ZiiGaat x Jays Audio Estrella IEMs Review – 6 Driver Hand Of Fate
ZiiGaat x Jays Audio Estrella is a $299 USD pair of IEM In-Ear Monitors with a 2DD + 4Ba driver configuration, which will be the star of our review today. We will also compare the Estrella with other similar IEMs that we reviewed recently, including Kiwi Ears Orchestra II (349 USD), Noble Knight (289 USD) and Sivga Nightingale Pro (296 USD)
Introduction
ZiiGaat has been on a roll both with their new IEM releases but also with how many collaborations they have, with Estrella being an excellent showcase of their policy and philosophy. ZiiGaat would often match with reviewers and make certain IEMs, although I did not notice a pattern, sonic at least, because most ZiiGaat IEMs look similar. It is important to note that ZiiGaat IEMs are sold through Linsoul and available on Amazon, Aliexpress, and on the main Linsoul website.
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Audiophile-Heaven has no Ads and our Youtube Channel has no midroll ads, and our work is supported by Affiliate Links and Donations. Huge thanks to Linsoul Audio and ZiiGaat for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4b2nAr4
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4FYt6kn
Build Quality And Design
It all starts from the driver combination at the heart of the Estrella, which relies on two coaxial 10mm PET dynamic driver combo paired with a set of 4 BA drivers per side. The BA driver combo includes a Knowles 29689, Sonion 2345 and Sonion E50.
This combi is promising to deliver a powerful tuning, with a nearly 15 dB of sub-bass impact, a crisp treble and mesmerizing vocals. Something we do know for sure is that ZiiGaat uses a 3-Way Crossover system with three independent sound tubes to achieve the sound.
Technically, Estrella has a very high SPL of 108 dB and an impedance of 7 OHMs, which will likely cause some issues, like an extremely high sensitivity and they will likely hiss with most sources. If you can only count 5 drivers from my description, that is normal, and it happens because Linsoul explained to me that E50 is composed of two drivers instead of one and they count each half of the driver.
Subjective Usage
Estrella has somewhat large shells which are a bit problematic for my ears, as the fitting is medium-deep and they tend to go out of my ears, having relatively large bores too. Happily, there are no comfort issues, no void, no flex and cable is free of tables, and not very kinky either. It is a winner in terms of design, and shells are also very light.
Cable quality is very good, but is single ended only and you can only purchase Estrella with this SE cable. Most sources, even very affordable and downright cheap ones come with a better balanced 4.4mm output nowadays so the 3.5mm jack connector, while helpful for certain listeners, will reveal the worst out of a source, provided they even have a 3.5mm output.
Passive noise isolation is rather strong, and you don’t hear much from the outside, with the isolation being around 15 dB all across the board. This being said, it has an effect where the internal pressure increases while music is playing, even at low volumes, which enhances the isolation to 20 dB up to 25 dB if music is playing relatively loud.
Sound Quality
Pairings – ZiiGaat Estrella got paired with multiple sources including FiiO K17, Audioengine HXL, Shanling Onix Beta XI2, Surfans F35 Music Player DAP, iBasso D17 Atheris, Burson Playmate 3, Rose Technics RT-5000, and Luxsin X9.
You will notice immediately that the impedance of the Estrella is incredibly low, as it will have hissing and background noise with virtually all sources. 7 OHMs sounds about right and I find it hard to believe how much I can hear that, but being single ended does not help either as most balanced outputs have a lower noise floor than SE ones. It is incredibly sensitive, gets loud incredibly easily, and can be driven out of any source, even the embedded output of a soundcard, old smartphone, and SanDisk Sansa Clip+ or other artifacts of the past. Overall, you will not have any trouble powering up the Estrella and when music is playing you generally do not notice the noise floor, but having such a low impedance will put stress on most sources, which can make them clip even at relatively low volumes, as at 7 OHMs, it feels almost like shorting the electric poles.
Overall Signature – I am surprised to say this but while some companies over-promise what their products can deliver, Estrella actually over-delivers and under-promises, creating a sound that is far more punchy, more vivid and also has more sub-bass extension and extra boom than promised. I like their sound, it is a super v-Shaped tuning with the bass done right, a bit of Chifi type of detail and resolution, but enjoyable tuning nonetheless, with a natural soundstage and they are fun for most modern music, EDM, Dubstep, Electronic and Metal Rock styles.
Bass – With a bottomless bottom end, Estrella has a lot of weight, depth and a strong bass extension, to the point where it sounds a bit bloomy. Bass uplift is around 15 dB rather than the 12 promised and measured, and there’s just plenty. Bass is a central element of their sound and it feels like Esterlla was tuned to be a bass cannon, perfect for EDM, Pop and modern music, with exceptional bounce and pump, it is fast and not bloated, ideal for faster music as well. While not necessarily the most technical approach, Estrella is great for Pop and EDM in particular, but gives body to all music styles.
Voicing And Midrange – Voicing takes a step back as Estrella is a bit recessed in the voices, pulling them back to make space for the huge bass and impact, it is a great pair of IEMS to enjoy some pumped up music, but not necessarily a first line choice for strongly vocal music. I like them with female voices, which are vivid, thanks to the upper midrange uplift, but lower midrange is quite recessed relative to the upper midrange and treble, so male voices are a bit subdued which makes Estrella great for ACG music, J-Rock, J-Pop and EDM in general, just not for songs with strong male voices at the lead. Rock and metal growls and screams sound top though, so it is fairly versatile.
Treble – If you fancy an airy, sharp treble, Estrella will deliver, and it has a fairly characteristic sound for the drivers used, quite sharp. Treble extends up to 18 kHz, but most energy is between 6 kHz and 11 kHz, with a fairly colored peaking and dipping range even within this segment. Treble quality is good, but it is a bit fast and this can reveal both the good and the bad in music. Overall, here is where I feel it has a bit of that Chifi characteristic sound and tune.
Dynamics And Textures – At their core, Estrella has a non-compressed, fairly wide dynamic range and sounds both pumped up and dynamic. Textures are different for each frequency range, bass is full, slower and a bit sloppy, midrange is natural-organic, while treble is quite fast and reveals both the good and the bad, being a bit on the too fast, dry side of things. This is characteristic of multi-driver setups, when the speed of the drivers is vastly different, as it happens with Estrella.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – Although estrella has a very low impedance and is very easy to drive, it sounds quite good both at low and high volumes, and handles extremely high volumes really well, if the sources can handle it too. Sound becomes more vivid, more punchy and more vivid the louder you go, and Estrella surely sounds better when taken loud.
Soundstage – Estrella sounds quite wide and holographic especially owed to the pulled midrange and forward bass / treble. It is an impressive and fun sounding pair of IEMS with a holographic take, strong instrument separation and vivid layering, but the difference in sonic characters of the bass mids and treble makes the bass come from everywhere all at once, and permeates the sound, which gives all music a kind of bloomy, full sound.
Comparisons
ZiiGaat x Jays Audio Estrella vs Sivga Nightingale Pro (299 USD vs 296 USD) – Nightingale Pro is a slightly more vintage, classic looking pair of IEM Earphones with a wooden faceplate, but Estrella has a higher passive noise isolation, much lighter shells and a more comfortable fit. This being said, Nightingale Pro is not quite as easy to drive nor as sensitive to source quality and source hissing / background noise. Package of the Nightingale Pro looks a bit better and they are more premium. Sonically, both are V-Shaped but there’s far more sub bass and more bass bloom in the Estrella which is more of a basshead with strong treble IEM, while Nightingale Pro is a more balanced choice, better for the general listener. Estrella is one for the extremes, one for you if you want the ultimate, most basslicious sound, so it makes more sense to get them if you want to experience an extreme.
ZiiGaat x Jays Audio Estrella vs Noble Knight (299 USD vs 289 USD) – Knight is a bit smaller in size, but has heavier shells. This means that the comfort is a mixed bag. Estrella comes with a better cable but which is ended in a 3.5mm jack connector only, while Noble Knight needs custom eartips to sound good, Estrella working well with their default ones. Knight is not as easy to drive, nor as needy with the source. Both sound V-Shaped and powerful, Noble follows a super basshead signature too, but it has a more solid voicing, less vocal pulling, and less treble aggressiveness too. Noble is more relaxed, resolution is about equal between the two and the choice is in your hands, if you want a more balanced basshead sound, then go for the Noble, and if you want a hyper V-Shaped sound, go for the Estrella.
ZiiGaat x Jays Audio Estrella vs Kiwi Ears Orchestra II (299 USD vs 349 USD) – Orchestra II is right now likely the hottest Chifi IEM on the market, but Estrella has some advantages that could give it a strong headstart. Starting with the package, Orchestra II comes with a better cable, has a better package and generally feels more high-end than Estrella, but it also is heavier and that makes Estrella more comfortable. Orchestra II is harder to drive and less sensitive to source noise, but it scales a bit less with a good source. Sonically Orchestra II is extremely natural, clean, and enjoyable, but Estrella is a basshead IEM with a recessed midrange, far more exciting for rock, EDM and more pumped up, bouncy music. Estrella is a far better choice if you’re looking for a vivid sound, while Orchestra II works better if you want a generalist pair of IEMs with a clean sound.
Value and Conclusion
ZiiGaat and Linsul gave Estrella a good price, making them competitive in the days of today’s crowded market. Although the package can be a bit underwhelming, SE only cable is also a bit underwhelming, the sonic tuning is excellent, deep, blasting and fun, which makes the Estrella easy to enjoy and gives them a strong price performance ratio.
At the end of the day, if you’re either a basshead or bass curious, someone who wants to test some Chifi resolution and clarity but with the power and depth of a true bass canon, you will love the sound of the ZiiGaat Estrella. It sounds impressive and fun, and I like them personally, they work well with metal, rock, EDM, Techno and most modern music. In an age of compression, they work well with ultra compressed music styles.
PROs
- Lightweight and free of comfort issues like void and driver flex
- Strong passive noise isolation, especially while music is playing
- Bold and slightly dark tuning with extreme bass and sub-bass enhancement
- More like 15-16 dB of subbass added quantity
- Revealing sound with specific Chifi price performance ratio
- Sharp and brilliant treble to balance out the bass
- Wide and fun soundstage
- Works well with modern music like rock, metal, edm and electronic pop
- Excellent choice for a modern and enjoyable pair of IEMs
Cons
- Very low impedance means you will hear source noise, and that you will also stress sources which can make them turn to overdrive as well as short easily
- Single ended only cable available for purchase can be a bit problematic since the low impedance makes them more noisy with sources
- Medium-deep fit will not work for people with small ear canals, bore and shell are both a bit large
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4b2nAr4
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4FYt6kn
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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