Ziigaat Horizon is a tribrid IEM. This means there are three driver types combined. The Horizon has five drivers in total. There’s a dynamic driver for the bass, 2 balanced armatures for the midrange and two planar magnetic drivers for the treble.
Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch is also a tribrid IEM with five drivers total. There’s one dynamic driver for the base, two balanced armatures for the mid-range and two electrostatic drivers for the treble.
In other words, the driver setup is very similar in both models. The difference in driver types is in the treble, but there is also a clear difference in tuning.
The Horizon aims for neutrality, while the Punch has a significant lift in the lower end. However, the Punch has a very interesting bass-lift implementation, with the boost increasing gradually towards the lowest frequencies, while keeping the rest of the frequency range quite neutral.
ZIIGAAT HORIZON SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: 1DD + 2BA + 2 Planar
- Driver Details: 10mm bio-diaphragm + Knowles 30262-163 + custom composite dual planar drivers
- Impedance: 24 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 102dB
- THD: 0.55%
- Frequency Response: 20Hz–35kHz
- Detachable 1.2m 4-Core Cable
- Cable connectors: 0.78mm 2-pin
- Cable termination: 3.5mm / 4.4mm interchangable
Current price and availability:
- Linsoul: Ziigaat Horizon
- Amazon: Ziigaat Horizon
KIWI EARS x HBB Punch SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers: 1 x 10mm Dynamic Driver, 2 x Knowles 32257 BA, 2 x Sonion EST
- Impedance: 12 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 98 dB (±1 dB) @ 1 kHz
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 44 kHz
- Configuration: 3-way crossover with 3 sound tubes
- Cable: 1.2 m single crystal copper AWG 20 wire, braided, PVC coating
- Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
- Cable termination: 3.5mm or 4.4mm fixed
Current price and availability:
- Linsoul: Kiwi Ears xHBB Punch
- AliExpress: Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch
BUILD AND COMFORT
Both are resin-shell IEMs with metal nozzles. The Horizon has a standard size for this type, while the Punch is larger. Their size mainly affects how much they extend and protrude from the ear, rather than occupying more of the concha, the area outside the ear canal where the IEMs sit. Anyway, I find both feel comfortable in the ear.
Both come with a nice, straightforward cable.
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
The Horizon has a powerful bass presence, very similar to the Punch here, although the Punch emphasizes the deepest bass a bit more. Overall, they are quite alike—bassy in a pleasant way, warm and lush, with good detail.
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
Vocals are fairly similar, but the guitar sounds noticeably fuller and richer on the Punch. The Horizon generally has a lighter sound here, with less warmth and bass.
Sunrise by Norah Jones
The Punch has richer bass and generally sounds warmer, but it’s still relatively similar to the Horizon.
Angel by Massive Attack
The bass on the Punch is remarkable, creating a tingling, physical sensation in the ears. It remains well balanced within the track, but the impact is undeniable. The Horizon, on the other hand, lacks that full-bodied sub-bass. It is more neutral and controlled, giving the impression of listening to a recording rather than experiencing a live concert (all amped up, not acoustic).
The Hangout by Daniel Franck Quartet
The Punch sounds excellent here, with no excessive bass, plenty of detail, and a spacious soundstage. It is much warmer than the Horizon, which is brighter and lighter but still very enjoyable. The Horizon has less bass, more presence in the upper mids, and a very airy quality.
Knives Out by by Radiohead
The Horizon is nicely balanced and neutral, very airy, and full of detail. The Punch, on the other hand, is warmer, with more prominent—but not overwhelming—bass. It retains the airy soundstage, making both excellent options.
The Unforgiven by Metallica
I like how the Punch enhances the sub-bass without making it overwhelming. Again, it creates a sense of being at a live concert, with a nicely present lower end rather than being overly bassy. The Horizon isn’t that different, but it sounds a bit brighter and lighter. I prefer the Punch in this case.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The Horizon has excellent timbre—crisp and clear without sounding dry or harsh, very airy and articulate. The Punch sounds different, warmer yet still fairly crisp. It’s good, but I prefer the Horizon here.
Sugar Craft by Medeski, Martin and Wood
The Punch has a rich, satisfying low end that never feels overly bassy. Otherwise, everything sounds natural and well balanced. The Horizon shares a similar midrange and treble, but its bass is much lighter in presence.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Kiwi Ears Punch has a unique sound signature, with the bass gradually increasing as it goes lower. In other words, the deepest bass is emphasized more than the mid-bass, creating a strong sense of bass presence without the sound becoming overpowering. The effect is often felt physically as much as heard. The Horizon has a more typical, neutral bass presence, while the midrange and treble are surprisingly similar between the two.
Treble
Both have a nicely articulate and detailed treble that is clear and crisp without being overly bright or too intense.
Midrange
The midrange is also fairly similar, but the Horizon generally sounds lighter and brighter, while the Punch is warmer and fuller. The perceived difference, however, depends largely on the track.
Bass
The bass is definitely where the biggest difference lies. The Horizon has a very nice, neutral bass—tight and balanced. The Punch, however, features a progressive bass lift, enhancing the lower notes more than the mid-bass. This creates a strong sense of bass presence without an overwhelming overall bass. When deep bass is present in a track, it adds a pleasant warmth and fullness.
Soundstage and Imaging
I find soundstage size and imaging capabilities to be very good on both and very comparable.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The overall detail level is very similar between the two, as are the dynamics, although the Punch naturally has more impact in the lower frequencies. Timbre shows both similarities and differences, depending on the track and especially the amount of bass. In general, the Punch is warmer, while the Horizon is more neutral.
CONCLUSION
If you set aside the Punch’s progressive bass lift, these IEMs aren’t all that different. However, the bass lift is hard to ignore, and it becomes more pronounced the deeper the bass goes.
The bass lift gives the Punch a warmer and richer overall sound, along with a slightly warmer midrange tuning. The Horizon remains fairly neutral across the spectrum. Technical performance like detail retrieval and imaging are quite similar between the two.
I was really surprised by how often I found them to sound quite similar, and I really like them both.
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- Linsoul: Ziigaat Horizon
- Amazon: Ziigaat Horizon
- Linsoul: Kiwi Ears xHBB Punch
- AliExpress: Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch
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