Ziigaat Luna Review 

Intro 

Hello, this review and feature covers the latest iems from the audio brand Ziigaat named the Ziigaat Luna ($379). The Luna is actually an all-balanced armature set of earphones consisting of six BA drivers in total (I will get into that later). Friends, I have to tell you, I have always enjoyed all BA sets. As much as I love a good DD and a good hybrid iem, there’s something special about a well composed and well-tuned balanced armature set. I’ve completed a few all-BA iem reviews of late and I think it’s fair to say that brands are beginning to really dial in the overall sound quality and timbre accuracy in comparison with years past. I suppose that finding quality balanced armature drivers, a solid crossover which can coherently homogenize the sound, and not overdoing the number of BA drivers used would be the reason for that. Unless you are some kind of tuning wizard, keep it simple. On a side note: This is why I adore the One Dot Audio’s all-BA sets. They don’t overload their sets with drivers in hopes to blow you away or trick you into thinking that more drivers equal better sound, just solid tuning. Also, it takes careful attention to tune an all-BA set well, like the Luna I am reviewing today. Correct bore diameters and lengths, dampers, driver placement, nozzle routing, and a million other considerations to dial back BA resonances and weird timbral occurrences. Believe me folks, I’ve heard some terrible all BA sets. In fact, a bad BA set is usually worse (in my mind) than just about any other driver which can coherently replay the full spectrum. That’s why I adore a good one. Coincidentally, I have received a very good one in the Ziigaat Luna. 

Two Months of Joy

I actually received the Luna around two months ago and have had it constantly in my precious everyday carry case. To be perfectly honest, it goes pretty much everywhere with me. Well, I did lend them out for a little bit of time, but they came right back. In truth, I’ve been listening daily, giving the Luna the full treatment, running the Luna through all the paces, every genre, every one of my 15 critical listening playlists, and doing so in the midst of other reviews. It’s a tricky game I play but I can assure you there are hundreds of hours with this set, in my ears. At any rate, I will certainly cover the Luna the absolute best that I can. I hope this review is of some help for you. 

ZiiGaat 

What can I say about Ziigaat? Ziigaat is an audio brand which has absolutely flooded the market at a rate that is very impressive. In my mind, what makes Ziigaat most impressive isn’t that they produce a new iem by the month, but rather, that they produce all of these sets and they are all actually pretty darn good. What’s most unbelievable is that Ziigaat only became a brand in late 2023! How many iems do they have on the market? I was actually trying to find that number, but I could only find 18 in total. Then I thought, “Ziigaat already has (at least) eighteen iems… in only 2+years!!” Now, they aren’t quite at KZ’s pace (at least 25-30 iems in the same time frame), but they also produce much more intricate sets. Single DD’s, all-BA’s, multi-driver hybrids, tribrids, and they do so at much higher cost due to the quality, R&D, professionals working on these sets with years of OEM/ODM experience under their belts. Can I just tell you all that prior to this review period… I really wasn’t sold on Ziigaat. I’ve actually turned down a couple sets due to lack of interest. Shame on me. I have a totally newfound and reverent respect for this brand. I will explain this newfound respect as I go through this review, but I’ll leave you with one last proclamation made from Ziigaat. A mission statement of sorts. It’s in their name’s acronym, and the meaning of their name; “Zero in on Ideas, Innovate, Grow, and Achieve All Together” I don’t know about you, but I can get behind that. 

Competition 

As for the Luna, and for all iems at every price point, every style of tuning, and every driver configuration, they will have a lot of competition. I’m not just thinking of all-BA sets either. The Luna plays ball at a price point that is beginning to hang with the big boys. This set costs $379. If this was a budget set then I’d only keep the competition to the same driver configuration and price. However, once you delve past $300, you are in different territory. Driver configuration at this point is much less important than the overall character, quality, and price in relation to that quality. $379 is nothing to sneeze at folks. In fact, $379 is completely unaffordable for about 90% of our world. Believe me folks, competition is beyond fierce. However, for the sake of this review I will keep comparisons to just all BA iems. I mean, I just reviewed one of the better and lesser-known all-BA sets named the ODA A300 Hesperus Wood Edition, or it’s big brother (slightly more expensive $499) the ODA Amarantine A500 Wood Edition, EPZ 530 or the SeeAudio Bravery24 and the other Bravery series of iems. Others include the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite, the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II, or even slightly less expensive sets like the Hiby Yvain, or the KZ Sonata. That’s right, even less expensive all-BA sets are knocking on the doors of these more expensive sets nowadays. However, you have older sets like the Dunu SA6 on sale nowadays for roughly the same cost. I hate to say it, but this is only to name a handful folks. There are certainly more. Add to that, I am just scratching the surface if I include any driver configuration. I don’t have time to give you all of those sets. 

Luna

My point is that the Luna has to stand out. It has to have some distinguishable quality or attribute that helps it to rise above the competition. I’ll give you a little tidbit before this review gets underway; I wouldn’t be reviewing this set if I didn’t think it had those distinguished qualities. This is all about you though. I hope to present the Luna in a way that is easy enough for you to understand so that you can have some more info to decide if you are willing to shell out $379 for this set. One thing is clear, Ziigaat did one heck-of-a-job on this all-balanced armature in-ear monitor and I intend to explain why that is moving forward. With that all said, I’m very much ready to go. Two months in with the Luna and I’m finally getting to explain this set. So, without further ado… the Ziigaat Luna…

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–Ziigaat 

–Linsoul

–Amazon

–Bloom Audio

Gear used for testing 

–Shanling UP6

–Shanling UA6 

–Ifi Go Blu

–BASN PA60

–Surfans X10 

–Hidizs S9 Pro Plus  

–Shanling UA7

–Shanling H0

–Hidizs AP80 Pro Max 

–Fiio JM21 

–Hiby R3 Pro II

–Hiby R6 Pro II 2025 

–Shanling M1 Plus

–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2 

–Shanling M6 Ultra 

–Fiio Q15

-Many more sources used including weaker Android 3.5 set phones, iPad, and a few weaker 3.5 se dongles

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing 

The Ziigaat Luna arrived at my home in an unpretentious and pretty normal box. Nothing overtly ornate or over the top. About medium sized with a shot of the Luna on the cover sleeve and specs on the back. Take off the sleeve and you’ll see a bland black with “Ziigaat” in the middle. Open that black box (like a book) and you’ll uncover the gorgeous Luna iems comfortably sitting in cardboard covered foam cut-outs. Next to the Luna is a box, and inside of that box is where you’ll find the large tan carrying case. Inside of the case you’ll find the eartips, the cable, and the cable adapters. And that’s pretty much it. Not a bad unboxing by anyone’s standards, though not quite up to the competition at this cost. Admittedly, I wished I would’ve seen a few better accessories (minus the dope case and decent enough tips. More later on those). Still, not bad at all. Next. 

Eartips

Ziigaat provides a total of seven pairs of eartips over three different styles of tips. Honestly, they aren’t bad at all. Thoughtful actually. I complain on a fairly consistent basis about brands totally overlooking the one passive way to really dial in the sound of their earphones. Obviously, I’m speaking on “eartips”. Brands just throw in eartips and send them on their way. No thought whatsoever. I complain all the time about it. How about adding I to your package eartips which makes sense for your earphones? Wouldn’t that be smart? Eh, I’m over thinking again. Anyways, it’s a head scratcher for sure. So, I actually think Ziigaat added in some decent enough eartips. The first style of tips provided are slow-rise foam tips which are (in my opinion) a Luna killer. These tips made zero sense. Right away the bass becomes softened, gets weaker, less punchy, less defined. Unless you have a serious need for foamies, they will not be a good choice for the Luna. Now, Ziigaat also added in six pairs of liquid silicone tips which I do like. They have two different styles. The first set of three (S, M, L) are a white liquid silicone, ultra tacky, semi-wide bore eartip with a semi-firm flange and a somewhat rigid stem. Great tips, but not for me, not rigid or firm enough. The next set of three (S, M, L) are a dark gray set of liquid silicone tips, also semi-wide bore, firmer, and more rigid. Now these I like. Having said that, my curiosity has gotten the best of me. You can’t leave me alone, to my own devices, with a set of earphones for two months and not expect Chris Love to dabble and figure out how those earphones will sound the best. 

What Did I Use? 

Friends, as with most sets I went through my giant swath of eartips that I’ve gathered over my time in the hobby, and I’ve quite literally exhausted just about every tip I own trying to find what worked best for the Luna. Can I tell you, the 2nd and 3rd pairs of eartips that I tried (other than the provided tips), was the Dunu S&S eartips and then the Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore tips. Friends, I went through hundreds of eartips after that (that may be a slight exaggeration, sure felt like it though) and many tips worked great, many sounded great too. However, I wanted very much to preserve the punch and bass depth, while also holding onto the sparkly treble and not adding unwanted glare or subtle abrasive effects within the upper mids. Anyways, folks, back and forth, tip after tip after tip and for me it came down to three pairs and one of those pairs was a clear winner. That was (as I told you) the Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore. You see, they seal so tremendously in the ear and open up the sound without anything blocking the sound tubes, giving such a clean quality to the Luna. Now, I did use the S&S tips a bit too for critical listening as the S&S also have a semi-wide to wide bore which doesn’t diminish the upper mids to treble regions and doesn’t mask the power & punch in the bass. It’s a delicate balance. Still, the Divinus tips easily worked best for me. So, naturally it’s the S&S & Divinus eartips that you’ll see in my pictures. I think Ziigaat did a nice job adding eartips that work well into the packaging, but for me… the perfect tips are the tips I worked to find. 

Carrying Case 

One of the cooler accessories included into the packaging is without question the carrying case. For me, I really don’t ever use cases unless they make total sense. Here’s how I think; I need a case which is either small enough to fit in my front jeans pocket without looking like I’m happy to see everyone (wink-wink), or I need a big, strong case that I can throw in my bag with me. If I get anything other than those two styles… I won’t use it. I already take my huge carrying case 10″ x 10” x 3.5” almost everywhere. So, I really don’t need anything else, unless I want to go light. I find the Ziigaat carrying case to be pretty much perfect for taking one set of earphones, many extra tips, perhaps an extra cable, some adapters too. It’s a big case folks. However what I enjoy most is that I can bring all of that stuff along with just about any dongle dac. Many days I took this case to my office carrying the Luna, another set too, all of the accessories, as well as the Shanling UA7. Now, the case is very large. Much larger than a typical case provided. It’s also cool poking with its orange/tan colored faux leather cladded aesthetic, and working zipper. You’ll see “Ziigaat” right in the middle of it too. I love the soft internal lining and the hard design which certainly has done a good job of protecting these earphones. All things considered, it’s a nice addition. 

Cable

Okay, so, I do have a slight issue with the provided cable. First off, I need to be honest (as always), but I am most certainly a cable snob. Especially on sets which sit above $100. The Luna is at $379. HEY ZIIGAAT! Do yourselves, and us a favor… and put a cable which makes sense for your set of earphones into the packaging. You did all this work to make a solid set. All that R&D, all of the hours logged, blood sweat, tears yada-yada-yada… and the cable we get is probably a $12 modular cable. Actually, I’d peg the bill of materials cost at roughly about $8-$17 ($17 being unlikely). Now, please hear me out. I understand Ziigaat wanting to put all of their money into the R&D and earphones themselves, I get it. I actually appreciate it. However, I really feel that you could’ve added $10 onto the price of this set and provided a much better cable. What’s $390 as opposed to $380?? Put a cable which makes sense and looks aesthetically pleasing into the package of your wonderful set of all balanced armature iems. Anyways, I’m sorry for harping on that as the cable provided works perfectly fine. If you have no extra cables lying around and no more funds to purchase an upgrade cable, then I’d say you are fine with the cable provided. It does its job. Also, it’s modular too which gives you some versatility. So it isn’t terrible. My issue is that the Luna is absolutely beautiful and deserves a beautiful cable that fits its aesthetic. At any rate, the included cable is a 2-pin, 4-core, silver-plated copper cable, all black, pliable, easy to handle, no microphonics, and is a nice “working” cable. It functions well enough. Still, I had to go the extra mile on this one. Time to go through all of my cables. 

What Cable Did I Use?

As always, when I feel that I need to swap cables, the first thing I do is find every cable that I have which will pair well aesthetically. Yes, I’m that guy. Then, I go through those cables finding the best sonic pairing. Of course, I found 22 cables in my collection that look dope with this set. Man, that is a daunting and boring task! However, it must be done. Friends, I went through each and every one of them and the cable that I felt sounded the best while also being reasonably priced is the Simgot LC7. One of my absolute favorite cables in the budget scene and clearly one of the best made. I love the pearly and glossy white along with the fat appearance coupled with the beautiful Luna. Obviously, you really don’t have to swap cables at all because the included cable does do the trick just fine. Not everyone is as picky as I am. 

Build / Aesthetic / Internals / Fit 

Build Quality 

One thing you can sort-of count on is Ziigaat Audio creating all-resin iems. Granted, I have one Arete II (soon to be reviewed) which incorporates alloys into its design, but that’s beside the point. What we are used to seeing are Ziigaat sets which are very artistically well designed along with reasonably good all resin shells. To be exact, the Luna is made entirely out of 3D printed medical grade resin and polished to make its glossy appearance. I find the build to be much more functional rather than premium. Certainly not to the standard of an all-metal set of earphones, but nice, very clean, very lightweight. I’m thinking Ziigaat crafted them to be light and comfortable more than anything else. Anyways, the nozzles are roughly about standard size (6 mm) and length, and they are very form fitting for me. Nothing jagged, no weak points, and clearly polished to a shine. Not bad at all. 

Aesthetic 

One thing that I’ve noticed is that many Ziigaat sets seem to look… similar. Well, they seem to use the same artistic protocol with most of their sets. Having said that, I do find the Ziigaat Luna to be a very artistically crafty set. “Luna” is actually Latin for “Moon” and it appears that Ziigaat tried to create a faceplate design which resembles the cosmos. Anyways, the Luna has a black, almost semi-transparent housing which really takes a lot to see the Internals. The faceplates cover that black underbelly with green and blue glitter covering it while pink and white glitter looks piled on one side and polished to a shine. It makes for a very pretty design. Very unique too. Though, many Ziigaat sets use glitter and polished resin. Always a dope look. Let’s put it this way, you will never, under any circumstances, look ridiculous with this set in your ears. Nice work on the design Ziigaat! 

Internals

As I said earlier, the Ziigaat Luna comes equipped with a total of six balanced armature drivers and each of those drivers are solid, proven, and high quality. For the record, when listening to this set, it shows. Anyways, to be exact that Luna uses two Sonion 39AY008 balanced armature woofers to handle the low-end. These are full-sized low-frequency BA’s which are well known to be able to really give a good chest thump and sublevel rumble. For the mids Ziigaat chose to go with two Knowles 32873 balanced armature drivers which were chosen for their more linear response to the spectrum as well as great midrange stability and Vocal presentation. Lastly, they added in two Knowles 33518 balanced armature tweeters to handle the highs. Basically, each set of drivers are dedicated to their frequency ranges making a solid 3-way architecture inside of the Luna. Now, I don’t know about what crossover Ziigaat went with, but we have to assume a solid 3-way electronic crossover has been used. However, I can tell you that Ziigaat does have three sound tubes per BA pair which extends to the nozzles. It’s no secret that to make good sound you typically need some decent drivers, thankfully Ziigaat is 6 for 6 on the Luna. 

Fit / Comfort 

Nobody should have an issue with fitment. At least, most people likely will not have a terrible time getting a fit with this set. The Luna is shaped like many iems and has a very ergonomic design which should contour the ear very well for most of you. Once I found tips which sealed well, I had zero issues getting a solid fit, and a comfortable fit. I should also note that the Luna actually has some decent passive noise isolation too. I haven’t heard anyone talk about this, but for me and my ears I got really nice isolation. Not top tier, or perfect for stage worthy, but very solid. 

Drivability / Pairings 

Sensitivity 

Based off of the Ziigaat Luna sales page the Luna is listed with an impedance of 26 ohms and a sensitivity of 103 db’s. Friends, this is a pretty darn sensitive set of in-ear monitors. As with every iem review that I conduct I go through the grueling task of listening to every set using every source at one time or another making notes of each. I will always check my weakest sources to hopefully help out anyone who doesn’t have a stellar source device to drive their sets. Anyways, I used two different Android phones (which still have the 3.5 se jack), my iPad, the KZ AZ20, along with three super weak 3.5 se no-name Conexant dongle dacs. As honest as I can be, the Luna sounds awesome on weaker sources. Really, this is a sensitive enough set to be able to bring the Luna to a solid dynamic range, good enough volume and headroom, as well as a clean sound. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Luna won’t sound much better off of more powerful sources. Still, don’t fret if you don’t have some amazing source device because the Luna will likely do just fine with whatever you have. 

More Power

Having said all of that, you should also not be surprised when you hear the Luna scale with both more power and by using more stellar sources. The Luna seems made for quality source devices. Now I’m not saying you need some desktop unit or some $1k dap or anything (though they would help a lot), but having a quality dongle dac with solid internals, a couple hundred mW under the hood and a clean portrayal of the spectrum will definitely bring out the best in this set. I personally adore the Luna with more juice as the stage gains depth, it gains dimensionality, the bass sounds less loose, and note separation sounds better. It’s just a much cleaner way to hear the Luna. I feel you get the sound that this set was tuned to be with more powerful and better sources. 

Source Pairing 

To my ears the Ziigaat Luna comes across warm/neutral which puts it square into the goldilocks zone for tonal pairing. Basically, just about any source tonality will pair well. Whether you have a warm source, a warm/neutral source, or a neutral source, the Luna should pair very nicely with it. Having said that, the Luna can be a bit picky with some source’s tonal aspects. Anything too edgy, or anything too treble dry can bring on a more (I don’t want to say grainy) plasticky sound, perhaps a touch less densly rendered. However, I’ve used this set with every source at my disposal, and I found only one of those to embellish the timbre a hair too much making the Luna sound a touch metallic and brittle up top. Which was odd because this set doesn’t even have a hint of BA timbre with any other source. Other than that, the Luna comes across really well with many sources. Most sources I have replayed very well including dongle dacs, dac/amps, daps. My absolute favorites are the Shanling UA7, Shanling M6 Ultra, Fiio Q15, and Hiby R6 Pro II 2025, among others. I wouldn’t call the Luna “picky” per say, maybe partial to some tonal pairings. Though, I would say that you should check it out with all sources at your disposal before you judge. The reason being is that when a source pairs well it will make one amazing listening session. I’d say that if you only have a smartphone, or a weak dongle dac then you’re good. However, more power helps and source tonality isn’t as big of an issue with the Luna as it is with other sets. 

Sound Impressions 

*Note: before I dive into the sound of the Ziigaat Luna I first want to preface a few things. First off, I did burn in the Luna for about two full days when I noticed nothing was happening at all. Not that I needed anything to change either. You likely don’t need to burn in this set. Great out-of-the-box. I mostly used Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore eartips with the Luna as well as the Dunu S&S for a short time. The cable I chose to use is the Simgot LC7 which pairs wonderfully with the Luna. I listen mainly to flac or better files (some MP3) which are stored on my devices and rarely do I stream my music. 

Good All-BA Iems

I’ve told you all a number of times that I love a good all-BA iem. I adore them. Something about an all-balanced armature “all-rounder” style sound which doesn’t lack in the bass maintaining its melodic tunefulness while not sounding too smoothened over is simply irresistible to me. Honestly, a well-done all-BA set is one of the best driver configurations in all of audio. I know, I know, that is very debatable. To be perfectly honest, all-BA configurations are not my favorite. Just want to get that out there before I keep going. Still, a well-done all-BA set is always going to be very intriguing to me, and I respect the hell out of brands who can tune one well. However, tuning an all-BA set in this way is ridiculously difficult and only very few iem makers have truly figured it out perfectly. I can count on my hand those brands which could do it for under $500. It takes massive amounts of R&D and constant work to get an all-BA set to not carry the pitfalls that so many all-BA iems have. Usually the problems stem like this; weaker and less physical bass (not dynamic drivers), odd timbral moments (BA timbre), and a less natural/organic sound. Also, there are about a thousand variables within those typical BA problems which screw everything up. In fact, without question the worst iems I’ve ever heard were all-BA sets. It’s a hard driver type to get right. However, when a brand figures it out and they really have something special then you’d be hard pressed to find a set as technically on-point, as natural, as smooth, and as precise as an all-BA set can sound. This includes planars, dynamic drivers, and any other driver type out there. Again… debatable. Can I just say, the Ziigaat Luna hits on all of these points to varying degrees. Decent enough BA bass replay, absolutely accurate yet harmonious midrange, plenty of toned-down and controlled shimmer/vibrance, nice sparkly treble which doesn’t fatigue and fantastic extension both ways (sub-bass & upper treble). Ziigaat did a good job folks. 

What’s It Sound Like? 

The Ziigaat Luna is one of a handful of fully balanced armature iems to really balance the whole spectrum in a very clean and natural way. This is a set with a mildly energetic sound, a slightly warmed character, closer to organic than anything else, and no real drawbacks like peaks, veiling, sibilance, or glare. I have to say that I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by this set. I have a number of all BA sets and have heard many-many more and the Luna is right up there with the best overall sound quality BA iems that I’ve heard under $500. There, I said it. Anyways, the Luna carries what I’d call a U-shaped sound signature and a warm/neutral tonal character, smooth across the board, with a slightly beefy bass region which stays in almost perfect dynamic balance with the mids and treble. The beautiful thing about this warm/neutral and balanced smooth sound is that it does the technical stuff very-very well for the cost acting more like a set which costs much more than it does. Usually, smoother cadent iems will typically sand down those finer details, or the defining note edges, and typically the sound won’t be as precise. Well, good iems can play both sides of the ball very well. The Luna is just as musically adept as it is technically savvy. It’ll prop up the emotional sentiment in a track just as easily as it’ll resolve minute details. Everything about this set falls under one word which dictates how everything comes across, that word is…control.

Reference Acuity and Harmonic Polyphony

One of the qualities of the Luna that most stuck out to me revolves around its unique ability to be both smooth and crisp, taut yet refined, relaxed but also dynamically present and even symphonic. It has that euphony to it, like an extra gear. It carries some sweet-toned richness which partners with the sentiment of the artist by tunefully uplifting the spectrum without arousing any peaks, abrasiveness, or sharp, razor-edge shrillness. For something that I’d call “somewhat-relaxed” I hear pretty nice macro-dynamics which are full of expressive tonal contrast and never feel or sound flat or boring. In fact, vocals are wonderful on this set. However, what gets me is that I can say all of those nice things about the Luna’s tonal characteristics, yet in the same breath hear every last finger slide, pluck, bow friction on violins, low-volume harmonics, breath in mics and everything else. In fact, I’d almost say that the Luna has reference-studio qualities when it comes to the technical aspects of music. However, it is simply too melodic for me to call it that with any conviction. The bass is too robust (moderate-heavy), the mids are too euphonic, and the treble is too sprightly. It has the technical acuity of a reference studio sound with the harmonic polyphony of a very musical tuning… which is a wonderful thing to be for an iem. 

Balance 

Once again, the Luna has a very balanced and measured nature about it. No one area is over amplified, no oversaturated frequency, each area of the mix plays its part. No lead roles (frequency) here folks, the Luna has an ensemble cast for sure. Basically, I honestly don’t hear any area of the mix (bass, mids, treble) which steals focus, sheens, masks, or veils. The balance is across the board too. Balanced from the bass, to the mids, through the treble, and the Luna shares a nice balance between smooth cadence and crisp detail. In my opinion I’d even say the musical/analytical split is something like 45/55. Pretty close to balanced. Totally my opinion of course, subjectively gauged over two months of constant listening. At any rate… the Luna is very close in balance. Now that I’ve said that “balanced” is not everyone’s perfect cup of tea…

I Don’t Like Shrimp

The sound of the Luna  won’t be for everyone. I just need to get this out of the way. Say it now so that I don’t have to stress about it in my review. That is my “every review disclaimer”. I’ll always get some stray shots (messages/comments) from the peanut gallery (disgruntled hobbyists) telling me I’m nuts which usually ends in me explaining why we are different as hobbyists. That typically ends the confusion, we hypothetically fist bump and go on our way. Anyways, it’s true, the Luna won’t be for everyone. As nice as that analytical to musical balance is, as nice as its tight, defined, and mildly robust bass can be, the melodic and on-point mids, or the sparkly treble… there will be many who won’t jive with this set. I mean, I don’t like shrimp, at all! However, my wife could live off of it. Personal audio is the same folks. Our tonal palettes are different. Bassheads will likely not enjoy the bass heft, treble heads may not totally jive with the treble output, and warm-rich-smooth fans probably won’t enjoy the Luna’s lean-density style weight and neutral-ish “off-natural” timbre. Add to those a hundred other variables. For instance, while the timbre is very nice for an all-BA iem, the Luna won’t contend with a quality “timbre-first” dynamic driver iem when it comes to timbre quality. Or transients are a tad too taut (fast attack to tighter decay) and rapid to be “perfectly natural” sounding. I could keep going with reasons why some folks would “subjectively” not enjoy the Luna and possibly feel that $379 is not worth it. However, for all of the reasons why the Luna may not be enjoyed by some… will also be the same reasons why it will be loved by others. Welcome to personal audio, welcome to the hobby; It’s a rabbit hole, it’s deep, it’s mind numbingly nuanced, what makes it great is its diversity and the fact that we all can agree on two things… it’s all about the music, and nothing is for everyone. 

Bass Region 

One thing is clear, the Ziigaat Luna is not for those who adore a big and bulbous bass. Let’s just get that out of the way. Bassheads aren’t going to enjoy this set. The Luna is more aligned with those people who enjoy a clean and quality bass presentation. I hear solid sub-level rumble with some haptic feel, and I hear some good slam as well from the mid-bass, but I could never call this bass emphasis anything more than “just-above-moderate” in overall weight and authority. Certainly, full bodied but not to the depth of a dynamic driver. It’s close, but not quite. Still, the bass is absolutely a high-quality balanced armature style bass that can carry many genres due to its balanced portrayal of the spectrum. If you are wondering, the bass is not at all weak, it isn’t soft, and it isn’t dry. The Luna carries a healthy 8db bass shelf which spreads nicely from the sub-bass to the mid-bass and bleeds nicely into the midrange before flattening at about 350 hz. I hear very good surface texture for a bass region which is much more of a supporting partner rather than a dominant focus. This is the type of bass which rises to the occasion and will show its breadth and authority when pushed. Yet this bass will also never force its will upon the rest of the mix, it won’t add any overcast veil to the sound, and it won’t overly enrich, warm, or smoothen the midrange. Again, a high-quality bass which was strategically tuned to add just enough brute force, a high technical ceiling, and just enough warmth to a mostly neutral midrange. 

Sub-Bass 

I have gone back and forth on this but I want to say the majority of emphasis rests in the sub-bass though I debate that within myself. I suppose it doesn’t matter a whole lot because the sub-bass is ridiculously clean and tidy. Not quite planar fast, but tidy, with a good level of rumble. Enough rumble and droning judder to support a track like “Mancey” from Andrew Bird with its bellowing and deep sub reaching bass guitar which the Luna makes use of its two Sonion woofers to replay in a very satisfying way. Or “Paradigm” by The Head and the Heart. Again, another track which any set should be able to “rise to the occasion” with. However, it’s the quality sets which can separate the bass from the vocals and other instruments whilst also not masking the spectrum. The Luna separates (bass from mids) with a scalpel and the vocals come through with crystalline clarity. The Luna’s sub-bass is the type, which is nicely elevated, but remains tightly controlled, well defined, and clean and never comes across as a loose or muddy swell of bass smear. These Sonion drivers present very nice texture and resolve with enough weight for most genres, just less visceral and impactful than a good dynamic driver can replicate my music. Still very impressive and one of my personal favorite aspects of this tuning. 

Mid-Bass 

As I said, it is not easy to discern what area of the low-end mix takes the crown for most prominent. I want to say the sublevels, but the mid bass is not lacking folks. It’s just trim, with a nice lean-density note presence that never feels or sounds disheveled or loose. I would probably say that Ziigaat deliberately restrained the mid-bass reach and closely listening I do hear that it sits just below the sub-bass and then flatten just past the low-mids. At any rate, as far as slam and boom, the Luna is definitely moderately tuned, but pretty potent too when called upon. That potency unquestionably relies on the definition of the Luna’s slam. You see, the Luna does a wonderful job of outlining kick drums, adding snap and a lean dense presence to basslines, bass drops, and has just enough weight to carry most bass guitars. More weight and authority than the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite and a tad less than the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition. It rests somewhere in between those two. However, the mid-bass is completely agile, dexterous, textured, and can even be fun too. It just depends on what your idea of “fun” is. The Luna’s mid-bass has enough groovy muscle to support the rhythm of a track while keeping tighter transients and reducing clarity, which is a huge key into why the Luna is special. Furthermore, it’s tight enough to make its way around complex bass arrangements helping you hear individual hits, rather than a smeared wall of bass blur. The bass region of the Luna is one of three standout sonic features of this set and a great support for the rest of the mix. 

Downsides to the Bass Region 

The obvious issue that people may have is the less bulbous bass. I think that is its only true subjective gripe. Of course, there may be other people who are very particular and may want to hear an even more organically atmospheric bass with less of a clean and tidy transient approach. Yes, the Luna may be too clean, too high quality, and too precise for those who greatly desire that long-decay feel to their music. I totally understand these folks. Now, I do feel that the Luna is close to an all-rounder style set, it is the bass that will keep it from reaching that prestigious moniker. That said, the “all-rounder” label is also very much subjectively given and so it really all rests in the ear of the beholder. I feel that the 8 dB bass shelf is plenty for a very hardy and solid bass drop and the bass has plenty of fullness and tactile grip to offer a very compelling low-end. Still, as we’ve discussed, nothing is for everyone. The Luna is most certainly for me. Nice work Ziigaat. 

Midrange

This brings us to the Midrange of the Ziigaat Luna, and I happen to feel that it is the best region of the Luna’s tuning. After all, the midrange encompasses the great majority of what we hear when we are listening to music. It is so very apparent when you hear a recessed, boring, flat, or drab midrange. Who likes that? Apparently, many people do because there are way more iems than you know that I have chosen not to review that others praised to the heavens and back. At any rate, I say all of that because the Ziigaat Luna excels in this region with a somewhat prominent and tactfully present region which is just forward enough without sounding boxy, too pronounced, or uneven. In truth, the Luna captures every track with a very precise and fairly accurate portrayal of my music. Timbre is on the natural side as well for an all-BA set. I’d call it neutral-natural with a touch of low-mid warmth and nicely transparent, clean, while never sounding too dry, frail, or plasticky (most of the time). In truth, I could use a hair more warmth, but the Luna most definitely has a version of a natural and organic sound although it is a hair too technically on point. To me it’s “off-natural” and very pleasing to the ear. Notes have very clean outlines, very distinct separation, and just enough upper-mid vibrance to provide some air, shimmer, and tonal levity without coming across harsh. The mids sound just as technically astute as they sound melodic with a very nice and smooth cadence and flow yet crisp at the edges, well detailed, and every inflection and texture is resolved in a non-edgy way. However, for me, personally, it’s all that I’ve explained about the midrange in addition to the depth of field and overall dimensionality of this set which makes it a solid option at $379. 

A Certain Flavor

I think this is why I enjoy this set so much. That clean natural (off-natural) timbre helping instruments to sound airy, distinct, and well-adjusted in the sound field and vocals are generally prominent and sweet-toned. Having said all of that, there are many sets under $400 which offer great midranges. In fact, I certainly wouldn’t call the Luna the best vocal set within this range. That prestigious title belongs to a few other more mid-centric iems. However, there is a certain flavor that the Luna brings which isn’t easily replicated. As a reviewer, it’s my job not to convince you to purchase a set, or even like what I’m talking about. It is my job to explain what I hear and in the way that I hear it. I’m not saying the Luna is the best midrange iem under $400. I am saying that it is a very-very solid option if you enjoy crystalline clarity, tight notes, distinct outlines, with very realistic lean-density note body presentation. Though I typically go for a slightly warmer sound with a touch more richness, slightly more earthy-organic. Of course, that takes absolutely nothing away from the Luna. Especially since I’ve been listening to this set and choosing it over many other iems for over two months now. I’d say it has my stamp of approval. 

Lower-Midrange 

This lower midrange is not one which was created, crafted, and tuned to solely bring the emotion out of a track. Ziigaat wasn’t going strictly for the romantic hues of an artist’s sentiment. Not quite. The low-mids are a hair too precise for that. Of course, that’s not to say that I cannot hear those sonic sentiments, it’s just that the sound is a hair more accurate than emotionally endowed. A touch more analytical than thick, without sounding thin. Again, lean-density. A sound with enough acute dynamism and glass-lined clarity to stand out. The sound is somewhat lean, not thick, not overly warm, not soft. Males sound better than one may think with this style of tuning. Ziigaat made sure to bleed the bass into the mids just enough to reap the benefit of subtle richness while not losing any clarity at all. It is a very fine line to walk and can be a polarizing decision amongst the audio faithful. However, males and instruments sound so very clear and clean and even robust. Stuff like cellos sound full but defined, rhythm guitars have groove, they have fluidity, baritones and upper register males sound embossed, pronounced, and not veiled into the melody which surrounds them. Nothing… I repeat… nothing… sounds congested. 

Male Vocalists 

These are the benefits of this tuning. Still, those who desire that warmth, that smoothness, that earthy organic sound who can overlook lack of clarity and would much rather hear a musicality-first sound; may not enjoy this set. I can tell you this, once brain-burn sets in every time I listen, the Luna sounds heavenly. Males such as Jeff Buckley in “Hallelujah” is one such track. Those sweet emotive dynamic swells, the realistic note body truly takes his tenor voice and gives it the breathiness and resounding bravado that it deserves. His voice has this higher pitched gravelly and chesty thing going on and the Luna describes every texture of that voice, every chesty inflection. Furthermore, Jeff’s vocals are 100% separate from the piano fundamentals and the strumming guitar. He sounds great folks. Nothing sounds off to me. Sure, I could use a hint of extra warmth… maybe. But somehow, I can’t see myself wanting to change a thing. There are many more male voice types and tracks which work very well with this set. 

Upper-Midrange 

The upper mids benefit from a slow-rise pinna gain that doesn’t seem to invoke those raucous and glaring moments for me. Based on the levity of the upper mids I definitely thought that this range would be a problem, but it really isn’t. Not for me anyways. The upper mids are what I’d call smooth and very wave-like, nothing edgy or abrasive with some awesome presence and clarity. It’s actually not the easiest thing to explain in a “not cheap” way. The sound of the upper mids is forward, intimate, and definitely pronounced. Though, not so pronounced that it comes across hot. You get some good emphasis around 2-3khz which gives snares that nice crisp snap as well as leading edges on strings, female vocalists too and the upper mids sound uplifted in tonality. There is this “almost” laid-back smoothness coherently intertwined with solid macro-dynamic expression which simply works. Hopefully this is not too confusing because describing sound the way I hear it isn’t always easy to do. I’m trying to describe an upper midrange which is both smooth in cadent flow but also crisp and snappy. I’m trying to explain a sound that is both uplifted in air, energy, and tonality while also sounding relaxed in the same sentence. Each of these descriptors should juxtapose each other, but they don’t. Instead, they form exactly what I tried to explain earlier about well-done balanced armature iems. There’s this natural feel to the sound when tuned well using quality drivers. At least that is how I see it. To add to that, the Luna’s upper-mids are nicely detailed too. Not top class, but good. In fact, the Luna enjoys all of the trappings of a well done technical iem while remaining very musical at heart. 

Upper-Midrange cont… 

As with every review that I conduct, I always describe female vocalists when trying to help you understand the upper midrange sound. In my opinion it’s the easiest way to do so. Females tend to sound uplifted in energy and there is absolutely zero tonal veil. They are very clear, very expressive, and are clearly more out in front then lower register males. Female vocalists also have a solid note body too, along with touches of shimmer without obvious sibilance or BA timbre. Most female vocalists come across nicely extended, with round and semi-rich note body and do not sound dry to me. My only subtle issue would be with much higher pitched voices as they do thin out a hair and don’t sound quite as full. If that makes sense. However, voices like Gabrielle Aplin in “Half In Half Out” are absolutely flowered, emotionally engaging, and cleanly displayed. Or Ingrid Andres in “More Hearts Than Mine”… My word Ziigaat, nice work! The Luna owns this track, her voice, the melody surrounding that voice and the sentiment behind this track all coalesce in a beautifully rendered harmony with the Luna in my ears. Granted, the Luna is absolutely not the only set which can replay Ingrid’s vocals in a sweet-toned way. I can find a good vocal set for $50. What separates the Luna is the dimensionality of the sound field in addition to the clean-lined clarity, troupled with the nice off-natural and slightly uplifted timbre coming together in such an effortless manner. 

Downsides to the Midrange 

I made a choice that I would always provide “Downsides” to every region that I speak on because I thoroughly believe that nothing is ever perfect in this hobby. However, some sets are more difficult to find those Downsides with any real conviction. That said, the Luna is certainly not perfect, and I’ve heard better midrange presentations in my life. Still, I cannot leave this review without fully endorsing what Ziigaat did with the Luna. Nevertheless, there are subjective flaws which some prospective buyers could take issue with. Like, those people who “only” enjoy warm, rich, lush, and musicality-first midrange presentations who could care less about technical acuity. Many days, I am one of those people. I don’t always want perfect clarity. In fact, I just got tired of the Luna today and reached for the warmth of the Letshuoer Ember. Trust me, nothing is perfect. Anyways, those who want a richer experience may want to steer clear of the Luna. I suppose the only other type of listener who may not totally agree with the midrange tuning are those diehard analytical heads who take their love for crystal clear listening even further than the Luna can provide. No doubt the Luna is a very technically capable iem, but it is also a rhythmic and musical set too. Basically, it won’t be for everyone. 

Treble Region 

That brings us to the treble region of the Ziigaat Luna and in my opinion it is a very well-rounded treble featuring great extension, an airy sound, fine micro-detail recovery, and high levels of clarity while keeping a smoother overall profile or cadence. Timbre is also very clean in the treble. Another region which makes use of those blast BA drivers. In this case Ziigaat chose some very well-done Knowles tweeters with transients which come across very tidy & reactive, with crisp attacks and what I’d call a natural decay. Again, tidy, not too fast, but clean enough to sound distinct and precise without losing that smoothness. Though, I will say that some string harmonics and cymbals come across very precise, almost etched with a very pristine approach. Now, this speed almost makes the treble come across a hair leaner in body and not quite as silky in texture, but that is only a very minor con. In fact, I’d hardly call it a “con” at all. The truth is that the treble is sparkly, it has some edge to it, it uplifts the entire mix, and it adds a controlled and very clean topside to any track that I listen to. Smooth enough to uphold the musicality of the Luna yet technically proficient enough to etch out all the minute details as well. Just like everything else on this set the treble is also…all about balance. The treble never sounds overly saturated though it is pronounced enough to take me to the edge of comfort on the right track. Brighter mixes can sound a touch too forward at times. So sensitive listeners should pay attention. I’d say that tonally the Luna sits right at that neutral point veering neutral/bright in brighter mixes. I actually really enjoy the brilliance of this treble. 

Technically Speaking 

One of the Luna’s more endearing treble attributes is that it is very technically on-point, precise, without being sterile or overly dry. The treble has a very large contribution to the Luna’s overall clarity and high-resolution playback. This is a treble with very nice note separation, precise imaging, which helps the Luna to draw out those subtle details from even complex and congested tracks. There was never a moment that I felt the sound came across too complex which is a testament to the tuners of the Luna. They crafted a set with plenty of air up top brought on by very solid extension coupled with perceivably tighter transients, clean note outlines, and slightly leaner note weight. Add all of that up and you have yourself a treble which can resolve just about anything well. I love the stick impacts of a cymbal strike, the harmonics, the trailing shimmer, all dimensional cues are about spot-on from what I’ve been able to zero in on. Imaging is really impressive as well as subtle layering in the region. Albeit, listening for treble layering isn’t the easiest thing to do. However, I could cite a few tracks where it is evident. Like, “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” by Radiohead for one. You have that layered guitar, the cymbals, as well as all of the higher frequency sonic textures which all have certain sectors of the imaginary stage. I can hear obvious string harmonics, percussion trails, etc. when panning left to right and front to back. Lastly, this treble is quite fast. I always use Billy Strings track “Ice Bridges”. Folks, the Luna doesn’t smear at all. This track is blazing fast, and the Luna resolves every Bluegrass blistering and intricate flat pick guitar which absolutely demands high-speed clarity. The Luna handles it with zero issues. 

A Few More Notes

The treble is quite solid folks. Obviously not to the skill of a top-of-the-line EST driver or even to the speed of a very well done planar. However, the timbre is much better than most micro planars and the Knowles drivers that Ziigaat chose are not much less biting, exact, precise, or smooth as a solid EST. In fact, I hear very well controlled treble bite with a non-abrasive edge detail when a track calls for it, which can be pretty impressive. In fact, I’d almost go so far as to say that the treble is extremely revealing. So much so that it will most certainly highlight any flaws in any bad recording like compression, or poor master mixes. Also, tips make a fairly large difference in how this treble will come across. Like I said in the “Eartips” section, I went with two different eartips for critical listening. Those being the Dunu S&S (much less used) and the Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore tips. To me the Divinus Velvet tips were a match made in heaven as nothing is blocking the bore holes on the nozzles. For whatever reason, the treble comes through cleaner and provides optimal air in my opinion. Source also plays a small part too. At any rate, I think the treble is very well done, nicely balanced, shimmery, sparkly, airy, and high in clarity without obvious sharpness. 

Downsides to the Treble Region 

The first issue that I’d call out is for anyone who enjoys a more rolled-off and less brilliantly tuned treble region. I know plenty of people who will feel that the Luna is far too bright (I do not think so at all). I could also point out that on sharper and brighter tracks, the Luna can become a hair too radiant at times. This type of sharpness is a very few and far in between issue for me, but I’m sure those sensitive will find this more of a problem. The only other possible con is with dry/analytical sources you may run across occasional sibilance on certain tracks. To be perfectly honest, this has only happened with one source out of all of my sources. That is the Fiio KA3. So, I probably shouldn’t have even added that, but it’s in my notes so I will report it. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage 

The soundstage of the Ziigaat Luna is one which I would call solid. Not class leading in any direction but solid all the way around. I should note that the Luna’s stage is definitely a more intimate and close stage. With a forward midrange and nothing really arching away from the listener everything comes across nicely intimate. I happen to really enjoy a more intimate sound field. Anyways, in my opinion the actual width of the stage is quite good for an all-BA iem with obvious music playing past my ears. Also, height is very good as there is clearly some air above the melody. Very nice vertical layers. Now, the depth is what I’d call average to good. I say that because the depth is not class leading and doesn’t create that overly immersive holographic sound field. Granted, there are certainly front to back layers to the sound. Just not tops-in-class. Still, very solid, well rounded, and everything within that sound field is precisely placed which makes for fantastic overall imagery. One thing I can say for sure is that nothing is ever congested or cramped. Never. 

Separation / Imaging 

One of the Luna’s best attributes comes from its ability to very distinctively separate all instruments and vocals with very good clarity. I hear clear and very intricate layering of sounds with instruments all separated from the airy feel of the stage, the tight transients, and the clean-lined sound. The same can be said of the Luna’s ability to psycho-acoustically image the sound field. Really, Imaging is absolutely spot-on and has proven to be that anytime I listen for it. Which is pretty much second nature for me anymore. After reviewing for so long it is quite obvious when you hear a solid set for imaging. Also, like I said, the Luna layers the sound field in all directions. Whether front to back or top to bottom I hear very crisp and clear layering. Most certainly these are key “Pros” for the Luna. 

Detail Retrieval 

Another highlight of the Luna’s clean portrayal of the spectrum is its ability to bring to the surface even the most subtle micro-details. Obviously, this depends on the track and to some extent the genre you are listening to, but I find this set picks up just about everything very well. I mean, folks, the Luna is a very clarity-rich iem with top shelf resolution. It is very easy to track details and to focus on those subtleties in my music. Truly a well-done detail set which also carries solid musicality. 

Comparisons

Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite  ($249)

One of my all-time favorite all BA iems is without question the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. This amazingly natural 8 BA iem carries some of the more smooth and natural sounds that I’ve heard, in any iem under $300. I actually reviewed the Orchestra Lite (Orchestra Lite Review) a few years ago and it has been a constant companion. Still perfectly intact, great sonics even after years of ownership, and still sits atop the heap of under $300 all-BA iems. Truly a wonderful set. Kiwi Ears made one great set here. 

Non-Sound Stuff 

To begin, these two are fairly far off in cost as the Luna comes in at $130 more expensive. Shoot, I can find a used Orchestra Lite for under $150. At any rate it’s MSRP is around $249 new. Still much less expensive. Also, the Orchestra Lite has two more drivers too. Granted, they aren’t to the caliber of the Luna, but well-tuned. So, the Luna has much better accessories, a better unboxing too. Of the two, the Orchestra Lite is a bit larger and heavier as well as probably the better-looking set (my opinion) if you have the green or blue version. I adore that thick and clear resin they used. Both sets look dope though. I do find both iems to be very comfortable and both great for long sessions without any fatigue, which is nice. 

Sound Differences 

I find the Luna to be a hair warmer, though both hover around neutral with a touch of warmth. Both iems are easy to drive though the Luna seems to scale a hair better (debatable). The Luna also has a more pronounced and authoritative sub-bass while the Orchestra Lite carries more of a mid-bass focus. The Luna adds more punch, and hard-lined impact while the Orchestra Lite sounds a hint softer at the edges. Both are relatively fast though the Luna’s speed is clearly more obvious to me. Both iems carry a very melodic midrange and both do vocals extremely well. The Orchestra Lite has a touch more upper mid presence and possible fatigue, though both sets excel in the midrange. The Luna carries a bit more body and clear-lined density than the Orchestra Lite. However, the Orchestra Lite is definitely the smoother, less crisp, less defined presentation of the two. All midrange techs go to the Luna. The treble on the Luna is crisper, sparkler, more brilliant, airier, but possibly a hair more fatiguing for some. The Luna definitely has the more composed treble. Technically the Luna takes the win here. Better micro-detail retrieval, clearer and more obvious sound separation, both image the sound field well, but the Luna’s sound field has a more dimensional aspect to it. Better layering, and better resolution throughout. 

Final thoughts on this comparison

In my opinion the price difference is legit. The Luna is the better set for me. As much as I adore the Orchestra Lite, it simply isn’t as sonically mature or composed as the Luna. Better drivers, probably a better tuning (for some) and more tonal contrast, bigger and more expressive macro-dynamics. Just a better set. However, for $249 or lower you can get a fabulous all-BA iem in the Orchestra Lite. I almost didn’t want to do this comparison just because of the discrepancy between the two because I have adored the Orchestra Lite for so long. However, I have to call a spade a spade and relay my thoughts. 

ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition ($359)

Another absolute killer all-BA iem is from the brand-new brand ODA (One Dot Audio) which only carries three balanced armature drivers which are tuned marvelously well. That set is the ODA Hesperus A300 Wood Edition (Hesperus WE for review purposes). I wouldn’t put this set in this conversation if I didn’t think it was one hell of an iem. Truly a great set. I reviewed the Hesperus WE in October of 2025 (Hesperus WE Review) and praised it up and down. Sure, it had a few subtle flaws, but for a fun and relatively accurate iem it was hard not to. However, can it stand next to the Luna? I think it can. 

Non-Sound Stuff 

To start, these two are very close in price with the Luna coming in at only $20 more. I find that both have nice unboxing experiences, but the Luna does have a better carrying case and more eartips. The Hesperus has the better cable. I don’t have to cable swap that set whereas I needed to with the Luna (Hey Ziigaat, would it kill you to add better cables!?). Anyways, the Hesperus WE are slightly slimmer yet just as long as well as slightly less weighty. However, both sets feel great in the ear and are both very comfortable once your seal is good. As for looks, I mean, c’mon, the Hesperus WE are made of stabilized wood for crying out loud with a beautiful wood grain pattern. Sorry Ziigaat, the Hesperus WE are the better-looking set. It’s kind of a landslide victory there. As I said, the Hesperus WE only have three BA drivers as ODA didn’t feel the need to add more and I totally respect that. Still, the Luna carries six very well-tuned and solid drivers. Definitely the Luna has the better internal components. 

Sound Differences 

Without question the Luna I’d the more precise sounding set, closer to neutral, brighter, more talented in the technicals. The Hesperus WE are warmer, bassier, and more musical off the rip. Without question the Hesperus WE are more V-shaped and the more fun sound. The Luna has the more cleanly defined sound, better separation, and more of a sense of air. The Hesperus WE have the richer sound (to a degree), smoother, more refined in that way. When it comes to bass weight, authority, and slam the Hesperus WE have more of it with its 13 dB shelf. It is a lot more mid-bass focused while the Luna is faster, tighter, cleaner, more clean-lined, better defined, and has that snapper punch. The Hesperus WE are clearly the more fun bass. The midrange of both sets is great, but different. The Hesperus WE are more smooth, slightly richer, warmer, and just as intimate. While the Luna has that detailed and precision-based midrange. Both are extremely melodic and each has their own ways of showing off vocalists. However, the Luna is the more clean-lined and fine-lined set. The treble of the Luna is sprightlier, more energetic, cleaner, has more bite, and is better extended. The Hesperus WE is more relaxed, less fatiguing, and probably easier in the ears for most people. Technically the Luna takes the prize with more distinct separation, both do imaging well though the Luna is more cleanly presented, both layer well but again, the Luna is more cleanly presentable there too. The stage of both sets is solid with good depth of field. 

Final thoughts on this comparison 

I love both sets for different reasons folks. Actually, I adore both sets. I love the smooth and still highly technical sound of the Hesperus WE. I love its smooth sound, those warmer and closer vocals are great, and I love its tidy and fast authoritative slam. However, the Luna is the more skilled and has better tonal balance, better dynamic balance, and is the more mature set of the two. Again, I love them both and listen to them both and both are nice contrasts from each other. 

Soft Ears Studio 4  ($449)

I adore this reference tuning so much. If I want a palate cleanser set, I always pick the Studio 4. Would you believe me if I told you that I refused to review this set when it came out. Something about it just didn’t sit well at the time and I’ve kicked myself ever since. I have grown to truly enjoy what Soft Ears made of the Studio 4. Now, the Studio 4 has of course four balanced armature drivers and they are tuned impeccably. This was a set originally crafted for studio work or on-stage work rather than personal listening. However, Soft Ears actually made a set that is awesome for casual listening too. I am telling you right now, the Luna has its work cut out for it with this comparison. 

Non-Sound Stuff 

Right away I can tell you that the Ziigaat Luna has the better unboxing experience of the two. Though, both have less than stellar cables. Both sets I’ve had to cable swap. I do like the Luna’s eartips selection and carrying case better. Now, the Studio 4 was made for stage purposes which means it is very lightweight and definitely lighter than the Luna. It is also slightly more comfortable, smaller too. However, the Luna destroys the Studio 4 in aesthetic appeal. Granted, you may enjoy the flat black minimalist design of the Studio 4. Of course, the Studio 4 is quite a bit more expensive at $449, so there is that to consider. 

Sound Differences 

The Studio 4 is definitely closer to neutral, reference grade, almost flat sounding, and less contrasted tonally, less energy, smoother, less vibrance. The Luna clearly has the more precise detail focused sound to the smoother, more accurate Studio 4. I find both sets present musicality well though the Luna is a hair more melodic for me. The Luna has the deeper, more punchy bass with more of a robust slam. While the Studio 4 carries that super tight sublevel bass. The Luna’s bass is faster, harder edged, but not as clean. Next, the midrange of the Studio 4 is warmer, smoother, with more accurate vocals. I find that the Studio 4 has more accurate timbre too. It’s closer to a true neutral-natural timbre. The Luna has more vibrance and more technically astute with the more precise sound. The treble of the Luna is brighter, more vibrant, more sparkle, much better extension, and simply more energetic. The Studio 4 is more relaxed, easier on the ears, warmer, but just as clean. Technically the Luna is better detailed just on account of its uplifted treble and better air up top. Both are great though. Separation is great on both, Imaging is spot-on with both sets too, but the soundstage of the Luna is a bit vaster, deeper as well. Both present the sound field in an intimate way. 

Final thoughts on this comparison 

Once again, I enjoy both sets. If you’ve noticed I typically add sets that I enjoy in these comparisons. Having said that, I do lean more towards the Luna. I may be in the minority there because the Studio 4 is an absolute stud at its cost. Both are great sets for any collection and both worth their cost. Though, in my opinion the Luna definitely has the better deal at $379.

Genres 

*Note: Before I dive too deep into what genres work, and which don’t necessarily work well with the Ziigaat Luna, I first want to add in some fairly obvious caveats to my thoughts. Basically, I’ll give you some genres which typically work great and work with the Luna’s tuning. However, these are very broad generalizations and in every better genre you will certainly find some outliers which don’t sound quite as great. Also, it’s the same for those genres which I don’t feel fit the Luna as well. Some of those tracks will sound amazing. We generalize so much in this hobby but in truth it is a hobby full of nuance that sometimes gets grossly overlooked. 

Genres Which Work 

I find that any genre which takes advantage of the Luna’s vocal-forward and precise sound, its punchy and agile bass, its precise imaging, and any genre which will shine with better detail retrieval. I find Rock music of any kind to work marvelously due to the Luna’s fantastic note precision, separation, and layering. Anything Acoustic works perfectly too. I also love Folk music, any kind of Jazz too. Another genre which sounds superb is Orchestral or Classical music. With its more than adequate sound field dimensionality, micro detail retrieval in complex arrangements, as well as the Luna’s resounding and symphonic sound, it seems to work great for these genres. Of course, anything Singer-Songwriter style, Bluegrass, and I also love Country Music (generally) on the Luna. I could even stretch to R&B and some Pop jams. Hip-Hop is more of a mixed bag as well as EDM. 

Genres Which Don’t Work as Well

As I said, Hip-Hop is a mixed bag for the Luna. I find that it lacks that big and bulbous visceral slam and boom needed for those big bass drops and constant bass lines. Some tracks sound amazing, rappers spitting rhymes always sound fantastic, forward, and intelligible, but generally Hip-Hop isn’t great on this set simply for its low-end subtle lack. For all the exact same reasons I find EDM not perfect. Beyond that, I also find Heavy Metal to not always be perfect also as the treble may fatigue at times. I won’t go any further as I think you understand what I’m trying to say. In truth, the Luna is very close to that all-rounder sound, and I almost want to give it that moniker. However, bassy genres won’t always come across with the same satisfying rumble and boom. Of course, this section is simply to give you a road map of sorts. Nothing set in stone. 

Last Words on the Ziigaat Luna 

This was one of the more fun review periods. Of course, it also lasted over two months of almost daily use. Over the months I have gotten to know this set intimately and have grown to really enjoy its sound. I say that some sets are more fun because they are bassier or warmer, but in truth the Luna is very fun for me. I love how my library is portrayed through this iem. Also, “fun” is a completely subjectively discerned understanding particular only to the person with whom is having said “fun” in whatever manner that suits them. In the hobby we somehow made that word pertain only to warm, smooth, bassy, and at times more electric treble. I have to be honest with you… those descriptors don’t always do it for me. Well, at times anyway. The truth is, it’s very easy to enjoy an iem which can exquisitely manage its way around every track regardless of the genre with effortless clarity, punch, grip, tactility, and in such a balanced and measured way. However, the Luna will never be that traditionally “fun” iem. This is an iem which will be appreciated by those who can appreciate it and nothing more. A fine iem by tasteful and mature standards. This is the audio landscape and as long as we are diverse, and as long as brands keep making these products, the hobby will remain that way. Without question the Luna will not be enjoyed by everyone and without question not everyone is willing to fork over $379 for a set that won’t provide that traditionally fun sound. Be that as it may, the Ziigaat Luna is a well done iem which is worth every penny of that $379 that Ziigaat is asking… in my opinion. 

“Worth” 

Most of us are in this hobby for really only one reason; we love music. Friends, I freaking love music! It is my constant partner in life outside of my awesome family. I write these reviews ONLY to share the products that I enjoy which can replay my music in a satisfying way for me and nothing else. Products which replay my music in a way that is both beneficial and gratifying to me. I have zero time for anything other than what is enjoyable to me. I want to share that with you all and I’d say that “generally” … other reviewers within the hobby want to do the same. We are a bunch of overgrown kids after all. I know I am, just ask my wife and kids. Lol. Anyways, I always give my “The Why” section to rehash why I feel any product is worth the cost from my perspective. However, “worth” is a very relative word which means something different for everyone per their situation and per their preferences. This hobby’s diversity doesn’t stop at different tonal preferences but also touches on financial diversity too. $379 to some will mean multiple years’ worth of savings, perhaps a lifetime’s worth. To others $379 is pocket change. Due to this discrepancy, I can only truly provide my answer to the question of “worth” and my reasons as to why I feel $379 is worth it to me and for me. I realize that this isn’t super helpful to you. However, I have heard many +$300 iems and I have many in my collection and so I can tell you with 100% assurance that I’m providing you the best answer that I can give you for “why” the Luna is absolutely worth every penny. 

The Why…

Because the Luna comes with a bevy of eartips, a solid carrying case and, well, the cable isn’t all that great but 2-out-of-3 ain’t bad. Also, it’s a solid unboxing. Something Ziigaat is slowly getting better at. The build is typical Ziigaat resin, super smooth, ergonomic, comfortable, lightweight, great for long sessions. Made well enough for sure and comparable to many other +$300 resin sets. Then you get to the design/aesthetic which I find to be super cool looking. Ziigaat is really getting good at working with artistic glitter and resin followed by a glossy polish. It’s a slick look. Ziigaat also chose some highly praised drivers in this set. All either Sonion or Knowles and tuned very well. However, what makes anything in this game worth its cost is the sound… 

That Sound! 

I love the Luna’s tuning. I said in my review earlier that the Luna doesn’t even carry my preferred sound signature, and still I adore them. Again, the Luna is a six-driver all-BA iem with one of the more balanced and measured tunings that I’ve heard with a smooth but also very precise sound, punchy and tight bass, great vocals, as well as a sparkly treble with solid extension. However, that is just a quick synopsis of the sound. In truth, the Luna is crystal clear with wonderful technical ability, better timbre than most all-BA sets (at any cost), as well as that fun-punch and mildly authoritative low-end adding just enough note weight, warmth, and emotional draw to any track I listen to. The soundstage is wide, very tall, and deep enough to provide excellent layering from top to bottom and front to back with a mostly 3D rendering of the sound field. Honestly, I think the Luna really doesn’t do much of anything “wrong”. No true issues at all besides subjective quirks that some people will preferentially have with the Luna. Just a well-tuned set all the way around folks. As far as I’m concerned, the Luna is an easy recommendation at its cost and in my opinion is definitely worth the $379.

Luna Pros 

-Nice Ziigaat style resin build, lightweight, ergonomic, comfortable, but not totl level premium. More for comfortable functionality. Still a PRO

-Decent enough unboxing, awesome carrying case, a ton of tips (cable is meh=con) 

-Very well tuned BA with all quality Sonion & Knowles drivers

-Warm/neutral U-shaped signature is very well balanced 

-Clean, well-controlled, well-defined, and punchy bass

-Smooth midrange with euphonic musicality and great technical chops

-Realistic midrange with close to natural timbre, highly detailed, transparent and natural note weight 

-Treble is sparkly, very well extended, crisp, and balances wonderfully with the rest of the mix

-No one area shines above another in a detrimental way

-Fast transients, nice note contours, and great for complex music

-Detail retrieval 

-Imaging is top shelf

-Layering in all directions

-Nice stage width, great height, and solid depth

-In my opinion, you’d be very hard pressed to find a flat-out better all-BA set with a balanced sound, clean, musically adept, which is this technically capable

Luna Cons

-Sonion BA’s lack that truly visceral DD feel and depth, bassheads keep looking 

-Some may find the mids slightly lacking in warmth and weight. Especially warm, rich, smooth lovers

-The Luna will highlight every flaw in bad recordings or flawed mixes

-Resin build is probably more functional, and lightweight, rather than premium

-Cable is not great for $379. It is modular and certainly usable, but this cable snob had to cable swap for this one

-Not the most traditionally “fun” signature I’ve ever heard (granted, I like it) 

-There will be some upper-mid/treble sensitive listeners who may feel the upper end of the Luna is a bit too forward/revealing 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review and feature of the Ziigaat Luna, I really have to thank you for coming aboard and clicking that link to get you here. It means everything to myself and my partners at Mobileaudiophile.com. Without you, we don’t exist. Plain and simple. Without you our doors do not stay open and in truth, this is all for you. I truly hope that my words have helped you in one way or another. 

Other Perspectives 

Now that you’ve read my thoughts and opinions on the Ziigaat Luna, I really hope that you’d take some more time and read some other thoughts concerning the Defiant. Click other links, watch other videos, and take the time to take in other perspectives. I want you to get your purchase right folks. $379 is a ton of money for 98% of the known world. So, making sure you know that you’ll enjoy a set (without hearing them before you buy them) usually means reading as many reviews as possible, hearing more perspectives. It can only help. This is the most subjective hobby in the known world (my opinion) where when one person enjoys a product, there is a good chance the person next to them will not enjoy it. The same goes for reviewers too. We are all very different folks. So, please take the time to take in as much info on the Luna as possible. Well, I think I’m done with this one friends. I do hope you take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless?