Ziigaat Horizon VS Dunu DN242

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The ZiiGaat Horizon arrives as the brand’s first tribrid at around $330, pairing one dynamic driver with two BA and two planar drivers. Build is solid: a vented, flat 2-pin socket, metal nozzle, and a distinctive blue-white faceplate that looks like mountains under stars. The cable feels premium with red/blue channel dots and a working chin slider, plus an easy swappable plug (3.5 mm); the included zip case is pleasantly sturdy. Nothing flashy in shell shape, but the fit is secure and the accessories feel thoughtfully sorted.

Sonically, Horizon takes a clean, sub-bass-focused route with bass that reads linear and occasionally a touch pillowy, followed by full, rich upper mids and a treble presentation that steals the show. There’s generous upper air and extension with a tactful lower-treble rise, kept in check by a helpful 5–6 kHz dip to avoid fatigue; a splash of ~15 kHz energy adds sparkle that treble fans will relish. The result sidesteps the “EQ’d-to-death” flatness—this tuning carries just enough color to stay engaging while remaining clean and controlled.

Against peers, Horizon’s top end feels more refined than ZiiGaat’s Luna, while Crescent plays thicker and more V-shaped with extra 10 kHz “twinkle.” Versus sets like the SL224, Horizon’s treble is smoother and less sibilant; compared with Punch Audio Martillo, think of Horizon as the treble-head counterpart to a bass specialist. It also mirrors some strengths of AFUL Performer 7 but with cleaner bass and a more polished top end, and it offers more microdetail than the hard-to-find YU9 Chuer. Taken together, this is a special package: a well-built, distinctive tribrid with 10/10 treble energy and air, competitive technicals, and a tuning that treble lovers will find hard to put down.

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The Horizon aims for a neutral-natural tonality with a slightly lean lower midrange, delivering standout vocal transparency and crisp separation. Bass is mostly sub-bass focused—felt and supportive rather than boomy—giving notes a pleasing sense of density without smearing the mids. The trade-off is an elevated upper-treble that adds air and detail but can tilt gritty/sandy if the fit or tips aren’t dialed in.

Build and accessories are a mixed bag: a surprisingly nice carrying case and swappable termination, but a fussy cable and a resin shell that fits deep and may need shorter, grippier tips to shine. Once seated well, the Horizon’s imaging and instrument separation pop, making complex mixes feel organized and engaging.

Versus pricier hype pieces with similar FR, the Horizon feels like a “short king” take: not as refined up top as the best of them, yet more weighty and satisfying than some leaner peers. Compared to something like Volume S at a similar price, this set is clearer and more incisive (better separation), while Volume S is fuller and smoother with punchier bass presence. At $330, it’s the most compelling entry in its family so far—addictive for transparency and staging, with the caveat of treble sensitivity and fit quirks.

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ZiiGaat Horizon is a $329 tribrid (1DD+2BA+2MPL) that prioritizes treble extension, clarity, and very sharp imaging. Compared with EPZ P50 and Daybreak, ear-gain is set lower, which yields less shout and more natural vocals while keeping an even transition from lower to upper treble. The result is a clean, transparent presentation that reads more refined than typical $300 hybrids and feels end-to-end coherent.

The trade-offs sit mostly in the low end and upper-treble edges: the stock mid-bass dip reduces body and impact, and sibilants can pop, especially around 8 kHz. Bass quality itself is quick and tidy with good depth rather than rumble, matching BA/MPL speed but leaning lean for bass-heavy genres. A light EQ lift of lower mids/mid-bass (about 2–3 dB) and a small 8 kHz trim (around 0.5–1 dB) makes it a more versatile daily driver while preserving its separation and sense of stage depth.

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Ziigaat’s Horizon follows the current meta-inspired recipe—think Astral, Metas, Crescent—but pushes the focus upward: the treble is the most prominent piece here. It’s bright-leaning without turning harsh, giving a crisp, “OCD-like” sense of transient bite and pinpoint imaging. Low end and vocals sit a touch behind the highs, so the presentation feels clean and lively rather than thick; at mid-volume, the top end drizzles detail over the mix like raindrops—engaging and textured, not shouty.

On the technical side, Horizon pulls strong detail retrieval and resolution for the price—above sets like Supermix 4 and near EM10/Volare —yet it doesn’t scale massively because of that treble lift. The bass is snappy and controlled, with good separation, but lacks the slam and rumble seekers of impact will want. Pairing and playlist matter: avoid hot, highly produced pop/K-pop/J-pop or most hip-hop where the combo of elevated highs and lighter bass can feel edgy; it shines with slower pop, R&B, indie acoustics, ballads, and classical where the sparkle reads as “high-fidelity.” Warmer sources help a bit, and tip-rolling (stock black/clear, or bass-adding options like Final E/divinus) can balance things—just skip anything that pushes treble further.

Against close competitors, Astral hit harder down low and feel more V-shaped and contrasty; Crescent is warmer and smoother but not as clear or micro-detailed. Horizon is the cleanest and brightest of the trio, with the most refined treble focus and “tickly” transients. Verdict: a value-minded all-rounder for detail lovers who prefer clarity and air over bass authority—technical, tidy, and energetic at sensible volumes, provided the library isn’t a treble minefield.

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Ziigaat Horizon arrives as a striking tri-brid in the ~$300 bracket (1DD + 2BA + 2 planar) with a tuning that brushes close to Kiwi Ears Astral yet comes across a touch thinner and more balanced. The low end focuses on sub-bass rumble that’s tight, clean, and richly tactile, while mids keep timbre accurate and treble stays controlled—never shouty or fatiguing—yielding a fun-yet-almost-reference presentation. Build and comfort impress: ergonomic shells with that aqua-to-silver fade can be worn for 8-hour sessions, and the package includes Ziigaat’s new two-pin cable with interchangeable terminations (3.5/4.4), a roomy faux-leather case, silicone sets plus foams; tip rolling (e.g., ASMR tips) pairs well.

In games, ambient clutter drops away and crucial cues get spotlighted with confident imaging, separation, and convincing verticality. Footsteps in Valorant are clear and positional, though the lightest taps can blur a bit under nearby low-end rumble or heavy gunfire; Apex performance is exceptional, just a hair behind Astral/Mangird Tea Pro when ultimates stack; Call of Duty delivers satisfying impact with disciplined decay, though micro-cues can soften during chaos. Net-net, Horizon is a great all-rounder with clean, technical bass and a natural balance that works across titles. On the WallHack list it gets A– overall (A– in Apex, B+ in CoD, Valorant just shy of top marks), primarily nudged down by occasional masking of the lightest cues during intense mixes.

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Ziigaat’s Horizon goes for a flashy tribrid recipe—1×10 mm bio-dynamic for slam, 2×BA for mids, and dual planar treble up top—wrapped in pretty shells and “horizon” art. Street price hovers around $329, though bundle quirks can drop it to roughly $283. The cable is the familiar modular “big boy” plug system (3.5 mm/4.4 mm), chunky but perfectly usable, and the case/tips kit is typical Ziigaat: practical with a dash of theatrics.

Sonically, this one is bold and a bit unnatural—in a good way. Think W-shaped: bass, mids, and treble all step forward, almost competing for attention. The low end hits with big, big bass energy when the track calls for it yet doesn’t trample everything on softer material. Stage is not very wide—more focused and up-front—but there’s satisfying detail/decay and an aggressive, engaging center image. Expect excitement and texture over air and spread, and expect some fatigue after long sessions.

Call it an interesting outlier rather than a safe neutral. Price/performance feels fine (the sweet spot would be closer to $250), and it fits Ziigaat’s “many flavors, similar price” playbook. For listeners stacked with natural-tuned sets and craving a different, punchy, attention-grabbing presentation, Horizon delivers; for chill, long-haul listening, there are calmer choices.

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The DUNU 242 is a tribrid configuration with two dynamic drivers, four balanced armatures and two micro planars at around 350 dollars, and it comes with the kind of generous accessory package expected from DUNU. The modular cable feels premium and easy to handle, with matching colors and both 3.5 and 4.4 millimeter terminations, while the included case and wide selection of tips make it feel complete out of the box. Shells are on the larger side with a thick 6.4 millimeter nozzle and a shape that is not very contoured, so users with smaller ears may find the fit tricky even though overall build quality feels solid.

In terms of tuning, the 242 presents neutral bass levels with relaxed sub bass and only moderate mid bass presence, so it does not deliver strong slam or impact and clearly will not satisfy bass focused listeners. The mid range is the highlight, sounding balanced rather than recessed or shouty, with clear, dense and full bodied notes that give male vocals depth and instruments a grounded, natural weight, making this the most convincing part of the signature. Treble is forward and lively with pleasing shimmer that adds energy, but it can turn a bit peaky or edgy depending on the track, so treble sensitive listeners may wish it were smoother.

Technical performance is described as decent, roughly in the fifty to sixty percent range, which means resolution and separation are competent but not standout for the price, and competing models can offer more detail, sub bass extension or a more natural overall balance. The 242 fits listeners who want neutral bass, easygoing vocals and a sparkly top end in a compact package with great accessories, and who are willing to accept average technicals and some treble edge in exchange. For those who crave deep, punchy low end, smoother treble or a more obviously engaging presentation at this price, there are stronger all rounders, so this DUNU feels like a specialist choice rather than a default recommendation.