Ziigaat Horizon and ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII use 1DD+2BA+2Planar and 2DD+4BA driver setups respectively. Ziigaat Horizon costs $329 while ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII costs $399. ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII is $70 more expensive. ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII holds a slight 0.1-point edge in reviewer scores (8 vs 8.2). Ziigaat Horizon has slightly better treble with a 0.4-point edge, ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII has better dynamics with a 0.5-point edge, Ziigaat Horizon has slightly better details with a 0.3-point edge and Ziigaat Horizon has better imaging with a 0.7-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Ziigaat Horizon | ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 8.1 | 8.3 |
| Mids | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Treble | 8.3 | 8 |
| Details | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| Soundstage | 8.3 | 8.1 |
| Imaging | 8.5 | 7.8 |
| Dynamics | 7.6 | 8.1 |
| Tonality | 8.1 | 8.2 |
| Technicalities | 8.5 | 8.2 |
Ziigaat Horizon Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
8Very Positive
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
8.2Very Positive
Reviews Comparison
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by Joyce's Review
Youtube Video Summary
ZiiGaat Horizon is a tribrid with one dynamic driver, two balanced armatures and two planars that combines a beautiful hand painted faceplate with a very balanced sonic presentation. Bass focuses on sub bass with an 8 to 9 dB shelf that feels tight, impactful and well controlled, giving a wide and comfortable stage without becoming overly warm. The shell in medical resin, the detachable silver plated cable with both 3.5 and 4.4 plugs and the firm orange carrying case round out a package that feels thoughtfully put together at its 329 USD price.
On the low end the sub bass reaches under the ears and around the neck with good depth, fast decay and clean retrieval, so kicks hit with satisfying punch while never smearing into the mids. Lower mids stay relatively flat to provide a balanced foundation, and vocals come across three dimensional, intimate and well focused with a strong sense of vertical soundstage and clear separation from instruments. Male voices sound full and weighty, female vocals are bright and natural, and midrange instruments are layered, tight and elastic with controlled decay that keeps the presentation lively without excess reverb.
Treble is airy and open with careful dips around 5 to 8 kHz to reduce sibilance, then a well judged peak in the upper treble that extends past 20 kHz, adding space and air without turning cymbals or high hats piercing. Across the band the separation between bass, mids and treble is excellent, imaging feels precise and stable and detail comes through in a granular yet natural way that compares favorably even to more expensive tribrids like the Dunu DK3001. For listeners who enjoy balanced, vocal centric music with clean, extended treble and long term comfort, Horizon offers a refined, beautiful and emotionally evocative listen that really does feel like a fresh dawn for the ears.
Joyce's Review original ranking
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ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII reviewed by Joyce's Review
Youtube Video Summary
Thieaudio Hype 4 MKII comes as part of the renewed Hype lineup and immediately feels like a big upgrade in presentation. The flip open box separates the earphones and case from the ear tips and paperwork, while the broken mother of pearl style faceplates and smoothly machined aluminum shells look luxurious and sit in the ears with a very comfortable, moderate size that does not create pressure build up. The new textured matte case, modular 3.5 and 4.4 terminations on the copper and silver hybrid cable, and the dedicated ear tip box with both proprietary silicone tips and memory foam sets make the whole package feel thoughtful and premium, showing that the brand is really listening to user feedback.
In terms of tuning, the Hype 4 MKII delivers a bass response that extends deep, giving bass guitars and kick drums a strong, satisfying punch while staying cleanly separated from the rest of the mix thanks to a controlled bass shelf and a sharp cut around the midbass. The lower mids have a subtle lush bump that adds body to cellos and warmth to vocals without muddying the overall transparency, leading into a midrange where vocals sound airy yet focused and instruments like guitars carry more texture, cleaner lines and a wider sense of space than the first generation. Upper mids follow a classic peak that is balanced with the bass level so they do not feel shouty, and the treble is described as very airy, bright and clear with excellent extension and resolution, giving more soundstage, ambience and atmosphere, though with a slightly more noticeable sibilance region compared to the original that still stays within an acceptable range without harshness.
Technical performance on the Hype 4 MKII is strong, with very good resolution, separation and sensitivity that make it easy to drive and reveal fine details in cymbals, triangles and electronic effects, while the stage feels more open and expanded than before. Compared to the original Hype 4, the MKII keeps a warm and punchy character but cleans up the separation between bass and mids, pulls the extremely forward vocals slightly back into a more natural blend with instruments, and upgrades treble detail so that the older tuning can sound flatter and a bit rough by comparison. Against Moondrop Blessing 3, it offers clearly higher resolution and a more dynamic, lively presentation with less bass lean, and overall comes across as a more coherent evolution of the Hype 4 that combines warm punchy bass, enhanced upper mids and treble, richer ambience and better soundstage to earn a solid 8.5 out of 10 recommendation around its 399 USD price.
Joyce's Review original ranking
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Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by Web Search
Ziigaat Horizon is a tribrid IEM that combines 1DD + 2BA + 2 planar drivers, positioned at an MSRP of $329; this configuration aims to split bass, mids, and treble duties across specialized transducers for coherence and headroom. These fundamentals are confirmed on the brand’s product page and storefront listings.
Subjectively, community impressions describe robust sub-bass from the dynamic driver, clean mids from the BAs, and airy treble from the planar tweeters, with multiple listeners highlighting a notably expansive soundstage. Head-Fi reviews and threads also call out treble extension claims “up to 40 kHz” and above-average staging for the price class.
In tuning terms, the Horizon trends U-shaped: lifted bass and upper-treble energy provide excitement and perceived width, while midrange presence is more neutral than forward—favorable for pop and electronic but less ideal if you prioritize warm, intimate vocals. Reports also note that pairing and tips can influence perceived brightness and staging, so synergy matters if you’re treble-sensitive.
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII reviewed by Web Search
The ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII is a $399 hybrid in-ear monitor built around a 2DD + 4BA array, using dual 8 mm dynamic drivers for low frequencies and four Knowles balanced armatures for the mids and treble within a 4-way crossover network. Its CNC-processed aluminum shells and a modular 7N ultra-OFC copper and silver-litz cable, supplied with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminations, emphasize build robustness and system flexibility over cosmetic experimentation.
From a tuning standpoint, the Hype 4 MKII targets the intersection of studio-neutral and musical, with the Gen 2 IMPACT2 dual-dynamic module delivering roughly a 9 dB sub-bass lift that rolls off sharply around 150 Hz so that most of the extra energy sits below the mid-bass region. ThieAudio also describes a mild 400 Hz emphasis in the midrange and a treble region tuned with slower decay, aiming for natural vocal weight and sustained high-frequency detail without pronounced sharpness. Taken together, this suggests a neutral-with-sub-bass-boost presentation that prioritizes controlled low-end impact and a slightly warm midrange over an ultra-lean, clinical reference tonality.
On the technical side, the dual 8 mm woofers, 4-way crossover, and discrete Knowles drivers for ultra-high, high, and mid bands are engineered to enhance imaging precision, separation, and depth, with retailer and product literature consistently pointing to improvements in clarity and spatial presentation over the original Hype 4. With a rated impedance of 18 Ω and sensitivity of 101 dB @ 1 kHz, it should be straightforward to drive from portable sources, though cleaner amplification will likely better expose its microdetail and dynamic swings. Considering its mid-range price and the dense competition around $400, the Hype 4 MKII reads as a technically ambitious and carefully tuned option, offering strong value without fundamentally disrupting the hierarchy of higher-end models.
Ziigaat Horizon (more reviews)
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by Jaytiss
Youtube Video Summary
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.
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by Audionotions
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by Super* Review
Youtube Video Summary
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.
Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube ChannelZiigaat Horizon reviewed by Paul Wasabii
Youtube Video Summary
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.
Paul Wasabii Youtube Channel
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by ATechReviews
Youtube Video Summary
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.
ATechReviews Youtube Channel
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by Jays Audio
Youtube Video Summary
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.
Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by
Fresh Reviews
Youtube Video Summary
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.
Fresh Reviews original ranking
Fresh Reviews Youtube ChannelZiigaat Horizon reviewed by Z-Reviews
Youtube Video Summary
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.
Z-Reviews Youtube Channel
Ziigaat Horizon reviewed by Head-Fi.org
Ziigaat Horizon Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+2BA+2Planar
Tuning Type: Neutral, Neutral with Bass Boost
Brand: ZiiGaat Top ZiiGaat IEMs
Price (Msrp): $329
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ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+4BA
Tuning Type: Neutral with Bass Boost
Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $399
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Ziigaat Horizon User Review Score
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ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII User Review Score
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Ziigaat Horizon Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
8.8Gaming Grade
S-ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.9Gaming Grade
AZiigaat Horizon Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A+- The tonal balance is polished and expressive, highlighting emotion without sacrificing accuracy. It keeps emotional weight without sacrificing accuracy.
Average Technical Grade
S-- You get an articulate, polished performance with immersive stage depth and great control. There's a sense of polish across the whole spectrum.
ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A+- The tonal balance is polished and expressive, highlighting emotion without sacrificing accuracy. It keeps emotional weight without sacrificing accuracy.
Average Technical Grade
A+- You get an articulate, polished performance with immersive stage depth and great control. There's a sense of polish across the whole spectrum.
Ziigaat Horizon User Reviews
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