ZiiGaat x HBB: Arcadia

Redcarmoose

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Zero sibilance, relaxed treble
Can listen to on higher volume levels, which the Arcadia asks for
Knowles BAs X2 an earphone
Warm and smooth always 24/7
Quality bass response and clear textures to a point
L shape tone with less murkiness, yet heavy bass emphasis lending anyways into murky waters
Bass quality over quantity, yet a lot of bass quantity...............lol
Lower Pinna Gain demands more volume than most sets
Can go with many music genres besides expected basshead tracks
Cleaner 2024 basshead attitude
Cleans up nice with a pure silver cable, yet still bass head quantity of bass
Sub-bass emphasis
More musicality over detail
Big sound and stage due to bass stage
Dramatic 10mm in-house Topology utilizing Nano-particle Dispersion DD
An amazing change possible through EQ, enabling wide tonal alterations
Cons: More musicality over detail
Sub-bass emphasis
Cleaner basshead attitude due to lesser emphasis (but still emphasis) on mid-bass and lower-midrange
Relatively natural for a basshead set, if that makes any sense at all? :)
Not U shaped, but L shaped signature with LESSER mid-bass, lower midrange emphasis than full-on basshead sets
Slightly recessed Pinna Gain which could be too dark for some
Smooth...........yet could be too smooth of treble for some listeners
Demands volume into hearing Pinna Gain focus
Not for a warmer source to enhance anymore lower midrange energy
No needed extra lower midrange from source
Adding different cables or sources didn’t rectify all the issues at hand, but EQ did?
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ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia Hybrid 1DD-2BA Universal IEM
Redcarmoose Labs December 9th, 2024


Preface:

Really lower score reviews (for me) are much more difficult for me (to write) than 5 star reviews. In actuality 5 star reviews are simple, you explain why you like the IEM and it is a party. But with lower scores it takes a new level of investigation. Yep, you have to try more combinations of gear, tips…….actually more review days are needed to understand yourself and the review process. "Am I missing something"........you say to yourself!

In the end you’re just trying to be fair. Why? Because people are depending on your opinion to make or not make a purchase, or at least use your opinion and mix it with other takes on a product.

You just want to be honest and explain how you feel at any cost at any cost in the review process. What can make this double difficult is if you had better first impressions, then those impressions lost a point due to spending more time with the IEM. And with HBB collaborations there have been a few ways (for me personally) that they go down. Often I will slowly warm-up to a new IEM introduction. If anything as reviewers we are trying to keep an open mind, that there will always be those that have a slightly different sound signature liking than us. While I pride myself in having a few sound signature likes..........the more I review HBB products, the more I realize that this Arcadia IEM is really not totally my tonal preference.

Not my desired tone:
There is nothing wrong with that, what is wrong is to not understand that each person has a range of what they find enjoyable in an IEM sonic response. And sure, some will like the Arcadia more than I, and maybe some will even like it less. Probably if I was to list the things I like, I like the super large stage, and I like the clear bass authority. What I don’t like is the Pinna Gain (vocal stance) is slightly too smooth and the treble is slightly too smooth. And believe me I have tried a number of ways to rectify these issues, and I did a little, by changing cables and sources, yet still the Arcadia is what it is in the end, though EQ is an option here.

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Reviews and personal subjective opinions:
1) As when all the IEMs are good, it is a party. But, what happens when you don’t like a popular IEM or an up and coming IEM? :)

2) The fact that basic subjectivity suggests that we can’t possibly like all the sound signatures. A slight decrease in Pinna Gain is a win by some listeners, then becomes heard as sleepy by others. An extra few dB of bass will not blend with what others are trying to do, with the goal of trying to keep the pace firm and clear. But then others are willing to take the hit in technicalities (pace) (clarity) to get more bass.

3) In the end each of us finally is judge and jury only to ourselves. :) Of course there are IEMs which are liked more by the whole group, and basics of even, complete and correct replay, that once you start to deviate from those laws, too much......you are asking for trouble.


The great part is there are choices of different signatures and we are in a style of Golden Age, where it is not slowing down any time soon!

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Comparisons:
ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia Hybrid v 7Hz Timeless II Planar:

Actually I did this comparison section at the very end of the review timeline. Doing it last seemed to send home all my ideas and concepts regarding the Arcadia IEM. And since these ideas are of utmost value, I figure I will put this comparison at the front. Both are almost the same price as the Arcadia is $199.00 and the Timeless II is $229.00. Now normally I like Hybrids more than Planar IEMs. It is just as everyone knows, tune is more important than methodology of build at times.

There can also be a personal affinity to a combination of tone and technicalities, which results in maybe liking the Timeless II bass better because of the amount, but also its pace character………….do you see where I’m going with this?

ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia Hybrid v 7Hz Timeless II Planar:

The setup for these tests is the Sony WM1A with MrWalkman’s firmware, the included cable on the Timeless II, and the 4.4mm SIMGOT AUDIO LC7 on the Arcadia, both using the new NiceHCK C04 ear-tips. Giving a word of defense for the Arcadia, it is also very possible to gain a preferred response with the use of EQ. Now typically I’m not a big proponent of using EQ as I feel one section of response artificially altered leads the way to perception of other aspects of the signature...........left changed. But here as an example the EQ in the treble and vocal region has an Arcadia profound ability to add sparkle just by tweaking the EQ up. It is the inherent ability of the 2 Knowles BAs to all-of-a-sudden change to the brighter input signal. Also of small consequence actually the Arcadia was slightly better fitting, yet both were totally comfortable. The Timeless II comes in at 6 grams a piece and the Arcadia 4 grams each. With that said, the lows are probably the first most noticeable difference between the two? But of course there is more to it than that.


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ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia Hybrid v 7Hz Timeless II Planar:
The lows are faster with the Timeless II that and vocals come forward to exclaim their presence of space stolen over the Arcadia. These vocals with the Timeless II seem to take on a more spacious and detailed idea, literally filling the stage with extra harmonic overtones, yet slightly thinner. Yes, the whole Timeless II sound is thinner. More spread-out into the side-by-side actualization of vocal overflow. Little treble elements are too created by the Timeless II traveling farther out into the stage, fully apart from the center held focus to surprise. Now as much as I like the Timeless better, it is also not perfect.

The Arcadia is louder at the same volume, and preposterously included bass, that after a while you realize that this may still be a style of low-end that many like, including yourself!

Today the Arcadia sounds better than it ever has in my four days of writing this review. That if we as reviewers were to come clean about doing reviews, each day can be slightly different as to how we interpret sound.

As readers we don’t want to waste our time reading subjective reviews, as we want cement objective answers, and we want those answers to be clean-cut and simple.

Truly in many ways these two IEMs are opposite, in that the Timeless II is faster and more mid-centered and the Arcadia is more L shaped and thicker, yet there is a place for both to win-out here. And truly if I was to be honest, having both would cover a lot of bases. Probably from memory the impression I'm left with is that neither is perfect, but the Arcadia holds those deep lows that could be sought after in the IEM community, and such thickness travels even into the midrange and vocals, showcasing a more dense Arcadia stance.

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First impressions:
ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia Hybrid 1DD-2BA Universal IEM

$199.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-hbb-arcadia

New 10mm in-house Topology DD utilizing Nano-particle Dispersion. What this does is create 3D risers on the DD surface to disperse sound in more directions. And it seems to work. Reason being 8dB sub-bass tuning up to 200Hz. But the reason this works for me, and better than most HBB ideas in tuning is that somehow, somehow we are getting detail through-out the bass texture?

I mean sure this is bass head levels of bass, but it is not really in any way murky. Plus the added tonal energy boosted from the 2X Knowles BA ED 29689 for mids, and Knowles RAD 33518 BA for treble………take the overall tone into clarity and great pace.

Looking at my reviews, most HBB have a boost way up into affecting the lower midrange, but here we are gifted with (more) sub-bass instead. And to me that is the ultimate problem solver if you are really going to provide this much excursion into bass territory. Cheers HBB you have made an accomplishment with the tuning here, surprised it took you this long to figure it out. Actually I haven’t heard 100% of HBB’s stuff, but totally my share, and this here I can really get into!

Some reviews say the stage is medium, I say medium large, but what works here besides the tuning is the great technicalities. There is truly ample separation between instrumentation. And Vocals……..there are actually more vocals to this set. Where you can tell vocals were a major concern to the tuners here, as they didn’t leave the vocal presence out completely, or even make it take a back-seat to the bass? Well maybe a little? There is something to this energy that the ED 29689 puts out, as it cuts into the stage and offers balance and vocal definition here. Plus there are darn good decays for a BA. To where of course the DD is total decay, and sure there is some lumbering only there is such a nice stage a-top that the BAs get credit here. If someone was blindfolded at a Head-Fi meet and someone just happened to jump them and place the none murky Arcadia into their ears they would smile and first say, this is a lot of bass………………but then when the vocals hit and the treble was activated into the song playback that Knowles RAD 33518 BA is getting both good timbre and laughing projectiles of images into the treble stage. Though keep in mind those treble activities are truly joined to the midrange in that there are no sparkles or brightness that folks sensitive to treble would ever need to worry about.

The detail clues I use showed me that all the detail is here, despite what ground waters are running underneath. Sure the sheets of effects inside of the treble are not totally spacial or even projected that far out into the stage, this is a midrange stage is what it is. Except I give points for sub-bass over lower midrange, midrange over treble and a stage to visualize this whole kit-and caboodle. Did I mention timbre 2X I need to as the detuned Knowles act like champs to go forward into 100% good timbre understanding!

Cheers!
Oh, and they fit like a dream! And look cool doing it! The package is totally box opening uneventful, but that is because they put the money into the drivers here.

1 Knowles BA ED 29689 for mids, and a Knowles RAD 33518 BA for treble X 1 10mm DD

Driving the ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia Hybrid from a standard phone.
A lot of confusion is created in the audiophile community in regards to standard phone use. Typically the best outcome would be to have an IEM made which would play great from a phone and an audiophile DAP. But let’s look into this a little farther. First off it can be guessed that many beginner audiophiles, or basic music aficionados would often use a standard phone. When in reality IEMs like the Arcadia have been designed to have a certain character with just a phone.

A warmer phone output:
The concept is that years ago good IEMs had a thin and anemic sound from a standard phone. Makers learned that adding lower midrange and bass emphasis did wonders to equalize the tone and make it more inviting. Now the reality is a DAP is more detailed than a regular phone. And sure with phone use you can hear how the Arcadia is rewarding, offering a good stage, and somewhat technical, but missing a little of that dramatic contrast that higher level DAPs do easily.


Just that you can imagine folks with phone in hand trying a series of IEMs in a shop and gravitating to the Arcadia due to the extra sub-bass and added thickness that makes phone listening fun. Hence the tune. Yep, when they made the Arcadia one of the strong points was just how this added thickness fortifies phone use.

Testing:
And sure after a week of burn-in I started with a phone and the included cable and ear-tips. Understanding the limits of the source we are given a slightly murky rendition, yet basically a good indicator of possibly where we could go in audiophile DAP use. While the phone added balance, you could still note how this particular IEM catered to the bass-head crowd. And while vocals were still well represented in phone use, I couldn’t help but wonder where we could go with a cable change, a DAP put into use and even different ear-tips.

So if you are on Head-Fi that’s a pretty good indicator that you have an interest in quality sound. That while the general public can access an Arcadia IEM purchase and be fine with the included cable and ear-tips……powered from their cell phone. And since this is a review, it is my pleasure to get to the section where I use alternate equipment (much like what you would do) to try and take the Arcadia to the next level.

In comes……………..

Sony WM1A, SIMGOT AUDIO LC7 Modular cable in 4.4mm and (the new) NiceHCK C04 ear-tips.

Now I would be remiss and actually totally against the Head-Fi theme if I didn’t fully disclose how these additives were a big change from standard phone use. Number one, the 4.4mm uses a different amplifier in the Sony 1A which offers a bigger stage and more 3D style of imaging. The LC7 cable offers a warmer lower midrange than the use of a pure silver cable, plus the tone is very much slightly subduing the upper midrange and the treble, yet doing all this without really making the Arcadia sound different or colored.

The results:
Here we are given an idea of what the ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia Hybrid is capable of. The differences stem from a bigger stage, a clearer bass, a more itemized set of images that allow for simply better emotional involvement. And as touched-on in the first impression section, this is very much sub-bass. As such it is refreshing as a slight departure from the HBB collaborations that were of a heavier lower midrange. The last sentence was one of the most important in the review. And depending who you are, you personally may have already tasted a flavor of how Hawaii Badboy cooks. You see not all collaborations sound the same, and it is fair to say we are offered more sub-bass and less lower midrange as a vehicle to make this style of playback less murky? What I mean by that is this is my 6th HBB collaboration review, and while each and every IEM in the series does promote extra bass, as that is his gig. The obvious other ideas put forth is a more or less emphasized midrange, and different ideas of just how thick to lay on the lower midrange blanket.

This is the first HBB release that for whatever reason I didn’t need burn-in to fully understand or gain any extra critical sonic changes. Now sure there was an extra effortlessness that took place after a week of burn-in and some cohesiveness added, but really much of what I understood the Arcadia to be in the first few moments of listening remained consistent. And I will take this opportunity to exclaim that this is my favorite HBB tune to date. He collaborates so much and has so many IEM ideas, that sure we can probably expect his tuning to evolve with time. Nothing remains still, as such collaborators are always offering new spices to their tunings compounded by the different innate character of each style of driver methodologies used. And while sure the included box opening experience here is bare bones, I like to imagine ZiiGaat spent the money on the 2 Knowles BAs, and the DD? Of course the IEMs themselves are quite the lookers, being one of the best looking examples of construction and faceplate designs I have seen this year!

Though all of the previously mentioned ideas are truly secondary to fit and tonality, the technicalities that you will enjoy every day with the Arcadia in your ears. But before we get to the music replay section I want to talk about the concept of bass balance.

Bass balance strategies:
There are many different ways to change the heard bass balance. What I mean by this is sure extra bass added at times increases perception of bass. Yet it is way more complex than that. Meaning if we take the midrange and treble energies down a tad, more bass will be notes without adding extra bass. Same as there are examples of adding just the extra upper midrange Pinna Gain to add a contrast to the bass driver ideas. As such a tune will then start to offer a new window into how the total overall signature is ultimately heard. Even an add into just the treble will add enough energy so that there can be found a balance to where the whole signature is perceived having less bass. And while probably most of the basshead ideas as to added bass are a choice by the IEM listener, the amount of lost or found technicalities can be all over the road with different IEMs.

This really is the same as the regular choices of different bass drivers, in that there is a wide range of added technicalities or lost technical ability. :frowning2:

So you get different ideas as to the character of bass replay despite the bass emphasis. It goes almost without saying that the more bass added, the more we are at risk of bleeding into midrange pace ability.......and of course the pure amount of bass starts to occlude the bass characters focus and clarity of itself.

Meaning many of you have already discovered that BA bass while not as physical or as dramatic can offer new found details……..clarity and sculpturing. But what if we had a new style of bass driver which offered both extra bass instrument clarity and gave a large amount of bass? I seem to be able to hear this new 10mm In-house Topology, Nano-particle Dispersion in action. What this idea does is use a layer of 3D objects/particles fastened onto the 10mm diaphragm to increase the surface area of sound wave creation. Yet what I hear is extra bass definition created to where below (inside of the signal) there are extra details and pace to be found? Extra sculpturing inside of the total bass response, while at the same time a little less lower midrange and midbass than is standard flair for a HBB creation. So it is for the most part simply extra sub-bass which just by its nature interferes with the midrange less, and that’s what we have! Yet add the technical ability of this new 10mm driver and it is the combination that I guess is what I hear different. The sonics that come out the other end are basically clearer, and while you still have a basshead level of bass, it is the best kind of bass, to which we have an added window into the lower response! Clarity is the best word I can come-up with? Any desired change of tone can always be accessed though EQ, as that is one tool we can totally use here.

Music:
All music tests were done with the SIMGOT LC7 cable in 4.4mm, the Sony WM1A with MrWalkman’s firmware, and NiceHCK C04 ear-tips. As a way to explore more balanced or different source and cable choice I also rolled-in the ifi GO blu Bluetooth receiver and the

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Hans Zimmer
Wonder Woman 1984 (sketches)
No Hero Is Born from Lies
44.1kHz - 24bit

This song was made for the Arcadia. And while the NiceHCK NX8 I just reviewed was complete with this song, the NX8 didn’t offer this physical sub-bass which is found lurking in the lowest part of this file.


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The dramatic sub-bass is real here. I mean if you by chance take a breather from such IEM bass antics, the response can be found as visceral and moving. That this song in particular holds ample sub-bass as a way to mesmerize audiences in the theater. Even at the opening at 00:02 the combination of bell sound and low-end are a notice of the song's arrival. The violins are separated, but only by soundstage placement and not so much tone. As it is this way in the town of Arcadia. Where the treble has a nice toned-down demeanor as does the midrange too. And because of this we are witnessing less contrasts and less itemization of elements into the stage than regular non-bass emphasis playback.

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Kaveh Cohen, Michael Nielsen
Forza Motorsport OST
Brotherhood
44.1kHz - 24bit


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This is a really important song especially to understand electronic drums. That while this may not be my exact sound signature to choose, I can appreciate everything that takes place with this song, and the more I listen, the more I question how this could actually fully be my way to go with what the Arcadia is doing. Bass is kinda like that, that the more you listen, the more you get acclimated and adjust to the low-end frequencies. As such this song becomes surprising in just simply how big it sounds off the Arcadia. Huge really.

Here the electronic drums offer a thick harmonically complete texture of attack and playout. Starting at just 00:09 the drum beats throughout playback, and while recessing only to make a comeback this single sound is not always playback correctly, only here it is fine! With some IEMs I actually avoid this song due to the drum sound.

Yet here it is more than correct…………it is comfortable and appreciated in existence. Where the wrong way it can be interpreted by some other IEMs is a heard slapping sound, but here the entire body of the sound can be noted, holding the note-weight, but more important balance in tone.

The beautiful thing is also held inside how the piano keys are replayed, as if really there is no other way. The keys………they don’t sound too dark, or stark sounding, as they are slightly down-toned, only in the best of ways. Holding there fully tonality and luster, despite what you may guess reading this. At 00:43 there is a break that I know about, and while with other IEMs this change in the music is more profound, in that there becomes a contrast that is displayed, added to with warmer establishments of tones. But here we are already basking in these darker and fuller waters found, with such new tones somehow blending-in. While the portion of the song is recognizable, and yes, there are adds to the midrange found enjoyable, this single break points out how it may be possible to have too much of a good thing. That while the mids are full and even the mid-bass and lower-minds take this thick action into reality, we are left with lesser contrasts or at least room for those contrasts to be appreciated. What we have is simply a toned-down thick example of everything included here, that while yes, the mids and treble make it out of the mix, there is no denying the density they emerge from.


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

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Gdanian
Induction
Shield Emitter (feat. Tineidae)
44.1kHz - 24bit

Really we are at home here. Introduced to a separate world to live in. In that I have witnessed this song played back in a number of ways, and it has you question almost which one is correct. Maybe they are all correct? Funny too as electronic music holds its tonal dimensions to be brought about in different and new ways with each new IEM playback. Meaning I have heard an all BA rendition of this song played back with a window into the ultra-treble that is contained here. Yep, there are other IEMs which broadcast a high-up, thin but detailed structure of tiny bells and small hits that are showcased into their own area inside the upper stage.

With the Arcadia here we are still fully able to hear these details, but they are not energized with life to come about into their own separated life forms into the stage space. This is the warmer bathwater we are bathing in. That ZiiGaat has made choices here, that due to the economy of build, and offering warmer, more cohesive ideas at work, that we receive a more blended yet complete idea of trebles and midrange, fortified by a huge spatial bass tone.

At 01:18 you can hear a clock ticking. Now this clock sound I have heard more separated and in more relief among the instruments, yet there is also this way to go about showcasing such tone. And really the best part here is the bass tones take on an extra level of physicality, that is next level, meaning they feel real life…….and the bass textures are detailed and interesting…….approaching their very own area inside of the soundstage. At 01:32 there is a transition in the song, that is a forward section where there are new additives, yet just like the previous song “Brotherhood” those attributes are held inside less contrasts than how they are normally heard. This is simply the low-end taking over. Switching back to the stock cable and trying 3.5mm output we discover that this blending of song elements is just the ways of the world for the Arcadia.

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Hans Zimmer
Inception OST
Old Souls
44.1 kHz - 16 bit

Here is a favorite in that in many ways and for many people just the way the lows play out here can be a thrill. But slightly before the bass drops we hear a beautiful single piano playing. The trick here is that the actual starting note has been reverse echoed leading up to the original note event. As such it goes perfectly with the film’s metaphysical based theme.

As when the actual note is played we hear both good note-weight and clear reverberations of the piano. The question for many will be how is this timbre? And I would say pretty darn good.. I mean that is what you are paying for, because you're not really getting a cable you would want to use (in the box) or a nice ear-tip selection…………or really anything except the IEMs themselves. So it is lucky ZiiGaat has gone so far as to zero in on the timbre by using name brand BA drivers. And while Hybrids offer one of the most open ways to replay this song, BAs in general don’t have the decays found in pretty much and full-range DD IEM. What this means is a piano like this one has added studio reverberation effects which adds to decay the note play out, and masks the actual faster note decays. At 00:54 the bass drop hits and does it ever! And that’s the thing, that even though this sub-bass drop is emotional and fulfilling there are still added midrange and treble elements which somehow don’t ever get drowned-out here. It is this provided balance or sorts that is the Arcadia’s true value in the end, this included is the most important statement in the entire review! That we are left with the full gambit of information, because as most know, it is normally not ever all about just the bass happening.

This complete idea is made even more profound in how the Blade Runner style synth takes front and center soon after about 01:00 along with the piano. When in truth the piano and synth were there before the bass drop, but as usual everything is coming together here. Though the lovely thing here is the realization that every aspect of this song has been represented here, kind of in its own sonic zone. Yep, everything at once, to where later it is noticed how the bass throbs are generated out to the outskirts of the stage. Placed into their very own realm to live and prosper. At around the 03:50 mark the strings finally make themselves known, except just like the piano at the start, due to sonic foreshadowing we feel the strings have always been with us. And…….in so many ways this place is when the song gets good. It was like the first half of the song was all that was needed to get us here, only now we realize it was a setup for the true message about to unfold!

The Arcadia makes the strings…….the violins and cellos warm and textured.

Strings:
Natural and thick, holding note-weight and harmonic complexity. From 03:57 till 04:26 we are given full understanding of just how this bass additive plays out. Revealing maybe the true nature of the tone, as bass notes somehow appear clearer, but not louder, maybe louder? And they were the same notes all along, yet the song is now in full support of these tones…….becoming slightly more real life? While no, the bass is not ever the clearest I’ve ever heard this song played, yet there is both a texture and a physicality present that is unstoppable.

It comes to a point that while the Arcadia is not my exact sound preference in the end, as it holds slightly more bass than I ask for, yet I can climb aboard how this whole song plays out, as it is a fun event none-the-less. It is so much fun here that you don’t want it to end. And truly it makes this song sound like the Arcadia and Old Souls are a match made in heaven, as they are perfect together.

At 05:47 there are kettle drums (Timpani) introduced and for the first time we are hearing these bass waves touch at the edges. It is really the whole addition of the reverberation and the coming cellos which are a sequenced additive to take this song to its destination point. But the redeeming factor is how we hear the fast paced small actions of violins and cellos gaining placement atop all the bass.

That at 06:23 the strings are in full-force and clearly heard as an addition, with their woody brawny texture, sitting atop our bass………..gaining midrange clarity into sonic focus here. And once again we are reminded that somehow we hear the whole song, that nothing is drowned-out, or at least the important parts are above the water to be fully grasped. Yet at 06:44 we are still able to hear a rhythm here, and the tempo is faster!


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

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Build:
Coming in at 4 grams each, the Arcadia is the perfect weight. Added to that the custom-universal form-factor derived from the ear-data base of ear shape measurements. The super large single side-vent does lower the noise occlusion by a tad. But the two pins are flush and of perfect ease of use. The nozzles seem to also contain the exact correct length to accommodate numerous ear-tips. Each earphone is equipped with its own individual serial number. The fit and finish here are really beautiful, as is the handmade two-tone faceplates. One of the better fitting IEMs I have come across this year, that’s for sure.

Cable:
As such the cable is OK, though to be honest it seems like more of a cable could have been provided concerning the end Arcadia's $199.00 asking price?

Maybe without the HBB collaboration $ send-off we could have realized a better cable............hehe! Sorry! :)

But, sure many are not into cables, and want one that sounds decent, and that is what is included. In fact (other than 4.4mm missing) the 3.5mm cable gets you in the door as far as Arcadia sound in general.

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Packaging:
Minimal to say the least, though the money here was decided to go into the drivers, and due to the character and overall stage footprint the Arcadia is still a value. IMO
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Conclusion:
Well, this was fun, yet not exactly my sound signature, I learned to have some great experiences. Though I have to say I do finally get where HBB is coming from with this L shaped tune. That while on first impressions it seemed a little different from the HBB heavy midrange and HBB mid-bass examples I have heard. It may actually be increased technicalities that this DD does that is the special item to write home about? And while it still is different, the Arcadia is still bound by those L shaped bass values in the end.

Note-weight and timbre:

What this does for you the listener is provide added note-weight, great timbre and a fun big stage that will challenge many of the same price-point examples out there today, including the Timeless II. Each of the 2 BAs provided by Knowles seem down-tuned enabling a smooth blend with the whole signature, yet also had the fun ability to gain treble or midrange energies with EQ.

In fact this may be the first IEM in 50 that I would recommend trying EQ with?

As such the response was both natural and brought about possibly an even better tune in the end. For campers that are looking for a smooth treble you have found it. For listeners who search-out a smooth vocal Pinna Gain that is provided too, in such a way that on some days it even came across better than I remember?

Yet make no mistake this is the style of tune that asks for volume. Added extra juice can elevate the vocals into position, and if you are game for high volume listening, you can go there too. As really the Arcadia does both bass heavy modern genres, but also can adapt to your old favorites.


$199.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-hbb-arcadia

Disclaimer:
I would like to thank Kaitlyn Wu from Linsoul for the love and the ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia review sample.

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

Disclaimer:
The ZiiGaat X HBB Arcadia has had burn-in for 168 hours.

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

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
Samsung Phone 3.5mm
HiBy R3 II 3.5mm/4.4mm output and 3.1 USB Type-C output
GO bar Dongle 4.4mm/3.5mm
Last edited:

baskingshark

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Good ergonomics and comfort
Easily driven
One for bassheads, with reverberant and massive sub-bass rumble
Fun sonics for bass focused genres
Smooth and sedate top end
Cons: Disappointing accessories
Bass goes for quantity over quality - there is some bleed with lack of texturing
Average soundstage
Mild BA timbre in the higher frequencies
DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.

The ZiiGaat x HBB: Arcadia can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/ziigaat-hbb-arcadia (no affiliate links).

Arcadia 3.jpg



SPECIFICATIONS
  • Driver configuration: 1 x 10 mm topology diaphragm dynamic driver + 1 x Knowles ED 29689 balanced armature driver + 1 x Knowles RAD 33518 balanced armature driver
  • Frequency response: 20 Hz - 23000 Hz
  • Impedance: 12 Ω
  • Sensitivity: 106 dB
  • Cable: 2-pin 0.78 mm; no information about cable material; 3.5 mm termination
  • Tested at: $199.99 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of silicone eartips (S/M/L)
- 1 pair of foam eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Case

For an IEM just touching 200 bucks, the accessory line-up is a disappointment. Gear at this price point usually incorporate a modular cable and/or a wider array of eartips.


Arcadia 9.jpg


Nevertheless, the silicone tips are serviceable in terms of fit and sonics. The foam tips improve isolation, though with some shaving off of the treble and soundstage.


Arcadia 8.jpg


We have no information on the stock cable materials, but suffice to say, it is a 3.5 mm (single-ended) one, with minimal tangling and microphonics, though it lies on the thinner side.


Arcadia 10.jpg


Lastly, we have a carrying case that has inner webbing.

In a nutshell, nothing to write home in terms of accessories, and there are cheaper sets that have a better provision of accessories. Of course, accessories maketh not an IEM, and let's read on to find out about other areas for this set.

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


BUILD/COMFORT

Arcadia 7.jpg


The shells are fashioned from resin, with a psychedelic green-gold sparkly faceplate.

The housings are lightweight and ergonomic, with no discomfort for longer listening sessions.

Arcadia 5.jpg


The earpieces have a huge vent, so this does result in sub-par isolation - the Arcadia is not recommended for usage in noisy environments as such - though thankfully, we have no driver flex due to this acoustic design.

Arcadia 6.jpg



INTERNALS

The Arcadia is a 3 driver hybrid, packing the following drivers:
  • 1 x 10 mm topology diaphragm dynamic driver handles the bass.
  • 1 x Knowles ED 29689 balanced armature driver takes care of the midrange
  • 1 x Knowles RAD 33518 balanced armature driver settles the treble

DRIVABILITY

I tested the Arcadia with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA15 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- 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 WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is easily driven even off weak sources, and amplification is not compulsory.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Ziigaat X HBB Acadia.jpg

Graph of the ZiiGaat x HBB: Arcadia via IEC711 coupler. 8 khz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the ZiiGaat x HBB Arcadia is a basshead's dream, with an L-shaped signature.

It has a massive bass shelf on the backdrop of a tamed treble/upper mids, with a deep and visceral rumble that can rattle the chest. However, the bass is on the slower side, with below average texturing. Basshead IEMs are generally considered a niche one-trick-pony, and the Arcadia excels with bass heavy genres such as hip-hop and EDM. However, purists who listen to classical music for example, might find the bass intrusive.

It is inevitable to have some bass bleed with such copious bass amounts, but this adds some warmth to the lower midrange. This region is thick and lush, though with some veil in the soundscape. With a tame 6 dB ear gain in the upper mids, the Arcadia has sedate vocals, and will be one for the anti-pinna gain gang.

Treble is smooth as silk, with no sibilance. The placid top-end will probably not suit trebleheads who want air and sparkle, but conversely, the Arcadia will be a kindred spirit for the treble-sensitive.

Technicalities are okay for a midFI hybrid, but are not class-leading. Essentially, the Arcadia embraces a musical signature over a more analytical listen. Soundstage and imaging are average, though for something with mammoth bass, micro-detailing is surprisingly decent. Instrument separation and layering are acceptable too, but when very complex tracks come out to play, there may be some smearing.

In the area of timbre, the Arcadia has mild BA timbre for the regions covered by the Knowles BAs - this is more prominent with acoustic instruments like strings - but it is nothing too egregious, ie there are worse offenders in this department.


COMPARISONS

The Arcadia will be compared against other hybrids residing around the $200 USD bracket. Single DDs, tribrids, BAs and planars are left out of the conversation, as the different transducer types have their own pros and cons.

Arcadia 4.jpg



Kiwi Ears KE4

The KE4 has one of those "META" type pleasant signatures. It sounds more boring than the head-banging fun brought to the table by the Arcadia. The KE4 has much less bass, but a fuller sounding midrange.

The KE4 is a hair weaker in technicalities - in areas such as imaging, soundstage and micro-details.

The KE4 is also poorly accessorized, but importantly, has driver flex, which may be a deal-breaker for some.


Letshuoer Cadenza 4

The Cadenza 4 is an antithesis to the Arcadia in terms of tuning, with the former having a bland - and perhaps - sterile dead neutral soundscape.

The Cadenza 4 is very uncoloured, and has exponentially less bass, but the bass is tighter and cleaner. However, it has a more sibilant and fatiguing treble region.

The Cadenza 4 has a more generous accessory inclusion, and has superior technicalities - in soundstage, micro-detailing and imaging.


CONCLUSIONS

Arcadia 2.jpg


At the end of the day, basshead tunings are a specialist tuning - they may induce a huge eargasm in bass-heavy genres such as hip-hop and EDM - but on the flip-side, may be a bit too coloured for some genres such as classical.

The ZiiGaat x HBB: Arcadia is an unashamed basshead hybrid - it is a basshead's basshead IEM - espousing a tremendous sub-bass descent that rumbles the jaw. It definitely brings lots of fun, and goes for a musical signature over something outright technical or analytical.

Yes, the Arcadia is not the last word in technicalities, but isn't the weakest in the pack too, and the upper mids and treble are smooth and non-fatiguing. Ergonomics and drivability are solid, though the accessory line-up is disappointing, with a small whiff of BA timbre. Unexpectedly, there is inevitable bass bleed with such titanic bass quantities, so it is a case of quantity over quality.

Arcadia 1.jpg


In conclusion, the Arcadia shines for bassy tracks - and is a recommendation for bassheads - but there will always be detractors for a basshead-tuned set, so it may not be the cup of tea for diehard purists in other less bass focused genres.
Last edited:

W0lrince

Previously known as Tzennn
New HBB Collab, COP OR DROP ?
Pros: -
-
-
-
Cons: - I like BLON BL03 better. They both have boomy bass but...

If you're interested in graph comparison, there's no link, yet
Disclamer:
+ I'm a normal asian dude with some music producing background
+ I like clean balanced sound signature with focus on sub bass and lower treble
+ Can consider myself as treblehead
+ 60-68db listening session
+ Avarage 4/10 (Quarks/ 7hz Zero), Good 6/10 (Tanchjim Kara), Endgame 8/10, Bias Endgame 10/10
⭐ : Good, but with a catch
⭐⭐ : Worth the money
⭐⭐⭐ : Specialist at something else
⭐⭐⭐⭐ : A Very close to perfection
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Perfect for me
How to read my review: (Which bold font is x2 in score)

. TONE
- Timbre: How sounds projected, usually free score for most iem. Only GK10 would get a 2 from this
- BASS: (20hz - 500hz)
DepthHow low can i hear (physically, not graph)
" /; \; =" + "number hz"/: rolloff, \: upward, =:flat after Hz of the highest spot i heard
DecayDecay + Sustain, usually the mid bass and flexability of driver
Resonance (or Release)Driver + tune. The bass after kick drum
AirFlexibility of bass. effect by tune and driver
ToneBased on how balanced it is
TechDetail (Texture, Fastness). Effect mostly by air
- MID: (500hz - 5khz)
AcousticPiano, Violin, Strings basically, flute, ...
ElectricSynth, Lead, Pluck, Electric guitar and Bass guitar, ...
ToneBased on how balanced it is
TechDetail (Texture, Separation). Effect by tone
- TREBLE: (5khz - 16khz)
ExtensionThe upper end of high, quite easy to hear if you don't have hearing loss
AirSpacing between instrument, cymbal
" /; \; =" + "number hz"/: rolloff, \: upward, =:flat after Hz of the highest spot i heard
SparkleAttack and Decay of cymbal. Is tonality element
ShimmeringSustain and Release of cymbal. Is tonality element
TechDetail (Texture, Separation, Transients). Effect by tone and air
- OTHERS:
Vocalsuhm. Vocals?
Drumuhm. Drum?
Percussionmost of the clack clack click click lol. Effect by texture in mid
ResonanceThe one that will let you know if transducer good with rock or not
DynamismAbility to make emotion
Sibilance10 meant no sibilance.
. TECH
- Detail: Bass + Mid + Treble
- Soundstage: Rough description wall of sounds
- Imaging: {Width, Depth, Height}, {blurry, solid (better than blurry); Phantom (Good microspacing)}
Click to expand...
- Bass:
- Mid:
- Treble:
- Vocals:
- Soundstage/Imaging presentation:

I have nothing against HBB but i genuinely want to ask if he truly know what he's doing.
If you want my text review on Arcadia, the best things i could say is i like Blon Bl03 better
Edit: i also have nothing against Ziigaat, as Ziigaat x Jay audio Estrella or Ziigaat x Fresh Review Arete i actually like a lot
NeoArk90
NeoArk90
the sibilant voice has 10, does it mean that it has a lot of sibilants or none? (I assume you haven't seen any that are defined as fluid/dark)
Edit:i ready now the description
passie42
passie42
*deleted*
Redcarmoose
Redcarmoose
@NeoArk90,
Read the instructions on how to interpret his reviews. 10 means zero sibilance.

wfxd

New Head-Fier
ZiiGaat Arcadia Review | A fun and engaging set for ∼$200
Pros: + Great bass presentation, nice, enjoyable depth to the sub bass
+ Well presented, forward female vocals
+ Great imaging
+ Engaging but smoothly presented highs
+ Small shell size, suitable to a wide variety of ear sizes
+ Very competitive set for hip-hop and EDM lovers looking for IEMs around the $200 price bracket
Cons: - Loose and slightly bloomy mid-bass, causes narrower perceived stage
- Male vocals can come off as sounding slightly thin
- Congestion in the lower mid-range
1730855711975.png

Disclaimer:
This unit was provided by Linsoul Audio. However, I am not financially affiliated with either ZiiGaat or Linsoul; neither company has influenced my thoughts or opinions, which remain entirely my own.

Purchase Link

Unboxing:
Standard ZiiGaat unboxing experience, not much to be seen.

Included accessories:
- Faux Leather carrying case
- 4x Pairs of ear tips
- Cable

1730855721892.png

Case:
Semi-hard carrying case included, lined with faux leather on the outside and a thin fabric lining on the inside.
Waterproof zipper goes around the entire case—a nice addition.

1730855728283.png


Cable
Provided in either a 4.4/3.5mm termination
- Very susceptible to memory caused by bending stresses
- No noticeable microphonics
- Fittings feel quite cheap
- No tangling problems pretty much
- Upper split wires tends to unravel at times

1730855732435.png


Ear Tips:
- 3x Sets of S/M/L Silicone tips
- 1x Pair of Foam tips

- I personally found that foam tips did not go very well with this set, bass became even more bloated, causing further lower mid-range congestion; in addition to the fact that the highs were toned down to cause the sound to be a bit muddy.

1730855736763.png


Very nice, unique looking shell.
Quite a small contoured shell design featuring a relatively narrow, ~5.3mm nozzle

Fit:
I did not particularly struggle to get a good seal with this set; there was, however, a bit of wiggle room in my concha—nothing major, though. Nozzle seal-wise, I did not have any problems.

My ear is quite small, I'd say. I personally didn’t have any long-term comfort issues.

1730855741165.png


Tuning and Internals:
This IEM was made in collaboration between ZiiGaat and HBB, featuring what seems to be the closest sound signature to HBB's target yet. It has a warm, V-shaped tuning, resulting in more forward vocals and ample bass, suitable for many hip-hop sub-genres.
Features the following driver config:
2x Knowles BA drivers:
- 1 full range
- 1 responsible for highs

1x Dynamic Driver
- Focuses on lows, providing slower, more enjoyable bass transients

1730855745278.png


Equipment used:
Sources:

- Astell&Kern Acro L1000
- Aune Yuki
- Meizu Lifeme Mblu (CX31993)
- Playing tracks through Tidal

Tips:
- Fiio HS20 (in my opinion worked quite well)
- Stock tips

Bass:
Sub-bass:
Sub bass had a very nice and enjoyable depth to it with decent quantity and slightly above average detailing, didn't particularly overshadow or overwhelm the mid-bass and the rest of the sound sig. I thought it was quite well extended, as opposed to the mid-bass.

Mid-bass:
Mid bass was quite punchy but came off as quite loose and bloomy, therefore causing congestion in the lower mid-range (this is partially the cause for the very narrow perceived stage on this set). It did also slightly bleed into the mid-range, resulting in a noticeable loss in lower mid-range clarity. Timbre wasn't the greatest, neither was it very textured at all times, but I quite enjoyed it, mostly just nit-picking.

Mid-range:
Lower mids were slightly bloated due to the overwhelming mid-bass frequencies. However, upper mids were quite elevated, allowing for more forward and energetic, but not shouty, vocals.
This elevation on both ends did cause narrower perceived stage and slight congestion/muddiness in the lower frequencies, however I did not find this to be much of a loss particularly, as it just added more enjoyment to the sound signature whilst retaining the objective technicalities of the set such as imaging.
Vocals:
Female vocals sounded very rich and energetic on this set with a relatively nice timbre. However male vocals, despite being enjoyable sounded slightly off and thin at times due to the elevated upper-mids, compared to my other sets.

Treble:
Overall, treble was very smooth and non-fatiguing, I didn’t notice any sibilance or harshness on most tracks, hi-hats were not fatiguing, however decay caused by cymbal resonance was slightly fatiguing, seemingly due to some sort of peak in the 10k-13k region. Timbre was quite natural, transients were not too quick nor slow and never came off as rolled off but was quite well extended.
Technicalities:
Soundstage:
Perceived sound stage was very narrow on this set, narrower than pretty much any other set I had, causing some tracks to sound slightly constrained in a way, this didn’t bother me too much. As I mentioned previously, this was not caused by the actual technical ability, but rather, by its tuning.
Imaging & Separation
Imaging is good, was quite easy to pin-point different sounds and track certain instruments/notes that were seemingly in motion.
Separation was better than average however wasn’t particularly impressive due to the slight congestion in the mid-range.


Comparison 1: Hype 4
1730855768237.png

These 2 are tuned very similarly
- Hype 4s sound a lot more open, with far better sub/mid bass extension, timbre and detail retrieval
- Both are relatively smooth in the highs, H4s were more fatiguing around 5k, Arcadias at 8-13k
- Hype 4s were less vocal forward, but male vocals sounded quite a lot more natural and rich
- Transients were seemingly quicker throughout the frequency response of the Hype 4s and somewhat less sub-bass quantity than the Arcadias

Comparison 2 - Xuan NV
1730855764637.png

- Both of these IEMs are HBB collabs, thought I would do a comparison between both; one of his budget sets and a mid-range set such as the Arcadia
- XNV had a wider perceived stage with far inferior technicalities overall in terms of imaging
- Mid-bass on XNV was slower due to the driver config, caused more bass bleed, impacting mid-range clarity.
- Arcadias feature a more V-shaped, energetic sound signature with more forward vocals, whilst the Xuan NV was overall more relaxed but still vocal forward
- Arcadias feature ever so slightly more fatiguing highs due to harsh decay

1730855760950.png


Conclusion:
Do I recommend this set? Sure, I think its a very competitive set for hip-hop and EDM lovers looking for IEMs around the $200 price bracket. I think it will work best for slower-paced tracks however will, still work very well with quicker tracks.
domq422
domq422
dude, I love the photography style. Keep it up!
passie42
passie42
I just received the Odessey and Arcadia and both of them are better than the Doscinco and Cincotres IMHO. The bass both IEM’s have is amazing. No studio monitors but fun, really fun. I am really going to enjoy both of them so much that I put my Cincotres up for sale.
I changed the stock cable (please Ziigaat, give your IEM’s the cables they deserve) to NiceHCK Season and the tips (same story goes for the tips Ziigaat) for the Fiio HS20 and they sound great.
I am curious how they will stand up against the Fatfreq Deuce which supposedly will arrive next week (after almost 4 months, never buy directly from Fatfreq!).
For now I am going to enjoy these gems💎
wfxd
wfxd
@passie42 yeah I havent tried the doscinco nor the cincotres, but I can imagine this being quite a dominant set around the $200 price range, very fun. Worked best with fiio hs20 for me too, and I've switched the cable to the zisin commemorative 2024 cable.
I also wonder how the deuce will sound compared to these, might try get my hands on them
I think my only gripe with it is the slight lower mid congestion on very busy tracks but thats about it, definitely a main rec around $200 for hiphop lovers
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