dead-neutral. I have these and these are insane. When I wear a microphone and speak into this, this sounds exactly like me. It’s insane how neutral these are. But good luck finding these. They’re very hard to find. But imo much closer to my notion of neutral. Kiwi Ears Aether. Think better Hexa. This is not an enjoyable set at all, but I respect its existence. It’s neutral-ish, less harsh than the Hexa, and has better soundstage than the Hexa. But it’s joyless. You might like these. Keep the Studio 4s since they bring so much joy.

It’s honestly hard to find something that’s Tea Pro–warm (or warmer), Tea Pro–level quality, and more comfortable than the Tea Pros. Here are the warm IEMs I’ve tested: (1) Truthear Pure – Warm-ish, but comfort isn’t better than Tea Pro. (2) Mega5EST – Warm-ish, but whether it’s more comfortable is debatable. I also personally think the Tea Pros (and Dusk) sound better. (3) RSV Mark 1 – Definitely warm. Pretty comfy. Still debatable if it’s actually more comfortable. Sonically, this is better than Tea Pros *to me*. (4) Dusk – Warm-slanted, but the nozzle is bigger. Tea Pros are more comfy. (5) Dunu SA6 Mk2 – More neutral-warm than truly warm. I prefer Tea Pros by a lightyear. (6) Ziigaat Lush – Neutral-warm. Comfort isn’t better. (7) Aful Explorer – Better comfort. Definitely warm. Worse than Tea Pros. Worse than Kima 2 imo. (8) Kima 2 – Genuinely punches hard for the money and is really comfortable. Neutral-warm done right. Comfort is along the lines of Senn / Tanchjim stuff, i.e. small shells. Alternatively, you could look at the IER-M7. The IE600 wouldn’t be my recommendation for what you’re looking for — it’s more V-shaped with sharper highs. Edit: There’s also the Softears Volume S. I didn’t keep it long because it reminded me too much of the Truthear Pure (with Tang Sancai balanced bore eartips). That’s not a knock — it’s actually very good — but the Pure makes it feel redundant, and it tends to do that to quite a few IEMs.

Going to use a grading system: A, B, C, D, F like in school A means excellent B is good C is average D is bad F is absolute fail **Mixing:** Going to avoid using the word "neutral" because then every mofo comes in the thread saying, what's neutral. Let's use the word "even-keeled'. Good iems for mixing are generally more even-keeled. If it has way too much bass you'll thin out your mix. If it's way too trebly and bright and shouty you're going to overcompensate. Ideally you want something more even-keeled. **Enjoyability:** Subjective. But how enjoyable it is **Critical Editing:** This isn't the same as mixing. But it means will it let you know if you have shit audio. If I listen to Kanye's sibilant ass tracks does he sound sibilant on them? If I listen to Lana White Dress is she sibilant on it? She better be. If I watch a DMS video from 6 years ago, does he sound sibilant on it? He better. Because he does. This is important because you need to evaluate your audio and the iem lets you know your audio is shit before thousands of people hear it. Etymotic ERXR Enjoyability: C to B to A. Pretty good, depending on who you ask Critical editing: A+. Very good at letting you know areas of trouble in your audio Mixing: D. Poor soundstage Truthear Hexa Enjoyability: D. I hate it Critical editing: A+ with wide bore tips Mixing: C. Imo actually a bit thin on lowend. You'll overcompensate. Also the soundstage on Hexa is kinda eh ngl. Salnotes Zero Original Enjoyability: C. I think it's ok. Or mid. Critical editing: B. Honestly pretty good at letting you know egregious areas. The version 1 is less forgiving with sibilance than 2, so it's better for critical editing. Zero 2 blunts the sibilance out (better for enjoyers; bad for audio engineers) Mixing: A. pretty neutral imo Softears Studio 4 Enjoyability: A to A+. Very enjoyable IEM Critical editing: D. Ironically. It smooths out all sibilance so you won't know sibilance is there. This is why it's so beautiful sounding. Mixing: A+. Very neutral. I'd even say probably my closest definition of neutral Moondrop Blessing 2 Enjoyability: D (harsh, shouty, bright, sibilant). Same with Blessing 3. Critical Editing: A. These are very picky with harshness in vocals. I genuinely think these are the Sony MDR 7506 in iem form. Mixing: A Zigaat Lush Enjoyability: B to A Critical Editing: C You won't really find problem areas of sibilance. You really really really have to crank it to hear it. Mixing: A. Pretty even-keeled. Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite: Enjoyability: B to C Critical Editing: A. Excellent at picking out flaws. Mixing: A+. Excellent at telling you the whole picture. Excellent for mixing. Very very even-keeled.

Letshouer Cadenza 4 Enjoyability: A to A+ Critical Editing: B to A Mixing: A. While a bit U-shaped it's not egregious. It's enough to make decisions. Sennheiser IE200 Enjoyability: B to A Critical Editing: D to F (rounds out a lot of sibilance imo, which is actually a good thing for enjoyers). Mixing: B. Kind of shocking but while people call this v-shaped this is actually not as v-shaped imo. If you monitor yourself using these iems it'll sound exactly like you down to the microphone. Most other v-shaped iems don't do that. Crinacle Daybreak Enjoyability: B to A- Critical Editing: A (rofl. It's funny because it genuinely is good at picking out bad audio. If it sounds harsh it's because the original track is harsh) Mixing: B (This is more of a "Meta" tuned iem. But imo just enough where it sounds true) Crinacle Dusk Enjoyability: B to A+ (depending on who you ask) Critical Editing: C on Analogue. F on DSP. It rolls out sibilance by quite a large margin. Mixing: A on analogue mode. Honestly pretty neutral. almost HD600ish. But about a C on DSP mode. Tanchjim Origin Enjoyability: C to A (depending on who you ask) Critical editing: A (it'll definitely let you know spicy regions Mixing: A. A bit bright-slanted but definitely capable for mixing. Theioaudio Legacy 2: Enjoyability: C Critical editing: A+ Mixing: A+ Xuan NV (honorable mention) Enjoyability: A Critical editing: B Mixing: D (too bassy imo) I mention these because imo these are the Audio Technica M50x of iems but the size of 2 quarters. They basically give you accurate vocals down to the tee but thumpy bass. The vocals are very accurate on these. Not good for mixing though. Dunu Titan S (original) Enjoyability: C Critical editing: D (the treble is rounded out quite a bit) mixing: A (these are my imo pretty close to neutral)

Ziigaat Lush is just a better Explorer and it's close to that range, either one i would not call an all-rounder though, unless you know you want a warm sound. Supermix 4 has QC issues and inverted polarity, Nova is the better Harman for sure and can be had right around 100 frequently. The pure is a straight improvement on the Hexa but it's also kind of muddy. Personally, my rec is Crinear Daybreaks on sale. Truthear Pure if you can't swing that.

Either Ziigaat Lush, Odyssey 1, Luna, or Arcanis. I have tried Lush and Odyssey, and I think they are both punching way above their price point. Lush is honestly too good to skip for around $150 (based on local pricing) and Odyssey 1 is just a crazy set for about $200 (again, local pricing). As for Luna and Arcanis, unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to try them yet but hoping to tho.

One reason is unique sound signature. Example - my ZiiGaat Lush. There's literally no cheaper IEM that has the same kind of sound signature. Yes, there's Pure, but it's shoutier. Yes, there's Explorer, but its much bassier and fuller in 1.5khz region. And although the latter 2 are good IEMs, the sound signature that I can confidently call my endgame is Lush's. Second reason is tecnhicalities. Better attack is a thing, multiple drivers is a thing - it all improves dynamics and separation if applied correctly. Yes, the differences are insignificant, more so to an untrained listener, but they do exist and some people feel like they're not satisfied unless their gear satisfies their image of what good technical performance is.

ZiiGaat Lush, which I got for $100 open box. Literally my best deal ever. With Final Audio Type E or TRN T tips (whichever are more comfortable to you) they become an ultimate "chill at low volume, engaging at high volume" set, which to me makes them an Explorer on steroids. You can crank them up to the stratosphere (do not repeat) and they will still sound fine - without obvious shoutiness and sibilance compared to Harman-tuned IEMs. Soundstage is ok, but definitely nothing crazy like AKG K702 levels.

ZiiGaat and AFUL have more of the unique tuning approach and are the Chinese brands that I liked the most on my journey so far (less treble than typical Harman and interesting eargain handling for ZiiGaats, characteristic upper-mid plateau for AFUL)

Honestly, bass in Lush isn't as low as it seems on graphs. I listen to them with SpinFit CP100+ tips, and their bass combined with relaxed treble is quite impactful. So give it a try, It truly is a special set in its' price bracket

A lot of tips for tip rolling on my ZiiGaat Lush. Final Audio Type E, CP100+, TRN T, Dunu S&S and so on.

Hi, thanks for providing your input on the Lush! I actually blind-bought these since I have been exploring more of the smoother/tamer IEMs. It took me a while to gett used to them since they were a tad bit darker than what I could expect. Although, they did work well as a remedy while I was sick these past few days and I think I suffer from a case hyperacusis (extra sensitive to noise while having a flu or fever even). I also noticed that you have provided your own frequency response graph! Would you be kind to share your process on setting one up? Thanks!

Depends on price budget. When you say neutral, its going to have way less bass/sub bass than the APP2s. And "exciting" sorta contradicts neutral. Neutral suggestions: Hexas, Supermix 4, Ziggat Lush, Orchestra Lite