Linsoul ZiiGaat Arcanis IEM Review

Back when I reviewed the Linsoul ZiiGaat Lush IEMs, I found myself wanting something…just a bit more. The pair of IEMs made most, if not all, music sound great, but I wanted my music to feel more lively, more punchy…more real. This is not a knock against the pair of IEMs – this is a reminder that a pair of IEMs that have been tuned to a neutral profile will be middle of the road.

Then, I put on the ZiiGaat Arcanis IEMs…and it convinced me that these IEMs filled in the blanks left by the Lush. It was as though I was listening to some dang good flagship IEMs. The detail these IEMs produced was unmatched!

Check out the Linsoul ZiiGaat Arcanis on Linsoul’s website! (Non-affiliated URL)

The ZiiGaat line of IEMs have impressed me several times so far, and Linsoul showed no signs of stopping by any stretch of the imagination. From their affordability, sound quality, to their design, Linsoul has been succeeding in making HiFi audio accessible to consumers who are otherwise unable to access the IEM market.

ZiiGaat has designed the Arcanis with accuracy and detail in mind, delivering high technical performance and a balanced tonal signature. Here, they’ve incorporated a 2DD+5BA configuration of 7 drivers. Their dual isobaric subwoofers (10mm dynamic drivers) to offer music that rumbles, while their 5 Knowles Balanced Armature drivers makes music sound precise and clear (especially in the mid and treble range).

The Arcanis are currently being sold for $399, well over the cost of the AirPods Pro 2 but well under the AirPods Max. I mention these specific products in comparison to the Arcanis because of their target audience. General use consumers who want music to sound divine without concern about cost tend to enjoy neutral sound profiles that incorporate some bass, and the Arcanis does exactly that.

Inside the Arcanis’ box is the same set of accessories and addons I’ve found in some other Linsoul products. There’s the pleather carrying case which is difficult to open but sturdy enough to throw in your backpack. There’s the same black cables (which aren’t my cup of tea; consider an alternate set) and silicone eartips. The usual Linsoul accessory affair. On other sets of Linsoul IEMs, I’ve been relatively forgiving of the accessories’ quality given the IEMs’ price points, but the Arcanis are a notch above the Lush and Aretes I recently reviewed. As such, they should have a slightly more premium set of accessories to drive home their higher quality.

I like the Arcanis’ design. Linsoul has used medical-grade resin to 3D-print these units and it shows. The faceplate is a gorgeous sparkly green, clearly standing out when they’re snugly set in my ears. It looks like these faceplates are unique, too – the placement of the larger glitter looks different on each of the IEM units I’ve examined.

I recently traveled with my pair of Arcanis in their little case. I had no issue listening to them while on the plane to and from Los Angeles, with the sole exception of not being able to hear the world around me and almost missing my name being called. When they’re sealed well, I fell deep into the pit of immersion and forgot about the world around me. I had no worries about them getting tangled or whatnot, so don’t worry about their durability.

Now, let’s pivot to their sound quality. I mentioned at the start of this review that the Arcanis sounded like a natural step above the Lush IEMs. Here’s what I mean by that: The Lush IEMs excelled in offering a neutral sound profile. Imagine if the Arcanis built off the Lush’s sound profile, amping it up by offering a refined sound profile that emphasizes bass and an upper midrange.

Let’s start with the Arcanis’ bass. Listening to bass-heavy music (like DnB, EDM, and a handful of hip-hop tracks) is excellent on these IEMs. The bass is punchy and meaty, letting you feel some of the beats and kicks. If you’re familiar with the oomph of the AirPods Max’s bass, these will feel slightly familiar but with added texture and depth. Tracks like Matt Arnold’s “Money (Hot Since 82 Remix)” sound exceptionally divine as the bass builds in a cloudlike fashion, fully encasing you in an accurate and clean profile. No muddiness, not even close.

I’m pleased with the bass of the Arcanis because of its impact. While it still skews neutral when compared to some of the other bass-forward IEMs at higher price points, these IEMs successfully deliver on offering bass that you can feel and enjoy without compromising on the rest of the audio quality.

The Arcanis offers clear mids, presenting most instruments and vocal ranges with little issue. bennytheghost and KiNG MALA’s “ANIMAL” features benny’s raspy and moody notes with KiNG MALA’s energy. For funsies, I turned on Ika and Tina Turner’s “Whole Lotta Love.” For both of these tracks, the Arcanis offered neutral vocals with hints of energy, occasionally picking up on some finer details that are often discussed in the context of treble.

Finally, let’s discuss treble. I often think of treble as the presentation of higher-pitched sounds, granular details, and brightness. In the context of vocalists, this can mean anything like the artist breathing and/or natural vocal wavering. For instruments, this can mean things like sharper percussion instruments or synthetic tones. The Arcanis did a fine job of capturing smooth treble. I encountered very little fatigue when listening to Benny Benassi’s “House Music” (my preferred track for testing treble-forward IEMs). Vocals and high-pitched sounds are presented naturally. I wouldn’t recommend these if you’re a treblehead who wants that shouty and sparkly acoustic profile.

Across every genre I tested, the Arcanis held up exceptionally well. Where the Lush fell short in a punchy bass I could feel, the Arcanis made me feel like I was sitting in a dark nightclub while music was blasting all around me. Jazz and live music featured the “bite” I love from vocalists belting out their emotions into a microphone.

Put simply, the Arcanis made music tangible and enjoyable, a notable feat for these IEMs even when not connected to a DAC/AMP.

When I’m thinking about a recommended audience for these IEMs, I feel like these are an excellent contender for those who use bass-heavy AirPods Max (yes, the headphones) and/or those coming from Sony buds. I saw this because the Arcanis is tuned to make music sound exceptional, without any clear highlighting of a single audio feature. Most general use consumers who are paying $300+ for a pair of cans want their music to sound exceptional without any standout quality, and the Arcanis fits the bill. These are definitely the pair of IEMs to own if you’re coming from the upper end of mass-produced headphones.

How about HiFi folks, though? I’m relatively torn. On one hand, I would definitely recommend these IEMs for those looking to level up from an entry-level set of IEMs while still figuring out what they love most about music. On the other, a nearly $400 neutral set of IEMs feels unnecessary for those who are already immersed in the HiFi world that want their music to shine in a specific fashion. You’re probably better off opting for a set of IEMs that offer that treble-forward or bass-forward experience you’re used to from the higher end of the IEM market.

The ZiiGaat Arcanis is the flagship IEMs that folks should consider, boldly presenting a full-featured acoustic profile that is elevated from neutral territory. If you want something that makes all music sound fun, bright, and clear, the Arcanis is a must have pair of IEMs.

Linsoul provided DigitalChumps with the ZiiGaat Arcanis for the sole purpose of this review.