Ziigaat Cinno

Ziigaat Cinno - A discerning IEM with a lovely warm sound

Ziigaat are a fresh entrant into the very competitive IEM market and so as well as their new dynamic driver IEM the Nuo (reviewed here ), the Ziigaat Cinno is their more premium offering featuring a nice hybrid configuration of (1DD+4BA).

Read on to find out more…

Introduction

With the combination of a 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer dynamic driver and four balanced armature drivers, 2 dedicated to the midrange and 2 for the upper treble regions, the Cinno promises an excellent balanced sound signature.

The design philosophy extends beyond sound, with an emphasis on comfort and ergonomics. The tiny, lightweight housing is designed for prolonged and comfortable listening sessions, a critical aspect often overlooked in IEMs.

Whats in the box

The box that the Cinno comes in is very similar to the Nuo and while it is perfectly acceptable for a $24 IEM like the Nuo, it is a little disappointing that the Cinno did not get a more premium box and accessories.

In the box, users will find the Ziigaat Cinno IEMs, accompanied by a very small selection of ear tips but with a pretty good cable.

The cable with the Cinno is better quality than the one that came with the Nuo and much more inline with the Cinno price of $99.

The Cinno’s cable employs a 0.78mm 2-pin connector and I found the material used for the cable eas excellent and helped avoid any microphonics.

Design and Build Quality

The Ziigaat Cinno’s shell showcases an elegant and compact design, with a focus on creating a balance between mature aesthetic appeal and functional ergonomics. The build quality is better than average for this price range, featuring high-grade materials that ensure both durability and comfort. The small, ergonomic shape of the IEMs is a testament to the meticulous design process aimed at providing a comfortable fit for prolonged listening sessions.

Here is a photo comparing the shells of the Cinno and the other new Ziigaat IEM the Nuo:

Their small, ergonomic shape and lightweight construction provide a secure and deep fit within the ear canal, ensuring excellent sound isolation and a seamless audio experience.

Comfort and Fit

I found Ziigaat Cinno exceptionally comfortable. The weight, combined with the shape and the angle of the nozzle worked perfectly for me and I found the Cinno the most comfortable IEM The lightweight design, coupled with the selection of ear tips, ensures that users can enjoy their music for extended periods without discomfort. The IEMs fit securely and deeply in the ear canal, which is crucial for optimal sound isolation and a superior listening experience.

One minor thing, it is a pity that the Cinno doesn’t have a recessed 2-pin connection, as I do worry that eventually the 2-pin connector will bend and ultimately break, but as you can see in this video it does mean the Cinno has a very smooth shell and appearance.

Sound Quality

The tonality of the Ziigaat Cinno might be described as a “warm rich” neutral, where the upper bass / lower midrange has a extra warmth. This combined with a upper midrange dip gave the cinno a subtly unique what I would call a grown up sound, you are not overwhelmed by the bass or the treble but the midrange has a special focus giving the Cinno nicely unique sound especially in this very competitive price range where every other IEM is trying to be ‘Harman’ neutral.

Bass

The Cinno’s bass response is both articulate and robust, thanks to the 10mm Liquid Crystal Polymer dynamic driver. It excels in delivering a deep and impactful low-end without overwhelming the overall sound profile.

Depth and Texture: The sub-bass has a satisfying rumble that adds depth to electronic and orchestral music. This depth is complemented by the texture in the mid-bass, offering a rich portrayal of bass guitars and kick drums.

Control and Balance: Despite its power, the bass is well-controlled, avoiding any muddiness or overpowering of the midrange. This balance ensures that the bass enhances rather than dominates the listening experience.

Mids

The midrange of the Cinno is where its hybrid nature shines, offering clarity and warmth that caters to a wide range of musical genres.

Vocal Clarity: Both male and female vocals are rendered with natural warmth and clear articulation, making the Cinno ideal for vocal-centric tracks. I loved listening to tracks by Kate Bush and Perfumed Genius where the vocals really stood out.

Instrumental Accuracy: The midrange also excels in the accurate reproduction of instruments. Stringed instruments have a lifelike presence, with enough detail to discern individual notes and playing styles.

Treble

The Cinno’s treble response, handled by the balanced armature drivers, is refined and detailed, striking a balance between brightness and smoothness.

Detail and Clarity: High-frequency sounds like cymbals and high-hats are crisp and well-defined, contributing to the overall detail of the music.

Smoothness: Despite its clarity, the treble is smooth and non-fatiguing, making the Cinno suitable for extended listening sessions without discomfort.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage and imaging of the Cinno is impressively expansive for an IEM, as you will see in the measurements section below I believe this is because of a slightly unique tuning done by Ziigaat, offering an immersive listening experience.

Width and Depth: The Cinno presents a wide soundstage, giving the impression of a live performance. This width is paired with a sense of depth that places different elements of the music at varying distances.

Environmental Immersion: This expansive soundstage contributes to a feeling of being in the environment of the recording, be it a concert hall or a more intimate studio setting.

*Instrument Placement: The Cinno offers precise imaging, allowing listeners to pinpoint the position of various instruments and vocalists in the sound field.

Layering and Separation: There is a distinct layering of sounds, with clear separation between instruments. This separation ensures that complex compositions are rendered coherently, with each element distinct and identifiable.

Specifications and Measurements

Specifications

The important specifications:

Note: the specific configuration of the drivers are:

Measurements

Background to these measurements

So new in this review I decided to standardise on a set of measurements which I will use in all future reviews. The idea is to do the normal measure the frequency response of the standard tips (typically the Medium size) but then also measure a typical selection of ear tips which can easily be used to adjust the sound signature. So, I have choosen the following extra measurement options, a narrow bore ear tip, a wide bore, a ’tall’ shaped ear tip, a normal foam tip, a large ‘comfly’ foam tip, a double flange and finally a triple flange.

Because a double and triple flange are typically used by people who have larger than average ear canals so I have adapted these ear tips slightly to allow a ‘deeper’ fit my IEC711 ‘clone’ coupler, basically try to simulate a longer ear canal in ‘standard’ coupler. I believe this technique will allow people to select both the best IEM for a specific tonality for them (does not always have to be ‘harman’) and then fine tune it with some ’ear tip rolling’ and for those who find it hard to get good seal this technique might allow them to experiment with alternative eartips and have a reasonable understand of how those alternative eartips alter the frequency response of their ideal IEM.

All measurements will go up on my IEM measurements database Pragmatic Audio Measurements.link

So now onto the measurements…

L/F Balance and Distortion

Excellent Left/Right balance (typical of a more premium IEM) and some interesting tonality choices were made by Ziigaat: So the midrange has been boosted slightly so vocals will sound forward and most genres of music will sound amazing. The treble is a bit recessed so no chance of any sibilance, for those wanting a little more treble check out my measurements of alternative ear tips below.

Reasonable low distortion - typical of a Balanced Armature IEM:

Various Ear tip Frequency Responses

As you can see some ’tip rolling’ can increase the treble trying some alternative eartips:

A Comparison with some other IEM’s

Rating

The Cinno gets a pragmatic score of 3 stars, it is an good mid-range focused IEM which was incredible comfortable and is well built. But a little let down by not having a more premium box and accessories in its price range.

Conclusion

The Ziigaat Cinno Hybrid IEM stands out with its well-rounded sound profile. The bass is powerful yet controlled, the midrange is warm and clear, and the treble is detailed without being harsh. The expansive soundstage and precise imaging enhance the overall listening experience, making the Cinno a versatile choice for various musical genres and applications.

The ergonomic design, coupled with the lightweight nature of the earpieces, ensures that users can enjoy prolonged listening sessions without discomfort.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that the Cinno does have its shortcomings. The most notable is the packaging, which falls short of the mark when compared to the IEMs’ quality and performance. The somewhat sparse and uninspiring packaging might not meet the expectations of users who are used to more premium unboxing experiences. This aspect, although minor in the context of the Cinno’s overall performance, is a point that Ziigaat could consider enhancing in future iterations.

Overall, the Ziigaat Cinno emerges as a robust contender in the sub $100 market, impressing with its sound quality, comfort, and cable design.