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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wired planar IEM built for stage and studio monitoring with a full accessory kit and swappable MMCX cables, choose BASN MTPro 14.5mm; if you need a hybrid multi-driver set with a studio-flat midrange, deeper sub-bass and wider treble extension, choose Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh.
• BASN MTPro 14.5mm — biggest strength: a single 14.5mm planar magnetic driver per earbud with a double-sided magnetic array, housed in CNC-milled aluminum, and sold with two detachable MMCX cables plus a storage case and both silicone and foam tips.
• BASN MTPro 14.5mm — biggest trade-off: one driver type covering the whole 20Hz–20,000Hz range, so it can't split bass, mids and treble across dedicated drivers the way a hybrid can; it also carries a higher 32 ohm impedance.
• Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh — biggest strength: a 1DD+4BA hybrid layout with a 10mm biocellulose dynamic driver for bass and Knowles balanced armatures for mids and treble, run through a 3-way electronic crossover and three acoustic tubes per side, with treble reaching 40,000Hz.
• Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh — biggest trade-off: a very low 9 ohm impedance and 108dB sensitivity make it pickier about source output impedance and more likely to reveal hiss from noisy gear; it also ships with a simpler accessory set.
• Pick the BASN MTPro 14.5mm if you're a musician, drummer or singer who wants one coherent driver, a rugged metal shell, dual cables and a case in the box.
• Pick the Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh if you're an audiophile, gamer or studio listener who wants flat, uncolored mids and a dedicated bass driver.
The MTPro is a planar magnetic in-ear monitor, and that single design decision shapes everything else. Each earbud uses one 14.5mm planar diaphragm driven by a double-sided magnetic array, which the spec sheet describes as giving the diaphragm swift movement for highly detailed sound and an impactful bass response. In practice, planar drivers are known for fast transient response and low distortion, and because there's only one driver, there's no crossover to blur the handoff between bass, mids and treble. The result is the "properly balanced" presentation BASN markets it for — a fairly neutral, easy-to-listen-to signature rather than a heavily colored one.
Physically, this is a metal IEM. The shell is carved from aluminum alloy through a high-precision CNC process — milling, cutting, reshaping — to get a finely textured natural metal finish, and the base and face plate use a contrasting color design in navy blue. That matters if you're hard on gear: aluminum takes knocks better than plastic, and the ergonomic rounded-tip shape is designed to sit comfortably while cutting down external noise. Noise control here is passive sound isolation, helped by the included silicone and foam tips — the foams in particular seal well and tame outside noise on a loud stage or a noisy commute.
Where the MTPro pulls ahead of most competitors is the bundle. You get the earbuds, two detachable MMCX cables, silicone tips, foam tips, a storage case, small earphone tools, and a mic cable. The main cable is a 3.5mm 4-core single-crystal copper (OCC) design with coaxial and Litz shielding, which BASN says reduces signal loss and improves sound quality; the second cable adds an inline mic for calls and playback control. The MMCX connector means you can swap cables later or plug straight into an in-ear monitoring system, and the cables are described as flexible and tangle-resistant. The carrying case is roomy enough to hold everything.
Who should buy it: musicians, drummers, singers and live performers who need a durable, neutral monitor with a replaceable cable and a complete kit; also casual listeners who want a metal-shell planar without hunting for accessories. Who should skip it: anyone chasing maximum sub-bass slam or the last word in treble air — a single planar driver can't match a dedicated dynamic woofer for that. The 32 ohm impedance also means it wants a bit more juice than ultra-sensitive IEMs, so a weak phone jack may leave you short on volume.
The Arete takes the opposite approach: instead of one driver doing everything, it splits the job five ways. A 10mm biocellulose diaphragm dynamic driver handles sub-bass and bass, using stronger neodymium magnets for a responsive, tight low end and better texturing thanks to the biocellulose membrane. Linsoul notes that this larger 10mm dynamic driver outperforms typical balanced-armature woofers in bass — a fair claim, since moving air is exactly what dynamics do best. Two Knowles 29689 balanced armatures cover the mids and mid-treble, a driver family known for natural, accurate vocals and string instruments. A Knowles 31736 twin balanced armature handles upper treble for a pristine top end. All of it runs through a 3-way electronic crossover with three independent acoustic tubes per side, so each driver only sees the frequencies it's meant to reproduce.
The tuning goal was explicitly studio-monitor-like: natural, with punchy bass, and a midrange that stays almost flat from 300Hz to 1kHz so instruments and vocals sound the way they were recorded, without coloration. That's a genuinely useful trait. If you're mixing, gaming, or listening to acoustic and vocal-heavy music, an uncolored midrange means you hear the recording, not the headphone. The frequency range quoted is 20Hz–40,000Hz, well beyond the MTPro's 20,000Hz ceiling, which matters mainly for high-res sources and for how "airy" the top end feels.
Two specs deserve real attention before you buy. First, impedance is just 9 ohm and sensitivity is 108dB. That combination is very easy to drive — great for a phone or dongle — but it also makes the Arete sensitive to output impedance on your source and prone to picking up background hiss from noisy amps. Pair it with something clean and it sings; pair it with a hissy laptop jack and you'll hear it. Second, noise control is passive cancellation only, the same as the BASN, so isolation depends on tip fit. The included accessories are simpler — a cable, eartips and a protective case — and there's a 1-year warranty.
Who should buy it: audiophiles, gamers and studio-minded listeners who want flat mids, a real sub-bass driver, and extended treble, and who have a reasonably clean source. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a second cable, a mic, or a bigger kit out of the box, and anyone whose gear has a high output impedance or audible noise floor.
• Best for live performance and monitoring → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. A single 14.5mm planar driver, aluminum CNC shell, detachable MMCX and a bundled second cable make it a natural stage tool.
• Best for bass depth and texture → Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh. The 10mm biocellulose dynamic driver is purpose-built for sub-bass and low-end texture.
• Best for flat, uncolored mids → Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh. Knowles 29689 armatures plus a near-flat 300Hz–1kHz midrange are aimed squarely at studio-monitor accuracy.
• Best for treble extension and high-res sources → Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh. Its 20Hz–40,000Hz range doubles the MTPro's 20,000Hz ceiling.
• Best accessory kit out of the box → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. Two MMCX cables, a mic cable, silicone and foam tips, a case and tools — versus a cable, tips and a case.
• Best for easy-to-drive sources → Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh. At 9 ohm and 108dB it needs very little power, though it rewards a clean output.
• Best for forgiving amplification → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. At 32 ohm it's less fussy about source output impedance.
• Best for durability and metal build → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. CNC-machined aluminum alloy versus the Arete's round-shell design with unspecified enclosure material.
In my opinion, the Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh is the stronger pick for most people reading this. The 1DD+4BA hybrid with a 3-way crossover and a dedicated biocellulose bass driver simply does more across the frequency range, and the flat 300Hz–1kHz midrange is the kind of tuning that stays satisfying for years rather than weeks. I'd choose it for music, gaming and studio-style listening, provided my source is clean enough to handle its 9 ohm load.
That said, I'd genuinely recommend the BASN MTPro 14.5mm if you perform live. One planar driver, a metal shell, two cables and a full kit in the box is a more practical package for a working musician, and its 32 ohm impedance is easier to live with on varied gear. Buy the BASN for the stage; buy the ZiiGaat for the desk.
FAQ
Not universally. The Arete has the more advanced driver layout — a 10mm dynamic plus four Knowles armatures with a 3-way crossover — and wider 20Hz–40,000Hz extension. The MTPro counters with a single 14.5mm planar driver, an aluminum CNC shell and a much fuller accessory bundle. Which is "better" depends on whether you prioritize driver complexity or stage-ready practicality.
I don't quote prices here because they change often. Use the "Check latest price on Amazon" button on this page to see the current price for each model before you decide.
Both use passive noise isolation, not active cancellation. The BASN MTPro 14.5mm relies on its ergonomic seal plus silicone and foam eartips; the Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh lists passive noise cancellation. In both cases, isolation depends heavily on getting a good tip seal.
The Linsoul ZiiGaat x Fresh, by a wide margin. At 9 ohm and 108dB sensitivity it needs very little power, though it can expose hiss from noisy sources. The BASN MTPro 14.5mm is 32 ohm, so it asks for a bit more output but is less sensitive to source output impedance.
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