ZiiGaat Cincotres Linsoul IEMs – Studio Tuning, High Resolution, Engaging Sound
ZiiGaat Cincotres is a $269 USD pair of IEMs or In-Ear Monitors mainly sold by Linsoul Audio, with 2 Dynamic Drivers and 3 Balanced Armatures playing for each ear. Cincotres seems to be a good name considering the design, and today we will review the Cincotres and compare them to other IEMs, including Sivga Nightingale (279 USD), SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat (219 USD), and Kiwi Ears Quintet (219 USD).
Introduction
This is the first time I am reviewing a product from the upcoming company ZiiGaat, and although the name of the company seems downright weird for an English or Romanian speaking person, they are part of the product selection sold by Linsoul Audio, the shop who brings us all the rare gems, at excellent prices and makes the whole process easy and fun. ZiiGaat is actually a known OEM and ODM producer, so they already have the experience and tools to make good products. 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. Linsoul has provided the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
PROs – Exceptional resolution and Clarity for the price point, Powerful but controlled bass, with exceptional resolution and control, Studio clarity and qualities, Excellent control at high volumes, good treble extension without getting bright and fatiguing, superb price / performance ratio.
Cons – Low Passive Noise Isolation, Sensitive to source noise.
Product Link
You can grab one here – https://amzn.to/3VNfbzQ
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
Ever since I started reviewing Chifi IEMs, Linsoul has always been that one company to bring interesting and unique IEMs to my ears, and to the ears of all music lovers out there. The new ZiiGaat Cincotres tries to be a Professional, Studio-Tuned IEM, with so many drivers you’ll lose count. The design is one of the first ones to introduce the Isobaric Dynamic Driver subwoofers with 2 separate 10mm polymer diaphragm drivers, for better sub-bass quality.
The company promises a precise sub-bass shelf at 300Hz, for eliminating mid bass bloat, and for keeping the midrange clean. There is also a combination of Sonion and Knowles drivers for the midrange and the treble, with the drivers being arranged in a 3-Way configuration. The Balanced Armatures implemented in the Cincotres are Sonion 26a05 dundalk BA Drivers, and we also have Kowles 33518 Super Tweeters for the the high-end reproduction.
The SPL of the ZiiGaat Cincotres is on the lower side at 104 dB, while the impedance is extremely low at 11 OHMs, meaning that they will be rather sensitive to source noise. Currently, to purchase the Cincotres you have to pre-order with 1-2 weeks of leading time (this is lower than the 3 weeks I had to wait for my Keyboard to be shipped).
Subjectively, Cincotres is a beautiful IEM with a nice faceplate, and it comes with a flexible, loose-braiding cable. We got the version with a 3.5mm jack, and this is happily one of the IEMs with a good default ear tip included in the package. The shells are on the larger side, but very light, and there is ventilation on each shell, with a rounded gasket colored in the color of their side (blue for left and red for right). The IEMs use a standard 2-Pin connector, which I can now confirm will work fine with all the aftermarket cables I have reviewed.
The passive noise isolation is average, with a passive isolation between 15 and 20 dB, depending on the frequency, and while you will hear some of the noise around you while using the Cincotres with no music playing, once you press start, the sound easily drowns out the noise. The comfort is also great, the cable is flexible, is not sensitive to microphonic noise, nor is it tangle prone. Sitting quite on the other side of the spectrum, the cable is ergonomic, fun and comfortable, and the shells feel lightweight and fit really well with my ears. The leakage is super low as the persons on the outside can’t hear what I’m listening to even if I’m blasting metal or EDM at 115 dB.
The source list used for today’s review includes HIFIMAN Serenade DAC AMP, iBasso D16 Taipan, Hiby R4, Creative X5 Sound Blaster, HIFI Walker H2 Touch PRO, Dethonray Listening M1, and iBasso DX260. The version of ZiiGaat Cincotres I have is with a 3.5mm single ended connector, and for all those sources I am using the 3.5mm SE output, or a 6.3mm output with an adapter. It is good to keep in mind that for most of those, I needed far more driving power than I first assumed, with iBasso D16, for example, sitting with DAC High Gain, AMP High Gain, and the volume wheel at half power. You will hear some background noise with most sources, although iBasso D16 Taipan and iBasso DX260 show zero background noise.
Sound Quality
Overall Signature – The overall signature of the Cincotres is balanced, deep, controlled, detailed and very clean / clear. There is a good sense of space and separation between instruments, while the resolution and revealing ability of the IEMs sits far above the price point of the cincotres. I love the actual overall signature, it is basically perfect for all of my music, combining a bold, detailed bass, with a crisp midrange, and a smoother treble, having all the authority of a bold low-end, paired with the refined presentation of a zero-fatigue treble.
Bass – ZiiGaat Cincotres starts with a rather strong, bold and ballsy low-end that takes authority and puts backbone in songs, even in rock and metal, where it adds the missing bassline, keeping music interesting, pumped up and kicking sound right into action. Most of the energy and bass impact can be found in the sub-lows, with very little veiling and mid bass bloom. The bass is warm, but balanced in quantity relative to the midrange and the treble.
Midrange – ZiiGaat seems to have created a really revealing midrange, with a strong lateral spatiality and good instrument separation, and excellent guitar presentation. The sound seems to draw more energy to guitars than it does to male voices, and female voices are crystalline, sweet and beautiful, while male voices are slightly reduced in energy and impact, but still plenty impactful. Overall, the presentation is balanced, perfect for a studio setting where you should be hearing all the finer details and nuances in music.
Dynamics / PRaT / Textures – Cincotres has multiple driver types, from multiple companies, and this is somewhat audible, at least if you listen to a lot of different IEMs, or technical music, such as mathcore, emocore, technical death metal and such. The bass driver has a controlled, but slightly sloppy hit for each note, it makes a really pleasing and natural sound, while the midrange driver is very detailed, with no grain, but has exceptional resolution, the high-end driver being smooth, and having very little texture and detail. All in all, the sound coming from each driver is different, but the crossover points are arranged perfectly, and you don’t notice any kind of peaks or dips in the frequency response, everything makes sense at the general level. The dynamics are quite good as well.
Volume Control – The volume control is great, as there is almost no variation with higher or lower volumes, and Cincotres doesn’t have an inherently higher distortion at higher volumes, nor does it sound very different. I prefer using them at higher volumes, as the THD is low, and the sound is kept in check.
Treble – The treble of the Cincotres is where they excel above most Chifi IEMs, they have a much smoother, yet extended treble, so they manage to have a relaxed, fatigue-free sound without rolling it off entirely.
Comparisons
ZiiGaat Cincotres vs Sigmot EA1000 Fermat (269 USD vs 219 USD)
Build – The build of EA1000 feels sturdier, it is made of metal, but this also means it is heavier and less ergonomic, less comfortable than Cincotres. Ea1000 has a lot of leakage and almost no passive noise isolation, being an almost fully open IEM, while Cincotres has very low leakage and an average passive noise isolation, being much better if you want to keep your music to yourself. Both IEMs are not easy to drive, and both sound great with a better source, but Cincotres is more sensitive to source noise.
Sound – Sonically, they are both mostly balanced, airy and wide in the soundstage, but EA1000 Fermat sounds open, while Cincotres emphasizes the instrument separation, clarity and the resolving factor. Ea1000 Fermat has a shallower bass, while Cincotres has a much deeper bass with better control and impact, the midrange is sweeter on the Cincotres and cleaner, while the treble is sharper, brighter and has more texture, also a bit more resolution and detail on the EA1000 Fermat, while Cincotres sounds smoother and relaxed in comparison. Cincotres is better if you want a studio sound, and a strong IEM for music production, or pure engagement, enjoyment. EA1000 Fermat is more for you if you want an airy, wide sound that’s almost like speakers, and want a boundless staging.
ZiiGaat Cincotres vs Kiwi Ears Quintet (269 USD vs 219 USD)
Build – Quintet is fairly comfortable, although the IEM shells look somewhat bland compared to the more colorful shells of the Cincotres, which looks really beautiful, clean and neat. The comfort is about equal, both have good ergonomics, a good cable. Both are sensitive to source noise, both need a better source to sound great, and both IEMs offer a similar degree of passive noise isolation, with Quintet having a slight edge over Cincotres in the isolation.
Sound – Sonically, Cincotres is more balanced, the midrange is far more natural with less coloration, the bass goes deeper and stronger, it creates the feeling of impact more, and instrument separation is far better on the ZiiGaat. Quintet creates a warmer mid bass, more bloom, and tends to have a colored midrange that fails to deliver a natural sound at times, but which is actually enjoyable and pumped up. The treble is sharper, hotter and a bit metallic on the Quintet, while it is really relaxed, and smooth on the Cincotres.
ZiiGaat Cincotres vs Sivga Nightingale (269 USD vs 279 USD)
Build – Both IEMs are ergonomic, lightweight and both fit well in my ears. The cable of the Nightingale is of a higher quality, although both cables are comfortable to use. Both IEMs are sensitive to source noise, but Nightingale is easier to drive, and it provides a slightly higher passive noise isolation.
Sound – Sonically, Nightingale is lightweight, has a low bass quantity, while Cincotres has much more bass, a higher impact. The biggest difference can be found at the bass level, which changes the fundamental way you interpret and understand music, with Cincotres always sounding bolder, more impactful, while Nightingale sounds more open and relaxed, clean and lean. The midrnage of the Nightingale is far more natural, it hits that mid perfection more, while Cincotres hits the bass line better.
Value and Conclusion
With the resolution, clarity and comfort it has, ZiiGaat Cincotres bears insane value, and it is currently one of my favorite lower-priced IEMs I have heard. It is endlessly enjoyable, and has everything you need to use it, including a nice cable and good eartips.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a balanced sounding IEM with a bold, controlled bass, a wide and holographic soundstage, with strong instrument separation, and with good resolving / revealing abilities, but an affordable price point, ZiiGaat Cincotres is fully recommended and a great IEM to play your tunes to.
Product Link
You can grab one here – https://amzn.to/3VNfbzQ
Technical Specifications
Drivers – 2*10mm Dynamic Drivers + 2 Sonion +1 Knowles
Sensitivity – 104dB @ 1kHz
Impedance – 11 ohms @ 1kHz
Resistance – 16 ohms
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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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