Gizaudio x Binary Chopin VS Ziigaat Odyssey 2

Initial skepticism about yet another reviewer collab IEM quickly evaporates, as the Gizaudio x Binary Chopin is declared a standout, potentially the best collab IEM in years and even an all-time favorite. For a $200 hybrid IEM from a relatively unknown company, it delivers a performance that is really, really good, making it an exceptionally exciting and competitive offering in its price bracket.

Physically, the Chopin is a bit of a mixed bag with an awkward, truncated teardrop shape, but it scores points for its compact overall size. The main fit consideration is the wide nozzle, which requires a secure ear tip for stability since the entire fit depends on the ear tip coupling with the canal. The included cable is praised for being simple, lightweight, and highly functional with a secure chin slider.

Where the Chopan truly shines is its sound. While its graph looks similar to the lackluster Truthear Nova, the Chopan's significant deviation with meatier bass provides a welcome sense of heft and body, making the entire presentation more enjoyable. The mid-range is clean and vocals are fantastic, coming across crisp and well-isolated. However, the star of the show is the outstanding treble, described as sharp, incisive, and possessing a great sense of weight that outperforms not just its competitors but even more expensive sets. It is declared superior to legendary IEMs like the Moondrop Dusk and the 7Hz Timeless, making it a full five-star product and an easy recommendation.

Super* Review original ranking

The Ziigaat Odyssey 2 arrives as a collab between Ziigaat and Hangout Audio (tied to Crinacle), essentially a Crin-influenced set in disguise; it’s a 1DD + 3BA hybrid priced around $250. Accessories are thoughtful—three ear-tip sets, spare adhesive filters, and swappable 3.5/4.4 terminations—though the long, friction-fit plug feels awkward. The metal shell is medium-sized with a short nozzle for a shallow fit; comfort is easy, stability average, and the thin green cable is softer than prior Ziigaat attempts with a chin slider that actually holds.

Tonally it lands squarely in the tilted diffuse-field “meta” neutral camp: natural vocals, tame upper-treble, and a slight 4–6 kHz lift that adds clarity and a more contrasty/clinical edge without harshness. Imaging and separation are clean for the price, but the sub-bass-focused boost leaves the low end marshmallowy—tactile yet soft, with kick drums short on slam. Overall balance is convincing and easy to live with, just not especially exciting.

Versus Ziigaat Lush, Odyssey 2 is crisper and more defined where Lush sounds darker, smoother, and a bit low-res, though Lush hits mid-bass a touch harder. Against Softears Volume S (costlier), Volume S wins on bass grip and midrange texture, sounding fuller and more engaging while Odyssey 2 stays cleaner but more clinical. Conclusion: a very good set in a crowded mold—3/5 for a refined meta tune with agreeable timbre but modest bass impact.

Super* Review original ranking

The Gizaudio x Binary Chopin is positioned as a more authoritative and engaging take on the familiar Harman target. It features a pronounced sub-bass that fills in the typical scoop without overdoing it, providing more slam and weight than predecessors like the Nova or Hexa. This gives the low end more authority, preventing it from sounding anemic, though it doesn't reach the subwoofer-like physicality of sets like the EA1000. The mid-range remains very clear, uncolored, and well-separated, benefiting from the extra mid-bass to sound fuller than the Nova while maintaining a correct tonal balance with no bias toward male or female vocals.

The upper mids and treble are where the Chopin really differentiates itself, coming across as a more engaging and lively version of the Nova. A boost in the 5k and 10k regions adds excitement and liveliness, creating a more open and airy stage. This makes it reminiscent of the Simgot EA1000 but much smoother overall. When compared to other sets, it's a clear upgrade over the Nova and bests competitors like the Performer 5 and EM6L with its better resolution and treble extension without low-end sacrifice. It's also a smoother, more weighted alternative to the Heyday and a more affordable option that delivers about 85% of the performance of the Moondrop Variations.

Ultimately, the Chopin is a smoother all-rounder that makes the standard Harman target less boring. It's a highly competitive set that sounds cleaner than the Kiwi Ears Hype 2 with a less pronounced bass that better highlights the mid-range, though the Hype 2 retains an advantage in bass texture for genres like EDM and hip-hop. The choice between them becomes library-dependent, but the Chopin stands out as a very well-tuned and compelling option in its price range.

Jays Audio original ranking

Odyssey 2 shifts the OG’s recipe toward a more mid-centric, vocal-first tuning with a gentle sub-bass lift and smoother treble. Bass hits with less slam than the original but feels tighter, quicker, and cleaner, keeping texture competitive for the price. The top end is calmer—less bite, still adequately extended—trading sparkle for an easy, natural presentation.

Clarity steps up in the mids: vocals pop, separation improves, and detail comes through more plainly, while the OG keeps an edge in bass/treble “texture.” It’s a higher-volume scaler; give it juice and it opens up, especially for ballads, acoustic, indie, and pop—less ideal for hip-hop/R&B/jazz where extra weight and contrast help. Tip rolling that adds a touch of low-end/treble energy can inject the missing excitement without upsetting the balance.

Against similarly “safe” sets (Daybreak, P50), Odyssey 2 leans more vocal-centric with better bass texture; versus value champs (Supermix 4, Nova, Chopin), it sounds fuller and more natural but isn’t the value king. Lush gives more air up top, Arcanis/Luna serve as pricier “special sauce” paths if treble bite or OG-style warmth is desired. Verdict: a safer pick and polished all-rounder—objectively as good or slightly cleaner than OG—but for die-hard OG fans, more of a refined sidegrade than a direct, high-octane upgrade.

Jays Audio original ranking

The Gizaudio x Binary Chopin IEM is an absolute standout, delivering a fantastically unique and immersive sound signature that is heavily focused on vocals. The presentation is spectacularly detailed, making any vocal track, from opera to pop, slam you in the eyeballs in the best way possible. The soundstage is its most intriguing feature; it doesn't sound wide or narrow but instead creates a phantasm-like effect where the music seems to wrap around and even behind your head, a phenomenally cool and different experience.

This is achieved through a hybrid driver setup of a single 8mm dynamic driver for a natural and impactful low end, plus three balanced armatures handling the mids and highs. The package is exceptionally well-presented with a clean box and a professional-looking case. It also comes bundled with the Divinus Velvet tips, which are so smooth they are considered the best pairing for this IEM and are almost mandatory for the intended experience.

Priced at $200, the Chopin is 100% worth it. The build quality extends to its cable and the smallest two-pin connectors ever seen, and the overall tuning is simply fantastic. It’s a refreshingly different IEM that avoids any painful treble or recessed mid-range, making it an easy, highly recommended pick for anyone looking for something special that excels with vocal-centric music.

Z-Reviews original ranking

The Gizaudio x Binary Chopin presents a unique value, particularly for those who typically prefer speakers or over-ear headphones. Its greatest strength is its extreme comfort and easy fit, making it ideal for long gaming or music sessions without the pressure buildup common with other IEMs. Sonically, it boasts a very good quantity of bass and exceptional vocals that really pop in the mix.

However, the Chopin is not without its weaknesses. The quality of the bass is not world-class, and it can lack some air and sparkle in the highs. The most significant complaint is in the technicals of instruments, which can sometimes sound a bit muffled, unresolving, and odd in their tonality and timbre compared to the standout vocals.

When compared to the TruthEar Nova, the Chopin is found to be livelier and more musical, with warmer, richer lows, while the Nova is drier and more clinical with slightly better highs. Both are considered technical benchmarks at their respective price points. The Symphonium Meteor, meanwhile, is deemed overpriced and its bass is noted as being too overpowering, making the music sound off despite its small, comfortable shell.

Jaytiss original ranking

Ziigaat Odyssey 2 lands as a premium-feeling set: a CNC-milled aluminum chassis with a sparkly blue/silver faceplate, solid two-pin cable with interchangeable 3.5/4.4 plugs, spare nozzle filters, and a roomy new brown carrying case. The stock cable is nice—though its green tint doesn’t quite match the shell’s aqua tone. Tip selection is generous (foam plus two silicone sets), and the newer silicone tips are a standout. Overall, a tidy package for the price.

Tuning follows the current “new meta”: energetic low end with a cleaner sub-bass attack/decay than sets like ZENs Top/Top Pro, which helps in games. Bass stays punchy yet controlled, so imaging and separation/layering come through well, though gunfire can still push forward. For pure music the bigger, rumblier sets may feel livelier, but for competitive play Odyssey 2 reads space more cleanly and keeps clutter down better than bass-heavier rivals.

Title by title: in Valorant it sounds natural and punchy with tighter gun reports and better map imaging—footsteps are a bit thicker and light taps could cut more—earning a B+. In Apex it’s cleaner than ZENs Top Pro and fine in 3v3s, but big third-party fights expose some separation limits; call it a strong B (bordering B+). In CS2 the positional read improves over ZENs Top Pro, though lighter surface cues and gunfire depth could be crisper—solid overall. Call of Duty plays to its strengths: warmer timbre, wide/deep stage, excellent layering during streaks, with only occasional gunfire masking—another B+. Net result: placed in the B+ tier on the WallHack list, at the lower edge bordering B, similar to the original Odyssey’s standing.

Fresh Reviews original ranking