Short answer: the ZiiGaat Horizon. It ranks #229 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $312.55. The Kiwi Ears Astral ranks #261, rated 4.0/5, at $299, $13.55 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Buy the ZiiGaat Horizon. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $13.55 you would save on the Kiwi Ears Astral does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| ZiiGaat Horizon | Kiwi Ears Astral | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $312.55 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #229 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #261 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 18 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 74 (median of 26 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.66 dB standard deviation | 1.77 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 balanced armature + 2 planar magnetic) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 6 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x planar magnetic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB | 105 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How ZiiGaat Horizon compares with other leading options:
- Binary EP321 vs ZiiGaat Horizon
- Xenns Mangird Tea Pro vs ZiiGaat Horizon
- ZiiGaat Horizon vs Softears Volume S
- Kiwi Ears Astral vs Softears Volume S
- Kiwi Ears Astral vs NiceHCK Himalaya
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
ZiiGaat Horizon: $312.55 Amazon eBay
Full ZiiGaat Horizon review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.66 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 balanced armature + 2 planar magnetic) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 18 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Kiwi Ears Astral: $299.00 Amazon eBay
Full Kiwi Ears Astral review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.77 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 6 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 6 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 26 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons