Thieaudio Oracle VS Ziigaat Odyssey

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Ziigaat Odyssey takes the new Meta tuning and gives it a more V-shaped, exciting twist. It keeps the beautiful mid-range intact while adding extra energy to both bass and treble, landing closer in spirit to Moondrop x Crinacle Dust (DSP) and Kiwi Ears K4—but with more swagger. It’s not as strictly on-target as those sets, yet the result is more engaging and solves the “too safe, sometimes boring” side effect of many Meta-tuned IEMs.

Beyond tuning, Odyssey brings real upgrades in technical performance for the price. Bass dynamics are punchier and more well-defined than K4, and treble nuances come through with greater clarity while preserving that natural vocal center. At $229, it undercuts many competitors and still feels like a step up—an easy pick for listeners who want Meta’s mid clarity with extra excitement and better slam without sacrificing coherence or comfort.

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The Thieaudio Oracle aims for an incredibly clean, natural, slightly airy presentation with zero midrange masking. Bass is well-separated and punchy yet deliberately tame, trading tactility and slam thickness for control—clearly not the star of the show, unlike bass-forward sets like the UP or Meteor. This restraint sets the stage for the Oracle’s real strengths without smearing or bloom.

With less mid-bass emphasis, vocals come through open, clean, and naturally flowing, carrying just enough note weight for male voices while avoiding the infamous scoop. Placement sits at a perfect distance, with a gentle airiness and shimmer on the tail of notes. Midrange clarity is top tier: piano, guitars, and flutes are easy to parse, layering stays organized (think RS5, SA6, EJ07M), and detail holds up on demanding tracks like “Traces of Time,” “Flower Town,” and “House in Nebraska.”

The treble adds a tastefully controlled air—not boosted like U12t or Oracle Mk II—thanks to a lower-gain 1.5–3 kHz region that nudges vocals slightly back and lets the top end sparkle without fatigue. Dynamics remain smooth even at higher volumes. As a vocal specialist, Oracle sits in a personal top five behind RS5 and the original Mangird Tea, roughly trading blows with EJ07, Monarch Mk II, and Dark Magician (similar airy shimmer, but Oracle is cleaner and more laid back). The verdict is a strong recommendation for the original Oracle—worth full retail, and a steal on sale—especially for R&B, acoustic, and chill listening where its poise and polish shine.

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Ziigaat Odyssey lands as a mid-range focused set with a slight treble lift that really scales with volume. At relaxed levels it’s clean, calm, and easygoing; turn it up and the presentation becomes wide, airy, and immersive with a surprisingly punchy, rumbly low end for its graph. The new topology DD hits a sweet balance—neither sluggish nor hyper-snappy—delivering well-balanced bass that serves the tuning, even if ultimate slam/texture trails sets like Hype 4 or Xenns Tea Pros. Tip rolling toward slightly brighter tips adds a touch of treble energy and liveliness without pushing fatigue.

The star here is the midrange: instruments layer neatly with comfortable separation, and vocals sit clean and natural—not shouty, not veiled—though they can feel a bit too relaxed at mid volume. Treble is smooth yet detailed, revealing cymbal micro-info and air without harshness, and it’s noticeably cleaner than Explorer while avoiding metallic timbre. Technicals are solid for the price—a step up from Explorer and just behind “contet” in raw resolving power—yet more natural in timbre and notably more musical when driven louder. The tuning flatters slow rock, acoustic, indie, alternative, and ballads, where the Odyssey’s “turn-it-up” character shines.

For alternatives: those wanting warmer, bassier impact for hip-hop, rock, or metal may prefer Kiwi Ears K4, HBB Arcadia, or the Deuce for true bass-head needs. For mid-volume all-rounders with more instant engagement and technical pop, consider Supermix 4, Nova, Quintet, or Chopin; for airier, brighter takes with sweeter female vocals, look at Cadenza 4 or CKLVX. As a package, Odyssey feels like a future classic—gorgeous plating, a cable that could use an upgrade, and a uniquely immersive, high-volume experience that invites shutting out the world and sinking into the music.

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Build & accessories: a chunky but comfortable shell in classic Thieaudio style, with a secure 2-pin socket and a nozzle lip that locks tips in place. The faceplate looks premium, and overall ergonomics impress, ranking among the more comfortable shells. The stock cable is decent and modular (4.4 mm / 2.5 mm), though the plug system can loosen under tug; a cable swap may appeal. Standard tips and the familiar Thieaudio case round out the package.

Tuning & comparisons: MK3 pulls back from MK2 with less bass and calmer upper-mids, reading more neutral on the graph. Tonally it resembles a Hype 4–style balance—slightly scooped upper-mids with added energy in the 4–6 kHz zone, plus audible upper-air (10–15 kHz) lift from the ESTs. Versus Pilgrim, MK3 sounds a touch less bright; Pilgrim Noir is bassier with a lower-mid dip. It also calls to mind Supernova (similar bass shelving; MK3 has punchier bass dynamics) and the HiSenior Mega5 EST (both relatively flat down low but different air emphasis). Across this price band, sets often trade blows rather than clearly outclass each other.

Verdict: short sessions showcase a clean, airy presentation and solid bass control, but longer listening (music, gaming, podcasts) can reveal a fatigue zone around 4–6 kHz. As a result, this feels like a solid yet unoriginal take that many will enjoy—especially fans of Pilgrim-leaning balances—while others may prefer alternatives like Hype 4, Supernova, Mega5 EST, or budget upstarts (e.g., Juzear 61T, Hidizs MP145/MP43, and the forthcoming Binary Dino Quattro). A capable, neutral-tilted tribrid with great ergonomics, but not an automatic recommendation given competition and potential treble fatigue.

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Single-DD + 3BA hybrid with a clean, confident look: thick shell, metal nozzle that grips tips well, visible rear vent, and the preferable flat 2-pin connector. The standard Ziigaat case feels premium if a bit unexciting. Sonically, Odyssey lands a balanced, tastefully energetic tuning—ample bass for most listeners, elevated upper mids for presence, and a smooth, clean upper-treble. Out of the box it sounds immediately right and counts among the better-tuned sub-$300 IEMs. The catch: macro/micro detail and imaging are good, not mind-blowing, keeping overall technical performance at “appropriate for the price.”

Within Ziigaat’s lineup, Arcadia skews darker with less treble reach, Xeno/Ceno feels a bit treble-shy, and Dinko is the more V-shaped, poppier pick with extra sub-bass. Explorer overlaps in tonality but Odyssey adds more upper-mids energy and refinement—albeit at a higher price. Among peers, AFUL’s P7 brings the stronger technicals and a slightly more neutral sheen, K4 trades blows, and “Quattro” may edge tuning purity. As an all-rounder, though, Odyssey hits a sweet spot: rich mids, fun but controlled bass, convincing note weight, and a natural stage, even if the far-upper air can temper ultimate sparkle.

Verdict: a fantastic mid-tier set with high price-to-performance, gorgeous faceplates, and a crowd-pleasing tonality; accessories are a bit underwhelming, and the top-end “air” won’t wow technicality chasers. Scored around 8.8/10 and easily recommended as a safe, musical choice—especially when discounts bring the sticker down.

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The ThieAudio Oracle (original) is a tribrid at around $540 using two ESTs, two BAs, and one DD. The shell echoes the Monarch’s look but is smaller; comfort and fit security are excellent for medium-large ears, though occasional pressure/venting imbalance can require a quick reseat. Build is well-made plastic with a busy aesthetic, and the stock all-white cable feels premium but the optional 2.5 mm with bulky adapters is a miss.

Tuning skews lean-neutral with a mild lower-mid scoop, a clean sub-bass lift, and lively upper energy. It’s airy and sparkly with strong treble extension, delivering a notably wide soundstage, clear imaging, and satisfying sub-bass rumble without bloat. Nitpicks: the mid-bass is on the lean side (some classic rock can feel thin), staging depth can flatten on tracks lacking sub-bass, and treble rides the line into splashy territory for the sensitive.

Against peers, Letshuoer EJ07M “Kinda Lava” is warmer/darker with narrower stage but standout bass physicality; Moondrop Blessing 2 stays reference-neutral with superb midrange resolution but less air. Taken together, Oracle earns a confident 4/5: on the right material it delivers real wow-factor excitement and expansive staging, only tempered by mid-bass thinness, treble edge, and fiddly sealing. Note that a Mark II exists—those who always chase the newest may want to consider that.

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Ziigaat Odyssey comes in at $230 with a four-driver hybrid (1DD + 3 BAs) that’s very easy to drive. Build is the usual Ziigaat: full 3D-printed resin shells with metal nozzles and filters; sturdy and comfortable for average-to-larger ears, while tiny ears get a technical pass. The weak spot is the accessories: a basic cable (3.5mm or 4.4 option), one set of soft silicone tips plus foams, and a leatherette case that feels flimsy—underwhelming at this price. Aesthetics score well with a sparkly faceplate that the “Council of Ladies” mostly favors, even if it doesn’t always trigger compliments.

Sonically, Odyssey aims for warm-neutral with a tasteful bass boost. Sub-bass texture can run a touch soft, but mid-bass punch is addicting, giving kick drums and bass guitars real drive without boom. Lower mids are warm and slightly veiled in a pleasant, retro-leaning way; female vocals sit a bit back yet remain clean. Treble is safe but present—enough sparkle and clarity to balance the bass without sting, though true treble-heads may want more air. Technicals are solid for the bracket: good resolution, excellent separation, precise imaging, and an average-sized but convincing stage. With a 15–30Ω adapter, the FR tilts more V-shaped (more bass/upper-mids/treble), a fun twist for occasional variety.

Against peers, Odyssey is the relaxed, safer listen: warmer and less contrasty than EPZ P50 (brighter, more vocal-forward) and Kiwi Ears K4 (more V-shaped excitement), and a middle ground between AFUL Explorer (darker, bassier) and AFUL Performer 5+2 (airier, more resolving with stronger female vocals). Not the pick for bass-heads, treble-heads, or libraries packed with K-/J-pop divas, but a killer one-and-done all-rounder for mixed libraries that value warmth, balance, and zero fatigue. Despite the skimpy pack-ins, the tuning and performance earn a spot in “this is brilliant.”

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Ziigaat’s 2024 lineup lands three distinct flavors: the R (1DD+4BA), Arcadia (1DD+2BA), and Odyssey (1DD+3BA)—all sharing the same case, tips, and cable, but with very different tunings and striking faceplates. Pricing lives in the approachable range (roughly $200–$250), and the shells are well-built 3D-printed resin. The Odyssey’s nozzle appears slightly wider than the R’s, and its cloudy pink/silver faceplate looks clean and premium without the flashiness of Arcadia’s green/yellow sparkle.

For competitive play, title-by-title differences matter. In Valorant, Arcadia’s extra warmth and bass impact feel immersive but a touch boomy/bloomy under heavy ability spam—solid, around a B. The R and Odyssey perform on par with high marks; the R’s 1–3 kHz lift sharpens clarity and verticality, while Odyssey is more neutral and less bright. In Apex Legends, Arcadia struggles as bass bloom masks micro-cues (B–/C+). Odyssey delivers great separation/layering with slightly softer overhead cues (B+/B), and handles gunfire more comfortably than the R. In CS2, Odyssey takes the lead for its imaging, depth perception, and non-fatiguing balance; in Warzone, the order shifts to R > Arcadia > Odyssey, with Arcadia’s warmth helping vertical reads and impact.

As a music set, the Odyssey is a standout: potent, tight bass with clean transients, balanced mids that aren’t smothered, and a clean, non-sibilant treble that avoids fatigue while letting micro-detail through. It lands as a favorite in its price bracket—an easy recommendation for listeners who want a neutral-leaning all-rounder that still punches hard, splits cues well, and won’t scorch ears with gunfire or treble glare.