Trilayer composites consisting of 0.9Pb(Zr(0.52)Ti(0.48))O(3)-0-1Pb(Zn(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3) (0.9 PZT-0.1 PZN) and Ni(0.6)Cu(0.2)Zn(0.2)Fe(2)O(4) (NCZF) in the configuration NCZF-(0.9 PZT-0.1 PZN)-NCZF were synthesized using pressure assisted sintering. Composites with optimized magnetostrictive to piezoelectric thickness ratio showed a high magnetoelectric (ME) coefficient of 525 mV/cm Oe. Further enhancement in the magnitude of ME coefficient was obtained (595 mV/cm Oe) when the angle of applied dc magnetic field was changed to 45 degrees. Changing the intermediate piezoelectric layer from single to trilayer stack geometry configuration leads to the realization of giant ME response of 782 mV/cm Oe in sintered composites. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.