ZiiGaat x Z Reviews Thunder Review – Big Bass, Sensible Price

Review by: Yee Wei

General / Packaging / Build / Comfort
The ZiiGaat x Z Reviews Thunder is a collaboration between ZiiGaat and Zeos of Z Reviews. It is a single dynamic driver IEM at $139 USD, and the whole pitch is bass.

The driver is a 10mm DLC dynamic with a graphite-coated PEEK diaphragm. ZiiGaat claims the thinner PEEK layer and heavier graphite coating let the diaphragm deform less and recover faster. Take it with a pinch of salt, but we will see if the ears agree later.

In the box:

• IEM pair

• Detachable cable with 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs

• 7 pairs of eartips (black and clear)

• 4 replacement filters

• Leatherette carrying case

• User manual

The shells are resin, black with a pearlescent, lightning-vein faceplate. It shifts colour under different lights and looks good in person. Photos don't do it justice. The build is clean with no rough seams on my unit and the weight disappears when it is in my ears

Fit is where the Thunder is easy to like. The shells are small, light and sit flush. No pressure points even after a few hours, and the nozzle seats nicely with the right tips. There’s no driver flex nor pressure build up issue based on my listening experience.

The stock cable is soft and light, and the chin slider works, not to mention it is also modular in the sense where it comes with 3.5mm and 4.4mm plug. It is also thin and a little uninspiring, but purely nitpicking at this price. The leatherette case is roomy enough to fit a small dongle as well.

Gears Used for This Review

• Aune S18 Evo DAC

• Aune S17 Pro Amp

• Burson Conductor Stellar

• FiiO M33 R2R

• xDuoo Link3

• FiiO K17 R2R

• Laiv Crescendo Verse

Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone's ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far.

Sound Impression
The Thunder has been through my burn-in rig for more than 40 hours. Out of the box the bass was already huge, but it felt a little loose. After the burn-in the low end tightened up slightly and the treble smoothed out a touch. 

The overall tonality is warm, bass-heavy and fun. This is a V-shaped set with a bass shelf you can't miss, a presence lift that keeps vocals from drowning, and a smooth treble that stays out of the way. It is a basshead tuning, but not a dark or muddy one.

Bass

• The 16dB shelf is real. Sub-bass is deep, dense and physical. Billie Eilish's Bad Guy drop doesn't just rumble, it hangs around and you feel it in your ears.

• Mid-bass is thick and round with plenty of weight. Daft Punk kicks have body and slam, with a slight lingering decay that adds to the "big speaker" feel.

• Speed is better than I expected for this much bass. Slipknot's Duality double kicks keep their pace, and Metallica's Lux Aeterna stays together. At the very fastest passages the edges soften a little, but it never turns to mush.

• And it doesn't bleed into the mids at all. The warmth in the lower mids comes from the slope of the shelf, not bass spilling upward.

• Texture is smooth rather than gritty. To my ears this is a bounce and rumble type of bass, not a tight, dry one.

Mids

• Male vocals are the highlight. Zhao Peng's low baritone has real chesty weight, and he sits about 3-4 steps in front of you, close and full.

• Female vocals are smooth and sweet, but they lose some lightness. Faye Wong's voice is clean without roughness, but picture her about 5-6 steps away with a tinge of density rather than airy.

• The 2.8kHz curvature does its job. Vocals don't get buried under the bass and never sound shouty.

• Detail retrieval is average. Hans Zimmer's Why So Serious layers are a little compressed, and the warmth masks the finer details.

Treble

• Smooth and safe. No sibilance, no harshness, no fatigue. To my ears this is a set you can leave on for hours.

• There is enough bite for guitars and snares, but cymbals lack shimmer and the top end is short on air. A tinge on the darker side.

• Extension is acceptable for a single DD at this price. Purely nitpicking, but I would like a little more sparkle.

Soundstage / Imaging

• Soundstage is intimate and mostly in your head, with depth a little 2D-ish. Don't expect a hall like effect.

• Imaging is competent. Left and right placement is clear enough, and YungBlud's Zombie live from Bludfest feels close and energetic rather than spacious.

• Separation is decent until the track gets dense. Then the layers start to blend together. Cohesion is the trade-off, and the single DD does it well.

Driveability

• Aune S18 Evo + S17 Pro: My preferred pairing. The clean, neutral chain keeps the shelf tight and lets the presence region breathe. Bass stays big and controlled.

• FiiO M33 R2R / K17 R2R: R2R warms the lower mids further, which stacks on top of the Thunder's own warmth. It is thicker and smoother, great for relaxed sessions, but vocals lose a bit of clarity.

• xDuoo Link3: Easy to drive at 20Ω and 102dB. The bass is still big, with slightly less grip than on the desktop stack.

• Tips: Tip rolling matters less here than on brighter sets, but wider bore tips open up the treble a little to my ears.

Entry level or mid range dongle will do just fine, but a proper source tightens the bass up.

Comparison
vs DITA Prelude ($159)

These two are both single DDs, a similar price, and could not be more different.

Build / ergonomics: The Prelude is the better built piece. 3-piece 6061 aluminium, CNC machined, flagship-adjacent in the hand. The red and silver look isn't for me, and the shells are on the big side for an entry level set. The fixed 3.5mm cable is thin and a little stiff. The Thunder is lighter and smaller with a modular 3.5mm / 4.4mm cable, so it is more comfortable and more flexible. The Prelude does come with the ANTE USB-C DAC-amp dongle, which is a real bonus, and the Thunder has no equivalent.

Bass: The Thunder is far ahead in quantity and physical impact. The Prelude's bass is lean, disciplined and rolls off gradually. It has definition over weight, with real kick speed but little room-shaking mass. N.W.A. or Daft Punk on the Prelude feels light after the Thunder.

Mids: The Prelude has a lower-mid dip and a forward upper-mid lift. Male vocals lose chesty weight, while female vocals and brass are vivid and pushed forward. The Thunder is the opposite. Male vocals are fuller and warmer, and female vocals are smoother but less lively.

Treble: The Prelude is brighter, with more air, sparkle and bite. It is also more sensitive to tips, and hot recordings can get a little sharp. The Thunder is smoother and safer, with less air.

Soundstage / technicalities: The Prelude runs circle around the Thunder here. Imaging is more precise, separation is cleaner, the background is darker, and channel matching is nearly flawless. The Thunder is more cohesive and intimate, but less defined.

Verdict: The Prelude is the more technical set and the better all-rounder for jazz, orchestral and anything complex. But I would personally go for the Thunder. My library leans on Slipknot, Metallica and low baritone vocals, and that is exactly where the Thunder is more fun, also i use it for media consumption such as streaming Netflix and casual gaming, the added bass quantity does help in that sense. If you listen to complex, layered music on a phone, the Prelude with its ANTE dongle is the smarter buy.

Final Thoughts
The Thunder does exactly what it says on the box. It is a bass-forward single DD with a deep, physical low end, thick male vocals and a smooth top end, and it does that without turning into a muddy mess. It is not the most technical set at this price, and it won't suit anyone who wants an airy treble or a big stage. But for the asking price, it is comfortable, easy to drive and a lot of fun. 

The Thunder was sent over by Linsoul for the purpose of this review. Big thanks to the Linsoul team for the support and opportunity as always.

Head over to their store if you are interested in getting a pair:

• Linsoul — Non Affiliated