In this post, Kurt reviews the ZiiGaat Arcanis, the company’s flagship hybrid dual 10mm dynamic driver and 5 Knowles BA driver universal IEM. It is currently priced at $399.00.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in return for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank the team at Linsoul and ZiiGaat for giving me this opportunity.
Click here to read more about ZiiGaat products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
ZiiGaat has steadily expanded its lineup with models like the Odyssey and Lush, each aiming for different tunings and audiences along the way.
Their latest release, the ZiiGaat Arcanis, takes a more audiophile-focused approach, offering a sound that looks to perform strongly across the board.
With its 7-driver hybrid setup, the Arcanis sets out to be the most complete IEM ZiiGaat has made so far.
Will the Arcanis solidify itself as the true premium entry in ZiiGaat’s growing lineup, and how does it compare to competitors such as the THIEAUDIO Hype 4? I found out in my full review below.
Features
The ZiiGaat Arcanis features a dual dynamic driver and 5-balanced armature hybrid configuration in a 4-way configuration.
At the core of the low-end, the Arcanis utilizes a pair of 10mm dynamic drivers arranged in an isobaric structure.
The midrange and treble are powered by five Knowles balanced armature drivers with Knowles 32873 drivers for the low-mids, two Knowles 29689 drivers for the mid-treble range, and a single Knowles 33518 driver handles the upper treble extension.
Design
At first glance, the ZiiGaat Arcanis stands out immediately with its bright and colorful faceplate design.
A mix of vivid teal, silvery flakes, and lighter blue specks spread naturally across the surface, giving it a cracked emerald or a Nordic frozen lake-like appearance, depending on the light.
Despite its vibrant look, the faceplate remains clean and uncluttered, with a simple white ZiiGaat logo placed neatly in the center. The randomness of the pattern gives each shell a unique finish without making it feel chaotic or messy.
The ZiiGaat Arcanis uses a deep black glossy resin for the main shell, shaped with smooth and rounded curves that fit the ear comfortably. Subtle marbling lines are faintly visible under certain lighting angles, adding a soft, textured effect to the otherwise plain surface.
Like previous ZiiGaat releases, the inner side of the shells has gold-printed markings showing the name of the IEM, “ARCANIS,” along with a unique serial number. Each marking also doubles as a left and right indicator, with clear “L” and “R” prefixes for easy channel identification.
A single circular vent can be found near the outer edge of each faceplate, protected by a fine mesh grill that blends in well with the shell. The nozzles use polished silver metal with a properly finished tip and a clear nozzle lip to secure tips easily without slipping.
Comfort & Isolation
The ZiiGaat Arcanis has a standard-sized shell, shaped ergonomically to comfortably follow the contours of the ear. Its slightly elongated appearance can make it seem bigger than it really is, though this doesn’t negatively affect its fit or perceived weight.
One noticeable drawback I found with the Arcanis is the noticeable driver flex noise inside the shell whenever the faceplate is pressed. This noise can become bothersome during fit adjustments and raises some concerns regarding the IEM’s durability over time.
Despite the driver flex, the overall wearing experience remains highly comfortable. Its smooth, rounded, and lightweight build makes extended listening or gaming sessions fatigue-free and enjoyable.
However, it isn’t ideal for bedtime listening, as head movements easily trigger driver flex, causing distracting sounds. For portable or active use, its virtually weightless feel makes it an excellent companion.
Isolation performance is only average, with ambient noises easily making their way into the ears, even after experimenting with different ear tips. Due to the driver flex issue, using the Arcanis as earplugs to block external sound is also not recommended.
Tips
The ZiiGaat Arcanis comes with a simple set of silicone and foam ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes. The included tips use a standard design with a soft orange stem for the silicone set and a single large pair for the foam tips.
I expected a more upgraded selection given the higher positioning of the Arcanis compared to ZiiGaat’s past releases. Instead, the included tips feel identical in material and build, offering no noticeable improvements in variety or quality.
Comfort-wise, the silicone tips remain soft and flexible enough for daily use, creating a decent seal without much effort.
However, the foam tips still retain the slightly loose structure seen with the Arcanis, which can sometimes make the fit feel less secure depending on the nozzle contact.
It leaves more to be desired, especially when compared to the more premium tip offerings found in other IEMs around this level. While functional, the tip selection doesn’t match the more polished design and driver setup that the Arcanis otherwise presents.
Stock Cable
The stock cable included with the Arcanis carries over the same design seen with previous ZiiGaat releases. It uses a thin black four-braid structure that splits neatly into two strands leading to the 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.
While functional, I expected something more refined or modular for the Arcanis, considering its position as ZiiGaat’s premium offering. Instead, the cable feels identical to what was provided with the Lush, offering no improvements in flexibility, build, or finish.
The cable stays lightweight enough for daily use and never feels heavy during longer sessions. However, it falls short of matching the higher-end image that the ZiiGaat Arcanis tries to present with its upgraded driver setup.
Color coding is kept simple with a red right indicator and a blue left indicator for quick setup. It’s plain design gets the job done, but it leaves a small gap between the shell’s visual impact and the accessories that come with it.
Packaging & Accessories
Opening the box, the ZiiGaat Arcanis greets you with a familiar style used for the Lush. A black matte sleeve wraps around the box, showing a centered ZiiGaat logo, images of the IEMs, and bold “ARCANIS” branding paired with a smaller “2DD + 5BA Hybrid IEMs” label underneath.
Opening the box shows the IEMs sitting inside soft black foam cutouts, with the rest of the accessories which are hidden underneath in a separate lower compartment.
The lower compartment houses the bundled zippered carrying case, which uses a semi-rigid frame wrapped in a soft faux-leather finish. Its zipper design is tucked discreetly under the edge of the case, creating a cleaner, uninterrupted look compared to more common exposed zippers.
Inside the case, you’ll find three pairs of silicone tips with orange stems, a single pair of foam tips, and the same braided black cable coiled neatly.
It’s disappointing to see that the ZiiGaat Arcanis mirrors the Lush’s accessory setup entirely, missing the chance to introduce higher-quality extras that better match its more premium positioning.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the ZiiGaat Arcanis were completed using a mix of the Heartfield R1 and the Colorfly CDA-M2 for source and amplification.
Bass
Rather than delivering any sort of basshead-level impact, the ZiiGaat Arcanis keeps its low-end more reserved and balanced. It leans toward a clean and technical presentation, never giving a wow factor but focusing instead on clarity and refinement.
Subbass presence is there with a good level of rumble when called for, offering depth without overwhelming the rest of the sound. However, I did find myself wishing for a bit more quantity in the subbass to make the basslines feel a bit more engaging across different tracks.
Midbass performance stands out stronger, delivering a satisfying punch and slam across most tracks. It carries impact cleanly without any sense of muddiness or bass bleeding into the lower mids, keeping the sound tight and well-separated.
There’s a tight and compact quality to the bass, maintaining full control even during busy or fast-paced passages. It never feels boomy or loose, which helps the overall presentation sound mature and highly detailed without losing its composure.
Mids
What makes the ZiiGaat Arcanis stand out most is its midrange, offering a presentation that feels both natural and polished without sounding overly bright or dry.
It finds a proper middle ground between a neutral reference style and brighter vocal tuning, giving just enough energy without ever becoming sharp or harsh.
Timbre is excellent, with instruments and vocals sounding realistic and grounded across different genres. There’s a sense of naturalness here that keeps the mids lively without ever pushing into an artificial or overly colored tone.
Female vocals carry a sparkly and slightly energetic edge that helps them shine without becoming overly forward.
Male vocals have good note weight and presence, though a little more thickness in the lower mids could have added extra body and warmth, especially for bass guitars and deeper vocal ranges.
Vocal texture and fine nuances are captured beautifully, allowing subtle shifts in breath and emotion to come through with ease. This attention to detail helps the Arcanis deliver a vocal presentation that feels both engaging and technically refined.
Treble
Smoothness and balance define the treble tuning of the ZiiGaat Arcanis, avoiding any sharpness, peaks, or shoutiness across the upper range. It maintains a clean and polished character that feels mature and easy to listen to without needing adjustment.
Treble extension is excellent, bringing strong sparkle and air into the presentation without ever sounding fatiguing or aggressive. Nuances like finger slides, soft chimes, and background bells come through clearly, showing great retrieval without ever feeling forced or artificially boosted.
Sibilance is completely absent, with no signs of harshness or unwanted spikes even on sibilant-prone recordings. It’s one of those treble tunings that eliminates sibilance as a concern entirely, making it easy to enjoy longer sessions without fatigue.
Cymbals and high hats sound impressively natural, with no signs of artificial metallic tones or exaggerated emphasis. The upper treble remains smooth and realistic, helping the Arcanis maintain a musical and non-fatiguing top-end even during busier tracks.
Staging & Dynamics
One of the most immediately noticeable strengths of the ZiiGaat Arcanis is how wide and open the soundstage feels. There’s an impressive sense of width that goes beyond average IEMs, paired with proper depth and a surprising amount of vertical space.
Sounds don’t just stretch left to right but also rise slightly above the listener, helping create a natural three-dimensional effect that adds immersion to both music and games. This wider playground lets directional cues and ambient effects play across the stage without feeling boxed in.
Imaging stands out with precision, letting every instrument and element occupy its place without blending into others. Even in busier tracks, the Arcanis keeps the stage free of congestion, making it easy to pick apart different sounds effortlessly.
Layering and separation are equally strong, giving instruments and effects room to breathe without stepping over one another. It can place sounds slightly to the left, right, top, or bottom, and it does so with a cohesiveness that avoids disjointed or awkward positioning.
Dynamics stay clean and lively at average listening levels, but pushing the volume too high can make the vocals sound brighter and introduce some fatigue. The Arcanis sounds its best when played at moderate loudness, preserving its smooth and natural character.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
