Pros: Well-Tuned, Midrange Tonality, Versatile Musical Tuning, Fun Bass, Comfortable, Build Quality and Design
Cons: Technicalities not the best for its class, A Jack of Multiple Trades, Can be a little pricey
Driver Setup: 1DD + 3BA Hybrid IEM
Price: $249 (SGD$325)
Intro
Disclaimer: The Ziigaat Odyssey 2 was provided to us at no charge courtesy of Linsoul. However, this was done with the understanding that I would provide my honest thoughts and opinions on the Odyssey 2. The Odyssey 2 is available for purchase here, should you find yourself interested in a pair, or feel free to use your links. Do take a look at the Linsoul site and check the price, as it might be slightly lower than MRSP due to ongoing promotions.
Apparently, this is the second iteration of the Odyssey line from Ziigaat, even though I have never seen the OG. I have tried some lower-end IEMs from Ziigaat, and they have impressed me thus far. This is a collaboration with Hangout Audio, which was founded by the famed Crinacle. I do not know what the level of his involvement in this IEM is, but if I had to guess, it would be related to the tuning of it.
Accessories
Being in a more premium price bracket, the accessories provided with the Ziigaat Odyssey 2 are a step up from what we usually see from IEMs in the 100-200 range. The included cable comes in a nice dual-colour braid that is relatively soft and flexible. The green complements the faceplate design well and adds an eye-catching pop of colour to the overall look.
Included is a hard pleather zip case with a nice soft furry lining on the inside. It is also structured on the inside so the earbuds can be protected from scratching against each other. Overall, an aesthetic package and generous selection of accessories.
Build Quality and Fit
The shells are made from aluminium and are curved in the right places, sitting very nicely in the ears. Despite the weight of the buds, they never felt uncomfortable or felt like they were going to fall out. I would say the build quality is excellent, and the IEMs look great too. No complaints here.
Sound
Sources
- Fiio BTR7
- Aune M1P
- Lotoo Paw S2
- SMSL M200 –> Schiit Magnius
Music listened to
- The Weeknd
- The Carpenters
- keshi
- MAAPS
- NEEDTOBREATHE
- The Eagles
- Noah Kahan
- John Mayer
- Michael Buble
- etc
Bass
The Odyssey 2 strikes a neat balance in delivering warmth and presence in the bass and maintaining the delicate balance of tonal accuracy. The bass is not as fast and crisp as some, but instead has a warm, musical, natural decay without the muddiness. Note weight is slightly on the heavier side, making this a noticeably bass-boosted tuning that extends well into the subbass.
Mids
A good amount of detail comes through in the mids, without any shoutiness and forwardness in the vocals. This is impressive tuning in the mids. Separation and layering are well done for its price point, and vocal lines are well-bodied. It never comes across as shrill or thin at any one point, which I really enjoyed on slower, vocal-focused tracks. Instruments like saxophones and trumpets also have a nice timbre and body to them that is very addictive.
Highs
The treble extends well and is done so very subtly, playing a complementary role to the overall tuning. The treble isn’t accentuated excessively and is rather laid back, and doesn’t have any sibilance or harshness. It plays into the extremely fatigue-free tuning (my personal opinion) and yet gives the headroom to bring out the microdetails and breathe life into the instruments’ timbre. This contributes to the overall lively, immersive, yet accurate presentation that the Odyssey 2 puts out.
Overall
Soundstage is rather normal and doesn’t boast anything too special. Not a deal breaker for an IEM, but those expecting them to excel in these aspects may be disappointed. The warm neutral tuning of the Odyssey 2 is versatile across many genres and does well in providing tonal accuracy and easy listening for hours on end. The Odyssey 2 might not be the most detailed at its price bracket and may sometimes not handle complicated tracks well. What it does well is deliver buttery smooth melodies and a decay that hits the sweet spot of not being overly dry but not muddying technicalities.
Conclusion
The Odyssey 2 does well in becoming a very good jack of many trades. It delivers a very well-designed IEM with a mature tuning. At its price point, it positions itself well as a potential upgrade for anyone wanting to take a step up from their first entry-level or IEM of around $100, yet without breaking the bank. The Odyssey 2 does not immediately stand out in any 1 area or have a particularly strong technical ability, but still manages to put out an immersive and fun tuning that would work for a wide range of potential music.
From its modular cable to plush case, and the well-machined shells, the Odyssey 2 pulls no punches and has got the consumer covered across all ends. Hence, even though it may be a little bit pricey in terms of the investment involved, I can definitely see this becoming the “end game” for those who do not want to spend an arm and a leg in a casual hobby or daily driver. The Odyssey is a fun IEM that definitely is the result of a lot of thought and effort going into the tuning and design of it and I would say it is definitely worth a try/demo for anyone shopping around for an IEM at this price point.
Overall Grade: A
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