In this article, Kurt reviews the ZiiGaat Odyssey, the company’s latest hybrid 10mm Topology dynamic driver and triple BA universal IEM priced at $229.
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 Linsoul products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
ZiiGaat began its journey producing OEM products, crafting headphones, TWS, and earbuds for various brands.
Over time, they transitioned into creating their own brand, allowing them the freedom to experiment and showcase their unique approach to audio design.
The ZiiGaat Odyssey enters the scene with a blend of thoughtful design and audio innovations, reflecting the brand’s passion and commitment to quality.
Will the Odyssey secure its place as a defining product in ZiiGaat’s lineup? How does it perform against similarly priced competitors such as the Heartfield Blanc and Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite? I found out in my full review below.
Features
The ZiiGaat Odyssey comes equipped with a 4-driver hybrid setup, featuring one custom 10mm Topology Dynamic Driver and three Knowles balanced armature drivers.
The dynamic driver uses a specially crafted Topology diaphragm with nanoparticle dispersion layers, ensuring better control and durability for delivering accurate bass.
Handling the midrange are two Knowles RAF 32873 balanced armature drivers, known for their precise and stable performance in both vocals and instruments.
For the treble, a Knowles RAD 33518 tweeter takes charge, offering clean and detailed high frequencies without harshness.
The Odyssey is rated at 18Ω impedance and 104 dB/mW SPL, making it a fairly easy-to-drive IEM that should pose no challenges for modern DAPs and dongles.
Design
The ZiiGaat Odyssey features a sleek, glossy black resin shell paired with an eye-catching faceplate. Its design blends red and silver glitter, creating a striking resemblance to a red nebula in space, with the ZiiGaat logo placed at the center.
The shell’s ergonomic shape ensures a snug and secure fit, offering immediate comfort. Its smooth finish feels pleasant to the touch and sits securely in the ear without causing any discomfort.
Despite being a hybrid IEM with a larger build, the Odyssey remains surprisingly lightweight. This makes it easy to wear for extended periods without any noticeable strain or fatigue.
On the inner faceplate side, gold-printed product IDs are present, primarily for warranty purposes. Interestingly, the left and right channel markings are integrated into the product ID, with an “L” or “R” prefix distinguishing each side.
A vent is positioned on the top side near the 0.78mm 2-pin connectors. This vent is larger than average, which should effectively prevent pressure buildup during use.
Comfort & Isolation
The ZiiGaat Odyssey delivers great comfort despite its larger shell size. Its lightweight build makes it easy to wear for long sessions without feeling heavy or awkward in the ear.
The smooth resin shell lacks sharp edges or rough corners, allowing it to sit securely without causing discomfort. It’s even comfortable enough for scenarios like sleeping, where other IEMs might press awkwardly against the ear.
Isolation, on the other hand, is just okay. External sounds still manage to slip through more than expected, especially in noisier environments.
The larger vent near the 2-pin connectors seems to play a role in this. While it helps with pressure relief and airflow, it also seems to let in more outside noise than tighter-sealing designs.
Tips
The ZiiGaat Odyssey comes with two types of ear tips: silicone tips with a stiff yellow stem and a single pair of foam tips. The silicone tips feel like a jab in my ear, making them uncomfortable to wear.
The stiffness also prevents a proper seal, which directly affects the sound quality. Bass feels weak, vocals lose their fullness, and percussion ends up dominating the treble in an unbalanced way.
Switching to the foam tips improves the experience significantly. They mold better to the ear canal, offering a secure seal and a more balanced sound overall.
Even with this improvement, the included tips don’t quite feel like the best fit for the Odyssey. Using third-party ear tips gave me a better experience both in comfort and sound quality.
Stock Cable
The ZiiGaat Odyssey’s stock cable feels a bit underwhelming in terms of quality. Its plain black design doesn’t bring much personality to the table and lacks any visual details to match the IEM’s eye-catching faceplate.
There’s also a noticeable flimsiness to it, making it feel like it could snap with a firm tug. It doesn’t inspire much confidence for long-term durability, especially for regular use on the go.
Another limitation is the lack of modularity. It only comes with a single fixed termination, leaving no option to swap between different connectors like 4.4mm balanced or 6.35mm adapters.
On a brighter note, the cable is lightweight and comfortable to wear for long sessions. The clean braiding helps keep tangles at bay, making it at least practical for daily use.
Packaging & Accessories
The ZiiGaat Odyssey comes in a box with a similar nebula design on the IEM’s faceplate, prominently displayed on the front. Key specifications, including driver configuration and product highlights, are printed clearly for easy reference.
On the back, more detailed technical information about the Odyssey is provided. The sides of the box continue the nebula theme with additional branding and specifications.
Lifting the outer cover reveals a black box with the ZiiGaat logo embossed in the center. No additional patterns or graphics are seen aside from the logo.
Inside the box, the IEMs are securely placed in foam cutouts. Below them, a smaller ZiiGaat-branded box houses the carrying case with a ZiiGaat-etched logo in the middle that’s also smooth to the touch.
Opening the carrying case with its zipper reveals the included stock cable and ear tips. Two types of ear tips are provided: small, medium, and large yellow-stem silicone tips and one pair of foam tips.
The included stock cable is braided neatly beside the tips. Aside from that, no additional accessories, like modular connectors or adapters, are included in the package.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the ZiiGaat Odyssey were completed using a mix of the FiiO JA11, the Heartfield R1, and the Colorfly CDA-M2.
Bass
The ZiiGaat Odyssey delivers a decent amount of sub-bass, but it doesn’t fully reach into the deepest low-end frequencies. There’s a light rumble that adds some texture, but it leans more towards subtlety rather than delivering a strong impact.
The mid-bass has a similar character, offering enough punch and slam to give drums and basslines some weight. However, it doesn’t hit as hard or feel that powerful to leave a lasting impression.
The lowest parts of the bass seem to roll off early, so some of that deep presence feels missing. Instead of being a standout feature, the bass takes on a more laid-back role in the overall sound.
It feels more like a supporting layer rather than the main focus, sitting neatly behind the mids and treble. There’s no unwanted bleed or bloat, which keeps everything sounding tidy and controlled.
While it doesn’t deliver the power you might expect, the bass stays clean and avoids any noticeable muddiness. It comfortably assists the overall tuning to prevent it from sounding dry without drawing too much attention to itself.
Mids
The ZiiGaat Odyssey handles the midrange well, especially considering it uses balanced armatures for it. There’s very little of that typical BA timbre, leaving instruments and vocals sounding natural and realistic.
Vocals have a good sense of weight, with both male and female voices feeling full and present. There’s nothing thin or hollow about them, and they carry a smooth, musical, and fun sound throughout.
One of the standout qualities here is how controlled the mids sound. There’s no shoutiness or harshness, even when the upper midrange starts to peak, making longer listening sessions quite easy on the ears.
Vocal texture is also handled nicely, with enough detail to feel engaging but never scratchy or overly sharp. Instead, the presentation leans smooth, keeping things clean and pleasant to listen to.
Lastly, vocals are quite forward in the mix, sitting right at the center of the soundstage. There’s no weird vocal positioning that makes a mess of the mix or music.
Treble
The ZiiGaat Odyssey’s treble has a smooth and relaxed character, leaning slightly towards a darker tone. It doesn’t deliver much sparkle or a standout “wow” factor, but it keeps the highs tame and controlled.
Detail retrieval isn’t the treble’s strongest point, with certain elements in tracks sounding dampened. It gives the impression that parts of the music are missing, even though you know they’re there.
A key strength is the lack of any brightness or sibilance, making the treble easy to listen to over extended sessions. There’s no harshness or sharp peaks, keeping the listening experience comfortable and enjoyable.
While the airiness is fairly average, the treble never feels flat or lifeless. Instead, it complements the overall tuning, giving vocals just enough lift to remain present without overwhelming other elements.
Staging & Dynamics
The ZiiGaat Odyssey’s soundstage is average, keeping most of the experience within your head. It does, however, offer a bit more depth and height than expected, which helps add some dimension to the overall presentation.
Imaging is surprisingly accurate, with vocals and instruments placed clearly in the mix. Vocals are always front and center, making them the main focus without ever feeling lost or overshadowed.
Separation is handled well, even during complex or busy tracks. Instruments and vocals remain distinct, avoiding any sense of congestion or blending.
The dynamics are consistent, with the midrange staying prominent while the bass and treble take on more supporting roles. Everything works together smoothly, with no frequencies fighting for attention or standing out awkwardly.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
