Punch Audio Martilo VS Ziigaat Horizon

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Punch Audio Martilo steps in as a new-brand debut with a confident package: a hybrid array (planar + BAs + DDs), a metal nozzle, proper venting, and a recessed 2-pin socket set into a shell that sits securely thanks to an anti-tragus catch. The faceplate gives off AFUL Performer 7 vibes, the included cable is supple with clear R/L markings, and the textured carry case plus two tip sets round out a thoughtful accessory kit. Priced around $329—with occasional deep discounts during big Linsoul sales—build and accessories feel dialed in for the bracket.

Sonically, this is a bassy set that still behaves like an all-rounder. The bass shelf rises from roughly ~150 Hz, bringing weight and warmth without turning podcasts and vocals into mud; upper-mids are present yet controlled, minimizing shout, while mid-treble energy keeps things crisp. Female vocals avoid huskiness, note weight is satisfying, and the tuning strikes a balanced, fun profile that works across genres. On the graph it hugs a safe line, then sprinkles in extra low-end for flavor—bass-head friendly, but not a blunt instrument.

In A/Bs, it addresses the AFUL Explorer’s softness with more bass and mid presence, and compared to similarly priced Kiwi Ears Astral (the safer neutral pick), Martilo offers the spicier, more engaging option. Against “specialist” bass sets like Deuce or Quantum, Martilo feels cleaner in the mids, less abrupt in its slam, and more universally usable; versus warmer bass champs (e.g., Mega 5 Bass), it trades some warmth for clarity and refinement. This isn’t sterile “audiophile-neutral”—it’s audiophile-fun done with taste. Scoring reads like: bass (10/10), note weight (10/10), mids (9/10), with surprisingly solid highs, stage, and imaging for the money. Not flawless, but distinctive, well-tuned, and easy to recommend—especially for listeners who want real bass without sacrificing everyday versatility.

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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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Martillo is a hybrid (dual DD, two BA, one planar) tuned as a sub-bass-boosted U-shape with roughly 14 dB lift and a hard mid-bass drop. The low end hits like a quick hitter—fast, clean, and free of boom—while the sharp cut through the mid-bass keeps the presentation uncluttered and lets vocals come through clearly.

Mids favor female vocals with notable clarity, but lower mids and male voices sound thinner due to the deep mid-bass dip; timbre skews a bit digital and body is reduced. Treble avoids harsh BA/planar timbre and is generally clean, yet not especially airy; smoothing and a touch more body would improve naturalness.

Stage is wide with some height, yet depth and dimension are flatter around the midrange gap. A small EQ lift of about 2-3 dB in mid-bass fills in body, improves transparency, and broadens genre flexibility. As tuned, Martillo suits pop and dance where sub-bass drive matters, while listeners seeking weighty mid-bass impact may want that EQ or a different flavor.

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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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The Punch Audio Martilo shows up screaming BASSHEAD on the box, but the tuning is smarter than that. A hybrid stack—2×8 mm DD + 2×BA + 1 planar—delivers bass that hits when the track calls for it, then gets out of the way. The surprise is the huge soundstage: airy, wide, borderline cinematic, so pianos, crowds, and live recordings feel expansive rather than claustrophobic. Low 9 Ω impedance and easy efficiency keep the power demands chill, though a low-impedance cable is recommended.

Tip rolling matters. With thin-wall silicone (e.g., Dunu S&S) the stage opens up and balance feels right; foams and some wide-bore options can push treble into a slightly sharp zone on certain tracks. Tonality reads clean and natural—warm-adjacent without a blanket—so everyday music stays unbloated, while proper sub-bass test tracks pressurize with that “firm hand on the chest,” not a sledgehammer.

Build is solid: thick, comfy modular cable with swappable plugs, flashy red shells, and a comically oversized box for a modest accessory set (silicone + foams). Street price around $330 lands in the sweet spot—easily justifying $375 by ear. Think “poor man’s Mega 5 EST Bass Plus”: similarly satisfying slam and stage, with the pricier set showing a touch more upper-mid/treble refinement. Not just for bassheads—more like a full-range thrill ride that lets music breathe and hit when it should.

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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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Punch Audio Martillo stands out as the rare basshead set that still reads as competitive. At $329 with a 2DD + 2BA + 1 planar array, it pushes more sub-bass and mid-bass than most, yet the low end is textured, tight, and notably fast in attack/decay. The result is bass that rumbles without smearing: mids remain intact, the treble stays airy and clean, and the stage presents with extra width, depth, and “air within the space.” Imaging feels precise, with strong depth perception and a lack of the bloat typical of warm tunings—distinctly different from anything else on the WallHack certified list.

In Valorant, Martillo scores around an A- (bordering B+): clear separation and layering, wide/deep staging, and crisp reads on lighter cues; only in heavy site pushes—multiple vandals plus abilities—does the extra low-end energy flirt with congestion. In Apex Legends, it sits at a strong B+: even with environmental rumble (thermites, storms, ults), the set preserves gunfire localization, slides, and verticality, handling third parties impressively well. Net: a uniquely exciting pick for those who want a visceral bass flavor that still performs at a high technical level for gaming—arguably the highest-ranking tuning of its type on the list.

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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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The Punch Audio Martillo is a hybrid basshead IEM with two dynamic drivers, two balanced armatures and a planar driver, but the story is really told by the frequency response. The low end is heavily sub bass emphasised, delivering a massive, room filling rumble that clearly targets listeners who want as much low end as possible. That bass comes across on the slightly bloaty, slow and plodding side, so midrange detail is not what naturally jumps to the front, even though the top end keeps things from sounding overly congested or boxy and provides a decent level of perceived detail.

Against this, the Martillo faces comparison to sets like the Hisenior Kanye Cristales, which offers a more incisive sound with tighter bass punch, better separation and clearer definition, albeit at a higher price around 400 USD versus roughly 330 USD for the Martillo. In that context the Martillo comes across as a decent sounding IEM that focuses more on sheer impact than refinement. The midrange sits behind the bass swell and fine detail is not highlighted as strongly as in some competitors, but the overall balance avoids turning into a muddy, boxy mess.

Outside of tonality, the Martillo scores well with a very nice fit, solid build quality and an attractive, high quality cable that underline its premium leaning price point. It is not a universal recommendation for those chasing neutrality or razor sharp separation, yet for listeners specifically seeking a big, indulgent basshead tuning with respectable top end clarity, solid technicalities and a comfortable shell, this is not a bad direction to go, as long as the trade offs in bass tightness and midrange presence are understood.

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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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Punch Audio Martilo hits the brief for bass-centric listeners. The tuning kicks up from ~200 Hz, driving a potent low end, then rides a flat porch through the mids with a gentle ear-gain that crests around 3 kHz before easing off. It mirrors the well-known Kiwi Ears collab curve but with a touch more upper-mids energy for cleaner, clearer vocals. At $279 with the card (and still competitive around $320), this set undercuts many rivals and, for libraries heavy on rock and hip-hop, feels purpose-built.

The hybrid stack—2DD + 2 BA (branded) with a planar on top—keeps the upper-mids sensible and lets the treble play from roughly 5 kHz+ without glare. Personal preference might lean to EST or a high-end BA super-tweeter, but here the planar’s implementation stays out of trouble by avoiding an overcooked 1–3/4 kHz shelf. Result: strong slam, stable mids, and treble that’s present yet subordinate to the preceding bands—focused on transparency rather than flash.

Beyond sound, the packaging and cable show real forethought—distinct from the usual cookie-cutter unboxings—and the overall execution reads like a brand finally dedicated to the low-end community. With more models in the pipeline (including a budget single DD and a planar+DD combo), Martilo arrives as a market shaker for bass lovers seeking muscle without muddying the mids. For the asking price, it’s an easy recommendation to audition—especially if the playlist is built on rhythm sections and big grooves.

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Boom — time for bass. Punch Audio’s Martilo is a tribrid (2×8 mm DD + 2 BA + 1 micro planar) coming in around $330. The package is stacked: sturdy square case, extra filters, multiple tip sets, and a genuinely excellent modular 3.5/4.4 cable that lays flat, has no microphonics, and a firm chin slider. The shells are ergonomic with venting, metal nozzles with a proper lip, and a small nozzle diameter (5.9/5.0 mm) that helps seal; comfort and passive isolation are both strong.

Sonically, this is unapologetically bass-focused without being bass-only. Expect massive sub-bass depth and a punchy mid-bass, yet the low end stays tight, controlled, textured and doesn’t bleed. Mids retain clarity with non-shouty presence, while treble is crisp, smooth, non-fatiguing with decent extension (not ultra-airy). For a bass-heavy set, technical performance is solid: detail is good, and imaging/separation keep busy tracks coherent and energetic.

Against Hisenior’s Mega5EST Bass Plus, Martilo hits harder, feels more engaging, and offers better vocal clarity — and it steamrolls on value at the lower price. Compared with Xenns Tea Pro, the Tea Pro is a bass-lover all-rounder that spotlights vocals/instruments more; Martilo goes full bass-head with bigger rumble and impact. Ideal for listeners who crave deep slam but still want clarity, comfort, and great accessories; not for neutral/reference chasers. Final verdict: 4/5 — it truly punches above its price.

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The ZiiGaat Horizon comes with a solid accessory package for its price, including a spacious hard case, a modular 3.5 and 4.4 cable that is soft and easy to manage, and a good selection of silicone and foam tips that seal well and feel comfortable. The resin shell with metal lip nozzle feels stable in the ear, with venting that avoids pressure build up or driver flex and an average size that sits securely even when walking around. The colorful faceplate with sparkles, flat two pin connector and overall ergonomics make the Horizon look and feel like a well built, everyday friendly in ear.

Sonically the tuning leans sub bass focused at a neutral level, delivering tight, clean, textured bass with natural decay and a strong sense of physicality that stays neatly separated from the mids so vocals and instruments remain clear. The midrange is mostly neutral and very clear sounding, with vocals sitting nicely forward without becoming shouty and a balanced note weight that gives male voices depth and female voices an open, airy quality. Separation and timbre in the mids are excellent, making instruments sound realistic and well layered while clear forward vocals remain free of harshness.

The lower treble on the Horizon is smooth, controlled and detailed without obvious peaks, while the boosted upper treble brings a crisp, airy, sparkly character with plenty of shimmer and micro detail on cymbals, hi hats and upper harmonics, though listeners sensitive to upper treble may find it a touch bright. Overall treble avoids sounding splashy or metallic and works with the open bass and midrange to give the set a spacious, airy feel. In terms of technical performance the Horizon is one of the more resolving options at this price, offering excellent detail retrieval, separation and imaging, and in comparisons it tends to trade the heavier bass and warmth of rivals like Crescent, Astral, Kir SPET, Volume S, Sivo 24 or Zens T Pro for cleaner mids, more upper treble air and clearer vocals, making it ideal for listeners who value clarity and vocal focus over sheer low end quantity.