Ziigaat x Hangout Audio Odyssey 2's Review

 

General/Packaging/Comfort/Build

ZiiGaat has been quite relentless lately with new releases every now and then. There have been several releases over the past few months, the recent one, Crescent, which I had also reviewed is quite good. Today we have the Odyssey 2, which is a collaboration between Hangout Audio and Ziigat. For those who are not aware, Hangout Audio is an audio store based in Singapore by Crin. Odyssey 2’s driver config is the same as the OG, 1DD+3BA.

Packaging is definitely a step up compared to OG, three types of bundled eartips, a modular cable which is green and black in color, faux leather storage case and the IEM itself.

In terms of comfort, the Odyssey 2 does not have any sharp edges and I use them for several hours a day and I did not feel any discomfort throughout my listening session. The shell is different compared to the OG, the OG is resin whereas the Odyssey 2 is metal. Odyssey 2 has been run in for roughly 20 hours, and in my opinion, the DD does benefit from the burn in.

Equipment and Software used

• Aune S9C Pro -> Aune N7

• ddHifi Eye 3 Dongle

• Apple Music/Tidal/foobar2k

• Odyssey 2 Stock Cable and Eartip

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

Upon first listening impression, Odyssey 2’s sound profile is leaning towards meta tuning. Sounds quite fun and smooth to my ears. I would say it's quite natural overall with a boost in the sub bass region, treble has sufficient details but not offensive. Slight warmish tonality with fairly natural timbre, still a slight hint of BA timbre is there if you pay real hard attention to it.

Bass

• The speed is good and doesn’t sound bloated or muddy when listening to busy tracks such as Slipknot’s People’s = Shit!, Metallica’s Lux Aeterna, it handled the speed drumming and kick flawlessly, without sounding muddy nor bleeding into the mids

• Sub bass has good extension and rumbly when the track calls for it, in fact i find the Odyssey 2 has better extension compared to the OG

• The transition from sub to mid bass is very good, the mid bass doesn’t lack punch and the sub and mid bass complement each other very well, transition is quite linear

• The bass also has good texture and doesn’t sound “loose”

• The sub bass in my opinion really sounded like a subwoofer, it really rumbles whenever the track calls for it

Mids

• The mids are neither too forward nor recessed, just right to my ears

• Vocal positioning is just nice,  just imagine the artist is probably 5-6 steps away from you

• Male and female vocal has good texture to it and doesn’t sound thin, male vocal has sufficient weight whereas the female vocal sounds rich

• The bass doesn’t bleed into this range which is good, given that this is a collab with Hangout Audio, i would expect the mids is usually quite clean

• Pinna gain is rather safe and never shouty even when the volume is being cranked up

Treble

• Treble has enough energy yet it is non offensive

• Despite having a smooth treble response, treble extension is quite good for this set depending on your personal preference, if you are someone who wants to hear every single detail in the track, Odyssey 2 might not be the one for you

• Amount of air and presence is good for the asking price but this is understandable as it is the tuning that they strive for

• Detail retrieval is good but not for those who seek out absolute clarity

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is slightly out of your head with good width, depth and height perception is good

• Separation is good for the asking price, i would say it is above average for the price point

• Imaging is very good as the instruments can be pinpointed easily even during busy track, certain complex orchestral tracks might not perform that well

Driveability

• Odyssey 2 is not hard to drive but it does scale well with more power, in terms of dynamics and bass control, but based on my experience, a mid range DAP or dongle such as ddHifi’s Eye 3 is more than enough to fully exploit the potential of Odyssey 2

Comparison (OG Odyssey) 

• Slightly warmer sounding compared to Odyssey 2

• Treble is smooth but resolution and detail retrieval capability Odyssey 2 is definitely better than OG

• Soundstage is somehow not as wide as Odyssey 2, Imaging wise, more or less similar

• Mids are somehow thicker compared to Odyssey 2, it can be a little mushy on certain track

• Upper mids are not perceived as shouty, similar to Odyssey 2

• Very natural timbre overall and note weight is neither thin nor overly thick

• Sub bass is not as rumbly compared to Odyssey 2, not so much of a subwoofer effect

• Overall, i would say the Odyssey 2 is definitely a step up/upgrade from the OG Odyssey

Final Thoughts

The ZiiGaat x Hangout Audio Odyssey 2 takes the original's foundation and builds upon it with noticeable improvements across the board. Its meta-tuned sound profile offers a listening experience that's both enjoyable and smooth, boasting a natural timbre and a truly satisfying sub-bass rumble. While it doesn't aim for the absolute peak of detail retrieval, it delivers a well-extended and pleasant treble response. The soundstage is impressively wide with accurate imaging, positioning it as a strong contender within its price bracket. Considering the upgraded sound quality, enhanced packaging, and a more premium build, the Odyssey 2 represents a significant and worthwhile leap from its predecessor, making it an easy recommendation for anyone seeking a balanced and engaging in-ear monitor. Highly recommended

*A big thanks to Linsoul for sending this over for the purpose of this review. Thanks for the support and opportunity as always

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

Ziigaat x Hangout Audio Odyssey 2 - Non affiliated