ZIIGAAT ARETE Review: A Melodic Magic

ZIIGAAT ARETE Review

ZiiGaat Arete blows my mind in my first audition. Everything is there, the bass, the mids, and the treble… all are just perfectly mixed & cooked by a master chef. It is a set with its own ‘easygoing’ nature. What I mean is, it pairs very well with sources and delivers melody to your ear like a flute. I tested this IEM with every single source I own, and the result? You can read it here.

After all this positive talking, let me tell you some negatives now. First of all, the size of the shell. Oh man, these are big, real big! It is bigger than the Myer-Audio CK2V, which has 7 drivers inside. Some may find it challenging in long listening sessions. Another bad, bad, bad thing is the supplied accessories. I think ZiiGaat thought that a well-tuned driver would do it all and forgot to add quality cable & eartips. You need to pay extra for aftermarket cables & tips. I will cover it in a different section.

DISCLAIMER

ZIIGAAT was kind enough to send me the Arete to review. I am not affiliated with Ziigaat, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘ZiiGaat Arete review’ are my subjective thoughts.

One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.

For your personal purchase, checkout GEEK MART or ZIIGAAT for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated links).

GEAR USED

●   DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, Hiby RS2, Hiby R4, Snowsky Echo Mini.
●   DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with BB OPA 2604), Fosi Audio GR40, Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20, Hiby FC 05, Hiby FD 03, Hidizs SD8 Pro Robin, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
●   Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5.
●   Files: Tidal, Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

● Driver: 1DD + 4 Knowles BA
● Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
● Impedance: 9Ω
● Sensitivity: 108 dB
● Pin Type: 2pin, 0.78mm
● Cable Length: 1.2m
● Plug Type: 3.5mm

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

● Ziigaat x Fresh Review Arete IEMs
● Stock Cable
● 3 pairs of silicon tips (S,M,L) & 1 pair of foam tips
● Carrying case
● Some official papers

UNBOXING EXPERIENCE

The experience is good until you open the box. From the first look, you will find the box design is very good with a practical footprint, as the box is not overly big or bulky. But when you open it, especially when you find all those accessories from the carrying pouch to cable to the eartips, you will be asking yourself, ‘how come these accessories are in a $249-priced IEM box?’ The only moment you will feel happy is the moment when you hear the IEMs, of course with aftermarket cable & tips!

BUILD & DESIGN

It’s actually pretty solid, made of resin, but it doesn’t feel cheap at all. Light, but sturdy. The shell got a slick, kinda dark, translucent look with a subtle pattern inside. It’s not flashy but still feels premium in the hand. The carrying case doesn’t match well with the price, it’s kinda cheap-looking thing, and it’s not premium at all. The cable & eartips are also the same, basic & cheap. The stock cable is too thin for the bulky set. And the silicone eartips are on the harder side, not so soft.

FIT & COMFORT

Arete nails it, man. Though it’s a bit bulky, due to its lightweight, it feels comfortable in the ear. But you need to choose your eartips wisely to achieve that utter comfort. ‘Cause ear shape varies, the bulky shells may give you an uncomfortable feeling if you don’t choose the perfect eartips for you. When you find the right fit, a marathon session may feel like you’re listening just for a while. But the stock eartips won’t give you that comfort, note that!

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

Sound is sweet on the ZiiGaat Arete, kinda balanced and smooth tone overall that don’t try too hard but still pulls you in! Nothing feels shouty or too sharp but has good air & extension at the top end. Bass got its good punch, but ain’t boomy or overcooked. Just enough to give the track some weight. Mids are clean and warm, especially vocals—they feel a bit upfront but not in a bad way. What caught me off is how everything blends together nicely.

Here is the frequency graph:

Let’s dive deep…

SUB-BASS

The sub-bass on the Ziigaat Arete digs decently deep, but it’s not the kind that slams hard or rumbles your chest. It’s more on the clean and lean side. You get that sense of depth, yeah, but it doesn’t push too much air down low. For most tracks, especially modern pop or cinematic scores, the sub-bass presence is there—it just don’t overpower. It behaves more polite than aggressive.

Take “Go Your Own Way” from Fleetwood Mac as an example, you’ll notice the sub-bass ain’t really takin’ front stage. That track ain’t heavy on the sub to begin with, but even what’s there—like the low-end thump under the kick and the warmth from the bass guitar—it comes across a bit soft on the Arete. You can tell it’s present, but it kinda hangs in the background. It gives just enough to round things out, but don’t expect it to shake you or add that deep weight some folks might want.

MID-BASS

The mid-bass on the ZiiGaat Arete got that nice, rounded punch. It ain’t overcooked or boomy, but got just enough thump to give the music some body. Kicks and bass guitars come through warm and tight—not sloppy, not too soft either. It got that kinda musical bass that sits right where it should, not bleeding into the mids or drownin’ vocals.

Now if you throw on somethin’ like “Sara” by Starship, you’ll really hear how the Arete handles that kinda soft, emotional mid-bass. The bassline in that track’s got a slow, gentle thump—nothing too loud, but it carries the weight of the whole song. On the Arete, it sounds warm and buttery, just enough to hold the rhythm without takin’ over.

VOCALS

Vocals on the ZiiGaat Arete come through real nice—clear, a bit forward, and got that kinda smoothness that makes ‘em easy to listen to for long sessions. Male and female vocals both sound clean, but maybe female ones shine a bit more with that little upper-mid energy.

MALE

Male vocals come off clean in Arete, and they are nicely placed. Just a hair on the leaner side. They ain’t super thick or warm, but they sound natural and got enough body to let you feel the weight. This IEM got a real clear midrange tuning that helps male vocals cut through the mix without gettin’ buried. A little bit forward, but not in-your-face type. If you’re used to warmer IEMs, you might feel it’s missing just a touch of richness in deeper male voices.

Now when you play “Girl on the Moon” by Foreigner, Lou Gramm’s voice sounds pretty clear and intimate on the Arete. That breathy, emotional tone he’s got—it comes through, but maybe not with all the warmth or weight it could have. The Arete handles the details well though—you can hear those subtle textures in his delivery, like the slight rasp and soft pushes in the chorus. But yeah, the lower part of his voice feels just a bit light, like it could use more depth or fullness.

FEMALE

Female vocals really do stand out on the ZiiGaat Arete. A bit forward, clean in nature and got that nice bit of shimmer up top without gettin’ harsh. In the upper mids, there’s a touch of brightness that helps bring out emotion and details, especially in softer or high-pitched voices. It ain’t overly sharp or sibilant either, so you can listen for a long time without feelin’ fatigued. Compared to male vocals, female ones just got more life to ’em on this set—more air, more presence.

While listening to “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill, the Arete does a real nice job bringin’ out her voice. That soaring, emotional delivery she’s known for—it comes through with clarity and a soft glow. Her voice stays front and center, never gets lost in the background. You can hear the breathiness, the dynamic shifts, all them little touches that give the song its soul. Maybe it ain’t the most romantic or lush take, but it feels clean and real.

INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION

Instrument separation on the ZiiGaat Arete’s actually pretty solid for the price. You can tell where different sounds are comin’ from, and they don’t really blend into each other unless the track gets real busy. It’s got enough space in the sound to let guitars, drums, vocals, and synths all have their own little area to breathe. The layering’s good too—you can pick out background details without tryin’ too hard. It handles complex stuff better than you’d expect.

When you throw on “Woman In Chains” by Tears For Fears, that’s where the Arete shows it can handle separation decently well. There’s a lot goin’ on in that track—those soft drums, the echoey vocals, the background keys—but the Arete keeps ’em from gettin’ all mashed up. You can hear that rimshot crack sittin’ off to the side, and the vocals stay clear right in the middle. Even when the chorus kicks in and it all swells up, it don’t turn into a wall of sound.

TREBLE

The treble on the ZiiGaat Arete’s got a nice bit of energy to it—bright enough to bring out the details, but it don’t get all sharp or stingy in the ears. It leans a touch airy, so stuff like cymbals, strings, and breathy vocals come through clean without soundin’ too thin. There’s enough sparkle up top to keep things feelin’ open, but it’s not tryin’ too hard either. It’s more controlled than shouty, which is good if you listen for a long time.

Take “Crawling Back To You” by Tom Petty for example, the Arete shows off what it can do with treble. The cymbals got this gentle shimmer to ‘em, just kinda sittin’ there in the back without takin’ over. The electric guitar’s got that crisp edge but don’t bite, and even when the track builds up, it keeps from soundin’ messy or splashy. Tom’s voice stays smooth too—no hiss or sibilance pokin’ out. The Arete gives enough top-end to let the track breathe.

SOUNDSTAGE

The soundstage on the ZiiGaat Arete’s not crazy wide or anything, but it ain’t closed in either. It gives you just enough space to feel like the music’s got some air around it. Instruments don’t feel all crammed up together, and vocals sit nicely in the middle. It’s more left-to-right than deep, but it don’t sound flat. It’s the kinda stage that feels natural—not super expansive, but not boxed in your head.

Playin’ the live version of Red Dirt Girl by Emmylou Harris, the Arete does a good job keepin’ everything clear and spaced out. You can hear Emmylou’s voice sittin’ center, and the instruments—like that soft acoustic guitar and the slide work—they spread out to the sides real natural. There’s even some subtle stuff, like the reverb from the venue or little background harmonies, that don’t get lost. It don’t smear the sounds together. You can kinda point to where things are, even in the middle of a live mix.

TECHNICALITIES

The Arete’s got decent dynamics—not super punchy, but it don’t sound flat either. It handles soft and loud parts well enough, like you can still feel when the music swells up or drops down. Drums got a bit of kick, and vocals got some lift to ‘em. It ain’t super explosive, but it don’t feel dead or lifeless.

Speed’s alright for the price—notes come and go quick enough, and it don’t really get muddy unless the track’s real messy. It keeps up with faster stuff okay, like busy guitar riffs or double kicks in rock songs. It’s not razor sharp or super snappy like some planars, but it ain’t slow either. For most folks listenin’ to pop, rock, or acoustic stuff, it does just fine.

As for detail, the Arete pulls out a fair bit—it ain’t microscope-level, but you hear things like finger slides, breath in vocals, or little background effects that budget sets sometimes gloss over. It ain’t super analytical or clinical, more of a relaxed kind of clarity. Yeah, it gives you the info, but without makin’ the music sound too dry or technical.

SOURCES

You can drive this ZiiGaat Arete with your smartphone or tab, but what you will hear that ain’t the true tune of this IEM. I will suggest at least a balanced-sounding DAC like the DUNU DTC 480, Celest CD10, or Hiby FC05. They pair very well with it and deliver the true tune of this IEM. Some warm DACs, like the Fosi Audio DS1 and iBasso DC04 Pro, also deliver a very good sound with a hint of warmth in the lower region. Brightly tuned Moondrop Dawn Pro makes the mids a bit open with sparkle in the highs.

You really don’t need any desktop amp to drive it, but if you have one, you surely will notice a little sound difference. With my tube amps, like the xDuoo MT-604, KAEI Design TAP-2, and Fosi Audio GR40, the sound becomes overall warm, without any muddiness in the lower region. Especially the MT-604 pairs like a charm! And the solid-state mode in TAP-2 makes the bass tighter with balanced mids & highs. The xDuoo XD-05 Plus is also paired well, and I don’t need to switch the ‘bass’ on to enjoy Arete.

CABLE & TIP ROLLING

Forget about the supplied cable & eartips, they are so basic and non-practical with the Arete. They didn’t supply some premium accessories with a $249-priced IEM, it’s a shame! You may try the DUNU Lyra Mini or NiceHCK MixPP cable, they go very well with this IEM. These cables tend to bring out the best from any IEM and don’t make the sound warm or bright, just add a bit of note weight if you nitpick! And after trying a load of tips, I finally settled on the DUNU Candy tips, though the Final clear tips also go very well with it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So yeah, after spendin’ some good time with the ZiiGaat Arete, I gotta say—it’s a solid all-rounder. It ain’t tryin’ to be overly analytical or studio flat, but it brings a real nice, musical kinda sound that’s easy to just vibe with. You get good detail, clean mids, and some tasty treble sparkle without it goin’ overboard.

If you into smooth, non-fatiguin’ sound and a design that feels good in the ears for hours, this one’s definitely worth a look. Not perfect, but honestly? It’s got way more charm than I expected.

RECOMMENDED FOR

● Folks who like smooth, musical sound.
● People who listen to vocals, indie, acoustic, lo-fi, jazz kinda stuff.
● Long listening sessions—this thing’s real comfy in the ears.
● Anyone who’s after a chill, non-fatiguing tuning.
● Folks wantin’ a good IEM at mid-budget.

NOT FOR

● Bass heads who need crazy sub-bass rumble.
● People who want extreme energy.
● People who listen to a lotta metal or fast-paced EDM.
● Treble junkies.
● Analytical listeners.
● Folks wantin’ low-budget, entry-level stuffs.

WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.

You can read other reviews HERE.