ZiiGaat Cinno

Introduction

I must admit that headphone brands from China are like flowers in spring: there are many, many different ones, and a new one is appearing all the time. ZiiGaat seems to be one of them. However, they have been developing OEM and ODM products for numerous global audio brands for more than a decade. Their passion for audio has led them to found their own brand. The name ZiiGaat is an acronym derived from their core values: Zero-in on Ideas, Innovate, Grow and Achieve All Together. They express their desire to collaborate with the audiophile community, listen to their suggestions and work together. Their vision is to be the world's leading brand in collaborative audio solutions. As for the product to be discussed in this review, the ZiiGaat Cinno is a hybrid IEMS with a 10mm liquid crystal polymer dynamic driver for powerful bass and four balanced armature drivers for optimal audio quality, meticulously tuned for a balanced tonal signature, and designed with a tiny, ergonomic shape for comfortable and extended listening sessions. The sub-bass and bass are powerful, the midrange is slightly warm and the treble is perfectly matched to the response of the human pinna. The Cinno is tuned according to the most optimal balanced tonal signature, which is suitable for both audiophile and professional stage use. As stated on their packaging, the Cinno belong to the ZiiPluse series. Actually, the description of the brand is complete and I am only left with the rest of the questions in this review. Let's get to it.



Specifications

• Driver Type: 10mm dynamic driver with LCP diaphragm + 2 BA drivers for midrange and treble + 2 BA drivers for treble.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz + 20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 107dB(at 1KHz/mW)
• THD: <0.5% (@1kHz).
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Nominal power: 5mW.
• Maximum power: 10mW.
• Jack Connector: SE 3.5mm
• Capsule Connection Type: Detachable 2Pin 0.78mm.
• Price: 99$ USD.

Packaging

The ZiiGaat Cinno case is small and black, measuring 116x83x33mm. On the main side, at the top, there is the brand logo, at the bottom left is the name of the model and a small description, all in white letters. In the centre, on the right, there is a semicircle with various fluid colours. On the back side, at the top, are all the icons of the certifications it meets. The lower half repeats the name and description of the model, while at the bottom are the brand's marks. In the centre, the coloured semicircle on a grid is also repeated. Throughout the packaging are capsules of different colours and sizes, like rain falling diagonally. After removing the outer cardboard, a completely black and smooth box appears. Under the lid you can see the two capsules embedded in a foam base lined with black cardboard. Underneath are a pair of transparent zip bags containing the rest of the accessories. In summary, the complete contents are as follows:

• The two ZiiGaat Cinno capsules.
• Three pairs of black silicone tips, sizes SxMxL.
• One two-strand cable with gold-plated 3.5mm SE connector and 2Pin 0.78mm interface.
• One warranty card.

Nothing else, no carrying bag, let alone any accessories for storing the IEMS. In my opinion, the basic packaging should consist of a set of tips and an accessory for storing the set. If we look at the fact that this product costs 99$ USD, the contents are clearly insufficient. In fact, the tips are quite generic and only one set is included. On the other hand, the cable does not seem to be of poor quality, but it is not specified anywhere what materials have been used for the construction of the conductor.



Construction and Design

According to the brand itself: "One of the Cinno's goals was to achieve a sound signature and physical design that would be comfortable and enjoyable even in the longest listening sessions. The Cinno's housing is tiny in relation to the configuration of its drivers." Indeed it is. The capsules are constructed of dark grey polished resin. There are two distinct parts, the outer face and the inner face. The outer side is flat and shows the brand logo in black. The shape of this face has a tendency to resemble a right triangle, but with very rounded corners, so much so that even the sides are also slightly curved. The inner face is smooth and slopes gently downwards towards the nozzles. It has no shape or apex to fit into the pinna, as its size is small and it protrudes only minimally from it. All edges are very rounded, and the thickness is on the thin side. The 2Pin 0.78mm interface is fully integrated into the capsules and does not protrude at all. Next to it there is a hole. There is another hole at the base of the mouthpieces. These nozzles are also integrated with the capsule. They are on a wider circular base, their central part is narrower and the crown is wider, but their step is slightly progressive and irregular, they are not perfect cylinders, but there is a rounded irregularity. The height of the mouthpiece could be up to 5mm. The centre diameter is 5.5mm, while the crown is 6.3mm. The design is solid and robust despite its ultra-light weight. They are relatively small and it is true that for their small size it is difficult to accommodate so many drivers, even though they are not very thick. They must have made good use of the space inside.
The cable has two strands coated with slightly translucent PVC. The inner conductor appears to have a dark turquoise blue coating. The sleeve of the gold-plated SE 3.5mm connector is a black metal cylinder, which has 3 grooves around it, one near the connector, two at the cable outlet. This exit is protected by a rubber sleeve which is tapered in two diameters. The splitter piece is another, smaller, black metal cylinder of the same style, with two grooves near the cable entry and exit. The pin is a metal ring with two holes inside, they are somewhat large and the wires slide through them more than usual, so their adjustment function is minor, sometimes insufficient. The gold-plated 0.78mm pin sleeves are still two black, metallic cylinders. The two grooves are close to the cable entry, while the cylinder becomes conical from them. The cable has an over-ear guide made of a transparent plastic coating. Hard to see, but at the base of the 2Pin connection interface, on the upper short side, there is a blue dot to indicate the left channel and a red dot to indicate the right side.
As the brand itself says, in the construction and design, comfort, lightness and a small size that favours ergonomics and a long-lasting continuous use have been the priority. Despite this, as I said, the capsules look solid and with a simple but quality finish. Although, when you look a little closer, there are small details and finishes that seem a little fragile, such as the nozzle grilles. Worst of all, the glossy surface is a magnet for fingerprints and the slightly stiff cable.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

The Cinno's soft shapes, light weight and small size are a great success in terms of comfort and excellent fit. The mouthpieces are not very long, but have good projection. But, being relatively wide, the insertion varies between shallow and medium, depending on the tips that can be used. As usual, I have used my large foam-filled tips and the fit is immediate, very occlusive. The capsules fit very well in the pinna and once seated they do not rotate or move. As they are not very thick, they do not stick out too much, which helps when wearing them outside the home. These capsules are ideal for daily or sports use thanks to their ergonomics, small size and light weight.



Sound

Profile

The ZiiGaat Cinno's profile is warm, slightly dark, enhanced in the sub-bass, but fairly balanced throughout its frequency range. It is relatively flat from 100Hz to almost 10kHz, moving in a 6dB range, giving an idea of the homogeneity of its profile. It is clear that its foundation is a powerful lower range, warm, full-bodied midrange, a good level of physicality and fullness. The upper-midrange is subtly emancipated, just enough to add a necessary point of transparency and clarity. Beyond that, the treble is extended, slightly flattened, controlled, shaded, but in continuous and gentle descent, to give the sound the necessary harmonics, a very light brightness, with a lot of smoothness and control. The result is a sound that is powerful at its base, but more explicit than one might think when looking at its FR. The midrange is very full, relatively bleed-free and with a lot of personality. The highs have some sparkle with a moderate presence and energy level, as well as a fairly accomplished extension, though admittedly the whole has a dark edge to it.



Bass

The Cinno's bass has that dark, sensory feel that is attractive for a low end. The lower range feels deep and slightly perceptible, but it also comes together with some more audible behaviour that counteracts the good bass performance. This is apparent in the pure tone test. While the more extreme LFOs are reproduced in a dark and sensory way, a very slight parallel vibration appears that detracts from the naturalness during the execution of those very low notes. On the one hand, there is a physical, deep and dark bass, but on the other hand, a certain colouring that prevents it from being perfect. Fortunately, this behaviour does not always affect the performance of the actual music and the subtle vibration that colours the sound is almost always deactivated.
There is a slight pleasant boomy feel to the hit, which prevents it from being completely dry or tight. Likewise, the texture shows up in a similar vein. It is not very rough, but there is texture at the lower end, something that gives it a particular sonority coupled with the sensory focus of the sub-bass. The bass is relatively large and voluminous. In contrast, the perception of air movement or energy is not as high as it might seem. It gives the impression that both volume and energy are spread throughout the range. Although it is also possible that the more sub-bass oriented tuning relieves the pressure and releases the energy.
In the reproduction of dirty, complex, unfiltered bass, I found that sense of duality that is felt in the pure tone test. Not that I'm claiming that the Cinno suffers in these complex situations, but its performance is something particular, something that takes it away from a bass with a more canonical behaviour.
Finally, on a technical level, it doesn't seem to be the most effective, nor the most decisive. Its hit, slightly rubbery, prevents a quicker recovery. Nor does it seem to be the most skilful when it comes to moving in fast passages, losing some precision in this aspect.



Mids

It is clear that the midrange is warm, but there is also a certain darkness combined with a slight lack of brightness. This situation produces a sense of dryness, dullness and nuance in the male voices, feeling somewhat muffled. However, they feel well integrated with the instruments and their blend prevents them from taking centre stage. There is flesh and depth to the lower voices and they feel like they rise from the background. There is a certain level of exuberance in that aspect, especially in that physical part of their base. On the other hand, they feel more limited in the harmonic section, remaining somewhat incomplete and shaded. It is clear that there is no trace of sibilance, but their pattern is too rounded. Something similar happens with the detail. The sound is rather compact and the drivers don't seem to work very airy. Layer generation is not very efficient and background details are barely perceptible. This generates a two-dimensional midrange, there is a deeper area and then a midrange section, where the bulk of the sound is concentrated, both vocals and instruments. The female voices also do not escape this duller warm feeling and a certain lack of sparkle and brightness that might be necessary at times, especially to gain detail and a better finish to the timbre. The level of transparency is just right. The manufacturer claims to have generated a slight peak at 3kHz to add precision and detail. However, in my opinion, it is only sufficient in both these areas. It does not have enough light to gain clarity, nor the precision needed to recreate audible micro detail.
On the other hand, there are always some genres that lend themselves to sounding more pleasing with this safe tuning. If you are looking for a good central presence, while maintaining a certain distance, a meaty, full-bodied sound and a certain level of physicality, the Cinno can be ideal. But as soon as you demand a certain technical performance from them, you will find their limitations.



Treble

The treble is very securely tuned. As mentioned, there is a good extension that prevents them from sounding incomplete. On the other hand, the level of energy, sparkle and brilliance is low. It is a shaded high end, with a limited edge. The high notes feel moderately thick, as in the other frequency ranges. This prevents them from sounding more individualised. The result is a compact, smooth and soft treble. Finally, the airy feel is also low, which helps to make the sound feel somewhat opaque, dark and homogeneous.



Soundstage, Separation

The scene is shown with better depth than width. But I still perceive a sense of depth at a double distance. The bass starts from the background to come closer, while the instrumentation and vocals are in a medium range that can get closer depending on the music. It is never overwhelming, nor completely in the foreground, but forms a more or less thick and dense layer, which does not manage to stratify, nor separate too much. In this sense, the sound is cohesive, without too much three-dimensionality. Nor is there a gaseous or volatile scene, but I wouldn't say it's a compact or congested sound. There is a sense of lack of air and projection in the notes. Detail does not flow and separation is limited by the cohesion and thickness of the notes. Similarly, the level of transparency is medium and the background is not very discernible. The level of resolution and accuracy of the whole is below what one would expect for its price and hybrid construction. Honestly, on the technical side I was expecting a more resolute, descriptive and informative set. But the Cinno is designed to be smooth, pleasant and musical, rather than technical or detailed.
The image is adequate, the provenance of the elements is discernible, though the whole is somewhat diffuse and toned down.



Comparisons



Conclusion

The ZiiGaat Cinno is a hybrid IEMS with 1DD+4BA that is very compact, light, ergonomic and very comfortable. It's very sparing on accessories and that could be forgiven if the implementation of all the drivers had been a little more technical, in my humble opinion of course. The Cinno's have been tuned in a warm-decreasing way, where the main emphasis is on the sub-bass. However, my question is whether 5 drivers (1DD+4BA) are necessary to achieve a limited level of resolution like the Cinno's offer. I have always believed that the use of BA drivers improves the technical performance, as well as offering a more specialised tuning, since their frequency range is narrower, the conjugation of several of them can make it easier to find the desired tuning. In this case, it is clear that the manufacturer has sought such a smooth, warm, homogeneous, cohesive and musical tuning. But it has also fallen into the pitfalls of such tuning, resulting in a sound with average resolution, nuanced and unexplicit detail, and a darker, more opaque profile. I miss more light, more separation, more air, more resolution and a little more sparkle. However, despite all this, I can't help but comment that I have enjoyed listening to the Cinno when my listening has not been critical. Maybe that's what they are, IEMS for everyday use, without too many pretensions other than a quiet enjoyment of the music. On the other hand, my collection is too extensive to ignore other contenders in the same price range that I would choose over the Cinno, even with a similar profile. And many of them only use a single dynamic driver.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• Tempotec March III.
• Tempotec V3.
• Burson Audio Playmate 2.
• Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + EarMen ST-Amp.

Purchase Link

Okay, here we are. The first post in this new project of mine. Going through my entire collection, diving deep, taking photos, and doing proper comparisons. Again, this really isn’t for anyone else but myself, comparing my other sets with such similar sound sigs surely should convince my brain to stop scrolling mindlessly on AliX, adding things to my cart unnecessarily.

First up, I’ll be doing the Ziigaat Cinno - this set comes from the brand that seemingly has come out of nowhere, but somehow, has been here all along. Lurking in the shadows, supposedly manufacturing IEMs for other brands as the OEM. They’ve finally decided to come out of the shadows. In their own words “The name ZiiGaat originates from our core values: Zero in on Ideas, Innovate, Grow, and Achieve All Together.”

The Cinno being one of their first IEMs, it’s an interesting take on the traditional 1+4 config under the $100 price point. The two hybrids that I have in my collection to compare to the Cinno are the 7hz Sonus and the Truthear Hexa. I’ve had the Hexa for quite some time now, since they first released last year, while the Sonus I’ve had for about 2 months or so. I’ve become pretty familiar with both sets, with the Hexa being my EDC for the better part of 2 months earlier this year.

Test tracks

• Give Life Back to Music - daft punk - Overall clarity
• Infinity Repeating - daft punk - Lower mids control
• Voyager - daft punk - Bass line clarity/busy track layering
• Cthulhu Sleeps - Sub bass texture
• Overnight - Parcels - mid-bass punch
• Tieduprightnow - Parcels - bass line/sibilance test
• Everyroad -Parcels - Imaging/Sub bass @ 7-minute mark
• Daytime - Lunar Vacation - Staging/female vocals w/ heavy bass
• Days - No Vacation - Vibe test/treble energy
• Fruiting Body - Goon - Sub bass
• Wavy Maze - Goon - Midbass
• Together - Maggie Rodgers - Female Vocals
• Slide Tackle - Japanese Breakfast - Sibilance test/consonants harshness
• Decode - Paramore - Vibe test/stage depth
• Vinta - Crumb - Stage depth/layering
• Kim’s Caravan - Courtney Barnett - Female Vocals/resolution test
• Small Poppies - Courtney Barnett - Distorted Guitar
• Lifelong Song - Men I Trust - Sub/mid-bass texture
• One and Only - Adele - Female Vocals/consonants harshness test
• Waves - Wild Painting - Overall Enjoyment and stage depth/width/Bass guitar speed
• Not the One - Highnoon - Female Vocals
• Cowboy Killer - Varsity - Layering
• Alone in My Principles - Varsity - Distorted female vocals
• Summer Madness - Kool & The Gang - Treble Harshness

Sources

• Apple Music Streaming Hi-Res Lossless when available
• Topping D10s + Topping L30
• Moondrop Dawn 4.4
• Dunu DTC 500
• FiiO BTR7 BT

Disclaimer

I am not a reviewer. Positively, 100%, confidently, I will never be one or possess the ability to be one. Don’t take anything I say as an objective stance, of course, this is all my opinion, y’all, this hobby should be fun! I’m just having a bit of a laugh with all of this. This is purely my opinion after all I personally value timbre and tonality over everything else. If a set has a strange tonality or timbre, it’s an immediate turn-off. It stands out to me right away, and my brain locks on it for the rest of the session.



To me, the Cinno sounds somewhat similar to the graph here. If I had never heard them, I’d expect them to be more laid back than they are. To my ears, they come across as warm neutral, with a slight emphasis on vocals in most songs, and a slightly dark treble. I remember first listening to this set during a tour with my buddies and not falling in love, in fact, I found the tonality a bit strange. I couldn’t put my finger on it. But after a while, with some different tips, they started to settle in a bit. Fast forward to now and I own them. I found them as a 1 off solution to a warm neutral IEM for EDC, allowing me to consider selling off some other sets like the Hexa, Sonus, and the EA500.



Comparing the 3 IEMs in question here, I can say the Hexas are the most comfortable, with the Cinno coming in at 2nd and the Sonus being 3rd. The Hexas fit me like a glove, and provide probably the best isolation out of most of my collection. The Cinno took some serious tip rolling to just fit, then it came down to finding the best-sounding tip, the Sonus just has strange grooves on the shells and not to mention, they’re surprisingly somewhat large IEMs between the overall shell and nozzle opening. I’m still tip-rolling with them, but I’ve landed on the Clarion tips for both the Hexa and the Sonus, with the Cinno rocking the KBear 07 tips in the smallest size. The Cinno isn’t large at all it’s the opposite problem. They’re tiny. Almost too small. The shells are incredibly compact, with the nozzle a shorter length. I have to jam them in quite deep to get a secure fit. Otherwise, they find their way out of my ears after a while. After finding the right tip, I haven’t had any issues luckily.



On to sound, and this one is weird because the Cinna, Hexa, and Sonus are like brothers in this regard. The tuning choices here are all different flavors of neutral.



Also, I know graphs don’t mean a damn thing half the time, but I like to use it as a reference. Sue me.

Allow me to summarize; These all sound pretty close to how they graph to my ears honestly. The Cinno has a more laid-back approach to the entire sound sig. They also come across as the warmest of the bunch. The laid-back pinna area most likely has a lot to do with this. The Hexa comes across as also very warm, but with more forward vocals, masking is present here, with that 3k peak coming across as somewhat harsh to me. Female vocals are smooth as silk on the Cinno, they have plenty of energy to come across as alive, whereas the Hexas can sound a little unrefined and the Sonus presents some serious masking in that area for me. The Sonus is the cleanest of the bunch, they have a sterile and maybe a little cold sound to them. Everything is almost surgical. The best thing about the Sonus to me is the way the Sub-bass comes across, due to the lack of lower mids and that sharper pinna gain, vocals seem separated from the bass frequencies. This is nice honestly, but after a while, they become fatiging. Not to mention, they can lack that mid-bass energy I can sometimes crave. Mid-bass hits aren’t as authoritative as I’d like. The bass line in Voyager is heard, but not felt all that much. Whereas in the Cinno, I can hear the bassline but also feel that beautiful French, nasty-ass bass line. I dig it. The Hexa does a good job with this too, they’re thicker in the presentation but that artificial snare hit on the 2 can be a little jarring at times. It all depends on the day.

Upper mids and treble go to the Cinno for me, hands down. Due to the tuning choice here, that relaxed Pinna is god damned buttery smooth, with little to NO masking. This is probably one of the first experiences I’ve had with a lack of masking for my HRTF. This means the Cinnos are more detailed than the other 2, regardless of what the graph might indicate. I can hear smaller, minute micro-details listening to the Cinno, and I love that. It’s what helped me decide that these are for me. The Sonus sounds more airy and thin, and the Hexas have a warmth + forwardness going on. The Cinnos are the most balanced without sounding boring to my ears.

Breaking down each aspect of the Cinno has me feeling this way;

Bass - Punchy, with plenty of energy. Slightly rounder with natural decay.
Mids - Clean, clear, and highly resolving. Not forward, not buried in the mix.
Treble - Easygoing, not fatiguing or offensive.

I don’t think the Cinno is for everyone though. I’d say a lot of folks would like some more energy in the upper mids perhaps, and the treble extension isn’t anything to write home about either. It isn’t incredibly airy or vibrant like the EA500. The Sub-bass for me is lacking somewhat as well. I think for that part of the FR, the Sonus is the winner there. It doesn’t have the best tactility or forceful playback. If these had about 3-4 dB more in the sub-bass area, it’d be damn near perfect. One thing I’d also like to point out is that the Cinno does suffer from the slightest bit of BA timbre. After the rose-colored glasses were lifted about a week after owning them, I was listening to Fruiting Body by Goon, and I definitely noticed it. Most people won’t notice it I feel, so I don’t expect it to be a huge issue.

I think I put down everything I wanted to about the Cinno.
Conclusion; these have replaced 3 of my other sets. I think these are fantastic, they work for me. They don’t come across as too thick, or too laid back like some other lower pinna sets I’ve listened to in the past, but rather, perfectly balanced.

Thank you for reading, gents!

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: ZIIGAAT CINNO
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 107dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (4) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS

Build:
The ZIIGAAT CINNO come in an efficient and small box with eye catching colors. inside is the Cinno a cable and tips.
The Cinnio like some others is a nice smooth medical grade resin very comfortable in the ears and with the right size tips they have good isolation too.

Sound:
The Cinno presents with a well-controlled lower end , Bass is responsive and tight with good speed and average texture. Bass is north of Neutral and has enough impact but is far from a bassy set. The Midrange is amazingly tuned with good separation and clarity and well-placed vocals forward but slightly and centered perfectly. They are decently bodied but not overly thick, just enough energy to be enjoyed without them being shouty. The Treble is safely tuned with good air and sparkle but more of a smoothed over detail, the cinno is far from the most technical pair but enjoyable with all kinds of music and for a long day of use.

In Conclusion:
The Ziigaat Cinno is another well rounded multi-hybrid with the ranks of the Tanchjim Kara, Simgot EM6L and Turthear Nova. Its appeal is in its non-offensive tunning and while the Nova is more exciting, I think people will enjoy the Cinno for all day use without fatigue.

ZiiGaat Cinno
1DD + 4BA
$99 USD

Before I even start this review, first let me thank Linsoul for providing this IEM sample for me.
Rest assured, as always my review is100% my own subjective opinion.

Unboxing
Build Quality

The IEM shell is made from double resin (?) or plastic coated with resin(?) to be honest I'm not sure.
The gap between faceplate and main body is coated with another layer of resin. I also believe the Cinno is a hollow type resin / plastic since the body is very lightweight, also the Cinno has dual vented design on its body, and is free from any driver flex.

The cable is very supple and not that easy to tangle, but sad thing, it is only has 3.5mm termination.

Comfort
Is very good, it sits nicely thanks to its slim and lightweight shell design.

Sound

Tested using : FIIO KB3, Stock Cable, Stock Eartips
Music is mostly from Apple Music(J-POP, J-Rock, EDM, RAP, Jazz, Metal)

Sound in General :
Mild V-Shape

Bass on the Cinno has decent amount of boost, not too much nor too little, its main boost is on the sub-bass region, but mid bass is also getting a slight bump to get more fuller bass sound.
Bass presentation is very good, it is deep, impactful, but speedy at the same time.

Tested on Valorant song and other EDM music, the bass is pretty deep and satisfactory, though the quantity is not on a bass head level.
While on the other hand, tested on songs such as Catasthropist – Trivium, Cinno has no problem at all on keeping up with every double pedal notes.

Midrange is a bit pushed back on the Cinno, not much, but is noticeable behind the bass and treble.
Note weight of the midrange is very good, a bit on the warmer side, both male and female vocal sounds “correct” to my ears, no complain here.

Overall midrange presentation while it is a bit pushed back from the mix, it is still sounding very clean and open, definitely free from shout and sibilance. Pretty good mild V tuning in my opinion.

As the result of the slightly pushed back midrange, instrument also obviously not taking the main stage here on the Cinno.

Treble on the Cinno is slightly emphasized around lower treble area, while the upper region is rolled off slowly like a harman target tuned treble.
This results in a slight sparkle to the sound without sounding shrill and metallic, again, very good tuning in my opinion.
Decay of the treble is normal, not too short nor "wet" / long either.

Technicality
is “Very Good” for its asking price
Stage is wide, has exact wall placement, decently layered and is symmetrical in width – depth.

Imaging is very good, I dare say it sounds almost holographic with proper source.

Detail Retrieval is very good, better than Truthear Hexa or in class with Blessing 2. It has decent amount of micro details on all its frequency and is capable to render layers of decay from the treble region.

Separation and Positioning is very good, it has well separated sound without sounding unnatural / cut out, and the positioning of sound source is very easy to pinpoint.

Comparation

Truthear Hexa
If I'm not mistaken, it is cheaper by $10.
Build quality in my opinion is better on the Cinno, while Hexa do looks more “premium”.
Hexa has that rubberized coating that I'm not sure if it will last or will be sticky overtime, while Cinno is coated with resin.
Sound wise, Cinno sounds like Hexa with pushed back midrange and slight midbass boost.
Technicality wise, the treble is more resolving on the Cinno compared to Hexa.


Conclusion

The ZiiGaat Cinno is another very good entry to the crowded $100 USD market.
It offers very good and easy to listen tuning with a very good technicality that beats the Truthear Hexa.
I can easily recommend the ZiiGaat Cinno if you're in search for a very well tuned “Mild V-Shape” sound that is easy to listen and won't break the bank.

Thank you for reaching this far !

Just in case you're Indonesian or understand Bahasa Indonesia, you can watch the video version here



-littlenezt

Ziigaat Cinno - A discerning IEM with a lovely warm sound​

Ziigaat are a fresh entrant into the very competitive IEM market and so as well as their new dynamic driver IEM the Nuo (reviewed here ), the Ziigaat Cinno is their more premium offering featuring a nice hybrid configuration of (1DD+4BA).

Read on to find out more…

Introduction​

With the combination of a 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer dynamic driver and four balanced armature drivers, 2 dedicated to the midrange and 2 for the upper treble regions, the Cinno promises an excellent balanced sound signature.

The design philosophy extends beyond sound, with an emphasis on comfort and ergonomics. The tiny, lightweight housing is designed for prolonged and comfortable listening sessions, a critical aspect often overlooked in IEMs.

Whats in the box​

The box that the Cinno comes in is very similar to the Nuo and while it is perfectly acceptable for a $24 IEM like the Nuo, it is a little disappointing that the Cinno did not get a more premium box and accessories.



In the box, users will find the Ziigaat Cinno IEMs, accompanied by a very small selection of ear tips but with a pretty good cable.



The cable with the Cinno is better quality than the one that came with the Nuo and much more inline with the Cinno price of $99.



The Cinno’s cable employs a 0.78mm 2-pin connector and I found the material used for the cable eas excellent and helped avoid any microphonics.

Design and Build Quality​

The Ziigaat Cinno’s shell showcases an elegant and compact design, with a focus on creating a balance between mature aesthetic appeal and functional ergonomics. The build quality is better than average for this price range, featuring high-grade materials that ensure both durability and comfort. The small, ergonomic shape of the IEMs is a testament to the meticulous design process aimed at providing a comfortable fit for prolonged listening sessions.





Here is a photo comparing the shells of the Cinno and the other new Ziigaat IEM the Nuo:



Their small, ergonomic shape and lightweight construction provide a secure and deep fit within the ear canal, ensuring excellent sound isolation and a seamless audio experience.

Comfort and Fit​

I found Ziigaat Cinno exceptionally comfortable. The weight, combined with the shape and the angle of the nozzle worked perfectly for me and I found the Cinno the most comfortable IEM The lightweight design, coupled with the selection of ear tips, ensures that users can enjoy their music for extended periods without discomfort. The IEMs fit securely and deeply in the ear canal, which is crucial for optimal sound isolation and a superior listening experience.


One minor thing, it is a pity that the Cinno doesn’t have a recessed 2-pin connection, as I do worry that eventually the 2-pin connector will bend and ultimately break, but as you can see in this video it does mean the Cinno has a very smooth shell and appearance.

Sound Quality​

The tonality of the Ziigaat Cinno might be described as a “warm rich” neutral, where the upper bass / lower midrange has a extra warmth. This combined with a upper midrange dip gave the cinno a subtly unique what I would call a grown up sound, you are not overwhelmed by the bass or the treble but the midrange has a special focus giving the Cinno nicely unique sound especially in this very competitive price range where every other IEM is trying to be ‘Harman’ neutral.

Bass​

The Cinno’s bass response is both articulate and robust, thanks to the 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer dynamic driver. It excels in delivering a deep and impactful low-end without overwhelming the overall sound profile.

Depth and Texture: The sub-bass has a satisfying rumble that adds depth to electronic and orchestral music. This depth is complemented by the texture in the mid-bass, offering a rich portrayal of bass guitars and kick drums.

Control and Balance: Despite its power, the bass is well-controlled, avoiding any muddiness or overpowering of the midrange. This balance ensures that the bass enhances rather than dominates the listening experience.

Mids​

The midrange of the Cinno is where its hybrid nature shines, offering clarity and warmth that caters to a wide range of musical genres.

Vocal Clarity: Both male and female vocals are rendered with natural warmth and clear articulation, making the Cinno ideal for vocal-centric tracks. I loved listening to tracks by Kate Bush and Perfumed Genius where the vocals really stood out.

Instrumental Accuracy: The midrange also excels in the accurate reproduction of instruments. Stringed instruments have a lifelike presence, with enough detail to discern individual notes and playing styles.

Treble​

The Cinno’s treble response, handled by the balanced armature drivers, is refined and detailed, striking a balance between brightness and smoothness.

Detail and Clarity: High-frequency sounds like cymbals and high-hats well-defined but a little recessed compared to the competition at this price, so these are not as 'technical' as the other $100.

Smoothness: The treble is smooth and non-fatiguing, making the Cinno suitable for extended listening sessions without discomfort.

Soundstage and Imaging​

The soundstage and imaging of the Cinno is impressively expansive for an IEM, as you will see in the measurements section below I believe this is because of a slightly unique tuning done by Ziigaat, offering an immersive listening experience.

Width and Depth: The Cinno presents a wide soundstage, giving the impression of a live performance. This width is paired with a sense of depth that places different elements of the music at varying distances.

Environmental Immersion: This expansive soundstage contributes to a feeling of being in the environment of the recording, be it a concert hall or a more intimate studio setting.

*Instrument Placement: The Cinno offers precise imaging, allowing listeners to pinpoint the position of various instruments and vocalists in the sound field.

Layering and Separation: There is a distinct layering of sounds, with clear separation between instruments. This separation ensures that complex compositions are rendered coherently, with each element distinct and identifiable.

Specifications and Measurements​

Specifications​

The important specifications:

Note: the specific configuration of the drivers are:

Measurements​

Background to these measurements​

So new in this review I decided to standardise on a set of measurements which I will use in all future reviews. The idea is to do the normal measure the frequency response of the standard tips (typically the Medium size) but then also measure a typical selection of ear tips which can easily be used to adjust the sound signature. So, I have choosen the following extra measurement options, a narrow bore ear tip, a wide bore, a ’tall’ shaped ear tip, a normal foam tip, a large ‘comfly’ foam tip, a double flange and finally a triple flange.

Because a double and triple flange are typically used by people who have larger than average ear canals so I have adapted these ear tips slightly to allow a ‘deeper’ fit my IEC711 ‘clone’ coupler, basically try to simulate a longer ear canal in ‘standard’ coupler. I believe this technique will allow people to select both the best IEM for a specific tonality for them (does not always have to be ‘harman’) and then fine tune it with some ’ear tip rolling’ and for those who find it hard to get good seal this technique might allow them to experiment with alternative eartips and have a reasonable understand of how those alternative eartips alter the frequency response of their ideal IEM.

All measurements will go up on the Pragmatic Audio Squiq.link

So now onto the measurements…

L/F Balance and Distortion​

Excellent Left/Right balance (typical of a more premium IEM) and some interesting tonality choices were made by Ziigaat:So the midrange has been boosted slightly so vocals will sound forward and most genres of music will sound amazing. The treble is a bit recessed so no chance of any sibilance, for those wanting a little more treble check out my measurements of alternative ear tips below.

Reasonable low distortion - typical of a Balanced Armature IEM:

Various Ear tip Frequency Responses​

As you can see some ’tip rolling’ can increase the treble trying some alternative eartips:

A Comparison with some other IEM’s​

Rating​

The Cinno gets a pragmatic score of 4 stars, it is an excellent mid-range focused IEM which was incredible comfortable and well built. But a little let down by not having a more premium box and accessories.

Conclusion​

Note: I would like to thank Lillian @ Linsoul for providing the Ziigaat Cinno - if you are interested in purchasing it here is a non-affiliated link to their store: here

The Ziigaat Cinno Hybrid IEM stands out with its well-rounded sound profile. The bass is powerful yet controlled, the midrange is warm and clear, and the treble is detailed without being harsh. The expansive soundstage and precise imaging enhance the overall listening experience, making the Cinno a versatile choice for various musical genres and applications.

The ergonomic design, coupled with the lightweight nature of the earpieces, ensures that users can enjoy prolonged listening sessions without discomfort.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that the Cinno does have its shortcomings. The most notable is the packaging, which falls short of the mark when compared to the IEMs’ quality and performance. The somewhat sparse and uninspiring packaging might not meet the expectations of users who are used to more premium unboxing experiences. This aspect, although minor in the context of the Cinno’s overall performance, is a point that Ziigaat could consider enhancing in future iterations.

Overall, the Ziigaat Cinno emerges as a robust contender in the sub $100 market, impressing with its sound quality, comfort, and cable design.

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Linsoul for furnishing this unit.

The Ziigaat Cinno can be obtained here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-cinno (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) dynamic + 4 x balanced armature drivers
• Impedance: 32 Ohms
• Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 107 dB/mW
• Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm; 3.5 mm termination; no information about material
• Tested at: $99 USD

ACCESSORIES



Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of silicone ear tips (S/M/L)
- Cable

For something retailing close to a 100 bucks, the accessories are downright disappointing. I've seen gear retailing at 1/4 the price with a better accessory spread - there's no case provided, and just one paltry set of tips are included.




Thankfully, the sole set of silicone tips are serviceable from a sonic and fit point of view.




Ziigaat has not provided any information on the cable materials. Suffice to say, it is a 2-pin cable, coming in a 3.5 mm termination. It is decently braided, though on the thinner side, with a chin cinch. Microphonics are sadly present.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock silicone tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The Cinno is fashioned from grey plastic, with a teardrop-shaped design.

Ergonomics are top-notch, the housings fit well and are light, with no awkward protrusions along the inner aspects. Indeed, this IEM can be used for longer listening sessions without discomfort.



Despite being a vented IEM, driver flex was present with the stock tips. However, driver flex is partially dependent on ear anatomy and type of eartips, so perhaps sourcing for aftermarket tips might alleviate this to some extent. Unfortunately, isolation on the Cinno is sub-par, and it may not be that suited for noisy environments, as one might harm hearing health by trying to jack up the volume to overcome the outside noise.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Cinno with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio K11 DAC/amp
- Fiio KA13 dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is easy to drive. Amplification is not 100% essential.


INTERNALS

The Cinno is a hybrid.

It contains 1 x 10mm LCP DD, which takes care of the bass. 4 BAs - 2 handling the midrange/lower treble, and the last 2 settling the upper treble - complete the setup, with crossovers installed. We are not provided with any information on the BA brand unfortunately.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the Ziigaat Cinno via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler peak.

In a sea of weekly Harmanish sidegrade releases, the Cinno is certainly unique tonally, featuring an L-shaped darkish signature.

This IEM is sub-bass focused, with decent sub-bass rumble. Bass is just a hair north of neutral and the Cinno is definitely not a basshead IEM. In terms of bass quality, texturing is above average, though bass speed is not the fastest. It can sound a bit ponderous during complex or rapid bass tracks, though there is no mid-bass bleed.

The lower midrange is just a tinge depressed, and we have a 5ish dB ear gain, contributing to a very pulled back upper midrange. This translates to vocals taking a backseat in the soundscape, and vocal-lovers might want to look elsewhere. But on the flip side, this IEM has no shoutiness or fatigue, and the "anti-pinna" gang might appreciate this quirky tuning.

Treble is also a subdued affair on the Cinno, and it comes across as dark with a lack of air. Treble-sensitive peeps will like the tuning, as there is no sibilance displayed, but this IEM is definitely a no-go for trebleheads or analytical heads. The signature sounds veiled with some loss of clarity.

Timbral accuracy-wise, it avoids the metallic and hollow BA timbre of traditional BA drivers, though the tamed upper mids and treble contributes to acoustic instruments sounding overly warm and thickened.

In technicalities, the Cinno has an above average soundstage width, with decent height and depth. Music can appear just beyond the ears. Unfortunately, instrument separation is sub-par, with middling imaging and layering. Hence, during complex tracks, music meshes into a nebulous blob - think of fuzzy imaging within a large soundscape; I personally would have preferred a more intimate soundstage with pinpoint imaging. Micro-detailing is surprisingly good for a darkish signature, and finer nuances in the music can still be picked out, without the need for a steroid-boosted upper mids/treble, but note edge definition is blunted.


COMPARISONS

Comparisons were made against other hybrids around the $100 USD mark. Planars, single DDs and pure BA IEMs are omitted, as the different transducers have their own pros and cons.




Truthear HEXA

The HEXA is neutral with a sub-bass boost. The HEXA has a more metallic timbre, with a thinner note weight, and a more anemic mid-bass.

The HEXA has better treble extension, and has superior micro-detailing and imaging. Soundstage is smaller on the HEXA but the pinpoint imaging and superb layering makes it easier to locate instruments in the headspace. The HEXA is harder to drive and would benefit from amplification.


Simgot EM6L

The EM6L is a Harman-tuned hybrid. It has more bass and upper mids, plus greater treble extension.

Timbre is a bit more natural on the EM6L. The EM6L has a smaller soundstage, but tighter imaging and better micro-detailing.


CONCLUSIONS

The Ziigaat Cinno is an odd fish. Tonally, it is different from the dime-a-dozen Harmanish fare we see every week, and indeed companies that attempt out-of-the-box tunings should be lauded.

However, the Cinno's tuning may veer to too unconventional - the overly restrained upper mids and treble does affect tonal and timbral balance, and vocals are very pushed back in the soundscape. Having said that, we hear no shoutiness at the midrange, nor fatigue in the treble, which may suit our treble-sensitive brethren.

Technicalities are a mixed bag. While soundstage is on the larger side, with decent micro-detailing, the mediocre imaging and layering contributes to a wooly soundscape where it is hard to pick out instrumentation. There are many stage monitor-type IEMs that have a similarly darkish and toned-down upper frequency band, but these retain good imaging and layering, which is sadly something the Cinno fails to achieve.

In terms of non-sound aspects, the Cinno has comfortable ergonomics and easily drivability. However, driver flex, poor isolation and a dearth of accessories are blots in the book.

Overall, the Cinno certainly is a unique IEM. Its case use scenario is quite limited though, and it would be a soft recommendation for folks who are treble and upper mids averse, or for audiophiles searching for a chill and laid-back set with an expansive - though not tight - sound.

Oi! mates, I would like to present another product review article for this month and this one is from ZIIGAAT. I previously did a product review on this audio brand and in my opinion, I find it quite a performer for its price as it is also quite a budget-friendly one that gives a good sound quality.



If you are curious about what the word ZIIGAAT means as it sounds more like a random salad letter but there's a meaning to this. It means Zero-in on Ideas, Innovate, Growth and Achieve All Together (it is quite a wordy one) and it seems that it is also this audio company's philosophy on pursuing audio excellence.




This is ZIIGAAT Cinno, this is their entry-level offering with a hybrid driver configuration. This model has a standard set-up consisting of a single dynamic driver and 4 balanced armature drivers which make a total number of 5 drivers (in my own speculation, Cinno was supposedly to be name “Cinco” which means “five” in both Spanish and Portuguese cardinal number as it pertains to a number of drivers that were implemented inside). The dynamic driver is a 10mm dual-chambered with a LCP diaphragm which will be solely responsible for lows while the rest of the frequencies will be handled by “custom” balanced armature drivers. These drivers were connected into a passive crossover network to deliver a more cohesive and harmonious sonic quality.



The drivers were encapsulated in a modified UIEM-style acrylic resin shell chassis whose size is quite compact that it offers a better fitting and comfort into my lugholes with its lightweight. The choice of its size is ergonomically well-thought out on how it rests well into my ear canal to give the best secured fitting and to achieve a good noise passive isolation. The overall design of the shell appears to be more minimalist with a company logo printed on its faceplate.




This set uses a 0.78 bi-pin connector as it is more of a standard where you can interchange it with other third-party cables easily. Speaking of its stock cable, this one one is actually quite good for its asking price as this one has a 2-core silver-plated copper wirings that were insulated with PVC coating and its termination plug is a standard 3.5mm single-ended that underwent a gold-plating process for better resistance on corrosion and better conductivity.



The product packaging of ZIIGAAT Cinno is rather spartan with bare-bones inclusion inside. It was packed in a small box with a theme design that harkened back to the 80's theme.


Here are following contents inside the box:


● Pair of ZIIGAAT Cinno IEM
● Stock cable
● Extra 2 pairs of ear tips of different standard sizes.
● Warranty certificate



On power scaling, this set can be amplified by devices with decent power output like smartphones and tablets but you need to crank a bit of a volume level just to add more amplitude scale to sound more fuller with better dynamics.



As for tonality, The ZIIGAAT Cinno has a sonic profile of having a mild u-shaped sound in a warmish-balanced tuning which gives us a taste of musical analogue-ish vintage sound. In my ears, there's a slight emphasis on lows, a linear yet a tad warm midrange and an even and smooth treble response.




LOWS/BASS:

It appears that bass response of this set is quite well-balanced as it presents both sub-bass and mid-bass equally on the overall sound of its frequency spectrum. It has punchy, lucid and cleanliness on its bass response where it has a good rumble and reverberation on its sub-bass that were produced by instruments such as synthesisers, drum machines and low tone bass guitars.

Mid-bass appears to have an ample texture and is somehow well-controlled as it gives some adequate note weight on bass kick drums, bass guitars and bass-baritone vocals. Bass kick drums have a thudding and rumbling albeit there are some instances that they sound a bit hollow, bass guitars seem to have resonant and sombre sound on them on fretting, slapping or strumming on its strings, and then on bass-baritones vocals appears to have a decent depth as their voices have some rumbling and resonant but it has a less darker tone and weight on it.


MIDRANGE:

While it appears that the midrange presentation is quite linear and just a little bit recessed, it has a warmth and ample texture that will benefit mostly on male vocals and some instruments like brasses. But I also noticed that it is also less energetic, insufficiently bright and lacks liveliness to the point its sound lacklustre that affects the expressiveness and intensity on most type female vocals, strings and woodwinds.

As I mentioned that it will be more appealing to male vocals as baritones have smooth and warm sound on them with decent depth on volume while tenors, depends of a some certain subtypes have rich, dense and emotive that will beneficial on dramatic tenors and heldentenors, but on spinto, lyric and leggiero tenors sounds less brighter, ringing and dazzling that was part of their distinctive timbre, and then on countertenors, they have a tender and graceful voices but it sounds less affectionate and appeal. On females vocals, contraltos have rich and lushness on their vocal quality while the mezzo-sopranos have a quite too smooth and velvety sound on their vocal but like the countertenors, it is lacking of emotion and less expressive sound. The soprano vocals seems the particular vocal type that take the hit on how this set was tuned, while it sound decently on dramatic sopranos as they have an emotive, sweet and rich vocals on them, but on lyric, soubrette and coloratura sopranos, they sound a bit subdued and lethargic as they definitely lack of gleaming and shining qualities on them.

As for instruments, the brasses have an ample density and warmth on their tonal colour as trumpets have full and substantial sound on them while the horns have rounded and ponderous sound, and trombones have solid and tense and yet in some cases, it has softness on their notation attack. Percussives like snares, tom-toms, field drums and kettledrums, a shuffling sound on snares, a warm and resonant sound on tom-toms, a sonorous yet sombre sound on field drums and a dull and mellow sound on kettledrums. Woodwinds like piccolos, concert flutes and clarinets sounds less brighter, too soft and melancholic respectively while strings like guitars and violins, they sound too warm and buttery as it lacks of crisp and ceiling sound on the guitars and a less vibrant and austere sounding of violins. Meanwhile, pianos' sound somehow has a balanced tone but less expressive and a bit less engaging sounding.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

It appears that upper-mids up to the presence in the treble region are attenuated and a bit smooth and too relaxed sounding that its sound borderline dark that some vocal definition and instrumental attacks sounds a bit distant, dull and lacks finesse. In other words, it sounds too safe that it wont give us more engaging and crisper sound but somehow its intended tuning will be more friendly towards treble-sensitive folk out there as it doesn't have some edgy, sharp and piercing sound that harshness and sibilances are practically devoid.

On the brilliance part of the treble region, sparkle is quite inadequate and the airy extension seems rather modest as it somehow affects the tonal colour of some instruments. Cymbals strike sounds soughing and lustrous while hi-hats lose some of its sizzle and buzzing sound. Glockenspiels sound rather lustrous than brilliant that they should sound while celestas have too soft or glassy sound on them.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Overall, it has an average to above average sound/speaker stage size as I perceive a good height and depth while a moderate wideness from left to right as it gives me fairly middling headroom.

While it presented me a concave-like presentation on stereo imaging as I was able to estimate the positioning of vocals and instrument but not the most accurate way to be discernible as I struggled a bit . Another thing that I should address on this set regarding of technical aspect is the layering, while it has a decent separation of instruments, the layering is a bit vague and less refined as it projects a rather two layers than usual 3 or more tonal and frequency arrangement that will affect the playback quality of some complex multi-instrumental tracks like orchestras or jazz that they might sound muddled, disarrayed or distorted.

Somehow its hybrid driver seems to have a good cohesive performance; it delivers a fast, precise and crisp sound. Meanwhile on resolution capabilities, while it has textured and good tension on macro-dynamics but on micro-detailing aspect, it is quite a bit blunted as it wasn't able to extract much of nuances and intricacies of infos from an audio track.


PEER COMPARISONS:

SIMGOT EM6L

● Like the Cinno, It also has five (5) hybrid driver set-up as it consists of one (1) dynamic driver and four (4) balanced armature driver set-up. The difference are that this set has a shell made of metal chassis and it uses a QDC-type 2-pin connector. It appears that it has better accessories but it is quite more pricey.

● EM6L follows a usual popular tuning that most sets have in this price range, the Harman target curve. It has more sub-bass focus tuning just like a typical Harman tuning, a leaner, cleaner yet a bit dry midrange and an accented upper-mids to presence part of religion that gives for crisp, brighter and detail on some female vocals and instruments and a bit airier treble extension compared to Cinno.

● As for technicalities, EM6L has some similarities with Cinno in terms of performance but stereo imaging is somehow superior to the former and it has even better separation, though layering capabilities on both sets are comparable.


TANGZU FU DU VERSE I

● Another hybrid driver IEM that is also comparable with the Cinno as it has also a acrylic resin shell but the difference was that FU DU has a lesser quantity of drivers as it has one (1) dynamic driver and two (2) balanced armature drivers and also it has a metal alloy faceplate. And also, FU DU has more inclusions and it has better stock ear tips to choose from.

● FU DU has a U-shaped warmish-balanced tuning similar to the Cinno but it has more texture, more depth and even warmer tuning. It has more body on its bass and midrange as it has more authority and impactful bass response, warmer and lush midrange. In treble response, despite smoothness and relaxed treble response, it appears that it has a bit more elevation on the upper-mids but the treble air appears to have modest extension just like the Cinno.

● On the technical side, FU DU has a similar technical performance with the Cinno from sound/speaker staging, stereo imaging, separation and layering. Though on resolution capability, FU DU have more solid macro-dynamics and a tad better micro-detail retrieval than Cinno.


As I will deliver a final verdict about this product, it appears that ZIIGAAT has a different approach on how this set will be marketed in an even more tighter and competitive portable audio market. While most and current IEMs in under $200 that still aligns with popular tuning curve that is too familiar due to its safe tuning and became a bit more stale, ZIIGAAT offers a set with an alternative tuning which sounds somehow balanced with good musicality and more engaging that a treble-sensitives folk will surely enjoy although it will probably appealing to most experienced audio enthusiast out there due to some inherent lacklustre aspect on its intended tuning.

ZIIGAAT Cinno is now available at LINSOUL, check out the unaffiliated link that I have provided below.

★★ZIIGAAT CINNO - LINSOUL★★

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: ZIIGAAT CINNO
IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
SENSITIVITY: 107dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (4) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*


P.S.

I am not affiliated to ZIIGAAT nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to KAREENA TANG from LINSOUL for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

General/Packaging/Build/Comfort
Ziigaat is a fairly new brand within the community that’s available exclusively on Linsoul. In case you’re wondering who they are, below are a snippet copied from Cinno’s product page.

“While the world enjoyed high-end audio quality, there has been a silent team behind many of today’s most popular and praised audio devices. ZiiGaat has been developing OEM and ODM products for numerous global audio brands for over a decade. We wished to take our technological innovations and passion for audio to new heights by launching our own independent brand. By becoming our own brand, we can finally freely experiment and share our work without restrictions. We aim to be more than just an audio brand; we seek to be a tech team that can work closely with the audio community to make better products for all of us. Each ZiiGaat member is passionate for music and best-in-class audio resolution, and we are on a mission to help people rediscover their music like never before.
The name ZiiGaat is an acronym derived from our core values: Zero-in on Ideas, Innovate, Grow and Achieve All Together”

The packaging is rather simple and straightforward, consisting of the cable, eartips, and the IEM itself. The shell is made out of resin and the size is rather small, very comfortable and no awkward sharp edges that cause discomfort, wearing them for 2-3 hours straight without any discomfort. The stock cable is actually quite pretty in my opinion, i kinda like it, if only it’s available in 4.4 termination.



Gears used for this review

• Apple Dongle Type C -> iPhone 15
• Fiio BTR7
• Hiby R6 2020
• Ziigat Cinno with stock eartips and stock cable

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far

Sound Impression
The Cinno’s tonality overall is slightly warm and very enjoyable to listen to. The timbre is quite good in general if you don’t nitpick, there’s a slight BA timbre which is expected since it consists of 4 BAs. The bass is mid bass focused rather than sub bass

Bass

• The bass is fun, good amount of bass coupled with quality and control
• Sub bass does rumble when the track calls for it, but the extension is slightly lacking
• Mid bass is punchy and tight, doesn’t sound muddy and bloated at all
• Speed is decent for the price, It handled Metallica’s Lux Aeterna’s speed drumming without sounding muddy

Mids

• Mids are not overly recessed nor too forward, sufficient details in this range
• Vocal positioning is not too forward nor recessed
• Male vocal is slightly lacking in terms of texture, but not too bad overall
• Female vocal is alright, but slicking lacking to my taste, due to the upper mids, which is rather safe in my opinion, lacking the energy

Treble

• The treble on Cinno is nicely done, not aggressive yet has plenty of energy to prevent the overall from sounding dark
• Even when you crank the volume up, Cinno will not sound harsh nor sibilant on the treble
• Detail retrieval is average, not the best in the class but good enough if you’re not nitpicking considering the asking price
• Amount of air is alright and not too sparkly which affects the imaging based on my experience

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is slightly out of your head, with good enough spatial representation in terms of width, height and depth
• Imaging does suffers a little on complex track due to the lack of air on the treble, but for the asking price, i’m just nitpicking

Driveability

• Cinno is easy to drive, and sounds good even on Apple Dongle
• It does scale with source in terms of overall tonality coloration ( slightly )
• Doesn’t really benefit much from amplification

Comparison (Tangzu Fudu)

• Fudu’s tonality overall is leaning towards warm and slight dark
• Fudu is slightly bassier but in terms of bass quality, Cinno’s bass quality is better but slightly lacking in terms of quantity
• The mids on the Fudu is thicker sounding compared to Cinno, Male vocal sounds full, female vocal on the other hand is sweet and doesn’t sound thin
• Soundstage is slightly smaller compared to Cinno, imaging is on par

Final Thoughts
So what do I think about ZiiGaat’s Cinno? As a first attempt for the brand’s IEM, I personally think that it is not bad, there are some brands out there where the first attempt was a miss rather than a hit. The Cinno’s sound signature is tuned quite well and will be easily accepted by most people in my opinion, but of course, those who crave a more analytical sound should look elsewhere as Cinno is certainly not that. Will I recommend Cinno? Yes, those who are new to the hobby or even those who are already in the hobby for quite some time will enjoy this set if they’re not looking for a very technical set. ZiiGaat is indeed a rising star!

*ZiiGaat Cinno is sent to me from Linsoul in exchange for this review. I am in no way under any influence nor do I receive any monetary compensation for this review. All thoughts are of my own.

Head over to their store to purchase one if you are interested
ZiiGaat Cinno - Non affiliated

ZiiGaat is yet another newcomer to the increasingly competitive IEM market. So, who are they? According to their story:

”WHILE THE WORLD ENJOYED HIGH-END AUDIO QUALITY, THERE HAS BEEN A SILENT TEAM BEHIND MANY OF TODAY’S MOST POPULAR AND PRAISED AUDIO DEVICES. ZIIGAAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPING OEM AND ODM PRODUCTS FOR NUMEROUS GLOBAL AUDIO BRANDS FOR OVER A DECADE. … We aim to be more than just an audio brand; we seek to be a tech team that can work closely with the audio community to make better products for all of us. Each ZiiGaat member is passionate for music and best-in-class audio resolution, and we are on a mission to help people rediscover their music like never before.”

Maybe I’m easily convinced because the story of ZiiGaat struck a chord with me and created an intense anticipation of hearing their sound. I love the idea of a strong team with the necessary passion and skills to realise the ideal IEMs we audio geeks have undoubtedly dreamed of. But you know what they say: “A man is judged by his deeds, not words.”

Today, we will look at Cinno, a 5-driver hybrid IEM from ZiiGaat, to answer the burning question: is it any good?

Forewords​

• What I look for in an IEM is immersion. I want to feel the orchestra around me, track individual instruments, and hear all of their textures and details. I’m not picky about tonality, as long as it does not get in the way of immersion.
• I rate IEMs within with a consistent scale from 1 (poor) to 3 (Adequate) to 5 (outstanding). Ratings are assigned by A/B tests against benchmark IEMs, regardless of the retail price.
• Ranking list and measurement database are on my IEM review blog.
• Terms used in my reviews are consistent with the glossary by Headphonesty
• This review is based on a review sample from Linsoul (Thank you!). I have no affiliation with or financial interest in Linsoul or ZiiGaat.
• The unit retails for $99 at the time this review was published. Unaffiliated link

Testing setup: Local FLAC files -> iBasso DX300 (stock player app) -> stock cable (3.5mm) -> IEM -> stock ear tips

Accessories and Packaging​

Very sparse for a $99 IEM. You have the earpieces themselves, a cable, and one type of ear tips. Subjective Experience ===

As usual, our discussion of subjective experience starts with fit and comfort. As I mentioned above, Cinno is surprisingly tiny, to the point I find it hard to believe that there are 5 drivers inside these small earpieces. The earpieces are made of very light plastic with a glossy finish and no sharp edge. The nozzles are on the shorter side with medium width. They pair well with the provided ear tips, which are slightly longer than average. The stock cable is also light, though not tangly or flimsy. As a result, Cinno aces the fit and comfort.



How do they actually sound?

The overall theme of Cinno’s sonic performance can be considered “different.” With Cinno, ZiiGaat opted for a tonal balance utterly different from most of the new releases from the Eastern IEM market, allowing this IEM to present the music uniquely. On the plus side, this unique presentation can provide you something fresh and new in a market increasingly dominated by Harman-inspired and diffuse field sound signatures. On the other hand, you might never get used to the unique presentation of Cinno, rendering this IEM unusable for your library.

The sound signature of Cinno is defined by two characteristics: the absence of the usual upper midrange boost (also known as ear gain compensation) and the robust bass response. Superficially, the tonal balance of Cinno somewhat reminds me of another interestingly-tuned IEM, the Unique Melody MEST MkIII. This resemblance exerts some influence over the shape and structure of Cinno’s soundstage.



The absence of an upper midrange boost has two effects. Firstly, it helps Cinno create a convincing illusion of distant and forward projection of the stereo image. For example, when I listened to the “Gladiator Suite” in the album LIVE by Hans Zimmer, Cinno does a great job at pushing the cheers of the audience and the background strings in the first 30 seconds further in the background, as if they come from somewhere further away, outside the head stage. I particularly enjoy how Cinno places instruments at the front-left and front-right positions. The only issue holding Cinno back is that the instruments’ positioning (left-to-right) and layering (near-to-far) lack precision and focus.



The other effect of the upper midrange absence is less optimistic, however. Simply put, Cinno usually creates the impression that the midrange is too diffused and lacks focus. This impression is particularly noticeable when listening to music that requires presence and brilliance, such as the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto by James Ehnes. I kept feeling that a certain level of “shine” and “edge” was missing from the soloist’s violin, forcing me to turn up the volume. However, the rest of the orchestra quickly becomes too loud, forcing me to pull the volume down. This constant push-and-pull was infuriating sometimes.



The same situation happens with vocal-only music such as Bohemian Rhapsody by Pentatonix. On the plus side, there was no harshness, shoutiness, or sibilance. On the other hand, voices can sound infuriatingly dull sometimes.



Let’s end the subjective impressions positively: Cinno’s bass performance. The best keyword to describe the bass of Cinno is “tight.” Because of the upper midrange’s absence, Cinno’s gently boosted bass stands out more. Percussion hits have a sharp leading edge, decent impact and decay. For instance, when I listened to “Backside of The TV” and “Signs of Love” from the soundtracks of Persona 4, I found the basslines to be toe-tapping due to how snappy, tight, and clean they sound.

Frequency Response Analysis​

Frequency response of Cinno against the Harman in-ear target and Unique Melody MEST III. Measurements were done with an IEC-711-compliant coupler and might only be compared with other measurements from this same coupler. Visit my graph database for more comparisons.



It is helpful to think of an IEM as a filter that highlights or subdues different parts of the incoming audio signal. This effect can be measured objectively by the squiggly lines above, called Frequency Response (FR) graphs, which measure how loud an IEM is at different frequencies from 20Hz (bass) to 20kHz (upper treble). Subjectivity is how your ears and brain interpret the effect of that filter on your music and decide whether it is “enjoyable.” There are some “rules of thumb” when it comes to tonality, but most interesting IEMs usually bend the rules masterfully.

As mentioned, Cinno’s signature is defined by the absence of an upper midrange and a gently boosted bass. Interestingly, the 2kHz region is actively suppressed after an early gain at 1kHz. Still, I’m not convinced by ZiiGaat’s tuning choice in this upper midrange region.

I also think that ZiiGaat could have boosted the 5kHz to 8kHz region a few dB extra to compensate for the subdued upper midrange. Without the upper midrange, the tonality of an IEM would likely always be coloured and somewhat unnatural, but adding a bit of treble “bite” might remove that infuriating dullness that I mentioned above.

Resolution​

Resolution is a fascinating subject due to the difficulty of pinning down what it really is. To me, “resolution” can be broken down into three components: (1) Sharpness, incisiveness, or “definition” of note attacks (see the figure above). (2) The separation of instruments and vocals, especially when they overlap on the soundstage. (3) The texture and details in the decay side of the notes. The first two give music clarity and make it easy to track individual elements of a mix. The last provides music details and nuances. Smooth and well extended treble response plays a crucial role.

If you have followed along until this point of the review, you might guess that Cinno does relatively poorly regarding resolution. Interestingly, that’s not the case. I would say that Cinno is deceptively resolving.



As an example, let’s listen to “I’ll Face Myself” from the Persona 4 soundtrack album and compare Cinno to the venerable Moondrop Blessing 2, my benchmark for “good” resolution (3/5). When I swapped from Cinno to Blessing 2 the first time, I breathed a sigh of relief because that upper midrange presence I craved finally returned. However, after my ears (and expectations) had been adjusted to the tonal balance, I was surprised to find that Cinno could define and separate instruments in the mix as well as the brighter Blessing 2. In fact, I was able to pick out more details across the spectrum, especially in the lower frequencies, with Cinno. It’s hard to say whether Cinno is strictly more resolving than Blessing 2 or the extra details are a side effect of the tonal balance. Still, I would place the resolution of Cinno in the same bracket as Blessing 2 - Good.

Soundstage Imaging​

Stereo imaging or “soundstage” is a psychoacoustic illusion that different recording elements appear at various locations inside and around your head. Your brain creates based on the cues in the recording, which are enhanced or diminushed by your IEMs, your DAC, and your amplifier. Some IEMs present a wide but flat soundstage. Some present a “3D” soundstage with layering, depth, and height. In rare cases, with some specific songs, some IEMs can trick you into thinking that the sound comes from the environment (a.k.a., “holographic”)

The soundstage of Cinno is challenging to assess. On the one hand, due to the unique tonal balance, Cinno can present a more intriguing soundstage than the usual Harman-ish IEMs, especially regarding the distant background sounds in the mixes. On the other hand, the instrument placement and layering of Cinno lack the precision and focus to make the most of that unique soundstage structure. Overall, I would consider Cinno’s soundstage imaging “good.”



Soundstage imaging with games (CS GO Gameplay by Throneful) Cinno does a surprisingly good job in FPS games. The subdued upper midrange brings about two advantages. Firstly, gunshots and footsteps are a bit more distant, even out-of-head most of the time. Because everything is more spread out, it is easier to pinpoint and track the location of sounds. Secondly, the more subdued upper midrange softens the sound of gunshots, making it easier on the ears.

Comparisons​

Simgot EM6L:

• EM6L and Cinno are polar opposite in terms of tonal balance and soundstage presentation.
• EM6L is focused, near, and centered. Cinno is diffused and more spread out.
• Both IEMs have tiny earpieces that offer great comfort.

Rating and Conclusion​

ZiiGaat Cinno is an interesting IEM with a unique tonal balance. As with many unique things in the world, Cinno is divisive. In fact, I also find myself conflicted about this IEM. On the one hand, in certain tracks, I find the absence of an upper midrange unacceptable, if not infuriating and irritating. On the other hand, the soundstage is always more interesting than usual due to the unique tuning. An unexpected benefit of this tuning is how well it plays background music for daily activities. The subdued upper midrange allows the IEM to “fade away” and avoid disrupting my concentration.

So, Should you consider Cinno? Yes, but only if you are branching out to try something different and accept the risk of doing so.

Absolute Sonic Quality Rating: 3/5 (Tonality: 2/5; Resolution: 3/5; Spatial: 3/5; Bass and Dynamic: 4/5)

Bias Score: 3/5 (I’m lukewarm about this IEM)

Value Proposition: Top of the 3/5 class. Above average across my dataset.





Updated: January 4, 2024

Let me introduce the ZiiGaat Cinno Universal 5 Driver IEM
Redcarmoose Labs December 29th, 2023

This first section is copypasta from my newly published ZiiGaat NUO review, as it is about the introduction of the ZiiGaat company.

Head-Fi
Laughably, Head-Fi is becoming more and more like a shopping mall all the time. Yep, it’s a place where you only have to park your car one time to take a guided tour of mankind’s IEM inventions. Each section is like a storefront, and goes to proclaim what offerings are for sale. You could even call it on-line mall culture. As an example of regular mall culture, there are special mall fashion shirts for sale. Often this style of shirt is designated by a marketing trademark. At times there are names combined with the trademark symbol, but names are slowly going away, to be replaced by only a symbol. Such a symbol designates quality and price…............really a lifestyle possibility upon purchase.

While visiting the mall........often you may see a gentleman wearing one of these symboled shirts, and coincidentally the exact same shirt will be for sale even twenty feet away. I find humor in things like this………maybe I’m easily entertained? But more than that the branding serves a purpose in that (pretty much all the time) there is a level of quality obtained with a brand purchase, you already know what you’re getting before you buy it…for the most part. With IEMs often it can be a brand showing similar designs, similar fitment and even a house sound….....thus improving sales due to reputation.........and past history. Thus this is product marketing and merchandizing..........except for the challenges that may face a new brand? No one is familiar with this new name..........it still needs to prove its worth and value.

Here at Head-Fi the guys walking around in Polo Shirts or Giordano Shirts are simply the Head-Fi members relaying their experiences with IEM ownership. Yep, this place is built on disclosure and critical reviews about various products. Still what happens when a new brand is introduced? I would say the first emotion that goes through my mind is disrespect. We judge new products with a hint of jaded cynicism or skepticism. That is actually a healthy and correct response. Really no matter what the package looks like, or the IEM looks like, there is no credibility that this new product is worth anything………and even if it plays music well, still it may not have the sound character we are looking for. The sound character or the fitment, or something……….

What? The name is ZiiGaat?

Personally I find this to be a totally strange company name for a company that makes IEMs. Yet it means something…….I will get to that.

ZiiGaat Doscinco: 2DD+3BA Hybrid (Audiophile Tuning) Price soon to be disclosed
ZiiGaat Cinocotres: 2DD+3BA Hybrid (Studio Tuning) Price soon to be disclosed
ZiiGaat Cinno: 1 10mm LCP DD+4BA $99.00
ZiiGaat NUO: Single Full-range 10mm LCP driver $29.00
The Linsoul/HBB Jupiter 4EST+6BA+1DD is powered by ZiiGaat $1.599.00

So they made a showy (big) entrance……considering no-one ever heard of them a few months ago. The ZiiGaat name is an acronym derived from the companies core values: Zero-in on Ideas, Innovate, Grow and Achieve All Together. But more importantly how does the Cinno fit and sound?

The ZiiGaat Cinno:
First off I have some apologies to make. You see the ZiiGaat Cinno was the winner of my last review. In a way this is not saying much as I put it up against IEMs that were 4 times less than the cost of the Cinno. It would be like putting a heavyweight fighter in the ring with middleweights or even the lightweight division of fighters.

Except I get these IEMs sent to me in a group, and it is only natural that I would compare them………regardless of price. Also due to the Cinno sonic contrasts in playback (in comparison to the cheaper IEMs) the value and quality becomes very vivid. So there is a method to my madness, yet out of fairness, I’m going to compare the Cinno (this time) to the SIMGOT EM6L in that it is a direct competitor. Also I will reiterate my prior testing with the $24.99 7Hz Salnotes Zero MK2, the $22.99 Zero MK1, and the little Cinno’s brother, the $24.00 to $29.00 ZiiGaat NUO. Such discoveries are important due to helping to outline what the ZiiGaat Cinno really is, thus proving its worth and showcasing sound idiosyncrasies.

Idiosyncrasies/Character:
In such is replay personality that folks find their own tone value with-in a sound character, yet there are often sonic values which transcend personal tastes and seem to be widely appreciated as positive traits across the board. Most of such replay characteristics have to do with realism and balance. Balance in relation to reflecting lifelike replay, and technicalities referring to correct imaging, reverberations and transients………..as in life.

Comfortability:
Such sound ideas ultimately result in comfortability. You could simply call this listenability.....…..maybe? This is a lot like finding comfort in furniture or on a bed……..as it’s when you stop fiddling around in restlessness……..and find peace…….obtaining (your own) sonic splendor. This sonic place is not always permanent, but can be found by both knowing your own personal sound likes and dislikes, and finding synergy in equipment which goes ahead to provide such details. Comfortability in IEM playback is the very reason we are here at Head-Fi and the reason your reading this very paragraph. Such comfort has to do with believing the illusion the music is real, that there are no distractions as far as tone or technicalities……that everything is in place, and there is an emotional connection. At times some IEMs are more perfect (than others) with certain styles of music, or (only at) certain volume levels. Other times there is importance in IEM fit and feel, as if an IEM doesn’t fit right we are once again at a distance to finding this place of harmony. And ultimately this “comfort” is truly individualistic, it only belong to you personally…….in the end. Though still there is a phenomena where certain IEMs will find that sweet-spot with more people…..that there are better odds at this comfort thing working out with a certain IEM and with the general populous. Thus an IEM will reach a level of popularity due to holding such charms……and sales will flow.



The SIMGOT EM6L:
Such charms in IEM retail have bestowed a certain SIMGOT IEM, its fit and technicalities/tone style seem to blend with most people. One particular thing that is different though is the nozzles. So imagine with me an IEM whose shape and form are regarded as close to perfect…….yet they built these lipless stainless steel nozzles which don’t always go with every ear-tip. In my SIMGOT EM6L I found the nozzles to be different except due to being a wider circumference, they still held the provided ear-tips on fabulously. In my mind I try to always judge a new feature later after the dust has settled. And while yes the EM6L don’t go to hold every ear-tip on with poise, they do offer another interesting feature. The smooth nozzles go to provide a freedom for the tips in place to move about both forward and back to obtain better placement of the IEM/tip in position. So imagine with me that having an ear-tip only locking in to one location offers fit, but only when the distance in place is optimal as in relation to your ear. Thus we look for other ear-tips which are longer or shorter or whatever to try and bridge those differences. Where with SIMGOT they have experimented with this sliding tip mechanism which offers many places to find fit, that and staying sealed all the time as well.

Really the SIMGOT EM6L (being 1 gram heavier) is the arch nemesis of the Cinno. Coming out prior to the Cinno, except offering the exact same driver configuration. Realizing the two needed to be compared hit me like a ton-of-bricks. Strangely I started this test by finding Cinno/EM6L commonality in the low end. From memory I started to look for the same songs, just to see if the sonic bass textures and detail were the same with the EM6L and Cinno. I went and found other songs which showcase the high pitched rhythm guitar, to see if both IEMs also handled such intensities of heat in the same fashion……and guess what….from memory they did. So it’s time now for side-by-sides!

The SIMGOT EM6L against the ZiiGaat Cinno:
First off the Cinno is just slightly more efficient to power….with a couple of notches removed to equal the volume of the EM6L. From memory the bass was very similar, and really in many ways that was still true in side-by-sides........but not the most important aspect. The most important difference is the fact that the EM6L is just slightly more laid back than the Cinno….this is not something that could be easily noted from memory, except once you had them together this forward vocal stance the Cinno had was readily noticeable. This style of pinna push enables an extra dose of vibrancy across the spectrum, meaning the Cinno is showing more contrasts. Still truth to be told they were closer together than farther apart…....really. Often I wonder if companies set out to challenge a popular IEM by emulating it, and bringing a slightly new and different character to market? Where sure the Cinno is maybe slightly better fitting, only because it is gram lighter and somewhat smaller. Also so my favorite ear-tips stayed on the Cinno where I had one or two instances in testing where the ear-tip remained in my ear after switching the EM6L out. Still really the differences are small, though may be big if in-fact you already owned the EM6L and wanted a more forward vocal stance?

But for the record here absolutely the Cinno is every-bit the IEM the EM6L is, if not more.



The process: Don’t tell me about the pregnancy, just show me the baby!
The path to this discovery was in fact long and drawn out, spending an entire night with the Cinno and going through song after song looking for issues.............yes, it turned-out that well rounded. Where the EM6L is (due to pinna gain diminishment) the slightly warmer example, due to the lower midrange getting a psychoacoustic focus due to lesser (than the Cinno) pinna gain. Sure I changed a few cables, ear-tips and sources and went over a few songs to come to these assumptions……..where often I will list all the equipment used in a test, but it is not needed here due to the pureness of results.

Bass differences:
Now this is interesting, as to be direct, the bass of the Cinno is very much in-line with the quality of the EM6L. In fact it was the bass texture (while listening to the Cinno) that first reminded me of the SIMGOT EM6L….and subsequently led to this showdown between these two IEMs. Except after many side-by-sides I have to say the Pinna area of the Cinno will and does come forward to overshadow a little of that bass perception. So the quality is still there between the two, yet the EM6L after-a-while shows itself to be slightly more sleepy. Yet that sleep provides long listening magic into which many have found a (warm) home.

EM6L v Cinno side-by-side conclusion:
When I was just listening to the Cinno at times I wondered if it could go side-by-side against the EM6L? Except on the short listens the Cinno will even appear to be more focused and own better technicalities, due to this forward vocal stance. When in reality they are very much priced the same, have the same driver count and perform in ways the same…….benefits could come from the size and weight of the Cinno and if you were looking for more vocal vibrancy?



The difference between the Cinno and 7Hz Salnotes Zero MK1 and MK2, and the ZiiGaat NUO:
Here we try and gain understanding in reference to three cheaper IEMs. The ZiiGaat NUO I just did a review of and offers both a DD complementary signature (to the Cinno) as well a similar tuning. Though across the board the Cinno offered better technicalities, such as imaging and itemization. These are only two I have heard from ZiiGaat so far. Yet after testing really it is the NUO relaxed (yet slightly forward) pinna gain that offers so much of the same signature. Both the NUO and Cinno offer 10mm bass drivers, yet the NUO is a single full range driver and the Ciino has a cross over network and sound transfer tubes which allocate only bass frequency from the 10mm LCP Diaphragm. Such a set-up means more expense to produce, and more complications under the hood. But results in a more refined and sophisticated style of Cinno bass action, getting us both sculpturing and a clearer window into bass texture. There is also separation which takes place with Hybrid replay where part of the midrange and treble fall farther out to the sides, resulting in a more defined Cinno bass response to perceive! Both the NUO and Cinno come in at 4 grams each, and despite the strange shape of the NUO, both seem to really fit well, though check this out……………..even though the NUO is only one 10mm driver and the Cinno is 5 drivers, the Cinno is smaller, and possibly slightly more comfortable? Many times single full-range drivers offer better cohesiveness of playback and more realistic timbre, yet Hybrids are really my preferred way to go, becoming delighted by the Hybrid itemization and entertaining separations to be found. Plus with this BA set-up the Cinno is really tuned-down resulting in smoother brightness and of lesser steeliness/BA timbre! As such while close to the same as the NUO, the Cinno midrange and treble seem to offer a tad smoother and slightly more relaxed tone display?



The 7Hz Zero is playback that is one of legend! Back in early August of 2022 I introduced the Zero to the on-line Head-Fi world. Since then the page along with 10 other reviews has generated close to 59,000 views………quite a lot for a (then) $19.99 IEM! And while the Zero is not perfect, to me it was maybe what the Zero did right that made it such a winner? Simply big involving mids, with a solid musicality and timbre. In fact it was the timbre and note-weight that had me prefer the Zero even over the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko, a 14.6mm $99.00 planar IEM released at about the same time. So nowadays I had the Zero 2 in a combined package with the NUO and Cinno to review………so why not compare them? Where the Zero MK1 and NUO are more closely aligned in the bass department, the Zero MK2 goes hog-wild with bass. Yet in fact it is the Zero MK2 Pinna Gain which truly makes a difference in relationship to the NUO. You see even though graphically the NUO/Zero MK2 lower midrange measures the same....... due to that Zero MK2 2.5 kHz to 4kHz gain, thus subsequently creating a mental focus. Where with the NUO, it is the lesser but broader Pinna Gain which moves mental focus down and promotes a style of thicker and more robust lower midrange. And even more surprising, we don’t exactly have that lower midrange robustness heard with the Cinno either. Cinno lower midrange replay comes off tighter and clearer/cleaner, even containing what I like to call hidden bass.


With all these graphs (flying around) you may be looking for a Cinno graphical response.......sorry don't have one, don't need one.

Cinno bass:
While the Cinno the bass is absolutely clear, yet it has a very special transient edge that allows for hidden bass action. Hidden bass action refers to a bass edge attack that due to the blackness of background and transient response, ends up surprisingly fast!

Packaging:

Laughingly......no not two sets of ear-tips! The Cinno actually comes with three set of ear-tips, as one is already on the IEM in a medium size.

Build and fitment:
The reason I have so many photographs of the Cinno is because it is actually hard to photograph. For two reasons, one is there is a surface which really attracts the highlight of dust particles. Such particles show-up in photographs because (at times) the magnification is greater than with the human eye. In daily use you don’t have photography lighting and even if a few dust particles are there, you can’t see them. The other reason is due to the reflectance of the surface, the Cinno can look like the back-side of the shell is of a different color, when it is uniform material and smoothness. It is in fact this smoothness that is special with the Cinno, the fact that it is on the smaller side of the IEM world but carries a big sound. Interestingly the screens are farther out than the nozzle ends, a first here at Redcarmoose Labs. There is also a very sophisticated emblem positioned on the faceplate front. Such items go to proclaim a simple yet effective look, as the Cinno is subdued yet striking in its own un-photographical way. Such resin build and universal custom back-side means feel good ergonomics and long unnoticeable listening sessions. Just the fact that really the nozzles were the perfect length meant the world to me. The fact that they are just 4 grams in weight means they could be something you enjoy while sleeping. Two air-vents means they breathe and are never affected by driver flex, yet due to fitment, provide amazing sound occlusion too.





Cable:
A nice cable which amazingly was different, better than the rubbery one that came with the NUO. The Cinno comes with a one years warranty on the IEM, and a three month warranty on the cable. Such a cable shows a smooth texture forming into any user shape you want with-in reason, never jumping out of place or making too much unwanted microphonic noise.





Music tests:
Here is maybe the easiest part of the review, and the most fun.



Kaveh Cohen, Michael Nielsen
Forza Motorsport OST
Brotherhood
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
This has been one of my go to songs recently. And while recorded well, it is not up to the caliber of the next following song, on a different album. This might be due to Brotherhood being a game soundtrack and the next song (Academy Race) being a full-on OST to a blockbuster movie. And while studying the two music pieces you may guess they are the same, when in reality they each have a specific job to do. Where Academy Race is more about engaging you into the movie emotion, Brotherhood takes charge as support for game players to not maybe become distracted, but is more background theme music……..endlessly supporting game play.

The intro to Brotherhood really starts at 00:08 with the bass metronome. Such features set the pace along with a drum beat. It is super important to get a timbre reference off this beat, as some balanced armatures will make the sound wrong, into almost sounding like a slap, when in reality it is a drum beat and should be heard as such if done correctly. Here it is one of the first clues that we are using a very well timbre’ed IEM. Such a sound may even be connected to note weight? At 00:42 a wash of middle toned synthesizers takes place............all of a sudden farther out than previously guessed. It’s at this point that we are fully interacting with the song…........the song has now arrived, still this is background music……so holding a generic and utilitarian usage. It is at this time too (00:43) that they introduce percussion accents as slight knocking sounds found to position themselves out to the farthest regions of the stage.

The elephant in the room is the piano timbre. Yep even from the song start we have to pay attention to this specific musical instrument that maybe is the true hub of the song. This song is actually a piano piece, with embellishments. If we travel back in time to just 00:09 we start to get a glimpse of how this whole song is based on the piano theme. Such an instrument is maybe most important of all to get right? And with all this talk of timbre, there may be a hint of off-timbre to the piano, I mean if bad timbre was going to be anywhere, the piano is where we would find it. Yet due to tuning it is all very well put in its place....it’s fine? Later on I will use my Delain song “Chemical Redemption” to truly go into if the timbre is bright, or off, or wrong somehow. As each of us have songs we know and test examples where timbre becomes heard for what it is. With all that said, it may be the piano timbre which is still heard to be on the brighter side of correct.......but only a little bit?



Lorne Balfe and Andrew Kawczynski
Grand Turismo OST
Academy Race
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
What I love about this song is the more I hear it the more I start to feel the size of playback. Meaning this was recorded on a soundstage with live instruments (at least I think it was) and you can find placement to both harmonics in playback and reverberations. Such bigness even starts at the very beginning with both the deep cello bass energies at 00:10.......and hearing the feathering of faint violins taking formation in the outskirts. All this is bigger than the last song, and the Cinno makes it real. Also I may add, this is some of the very best (test song quality) bass I’ve come across all year……just big, fluid and entertaining. Note, I meant music, not music replay. Yet still the way this $99.00 IEM does bass is truly satisfying!

At 00:17 there is a synthesizer effect which is probably meant to sound like a passing race car………..at 00:58 the main theme starts with the use of violins. At 01:17 the use of a choir starts to add dimension to the song. This place also shows a recess of elements allowing for the choir to have its form and place. From the 01:17 to 01:29 we get to hear just how the attack quality is of the bass, the transients and separation into the stage……..it is a separate bass tone as it was designated from the start to be only the effort of one 10mm LCP DD.........separated through a crossover and sound tubes, to remain clear and sonically pure with-out interference.



Gdanian
Induction
Shield Emitter (feat. Tineidae)
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
Wow, the bass and better the sub-bass is kicking right from the start at 00:10. Here there is also an on-top synth taking the lead almost just like the Blade Runner Theme. And sure this is not the very best I have heard this as other more bass laden IEMs seem to extract an ounce or two of added emotion, being this style of bass is more of the controlled and clear style………..still I don’t care. Meaning this style of playback (while not perfect) is acceptable and I will run with it due to such bass quality almost being all things to all songs..........just maybe not the authority to grab 100% success here. Still what is extracted is 100% clear and technically correct. It is maybe more like near field monitors where the bass is clean and put into a specific place never interfering with the rest of playback, what I’m saying is this bass in this song is totally careful still reaching all the frequencies, but just in a more polite and correct manner……maybe this is what many would want?



KMFDM
PARADISE
Disturb the Peace
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
This is a song that I also used to review the SIMGOT EM6L, reason being is bass texture. KMFDM are bringing back (the sound of) a very clear and provocative old Roland Bass Machine. Such an instrument is not used on every song they play on this album, so here it becomes a treat. At 03:35 the drops are enormous and punchy……but then the regular utilitarian rhythm section finds it installed again at 03:39…………….bass, bass bass………..you get the message. And while the bass texture is there, it is not the central focus of this song like you can experience with other music…..except it IS an integral part of the whole, and would be missed if left out by a lesser IEM of lesser technicalities. While trying to see if the other playback worked-out, it really did, as there are other DUB style KMFDM songs (on other albums) where bass becomes turned up to the hilt. This style of music uses bass to almost define what the song is up to. The whole vibe of the song is resting on this over-the-top bass presence. And while playback is found to be just on the border of correct and workable……..this if anything is a tribute to just how well rounded the Cinno is. I say this as few IEMs can do both distinguished bass with detail, and overboard bass with amounts generating total bass presence. This is why you have people recommending EDM bass IEMs, and other different “vocal” IEMs……..where due to a bass curtailment, do vocals only…………..but in this exact case we truly do have everything. I mean sure at times it’s a stretch, but somehow the Cinno gets there?

Even though the Cinno could almost be looked at as a lush darker IEM, it’s actually not totally, thus all the talk of balance here! It is this way of almost doing everything that is so endearing.

Delain
Apocalypse & Chill
Chemical Redemption
44.1 kHz - 24 bit
This is one of my all time best test songs. I will pull this up to try and discover just how guitar replay is. Meaning right at the 00:08 mark there is a forward and out-front rendition of crunchy guitar distortion. Many of the female fronted sub-genre of European Symphonic Metal will go ahead and showcase this level of guitar mix. It’s cutting and trebly and forward……yet at times and with certain IEMs in playback it can be too much, too much heat. Yet here all is well as this is the balance put forth, where vocals are still accounted for and out front, this guitar seems to be smoothed out and desirable in replay?



Conclusion:
You know the comparison to the SIMGOT EM6L was the meat of this review. It was to me anyway. Why? Because not every day do you come-up with an IEM that can go against it. The Cinno trading blows with the SIMGOT EM6L is serious business, and most IEMs are not up to competing in this arena. This exact arena is sound per dollar value, and there is a blend of how it was done with the EM6L.

To an awful lot of people the SIMGOT EM6L was the IEM of the year for 2023! That fact is fair to say due to finding the EM6L held a combination of technicalities and tone folks could enjoy all day long. Except another IEM sound has been introduced, which is fair to say is the ZiiGaat house sound. A sound which is slightly less sleepy than what the EM6L does........more out-front with the vocals, showcasing more contrasts, yet still reserved and poised to please.

Such a graceful and elegant bearing goes ahead to fulfill ZiiGaat’s dream. Their dream is to become a household name. And just like the Polo Shirts or Giordano Shirts in the mall, this is absolutely a name brand product....a product holding name brand quality. Such a purchase (like the shirts) is easy going and easy to wear in daily use. You see buying the right brand is a lifestyle choice, and means you gain a certain level of return for your investment. I can’t imagine many IEMs that are so easily liked and comfortable to wear as this ZiiGaat’s Cinno is? There is a friendship upon listening which is both easy to understand and taking place due to just the right amount of balance and vocal pizzaz.....…..get yours today!

$99.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-cinno

Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kareena from Linsoul for the ZiiGaat Cinno review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Shanling UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Samsung phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3II DAP

Introduction!
Hello friends!
Today in our review we’ll talk about hybrid headphones from Ziigaat.
And they come in a very small, neat box with a rather bright design, and on the front there is the company logo and the name of this model, Cinno.

The sound here is responsible for 1 dynamic driver 10mm, two reinforcement drivers for mid frequencies and two drivers for high frequencies, and the sensitivity of the headphones is 107dB, and they have a 32ohm impedance for the build-up, they are quite light.
Let's take a look at what's included!
And first of all, here we are immediately greeted by the headphones, neatly fixed here and they look pretty good, very miniature, made of smooth medical resin, they have the company logo on the front part, but as for me, the front panel still needed to be decorated somehow, otherwise they look too rustic.

Well, according to the standard, they have a 2-pin connector installed, running exactly flush with the body, and next to it there is the first acoustic hole, and the second is located on the inside of the earphone next to this very small nozzle!
But what pleased me was the fit, it’s very good since the headphones are small and are fixed in the ears very tightly and the sound insulation here is excellent.

Accessories!
Well, the kit also includes, surprisingly, this rather beautiful and convenient cable that does not get tangled, it has a 3.5 jack plug and 2 pin connectors for connecting to headphones, and there is also a very small bag with good quality black ear pads, and here There is a card with warranty information.

How do these headphones sound?
Well, now let's talk about the sound of these headphones
and this is what the graph of their frequency response looks like, and I haven’t seen such a coherent, smooth picture exactly in my target for a long time, even on more expensive models, and here are headphones costing $100.

Low Frequencies:
And let’s start, as usual, with low frequencies, where this model shows a very familiar, accurate, smooth picture that doesn’t go into fierce bassheadness, the bass here is very collected, has good weight and volume, and doesn’t interfere with the mids, and I’m also glad that it doesn’t feel overly relaxed on the attack, of course, it’s not a planar super accurate strike like in the same Kiwiears Melody, but it’s not a loose slap either, and the textural elaboration here is quite good; it’s certainly not super transparent like in the same melodies, but nevertheless it’s not hiding anywhere and where it’s needed shows itself on the good side, and the small emphasized punch on the mid bass just neatly does its job!
Mid Frequencies:
But the mid-range feels very neutral in them, after bright headphones this is literally what you need, but the only thing worth saying is that for me it is not super transparent and airy, so the vocal part with the drum part sounds quite close in its location and is slightly pushed forward, Yes, of course the presentation is familiar to me, but I would like to get a little more separation and distance between the vocals and the instruments so that everything sounds less concentrated in the center and more separate.
Otherwise, everything is fine, the vocals themselves sound very calm, a little relaxed, they don’t have excessive saturation, much less brightness, and this applies to both male and female vocals, so the sibilants are in perfect order here, you won’t find them here, just like the drum part is not will cut out your brain when the snare drum hits, which sounds very neutral and calm here without undue emphasis on itself
High Frequencies:
Well, now let’s talk about the high frequencies, which are presented here very neutrally, there is no excessive brightness and additional accents on the cymbals and there is no obvious stretching of the percussion here, the presentation here is very neat and the cymbals themselves are presented as smooth with fairly good resolution and detail with the pure character of hybrids where reinforcement is present emitter, there is no planar clarity and intelligibility with a lot of air as in the same melodies and this model does not go much into obvious technicality but rather has such a warm and neutral tone.
Yes, and the presentation here is a little less airy and not as critical of recordings as in melody headphones, where they can sometimes pull out some unnecessary accents in the music, but the presentation turned out to be more musical, and these headphones are more suitable for relaxed and not tiring listening when you don’t need to look for different details and nuances in music and simply enjoy it without paying attention to unnecessary unnecessary accents or problems, for example in mixing music
Stage and stereo panorama:
The sound stage and visualization in ZiiGaat Cinno turned out to be not super wide and stretched in width, but they build up and draw all the images in depth quite well, that is, they don’t merge all the instruments into a mess, and try to keep them separate, but keep in mind that they sound right in your head, this is especially noticeable on vocals, they don’t have the sound coming out, on the contrary, it creates the feeling of a small room inside you.
My conclusion on these headphones:
ZiiGaat Cinno turned out to be the most super neutral and calm headphones for relaxed and very long, non-tiring listening, there is a very neat and accurate bass, and neutral rich mids, and all this is complemented by very neat detailed high frequencies.
Link where you can buy them!
Linsoul : https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-cinno
Icygenius was with you, I will be glad if you subscribe to my YouTube channel and watch this full review on ZiiGaat Cinno !

Review Of The Ziigaat Cinno​

Introduction​

Having acknowledged the excellence of Ziigaat's ultra-cheap IEM, the Nuo, I can only be eager to see what their other premiere IEM has to offer. With their IEM Nuo, the recently founded Chinese company Ziigaat can clearly hold its own in this market. However, I'd like to see how well they do with their more expensive set, the Cinno, which fortunately I was able to obtain for review. Before I do that, though, let me make a few clarifications.

Disclaimer​

*Since this unit tour was organised by the kindly people at Linsoul, I am grateful to them. And as I've said in all of my evaluations, the same is true for this one: all of the concepts I've expressed below are entirely my own, original ideas that haven't been influenced by anyone else. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as “Cinno.”
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Cinno based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.

Specification​

Cinno is an IEM with multiple drivers built to house one dynamic driver and four balance armatures. The other drivers are two in-house manufactured ultra high BA and two mid-high BA drivers, while the dynamic driver is a 10mm LCP dynamic driver. The brand name is inscribed on the faceplate of the shell, which is composed entirely of gray resin and has the same refined, understated appearance as the Nuo. Even after listening for extended periods of time, the lightweight, well sealed shells remain comfortable within the ears and cause no fatigue. The high grade, well-made cable that comes with the IEM includes a 3.5mm straight termination socket on one end and a two-pin connection on the other. The kit also includes three pairs of eartips in various sizes in addition to the cable and IEM. Regarding the technical details, the sensitivity is 107dB and the impedance is 32 Ohms. At 1 kHz, the overall harmonic distortion is less than 0.5%, and the frequency response spans from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Sound​

For the price it is being sold at, the Cinno is an IEM that is specially tuned; it has a response that is unquestionably warm-neutral, sufficient details, and a consistent presentation throughout the mix. The higher frequencies sound silky smooth and have a nice degree of presence, while the new tuning gives the bass a solid focus without being overdone. Though the sound generated by SA6 MK2 is obviously considerably more detailed and technical, the physicality of the bass makes the presentation sound more real. If I were to compare how presentations feel, I would say they are somewhat like SA6 MK2 with the bass turned on. The bass response feels warm but not engulfing or influencing with its hits; to be honest, I found it to sound too smooth and relaxed, but such a response does satisfy me with its vivid and cohesive presentation. The treble is usually different from what I have heard before, feeling somewhat subdued with the presence of the mid range to bring a fuller experience. Let's examine more closely and determine specifics.

Treble​

The more time I spent with the treble, the more impressed I became with it. At first, I thought there wasn't much to say about it other than that it was laid back and somewhat prolonged. One may describe this response as gloomy, yet it has a good extension that makes for a spacious sound that reverberates across the whole response and allows for small details to create a perceptible difference that drew your attention. With the voices extending pleasantly but not too far, the upper treble offers very good details and extension, allowing for an airy and light response that will undoubtedly please your senses. The chimes and cymbal crashes, for example, sound more open and expressive without producing intricate details. On the other hand, the instruments sound less sharp and more rounded in their reproduction of sound. However, because of their spacious and relaxed response, the BAs are able to tickle your senses with nuances that usually can't sound fuller. The vocals sound detailed enough to captivate you while also soothing you, and the same is true of the instruments—for instance, the guitars have a rich response without overwhelming you with a stinging quality. The lower treble does flow well, producing more forward response with better vocal and instrument presentation. It sounds smooth and clean for an IEM at this price point, even though it is not as forward-thinking or detailed as other IEMs. As a result, the treble area sounds expansive, clear, and has a smooth overall presentation.

Mid Range​

In terms of the midrange, I think the reaction is really harmonious, silky smooth, and lush with a pleasing response where the vocals and instruments blend in to provide a calming response—in other words, a melodic sound.A sound that will never offend anyone, even though I do think that the BA timbre is present in some sounds, particularly in the 2 kHz to 4 kHz region. Because the energy in the upper mid range is not as high as that of the lower treble, the response is not as forward-looking or detailed, but it is still somewhat enriching. The instrumentation and voices sound vibrant and expansive, allowing every part to breathe and adding to the overall broader, richer sound. The notes have a natural tone and sound warm and well-rounded with good exposed details.Even while the sibilance in the 2-4 kHz range isn't extremely prominent, it may be heard clearly when listening to records with bright sounds or high-octave female vocals. It seems like a laid-back experience, therefore I don't really mind because the details aren't hazy or fading. Warmth emanates from the lower mid range, where notes have a significant weight or density and, particularly from instruments, have an ambiguous and shaky expression. However, the female vocalists' notes are more clearly defined. As a result, even if the BA timbre can occasionally be heard, the midrange area is presented overall as melodic, richer, and more genuine sounding.

Bass​

When it comes to the bass, it's not what I generally expect, but I think it's acceptable and completes the tuning for a tuning where the higher frequencies aren't too upfront or forceful. The way the bass is handled in the mix contributes to its smoothness and warmth; it never overpowers, but rather lets warmth seep into the lower mid range. The mid bass is sufficiently present, but the sub bass is the main focus. With this arrangement, the punches and rumble are not as effective as I had hoped, and I think the thumps are more noticeable, which seems weak. However, the muted response makes the higher frequencies respond clearer and provides the warmth needed for a better tonal response. The bottom notes produced by the drums and guitar have distinct tones that make it easy to tell which is which. If this is the same LCP driver that was used in the Nuo, then the quality of the driver is not up to par. However, the notes' textures and detail are not as good as I had hoped, and while applying EQ, I discovered that the LCP driver is restricted to what the response is as if it has been tampered with. However, it makes little difference because the driver provides the necessary reaction, aiding in a fine adjustment. Overall, the bass area is presented in a warmer, more natural, and richer manner.

Technical Performance​

Technically speaking, the Cinno performs on par with the 41T by Juzear and the SR5 by Soundrhyme, which I have both heard and evaluated. It appears that Cinno is quite similar to the SR5 in terms of tonal performance, but in terms of technical specifications, I believe Cinno is somewhat closer to what SR5 sounds like. Its relaxed reaction makes me believe that it is on par with other IEMs at this price range, if not better. Let's get into further depth.

Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation​

I was able to locate the source of the sound, indicating that the soundstage is sufficiently large and remote to provide a spacious sound with definite and far-off note separation. On the other hand, the clean reaction is wonderful; but, if the imaging was sharp, it would rather bring an offensive response, at least that's what I assume.

Speed & Resolution​

For an IEM in this price range, the resolution is sufficient since the details are created well and the expression is neither very vague nor highly expressive. I don't think the assault and note decay are very well timed in response, but it passes quickly.

Sound Impressions ​

Sources​

Sony WM1A - using the WM1A for listening. When heard via Cinno, one experiences a feeling of depth and expansion. It is more expansive and far-reaching, which enables people to bring out the entire reaction while maintaining an airy, light, and naturally occurring tone. Sincerely, I don't detect any discernible BA tone in the mix, which is really helpful for such a well-composed and flawless response. The answer is dispersed, which makes the IEM stand out more.

Tempotec V6 - When playing the V6, the Cinno sounds more forward-thinking and expressive, giving it an almost frenetic tone. The bass feels more in control, the voices are more forward-leaning, and the treble has a more noticeable presence, especially in the lower treble. The same roomy sound has a superior feeling of separation and clarity.

Tracks​

Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun

Conclusion​

To sum up what I've learned, I would say that an affordable, well-tuned, and well-sounding IEM with a relaxed vibe has a unique place in the market. If you're looking for a well-balanced, smoothly-sounding IEM with safe tuning and don't mind if it has a sufficient technical response, I'd say go for it. Those who dislike treble or loud sounds, in my opinion, would like such a silky smooth response.