Kiwi Ears Astral VS Ziigaat Odyssey
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Kiwi Ears Astral and Ziigaat Odyssey use 1DD+6BA and 1DD+3BA driver setups respectively. Kiwi Ears Astral costs $299 while Ziigaat Odyssey costs $229. Kiwi Ears Astral is $70 more expensive. Kiwi Ears Astral holds a slight 0.4-point edge in reviewer scores (8.5 vs 8.1). User ratings place Kiwi Ears Astral at 8.3 and Ziigaat Odyssey at 7.4. Kiwi Ears Astral has significantly better treble with a 1-point edge and Kiwi Ears Astral has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Kiwi Ears Astral | Ziigaat Odyssey |
|---|---|---|
| Mids | 8 | 8 |
| Treble | 7 | 6 |
| Soundstage | 8 | 7.5 |
| Dynamics | 7 | 7 |
| Tonality | 7.5 | 7.1 |
| Technicalities | 7 | 6 |
Jaytiss Reviews Comparison
Kiwi Ears Astral reviewed by
8.5
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
The Kiwi Ears Astral offers a solid build quality with comfortable shells that fit well, featuring a practical nozzle design that holds ear tips securely. The included cable is notably high-quality, featuring a functional chin slider, a sleek bluish-purplish-gray hue, and connectors that are exceptionally easy to swap. While the case is utilitarian and similar to other Kiwi Ears offerings, the overall package is practical and well-appointed.
Sonically, the Astral stands out as a special and highly competitive set at its $299 price point. It delivers a beautifully tuned, balanced tonality that hugs the target curve closely, offering a satisfying amount of bass, well-executed upper mids, and a generally pleasing, non-fatiguing sound. While it may occasionally lean slightly shouty or risk sounding dull on certain tracks compared to more aggressively tuned alternatives, it excels as a refined all-rounder. Its technical performance – including spaciousness, detail retrieval, and rich bass texturing – is impressive for the price, though micro-details and ultimate pristine clarity aren't class-leading.
The Astral trades blows with top competitors like the Performer 7 (slightly darker/richer) and the Volume S (better dynamics but less sub-bass), often coming out ahead for its cohesive balance. It significantly improves upon predecessors like the Kiwi Ears Quartet or Singolo, offering better upper-mid presence and technicalities. Ultimately, it represents a fantastic option for those seeking a well-tuned, balanced IEM, delivering a highly enjoyable and versatile listening experience with minimal faults. For its price, it's exceptionally hard to beat, earning strong marks across the board.
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Buy Kiwi Ears Astral on Linsoul
Ad
Price: $299
Buy Kiwi Ears Astral on Linsoul
Ziigaat Odyssey reviewed by
8.1
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
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.
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Buy Ziigaat Odyssey on Linsoul
Ad
Price: $229
Buy Ziigaat Odyssey on Linsoul
Kiwi Ears Astral Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+6BA
Tuning Type: U-Shaped
Brand: Kiwi Ears Top Kiwi Ears IEMs
Price (Msrp): $299
Support our free service! Buying through our affiliate links costs you nothing extra:
Ziigaat Odyssey Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+3BA
Tuning Type: Neutral with Bass Boost
Brand: ZiiGaat Top ZiiGaat IEMs
Price (Msrp): $229
Support our free service! Buying through our affiliate links costs you nothing extra:
Kiwi Ears Astral Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A- It presents a smooth, well-integrated tonal balance that plays nicely with many styles. It maintains natural timbre across the range.
Average Technical Grade
A-- You get a controlled, composed performance, marrying decent clarity with a still-modest sense of space. A safe technical performer for the price bracket.
Ziigaat Odyssey Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- It balances warmth and clarity well, showing only minor quirks along the way. Timbre feels believable with most instruments.
Average Technical Grade
B- Technical ability is serviceable, keeping basic detail intact across simpler tracks. It keeps up with acoustic tracks without much fuss.
Kiwi Ears Astral User Reviews
Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.
You need to be signed in to write your own reviewImaging and separation performance on this IEM gives a holographic nature to tracks of all genres. Extremely versatile. Technical performance competes with many higher-priced sets.
Pros
Extremely clean separation and technical performance. Treble is very clean at price point. Mids are clear and transparent, and are simply good with little to no coloration. Forward vocal region, but does so in a way that should be great for all.Cons
Midbass could be raised slightly, and sub bass can be too forward at times. Treble clarity only slightly behind much more expensive sets. Raised 7-9khz region, but not peaky.A technically adept IEM with a balanced, engaging U-shaped signature that excels in bass texture, vocal clarity, and spatial presentation—offering exceptional value despite sparse accessories.
Pros
Powerful, textured sub-bass with deep rumble; natural vocals with excellent clarity; airy, non-fatiguing treble with strong extension; and outstanding imaging/soundstage for the price.Cons
Limited eartip selection affects fit optimization; bulky shells may cause discomfort during extended use; mids occasionally lack warmth and can feel slightly recessed.Ziigaat Odyssey User Reviews
Share your experience and build your personal ranking list.
You need to be signed in to write your own reviewVery pleasing to listen to. A good starter mid-fi set that seems to cater towards neutrality while decently technical. Sibilance at higher volumes in the 6-8khz region. Good for gaming, but can get convoluted at times.
Pros
Extremely smooth mids. Bass response is very clean, and doesn't bleed into the mids much.Cons
Strange sibilance in the 6-8khz region, easy fix with eq. Doesn't seem to have very good treble extension. The recessed 1.5-2khz region causes vocals to sound distant - can be good depending on preferences.It's an easy recommendation. The tuning is great. Tech is okay, but nothing special
Pros
Fun but still "accurate" sounding signature. Comfy shell with nice design.Cons
The cable requests to be replaced. Nothing special in terms of technicalities.Find your next IEM:
IEM Finder Quiz
newIEM Comparison Tool
newVS