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briantbrain
New Head-Fier
Pros: Luxurious unboxing experience
Solid build quality
Dynamic sub-bass with great decay
Well-rounded mid-bass with average speed
Outstanding natural, sweet vocals
Natural timbre for instruments
Controlled, non-offensive treble
Excellent clarity and detail
Wide soundstage and good imaging/separation
Solid build quality
Dynamic sub-bass with great decay
Well-rounded mid-bass with average speed
Outstanding natural, sweet vocals
Natural timbre for instruments
Controlled, non-offensive treble
Excellent clarity and detail
Wide soundstage and good imaging/separation
Cons: Limited accessories
The Pentaconn Ear connector restricts cable options
Non-modular cable jack
Sub-bass positioning could be more immersive
Might feel too smooth or “safe” for those who prefer energetic tones
The Pentaconn Ear connector restricts cable options
Non-modular cable jack
Sub-bass positioning could be more immersive
Might feel too smooth or “safe” for those who prefer energetic tones
#Elysian #Pilgrim #JustAnImpression #NotAReview
Smooth Like Butter: Extraordinary VocalElysian PilgrimI didn’t originally plan to write an impression of this IEM. The reason? I didn’t have a unit to test! But hey, I got lucky and won a giveaway, so here we are. Honestly, I was hoping for the Annihilator (10x the price of this one), but the Pilgrim had already been on my radar. When I first heard it during its release, two impressions stood out in my mind: 1) "Elysian’s vocal tuning is insanely good," and 2) "Mid-Fi under $500 just got a new benchmark."Here it is... Elysian Pilgrim.
==DISCLAIMER==All impressions are based on my usual setup (listed below). Differences in impressions could be due to subjective hearing, defective units, or varying sources used.
All impressions are subjective and follow my motto: "I can lie to my savings, but never to my impressions." Agree? Cool. Disagree? That’s fine too. I write impressions because I want to, not because I have to. 
Important!! I recommend you audition it yourself—who knows, maybe it’s my ears that need an ENT check or yours (haha).
==MY DAILY DRIVER==IEMs:
Nostalgia Audio Camelot, Symphonium Crimson, 634ears Loak2 TX03, 7Hz Timeless II, Softears Volume S, EPZ P50
DACs:
FiiO Q15, Chord Mojo 2, XDuoo XD05 Pro
DAP:
HibyDigital M300
Cables:
Effect Audio 24c, Verus Lavender 6, VJC Heirs & Heirs Black, Kinera Mia
Ear Tips:
Eletech Baroque, Penon Liquer, JVC Spiral Dot++, Azla Sedna Max ASMR, Kiwi Ears Flex
==Unboxing==For a price of around $400 (roughly 6 million IDR), the unboxing experience feels quite premium to me, thanks to a unique box design that stands out in this price range. However, I find the accessories lacking:
- The IEMs themselves
- A 2-braid Pentaconn Ear cable with a 4.4mm non-modular jack (a 3.5mm version is also available, but I’m annoyed with the Pentaconn Ear connector because it limits cable-rolling options as most of my IEMs are 2-pin)
- Cleaning brush and IEM wipe
- Manual and warranty card
- A carrying case (stylish but white—prone to getting dirty)
- A set of Spinfit ear tips (3 sizes—I was hoping for more options)
==Fitting==With its 1DD + 3BA driver configuration, the aluminum body is standard-sized. It doesn’t feel too big or too small and is very comfortable to wear. The faceplate features a circular design with the Elysian logo, giving it a sleek look. The nozzle, made of metal, has a standard length and diameter, making it easy to pair with various ear tips.
==Sound Impression==
Base testing: Xduoo XD05 Pro and Spinfit W1 Premium
Bass:
My current preference leans towards a balanced sound with a slight bass boost, and the Pilgrim delivers great quality bass for its price range. While not for bassheads, its sub-bass has just the right amount of rumble and decay—neither too long nor too short—and feels dynamic with enough space to “breathe.” This makes it perfect for long listening sessions.
The mid-bass complements the sub-bass with sufficient body (not too thick or thin) and an average punch, delivering a well-rounded impact suitable for all genres. However, two things stand out:
- The sub-bass positioning feels slightly less immersive as it doesn’t fully surround the instruments.
- The speed is average and slightly relaxed, making it less optimal for fast-paced tracks.
Mid:
This IEM delivers some of the best vocals I’ve heard in its price range. The natural timbre, balanced and slightly forward presentation, and accurate note reproduction across the spectrum bring emotion to every song. The vocals feel airy, sweet, and lush. From my experience with Elysian’s lineup (Pilgrim, Noir, Gaea, Annihilator), their vocal tuning is always exceptional.
Treble:
Consistent with its overall tuning, the treble is smooth and inoffensive. If you’re looking for detailed treble that’s non-aggressive and well-controlled, the Pilgrim will suit you. Its extended treble offers excellent micro-detail retrieval. However, it lacks the energy and sparkle that some listeners might prefer for more dynamic tracks.
Clarity:
The clarity is excellent—there’s no sibilance or muddiness. The micro-detail retrieval is impressive for its price range, and the sound feels exceptionally soft and refined.
Soundstage:
Above average, with a wide and airy presentation.
Imaging:
The 3D imaging isn’t groundbreaking, but the instrument separation and dynamic layering are excellent, making it enjoyable for critical listening.
==Source Selection==For a mid-centric IEM with strong technicalities, the Pilgrim may feel too relaxed or “safe” with a balanced source. I recommend pairing it with either a warm or bright source, depending on your preference. If you want something more energetic, this IEM might not be the best choice.
==Ear Tips Selection==For me, the best fit is with Spinfit W1 Premium, offering comfort and balanced sound with good technicalities. You could also try Eletech Baroque or JVC Spiral Dot+ for extended comfort during long listening sessions. If you want to enhance the low end, Penon Liquer is a great option.
==Cable Selection==Honestly, I’m not a fan of the stock cable’s aesthetics. To enhance the Pilgrim’s look and add energy to the lows and highs, I suggest the 4modi x 4magni from Verus for a V-shaped sound with better low-end dynamics and treble detail. Alternatively, try Verus SPC or VJC Prabu for improved detail and dynamic bass response.
==Conclusion==
- After excelling in the high-end market with IEMs priced over $1000, Elysian has ventured into the “affordable” segment, incorporating the best aspects of its flagship models into the Pilgrim.
- Elysian’s hallmark—superb vocals and strong technicalities—is evident in this IEM. Dynamic sub-bass, well-balanced mid-bass, and controlled treble come together to deliver a highly enjoyable listening experience.
- However, there are three things to consider before purchasing: the Pentaconn Ear connector limits cable options, the accessories could use an upgrade, and the tonal profile may feel too soft and safe for fans of energetic music.
- Is it worth buying? At under $500, the Pilgrim sets a high benchmark for competitors to match or surpass—almost too high.
That’s all.
Trust your own ears, if they’re still working.If you don’t agree, no worries.
I’m not here to force my opinion.
Bye!
Attachments
iwatobi
Head-Fier
Pros: Safe Tuning
Awesome Build
Tastefully Done Sub-Bass
Great Soundstage & Imaging
Awesome Female Vocals
Incredible Details & Separation
Natural Timbre on Instruments
Cons: Mid-Bass is Not Satisfying & Lacks the Hard-Hits
Genre Specific Tuning & Dry Sounding
Tuning Might be Boring for A Set of Listeners
Requires A Decently Powerful Warm Source to Drive
No Modular Cable
Bad Price to Performance Ratio
Introduction
The Elysian Pilgrim created by the Elysian Acoustics Lab is the first mid-oriented entry in their catalogue. It is packed with 1 LSR DD & 3 Sonion BA, which comes in at $400. The
Disclaimer
I was sent this unit for a quick review by Sonic Mantra & Elysian Acoustics Lab; huge thanks to them for doing this. Nonetheless, my review is an honest write-up of what I felt while using the product. Therefore, I have only written what I believe in, and have not received any incentive from them.
Package Contents
- The Pilgrim Bud
- Pentaconn Connectors Cable
- Spinfits Ear tips (CP100)
- Paperwork
- A Cleaning Brush
- Pouch
Specifications
- Model: Elysian Pilgrim
- Driver Type: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configurations
- Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
- Sensitivity: 101db@1khz@100mV
- Impedance: 9 Ω@1khz
- Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
- Connector Type: Pentaconn Connection
- Plug Type: 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm
Driver Configuration
- 1 X 9.2 mm LSR DD
- 1 X Sonion 2300 BA
- 2 X Sonion E50 BA
Build & Design
The build of the Pilgrim is robust, and incredible. It is made from high-quality aluminium, which offers a durable, and lightweight shell. The bores are made of 304 stainless steels for corrosion resistance.
The design of the Pilgrim is sharp, and incredibly aesthetic.
Cable
They offer a Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable, which comes in 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm plug types with a “Pentaconn” Connector. It looks beautiful, but comes with the cost of an expensive cable replacement.
Fit & Comfort
The Pilgrim was comfortable, and extremely lightweight. It fit my ears perfectly, and had a good seal. However, it did not give me a deep insertion seal.
Tip Rolling
- Stock tips
- Dunu Candy
- Final E Clear Pink
Testing Gears
- Cayin N3 Ultra
- iBasso DX180
- Cayin RU7
- Celest CD-20
- Hidizs S8 Pro
- iBasso DC Elite
Sound
The sound section is tasteful, but it does not justify the $400 tag. More on it below:
Bass
Bass is textured, and clean, but lacks depth, engagement. It is well-controlled, and shows no sign of muddiness. The sub-bass is promising, and shines the most.
Sub-Bass
Sub-bass section of the Pilgrim is actually pretty good, and has good rumble. Its extension is deep; it is prominent, and has good separation. The sub-bass has a slow decay, but it is well textured.
Pilgrim has an enjoyable sub-bass.
Mid-Bass
Mid-bass is average, but smooth & natural. It is not thumpy or hard-hitting. The attack is slow as to not incur a bleed in the mids. However, it is a bit tight & punchy. The decay is average, and it doesn’t feel engaging. It lacks a good slam. It felt way too boring for me.
Mid-Range
The mids are well-balanced textured, and smooth. The vocals have a timbre.
Male Vocals
Male vocals have good warmth, smooth, detailed and has a good note-weight. It feels analytical, but is enjoyable to listen to. Moreover, it has some timbre. It gives a relaxed listening experience. The warmth also adds to the relaxing effect.
Female Vocals
The female vocals are smooth, has warmth, lively, and detailed. It is engaging, fun to listen, and soothing. The vocals are well represented, forward, energetic, and has a spacious feeling to it. Moreover, the previously mentioned warmth makes the listening experience even better. However, at higher volumes the vocals sound aggressive, and a bit sharp.
Nonetheless, female vocals are enjoyable.
Treble
The treble is quite energetic, has good air, and is sparkly. It is well extended, and it is not fatiguing for treble sensitive listeners like me. The lower & upper treble is clean, but the lower treble lacks some authority. The cymbals and hi-hats are crisp.
Instruments
Instruments are well-defined, textured, and clear. It has incredible separation, and natural timbre. They’re produced in a buttery smooth way.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage of the Pilgrim is good enough to make up for its missed points. It is intimate and has great width, height, and depth. However, it could feel a bit constricted on busy tracks. Nonetheless, the soundstage is great, and airy.
Imaging is another strong point of the Pilgrim. I could accurately pinpoint the instruments sounds.
The imaging & soundstage together creates an immersive listening experience.
Conclusion
The Elysian Pilgrim is a well-crafted IEM that impresses with its premium build quality and comfortable fit. Its sound profile features a standout sub-bass and exceptional vocal reproduction, particularly for female vocals, which provides an engaging listening experience. The treble is energetic and non-fatiguing, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
However, the mid-bass may lack the punch some listeners desire, and the tuning can feel genre-specific, which might not appeal to everyone. While the soundstage and imaging are strong points, the $400 price tag raises questions about its value.
zabiri
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian pilgrimSummary
The Elysian Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range. This is also Elysian’s first entry into the more budget segment. The Pilgrim consists of a 4 driver set up with 1DD+2BA drivers, priced at 400$. Moving on, Pilgrim comes in a fairly premium packaging and the included accessories are also of high quality. Although subjective, I quite like the build and design of this set, and fit and comfort is also decent. Now most importantly sound, Pilgrim offers a balanced clean sound with more emphasis on the upper mids and treble, bass is well controlled and tactile. Overall technical sound is above average. So is it any good? Yes, I think is a very solid contender at this sub 400$ price point. If you are looking for a balanced bright tuned set, this can be a good option.
Intro
Hey Guys, whats up….
Today I am checking out the “Pilgrim” from Elysian Acoustic Labs. The Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem with 1DD+3BA driver coming in at 400$. At the moment it is going for 350$ over at Hifigo’s sale, but I will be judging this iem as a 400$ set. The Pilgrim has been a very anticipated iem as this is Elysian’s first entry into the budget market (at least compared to their other popular releases). So where does it stand against other 400$ hybrid iems? Lets discuss…
About the brand:
First, let’s get to know the brand, Elysian Acoustic Labs is a boutique iem manufacturer based in Malaysia. Elysian has been around since 2015 and since then they have been making high end iems which has taken them to a supreme status in the audio community. This is my first time checking out and reviewing an Elysian iem, so hopes are high. Anyways enough yapping lets get back to the Pilgrim, starting off with specs.
Disclaimer: thanks to Hifigo and the review tour group “Audiophile Alliance Bangladesh” for loaning me this unit. However, please note that this review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion. I strive for transparency in all my reviews, whether the product is self-purchased, a free sample, loaned or received at a discount.
Specs
> Driver: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration (1 X 9.2mm LSR DD, 1 X Sonion 2300 BA, 2 X Sonion E50 BA)
> System: 3 Way Crossover
> Technology: LSR Bass Driver
> Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
> Sensitivity: 101db @1kHz @100mV
> Impedance: 9 Ohms @1kHz
> Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
= Price: 349$ to 399$
Packaging
Continuing on to the packaging section, Elysian did a great job with its over all presentation, feels premium. The box has minimal branding and a spiral type design on the box similar to the iem design. Opening up the lid you will find the iems beautifully presented in an insert. Below that you will find the carrying case and some paper works. Inside the carrying case, is the cable, eartips and a cleaning brush. I will get into more details about the eartips, case and cable below in the “accessories” section. I included some pictures of the packging and box contents here below. List of box contents:
IEMS
Eartips
Cable
Carrying Case
Cleaning brush
Papers
Build and Design
Moving on to the build and design section, the Pilgrim has a very unique and attractive design with overall pretty good build. The shells are made of machined aluminum. The faceplate has a spiral like design with a combination of shiny and matte silver color. In the center there is the Elysian logo slightly raised from the surface and there are four vents neatly placed in the spiral section. Although the design is gorgeous the shiny silver part seemed to scratch quite easily. Fingerprints were not an issue. The shells are on the medium to large side and have decent weight to them giving it a substantial feel. Instead of the common 2pin or mmcx connector Elysian has rather implemented pentacon connector. Although pentacon connector cables are rare, I like this connector over mmcx. The nozzle length and width is standard.

Fit and Comfort
Talking about fit and comfort of the Pilgrim, it is pretty good for my regular to large sized ears. But I recommend to change out the stock tips, as they do not fit well to my liking (I dropped the list of tips I used and prefer with this in the “tested with” info below. Long term listening comfort is decent, nothing too crazy. Isolation is fine. Breathability is good. Stability is good. All in all I find it plenty comfortable for daily use.
Inner Structure and Tech
Let’s see whats inside the Pilgrim. Elysian has gone for a hybrid 4 driver set up consisting of a single dynamic driver and three balanced armature drivers. The dynamic driver is 9.2mm and uses Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) technology to handle the bass. For the balanced armatures Pilgrim uses Sonion drivers, one of the three is the Sonion 2300, which handles the mids. And the other two balanced armatures drivers are Sonion E50, which handles the highs.
Accessories
Eartips
The Pilgrim comes with a single set of eartips. These are Spinfit eartips but not sure which spinfit model it is, seems like cp100 but in a different color way. Anyways these eartips are of decent quality but were not a suitable match for Pilgrim mainly in terms of fit and comfort. I much prefer Final tips over these. These do not seal very well. Case
The Pilgrim comes in a simple yet good looking and well made case. The white color of the case matches quite nicely with the iems and cable. The outside of the case is made of leather (not sure about what kind) and the inside is made of soft felt type material. The logo is the middle looks nice and classy. The stitching is in the same shade of white and done nicely. The hinge also seems durable. The closing action is a bit weak, could use stronger magnets or friction. The overall sizing is compact enough to throw in your bag but not pocketable. The inside is spacious enough to keep the iems nicely.
Cable
Now let’s look at the cable, Elysian has provided a really premium looking and feeling cable with the Pilgrim. The white and silver color of the cable really compliment the matte and shiny silver finish of the shells. Build wise this uses silver plated copper wire in 2core braid. The cable is on the thicker and chunky side, which I like. The 2 core braiding is nice and tight. The chin singe is functional. The cable is not the softest and has a bit of memory. The Y split and the connectors casing are metal. One unique thing about this cable is that it uses pentacon connector instead of more traditional 2pin or mmcx. The Pentacon connector allows the iem to swivel similar to mmcx but is more user friendly. There is minimal audible microphonics, close to none. This terminates into 3.5mm or 4.4mm (based on the version you purchase. At this price point I expect modular terminations, not cool.

SoundPlease note: Listening impressions are highly subjective and can differ depending on different ear shape, individual music library, choice of source, eartips, cable and personal preferences, so your experience may differ. I personally always use and test all my gear in various setups to get a generalized idea on it. You can find my “tested with” info below.
Now most importantly sound, Elysian has gone for a balanced mild V type sound signature with emphasis on the higher frequencies for the Pilgrim. Pilgrim’s sound is basically a version of Elysian’s house sound signature. It has high quality yet well controlled bass with fairly natural midrange with some additional sparkle and energy in the upper mids and treble section. All in all I find this to have a technical sound characteristic specially in the upper frequencies. Lets get into a bit more detail.

Bass
Lets look at the bass performance of the Pilgrim. This has a well controlled, tactile and dynamic bass performance. Elysian focused more on making higher quality bass over quantity, and I think they nailed it. I believe the dynamic driver they used is quite high quality, because I have not heard such articulate, detailed yet deep attack at this price range. The Pilgrim has a sub bass focused tuning with a more balanced mid bass. Although the bass is not authoritative, it does get deep when the music calls for it. Bass speed is on the fast and tactile side. And bass note separation is pretty good. The body and layering are executed well. Decay and reverberation is pleasant. All in all I find this has a tastefully balanced and controlled high quality bass.
Mids
Moving on to the midrange, the Pilgrim has a classic well balanced tuning with extra sparkle in the upper mids. There is a slight bass bleed giving some warmth to the vocals and instruments in the lower mids. Male vocals have a good balanced of smoothness and detail. Female vocals on the other hand are more forward with more sparkle and crispness. Although there is no major sibilance issue, this might not be suitable for treble sensitive listeners. Timbre and instruments sound decent and well defined. The body and texture is standard.
Treble
Proceeding on to the treble of the Pilgrim, it has a somewhat bright tuning, this is not exactly balanced but not very forward either, somewhere in the middle. But vocationally the treble does sound more forward than it is because of more controlled bass. Although this does get that harsh or sibilant, I still would mot recommend it to treble sensitive listeners. Over all the level of detail is pretty good, with quite good sense of air and space. The overall resolution is good. Level of energy is also good. Overall the treble tuning blends quite nicely with the bass and mids in my opinion.

Technical Sound:
Soundstage of the Pilgrim is above average. All three plains are decent, this has good width but the height is ok. Stage depth is good. Layering is fine.
Imaging is better than average. Pilgrim’s imaging is accurate and easy to pin point instruments.
Sound separation and layering is pretty good.
Resolution is above average
Dynamics are decent.
Timbre is good
Tested With
Source: cayin n3 ultra, cayin ru7, ifi go blu, questyle m15, fiio btr7, apple type c dongle
Eartips: stock, Final E Black (2nd best pairing), Final E Clear (best pairing), spinfit w1, Divinus velvet, JVC Spiral Dots, Azla Crystals (3rd best pairing)
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music
ComparisonDunu x Gizaudio Davinci
The Dunu DaVinci is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 300$ price range for the overall value it provides. I have previously checked out and reviewed the DaVinci and this is also one of my top recommendations at this price. This packs a 2DD+4BA driver configuration, coming in at 300$. Starting off the comparison with packaging, Pilgrim is getter. Build and design is better on the Pilgrim, but the design of the DaVinci is a close second. Fit and comfort is better on te DaVindi. Accessories wise its a tie. In terms of sound DaVinci is quite different from the Pilgrim, almost opposite. The DaVinci has amore thicker, warmer, relaxed and more bass forward presentation. Whereas the Pilgrim is more technical, balanced, bright and more detailed. Technical sound wise Pilgrim is superior.

Thie Audio Hype 4
The Hype 4 is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range and also one of my personal top favs. The Hype 4 has been in my collection for a while and I like to use it often because of its engaging sound. I will be publishing a separate review on the Hype 4 soon. This is a 2DD+4BA driver iem coming in at 400$. Now let’s compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrims wins easily. Build and design wise Pilgrims wins. Fit and comfort is a tie, although hype 4 shells are pretty big it sits comfortably, on the other hand Pilgrim with third party tips are also pretty good. Accessories are better with the Pilgrim compared to the Hype 4. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Hype 4 has much more forward sub bass and mid bass presence, lower mids are warmer and the upper mids and rreble region over all is more forward. The Hype 4 has a overall more engaging and fun type sound over the Pilgrim. On the other hand Pilgrim is more balanced, bright and technical version of the Hype 4. Technical sound wise, Hype 4 is superior in my opinion mainly in soundstage, imaging is a tie and resolution and timbre is better on the Pilgrim.

Thie Audio Oracle mk3
The Oracle mk3 is a fairly recent release from Thie Audio coming in at 590$. I know this is not exactly a fair comparison but I decided to do it any way. The Oracle mk3 has a driver configuration of 2DD+2BA+2EST drivers. I have been testing this set for a couple weeks now and will be reviewing it soon. Now lets compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrim wins. Build and design wise I prefer Pilgrim, fit and comfort is a tie. Accessories are slightly bit better on the Pilgrim. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Oracle is more well rounded with fuller bass and more refined treble. On the other hand Pilgrim’s bass is less forward with more forward upper mids and treble. Technical sound wise Oracle performs better in soundstage, imaging and dynamics but Pilgrim has better resolution.

Final Rating
Sound: 4.25/5Fit and Comfort: 4.25/5Build and Design: 4.5/5Packaging: 5/5Accessories: 4.5/5Pricing: 4/5Total rating: 4.25/5
Conclusion
So to conclude the review, is it worth the price and do I recommend this set? The Pilgrim is a pretty good contender in this price point and I think the 400$ pricing is fair. If you are looking for balanced bright type sound with good technical performance, this could be good option. The fantastic brand value, decent accessories are also a plus point. Props to Elysian for making a good entry point for a more premium experience.
And huge thanks to you all for sticking around, see yall in the next one.
Last edited:
thaslaya
1000+ Head-Fier
Master of None
Pros: + Mostly neutral/balanced tuning that works well as an all-rounder
+ Good sub-bass rumble and extension
+ Clear separation and vocal presentation
+ Accurate imaging
+ Solid build quality
Cons: - Tuning can come across as boring, lifeless
- Short nozzle and shallow insertion
- Faceplate prone to scratches
- Average technicalities
- Price to performance
thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure
Disclaimer:
This product was loaned to me by a friend for review purposes. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thank you to @Jaytiss for the opportunity.
Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle
●Hiby FC4
●KiwiEars Allegro
●Dunu DTC480
●BLON V1
Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.
Introduction:
Elysian Acoustic Labs is an audio company founded in 2016 by the legendary Lee Quan Min and is based out of Singapore. The company is well known for their kilobuck and multi-kilobuck IEMs that are touted as some of the best offerings money can buy, in particular the Annihilator and Diva models. When they announced the Pilgrim, the community was abuzz with excitement to see what Elysian could do in the mid-fi tier. This is their most affordable IEM to date, coming in at $399. I personally had a lot of anticipation to hear this newest model even though I haven't had the chance to hear the Annihilator or Diva yet (but will soon). Let's break down the Pilgrim and see what Elysian's most affordable IEM yet can do.
Build, fit, ergonomics:
This is a loaner unit, and I did not receive the retail box or all of the stock contents, so I cannot comment on the unboxing experience. I only received the carrying case, cable, and the IEMs themselves. The build quality of the shells is good. They are made of machined aluminum and have a somewhat matte silver/gray finish on most of the shell that helps minimize scratches and fingerprints. Unfortunately, the shinier, raised portion on the faceplate is very prone to scratches and will show wear very easily unless the utmost care is taken. I really like the three-dimensional design here, but Elysian could have chosen a different finish so that everyday wear and tear would not be as noticeable. The shape and size are about average, and the shells have good weight balance without feeling heavy in the hand or ear. The nozzle is a bit short. It measures 6 mm at its widest part near the end where the lip helps keep tips in place. The insertion depth is quite shallow and proved problematic for me regarding the fit. Initially, I could not achieve an insertion deep enough for a proper seal until I tried the Coreir Brass tips. These tips saved the day because the metal inside the silicone adds a little extra length to the end of the nozzle. Even my usual Penon Liqueurs did not work well, and without the Coreir tips, I could not get a consistently good seal. The Pilgrim, like Elysian's other IEMs, utilizes the Pentaconn ear connection for its cable. I actually like this connection more than MMCX because it feels sturdier and still allows for easy rotation, but I still prefer a 2-pin connection over all others. The Pentaconn also makes cable swapping difficult because it is much less widely adopted and available in aftermarket cables. Unfortunately, I could not test any other cable besides the stock 3.5mm that was provided. This cable is silver-plated copper and has decent build quality. I would have much preferred a modular cable at this price point, especially since Pentaconn is a rarer connection. The white faux leather carrying case is also a welcome inclusion. It's not very pocketable, but it's easy to throw into a backpack, although the light color may stain more easily.
Sound impressions:
During my testing, I found that the Pilgrim paired best with the Kiwi Ears Allegro, as it added a bit more excitement and a fun factor than something like the smoothed-over Hiby FC4. The Pilgrim has a mostly neutral tuning, with all three frequency bands being very balanced. No one area takes the spotlight from the others, but it is also almost too polite in its presentation, as if it's holding back. It can come across as flat and uninteresting at times, lacking a certain dynamic flair and engagement. The soundstage is quite nice, having a good amount of width but lacking some depth to truly be a standout feature. Separation is adequate, and all the frequencies work cohesively and coherently. On occasion, I did hear a slight metallic tinge to the timbre, and the note weight is a bit on the thinner side for my liking. I will say that the imaging is very good, with clear, concise notes that create a good three-dimensional space. Detail retrieval is also good, but the Pilgrim isn't a detail monster type of set. Its tuning is more musical than analytical, but again, overall, it just comes across as somewhat boring to me.
●Lows - I knew the Pilgrim would not be a bass cannon, but I was initially surprised at the amount of bass and rumble, considering some other reviews and impressions noted that the bass was lacking. Although it lacks some midbass thump and impact due to the focus being more on the sub-bass region, I'm quite happy with the quantity of bass here. It could use some more warmth in the mid-bass to help balance out the upper mids, though. The speed and decay are about average, and the resolution is good enough to easily pick out those double bass kicks. The texture is on the drier side, and the overall presentation can come across as a little too polite or anemic at times, but this is mostly track-dependent. When the music calls for a deep, elevated bass, the Pilgrim can show up, and things get more exciting and fun.
●Mids - There's nothing really "wrong" or "bad" that I can pinpoint in the midrange. Vocals and instruments are well separated and have good timbre. There is no bass bleed in the lower mids, and the pinna gain is smooth without sounding shouty or harsh. The mids are also well balanced with the bass and treble and are neither recessed nor forward. On paper, it should be a recipe for success, but they just don't give me any emotional response and sort of fall flat. Perhaps it's because the vocals lean more analytical and less musical and soulful in their presentation. Perhaps some added note weight would make them feel more grounded and realistic, with a less "produced" quality. As they are, I have trouble making an emotional connection to the music, as I do with sets that have a more fun tuning or those that are intimate and warm. In "deja vu" by Olivia Rodrigo, her voice sounds great from a technical standpoint, but it lacks a certain life and vigor that I'm used to hearing with my other favorite IEMs. In contrast, I find male artists fare better, but they still lack that special vocal quality that helps me connect to the music.
●Highs - I expected a lot from the treble before beginning this review, and it mostly lived up to my expectations. It seems the treble is where the Pilgrim truly comes to life. To my ears, this part of the tuning and frequency response has the most energy. There's a good amount of air and sparkle with plenty of detail and no real sibilance to speak of. It can sometimes get a bit thin and ever so slightly irritating at high volumes on certain tracks, but I am fairly treble-sensitive, so others may not encounter the same issues. The extension could be pushed a little further to add even more air, but that's a small nitpick. Cymbals, hi-hats, snares, and claps sound crisp and clean, and they add good energy to the highs. Overall, it's an enjoyable treble response with plenty of presence and clarity. It's probably the most standout part of the tuning for me, but I'm still not sure it can justify the $400 price tag.
Comparison to Sound Rhyme SP01 (balanced nozzle):
The Pilgrim is a hybrid consisting of one DD and three BAs, while the SP01 utilizes just a single dynamic driver. They may not seem like a great comparison, but I chose the SP01 because it is a recent release, has three distinct tuning nozzles (including a neutral option), and can help to see how the Pilgrim stacks up against IEMs at a much lower price (the SP01 is only $89). I used the "Balanced" nozzle on the SP01 and, to my ears, the tuning is quite similar to that of the Pilgrim. Both are well-balanced between the three frequency bands and have a neutrality that makes comparison easier. The build quality is similar as both have all-metal shells, but the SP01 is lighter in weight and smaller in size. The soundstage is wider on the Pilgrim, but the lack of depth and dynamics makes the SP01 sound more interesting. The Pilgrim has better separation and detail retrieval, but not by a huge margin. The tonality is slightly more colored on the SP01, but it's still mostly neutral and has a bit more life and vigor, which helps it sound less boring. The sub-bass extends deeper on the Pilgrim, and it has a slightly better rumble, but honestly, both are missing some mid-bass impact, and neither are very bassy IEMs in general. The midrange is more forward and clear on the Pilgrim, but the timbre is more natural on the SP01. The treble extension and air are better on the Pilgrim but also slightly brighter overall with a bit more energy. Now, I doubt many people would A/B these and not think that the Pilgrim is the "better" IEM, but for the price, I believe the SP01 has much more to offer. It currently retails for $89, while the Pilgrim comes in at $400. Does that mean the Pilgrim is four times better? Definitely not. Diminishing returns in audio are very real, and in today's market, they kick in at increasingly lower prices. I think the SP01 can come fairly close to the Pilgrim, but it also sounds a bit more lively and fun even with the balanced nozzle. That's not taking into account the fact that there are two more tuning options packed in that add more variety than the Pilgrim can offer.
In conclusion:
If I'm being honest, my first experience with Elysian has left me a little disappointed. I want to be clear that the Pilgrim is not a bad product. In fact, it does just about everything from soundstage and imaging to its tuning and frequency response well. But for $400, I'm looking for something, anything, to reach out and grab my attention to justify the cost. Unfortunately, there's nothing in particular that I can point to as fantastic or stand out. The tuning does have a certain sophistication and maturity, but it can also come across as boring and lifeless. The sub-bass is good, but the mid-bass impact and slam are lacking. The midrange is balanced and fits well with the overall tuning, but I didn't feel any emotional connection to vocals like I do with other sets. The treble, while also well balanced and good quality, can't make up for my issues with the other frequencies. Overall, everything is just good, not great. This also extends to the design and build quality as well. The shells are well made and sturdy with a neat raised engraved aesthetic, but the nozzle length is on the short side, and without the Coreir Brass tips coming in to save the day, the fit would be a huge issue for me. The cable is good, but it could also be better for the price tag. I found them to sound best with singer-songwriter, acoustic, and soft pop/rock genres. Generally, I do think most genres fair well and this could be considered a decent all-rounder, if you like the tuning that is. So, who is the Pilgrim for? In my opinion, it's a good option for someone looking for a mostly neutral/balanced sound and doesn't necessarily want a dynamic or "fun" tuning—someone who likes a more subtle and nuanced approach to their music. It also could be a good palate cleanser of sorts between other, more colored sets. I was really excited to try my first Elysian, but this one just didn't do it for me. I'd rather take that $400 and buy a few IEMs that punch above their weight and also gain a variety of tunings instead of just one. In my opinion, the Pilgrim would be more competitively priced at $200–250. I commend Elysian for their first foray into the lower mid-fi price bracket, and I wish more high-end companies would throw their hat into the ring. The Pilgrim, although not my cup of tea, is a good start. Unfortunately for me, it embodies the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none," and I think there are better, cheaper options on the market today.
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ILuvAudio
it is sad that Pilgrim didn't make it to your list of recommendation, but it was a good read to get perspective.
thaslaya
@ILuvAudio I was really expecting more from the Pilgrim but at the end of the day it's just OK to me. I'm sure there's a lot of people who love it but it's not high on my list. Give me the DaVinci, S12 2024, or even the S08 and I'd be happy keeping the extra $$$.
MakeItWain
Previously known as SemperMalum
The Yin to the Noir's Yang - Elysin Pilgrim
Pros: Great sub-bass
Detailed mids presentation, great for rock music
Treble is smoothly done - never sibilant or harsh
Great technicalities
Pentaconn connection is legit
Extremely comfortable in ear with manageable nozzle size
Tip rolling/Source rolling provides extra synergy
Cons: Proprietary cable option is also not necessarily market friendly vs 2-Pin or even MMCX
Upper mids being emphasized a bit more does make the Pilgrim a bit 'cooler' of a listen
Mid-bass is tuned to be detailed but lacks warmth or punch
May not have enough bass for some, treble for others - kind of too balanced/neutral
TL;DR: Cool, neutral sound in a solid package
Overview/History
Hi all.
Coming back in for a set of reviews over some Elysian IEMs. I still have to complete my write up on the Diva 2023 & the Annihilator 2023 but I digress! Those are just special so I'm trying to work my prose to do those justice.
Most people in this hobby that are in the market for the TOTL/Summit-Fi products know Elysian Acoustic Labs out of Malaysia. From my understanding, Lee Quan Min (owner and basically a one person operation) hand crafts each and every one of his IEMs that he sells. Not wanting to only be known for his TOTL IEMs, Lee has decided to take on the mid-fi budget range and released the Pilgrim (followed by a collaboration effort with Effect Audio known as the Pilgrim Noir) that still follows his 'Elysian House Sound'.
*Image from Elysian Acoustic Labs*
Both the Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir are a 1DD + 3BA IEMs. The dynamic driver is a 9.2mm sized driver with LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) which is found on both the Pilgrim and the Noir. Where they both differ in the BAs are that the Pilgrim comes with 3 Sonion drivers while the Noir comes with 2 Sonion and 1 'undampened' Knowles BA driver. The price for the Pilgrim is $399 (or you can add an Effect Audio Cadmus cable for $169 - total would be $568) while the Pilgrim Noir comes with a special Effect Audio cable for a total price of $799.
Essentially, the primary difference between the two IEMs is that the Noir is bundled together with the Effect Audio cable but is double the price as the OG Pilgrim and comes with 1 Knowles driver vs all 3 from Sonion.
Is the difference worth it? Which should you consider adding to your collection? Spoiler Alert: Join the Light Side.
Here's some specifications for you so you don't have to look it up yourself.
Pilgrim Specifications:
- 1DD+3 High-Performance BA Drivers
- 9.2mm LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver
- Three Sonion BA Drivers
- Impedance: 9Ω@1kHz
- Sensitivity: 101dB@1kHz
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-20kHz
Disclaimers: I received the Elysian Pilgrim and the Elysian Pilgrim Noir as part of a tour. I would like to thank @Sebastien Chiu for allowing me to participate and listen to both of them. I was not given any directions or told to write about anything in particular and this review is all of my own opinion.
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!
As this was part of a tour, I did not receive a full box so I can't document the full unboxing experience.
The Pilgrim is an extremely comfortable sized IEM in a light colored industrial design. I measured the nozzle lip (the largest part of the nozzle) to 6.0mm which is
definitely on the more manageable size.
The only thing I received with the Pilgrim was actually the upgraded Cadmus cable (so this is technically being tested at the $568 price point). I also, mistakenly, did not ask Sebastien for a bag of tips so there's that.
Tip Rolling
No stock tips this time! I believe they come with the Spinfit CP100s. My Spinfit W1s will have to do.
Also, apologies in advance. I think I'll start trimming down my Tips section as I have too much.
Spinfit W1: Considering how detail oriented the Pilgrim is, the W1 doesn't really help balance the sound to me. Not my preferred combo.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: Usually, the Clear/Red are my ideal fit/sound presentation but I actually found that it was just too transparent/neutral for my tastes with this combo. Bass was slightly boosted which was good.
Dunu S&S: Not my favorite combination, either. The Pilgrim already have a very wide presentation so the S&S does help boost that special sauce but it doesn't need it.
Kiwi Ears Flex: If you know my sound preference, the Kiwi Ears Flex works extremely well for me to help warm up the sound. Actually really enjoyed this combination as it brings some additional bass impact. For my review, I did not use these tips for my write up but this was an awesome combo.
Azla SednaEarFit Origin: Usually the Origin do a good job of boosting bass but I felt the Kiwi Ears Flex did it better in this case. I would pass over this combo as it took away too much from the treble but didn't have nearly the warmth that the Kiwi Ears Flex provided.
Radius Deep Mount: This was it. Radius Deep Mount did a great job of bumping the bass level up a bit while adding a perceived amount of warmth (which Cat Paw did not) while still keeping the special sauce of the treble extension and technicalities. My favorite combination.
Radius Deep Mount Zone: Similar to Clear/Red - boosted mids/treble isn't necessarily what I'd consider a good combination with the Pilgrim so I would pass on using these tips.
Canal Works Gel Tips aka Cat Paw: The Cat Paw tips are fantastic but are basically like a boosted version of the Clear/Reds - it keeps the sound signature transparent while giving a bit more impact on the bass due to the gel. This was a good combo for me.
Cable
So the Pilgrim was received with the upgraded Cadmus cable. Is there a difference between the Noir cable vs this cable?
Not that I can really tell.
Is this cable bad? No, actually. It's a very nice, light yet substantial cable and the Pentaconn connection is really good, honestly.
Sound
So, how does the Pilgrim sound?
The Elysian Pilgrim is an interesting IEM with just how much good detail that shines through. The Pilgrim manages to present a very balanced/neutral sound signature that doesn't go too far into that analytical side where it's unpleasant or cold to listen to.
Don't get me wrong. It's still on the cool side but the Pilgrim doesn't sound confused with what it's trying to present.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Element 3 Mk2 (with 4.4mm adapter)
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass: The bass of the Pilgrim is surprisingly very deep and competent but it suffers from what I would consider an analytical presentation.
Sub-bass is satisfyingly deep but the decay is very quick. It feels a bit like planar IEMs where detail is the key point in how the driver responds/reacts to the bass energy.
The mid-bass is a bit lean for my tastes but it makes sense where the Pilgrim is trying to minimize any potential bleed over in favor of the mids/treble to present that 'Elysian' house sound. It's not entirely my cup of tea here.
That being said, tip rolling really helped in my case and having a set of tips that do a good job of slightly boosting the bass (Radius Deep Mount, Kiwi Ears Flex) goes a long way.
Bass Score: 7.25/10 - TL;DR: Great sub-bass but most of the bass is presented in a quick/detail oriented manner so there's a lack of warmth or impact
Mids: The Pilgrim shines from the rest of the sound presentation from here on out though.
Keeping with the trend, the Pilgrim has amazing details in the mids from both a vocal sense and an instrument sense. This is especially evident in guitar rifts and rock music where I feel like the Pilgrim is king in.
My nitpick - and this is my own since it follows my sound preference - is that while the female vocals are absolutely amazing, male vocals will sometimes come through a bit thin and lack some warmth. That makes sense given the detail oriented nature and trying to sound very natural but I am missing that a bit here. This could be absolutely ideal for some ears.
Mids Score: 8.25/10 - TL;DR: Great details overall on the mids; good gain on the upper mids. Vocals all are super clear with more of a nod to female vocals as male vocals can be a bit thin/lack warmth. Cooler than the Noir
Treble: With keeping in the details segment, the treble with the Pilgrim is absolutely top-notch. There is no harshness or sibilance here in it's presentation. There's a militaristic precision to the treble presentation that isn't found in a lot of IEMs in it's price range.
The treble can come across as leaning towards the bright side but the way that Lee tunes his IEMs is to provide that extended airy sensation while never going over the edge of it being offensive to the ears.
With that all being said, I do slightly prefer the Noir and how it handles the treble energy but the OG Pilgrim comes across as less 'safe' and more special in this case.
Treble Score: 8.5/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely great extension; probably a bit better execution in treble vs the laid-back expensive Noir - Prefer Noir to my sound preference but I think OG Pilgrim is no slouch as it's very minor
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Timbre, Etc.: How the Pilgrim separates itself from the rest of the pack lies in it's excellent technicalities.
The soundstage is great and provides a good blend of horizontal/vertical space (more so the horizonal side). The imaging and instrument separation is top notch and really allows for busy tracks to shine especially with metal type of music.
There's an effortless precision in the detail retrieval which is where all the special sauce is for the Pilgrim and likely would be the biggest selling point for it.
Technicalities Score: 9/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely amazing details, soundstage and separation - some of the best in it's price segment
Library Hit List: Rock music - this is where the Pilgrim shines the brightest, IMO, and carves a niche into your library. Some stand out tracks:
Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky
The Rolling Stones - She's a Rainbow
Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
AC/DC - T.N.T.
While there are times where you won't get that same bass performance you would want, the detailed presentation really lends itself well to tracks with a lot of instruments or complexity.
Primary Comparisons: Here's the fun stuff. How does the Pilgrim perform vs it's peers? Rather than go too far into a breakdown with a long paragraph narrative for each IEM (as the price category is pretty full at this time), I'm going to do a quick hit of "Primary difference and which I prefer + why".
Hype 4 vs Pilgrim: These are more similar than they're different (compared to the others in my comparison section) but the Hype 4 will have fuller sounding bass while Pilgrim knocks it out of the park more on the detail retrieval/imaging/separation. I prefer the Pilgrim, actually, since the Hype 4 comes off analytical but trying hard not to be while the Pilgrim is unabashedly analytical from the get go.
Dusk vs Pilgrim: Dusk DSP is smooth (and probably my favorite vs Dusk Analog/Pilgrim), Dusk Analog is a bit more engaging and lively (in the vocals/mids) to my ears but Pilgrim is definitely more detailed. I like the Dusk DSP -> Dusk Analog -> Pilgrim in this case.
DaVinci vs Pilgrim: DaVinci is warm, smooth sound with definitely more bass, fuller mids and vocals - Pilgrim is, again, more detailed and energetic on the top end. DaVinci > Pilgrim to me since it fits my sound preference more.
Estrella vs Pilgrim: I've only had the Estrella for a day so far but, as far as sound goes, Estrella leans more towards the DaVinci side with deeper bass, better male vocals - Pilgrim, again, effortless in treble/technicalities but doesn't necessarily feel like the all-arounder that the Estrella would be. Estrella > Pilgrim.
These are the primary competition, at least as far as ones I've heard.
Other Things to be aware of:
There's one last comparison I can make but I figured it belonged in this section especially since I'm about to go on a rant.
Pilgrim Noir vs Pilgrim OG: To get this out of the way, I like the Pilgrim Noir tuning better. I really do. It's a bit warmer, bass feels just a smidge fuller but it still has a lot of the special sauce that the Pilgrim OG has. The issue is that the incremental tuning change is hard to justify the price difference and I would pick up the Pilgrim vs the Noir 10/10 times. If the Noir came without the Effect Audio cable and was either the same price or $100 more, I could whole heartedly recommend the Noir.
But, even with the upgraded cable for the Pilgrim with a different Effect Audio cable, the price difference is still $238. I like the cable well enough but not that much.
The Pilgrim, at $399, does things differently enough (but everything still well enough) to be worth consideration if someone tells you that they're looking for a detailed sound signature for their library. But I don't know if the Noir does enough in this case since it's creeping up to the $1k market where there's some real gems there. An example is like the Elysian Diva 2023 used which is around $1k - save the extra $200 and pick that up instead for something that's fantastic and unique. I say used because it's being discontinued and you're only able to find some stock here and there.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Competes well with all the other IEMs in this price bracket and becomes a game of 'Name that tuning preference!'
Conclusion:
The Elysian Pilgrim is an extremely solid first entry into the more mid-fi marketplace. It does a lot of things differently with it's detailed treble and technical performance that is capable of overshadowing it's peers.
For some sound preferences, this could be the ideal gateway to the 'Elysian House Sound' especially with a rock/metal type of library. For me, I'm excited to see if Lee/Elysian Acoustic Labs will continue to push into this price segment and bring something different to the table that can continue to drive the audiophile market forward.
Final Score w/o Special Sauce: 8.25/10 - I wanted to bring this score in since I'll do the same with the Noir - Overall, this scores super well for me and I can easily recommend it
Final Weighted Score: 8.1/10 - Final score tally is what I'll do the stars with; overall, different than my preference but I appreciate everything that the Pilgrim brings and can recommend it for some people based on their sound/tuning preference
Thanks for reading!
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MakeItWain
@thaslaya - thanks man. I can't wait to see how you feel about DaVinci vs Estrella.
MakeItWain
@jmwant - thank you, sir! For sure, I like the DaVinci overall way more than the Pilgrim. It's a great set.
Nealz
100+ Head-Fier
A Journey to the South!
Pros: Smooth, silky, well extended and detailed treble.
Immersive and deep reaching sub-bass extensions.
Forward, emotional and textured vocals.
Wide, holographic, spacious and airy soundstage.
Very good instrument separation and micro detailing.
Natural timbre for instruments.
Option to choose 4.4 mm balanced cable.
Cons: Not musical, rather somewhat dry sounding.
Lacks bass quantity, lean mid-bass.
Too safe tuning, lacks dynamics and doesn’t sound engaging.
Bad build quality, faceplates scratches easily.
Pentaconn connectors, making Pilgrim incompatible with most after market cables.
Not very good price to performance ratio.
Disclaimer:
Although I purchased the Elysian Pilgrim with my own funds, I did receive a reviewer discount worth $100 from HifiGo. If you decide to buy this IEM based on my review and find that you disagree with the sound or assessment, that responsibility lies solely with you. I strongly discourage relying solely on a single review for purchasing decisions in the realm of audio quality, as preferences vary. You should conduct thorough research by exploring platforms such as YouTube, head-fi forums, and various Facebook audiophile groups before making a purchase decision.
Non-affiliated Purchase Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-p
Unboxing:
Elysian has provided a decent amount of accessories with the Pilgrim, you get a white carrying case (Elysian logo comes off easily), a small cleaning brush, a set of Spinfit CP 100 Eartips (S,M,L), a stock sliver platted copper cable with pentaconn connectors, and a small carrying pouch as well. The unboxing experience itself is premium, you get layers of accessories presented to you with the Pilgrim theme and the box itself matches the white colorway of the IEM. You get to choose between a 3.5mm, 4.4 mm or a 3.5mm & 4.4mm cable while purchasing the Pilgrim and the price will rise by $30 if you choose the last option. Having the option to choose between a single-ended or balanced cable is always a positive in my book. However, I certainly do not appreciate this new Pentaconn connector from Elyisan, which means I have to buy after market cables specifically for the Pilgrim, as all my other IEM’s have a 2-pin connector. At $400 asking point I expected Pilgrim to come with some more ear-tips out of the box as well.
Build Quality & Design:
The Pilgrim is quite an ergonomic IEM with a lightweight design, personally I had no issues with the seal or comfort. In fact, I could listen to it for hours without feeling any sort of ear-fatigue, I don’t think even people with smaller ears will struggle with this one. Pilgrim has a very atheistic and beautiful faceplate, the design is supposed to mimic the gentle rolling hills. Each step in its design is meant to reflect the relentless pursuit of enlightenment through its journey from the initial development stage. Unfortunately, these beautiful shells of the Pilgrim are not very long lasting and tend to get scratched or have dents in them quite easily, especially the shiny metal parts, My unit already has some noticeable scratches and some tiny dents event after using it very carefully. Although Elysian has crafted an unique design for the Pilgrim its let down by the poor build quality.
The Tech:
Pilgrim sports a multi-driver or hybrid configuration; it has four drivers in total on each side. A 9.2mm LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver unit takes care of the bass, 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50’s for the highs. Pilgrim also offers a 3-way crossover design for a harmonious, clear and balanced sound across the whole frequency range. They have also crafted the internal chambers and acoustic duct tubes inside the cavity of the Pilgrim using highly precise 3D printing technology.
Sources Used During Review:
Cayin RU7, Hiby R6 Gen III, Hiby R4. The pilgrim is pretty sensitive at 9 Ohms @ 1khz, what that means is that devices or sources with higher impedance output can skew the overall tuning and sound signature. Fortunately, all of my sources have a reasonable output impedance, the Cayin RU7 added some warmth and an analogue sound as usual to the Pilgrim. However, I preferred the neutral tonality of the Hiby R6 Gen III & Hiby R4 Dap’s. Being sensitive doesn’t mean Pilgrim doesn’t need some power, feeding it good quality power opens up the stage, tightens the bass and brings more texture to the midrange. However, Pilgrim tends to maintain the same level of performance both at higher and lower volumes, you won’t notice a significant difference in sound quality while pushing the volume higher.
Sound Evaluation
Signature:
The Pilgrim has a very neutral and mid-centric tuning. It’s smooth and neutral profile allows it to render genres like rock, metal, indie etc beautifully and effortlessly. Due to its lack of dynamics, bass quantity and overall engagement factor, genres like Pop, Hip-Hip, EDM etc don’t sound as good on the Pilgrim. This IEM doesn’t sound go for thick or musical sound rather it can sound a bit dry and lean, however Elysian Pilgrim maintains a natural timbre and tonality for all the instruments presented in a track.
Highs (4.5/5):
The highs of the Pilgrim is really well extended detailed and sparkly, it maintains a smooth profile without sounding harsh or fatiguing at any point. Instruments like cymbals, high hats and trumpets maintain a lot of air and sound crisp, this can be especially noticed in tracks like half-alive – Summerland or Superglue by Joan. Saxophones are also beautifully rendered and makes its presence felt in tracks like Syst3m Glitch – Young and Wild and Free. The upper treble region is nicely detailed, vivid and energetic whereas the lower treble region lacks a bit of energy and air. Overall, the treble region of the Pilgrim manages to nail the balance between a uniquely bright yet smooth tonality.
Mids (4/5):
Kansas – Miracles Out Of Nowhere, is a track where the mids of the Pilgrim truly shines, drums, violins and electric guitars sound truly breathtaking. There is no Harman like forced upper-mids boost, the female vocals are presented slightly forward in the mix and sound quite emotional. Male vocals sound a bit hollow in comparison mainly due to the somewhat lean lower mids. Vocals overall sound very clean and textured on the Pilgrim, it has very good definition and resolution. Elysian has proved with their years of tuning experience that vocals don’t need to be too forward to sound beautiful.
Low’s (3.5/5):
Due to the use of LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver the sub-bass of the Pilgrim is well extended, it has deep reaching reverberating effect and rumble which is quite distinct. The bass has excellent resolution and a fast decay, being able to keep up with busy tracks effortlessly. Kick drums in Big Dawgs Ft. Kalmi by Hanumankind sounds rich and impactful. And that deep reaching, full bodied sub-bass rumble can also be felt rocking your ears in tracks like Green Juice by A$AP Ferg ft. Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes. Mid-bass of the Pilgrim doesn’t have very good extension, it lacks punch and sounds rather lean and dry compared to the sub-bass.
That’s enough about the quality of the bass, but what about the quantity? That’s where the Pilgrim falls behind significantly, I am afraid! I am by no means a bass-head (I enjoy well-known less bassy IEM’s like Simgot EA1000 or Hiby Project Ace), yet the bass quantity of the Pilgrim did not impress me. Now I have tried tip-rolling with Final E-tips, Penon Liqueur Black Tips and Tri i3 Pro stock tips, all of which are known to enhance the bass quantity of IEM’s, yet the Pilgrim still failed to satisfy me. I would suggest bass-heads or even bass lovers to avoid this IEM, you will feel like there’s something big missing in this department.
Technicalities (4/5):
Pilgrim is a master of micro details, it presents the listener with a lot of information, you can pick up small details like background humming, little gasps for air while the singer is performing the songs or even vocal echoes. The overall clarity and resolution is very good but it does not immediately grab the listeners attention like some other sets do, for example, Simgot EA1000. Instrument separation is much better on the other hand due to the clarity and resolution you can easily tell apart each instrument and where it’s positioned in the mix. The soundstage is wide, holographic and spacious with a good amount of air but lacks the spatial depth. The dynamics of the Pilgrim are a little bit blunt It’s dynamic prowess aren’t as engaging or exciting compared to other sets in the same price range, making the Pilgrim sound inoffensive but also boring to listen to.
Comparisons:
vs Dunu DaVinci
Although both are hybrid sets, these two sets are world apart. One sounds balanced, slightly bright and less dynamic whereas the other sounds thick, meaty and engaging. Pilgrim has the better treble extension, air and sparkle compared to DaVinci, especially it extracts better micro details in the brilliance region (upper registers). DaVinci on the other hand decimates the Pilgrim when it comes to bass quantity, it has much better mid-bass and sub-bass presence. While the Pilgrim does offer better bass texture and quick decay, I honestly don’t care about these when the quantity is so scarce. DaVinci presents better lower-mids (thick male vocals) and thick note weight whereas Pilgrim plays it safe with a more balanced presentation and slightly forward but smooth upper-mids (emotional female vocals). Technicalities goes to the Pilgrim with a wider and taller soundstage, better instrument separation and natural instruments timbre. Overall, my personal preference leans towards the more musical, thicker and dynamic sounding tuning of the DaVinci, Pilgrim loses my vote while trying to play it too safe.
vs Simgot EA1000
The Fermat is a Single DD flagship from Simgot whereas the Pilgrim is an entry level hybrid set from Elysian. EA1000 offer better treble extension compared to Pilgrim but it’s quite harsh as well, you will need a warm source and a pure copper cable to tame that harshness. Pilgrim on the other has nicely extended treble but without any harshness or peaks, I prefer its much smoother presentation. Micro-details extraction is excellent on both however EA1000 edges out the Pilgrim by a slight margin. EA1000 highlights the midrange instruments better and vocals sound forward and cleaner as well. Vocals on Pilgrim although, not as forward as EA1000, but they do sound more emotional and fuller. Bass is interesting with these two, both have a faster decay and very good texture, however EA1000 has the better quantity and bass slam. Technicalities are comparable on both sets, soundstage is slightly wider on the Pilgrim but is has more spatial depth with the EA1000, imaging and instrument separation is pretty great on both. Overall, it’s a matter of taste, personally I prefer the clarity, higher resolution, better dynamics, engagement factor and especially the more satisfying bass impact of the EA1000 compared to the Pilgrim.
Conclusion:
The Pilgrim is a great set but for a specific demographic of people, if you listen to a lot of Rock, Metal, Indie etc then the Pilgrim can serve your purpose quite masterfully. Those looking for a smooth, inoffensive and mid-focused tuning will also be happy with what the Pilgrim has to offer. Those who like a bassy, engaging or thick sound should take their business someplace else. Pilgrim has a unique tonality that’s for sure, it’s extremely balanced but plays it too safe. Its clear Elysian is sticking to what it does best and not interested in taking risks. I can respect that, but unfortunately my personal taste doesn’t align with it. If I have to consider the price to performance ratio then I would say $400 is a bit too much asking price for it has to offer, $300 would be more reasonable. And that’s all folks.
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Pranto Dev
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim | The pilgrimage of Music ?
Pros: Solid Build
Safe tuning
Coherent hybrid setup
Tasteful Sub-bass
Wide sound stage
Natural Tonality
Budget offering from an expensive brand
Cons: Face plate gets scratched easily
Cable replacement can be expensive
Treble sparkle missing
Genre specific
Require decent power to drive
Elysian Pilgrim
Disclaimer: This iem was provided by HIFIGO for review to AudioPhile Alliance BD. Big shout out to them. Regardless, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Inside The Box
Iems
Cables(Pentaconn connectors )
Carry case
Spinfit eartips (cp100)
Warranty card
Microfiber cloth

Specs
Hybrid(1 DD + 3 BA)
9.2mm LSR Dynamic Driver (Low)
One Sonion 2300(Mid) and two E50(High) series BA
3 way crossover
Frequency response 10Hz-20 Khz
Actually what do these specifications yell? Elysian didn’t cut corners while choosing the drivers and made sure to make them sound coherent. In other words, they sound as if a single driver is playing. 10 Hz frequency response means you can expect a good lower end response. More about it in the sound impressions.
Build and Comfort
Starting with the build it has a solid build with 304 series stainless steel (Only the body and bores). I think the cross over is built out of resin. The face plate is aesthetic. But it easily gets scratched due to the mirror-like pattern on the face plate.
Overall the build is premium.
Comfort wise it sits comfortably right outside your ear canals but the iems doesn’t allow to have a deeper insertion.
The nozzle is a bit on the wider side. Good luck while inserting eartips!
Source
Cayin IHA-6
Ibasso DX170
All testing is done using balanced cable. (if you damage or loose the cable good luck finding cheap replacement)
It requires decent amount power to drive.


Sound
Elysian is known for its high end iems and award winning tuning. They claim the highlight of the show to be their tuning. So let's dig down to discover the claim vs the reality.
signature / graph : Balanced sound signature with sub-bass boosted.
Bass:
The bass is tight, punchy. It doesn’t bleed into mids and sounds so clean. But for busy tracks where a lot of instruments are playing, like: bass guitar, drums and tabla. It literally overshadows other instruments. But in hip hop, edm shines like a gem. It's a sub-bass boosted iem, where the “oomf ” has been prioritized over bass. It has fast, textured bass. Depth of the bass is missing.
On the contrary the sub-bass has slower decay. The sub-bass is done tastefully.
Mids
Male vocals are done quite well; they sound thick and have a good note weight. On the other hand, female vocals don't sound as good as male vocals. Vocals sound a bit dry which affects female vocals as well as string instruments. Instruments sound natural but not as engaging as I expected for this price range. If you are a fan of smooth and non fatiguing vocals you will like em. But, if the treble sparkles then this might not be your cup of tea. The background instruments could use some presence. They kind of fade away.
Treble
The treble is well extended and non fatiguing even more so for some who are treble sensitive. For in other iems i found Hi-hats bit fatiguing but this one does that beautifully. The lower treble and upper treble region sounds clean. For example in some busy tracks like “Can You feel my heart” it retains the details when it gets loud.
But my complaint with lower treble is that the drums could have more authority or definition to it.
Technical aspect :
The imaging is on point unless it's a very track like classical music or orchestral. The soundstage is very wide, 180-270 Degree. It gives 3D representation and an immersive experience.
For the overall sound experience I would say the strong points are sound stage sub-bass and coherent sound. Coherent sound is very important on which a big company like sony spends million dollars(ie: z1r).
Eartips roll off : Pilgrim has a short nozzle which doesn’t provide good seal and depth insertion. There are some mods you can try. I personally used Divinus velvet as it helps to elongate the nozzle + eartips depth and provides a better seal.
Comparison
Comparison is a thief of joy
Verdict
If someone is heavily leaned towards: Hip Hop, rap , edm they can buy this iem.
This offers a solid build, does everything decent. Moreover people who are heavily treble sensitive can pick this iem for everyday use easily. There are some other options in 400$ price bracket. This is in the competitive zone but not something which I would call value for money.
Attachments
P
Pranto Dev
@jmwant Yes Sir. I feel like, when manufacturers are creating iems, its art. Better thing might be to view from the people's perspective what they really trying to create. In case of pilgrim they claimed their tuning and coherent driver setup.
Project Audio
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim - The First Path
Pros: Great build and unboxing
Excellent tuning
Deep and defined bass
Vivid and articulate highs
Good soundstage and imagining
Cons: Unusual cable connector
Hi, I'm Feliphe Espildora and today I'm going to give my first contribution here with what is probably my "endgame". Introducing Elysian Acoustics Pilgrim.
Obs: This is a personal unit, purchased by myself on HifiGo
Buy Elysian Pilgrim
The unboxing of the Pilgrim, as with the other headphones of the brand, is relatively simple but very elegant, with a white box with some lines that refer to the faceplate of the IEMs. Opening the box we see the Pilgrim and right below is the envelope with manuals, warranty card and cleaning cloth. Finally, we have a beautiful white case with magnetic closure and inside it an excellent cable and SpinFit CP100 kit.
The earphones are beautiful, all made of aluminum and mix a matte finish with polished lines on the faceplate, being relatively small and very comfortable. The nozzle is made of stainless steel and has only a small screen protecting the output ducts, and use the Pentaconn Ear connector, which works in a similar way to the MMCX.
Inside, we have 1 dynamic driver and 3 balanced armatures arranged in a 3D printed structure and organized in a 3-way crossover (1+1+2).
Bass: Tonally, they are a little above what I consider neutral and with more emphasis on the sub-bass, but still maintaining a good presence of mid-bass and are far from being dry or thin. The word that best describes the Pilgrim's bass for me is “grandiose”, everything sounds big and deep, has body and weight but is not dull. The extension and impact in songs like "Bad Guy" and "The Dinner", both by Billie Eillish, are impressive, but perhaps some people miss a little more mid-bass to give more weight to the notes of a double bass. In technical terms, I've never heard so much texture and detail, not even on the Softears RSV, the most expensive earphones I've ever heard, in addition to a lot of speed capable of maintaining the pose even on an “Intra Venus”.
Mids: Starting with the lower midrange, in the notes of a cello everything sounds beautiful, with body, weight, intensity worthy of goosebumps in "Nothing Else Matters (Live)", the same goes for lower notes of an acoustic guitar and even a bass-guitar, even without much presence of low midrange. The upper midrange stands out, but it doesn't take over the presentation nor is it too frontal, it's just crisp and clear, effortless. The voices sound natural, both female and male, and have a lot of detail and texture without becoming harsh or sibilant, and as an Aurora fan that I am, you can be sure that listening to “The River” is always a pleasure, and the same goes for “No soy una de Essas” by Andrea Grauzas, which sounds beautiful, clear, detailed, textured. Lindsey Stirling's violin is also the same, and at no point is it overshadowed by the rest of the performance. It's there, crisp and clear amidst the tinkling of the bells in “Carol of the Bells.” Speaking of bells, let's move on to the highs.
Treble: Still on the subject of the bells in “Carol of the Bells,” even with the violin's greater prominence, they are perfectly audible, and this happens in practically any song, and even if they are not highlighted, the highs are there to be heard. The cymbals have a lot of extension in “September in Montreal,” even though they don't reach the level of a top-of-the-line magnetic planar, but they sound more organic and "raw," with metal really sounding like metal, without the thin tone that many headphones have. The highs here are just right for my taste, both in quantity and quality, being a region with a certain prominence but that doesn't get in the way.
Technicalities: In this regard, Pilgrim is the best I've ever heard, simple, not even Softears RSV beats this guy here. Everything is there for you to hear clearly and palatably, even microscopic details, like in “Cure For Me (Acoustic)”, by Aurora, where right at the beginning you can hear the person's hand sliding across the neck of the guitar as they change notes, or in “SKINNY”, by Billie Eilish, where you can hear small whispers in the background at various points in the song. Pilgrim is also very expansive, and even though the vocals and instruments are relatively close, the space behind them is huge, the sounds seem to die away several meters away. The song “Give Me the Night”, by George Benson, gives me the feeling of being on stage in a theater with the crew, as the music spreads and fills the room in front of me. Conclusion: A $399 headset is not cheap at all and few will be able to afford the Pilgrim, but those who can will have a great experience. That's how I define the Pilgrim: it's great. Everything about it feels big, alive, captivating and exciting, while also being very technical.
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Argha
100+ Head-Fier
King without a crown ?
Pros: Unbeatable Value Till Date
Luxurious Tuning
Exceptional Layering
People Pleaser (Safe tuning for the majority)
Cons: Midbass delivery does not complement the sub-bass
No shine and sparkle in the music
Shout-out to HiFiGo and @gadgetgod for providing me with this unit. Here is the unaffiliated link to the IEM -
Elysian Acoustic Labs PILGRIM 1 LSR DD+3 Sonion BA Hybrid In-Ear Monitors
All the thoughts and opinions are mine and honest to my findings. No one paid or influenced me to write anything good or bad about the product.
Elysian Audio Pilgrim
Elysian is a well-established IEM brand that focuses on the higher end of the budget spectrum in the IEM market. This is their intro to the mid-fi segment and oh boy! I am so happy that they chose to enter into this field also, where a huge competition is already waiting to devour any IEM that doesn't match the value proposition even the tiniest bit. And Elysian not only scored well in that race, but I would say it might’ve won it too. Let’s dive in.
Introduction to the sound
Pilgrim is not the kind of IEM that will impress you with cheap tricks. The fundamentals are excellent on this IEM. Although not everything is perfect, it has flaws in two places and I will be discussing that later on. But I think if it hits the right spot for you, it has the potential to be an all-rounder IEM that would serve you well in every genre.
Philosophy Towards Tuning
The intention towards the tuning reminds me a lot of the Sennheiser HD6X0 Series. They did the primary tuning very well, which doesn’t only impress you with refinement but can also challenge IEMs that are much more pricier. Simply put, if you love music for the art in it (Composition and Orchestration) rather than enchanting factors like huge stage depth and sparkly details, you will be delighted with this IEM. The majority of the genres sounded good. Where recorded music shines in this IEM, Electronic music still needs a little bit more oomph. Personally, it worked extremely well for my library. But if you have a very electronic music-heavy collection, it won’t give you a satisfying low-end. The sound is organic, beautifully coherent and wet while being refined through and through.
Simply put, Pilgrim can’t do everything well. But for sure it doesn’t sound like a $399 IEM but a lot more than that. The value you will get from this IEM is astronomically high.
Tuning in detail
Subbass ( A lot better than I expected )
- Rumble is there in this region
- It feels authoritative
- The extension is deep
- Separation is excellent in this region
- The sub-bass is not room-filling (The immersion factor is missing a bit)
- Doesn't sound like a subwoofer is in the action (Cohesive but not defused)
- Amplitude is tasteful as a neutrally tuned IEM
- Decay and Attack is extremely neutral and feels analogue
- Falloff to the midbass is very natural and gradual
Mid-Bass (A slight departure from the excellent sub-bass)
- The transition is very smooth from the sub-bass
- Mid-bass is not thumpy to my ears
- The amplitude of the overall midbass is also not very high
- The transition to midrange is very neutral and doesn’t give husky characteristics to the male vocals nor it will make it lush.
- Overall the low-end seems very natural and slightly hints at a more reference-grade tuning
- Compared to the sub-bass, the midbass is a bit underwhelming in presentation and resolution both
- The attack is a bit slow
- Decay is extremely well implemented. It is as natural as it can get at this price point.
- The bass depends heavily on the music. If the music has sufficient bass it will reproduce properly enough.
- Again, the overall bass performance is extremely tasteful
Let me explain the low end of this IEM using a few songs from my library
(For reference the song “We All Have Dreams” - doesn’t produce enough oomph with this IEM but the sub-bass is good enough. The song “Personal” also left me a bit desiring with the bass performance. In the song “Reconssiance” this IEM performed so well that most of the gripe I had with the midbass vanished. The song “Anthology - Daft Punk Tribute”, made me question what I said about the mid-bass, it sounded very full and thumpy. So it is clear that it is highly dependent upon the tracks you’re listening to, but the points above apply to most genres I listened to).
Lower Mids (The whitepaper reference)
- Lower mids are very neutral
- Vocals and Instruments are aptly textured. It doesn’t sound hyper-textured (Like Tangzhu GATE) but never felt it was lacking by any means.
- The resolution is good enough for the price and so are the details (micro contrasts & micro details)
- The bass causes no bleed to the mids whatsoever.
- Timbre in this region is very enriched (The production of every instrument is more appealing ), which is a delight to listen to if you are not chasing absolute realism in timbre.
- This range is extremely dynamic.
- Zero Dryness & roughness can be noticed here. The vocals sound great.
- The vocals do sound intimate rather than having a spacious presentation although it is not as heady as I thought.
Upper Mids (Sparkle Where ?)
- The upper mids are not sibilant even a tiny bit.
- The whole range is controlled through and through
- Although I craved a little bit of elevation in this range.
- No sudden peaks and dips are there that can result in unevenness
- The resolution is perfect here, the texturing to micro details everything is very good in this range.
- Some air extension can be felt but it is not sufficient for my ears to call it a fulfilling female vocal reproduction.
- 4Khz needs to be EQed to sound exciting
- Very realistic timbre.
Treble ( OK so you have to choose one pill - comfort or elevation )
- The treble is very safe for every song I have thrown at this IEM.
- The treble contributes to a wetness to the sound which I adore.
- Very refined and controlled throughout the range.
- The resolution is very organic, no sudden peaks cause unnatural detail exaggeration which contributes to the unevenness in the music.
- Although I would’ve liked a bit more elevation in this region. The transience could’ve been a little bit crisper at the end.
- Note Falloffs are a bit blurred too which also contributes to the wetness. But I don’t find it bothering me enough.
- Timber is a bit weighted, few instruments lacked the presence region refinement.
- The resolution is OK for the price here.
- I kept craving for trailing edges since every nuance matters to me.
- The attack and bite are a bit missing, which contributes to the smoothing out of string instruments in micro-contrast.
- Overall, the treble is extremely useful for longer listening sessions. I used it for hours at a stretch and didn’t feel fatigued even a tiny bit which is a huge win.
Simply saying, Pilgrim sounds like a much higher-priced set. With a few changes here and there in EQ, you can live with this IEM without worrying about an upgrade, for a long time. I guess the experience talks here, Elysian haven’t backed out a single bit to give this IEM a lot of care as they do with their much pricier IEMs.
Technicalities
Sound Stage (OK! IEM Version of HD650)
The soundstage of this IEM is intimate but it is far from being claustrophobic. Some might express it as a heady IEM which I don't agree upon. The soundstage though is well applied in all directions. No stretching of any sort, to give it a Stereo Imaging benefit, nor does it shy away from producing height. This IEM won’t wow you with a huge stage but the utilisation is very strong for the minimal scope it acquires.
Imaging (Damn! They've outdone themselves here)
The imaging on this IEM is exceptional, to say the least. Not only I could pinpoint every instrument in the soundstage but also the border around their sound projection could be felt. There was space between instruments even on the busiest tracks.
Now comes the part that blew me away. The layering of this IEM is insane for the price. You can hear layers upon layers within the soundstage of this IEM. I can easily compare it to a $1000 IEM and it might still beat most of them in terms of layering capabilities only. For this reason, Binaural Recordings sound superb with this IEM.
Dynamics
I have zero complaints about the dynamics. It handles everything well. It felt very analogue and I loved that since dynamics like IE600 is arguably better but I would much prefer the sound of this IEM in terms of Dynamics.
Resolution
Now IEMs have gotten so good with resolution that it is hard to complain. The resolution likewise is very good with this IEM. It might seem a bit under-detailed due to psychoacoustics for the treble tuning but it is very resolving.
Comparison
Softears Studio 4 - They might look similar in the FR but they sound a bit different. Whereas S4 is very neutral in the sense that it is flat. Pilgrim is not as reference grade as studio 4. The soundstage on S4 is a bit better but Imaging and layering are better on Pilgrim. Subass is way better in Pilgrim whereas S4 will give you a thump in the mid-bass.
I would choose S4 if I aim to listen to music from an analytical perspective. Otherwise, Pilgrim is a more richer and luxurious way to listen to music.
AFUL Performer 8 - Again, they are very different. P8 is massively better in providing sparkle and air. Where Pilgrim beats Performer 8 in the bass. Staging of P8 is a hint better and on the other side layering of Pilgrim is better.
Project Dita M - Pilgrim is a lot more expensive than Project M and likewise it is an upgrade in all aspects, so if you have the extra bit of cash in your wallet, go for it.
IE600 - These two are complementary sets. IE600 sounds wider and has better separation, air, and it is loaded with sparkles. Where Pilgrim is a much more mature set.
Conclusion
I wholeheartedly recommend this IEM at $399. Pilgrim is a mature, well-refined and well-tuned set with exceptional layering capabilities which will be the benchmark for me at this price point from now on.
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ILuvAudio
Nice one bro
gadgetgod
Glad that you liked the set bro.
Argha
@ILuvAudio @gadgetgod Means a lot coming from you guys.
MuddyCrab
New Head-Fier
A pilgrimage to great sound? | thoughts on the Elysian Pilgrims
Disclaimer:
I’m more of a Teach head than an audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.
Gear Used:
Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bit rate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
Box:
Starting at certain price points you kinda want a nice unboxing experience and this definitely has on without being over the top or unnecessary. You open up this unit of a box to reveal the IEMs then with the silver pull tabs on the side you can start to unpack the rest down all the way revealing this posh white case.
The case it comes with is definitely more of a storage case rather than a carrying case. With its white pleather material and white exposed stitching you definitely don’t want to be shoving this thing in your backpack everyday. Reminiscent of a watch case it definitely would be a nice display piece on your PC setup or IEM collection. The Elysian branded microfiber cloth inside is a nice little touch as well to further add to its overall vibe.
Build:
The stock cable it comes with is pretty nice with a metallic silver finish that matches the IEMs themselves making it for a fairly simple but pleasant color palette. It all leads down to a nice little stop with a subtle and classy looking Elysian logo. I’ve been rocking the stock cable the entire time and it’s not loud when you ruffle against clothes and it’s light enough not to be cumbersome in any way. The ear hooks are covered in a clear plastic material like usual but it’s not too thick wherein it starts to bother my glasses.
With a nice and even matte silver finish the IEMs themselves are lightweight and nice to hold. There’s a little indicator for left and right on the inner side of them which is a nice little bonus for people like me who have the hardest time somehow putting on cables on the right side even. While the overall finish is super nice and premium, the mirror accent pieces are honestly a little annoying. The sharp ridges tend to catch on cloth or anything fibrous while the mirror finish itself which seems to be the bare aluminum gets micro scratches super easily making it looking fairly worn down after a while. They still look good from afar don’t get me wrong but they definitely start looking a little battle worn close up.
Sound:
If you’re gonna skim this entire section then the one thing you should know is these sound super fun to listen to. In terms of sound quality the two things that stand out to me the most are its bass and its accentuated imaging.
In terms of bass it’s not the strength that gets me but the richness I feel from it. There’s this extremely satisfying thump that hits you without messing with any of the other sounds coming from it. It’s got this nice reverb roll off that just gives kick drums and some EDM bass such a nice texture. The chorus bass hit in Wake Up Alone (feat. Jhené Aiko) - Chainsmokers has this nice reverb effect that’s just very apparent with the Pilgrims. As for the imaging, the clarity in some of the minor instruments that's isolated is eye opening in some songs. The level of detail you get out of something like the bamboo flute in Head in the clouds - 88rising which is something I never really noticed before and the electro stereo effects in This is what space feels like - JVKE where the left and right effects are slightly offset but you still get that flavor out of them just takes you to a different dimension.
Oh and another added bonus of these I found out is that even at lower volumes you still get a nice full sound out of them. There are times where I would need to lower the volume but I’d still get a nice little kick out of the bass. Clarity doesn’t suffer either, everything can still be heard at lower volumes which is just the cherry on top.
Nitpicks:
This is clearly a case to case thing but these things just don’t want to give me a proper seal after a few minutes. I can’t go a few songs without pushing them back in and trust me, I’ve tried all the tips and sizes I could have possibly tried.
These tend to be flatter(physically and not sonically) and shorter on the inside so it might be less ergonomic I think.. For me personally, IEMs like the salnotes 7hz with that kind of flatter inside shape have never really given me a good fit.
Because of the constant effort to keep them in my ears like keeping my loved ones in my life, they tend to hurt after a bit so no matter how good they sound I just can’t enjoy them for a longer listening session let alone try them for things like movies or TV shows.
Final Thoughts:
While the whole fitment thing is an instant deal breaker for me, It’s obviously something that will depend from person to person so I'm not really going to count that in this final conclusion.
At the end of the day I think it’s an okay package with great sound. I do wish they took more consideration into the longevity of the mirror finish accents because it does have the price tag to warrant it. If these will live solely in its case and be taken out for dedicated listening sessions then the durability probably won’t be an issue but if these will become your daily drivers then you might want to take those factors into consideration.
But remember, Music is a personal experience so make sure to find whichever makes you enjoy it the most regardless of what a graph says.
Attachments
ShabtabQ
100+ Head-Fier
"Theatery" experience on the go...
Pros: The sub-bass is impressive
Built like a tank
Efficient
Cons: Proprietary connector
Scratchable glossy part of the faceplate
Introduction
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs have recently become very popular among audiophiles due to the beautiful design, top-notch sound and affordable price. Targeted at the listeners who are looking for a quality sound experience while at the same time maintaining a reasonable budget, these IEMs come as the latest addition to Elysian Audio’s mission of giving quality sound at a reasonable price this time. This IEM was sent to me for the purposes of review by @gadgetgod , however by no means the review is influenced, it's all my personal opinion and a very positive one for sure.
Build
The build quality of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs shows how much the company pays attention to detail and the quality of their products. The shells are made of high-quality aluminium alloy which makes them light yet strong and give a high-class look. This choice of material is not only practical as it adds durability to the IEMs but also enhances the IEMs’ looks. The faceplate has six vents that point towards the proper design aimed at improving soundstage and airflow. The care that has gone into the construction of the Pilgrim IEMs is evident and it shows that they are designed to last and can be used on a daily basis, however the faceplate where there is glossy finish is prone to scratches, being a review unit, it is understandable but still one has to take extra care if they want to keep these looking as good as new. Another important thing to note is that the cable although removable comes with a different connectors, proprietary, something that I have never used before, but I would add to it that this connectors are much much better than mmcx, but yet I wish they were 2-pins as its the universal these days and a lot of people with cables already lying around would have better time as well.
Comfort
Comfort is a key factor of any in-ear monitor and the Pilgrim IEMs are no exception. They are decent in size, not as big as the blessing series, and not as small as AFUL, however they are very lightweight and are designed to sit comfortably on the ears for hours on end. For me the provided Spinfits were very good, and it offered a great fit that made the ear-tips very comfortable and provided good sound isolation as well. These would fit most of the ear size and shapes without an issue.
Sound
Lows: The sub-bass of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs is excellent and is one of the product’s highlights. The low end is quite prominent and has a strong, almost visceral character; it delivers a nice punch that works best with electronic pop, EDM, and techno. Sub bass is deep even by the standard of most IEMs in this price range, and delivers a powerful slammer without overwhelming the rest of the frequency range. The mid bass is well integrated and offers good texture and tonality, which is rather detailed. The bass is tightly controlled with no signs of muddiness or bloating and for those who are into a clean and punchy low end, then the bass of this IEM will not disappoint even the bassheads out there who are looking for quality bass. One thing to note is that the quantity of the bass is not high but the quality is just amazing, never heard before kinda in this price range.
Mids: The midrange of the Pilgrim IEMs is rather lively and not recessed at all, vocals and instruments sound clear and detailed. This smooth mid while injecting some excitement to the listening experience, can be quite aggressive at some points especially when the volume is turned up. Vocals, and especially female ones can be a tad on the aggressive side which may be tiring after hours of use. Nevertheless, this issue can be counteracted with the proper choice of ear tips and proper control of the volume. It has smooth and a bit detailed mids which I think is great for all kinds of music; be it rock, pop, classical, or jazz.
Highs: In terms of treble, the Pilgrim sounds very good with a smooth and detailed sound in this region, there is no harshness or sibilance often found in many IEMs of this price range. The highs are well-extended with a nice sparkle to them that helps to give the general listening experience a lift without being too forward. This makes the Pilgrim IEMs to be very comfortable to use even for long periods with intricate high frequency details being delivered in a clean manner. The treble here reminded me a lot of the IE-600, it could be a problem for a very few treble sensitive people, but other than its perfect for what it is.
Resolution: As for clarity, the Pilgrim IEMs are exceptional and can easily be considered as some of the best in their price range in terms of detailing and information retrieval. A clear division between the instruments can be noted, which results in you being able to hear and distinguish each and every instrument that has been used in the mix. This kind of clarity and resolution is especially apparent in more intricate songs, which the Pilgrim IEM is able to decompose into its individual components and present in a way that gives a very “theatery” experience.
Soundstage: As for the soundstage of the Pilgrim IEMs, it is another strong point. The space is notably large and the depth of it is fairly great, thus offering a rather spacious and involving listening area. Meticulous position of instrumentation and voice within this soundstage can be seen since the listeners can easily map out the layout of the musicians. The soundstage is mostly good, but it can be slightly constricted in busy songs. Nevertheless, this is a rather small issue in the otherwise impressive piece of work. The soundstage accompanied by a great imaging results in the feeling of openness and airiness that only strengthens the general impression of the Pilgrim IEMs.
Rating
Comfort: 



The Pilgrim IEMs are lightweight and ergonomically designed, providing a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. The wide nozzle may require some experimentation with tips to achieve the perfect seal, but once found, the comfort level is high.
Sound:
Lows: 




The bass is deep and impactful, with excellent control and texture. It delivers a satisfying sub-bass presence without overpowering the mid-range. The bass is well-balanced and suitable for a variety of music genres, though hardcore bass enthusiasts may find it slightly lacking in power.
Mids: 



It can occasionally be intense, especially with female vocals, the overall tonality is detailed. The mids provide a rich, engaging listening experience that avoids muddiness.
Highs: 



The treble is smooth and detailed, with a non-fatiguing quality that avoids harshness.
TL;DR
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs are a great choice in the sub-$1000 bracket as they are well built, comfortable to wear, and sound fantastic. It has good bass with good control, the mid frequencies are lively and the high frequencies are smooth with good detail. Due to a high level of detail and a decent enough soundstage, these IEMs will be perfect for listening to any kind of music. However, the upper midrange may be quite hot for some people. All in all, the Pilgrim IEMs provide a comprehensive and accurate sound reproduction that is entertaining and satisfying for both music enthusiasts and general consumers.
David Haworth
Previously known as J Weiner
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: Class leading Sub bass
Class leading separation and details
Cons: Tip sensitive (Spinfit loving )
I am listening to the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of the Audio Geeks tour of Australia. Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio I am pleased to offer my honest opinion of this set.
The Pilgrim is a new lower priced sibling to the DIVA, and flagship Annihilator which launched in 2023. It sells for $399 USD and is a single DD and three BA hybrid. Its uses a LSR (Liquid silicone rubber ) Dynamic driver which its is claimed can produce frequencies as low as 10Hz. Midrange is handled by a Sonion Driver 2300 and the treble by a dual tweeter Sonon E50. Pilgrim uses a Pentaconn connect cable meaning you are unable to use .78 pin cables without purchasing an adaptor first. Luckily the cable is excellent.
Pilgrim’s shell is made from aluminum and has a very high-quality feel. It is lightweight but feels durable and I find it comfortable to wear. Pilgrim has six vents on its faceplate and this led me to expect a nice big soundstage (as per my MP145 planar) so high expectations. I found the staging respectably wide and deep, and it is enhanced by the IEM’s superb instrument separation. The sound is airy and detailed with the placement of instruments and backing vocals so precise and discrete that I can picture the stage of musicians vividly in my head.
In terms of tuning, the Pilgrim employs the Elysian w-shaped sound signature. The sub bass goes deeper than I have heard before with a physical impact and the bass in general has excellent texture and tonality. The midbass is balanced nicely giving enough impact without overpowering the midrange and allowing air and space for the midrange to perform. Pilgrim does electronic pop and EDM extremely well. Pilgrim has a widish nozzle and it took a lot of tip rolling to find a good seal to allow the bass to reach correct levels. I actually purchased some Spinfit W1 tips on recommendation and sure enough these worked perfectly with Pilgrim. Stage and vocals enhanced and a good seal for that great bass.
Midrange is energetic and prominent but tonally natural. I found some vocals could be forced and overpowering. This was ameliorated by using the W1 tips but I would primarily say that for my ears, Pilgrim has a forward energy that is exciting but can be a little draining in a long listening session. The best way I can explain this is regards volume. Many IEM’s I can push listening volume up to unhealthy levels without the sound signature troubling me. With the Pilgrim there is a fine line, which if crossed can bring an overly forward edge to vocals, especially female vocals. Reducing the volume brings the sound balance back. The good thing is the treble is sparkly and detailed while also being smooth and non-fatiguing. The detail retrieval is first rate. It bests my planar easily and uncovers new layers of delight in my favourite tracks.
I spent hours with The Elysian Pilgrim over the last 10 days and it performs well with every genre in my listening library. From Billie Eilish and Post Malone to classics from Dire Straits and Supertramp. As I mentioned, electronic music from Romy and Rufus Du Sol sound on point and digging out some 80’s rock was also rewarding. I really enjoyed my time with the baby of Effect Audios range and would love to hear their range topping products one day.
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jreqtech
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: - Amazing premium build of the cable and IEM
- Fantastic bass, soundstage, and immersion
- Accurate imaging, great for competitive gaming or general media consumption!
Cons: - Shell fitment does not give me a good seal, need to readjust from time to time
- Can get cold because of the shell’s material
Disclaimer
Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim was lent to me as part of a review tour in the Philippines. Thanks to Ian and Mars who invited me to join!
Price: 399 USD
Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Part 1: General Product Details
Package Inclusions:
- IEM shells & cable
- Carry case (with cleaning brush & cloth)

The IEM Shells
- The shell is made of metal, likely stainless steel. It looks very industrial, looking like bare metal silver. It features the Elysian Acoustic Labs logo embossed on both earpieces surrounded by concentric circles
- Each earpiece weighing at around 6.7g, almost double the weight of the budget IEMs I am currently using.
- The Pilgrim uses MMCX connectors (single pins) which allows you to rotate and adjust the IEM around the connector.




The Carrying Case
- The flip-top carrying case is made of faux leather on the outside. Embossed on the lid is the silver logo of Elysian Acoustic Labs. Seems like the faux leather would easily get dirty over time so consider bringing wipes to keep it clean.
- Inside, we find that the lid and bottom are covered with grey suede. The lid has a netted compartment for extras like eartips.
- In the container, I found a black cloth, likely for covering and cleaning the IEM shells, as well as a small cleaning brush.


The cable
- Thick and braided translucent but flexible cable. Feels very premium and doesn’t tangle easily, likely the best IEM cables I’ve ever seen.
- The slider, y-splitter connector as well as the straight 3.5mm jack have steel jackets

Extras
- There are no extras aside from the manual and warranty paperwork
Part 2: Subjective review

General Usage Impressions
- After a few hours of usage, my ears started getting tired due to the weight but after 3 days, I have gotten used to the weight
- The shell can get cold because of its material, might be uncomfortable to some
- The fit on my ears is loose, even if I changed tips from small to large. Can’t seem to make a good seal because of the shell’s shape, need to do extra effort to push them in. Occasionally, I’d need to push them in as the IEMS seems to keep sliding out.
Sound Impressions
- The bass is strong, but not strong to the point of being bothersome. it can also be felt, like there's a rumble in my ear that I only experienced from headphones.
- Details of songs are fantastic. Tuning doesn’t sound warm to me. Sounds better than my headphones for sure.
- Surprisingly wide soundstage. Music felt very "immersive”. It sounded similar to open back headphones!
- Fantastic for general use, whether it’s music, gaming, or watching movies .
Final Thoughts
Definitely an upgrade in leaps and bounds from what I am currently using (Phillips SHP9500 headphones & Truthear Hola)! The build quality of the shells, cable, and carrying case are top-notch. If I could afford this, I would buy this, BUT the fitment issue is a glaring issue for me since these are made of steel, I would be cautious of scratching or accidentally dropping the IEMs.
Nonetheless if you are looking for midrange (yes, audiophiles consider this midrange) IEMs that have amazing soundstage and details with a well balanced tuning, the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim should be at the top of your list, if not near there.
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ILuvAudio
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim – A strong contender for the Mid-Fi King crown
Pros: - Superb technicalities
- Ample detail retrieval
- Sub bass presence, bass texture is class leading for the price
- Metal shell with industrial design and comfortable fit
- Price
- Responds very well to tip rolling – suggested Divinus Velvet and Penon Lacquer
Cons: - Would have loved better cable
- Supplied CP100 tips doesn’t do justice to this iem, tip rolling required
- Carry case is of mediocre quality
- High notes on female vocals can be a delight or issue based on your source pairing, especially ch sounds
Elysian Acoustic Labs is a Malaysian high-end custom in-ear monitor (IEM) company that has garnered attention for its impressive offerings. We often associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end iems such as annihilator, X, Diva etc. The path to excellence started off in 2015 with anger at the inadequacies of the IEM options of the era. Out on a quest to reinvent what sound means to him, Mechanical Engineer Lee Quan Min took it upon himself to refurbish an old Ultimate Ears TripleFi10. Upon gaining public interest from local hobbyists, Lee started providing reshell services and thus accumulation experience along the way. It is nice to see EA Labs launching a relatively mid-fi iem which can give the taste of tonality from their esteemed firm’s high-end offerings.
This review reflects my personal and subjective listening experience with the mentioned audio gear product. I would like to thank Hifigo for the tour unit and @gadgetgod for organizing this review tour in my country and allowing me to share my thoughts on the product, it doesn’t influence my review in any form and nor I am compensated.
Before I start, I would like to mention that most of my impressions of the gear is based on the source and test tracks mentioned, so YMMV.
Sources: Mojo 2 + Poly via AirPlay, Apple Lightning dongle
Technical Specs
4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration.
Drivers: The Pilgrim features a hybrid setup with one 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver (Liquid Silicone Rubber technology) for sub-bass and three Sonion balanced armature drivers (including a custom-tuned Sonion 2300 BA for mids and a dual-tweeter E50) with a custom 3-way crossover.
1 X 9.2mm LSR DD (Instead of using vibrating bone conductors or traditional PET drivers, EA Labs developed a custom-made 9.2mm dynamic driver featuring Liquid Silicon Rubber (LSR) technology. The LSR is capable of reproducing low frequencies that reach an impressive 10 Hz, compared to the standard 20 Hz of traditional PET drivers. This contributes to a strong sub-bass rumble.
1 X Sonion 2300 BA (Sonion 2300 for mids ensures a versatile, smooth midrange response, creating a well-balanced, natural sound across various music genres).
2 X Sonion E50 BA (the Sonion E50 series, a dual ultra-tweeter balanced armature driver. It extends high frequencies with unprecedented technical capabilities, offering clarity and brilliance).
The Magnesium-Aluminum alloy for the diaphragm delivers optimal performance for a prolonged period of time. This design as per EA Labs, results in remarkably fast, deep, and precise performance with minimal distortion in the output signal, creating a natural and detail-rich full-frequency connection.
Box content
A faux leather case with soft finish and EA logo on top
3 pair of Spinfit
3.5mm to 6.35 adapter
Iems
- Cleaning brush tool
- A very good 2 core SPC cable, its soft and supple, however to note, EA labs suggest to pair Pilgrim with Effect Aaudio Cadmus 4W which supposedly enhance the clarity & resolution of sound without the harshness, whilst keeping the bass bold but controlled. I have used this iem with its stock cable to ensure the reader gets an impression as to what to expect when they pay $400 as what it retails for.
Vision – EA Labs wanted to get the specials from Annihilator and Diva combined and launch at a lower price point. Let’s see further if or not they were successful based on my subjective opinions.
Fit and comfort:
I would mention by bias first, I like metallic shell iems, resin shells doesn’t give me the confidence as I have had a couple of iems developing cracks either on shell or near the 2 pin section so I prefer metal shell iems though these have to sacrifice on the looks. Its striking silver aluminum housings feature knoll-inspired ridges and a mix of reflective and matte finishes. The look and feel of Pilgirm is very good, these look more than what they cost for sure, with that EE logo printed on the shell, it somewhat gives that premium look to it as we associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end. The shiny silver and matte finish is likeable, these have medium sized shell which sits comfortably in ears, so comfort is great on this. Comfortable earpieces ensure a good fit, and the design helps with noise isolation. Pilgrim is shipped with spinfit but even with the largest size of tip provided in the carry case, I was unable to find a good fit with these iems, so I switched to Penon Lacquer and Divinus velvet, fortunately the Divinus Velvet fit worked and helped me get a good seal. I remember when I tried with Spinfit, I was feeling that this iem has compromised mids, but Velvet fixes it for good.
Bass – Low end has enough presence, sub bass rumble can be felt, even in tracks where occasionally you will miss a bass guitar being played, Pilgrim is able to produce it flawlessly, the mid bass presence is alright, not overpowering which is my preference, I had this complaint with the twilight honestly,
Drums, dhol has accurate timbre. The transient response is fast, with decay shorter than expected from this kind of driver configuration. Reference track – Starlight (Muse), Bezubaan (ABCD), Starboy (Weeknd) and Droptop (AP Dhillon)
Timbre and Tonality – one of the aspects I keenly look for in iems is how it produces timbre and how is the tonal balance. I was listening to some Indian classicals on Pilgrim, the tonal character of the instruments is retained, it doesn’t color the timbre which is a good thing. Pianos sound so real; you have to experience it.
Vocals - Beautiful and natural especially female vocals sound majestic. I found female vocals to be more forward than male vocals as they sound a bit laid back or recessed this is due to Bright, Lively Vocal response, male vocals have naturalness, but the presence is not that prominent in comparison meaning some male vocals can sound a bit lean, again some bias to be mentioned because I adore mid centric iems so YMMV. The mid presence in terms of instruments is praiseworthy because they do not overwhelm you neither miss out.
Treble – feels airy and spacious.
There is space between instruments and the vocals being played, I do not hear much of a congestion in busy tracks as well, the transient response is good. Instruments sound like they are surrounded by space full of air. It creates nice ambience for the instruments to play well. Reference track Yaar Mila de from Saathiya – this is so engaging on the Pilgrim, I almost got lost while listening to this track, multiple instruments used in this track has enough space in between.
Details - Every minute detail is presented to the listener, for example I was listening to this track Maahi Ve from album Maahir, there is so many instruments used in this song simultaneously, especially the humming in the start followed by bass and cello, the entire continues with vocal echos, doodling, saxophone and cymbals, the lead singer vocal could have had more heft but sounds natural. The resolution on this can be considered as a benchmark considering its price.
The soundstage of Pilgrim is good. Impressive height but the depth is mediocre, it creates spacious sonic environment due to air and enhances the listening experience.
Instruments are well-placed and images precisely, the level of detail and imaging accuracy adds realism and immersion to the music with great clarity and separation.

Overall – This is a really nice addition to the $400 realm of iems, it is special if you like bright neutral iems with enough heft in sub bass, it can be one of those versatile and easy to listen iems that offer excellent technicalities without burning the pockets. Someone with the budget of $400 and above should definitely consider Pilgrim, more so if you like this kind of tuning. It’s a testament that you don’t need to spend huge to afford excellent sounding iems.
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DunninLA
Oh, strange my signature info doesn't show up here. My perfect signature is HD600 with more bass and more highs, which I gave up on but I think Focal Elex would be my pick if I wanted to try cans again.
In IEM, I liked the Canon 2 until I noticed the lower pinna gain of the Mega5EST in reviews, and so I used EQ to simulate that tonality on the Canon 2, and preferred that relaxed pinna by a lot. I was hearing glare through upper midrange I didn't know I was hearing until I fixed it with EQ. That made me think... why EQ the Canon 2 to Mega5EST,... just get the Mega5EST, which I did, but found it unengaging, don't know why. I use Canon 2 minimum bass (down/down) but it still felt a lot more prominent than M5E even through they graph the same. The M5E just didn't sound engaging to my ear. Listed it and it sold within 5 minutes, so my ears must be defective 
DunninLA
Also tried Hype2 but found it lacking in vocal forwardness. Tried AFUL P5 but its tuning to me was off... too much midbass, which caused the vocals to pull back as well as veil, then too much energy 4-6k which made cymbals sound like they jump out at you.
Tried all my tips on both of them... FinalE, CP100, CP145, BGVP A07, Penon Liqueur Orange, Dunu S&S, Tri Clarion, Spinfit W1.
PS: on the Mega5EST 7th, I used both MB Air 2020 headphone out, as well as Onix Alpha X1 dongle in 4.4 mode. The source didn't make any difference... of course also tried all my tips on the M5E as well.
wolfstar76
Headphoneus Supremus
A Tale of Two Pilgrims: Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir
Pros: Powerful and satisfactory bass, sweet and not-recessed mid-range, trademark Elysian treble, with a technical performance way above their price point.
Cons: Wide bore nozzle makes tip selection challenging, the cable of the OG Pilgrim limited its potential, Pentaconn termination makes cable rolling more difficult
First, I thank Effect Audio and @Sebastien Chiu for organizing this Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim (hereafter referred to as Pilgrim) and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir (hereafter referred to as Noir) tour so that I have the chance to do this comparison review.
I like both IEMs and I also put my money where my mouth is: I bought Pilgrim with my own money without any discount (even though I could get a discount if I went through MusicTeck’s review program). However, readers please don’t jump to the conclusion that I prefer Pilgrim over Noir, I will provide details in my review below.
Pilgrim stirred quite a hype when it was first introduced at CanJam NYC 2023. For readers who are not familiar with Elysian Acoustic Labs, it was pretty much a one-man’s boutique IEM shop running by the legendary Mr. Lee from Malysia until recently. All early date IEMs from Elysian were hand-made by Mr. Lee, such as the famous flagship limited edition “X” and the later Annihilator 2021 and 2023 (which was the IEM of the year in the famous watercooler). Those IEMs will cost you anywhere from $3k+ to $4k+. You can image the attention it gained when a $399 Elysian IEM was announced. Many headfiers went to the audition of the Pilgrim and almost all of the first impressions are very positive. The hype was quickly turned into a fast collaboration between the Elysian Acoustic Labs and the Effect Audio, which is a premium cable company based in Singapore. The feedback from the early impressions were adopted and the Noir was created and announced during the next CanJam (Singapre) just a few months after the Pilgrim.
The Build
Both Pilgrim and Noir share a similar 4-driver configuration but differ slightly. Both IEMs have a 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver for the low, but Pilgrim has a 3-way crossover design while the Noir has a 4-way crossover design. Noir uses 2 Sonion BA drivers for mid-range and 1 Knowles BA for highs while Pilgrim uses 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50 for the highs.
Effect Audio provided Noir with its Bespoke internal wiring mix inside the Noir and a special edition Eros S:Noir cable for Noir.
The Sound Impressions
With both IEMs in their stock cables, I find Noir has better and more elevated bass but very similar mids and treble as Pilgrim with probably thicker and slightly more full-bodied lower mids due to the bass.
However, since the stock cable of Noir is significantly better than that of Pilgrim, I quickly switched the stock cable of Pilgrim to my own Effect Audio code 24. The change is almost instantly, and I have to say that with code 24 cable for Pilgrim, there is almost no difference between Pilgrim and Noir unless you want to do a careful A/B test. Of course, I am using a $699 cable on a $399 IEM, but for the readers who already have their collection of better cables, Pilgrim will be a great value choice since I would strongly suggest to replace the stock cable if you bought Pilgrim.
Next, I need to talk about the tip rolling before I go further regarding the sound impression since the tip selection is very crucial, especially for Pilgrim. Some IEMs are not sensitive to tips, but some are very sensitive, such as Pilgrim and Noir. Both IEMs come with a wide bore nozzle, which makes tip selection even more challenging. I tried some tips with seemingly good seal but very questionable result since I heard very thin and weak bass. When I pushed the IEM further into my ears I could hear a huge difference in the bass and I know the tips are not a good match. For me, only a few tips in my large collection of tips work for Pilgrim, and a little bit more tips work for Noir since it is slightly easier to do the tip rolling. Among them are Penon Liqueur and Clarion Tri.
Therefore, make sure you picked the right tips that work for you before you jump to the conclusion regarding either Pilgrim or Noir since tips make day and night difference.
Now the bass. With both Pilgrim (on code 24) and Noir, the bass is impactful and very satisfactory. The texture of the bass and the bass quality is top notch for the price range. The quantity will satisfy almost everyone except for the most hard-cored bass-heads. The sub-bass and the mid-bass ratio is slightly leaning towards sub-bass, which is a clear contrast between those mid-bass monster IEMs, such as Campfire Audio Bonneville.
The mid-range of Pilgrim and Noir are both sweet and not-recessed, unlike most of the V shaped IEMs. However, I would not consider the mids of Pilgrm/Noir as too forwarded or mid-range focused. Both female and male singers sound fantastic.
Elysian Acoustic is famous for its treble tuning, especially in the Annihilator 2023, which is widely regarded as the treble king of the IEMs. Both Pilgrim and Noir exhibit the Elysian gene here: the treble is well-extended and artfully executed with none-fatiguing highs. However, don't expect the level of Anni 2023 in the treble performance from either Elysian or Noir. You will get a taste of the turning, but you won't get all the goodness, the details, and the technical level.
The sound stage of both Pilgrim and Noir are similar, they are open and tall, not particularly wide, but with good height and depth, large enough to not feel being cramped. Sometimes, at certain music track, I can feel some surprisingly large sound stage, but it is not consistent. The music from both IEMs have good instruments separation and nicely layered. The imaging is also precise enough for the price range. Both IEMs have very good resolution, but again not too much exceeding their price range.
To summarize my sound impression, I found either Pilgrim or Noir a great bargain at today's market. You get a taste of the Elysian Acoustic Labs' tunning, even though I would not call any of them as baby Annihilator (because they are different, especially in the bass and the treble areas), you still can find the gene of Elysian.
Music tracks used in the test
Hip Hop are great to test sub-bass, Pilgrim/Noir has great rumbling in sub-bass. There is absolutely no lack of any bass:
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry) (Official Video)
Sade - Slave Song (Audio)
In the following track, male vocal has good note weight, piano with good timbre. Very little difference between Pilgrim OG and Noir:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms (4K Official Video)
Below we can hear a good combination of mid-bass slam and sub-bass ramble, again bass on the fast side. Pilgrim is a little dark. Noir in this case demonstrated highly level of bass performance at both sub and mid bass, very satisfactory, more enjoyable than Pilgrim. Not only I feel the bass is elevated but also more decisive and impactful.
Wrong (2015 Remaster)
Iceland experimentalists, very interesting indie electronic music, with variety of sound to test your IEMs.
We Have A Map Of The Piano Mum
Female vocal with music that can test your limit of treble sensitivity. Noir for me is on the edge. Pilgrim is also on the edge but slightly better.
Beth Orton - Stolen Car
Noir slightly edges out in term of bass resolution, again slightly better bass, though in this case, the quantity is only slightly more in Noir. Both IEMs feel dark.
Teardrop (Remastered 2019)
In the end, my advise to the potential buyers of Pilgrim or Noir: if you did not have a good cable to replace the stock cable of the Pilgrim, Noir with the upgraded cable would be a better choice. If you already had some good spare cable, such in my case, an Effect Audio code 24 (I bought the Pentaconn kit later for that purpose though), Pilgrim would be a better value proposal.
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Ianbanz
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim
Pros: 1. Exceptional Bass Performance. The bass on the Pilgrim is truly a standout feature. It provides a deep and physical response, offering a
visceral experience and It strikes a balance between power and precision.
2. Smooth Upper Treble. The upper treble is beautifully handled, delivering a smooth, airy sound without any harshness.
3. Wide Soundstage.
4. Forward Mids. The midrange is forward and detailed, adding an emotional and engaging element to the music.
5. Precise Imaging. The imaging is precise, particularly on the left-right axis.
Cons: 1. Average Resolution
2. Faceplate have scratches out of the box.
3. Congestion in some busy tracks.
4. Inconsistent Midrange Intensity, but i noticed this is an almost common issue i find on most Mid forward iems i tried.
5. Decent but Not Outstanding Dynamics.
When it comes to evaluating IEMs, it's often about striking the right balance between technical performance and personal preference. The Pilgrim, from the Elysian brand, stands as a good example of quality craftsmanship and thoughtful tuning. However, as we dive deeper into its features and performance, it's important to keep in mind where it stands in the competitive mid-fi market, particularly around the $400 price point.
The Pilgrim showcases a range of strengths that make it a solid choice for many listeners. Its bass response is particularly notable, delivering a deep, visceral impact that's both powerful and precise. The upper treble is another highlight, offering a smooth, airy quality.
Technical Performance
Resolution
The resolution of the Pilgrim is just average within the mid-fi category. Details are generally clear, though they can sometimes feel dull or less sharp in more complex and fast mix due to a lack of depth in the soundstage.
Soundstage
The soundstage is notably wide for an IEM, more horizontal less vertical space, and it lacks depth. This can result in a somewhat flat and two-dimensional listening experience.
Imaging and Separation
Imaging is precise, primarily operating on a left-right axis, which it handles well, not exactly holographic more 2D than 3D However, the lack of depth can lead to congestion in busy tracks, making separation less distinct and lowers the resolution.
Dynamics
The dynamics of the Pilgrim are decent but not outstanding. It does not exhibit the dynamic prowess of other models in this price bracket, but still the Pilgrim delivers good dynamic range but falls short of delivering dynamic performance of its mid tier level counterparts.
Transients
Transients on the Pilgrim is good but still not exceptional. It has accuracy and speed, but there's room for improvement. Enhancing this aspect could reduce congestion and improve clarity.
Bass
The bass on the Pilgrim is exceptional, providing a deep and physical response characteristic of high-quality dynamic drivers. When the bass hits, it hits hard, pushing a significant amount of air and delivering a visceral experience. The bass decay is well-balanced, maintaining resolution, tactility and precision. While it doesn't delve too deep, the implementation is exceptionally tactile, accurate, and fast. It provides an atmospheric and clean presence without being overpowering or dry. This is particularly notable for listeners who prefer mid-bass over sub-bass, especially in techno, house and other electronic music that produces a quick repeatetive bass thumps and requires fast decay. The bass is emphasized tastefully, avoiding the detachment often found in pronounced bassy profiles, Pilgrim offers a more harmonious and authoritative yet non-dominant bass experience, the bass on the pilgrim is like having a mind of its own and knows when it needs to be boomy and when to slam with speed without bleed. very well controlled bass but not the most cleanest and detailed but still engaging.
Mids / Treble
The midrange and treble present a more contentious aspect. The mids are noticeably forward, this forwardness can feel unexpected and intense sometimes on select parts of the track but not very often. A distinctive sheen to the sound, enhancing detail and emotion without introducing grain or sibilance, the effect can enhance certain genres but may become too overwhelming with complex and technical music, occasionally reducing the soundstage like a narrowing effect in dense mixes. Despite this, the Pilgrim delivers high-quality sound even in challenging instances, though some of the magic can diminish, requiring a reduction in volume or unfortunately a skip to the next track
Upper Treble / Air
The upper treble is a standout feature, delivering pure bliss. The Pilgrim excels in this region, offering smooth, natural decay without any piercing qualities. It achieves a perfect balance, presenting a balance of warmth and details. This region is notoriously difficult to resolve, but the Pilgrim handles it well, ensuring no peaks, glare, or harshness—just beautiful, airy sound.
The Pilgrim is a very well-built and well-tuned IEM however, this brings us to its primary issue: it doesn't quite belong in its price bracket. When compared to its counterparts in the mid-fi range, particularly those around the $400 mark, the Pilgrim struggles to deliver the "wow" factor that you expect from IEMs in this category.
While the Pilgrim is not a bad IEM by any means—in fact, it performs admirably across almost all genres—it falls short of competing with other mid-fi options. The bass is deep and impactful, the treble is smooth and detailed, and the mids are engaging. However, it lacks the depth and resolution that a truly Mid-fi IEMs offer, which makes it less impressive.
If you're a collector of the Elysian brand and have some extra money to burn, the Pilgrim can be a worthwhile addition to your collection. But for the average listener looking for the best bang for their buck, this IEM would truly shine in the $150-$200 price range. It’s in this lower price bracket that the Pilgrim's strengths would be exceptional, offering a level of performance that would be hard to beat.
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
DaveStarWalker
Agreed 
deafdoorknob
so what are the mid-fi iems it cannot compete with? thanks
ch1525i
100+ Head-Fier
A Standout at Its Price Point
Pros: Sub-bass
Natural Timbe
Excellent Male & Female Vocals
Instrument Separation
Build Quality
Price to Performance Ratio
Cons: Pentaconn Connectors (I enjoy cable swapping)
Limited Ear Tip Selection
Disclaimer
I received a discount on this set from MusicTeck. They requested nothing more than for me to post a fair and honest review.
Look, Fit, Case & Cable
The Pilgrim is a stunning IEM. I love the matte/shiny concentric circles with the logo tastefully displayed at the center. The shells fit wonderfully. I have average size ears and with the included SpinFit tips, I was able to get a good seal, while this review was done with the stock tips, I have put a set of Divinus Velvets on them. The 4.4mm cable is quite premium feeling, without much memory and I did not have a problem with microphonics. As for the case, I’m sure it will get dirty over time, but it really appeals to my middle-aged female aesthetics. Overall, the looks, fit and accessories are very nice and have a premium feel.
Sound
Gear used:
- iphone 14 pro streaming Amazon music HD with Chord Mojo2
- iphone 14 pro streaming Apple Music with Questyle M15
- HiBy R4 with local FLAC files
- HiBy RS6 streaming Amazon Music HD and local FLAC files
Some of my test tracks:
- Little Bit of Rain (Martina McBride)
- Lonely Bed (Albert Cummings)
- Change the World (Eric Clapton)
- When I Fall in Love (Michael Buble)
- Believe (Cher)
- Summer of ’69 MTV Unplugged (Bryan Adams)
- All Through the Night (Cyndi Lauper)
- Mercy Street (Peter Gabriel)
- The Thrill is Gone (BB King)
- Lose Yourself to Dance (Daft Punk)
When I first put them in and fired up my HiBy RS6 with my BB King’s The Thrill is Gone, my first reaction was an audible WOW! The bass has strong impact and it’s quick for a DD. It’s doesn’t compare in bass to my Symphonium Titan, but it is not lacking in any way. It is good in both quality and quantity and doesn’t bleed into the mids. It has a sub-bass focus to my ears. In my opinion, the bass here competes with IEMs of a higher price point.
The greatness continues into the mids. I find the Pilgrim to be clear and with the proper body and shine for both male and female vocals. There are no obvious dips or bleed. Instruments in this range are also clear and quite precise. On Cher’s Believe many sets highlight the sibilance thereby distracting from the music, but here it was well managed and by no means distracting.
Treble for me is always a tricky subject. I have very middle-aged ears, so I don’t always hear the weaknesses others point out, but I am sensitive to peaks in the 3k-5k region. Therefore, weigh these comments appropriately. I find the treble to be a little bright but not overwhelming at all. It is well extended, carries decent detail and even some sparkle. Overall, it is quite nice.
Technicalities
The clarity, sound stage and resolution are outstanding highlights for me. The clarity is top-notch – the instruments are clear, and the vocals are clean. The micro and macro details are enough to catch your attention but not enough to fatigue – I can still enjoy the musicality of a piece and admire the detail. The Pilgrim is amazingly spacious and airy for its price point and has great layering and imaging.
Conclusion
Overall, the Elysian Pilgrim was an awesome purchase for me. It checks many of my top tier boxes: balanced, great soundstage, clean mids and enjoyable bass. Not to mention it’s superior build quality and nice accessories (although it could have used a couple additional tip options). It is a good addition to my collection and a standout at its price point.
tombrisbane
500+ Head-Fier
Elysian venture to the middle of Mid-Fi
Pros: Fantastic all-rounder
Comfort is great with the right tips
Killing it at this price point
Cons: Treble is safe
Pentaconn, while a great connection, means you probably won't be cable rolling given 2-pins dominance
Pilgrim
one who journeys in foreign lands
Elysian venture into the middle of Mid-Fi, how did they fare?
These are all my words and thoughts. I’ve tried to get my points across in the most succinct way.
The Pilgrim comes in a small but effective package, the unboxing experience is what you would expect from something priced a little higher, the two buds are beautifully presented to you when you open the package, with the case, cable, and ear tips underneath. All up very nice and better than the box with sleeve which is common at this price point.
The included cable feels decent, the case is also OK (it’s the same as the 7hz Aurora one, just a different logo on top), the included tips are also Spinfit which is a nice surprise, they didn’t work with the Pilgrim for me but I will use them on other IEMs.
Fit and comfort:
These feel nice in my ears, the shell is metal so when you initially put them in your ear they may be a little cold but they warm up pretty quickly and then I can easily forget about them for the rest of the day. Tip wise I found these to be a little odd, my normal sizing did not work, and I couldn’t get a good fit. In the end I used the Final E largest size in my right ear, and ML in the left, which is +1 size on each side. With these there were no issues at all, but for new buyers suggest that you might need to play around with different sizes until you find one that works. They also work well with the Velvets.
Sound:
These are smack bang in the Mid-Fi bracket. There is a lot of competition. Do they stack up? Are they at the top of the pile? Let’s find out.
TL;DR - They’re a perfect all-rounder, I generally shy away from all-rounders, preferring sets that have something unique in their presentation, but these just hit the all-rounder tick boxes without sounding bland or boring. Whilst they are an all-rounder, they bring detail that you generally wouldn’t find in this level and you’d be pushing into the > $1k bracket to get something comparable.
Starting with the lower frequencies, the bass has good impact; bass head this is not, but it isn’t light or lacking. The DD looks after the lower frequencies and does a fantastic job, the bass is fast (resembling a BA at points), but has the deep bass feel that only a DD can deliver, exceptional at its price point. A lot of other sets around this price are going with the dual driver approach, I prefer that for some genres, but for 90% of tracks this does everything I want.
Mids are extremely well done, the bass doesn’t interfere at all for me, vocals are extremely well done. Female vocals remind me a little of Diva which were arguably my favorite female vocals ever. Nothing strange, better than nearly everything else I’ve heard at this price point.
The treble is probably the weakest point, there are better sets at $400, but it’s still absolutely above average. Some people touted this as a mini Anni, not for my ears, but it gets the job done. I guess safe is probably the best way to put it, it’s not going to annoy anyone, but on some tracks it does leave you wanting a little more (if that’s your thing).
Detail retrieval, as I mentioned earlier, is crazy. This is punching over twice its price point in this respect. Imaging is good, I had no issues placing instruments or differentiating between them, but when it comes to stage I’d say that it’s fairly decent horizontal, however lacking depth and verticality. It works well as an all-rounder, but you’re not going to be listening to an orchestra in a three-dimensional space around you with these. There are others that will do that at this price point, but you’ll be making other sacrifices, to get this sound with the 3d imaging you’re heading well up in price.
Source wise I used these from a few dongle’s (iBasso DC04 Pro, DC06 Pro, L&P W4), FiiO Q7, and Sony TA-ZH1ES. It scales quite well up the chain.
Subjective thoughts and conclusion: I love these, I’ve had these for three weeks now and there hasn’t been a single track that I’ve put on where I felt I should switch to another set, for that to happen at this price point is unheard of for me. It's going to take a lot for something to come along and challenge this set at this price point. I generally find IEMs at this price grab my attention for a few genres, when they attempt to be an all-rounder they don’t hold my attention for very long, Pilgrim is the exception. At this price point the name is correct, if you’re starting your IEM journey and you’re after a single set around this price point to find out what it’s all about, get this. Perhaps the perfect everyday carry? That's what it has become for me.
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hitanshujoshi
New Head-Fier
A comparative review of Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir
Pros: (pilgrim)
Good sub-bass
Mostly natural timbre
Techs
Price
separation
Cons: (pilgrim)
Can be thin sometimes
typical elysian doesn't sound well without spinfits.
A lot of competition around this price point
stock cable is ok not great.
Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio
I was able to get my hands on a tour unit of Elysian Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir this a comparative review comparing both the iem. Even though I was offered the iem by the brand all thoughts and opinions on the matter are my own and are not at all influenced by the brand.
packaging:
The iems themselves come in a beautiful box that has almost all the accessories needed to get you started. The pilgrim come in a really beautiful white box with a basic 3.5mm cable, carrying case spinfit w1s and a cleaning tool. Can’t comment on Noir as I received them in the same box but the effect audio cable that comes with them is really premium.
Songs used:
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
Sound profile:
Bass:
Both the iems have similar bass response but the Noir’s bass certainly feels more prominent due to its tonal balance. Also, it being a tad bit darker in the upper treble region makes the bass more distinct this gives the Noir more fun sounding bass. OG pilgrim has good bass response where I didn’t feel that the bass was lacking anywhere but not as exciting sounding as Noir.
Then song A moment apart the has a distinct bass hit that slowly decays over few seconds this part is articulated quite well by both the iems. As both the iems have more focus on sub bass and so the mid bass doesn’t hit that hard its quite apparent in the track Eclipse by Pink Floyd where the drum hits are clear but don’t have that meaty sense to them like the Fir audio XE6 and Rn6 where you can really feel the drum hits. This dip in the midbass add a good contrast and makes them sound really wide epically for the price bracket.
Mids:
Both iems have an exceptionally well done mids. It also lacks the signature elysian dip just before pinna that some times make some male vocals lose body this is quite prominent with genre like Jazz where Louis Armstrong’s vocals can sound a bit thin and for me that ruins them. But I am happy to report that the vocals on both the iem are quite nice and have that signature texture that he is known for. I still feel that NOIR just sound a tad bit warmer and I really enjoy it for that track. But when we talk about instruments in the same track it fells like OG Pilgrim has a better position for instrument. The instruments sound a but delicate (Thin) but are well extended. While for the NOIR the instruments convey that sense of emotion and feeling but the trailing end can sound a bit dark also placement is not as good as OG. For female vocals I fell both the iems are on par as evident form A moment apart where the female vocals shine no matter what iem I listen them on. Also, the song Runaway playbacks quit well on both of them.
Treble:
As mentioned, several times before the NOIR has a bit of darker treble compared to OG pilgrim its not in dark territory just comparatively less. This makes the Hi hats and chimes in a moment apart a bit subdued and not as forward as OG. Also, the air region being darker makes the stage sound smaller. This treble tuning makes the OG sound well separated and exciting whereas, the NOIR sound laidback and relaxing.
Tech:
I feel both of the iem are really well tuned and are very capable when it comes to tech. But the OG pilgrim has an edge over NOIR due to its extra treble. For the Track Hotel California Hell freezes over version The OG pilgrim sounds a bit wider with me being able to concentrate on all the instruments if needed. Where as NOIR is a bit closed in and sometimes when the bass kicks in some of the instruments can sound a bit blended. The NOIR has a better timbre presentation over OG pilgrim especially for upper midrange where instrument that lie there can be a bit thin for OG.
Here why I would pick one over the other:
OG pilgrim:
In tracks like:
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
As you can see a lot of them are very busy tracks with a lot of instruments going off. This is due the tuning larger emphasis on separation. This is the iem that works well enough to be called an all rounder but I find that it works best on these tracks. The techs to price ratio is also really good. Also, the it in general has really great stating ability.
Pilgrim Noir:
In tracks like:
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
All the tracks mentioned above are really male vocals centric and aren’t that busy these iem are really good for these genres if you listen specifically to them this is your pick.
Conclusion: At the given price point I feel that OG pilgrim is a much better value for money to the point I can comfortably say if you are in the market for a new iem probably pilgrim is your best choice sub $1000 if your music library is as diverse as mine and if you are looking for a very technical sounding iem with good stage and separation. Whereas NOIR does feel a bit premium due to the excellent cable included for free, I feel that it lost me in the treble region.
JQuB3
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: Balanced sound signature.
Lightweight and comfortable earpieces.
Good technicalities for the price.
Cons: Limited eartips and accessories.
Midbass is somewhat lean.
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Disclaimer:
I received the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of a review tour in my country organized by Hifigo.com. I am not associated with either Hifigo or Elysian Acoustic Labs in any way and have no incentive whatsoever to write anything positive or negative about the IEM. The impressions shared in this write-up are based on my usage of the IEM over a week or so. The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is available for purchase from Hifigo.com at the following link:
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Introduction:
Although I’ve read about Elysian Acoustic Labs earlier, this is the first time I got to try one of their offerings and I must say, I’m quite impressed. The Pilgrim is a hybrid IEM housing 1 LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver and 3 Sonion Balanced Armature Drivers with a 3-way crossover. The IEM has an impedance of 9 ohms and a sensitivity of 101dB making it fairly easy to drive. The IEM comes with Pentaconn Ear connectors and cable options of 3.5mm SE, 4.4mm BAL, or both. The unit I received came with 3.5mm SE termination. The IEM comes with Spinfit CP100 ear tips. Apart from this, the package included a white carry case.
The earpieces were quite light in terms of weight and were quite comfortable to wear. I was able to get a good seal with the stock ear tips.
I tried the IEM predominantly with the Xduoo XD05-Pro with the ESS DAC card and Sparkos SS3602 opamps. I also tried it with Hiby R4 and FiiO BTR15, but my impressions here are based on the pairing with XD05-Pro.
Sound Impressions:
The bass has more presence in the sub-bass than the mid-bass region. The bass is well-controlled and is coherent with the rest of the frequency spectrum. The mid-bass is somewhat lean in comparison. This set is not something that bass heads would enjoy, but those who like a balanced signature, are likely to be pleased by the bass response of the Pilgrim. Although the bass is not mind-blowing in terms of either quality or quantity, it is acceptable for an IEM in this price range. Especially for a balanced-sounding set. The good thing is that there is no bass bleed, this is perhaps because the bass attack is well-controlled, and decay is minimal.
Mids are thick and realistic. There is a natural timbre in male vocals and female vocals too are well articulated without being shouty or sibilant. The midrange is somewhat forward in terms of presentation but not too much into your face.
The treble is well done too. It has just the right amount of sparkle and detail. The treble is somewhat laid back, thus, not sounding too energetic. I am very treble-sensitive, hence, for me, the Pilgrim’s treble was very well done. It had just the right amount of openness and airiness without being too bright or crisp.
Technicalities:
The soundstage and imaging are acceptable for the price. Nothing extraordinary or mindblowing about it. There is a slight sense of holography in terms of presentation, which at this price point is pretty good. The IEM could do better in terms of layering and resolution, which is apparent in complex tracks.
Conclusion:
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is a decent set for the price point with a balanced sound signature and comfortable earpieces. The performance and technical ability is acceptable for the price point.
DaveStarWalker
Agreed 
-
Elysian PilgrimI didn’t originally plan to write an impression of this IEM. The reason? I didn’t have a unit to test! But hey, I got lucky and won a giveaway, so here we are. Honestly, I was hoping for the Annihilator (10x the price of this one), but the Pilgrim had already been on my radar. When I first heard it during its release, two impressions stood out in my mind: 1) "Elysian’s vocal tuning is insanely good," and 2) "Mid-Fi under $500 just got a new benchmark."Here it is... Elysian Pilgrim.
==DISCLAIMER==All impressions are based on my usual setup (listed below). Differences in impressions could be due to subjective hearing, defective units, or varying sources used.
All impressions are subjective and follow my motto: "I can lie to my savings, but never to my impressions." Agree? Cool. Disagree? That’s fine too. I write impressions because I want to, not because I have to. 
Important!! I recommend you audition it yourself—who knows, maybe it’s my ears that need an ENT check or yours (haha).
==MY DAILY DRIVER==IEMs:
Nostalgia Audio Camelot, Symphonium Crimson, 634ears Loak2 TX03, 7Hz Timeless II, Softears Volume S, EPZ P50
DACs:
FiiO Q15, Chord Mojo 2, XDuoo XD05 Pro
DAP:
HibyDigital M300
Cables:
Effect Audio 24c, Verus Lavender 6, VJC Heirs & Heirs Black, Kinera Mia
Ear Tips:
Eletech Baroque, Penon Liquer, JVC Spiral Dot++, Azla Sedna Max ASMR, Kiwi Ears Flex
==Unboxing==For a price of around $400 (roughly 6 million IDR), the unboxing experience feels quite premium to me, thanks to a unique box design that stands out in this price range. However, I find the accessories lacking:
- The IEMs themselves
- A 2-braid Pentaconn Ear cable with a 4.4mm non-modular jack (a 3.5mm version is also available, but I’m annoyed with the Pentaconn Ear connector because it limits cable-rolling options as most of my IEMs are 2-pin)
- Cleaning brush and IEM wipe
- Manual and warranty card
- A carrying case (stylish but white—prone to getting dirty)
- A set of Spinfit ear tips (3 sizes—I was hoping for more options)
==Fitting==With its 1DD + 3BA driver configuration, the aluminum body is standard-sized. It doesn’t feel too big or too small and is very comfortable to wear. The faceplate features a circular design with the Elysian logo, giving it a sleek look. The nozzle, made of metal, has a standard length and diameter, making it easy to pair with various ear tips.
==Sound Impression==
Base testing: Xduoo XD05 Pro and Spinfit W1 Premium
Bass:
My current preference leans towards a balanced sound with a slight bass boost, and the Pilgrim delivers great quality bass for its price range. While not for bassheads, its sub-bass has just the right amount of rumble and decay—neither too long nor too short—and feels dynamic with enough space to “breathe.” This makes it perfect for long listening sessions.
The mid-bass complements the sub-bass with sufficient body (not too thick or thin) and an average punch, delivering a well-rounded impact suitable for all genres. However, two things stand out:
- The sub-bass positioning feels slightly less immersive as it doesn’t fully surround the instruments.
- The speed is average and slightly relaxed, making it less optimal for fast-paced tracks.
Mid:
This IEM delivers some of the best vocals I’ve heard in its price range. The natural timbre, balanced and slightly forward presentation, and accurate note reproduction across the spectrum bring emotion to every song. The vocals feel airy, sweet, and lush. From my experience with Elysian’s lineup (Pilgrim, Noir, Gaea, Annihilator), their vocal tuning is always exceptional.
Treble:
Consistent with its overall tuning, the treble is smooth and inoffensive. If you’re looking for detailed treble that’s non-aggressive and well-controlled, the Pilgrim will suit you. Its extended treble offers excellent micro-detail retrieval. However, it lacks the energy and sparkle that some listeners might prefer for more dynamic tracks.
Clarity:
The clarity is excellent—there’s no sibilance or muddiness. The micro-detail retrieval is impressive for its price range, and the sound feels exceptionally soft and refined.
Soundstage:
Above average, with a wide and airy presentation.
Imaging:
The 3D imaging isn’t groundbreaking, but the instrument separation and dynamic layering are excellent, making it enjoyable for critical listening.
==Source Selection==For a mid-centric IEM with strong technicalities, the Pilgrim may feel too relaxed or “safe” with a balanced source. I recommend pairing it with either a warm or bright source, depending on your preference. If you want something more energetic, this IEM might not be the best choice.
==Ear Tips Selection==For me, the best fit is with Spinfit W1 Premium, offering comfort and balanced sound with good technicalities. You could also try Eletech Baroque or JVC Spiral Dot+ for extended comfort during long listening sessions. If you want to enhance the low end, Penon Liquer is a great option.
==Cable Selection==Honestly, I’m not a fan of the stock cable’s aesthetics. To enhance the Pilgrim’s look and add energy to the lows and highs, I suggest the 4modi x 4magni from Verus for a V-shaped sound with better low-end dynamics and treble detail. Alternatively, try Verus SPC or VJC Prabu for improved detail and dynamic bass response.
==Conclusion==
- After excelling in the high-end market with IEMs priced over $1000, Elysian has ventured into the “affordable” segment, incorporating the best aspects of its flagship models into the Pilgrim.
- Elysian’s hallmark—superb vocals and strong technicalities—is evident in this IEM. Dynamic sub-bass, well-balanced mid-bass, and controlled treble come together to deliver a highly enjoyable listening experience.
- However, there are three things to consider before purchasing: the Pentaconn Ear connector limits cable options, the accessories could use an upgrade, and the tonal profile may feel too soft and safe for fans of energetic music.
- Is it worth buying? At under $500, the Pilgrim sets a high benchmark for competitors to match or surpass—almost too high.
That’s all.
Trust your own ears, if they’re still working.If you don’t agree, no worries.
I’m not here to force my opinion.
Bye!
Attachments
iwatobi
Head-Fier
Pros: Safe Tuning
Awesome Build
Tastefully Done Sub-Bass
Great Soundstage & Imaging
Awesome Female Vocals
Incredible Details & Separation
Natural Timbre on Instruments
Cons: Mid-Bass is Not Satisfying & Lacks the Hard-Hits
Genre Specific Tuning & Dry Sounding
Tuning Might be Boring for A Set of Listeners
Requires A Decently Powerful Warm Source to Drive
No Modular Cable
Bad Price to Performance Ratio
Introduction
The Elysian Pilgrim created by the Elysian Acoustics Lab is the first mid-oriented entry in their catalogue. It is packed with 1 LSR DD & 3 Sonion BA, which comes in at $400. The
Disclaimer
I was sent this unit for a quick review by Sonic Mantra & Elysian Acoustics Lab; huge thanks to them for doing this. Nonetheless, my review is an honest write-up of what I felt while using the product. Therefore, I have only written what I believe in, and have not received any incentive from them.
Package Contents
- The Pilgrim Bud
- Pentaconn Connectors Cable
- Spinfits Ear tips (CP100)
- Paperwork
- A Cleaning Brush
- Pouch
Specifications
- Model: Elysian Pilgrim
- Driver Type: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configurations
- Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
- Sensitivity: 101db@1khz@100mV
- Impedance: 9 Ω@1khz
- Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
- Connector Type: Pentaconn Connection
- Plug Type: 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm
Driver Configuration
- 1 X 9.2 mm LSR DD
- 1 X Sonion 2300 BA
- 2 X Sonion E50 BA
Build & Design
The build of the Pilgrim is robust, and incredible. It is made from high-quality aluminium, which offers a durable, and lightweight shell. The bores are made of 304 stainless steels for corrosion resistance.
The design of the Pilgrim is sharp, and incredibly aesthetic.
Cable
They offer a Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable, which comes in 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm plug types with a “Pentaconn” Connector. It looks beautiful, but comes with the cost of an expensive cable replacement.
Fit & Comfort
The Pilgrim was comfortable, and extremely lightweight. It fit my ears perfectly, and had a good seal. However, it did not give me a deep insertion seal.
Tip Rolling
- Stock tips
- Dunu Candy
- Final E Clear Pink
Testing Gears
- Cayin N3 Ultra
- iBasso DX180
- Cayin RU7
- Celest CD-20
- Hidizs S8 Pro
- iBasso DC Elite
Sound
The sound section is tasteful, but it does not justify the $400 tag. More on it below:
Bass
Bass is textured, and clean, but lacks depth, engagement. It is well-controlled, and shows no sign of muddiness. The sub-bass is promising, and shines the most.
Sub-Bass
Sub-bass section of the Pilgrim is actually pretty good, and has good rumble. Its extension is deep; it is prominent, and has good separation. The sub-bass has a slow decay, but it is well textured.
Pilgrim has an enjoyable sub-bass.
Mid-Bass
Mid-bass is average, but smooth & natural. It is not thumpy or hard-hitting. The attack is slow as to not incur a bleed in the mids. However, it is a bit tight & punchy. The decay is average, and it doesn’t feel engaging. It lacks a good slam. It felt way too boring for me.
Mid-Range
The mids are well-balanced textured, and smooth. The vocals have a timbre.
Male Vocals
Male vocals have good warmth, smooth, detailed and has a good note-weight. It feels analytical, but is enjoyable to listen to. Moreover, it has some timbre. It gives a relaxed listening experience. The warmth also adds to the relaxing effect.
Female Vocals
The female vocals are smooth, has warmth, lively, and detailed. It is engaging, fun to listen, and soothing. The vocals are well represented, forward, energetic, and has a spacious feeling to it. Moreover, the previously mentioned warmth makes the listening experience even better. However, at higher volumes the vocals sound aggressive, and a bit sharp.
Nonetheless, female vocals are enjoyable.
Treble
The treble is quite energetic, has good air, and is sparkly. It is well extended, and it is not fatiguing for treble sensitive listeners like me. The lower & upper treble is clean, but the lower treble lacks some authority. The cymbals and hi-hats are crisp.
Instruments
Instruments are well-defined, textured, and clear. It has incredible separation, and natural timbre. They’re produced in a buttery smooth way.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage of the Pilgrim is good enough to make up for its missed points. It is intimate and has great width, height, and depth. However, it could feel a bit constricted on busy tracks. Nonetheless, the soundstage is great, and airy.
Imaging is another strong point of the Pilgrim. I could accurately pinpoint the instruments sounds.
The imaging & soundstage together creates an immersive listening experience.
Conclusion
The Elysian Pilgrim is a well-crafted IEM that impresses with its premium build quality and comfortable fit. Its sound profile features a standout sub-bass and exceptional vocal reproduction, particularly for female vocals, which provides an engaging listening experience. The treble is energetic and non-fatiguing, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
However, the mid-bass may lack the punch some listeners desire, and the tuning can feel genre-specific, which might not appeal to everyone. While the soundstage and imaging are strong points, the $400 price tag raises questions about its value.
zabiri
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian pilgrimSummary
The Elysian Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range. This is also Elysian’s first entry into the more budget segment. The Pilgrim consists of a 4 driver set up with 1DD+2BA drivers, priced at 400$. Moving on, Pilgrim comes in a fairly premium packaging and the included accessories are also of high quality. Although subjective, I quite like the build and design of this set, and fit and comfort is also decent. Now most importantly sound, Pilgrim offers a balanced clean sound with more emphasis on the upper mids and treble, bass is well controlled and tactile. Overall technical sound is above average. So is it any good? Yes, I think is a very solid contender at this sub 400$ price point. If you are looking for a balanced bright tuned set, this can be a good option.
Intro
Hey Guys, whats up….
Today I am checking out the “Pilgrim” from Elysian Acoustic Labs. The Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem with 1DD+3BA driver coming in at 400$. At the moment it is going for 350$ over at Hifigo’s sale, but I will be judging this iem as a 400$ set. The Pilgrim has been a very anticipated iem as this is Elysian’s first entry into the budget market (at least compared to their other popular releases). So where does it stand against other 400$ hybrid iems? Lets discuss…
About the brand:
First, let’s get to know the brand, Elysian Acoustic Labs is a boutique iem manufacturer based in Malaysia. Elysian has been around since 2015 and since then they have been making high end iems which has taken them to a supreme status in the audio community. This is my first time checking out and reviewing an Elysian iem, so hopes are high. Anyways enough yapping lets get back to the Pilgrim, starting off with specs.
Disclaimer: thanks to Hifigo and the review tour group “Audiophile Alliance Bangladesh” for loaning me this unit. However, please note that this review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion. I strive for transparency in all my reviews, whether the product is self-purchased, a free sample, loaned or received at a discount.
Specs
> Driver: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration (1 X 9.2mm LSR DD, 1 X Sonion 2300 BA, 2 X Sonion E50 BA)
> System: 3 Way Crossover
> Technology: LSR Bass Driver
> Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
> Sensitivity: 101db @1kHz @100mV
> Impedance: 9 Ohms @1kHz
> Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
= Price: 349$ to 399$
Packaging
Continuing on to the packaging section, Elysian did a great job with its over all presentation, feels premium. The box has minimal branding and a spiral type design on the box similar to the iem design. Opening up the lid you will find the iems beautifully presented in an insert. Below that you will find the carrying case and some paper works. Inside the carrying case, is the cable, eartips and a cleaning brush. I will get into more details about the eartips, case and cable below in the “accessories” section. I included some pictures of the packging and box contents here below. List of box contents:
IEMS
Eartips
Cable
Carrying Case
Cleaning brush
Papers
Build and Design
Moving on to the build and design section, the Pilgrim has a very unique and attractive design with overall pretty good build. The shells are made of machined aluminum. The faceplate has a spiral like design with a combination of shiny and matte silver color. In the center there is the Elysian logo slightly raised from the surface and there are four vents neatly placed in the spiral section. Although the design is gorgeous the shiny silver part seemed to scratch quite easily. Fingerprints were not an issue. The shells are on the medium to large side and have decent weight to them giving it a substantial feel. Instead of the common 2pin or mmcx connector Elysian has rather implemented pentacon connector. Although pentacon connector cables are rare, I like this connector over mmcx. The nozzle length and width is standard.

Fit and Comfort
Talking about fit and comfort of the Pilgrim, it is pretty good for my regular to large sized ears. But I recommend to change out the stock tips, as they do not fit well to my liking (I dropped the list of tips I used and prefer with this in the “tested with” info below. Long term listening comfort is decent, nothing too crazy. Isolation is fine. Breathability is good. Stability is good. All in all I find it plenty comfortable for daily use.
Inner Structure and Tech
Let’s see whats inside the Pilgrim. Elysian has gone for a hybrid 4 driver set up consisting of a single dynamic driver and three balanced armature drivers. The dynamic driver is 9.2mm and uses Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) technology to handle the bass. For the balanced armatures Pilgrim uses Sonion drivers, one of the three is the Sonion 2300, which handles the mids. And the other two balanced armatures drivers are Sonion E50, which handles the highs.
Accessories
Eartips
The Pilgrim comes with a single set of eartips. These are Spinfit eartips but not sure which spinfit model it is, seems like cp100 but in a different color way. Anyways these eartips are of decent quality but were not a suitable match for Pilgrim mainly in terms of fit and comfort. I much prefer Final tips over these. These do not seal very well. Case
The Pilgrim comes in a simple yet good looking and well made case. The white color of the case matches quite nicely with the iems and cable. The outside of the case is made of leather (not sure about what kind) and the inside is made of soft felt type material. The logo is the middle looks nice and classy. The stitching is in the same shade of white and done nicely. The hinge also seems durable. The closing action is a bit weak, could use stronger magnets or friction. The overall sizing is compact enough to throw in your bag but not pocketable. The inside is spacious enough to keep the iems nicely.
Cable
Now let’s look at the cable, Elysian has provided a really premium looking and feeling cable with the Pilgrim. The white and silver color of the cable really compliment the matte and shiny silver finish of the shells. Build wise this uses silver plated copper wire in 2core braid. The cable is on the thicker and chunky side, which I like. The 2 core braiding is nice and tight. The chin singe is functional. The cable is not the softest and has a bit of memory. The Y split and the connectors casing are metal. One unique thing about this cable is that it uses pentacon connector instead of more traditional 2pin or mmcx. The Pentacon connector allows the iem to swivel similar to mmcx but is more user friendly. There is minimal audible microphonics, close to none. This terminates into 3.5mm or 4.4mm (based on the version you purchase. At this price point I expect modular terminations, not cool.

SoundPlease note: Listening impressions are highly subjective and can differ depending on different ear shape, individual music library, choice of source, eartips, cable and personal preferences, so your experience may differ. I personally always use and test all my gear in various setups to get a generalized idea on it. You can find my “tested with” info below.
Now most importantly sound, Elysian has gone for a balanced mild V type sound signature with emphasis on the higher frequencies for the Pilgrim. Pilgrim’s sound is basically a version of Elysian’s house sound signature. It has high quality yet well controlled bass with fairly natural midrange with some additional sparkle and energy in the upper mids and treble section. All in all I find this to have a technical sound characteristic specially in the upper frequencies. Lets get into a bit more detail.

Bass
Lets look at the bass performance of the Pilgrim. This has a well controlled, tactile and dynamic bass performance. Elysian focused more on making higher quality bass over quantity, and I think they nailed it. I believe the dynamic driver they used is quite high quality, because I have not heard such articulate, detailed yet deep attack at this price range. The Pilgrim has a sub bass focused tuning with a more balanced mid bass. Although the bass is not authoritative, it does get deep when the music calls for it. Bass speed is on the fast and tactile side. And bass note separation is pretty good. The body and layering are executed well. Decay and reverberation is pleasant. All in all I find this has a tastefully balanced and controlled high quality bass.
Mids
Moving on to the midrange, the Pilgrim has a classic well balanced tuning with extra sparkle in the upper mids. There is a slight bass bleed giving some warmth to the vocals and instruments in the lower mids. Male vocals have a good balanced of smoothness and detail. Female vocals on the other hand are more forward with more sparkle and crispness. Although there is no major sibilance issue, this might not be suitable for treble sensitive listeners. Timbre and instruments sound decent and well defined. The body and texture is standard.
Treble
Proceeding on to the treble of the Pilgrim, it has a somewhat bright tuning, this is not exactly balanced but not very forward either, somewhere in the middle. But vocationally the treble does sound more forward than it is because of more controlled bass. Although this does get that harsh or sibilant, I still would mot recommend it to treble sensitive listeners. Over all the level of detail is pretty good, with quite good sense of air and space. The overall resolution is good. Level of energy is also good. Overall the treble tuning blends quite nicely with the bass and mids in my opinion.

Technical Sound:
Soundstage of the Pilgrim is above average. All three plains are decent, this has good width but the height is ok. Stage depth is good. Layering is fine.
Imaging is better than average. Pilgrim’s imaging is accurate and easy to pin point instruments.
Sound separation and layering is pretty good.
Resolution is above average
Dynamics are decent.
Timbre is good
Tested With
Source: cayin n3 ultra, cayin ru7, ifi go blu, questyle m15, fiio btr7, apple type c dongle
Eartips: stock, Final E Black (2nd best pairing), Final E Clear (best pairing), spinfit w1, Divinus velvet, JVC Spiral Dots, Azla Crystals (3rd best pairing)
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music
ComparisonDunu x Gizaudio Davinci
The Dunu DaVinci is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 300$ price range for the overall value it provides. I have previously checked out and reviewed the DaVinci and this is also one of my top recommendations at this price. This packs a 2DD+4BA driver configuration, coming in at 300$. Starting off the comparison with packaging, Pilgrim is getter. Build and design is better on the Pilgrim, but the design of the DaVinci is a close second. Fit and comfort is better on te DaVindi. Accessories wise its a tie. In terms of sound DaVinci is quite different from the Pilgrim, almost opposite. The DaVinci has amore thicker, warmer, relaxed and more bass forward presentation. Whereas the Pilgrim is more technical, balanced, bright and more detailed. Technical sound wise Pilgrim is superior.

Thie Audio Hype 4
The Hype 4 is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range and also one of my personal top favs. The Hype 4 has been in my collection for a while and I like to use it often because of its engaging sound. I will be publishing a separate review on the Hype 4 soon. This is a 2DD+4BA driver iem coming in at 400$. Now let’s compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrims wins easily. Build and design wise Pilgrims wins. Fit and comfort is a tie, although hype 4 shells are pretty big it sits comfortably, on the other hand Pilgrim with third party tips are also pretty good. Accessories are better with the Pilgrim compared to the Hype 4. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Hype 4 has much more forward sub bass and mid bass presence, lower mids are warmer and the upper mids and rreble region over all is more forward. The Hype 4 has a overall more engaging and fun type sound over the Pilgrim. On the other hand Pilgrim is more balanced, bright and technical version of the Hype 4. Technical sound wise, Hype 4 is superior in my opinion mainly in soundstage, imaging is a tie and resolution and timbre is better on the Pilgrim.

Thie Audio Oracle mk3
The Oracle mk3 is a fairly recent release from Thie Audio coming in at 590$. I know this is not exactly a fair comparison but I decided to do it any way. The Oracle mk3 has a driver configuration of 2DD+2BA+2EST drivers. I have been testing this set for a couple weeks now and will be reviewing it soon. Now lets compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrim wins. Build and design wise I prefer Pilgrim, fit and comfort is a tie. Accessories are slightly bit better on the Pilgrim. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Oracle is more well rounded with fuller bass and more refined treble. On the other hand Pilgrim’s bass is less forward with more forward upper mids and treble. Technical sound wise Oracle performs better in soundstage, imaging and dynamics but Pilgrim has better resolution.

Final Rating
Sound: 4.25/5Fit and Comfort: 4.25/5Build and Design: 4.5/5Packaging: 5/5Accessories: 4.5/5Pricing: 4/5Total rating: 4.25/5
Conclusion
So to conclude the review, is it worth the price and do I recommend this set? The Pilgrim is a pretty good contender in this price point and I think the 400$ pricing is fair. If you are looking for balanced bright type sound with good technical performance, this could be good option. The fantastic brand value, decent accessories are also a plus point. Props to Elysian for making a good entry point for a more premium experience.
And huge thanks to you all for sticking around, see yall in the next one.
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thaslaya
1000+ Head-Fier
Master of None
Pros: + Mostly neutral/balanced tuning that works well as an all-rounder
+ Good sub-bass rumble and extension
+ Clear separation and vocal presentation
+ Accurate imaging
+ Solid build quality
Cons: - Tuning can come across as boring, lifeless
- Short nozzle and shallow insertion
- Faceplate prone to scratches
- Average technicalities
- Price to performance
thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure
Disclaimer:
This product was loaned to me by a friend for review purposes. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thank you to @Jaytiss for the opportunity.
Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle
●Hiby FC4
●KiwiEars Allegro
●Dunu DTC480
●BLON V1
Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.
Introduction:
Elysian Acoustic Labs is an audio company founded in 2016 by the legendary Lee Quan Min and is based out of Singapore. The company is well known for their kilobuck and multi-kilobuck IEMs that are touted as some of the best offerings money can buy, in particular the Annihilator and Diva models. When they announced the Pilgrim, the community was abuzz with excitement to see what Elysian could do in the mid-fi tier. This is their most affordable IEM to date, coming in at $399. I personally had a lot of anticipation to hear this newest model even though I haven't had the chance to hear the Annihilator or Diva yet (but will soon). Let's break down the Pilgrim and see what Elysian's most affordable IEM yet can do.
Build, fit, ergonomics:
This is a loaner unit, and I did not receive the retail box or all of the stock contents, so I cannot comment on the unboxing experience. I only received the carrying case, cable, and the IEMs themselves. The build quality of the shells is good. They are made of machined aluminum and have a somewhat matte silver/gray finish on most of the shell that helps minimize scratches and fingerprints. Unfortunately, the shinier, raised portion on the faceplate is very prone to scratches and will show wear very easily unless the utmost care is taken. I really like the three-dimensional design here, but Elysian could have chosen a different finish so that everyday wear and tear would not be as noticeable. The shape and size are about average, and the shells have good weight balance without feeling heavy in the hand or ear. The nozzle is a bit short. It measures 6 mm at its widest part near the end where the lip helps keep tips in place. The insertion depth is quite shallow and proved problematic for me regarding the fit. Initially, I could not achieve an insertion deep enough for a proper seal until I tried the Coreir Brass tips. These tips saved the day because the metal inside the silicone adds a little extra length to the end of the nozzle. Even my usual Penon Liqueurs did not work well, and without the Coreir tips, I could not get a consistently good seal. The Pilgrim, like Elysian's other IEMs, utilizes the Pentaconn ear connection for its cable. I actually like this connection more than MMCX because it feels sturdier and still allows for easy rotation, but I still prefer a 2-pin connection over all others. The Pentaconn also makes cable swapping difficult because it is much less widely adopted and available in aftermarket cables. Unfortunately, I could not test any other cable besides the stock 3.5mm that was provided. This cable is silver-plated copper and has decent build quality. I would have much preferred a modular cable at this price point, especially since Pentaconn is a rarer connection. The white faux leather carrying case is also a welcome inclusion. It's not very pocketable, but it's easy to throw into a backpack, although the light color may stain more easily.
Sound impressions:
During my testing, I found that the Pilgrim paired best with the Kiwi Ears Allegro, as it added a bit more excitement and a fun factor than something like the smoothed-over Hiby FC4. The Pilgrim has a mostly neutral tuning, with all three frequency bands being very balanced. No one area takes the spotlight from the others, but it is also almost too polite in its presentation, as if it's holding back. It can come across as flat and uninteresting at times, lacking a certain dynamic flair and engagement. The soundstage is quite nice, having a good amount of width but lacking some depth to truly be a standout feature. Separation is adequate, and all the frequencies work cohesively and coherently. On occasion, I did hear a slight metallic tinge to the timbre, and the note weight is a bit on the thinner side for my liking. I will say that the imaging is very good, with clear, concise notes that create a good three-dimensional space. Detail retrieval is also good, but the Pilgrim isn't a detail monster type of set. Its tuning is more musical than analytical, but again, overall, it just comes across as somewhat boring to me.
●Lows - I knew the Pilgrim would not be a bass cannon, but I was initially surprised at the amount of bass and rumble, considering some other reviews and impressions noted that the bass was lacking. Although it lacks some midbass thump and impact due to the focus being more on the sub-bass region, I'm quite happy with the quantity of bass here. It could use some more warmth in the mid-bass to help balance out the upper mids, though. The speed and decay are about average, and the resolution is good enough to easily pick out those double bass kicks. The texture is on the drier side, and the overall presentation can come across as a little too polite or anemic at times, but this is mostly track-dependent. When the music calls for a deep, elevated bass, the Pilgrim can show up, and things get more exciting and fun.
●Mids - There's nothing really "wrong" or "bad" that I can pinpoint in the midrange. Vocals and instruments are well separated and have good timbre. There is no bass bleed in the lower mids, and the pinna gain is smooth without sounding shouty or harsh. The mids are also well balanced with the bass and treble and are neither recessed nor forward. On paper, it should be a recipe for success, but they just don't give me any emotional response and sort of fall flat. Perhaps it's because the vocals lean more analytical and less musical and soulful in their presentation. Perhaps some added note weight would make them feel more grounded and realistic, with a less "produced" quality. As they are, I have trouble making an emotional connection to the music, as I do with sets that have a more fun tuning or those that are intimate and warm. In "deja vu" by Olivia Rodrigo, her voice sounds great from a technical standpoint, but it lacks a certain life and vigor that I'm used to hearing with my other favorite IEMs. In contrast, I find male artists fare better, but they still lack that special vocal quality that helps me connect to the music.
●Highs - I expected a lot from the treble before beginning this review, and it mostly lived up to my expectations. It seems the treble is where the Pilgrim truly comes to life. To my ears, this part of the tuning and frequency response has the most energy. There's a good amount of air and sparkle with plenty of detail and no real sibilance to speak of. It can sometimes get a bit thin and ever so slightly irritating at high volumes on certain tracks, but I am fairly treble-sensitive, so others may not encounter the same issues. The extension could be pushed a little further to add even more air, but that's a small nitpick. Cymbals, hi-hats, snares, and claps sound crisp and clean, and they add good energy to the highs. Overall, it's an enjoyable treble response with plenty of presence and clarity. It's probably the most standout part of the tuning for me, but I'm still not sure it can justify the $400 price tag.
Comparison to Sound Rhyme SP01 (balanced nozzle):
The Pilgrim is a hybrid consisting of one DD and three BAs, while the SP01 utilizes just a single dynamic driver. They may not seem like a great comparison, but I chose the SP01 because it is a recent release, has three distinct tuning nozzles (including a neutral option), and can help to see how the Pilgrim stacks up against IEMs at a much lower price (the SP01 is only $89). I used the "Balanced" nozzle on the SP01 and, to my ears, the tuning is quite similar to that of the Pilgrim. Both are well-balanced between the three frequency bands and have a neutrality that makes comparison easier. The build quality is similar as both have all-metal shells, but the SP01 is lighter in weight and smaller in size. The soundstage is wider on the Pilgrim, but the lack of depth and dynamics makes the SP01 sound more interesting. The Pilgrim has better separation and detail retrieval, but not by a huge margin. The tonality is slightly more colored on the SP01, but it's still mostly neutral and has a bit more life and vigor, which helps it sound less boring. The sub-bass extends deeper on the Pilgrim, and it has a slightly better rumble, but honestly, both are missing some mid-bass impact, and neither are very bassy IEMs in general. The midrange is more forward and clear on the Pilgrim, but the timbre is more natural on the SP01. The treble extension and air are better on the Pilgrim but also slightly brighter overall with a bit more energy. Now, I doubt many people would A/B these and not think that the Pilgrim is the "better" IEM, but for the price, I believe the SP01 has much more to offer. It currently retails for $89, while the Pilgrim comes in at $400. Does that mean the Pilgrim is four times better? Definitely not. Diminishing returns in audio are very real, and in today's market, they kick in at increasingly lower prices. I think the SP01 can come fairly close to the Pilgrim, but it also sounds a bit more lively and fun even with the balanced nozzle. That's not taking into account the fact that there are two more tuning options packed in that add more variety than the Pilgrim can offer.
In conclusion:
If I'm being honest, my first experience with Elysian has left me a little disappointed. I want to be clear that the Pilgrim is not a bad product. In fact, it does just about everything from soundstage and imaging to its tuning and frequency response well. But for $400, I'm looking for something, anything, to reach out and grab my attention to justify the cost. Unfortunately, there's nothing in particular that I can point to as fantastic or stand out. The tuning does have a certain sophistication and maturity, but it can also come across as boring and lifeless. The sub-bass is good, but the mid-bass impact and slam are lacking. The midrange is balanced and fits well with the overall tuning, but I didn't feel any emotional connection to vocals like I do with other sets. The treble, while also well balanced and good quality, can't make up for my issues with the other frequencies. Overall, everything is just good, not great. This also extends to the design and build quality as well. The shells are well made and sturdy with a neat raised engraved aesthetic, but the nozzle length is on the short side, and without the Coreir Brass tips coming in to save the day, the fit would be a huge issue for me. The cable is good, but it could also be better for the price tag. I found them to sound best with singer-songwriter, acoustic, and soft pop/rock genres. Generally, I do think most genres fair well and this could be considered a decent all-rounder, if you like the tuning that is. So, who is the Pilgrim for? In my opinion, it's a good option for someone looking for a mostly neutral/balanced sound and doesn't necessarily want a dynamic or "fun" tuning—someone who likes a more subtle and nuanced approach to their music. It also could be a good palate cleanser of sorts between other, more colored sets. I was really excited to try my first Elysian, but this one just didn't do it for me. I'd rather take that $400 and buy a few IEMs that punch above their weight and also gain a variety of tunings instead of just one. In my opinion, the Pilgrim would be more competitively priced at $200–250. I commend Elysian for their first foray into the lower mid-fi price bracket, and I wish more high-end companies would throw their hat into the ring. The Pilgrim, although not my cup of tea, is a good start. Unfortunately for me, it embodies the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none," and I think there are better, cheaper options on the market today.
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ILuvAudio
it is sad that Pilgrim didn't make it to your list of recommendation, but it was a good read to get perspective.
thaslaya
@ILuvAudio I was really expecting more from the Pilgrim but at the end of the day it's just OK to me. I'm sure there's a lot of people who love it but it's not high on my list. Give me the DaVinci, S12 2024, or even the S08 and I'd be happy keeping the extra $$$.
MakeItWain
Previously known as SemperMalum
The Yin to the Noir's Yang - Elysin Pilgrim
Pros: Great sub-bass
Detailed mids presentation, great for rock music
Treble is smoothly done - never sibilant or harsh
Great technicalities
Pentaconn connection is legit
Extremely comfortable in ear with manageable nozzle size
Tip rolling/Source rolling provides extra synergy
Cons: Proprietary cable option is also not necessarily market friendly vs 2-Pin or even MMCX
Upper mids being emphasized a bit more does make the Pilgrim a bit 'cooler' of a listen
Mid-bass is tuned to be detailed but lacks warmth or punch
May not have enough bass for some, treble for others - kind of too balanced/neutral
TL;DR: Cool, neutral sound in a solid package
Overview/History
Hi all.
Coming back in for a set of reviews over some Elysian IEMs. I still have to complete my write up on the Diva 2023 & the Annihilator 2023 but I digress! Those are just special so I'm trying to work my prose to do those justice.
Most people in this hobby that are in the market for the TOTL/Summit-Fi products know Elysian Acoustic Labs out of Malaysia. From my understanding, Lee Quan Min (owner and basically a one person operation) hand crafts each and every one of his IEMs that he sells. Not wanting to only be known for his TOTL IEMs, Lee has decided to take on the mid-fi budget range and released the Pilgrim (followed by a collaboration effort with Effect Audio known as the Pilgrim Noir) that still follows his 'Elysian House Sound'.
*Image from Elysian Acoustic Labs*
Both the Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir are a 1DD + 3BA IEMs. The dynamic driver is a 9.2mm sized driver with LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) which is found on both the Pilgrim and the Noir. Where they both differ in the BAs are that the Pilgrim comes with 3 Sonion drivers while the Noir comes with 2 Sonion and 1 'undampened' Knowles BA driver. The price for the Pilgrim is $399 (or you can add an Effect Audio Cadmus cable for $169 - total would be $568) while the Pilgrim Noir comes with a special Effect Audio cable for a total price of $799.
Essentially, the primary difference between the two IEMs is that the Noir is bundled together with the Effect Audio cable but is double the price as the OG Pilgrim and comes with 1 Knowles driver vs all 3 from Sonion.
Is the difference worth it? Which should you consider adding to your collection? Spoiler Alert: Join the Light Side.
Here's some specifications for you so you don't have to look it up yourself.
Pilgrim Specifications:
- 1DD+3 High-Performance BA Drivers
- 9.2mm LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver
- Three Sonion BA Drivers
- Impedance: 9Ω@1kHz
- Sensitivity: 101dB@1kHz
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-20kHz
Disclaimers: I received the Elysian Pilgrim and the Elysian Pilgrim Noir as part of a tour. I would like to thank @Sebastien Chiu for allowing me to participate and listen to both of them. I was not given any directions or told to write about anything in particular and this review is all of my own opinion.
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!
As this was part of a tour, I did not receive a full box so I can't document the full unboxing experience.
The Pilgrim is an extremely comfortable sized IEM in a light colored industrial design. I measured the nozzle lip (the largest part of the nozzle) to 6.0mm which is
definitely on the more manageable size.
The only thing I received with the Pilgrim was actually the upgraded Cadmus cable (so this is technically being tested at the $568 price point). I also, mistakenly, did not ask Sebastien for a bag of tips so there's that.
Tip Rolling
No stock tips this time! I believe they come with the Spinfit CP100s. My Spinfit W1s will have to do.
Also, apologies in advance. I think I'll start trimming down my Tips section as I have too much.
Spinfit W1: Considering how detail oriented the Pilgrim is, the W1 doesn't really help balance the sound to me. Not my preferred combo.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: Usually, the Clear/Red are my ideal fit/sound presentation but I actually found that it was just too transparent/neutral for my tastes with this combo. Bass was slightly boosted which was good.
Dunu S&S: Not my favorite combination, either. The Pilgrim already have a very wide presentation so the S&S does help boost that special sauce but it doesn't need it.
Kiwi Ears Flex: If you know my sound preference, the Kiwi Ears Flex works extremely well for me to help warm up the sound. Actually really enjoyed this combination as it brings some additional bass impact. For my review, I did not use these tips for my write up but this was an awesome combo.
Azla SednaEarFit Origin: Usually the Origin do a good job of boosting bass but I felt the Kiwi Ears Flex did it better in this case. I would pass over this combo as it took away too much from the treble but didn't have nearly the warmth that the Kiwi Ears Flex provided.
Radius Deep Mount: This was it. Radius Deep Mount did a great job of bumping the bass level up a bit while adding a perceived amount of warmth (which Cat Paw did not) while still keeping the special sauce of the treble extension and technicalities. My favorite combination.
Radius Deep Mount Zone: Similar to Clear/Red - boosted mids/treble isn't necessarily what I'd consider a good combination with the Pilgrim so I would pass on using these tips.
Canal Works Gel Tips aka Cat Paw: The Cat Paw tips are fantastic but are basically like a boosted version of the Clear/Reds - it keeps the sound signature transparent while giving a bit more impact on the bass due to the gel. This was a good combo for me.
Cable
So the Pilgrim was received with the upgraded Cadmus cable. Is there a difference between the Noir cable vs this cable?
Not that I can really tell.
Is this cable bad? No, actually. It's a very nice, light yet substantial cable and the Pentaconn connection is really good, honestly.
Sound
So, how does the Pilgrim sound?
The Elysian Pilgrim is an interesting IEM with just how much good detail that shines through. The Pilgrim manages to present a very balanced/neutral sound signature that doesn't go too far into that analytical side where it's unpleasant or cold to listen to.
Don't get me wrong. It's still on the cool side but the Pilgrim doesn't sound confused with what it's trying to present.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Element 3 Mk2 (with 4.4mm adapter)
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass: The bass of the Pilgrim is surprisingly very deep and competent but it suffers from what I would consider an analytical presentation.
Sub-bass is satisfyingly deep but the decay is very quick. It feels a bit like planar IEMs where detail is the key point in how the driver responds/reacts to the bass energy.
The mid-bass is a bit lean for my tastes but it makes sense where the Pilgrim is trying to minimize any potential bleed over in favor of the mids/treble to present that 'Elysian' house sound. It's not entirely my cup of tea here.
That being said, tip rolling really helped in my case and having a set of tips that do a good job of slightly boosting the bass (Radius Deep Mount, Kiwi Ears Flex) goes a long way.
Bass Score: 7.25/10 - TL;DR: Great sub-bass but most of the bass is presented in a quick/detail oriented manner so there's a lack of warmth or impact
Mids: The Pilgrim shines from the rest of the sound presentation from here on out though.
Keeping with the trend, the Pilgrim has amazing details in the mids from both a vocal sense and an instrument sense. This is especially evident in guitar rifts and rock music where I feel like the Pilgrim is king in.
My nitpick - and this is my own since it follows my sound preference - is that while the female vocals are absolutely amazing, male vocals will sometimes come through a bit thin and lack some warmth. That makes sense given the detail oriented nature and trying to sound very natural but I am missing that a bit here. This could be absolutely ideal for some ears.
Mids Score: 8.25/10 - TL;DR: Great details overall on the mids; good gain on the upper mids. Vocals all are super clear with more of a nod to female vocals as male vocals can be a bit thin/lack warmth. Cooler than the Noir
Treble: With keeping in the details segment, the treble with the Pilgrim is absolutely top-notch. There is no harshness or sibilance here in it's presentation. There's a militaristic precision to the treble presentation that isn't found in a lot of IEMs in it's price range.
The treble can come across as leaning towards the bright side but the way that Lee tunes his IEMs is to provide that extended airy sensation while never going over the edge of it being offensive to the ears.
With that all being said, I do slightly prefer the Noir and how it handles the treble energy but the OG Pilgrim comes across as less 'safe' and more special in this case.
Treble Score: 8.5/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely great extension; probably a bit better execution in treble vs the laid-back expensive Noir - Prefer Noir to my sound preference but I think OG Pilgrim is no slouch as it's very minor
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Timbre, Etc.: How the Pilgrim separates itself from the rest of the pack lies in it's excellent technicalities.
The soundstage is great and provides a good blend of horizontal/vertical space (more so the horizonal side). The imaging and instrument separation is top notch and really allows for busy tracks to shine especially with metal type of music.
There's an effortless precision in the detail retrieval which is where all the special sauce is for the Pilgrim and likely would be the biggest selling point for it.
Technicalities Score: 9/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely amazing details, soundstage and separation - some of the best in it's price segment
Library Hit List: Rock music - this is where the Pilgrim shines the brightest, IMO, and carves a niche into your library. Some stand out tracks:
Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky
The Rolling Stones - She's a Rainbow
Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
AC/DC - T.N.T.
While there are times where you won't get that same bass performance you would want, the detailed presentation really lends itself well to tracks with a lot of instruments or complexity.
Primary Comparisons: Here's the fun stuff. How does the Pilgrim perform vs it's peers? Rather than go too far into a breakdown with a long paragraph narrative for each IEM (as the price category is pretty full at this time), I'm going to do a quick hit of "Primary difference and which I prefer + why".
Hype 4 vs Pilgrim: These are more similar than they're different (compared to the others in my comparison section) but the Hype 4 will have fuller sounding bass while Pilgrim knocks it out of the park more on the detail retrieval/imaging/separation. I prefer the Pilgrim, actually, since the Hype 4 comes off analytical but trying hard not to be while the Pilgrim is unabashedly analytical from the get go.
Dusk vs Pilgrim: Dusk DSP is smooth (and probably my favorite vs Dusk Analog/Pilgrim), Dusk Analog is a bit more engaging and lively (in the vocals/mids) to my ears but Pilgrim is definitely more detailed. I like the Dusk DSP -> Dusk Analog -> Pilgrim in this case.
DaVinci vs Pilgrim: DaVinci is warm, smooth sound with definitely more bass, fuller mids and vocals - Pilgrim is, again, more detailed and energetic on the top end. DaVinci > Pilgrim to me since it fits my sound preference more.
Estrella vs Pilgrim: I've only had the Estrella for a day so far but, as far as sound goes, Estrella leans more towards the DaVinci side with deeper bass, better male vocals - Pilgrim, again, effortless in treble/technicalities but doesn't necessarily feel like the all-arounder that the Estrella would be. Estrella > Pilgrim.
These are the primary competition, at least as far as ones I've heard.
Other Things to be aware of:
There's one last comparison I can make but I figured it belonged in this section especially since I'm about to go on a rant.
Pilgrim Noir vs Pilgrim OG: To get this out of the way, I like the Pilgrim Noir tuning better. I really do. It's a bit warmer, bass feels just a smidge fuller but it still has a lot of the special sauce that the Pilgrim OG has. The issue is that the incremental tuning change is hard to justify the price difference and I would pick up the Pilgrim vs the Noir 10/10 times. If the Noir came without the Effect Audio cable and was either the same price or $100 more, I could whole heartedly recommend the Noir.
But, even with the upgraded cable for the Pilgrim with a different Effect Audio cable, the price difference is still $238. I like the cable well enough but not that much.
The Pilgrim, at $399, does things differently enough (but everything still well enough) to be worth consideration if someone tells you that they're looking for a detailed sound signature for their library. But I don't know if the Noir does enough in this case since it's creeping up to the $1k market where there's some real gems there. An example is like the Elysian Diva 2023 used which is around $1k - save the extra $200 and pick that up instead for something that's fantastic and unique. I say used because it's being discontinued and you're only able to find some stock here and there.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Competes well with all the other IEMs in this price bracket and becomes a game of 'Name that tuning preference!'
Conclusion:
The Elysian Pilgrim is an extremely solid first entry into the more mid-fi marketplace. It does a lot of things differently with it's detailed treble and technical performance that is capable of overshadowing it's peers.
For some sound preferences, this could be the ideal gateway to the 'Elysian House Sound' especially with a rock/metal type of library. For me, I'm excited to see if Lee/Elysian Acoustic Labs will continue to push into this price segment and bring something different to the table that can continue to drive the audiophile market forward.
Final Score w/o Special Sauce: 8.25/10 - I wanted to bring this score in since I'll do the same with the Noir - Overall, this scores super well for me and I can easily recommend it
Final Weighted Score: 8.1/10 - Final score tally is what I'll do the stars with; overall, different than my preference but I appreciate everything that the Pilgrim brings and can recommend it for some people based on their sound/tuning preference
Thanks for reading!
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MakeItWain
@thaslaya - thanks man. I can't wait to see how you feel about DaVinci vs Estrella.
MakeItWain
@jmwant - thank you, sir! For sure, I like the DaVinci overall way more than the Pilgrim. It's a great set.
Nealz
100+ Head-Fier
A Journey to the South!
Pros: Smooth, silky, well extended and detailed treble.
Immersive and deep reaching sub-bass extensions.
Forward, emotional and textured vocals.
Wide, holographic, spacious and airy soundstage.
Very good instrument separation and micro detailing.
Natural timbre for instruments.
Option to choose 4.4 mm balanced cable.
Cons: Not musical, rather somewhat dry sounding.
Lacks bass quantity, lean mid-bass.
Too safe tuning, lacks dynamics and doesn’t sound engaging.
Bad build quality, faceplates scratches easily.
Pentaconn connectors, making Pilgrim incompatible with most after market cables.
Not very good price to performance ratio.
Disclaimer:
Although I purchased the Elysian Pilgrim with my own funds, I did receive a reviewer discount worth $100 from HifiGo. If you decide to buy this IEM based on my review and find that you disagree with the sound or assessment, that responsibility lies solely with you. I strongly discourage relying solely on a single review for purchasing decisions in the realm of audio quality, as preferences vary. You should conduct thorough research by exploring platforms such as YouTube, head-fi forums, and various Facebook audiophile groups before making a purchase decision.
Non-affiliated Purchase Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-p
Unboxing:
Elysian has provided a decent amount of accessories with the Pilgrim, you get a white carrying case (Elysian logo comes off easily), a small cleaning brush, a set of Spinfit CP 100 Eartips (S,M,L), a stock sliver platted copper cable with pentaconn connectors, and a small carrying pouch as well. The unboxing experience itself is premium, you get layers of accessories presented to you with the Pilgrim theme and the box itself matches the white colorway of the IEM. You get to choose between a 3.5mm, 4.4 mm or a 3.5mm & 4.4mm cable while purchasing the Pilgrim and the price will rise by $30 if you choose the last option. Having the option to choose between a single-ended or balanced cable is always a positive in my book. However, I certainly do not appreciate this new Pentaconn connector from Elyisan, which means I have to buy after market cables specifically for the Pilgrim, as all my other IEM’s have a 2-pin connector. At $400 asking point I expected Pilgrim to come with some more ear-tips out of the box as well.
Build Quality & Design:
The Pilgrim is quite an ergonomic IEM with a lightweight design, personally I had no issues with the seal or comfort. In fact, I could listen to it for hours without feeling any sort of ear-fatigue, I don’t think even people with smaller ears will struggle with this one. Pilgrim has a very atheistic and beautiful faceplate, the design is supposed to mimic the gentle rolling hills. Each step in its design is meant to reflect the relentless pursuit of enlightenment through its journey from the initial development stage. Unfortunately, these beautiful shells of the Pilgrim are not very long lasting and tend to get scratched or have dents in them quite easily, especially the shiny metal parts, My unit already has some noticeable scratches and some tiny dents event after using it very carefully. Although Elysian has crafted an unique design for the Pilgrim its let down by the poor build quality.
The Tech:
Pilgrim sports a multi-driver or hybrid configuration; it has four drivers in total on each side. A 9.2mm LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver unit takes care of the bass, 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50’s for the highs. Pilgrim also offers a 3-way crossover design for a harmonious, clear and balanced sound across the whole frequency range. They have also crafted the internal chambers and acoustic duct tubes inside the cavity of the Pilgrim using highly precise 3D printing technology.
Sources Used During Review:
Cayin RU7, Hiby R6 Gen III, Hiby R4. The pilgrim is pretty sensitive at 9 Ohms @ 1khz, what that means is that devices or sources with higher impedance output can skew the overall tuning and sound signature. Fortunately, all of my sources have a reasonable output impedance, the Cayin RU7 added some warmth and an analogue sound as usual to the Pilgrim. However, I preferred the neutral tonality of the Hiby R6 Gen III & Hiby R4 Dap’s. Being sensitive doesn’t mean Pilgrim doesn’t need some power, feeding it good quality power opens up the stage, tightens the bass and brings more texture to the midrange. However, Pilgrim tends to maintain the same level of performance both at higher and lower volumes, you won’t notice a significant difference in sound quality while pushing the volume higher.
Sound Evaluation
Signature:
The Pilgrim has a very neutral and mid-centric tuning. It’s smooth and neutral profile allows it to render genres like rock, metal, indie etc beautifully and effortlessly. Due to its lack of dynamics, bass quantity and overall engagement factor, genres like Pop, Hip-Hip, EDM etc don’t sound as good on the Pilgrim. This IEM doesn’t sound go for thick or musical sound rather it can sound a bit dry and lean, however Elysian Pilgrim maintains a natural timbre and tonality for all the instruments presented in a track.
Highs (4.5/5):
The highs of the Pilgrim is really well extended detailed and sparkly, it maintains a smooth profile without sounding harsh or fatiguing at any point. Instruments like cymbals, high hats and trumpets maintain a lot of air and sound crisp, this can be especially noticed in tracks like half-alive – Summerland or Superglue by Joan. Saxophones are also beautifully rendered and makes its presence felt in tracks like Syst3m Glitch – Young and Wild and Free. The upper treble region is nicely detailed, vivid and energetic whereas the lower treble region lacks a bit of energy and air. Overall, the treble region of the Pilgrim manages to nail the balance between a uniquely bright yet smooth tonality.
Mids (4/5):
Kansas – Miracles Out Of Nowhere, is a track where the mids of the Pilgrim truly shines, drums, violins and electric guitars sound truly breathtaking. There is no Harman like forced upper-mids boost, the female vocals are presented slightly forward in the mix and sound quite emotional. Male vocals sound a bit hollow in comparison mainly due to the somewhat lean lower mids. Vocals overall sound very clean and textured on the Pilgrim, it has very good definition and resolution. Elysian has proved with their years of tuning experience that vocals don’t need to be too forward to sound beautiful.
Low’s (3.5/5):
Due to the use of LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver the sub-bass of the Pilgrim is well extended, it has deep reaching reverberating effect and rumble which is quite distinct. The bass has excellent resolution and a fast decay, being able to keep up with busy tracks effortlessly. Kick drums in Big Dawgs Ft. Kalmi by Hanumankind sounds rich and impactful. And that deep reaching, full bodied sub-bass rumble can also be felt rocking your ears in tracks like Green Juice by A$AP Ferg ft. Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes. Mid-bass of the Pilgrim doesn’t have very good extension, it lacks punch and sounds rather lean and dry compared to the sub-bass.
That’s enough about the quality of the bass, but what about the quantity? That’s where the Pilgrim falls behind significantly, I am afraid! I am by no means a bass-head (I enjoy well-known less bassy IEM’s like Simgot EA1000 or Hiby Project Ace), yet the bass quantity of the Pilgrim did not impress me. Now I have tried tip-rolling with Final E-tips, Penon Liqueur Black Tips and Tri i3 Pro stock tips, all of which are known to enhance the bass quantity of IEM’s, yet the Pilgrim still failed to satisfy me. I would suggest bass-heads or even bass lovers to avoid this IEM, you will feel like there’s something big missing in this department.
Technicalities (4/5):
Pilgrim is a master of micro details, it presents the listener with a lot of information, you can pick up small details like background humming, little gasps for air while the singer is performing the songs or even vocal echoes. The overall clarity and resolution is very good but it does not immediately grab the listeners attention like some other sets do, for example, Simgot EA1000. Instrument separation is much better on the other hand due to the clarity and resolution you can easily tell apart each instrument and where it’s positioned in the mix. The soundstage is wide, holographic and spacious with a good amount of air but lacks the spatial depth. The dynamics of the Pilgrim are a little bit blunt It’s dynamic prowess aren’t as engaging or exciting compared to other sets in the same price range, making the Pilgrim sound inoffensive but also boring to listen to.
Comparisons:
vs Dunu DaVinci
Although both are hybrid sets, these two sets are world apart. One sounds balanced, slightly bright and less dynamic whereas the other sounds thick, meaty and engaging. Pilgrim has the better treble extension, air and sparkle compared to DaVinci, especially it extracts better micro details in the brilliance region (upper registers). DaVinci on the other hand decimates the Pilgrim when it comes to bass quantity, it has much better mid-bass and sub-bass presence. While the Pilgrim does offer better bass texture and quick decay, I honestly don’t care about these when the quantity is so scarce. DaVinci presents better lower-mids (thick male vocals) and thick note weight whereas Pilgrim plays it safe with a more balanced presentation and slightly forward but smooth upper-mids (emotional female vocals). Technicalities goes to the Pilgrim with a wider and taller soundstage, better instrument separation and natural instruments timbre. Overall, my personal preference leans towards the more musical, thicker and dynamic sounding tuning of the DaVinci, Pilgrim loses my vote while trying to play it too safe.
vs Simgot EA1000
The Fermat is a Single DD flagship from Simgot whereas the Pilgrim is an entry level hybrid set from Elysian. EA1000 offer better treble extension compared to Pilgrim but it’s quite harsh as well, you will need a warm source and a pure copper cable to tame that harshness. Pilgrim on the other has nicely extended treble but without any harshness or peaks, I prefer its much smoother presentation. Micro-details extraction is excellent on both however EA1000 edges out the Pilgrim by a slight margin. EA1000 highlights the midrange instruments better and vocals sound forward and cleaner as well. Vocals on Pilgrim although, not as forward as EA1000, but they do sound more emotional and fuller. Bass is interesting with these two, both have a faster decay and very good texture, however EA1000 has the better quantity and bass slam. Technicalities are comparable on both sets, soundstage is slightly wider on the Pilgrim but is has more spatial depth with the EA1000, imaging and instrument separation is pretty great on both. Overall, it’s a matter of taste, personally I prefer the clarity, higher resolution, better dynamics, engagement factor and especially the more satisfying bass impact of the EA1000 compared to the Pilgrim.
Conclusion:
The Pilgrim is a great set but for a specific demographic of people, if you listen to a lot of Rock, Metal, Indie etc then the Pilgrim can serve your purpose quite masterfully. Those looking for a smooth, inoffensive and mid-focused tuning will also be happy with what the Pilgrim has to offer. Those who like a bassy, engaging or thick sound should take their business someplace else. Pilgrim has a unique tonality that’s for sure, it’s extremely balanced but plays it too safe. Its clear Elysian is sticking to what it does best and not interested in taking risks. I can respect that, but unfortunately my personal taste doesn’t align with it. If I have to consider the price to performance ratio then I would say $400 is a bit too much asking price for it has to offer, $300 would be more reasonable. And that’s all folks.
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Pranto Dev
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim | The pilgrimage of Music ?
Pros: Solid Build
Safe tuning
Coherent hybrid setup
Tasteful Sub-bass
Wide sound stage
Natural Tonality
Budget offering from an expensive brand
Cons: Face plate gets scratched easily
Cable replacement can be expensive
Treble sparkle missing
Genre specific
Require decent power to drive
Elysian Pilgrim
Disclaimer: This iem was provided by HIFIGO for review to AudioPhile Alliance BD. Big shout out to them. Regardless, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Inside The Box
Iems
Cables(Pentaconn connectors )
Carry case
Spinfit eartips (cp100)
Warranty card
Microfiber cloth

Specs
Hybrid(1 DD + 3 BA)
9.2mm LSR Dynamic Driver (Low)
One Sonion 2300(Mid) and two E50(High) series BA
3 way crossover
Frequency response 10Hz-20 Khz
Actually what do these specifications yell? Elysian didn’t cut corners while choosing the drivers and made sure to make them sound coherent. In other words, they sound as if a single driver is playing. 10 Hz frequency response means you can expect a good lower end response. More about it in the sound impressions.
Build and Comfort
Starting with the build it has a solid build with 304 series stainless steel (Only the body and bores). I think the cross over is built out of resin. The face plate is aesthetic. But it easily gets scratched due to the mirror-like pattern on the face plate.
Overall the build is premium.
Comfort wise it sits comfortably right outside your ear canals but the iems doesn’t allow to have a deeper insertion.
The nozzle is a bit on the wider side. Good luck while inserting eartips!
Source
Cayin IHA-6
Ibasso DX170
All testing is done using balanced cable. (if you damage or loose the cable good luck finding cheap replacement)
It requires decent amount power to drive.


Sound
Elysian is known for its high end iems and award winning tuning. They claim the highlight of the show to be their tuning. So let's dig down to discover the claim vs the reality.
signature / graph : Balanced sound signature with sub-bass boosted.
Bass:
The bass is tight, punchy. It doesn’t bleed into mids and sounds so clean. But for busy tracks where a lot of instruments are playing, like: bass guitar, drums and tabla. It literally overshadows other instruments. But in hip hop, edm shines like a gem. It's a sub-bass boosted iem, where the “oomf ” has been prioritized over bass. It has fast, textured bass. Depth of the bass is missing.
On the contrary the sub-bass has slower decay. The sub-bass is done tastefully.
Mids
Male vocals are done quite well; they sound thick and have a good note weight. On the other hand, female vocals don't sound as good as male vocals. Vocals sound a bit dry which affects female vocals as well as string instruments. Instruments sound natural but not as engaging as I expected for this price range. If you are a fan of smooth and non fatiguing vocals you will like em. But, if the treble sparkles then this might not be your cup of tea. The background instruments could use some presence. They kind of fade away.
Treble
The treble is well extended and non fatiguing even more so for some who are treble sensitive. For in other iems i found Hi-hats bit fatiguing but this one does that beautifully. The lower treble and upper treble region sounds clean. For example in some busy tracks like “Can You feel my heart” it retains the details when it gets loud.
But my complaint with lower treble is that the drums could have more authority or definition to it.
Technical aspect :
The imaging is on point unless it's a very track like classical music or orchestral. The soundstage is very wide, 180-270 Degree. It gives 3D representation and an immersive experience.
For the overall sound experience I would say the strong points are sound stage sub-bass and coherent sound. Coherent sound is very important on which a big company like sony spends million dollars(ie: z1r).
Eartips roll off : Pilgrim has a short nozzle which doesn’t provide good seal and depth insertion. There are some mods you can try. I personally used Divinus velvet as it helps to elongate the nozzle + eartips depth and provides a better seal.
Comparison
Comparison is a thief of joy
Verdict
If someone is heavily leaned towards: Hip Hop, rap , edm they can buy this iem.
This offers a solid build, does everything decent. Moreover people who are heavily treble sensitive can pick this iem for everyday use easily. There are some other options in 400$ price bracket. This is in the competitive zone but not something which I would call value for money.
Attachments
P
Pranto Dev
@jmwant Yes Sir. I feel like, when manufacturers are creating iems, its art. Better thing might be to view from the people's perspective what they really trying to create. In case of pilgrim they claimed their tuning and coherent driver setup.
Project Audio
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim - The First Path
Pros: Great build and unboxing
Excellent tuning
Deep and defined bass
Vivid and articulate highs
Good soundstage and imagining
Cons: Unusual cable connector
Hi, I'm Feliphe Espildora and today I'm going to give my first contribution here with what is probably my "endgame". Introducing Elysian Acoustics Pilgrim.
Obs: This is a personal unit, purchased by myself on HifiGo
Buy Elysian Pilgrim
The unboxing of the Pilgrim, as with the other headphones of the brand, is relatively simple but very elegant, with a white box with some lines that refer to the faceplate of the IEMs. Opening the box we see the Pilgrim and right below is the envelope with manuals, warranty card and cleaning cloth. Finally, we have a beautiful white case with magnetic closure and inside it an excellent cable and SpinFit CP100 kit.
The earphones are beautiful, all made of aluminum and mix a matte finish with polished lines on the faceplate, being relatively small and very comfortable. The nozzle is made of stainless steel and has only a small screen protecting the output ducts, and use the Pentaconn Ear connector, which works in a similar way to the MMCX.
Inside, we have 1 dynamic driver and 3 balanced armatures arranged in a 3D printed structure and organized in a 3-way crossover (1+1+2).
Bass: Tonally, they are a little above what I consider neutral and with more emphasis on the sub-bass, but still maintaining a good presence of mid-bass and are far from being dry or thin. The word that best describes the Pilgrim's bass for me is “grandiose”, everything sounds big and deep, has body and weight but is not dull. The extension and impact in songs like "Bad Guy" and "The Dinner", both by Billie Eillish, are impressive, but perhaps some people miss a little more mid-bass to give more weight to the notes of a double bass. In technical terms, I've never heard so much texture and detail, not even on the Softears RSV, the most expensive earphones I've ever heard, in addition to a lot of speed capable of maintaining the pose even on an “Intra Venus”.
Mids: Starting with the lower midrange, in the notes of a cello everything sounds beautiful, with body, weight, intensity worthy of goosebumps in "Nothing Else Matters (Live)", the same goes for lower notes of an acoustic guitar and even a bass-guitar, even without much presence of low midrange. The upper midrange stands out, but it doesn't take over the presentation nor is it too frontal, it's just crisp and clear, effortless. The voices sound natural, both female and male, and have a lot of detail and texture without becoming harsh or sibilant, and as an Aurora fan that I am, you can be sure that listening to “The River” is always a pleasure, and the same goes for “No soy una de Essas” by Andrea Grauzas, which sounds beautiful, clear, detailed, textured. Lindsey Stirling's violin is also the same, and at no point is it overshadowed by the rest of the performance. It's there, crisp and clear amidst the tinkling of the bells in “Carol of the Bells.” Speaking of bells, let's move on to the highs.
Treble: Still on the subject of the bells in “Carol of the Bells,” even with the violin's greater prominence, they are perfectly audible, and this happens in practically any song, and even if they are not highlighted, the highs are there to be heard. The cymbals have a lot of extension in “September in Montreal,” even though they don't reach the level of a top-of-the-line magnetic planar, but they sound more organic and "raw," with metal really sounding like metal, without the thin tone that many headphones have. The highs here are just right for my taste, both in quantity and quality, being a region with a certain prominence but that doesn't get in the way.
Technicalities: In this regard, Pilgrim is the best I've ever heard, simple, not even Softears RSV beats this guy here. Everything is there for you to hear clearly and palatably, even microscopic details, like in “Cure For Me (Acoustic)”, by Aurora, where right at the beginning you can hear the person's hand sliding across the neck of the guitar as they change notes, or in “SKINNY”, by Billie Eilish, where you can hear small whispers in the background at various points in the song. Pilgrim is also very expansive, and even though the vocals and instruments are relatively close, the space behind them is huge, the sounds seem to die away several meters away. The song “Give Me the Night”, by George Benson, gives me the feeling of being on stage in a theater with the crew, as the music spreads and fills the room in front of me. Conclusion: A $399 headset is not cheap at all and few will be able to afford the Pilgrim, but those who can will have a great experience. That's how I define the Pilgrim: it's great. Everything about it feels big, alive, captivating and exciting, while also being very technical.
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Argha
100+ Head-Fier
King without a crown ?
Pros: Unbeatable Value Till Date
Luxurious Tuning
Exceptional Layering
People Pleaser (Safe tuning for the majority)
Cons: Midbass delivery does not complement the sub-bass
No shine and sparkle in the music
Shout-out to HiFiGo and @gadgetgod for providing me with this unit. Here is the unaffiliated link to the IEM -
Elysian Acoustic Labs PILGRIM 1 LSR DD+3 Sonion BA Hybrid In-Ear Monitors
All the thoughts and opinions are mine and honest to my findings. No one paid or influenced me to write anything good or bad about the product.
Elysian Audio Pilgrim
Elysian is a well-established IEM brand that focuses on the higher end of the budget spectrum in the IEM market. This is their intro to the mid-fi segment and oh boy! I am so happy that they chose to enter into this field also, where a huge competition is already waiting to devour any IEM that doesn't match the value proposition even the tiniest bit. And Elysian not only scored well in that race, but I would say it might’ve won it too. Let’s dive in.
Introduction to the sound
Pilgrim is not the kind of IEM that will impress you with cheap tricks. The fundamentals are excellent on this IEM. Although not everything is perfect, it has flaws in two places and I will be discussing that later on. But I think if it hits the right spot for you, it has the potential to be an all-rounder IEM that would serve you well in every genre.
Philosophy Towards Tuning
The intention towards the tuning reminds me a lot of the Sennheiser HD6X0 Series. They did the primary tuning very well, which doesn’t only impress you with refinement but can also challenge IEMs that are much more pricier. Simply put, if you love music for the art in it (Composition and Orchestration) rather than enchanting factors like huge stage depth and sparkly details, you will be delighted with this IEM. The majority of the genres sounded good. Where recorded music shines in this IEM, Electronic music still needs a little bit more oomph. Personally, it worked extremely well for my library. But if you have a very electronic music-heavy collection, it won’t give you a satisfying low-end. The sound is organic, beautifully coherent and wet while being refined through and through.
Simply put, Pilgrim can’t do everything well. But for sure it doesn’t sound like a $399 IEM but a lot more than that. The value you will get from this IEM is astronomically high.
Tuning in detail
Subbass ( A lot better than I expected )
- Rumble is there in this region
- It feels authoritative
- The extension is deep
- Separation is excellent in this region
- The sub-bass is not room-filling (The immersion factor is missing a bit)
- Doesn't sound like a subwoofer is in the action (Cohesive but not defused)
- Amplitude is tasteful as a neutrally tuned IEM
- Decay and Attack is extremely neutral and feels analogue
- Falloff to the midbass is very natural and gradual
Mid-Bass (A slight departure from the excellent sub-bass)
- The transition is very smooth from the sub-bass
- Mid-bass is not thumpy to my ears
- The amplitude of the overall midbass is also not very high
- The transition to midrange is very neutral and doesn’t give husky characteristics to the male vocals nor it will make it lush.
- Overall the low-end seems very natural and slightly hints at a more reference-grade tuning
- Compared to the sub-bass, the midbass is a bit underwhelming in presentation and resolution both
- The attack is a bit slow
- Decay is extremely well implemented. It is as natural as it can get at this price point.
- The bass depends heavily on the music. If the music has sufficient bass it will reproduce properly enough.
- Again, the overall bass performance is extremely tasteful
Let me explain the low end of this IEM using a few songs from my library
(For reference the song “We All Have Dreams” - doesn’t produce enough oomph with this IEM but the sub-bass is good enough. The song “Personal” also left me a bit desiring with the bass performance. In the song “Reconssiance” this IEM performed so well that most of the gripe I had with the midbass vanished. The song “Anthology - Daft Punk Tribute”, made me question what I said about the mid-bass, it sounded very full and thumpy. So it is clear that it is highly dependent upon the tracks you’re listening to, but the points above apply to most genres I listened to).
Lower Mids (The whitepaper reference)
- Lower mids are very neutral
- Vocals and Instruments are aptly textured. It doesn’t sound hyper-textured (Like Tangzhu GATE) but never felt it was lacking by any means.
- The resolution is good enough for the price and so are the details (micro contrasts & micro details)
- The bass causes no bleed to the mids whatsoever.
- Timbre in this region is very enriched (The production of every instrument is more appealing ), which is a delight to listen to if you are not chasing absolute realism in timbre.
- This range is extremely dynamic.
- Zero Dryness & roughness can be noticed here. The vocals sound great.
- The vocals do sound intimate rather than having a spacious presentation although it is not as heady as I thought.
Upper Mids (Sparkle Where ?)
- The upper mids are not sibilant even a tiny bit.
- The whole range is controlled through and through
- Although I craved a little bit of elevation in this range.
- No sudden peaks and dips are there that can result in unevenness
- The resolution is perfect here, the texturing to micro details everything is very good in this range.
- Some air extension can be felt but it is not sufficient for my ears to call it a fulfilling female vocal reproduction.
- 4Khz needs to be EQed to sound exciting
- Very realistic timbre.
Treble ( OK so you have to choose one pill - comfort or elevation )
- The treble is very safe for every song I have thrown at this IEM.
- The treble contributes to a wetness to the sound which I adore.
- Very refined and controlled throughout the range.
- The resolution is very organic, no sudden peaks cause unnatural detail exaggeration which contributes to the unevenness in the music.
- Although I would’ve liked a bit more elevation in this region. The transience could’ve been a little bit crisper at the end.
- Note Falloffs are a bit blurred too which also contributes to the wetness. But I don’t find it bothering me enough.
- Timber is a bit weighted, few instruments lacked the presence region refinement.
- The resolution is OK for the price here.
- I kept craving for trailing edges since every nuance matters to me.
- The attack and bite are a bit missing, which contributes to the smoothing out of string instruments in micro-contrast.
- Overall, the treble is extremely useful for longer listening sessions. I used it for hours at a stretch and didn’t feel fatigued even a tiny bit which is a huge win.
Simply saying, Pilgrim sounds like a much higher-priced set. With a few changes here and there in EQ, you can live with this IEM without worrying about an upgrade, for a long time. I guess the experience talks here, Elysian haven’t backed out a single bit to give this IEM a lot of care as they do with their much pricier IEMs.
Technicalities
Sound Stage (OK! IEM Version of HD650)
The soundstage of this IEM is intimate but it is far from being claustrophobic. Some might express it as a heady IEM which I don't agree upon. The soundstage though is well applied in all directions. No stretching of any sort, to give it a Stereo Imaging benefit, nor does it shy away from producing height. This IEM won’t wow you with a huge stage but the utilisation is very strong for the minimal scope it acquires.
Imaging (Damn! They've outdone themselves here)
The imaging on this IEM is exceptional, to say the least. Not only I could pinpoint every instrument in the soundstage but also the border around their sound projection could be felt. There was space between instruments even on the busiest tracks.
Now comes the part that blew me away. The layering of this IEM is insane for the price. You can hear layers upon layers within the soundstage of this IEM. I can easily compare it to a $1000 IEM and it might still beat most of them in terms of layering capabilities only. For this reason, Binaural Recordings sound superb with this IEM.
Dynamics
I have zero complaints about the dynamics. It handles everything well. It felt very analogue and I loved that since dynamics like IE600 is arguably better but I would much prefer the sound of this IEM in terms of Dynamics.
Resolution
Now IEMs have gotten so good with resolution that it is hard to complain. The resolution likewise is very good with this IEM. It might seem a bit under-detailed due to psychoacoustics for the treble tuning but it is very resolving.
Comparison
Softears Studio 4 - They might look similar in the FR but they sound a bit different. Whereas S4 is very neutral in the sense that it is flat. Pilgrim is not as reference grade as studio 4. The soundstage on S4 is a bit better but Imaging and layering are better on Pilgrim. Subass is way better in Pilgrim whereas S4 will give you a thump in the mid-bass.
I would choose S4 if I aim to listen to music from an analytical perspective. Otherwise, Pilgrim is a more richer and luxurious way to listen to music.
AFUL Performer 8 - Again, they are very different. P8 is massively better in providing sparkle and air. Where Pilgrim beats Performer 8 in the bass. Staging of P8 is a hint better and on the other side layering of Pilgrim is better.
Project Dita M - Pilgrim is a lot more expensive than Project M and likewise it is an upgrade in all aspects, so if you have the extra bit of cash in your wallet, go for it.
IE600 - These two are complementary sets. IE600 sounds wider and has better separation, air, and it is loaded with sparkles. Where Pilgrim is a much more mature set.
Conclusion
I wholeheartedly recommend this IEM at $399. Pilgrim is a mature, well-refined and well-tuned set with exceptional layering capabilities which will be the benchmark for me at this price point from now on.
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ILuvAudio
Nice one bro
gadgetgod
Glad that you liked the set bro.
Argha
@ILuvAudio @gadgetgod Means a lot coming from you guys.
MuddyCrab
New Head-Fier
A pilgrimage to great sound? | thoughts on the Elysian Pilgrims
Disclaimer:
I’m more of a Teach head than an audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.
Gear Used:
Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bit rate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
Box:
Starting at certain price points you kinda want a nice unboxing experience and this definitely has on without being over the top or unnecessary. You open up this unit of a box to reveal the IEMs then with the silver pull tabs on the side you can start to unpack the rest down all the way revealing this posh white case.
The case it comes with is definitely more of a storage case rather than a carrying case. With its white pleather material and white exposed stitching you definitely don’t want to be shoving this thing in your backpack everyday. Reminiscent of a watch case it definitely would be a nice display piece on your PC setup or IEM collection. The Elysian branded microfiber cloth inside is a nice little touch as well to further add to its overall vibe.
Build:
The stock cable it comes with is pretty nice with a metallic silver finish that matches the IEMs themselves making it for a fairly simple but pleasant color palette. It all leads down to a nice little stop with a subtle and classy looking Elysian logo. I’ve been rocking the stock cable the entire time and it’s not loud when you ruffle against clothes and it’s light enough not to be cumbersome in any way. The ear hooks are covered in a clear plastic material like usual but it’s not too thick wherein it starts to bother my glasses.
With a nice and even matte silver finish the IEMs themselves are lightweight and nice to hold. There’s a little indicator for left and right on the inner side of them which is a nice little bonus for people like me who have the hardest time somehow putting on cables on the right side even. While the overall finish is super nice and premium, the mirror accent pieces are honestly a little annoying. The sharp ridges tend to catch on cloth or anything fibrous while the mirror finish itself which seems to be the bare aluminum gets micro scratches super easily making it looking fairly worn down after a while. They still look good from afar don’t get me wrong but they definitely start looking a little battle worn close up.
Sound:
If you’re gonna skim this entire section then the one thing you should know is these sound super fun to listen to. In terms of sound quality the two things that stand out to me the most are its bass and its accentuated imaging.
In terms of bass it’s not the strength that gets me but the richness I feel from it. There’s this extremely satisfying thump that hits you without messing with any of the other sounds coming from it. It’s got this nice reverb roll off that just gives kick drums and some EDM bass such a nice texture. The chorus bass hit in Wake Up Alone (feat. Jhené Aiko) - Chainsmokers has this nice reverb effect that’s just very apparent with the Pilgrims. As for the imaging, the clarity in some of the minor instruments that's isolated is eye opening in some songs. The level of detail you get out of something like the bamboo flute in Head in the clouds - 88rising which is something I never really noticed before and the electro stereo effects in This is what space feels like - JVKE where the left and right effects are slightly offset but you still get that flavor out of them just takes you to a different dimension.
Oh and another added bonus of these I found out is that even at lower volumes you still get a nice full sound out of them. There are times where I would need to lower the volume but I’d still get a nice little kick out of the bass. Clarity doesn’t suffer either, everything can still be heard at lower volumes which is just the cherry on top.
Nitpicks:
This is clearly a case to case thing but these things just don’t want to give me a proper seal after a few minutes. I can’t go a few songs without pushing them back in and trust me, I’ve tried all the tips and sizes I could have possibly tried.
These tend to be flatter(physically and not sonically) and shorter on the inside so it might be less ergonomic I think.. For me personally, IEMs like the salnotes 7hz with that kind of flatter inside shape have never really given me a good fit.
Because of the constant effort to keep them in my ears like keeping my loved ones in my life, they tend to hurt after a bit so no matter how good they sound I just can’t enjoy them for a longer listening session let alone try them for things like movies or TV shows.
Final Thoughts:
While the whole fitment thing is an instant deal breaker for me, It’s obviously something that will depend from person to person so I'm not really going to count that in this final conclusion.
At the end of the day I think it’s an okay package with great sound. I do wish they took more consideration into the longevity of the mirror finish accents because it does have the price tag to warrant it. If these will live solely in its case and be taken out for dedicated listening sessions then the durability probably won’t be an issue but if these will become your daily drivers then you might want to take those factors into consideration.
But remember, Music is a personal experience so make sure to find whichever makes you enjoy it the most regardless of what a graph says.
Attachments
ShabtabQ
100+ Head-Fier
"Theatery" experience on the go...
Pros: The sub-bass is impressive
Built like a tank
Efficient
Cons: Proprietary connector
Scratchable glossy part of the faceplate
Introduction
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs have recently become very popular among audiophiles due to the beautiful design, top-notch sound and affordable price. Targeted at the listeners who are looking for a quality sound experience while at the same time maintaining a reasonable budget, these IEMs come as the latest addition to Elysian Audio’s mission of giving quality sound at a reasonable price this time. This IEM was sent to me for the purposes of review by @gadgetgod , however by no means the review is influenced, it's all my personal opinion and a very positive one for sure.
Build
The build quality of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs shows how much the company pays attention to detail and the quality of their products. The shells are made of high-quality aluminium alloy which makes them light yet strong and give a high-class look. This choice of material is not only practical as it adds durability to the IEMs but also enhances the IEMs’ looks. The faceplate has six vents that point towards the proper design aimed at improving soundstage and airflow. The care that has gone into the construction of the Pilgrim IEMs is evident and it shows that they are designed to last and can be used on a daily basis, however the faceplate where there is glossy finish is prone to scratches, being a review unit, it is understandable but still one has to take extra care if they want to keep these looking as good as new. Another important thing to note is that the cable although removable comes with a different connectors, proprietary, something that I have never used before, but I would add to it that this connectors are much much better than mmcx, but yet I wish they were 2-pins as its the universal these days and a lot of people with cables already lying around would have better time as well.
Comfort
Comfort is a key factor of any in-ear monitor and the Pilgrim IEMs are no exception. They are decent in size, not as big as the blessing series, and not as small as AFUL, however they are very lightweight and are designed to sit comfortably on the ears for hours on end. For me the provided Spinfits were very good, and it offered a great fit that made the ear-tips very comfortable and provided good sound isolation as well. These would fit most of the ear size and shapes without an issue.
Sound
Lows: The sub-bass of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs is excellent and is one of the product’s highlights. The low end is quite prominent and has a strong, almost visceral character; it delivers a nice punch that works best with electronic pop, EDM, and techno. Sub bass is deep even by the standard of most IEMs in this price range, and delivers a powerful slammer without overwhelming the rest of the frequency range. The mid bass is well integrated and offers good texture and tonality, which is rather detailed. The bass is tightly controlled with no signs of muddiness or bloating and for those who are into a clean and punchy low end, then the bass of this IEM will not disappoint even the bassheads out there who are looking for quality bass. One thing to note is that the quantity of the bass is not high but the quality is just amazing, never heard before kinda in this price range.
Mids: The midrange of the Pilgrim IEMs is rather lively and not recessed at all, vocals and instruments sound clear and detailed. This smooth mid while injecting some excitement to the listening experience, can be quite aggressive at some points especially when the volume is turned up. Vocals, and especially female ones can be a tad on the aggressive side which may be tiring after hours of use. Nevertheless, this issue can be counteracted with the proper choice of ear tips and proper control of the volume. It has smooth and a bit detailed mids which I think is great for all kinds of music; be it rock, pop, classical, or jazz.
Highs: In terms of treble, the Pilgrim sounds very good with a smooth and detailed sound in this region, there is no harshness or sibilance often found in many IEMs of this price range. The highs are well-extended with a nice sparkle to them that helps to give the general listening experience a lift without being too forward. This makes the Pilgrim IEMs to be very comfortable to use even for long periods with intricate high frequency details being delivered in a clean manner. The treble here reminded me a lot of the IE-600, it could be a problem for a very few treble sensitive people, but other than its perfect for what it is.
Resolution: As for clarity, the Pilgrim IEMs are exceptional and can easily be considered as some of the best in their price range in terms of detailing and information retrieval. A clear division between the instruments can be noted, which results in you being able to hear and distinguish each and every instrument that has been used in the mix. This kind of clarity and resolution is especially apparent in more intricate songs, which the Pilgrim IEM is able to decompose into its individual components and present in a way that gives a very “theatery” experience.
Soundstage: As for the soundstage of the Pilgrim IEMs, it is another strong point. The space is notably large and the depth of it is fairly great, thus offering a rather spacious and involving listening area. Meticulous position of instrumentation and voice within this soundstage can be seen since the listeners can easily map out the layout of the musicians. The soundstage is mostly good, but it can be slightly constricted in busy songs. Nevertheless, this is a rather small issue in the otherwise impressive piece of work. The soundstage accompanied by a great imaging results in the feeling of openness and airiness that only strengthens the general impression of the Pilgrim IEMs.
Rating
Comfort: 



The Pilgrim IEMs are lightweight and ergonomically designed, providing a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. The wide nozzle may require some experimentation with tips to achieve the perfect seal, but once found, the comfort level is high.
Sound:
Lows: 




The bass is deep and impactful, with excellent control and texture. It delivers a satisfying sub-bass presence without overpowering the mid-range. The bass is well-balanced and suitable for a variety of music genres, though hardcore bass enthusiasts may find it slightly lacking in power.
Mids: 



It can occasionally be intense, especially with female vocals, the overall tonality is detailed. The mids provide a rich, engaging listening experience that avoids muddiness.
Highs: 



The treble is smooth and detailed, with a non-fatiguing quality that avoids harshness.
TL;DR
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs are a great choice in the sub-$1000 bracket as they are well built, comfortable to wear, and sound fantastic. It has good bass with good control, the mid frequencies are lively and the high frequencies are smooth with good detail. Due to a high level of detail and a decent enough soundstage, these IEMs will be perfect for listening to any kind of music. However, the upper midrange may be quite hot for some people. All in all, the Pilgrim IEMs provide a comprehensive and accurate sound reproduction that is entertaining and satisfying for both music enthusiasts and general consumers.
David Haworth
Previously known as J Weiner
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: Class leading Sub bass
Class leading separation and details
Cons: Tip sensitive (Spinfit loving )
I am listening to the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of the Audio Geeks tour of Australia. Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio I am pleased to offer my honest opinion of this set.
The Pilgrim is a new lower priced sibling to the DIVA, and flagship Annihilator which launched in 2023. It sells for $399 USD and is a single DD and three BA hybrid. Its uses a LSR (Liquid silicone rubber ) Dynamic driver which its is claimed can produce frequencies as low as 10Hz. Midrange is handled by a Sonion Driver 2300 and the treble by a dual tweeter Sonon E50. Pilgrim uses a Pentaconn connect cable meaning you are unable to use .78 pin cables without purchasing an adaptor first. Luckily the cable is excellent.
Pilgrim’s shell is made from aluminum and has a very high-quality feel. It is lightweight but feels durable and I find it comfortable to wear. Pilgrim has six vents on its faceplate and this led me to expect a nice big soundstage (as per my MP145 planar) so high expectations. I found the staging respectably wide and deep, and it is enhanced by the IEM’s superb instrument separation. The sound is airy and detailed with the placement of instruments and backing vocals so precise and discrete that I can picture the stage of musicians vividly in my head.
In terms of tuning, the Pilgrim employs the Elysian w-shaped sound signature. The sub bass goes deeper than I have heard before with a physical impact and the bass in general has excellent texture and tonality. The midbass is balanced nicely giving enough impact without overpowering the midrange and allowing air and space for the midrange to perform. Pilgrim does electronic pop and EDM extremely well. Pilgrim has a widish nozzle and it took a lot of tip rolling to find a good seal to allow the bass to reach correct levels. I actually purchased some Spinfit W1 tips on recommendation and sure enough these worked perfectly with Pilgrim. Stage and vocals enhanced and a good seal for that great bass.
Midrange is energetic and prominent but tonally natural. I found some vocals could be forced and overpowering. This was ameliorated by using the W1 tips but I would primarily say that for my ears, Pilgrim has a forward energy that is exciting but can be a little draining in a long listening session. The best way I can explain this is regards volume. Many IEM’s I can push listening volume up to unhealthy levels without the sound signature troubling me. With the Pilgrim there is a fine line, which if crossed can bring an overly forward edge to vocals, especially female vocals. Reducing the volume brings the sound balance back. The good thing is the treble is sparkly and detailed while also being smooth and non-fatiguing. The detail retrieval is first rate. It bests my planar easily and uncovers new layers of delight in my favourite tracks.
I spent hours with The Elysian Pilgrim over the last 10 days and it performs well with every genre in my listening library. From Billie Eilish and Post Malone to classics from Dire Straits and Supertramp. As I mentioned, electronic music from Romy and Rufus Du Sol sound on point and digging out some 80’s rock was also rewarding. I really enjoyed my time with the baby of Effect Audios range and would love to hear their range topping products one day.
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jreqtech
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: - Amazing premium build of the cable and IEM
- Fantastic bass, soundstage, and immersion
- Accurate imaging, great for competitive gaming or general media consumption!
Cons: - Shell fitment does not give me a good seal, need to readjust from time to time
- Can get cold because of the shell’s material
Disclaimer
Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim was lent to me as part of a review tour in the Philippines. Thanks to Ian and Mars who invited me to join!
Price: 399 USD
Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Part 1: General Product Details
Package Inclusions:
- IEM shells & cable
- Carry case (with cleaning brush & cloth)

The IEM Shells
- The shell is made of metal, likely stainless steel. It looks very industrial, looking like bare metal silver. It features the Elysian Acoustic Labs logo embossed on both earpieces surrounded by concentric circles
- Each earpiece weighing at around 6.7g, almost double the weight of the budget IEMs I am currently using.
- The Pilgrim uses MMCX connectors (single pins) which allows you to rotate and adjust the IEM around the connector.




The Carrying Case
- The flip-top carrying case is made of faux leather on the outside. Embossed on the lid is the silver logo of Elysian Acoustic Labs. Seems like the faux leather would easily get dirty over time so consider bringing wipes to keep it clean.
- Inside, we find that the lid and bottom are covered with grey suede. The lid has a netted compartment for extras like eartips.
- In the container, I found a black cloth, likely for covering and cleaning the IEM shells, as well as a small cleaning brush.


The cable
- Thick and braided translucent but flexible cable. Feels very premium and doesn’t tangle easily, likely the best IEM cables I’ve ever seen.
- The slider, y-splitter connector as well as the straight 3.5mm jack have steel jackets

Extras
- There are no extras aside from the manual and warranty paperwork
Part 2: Subjective review

General Usage Impressions
- After a few hours of usage, my ears started getting tired due to the weight but after 3 days, I have gotten used to the weight
- The shell can get cold because of its material, might be uncomfortable to some
- The fit on my ears is loose, even if I changed tips from small to large. Can’t seem to make a good seal because of the shell’s shape, need to do extra effort to push them in. Occasionally, I’d need to push them in as the IEMS seems to keep sliding out.
Sound Impressions
- The bass is strong, but not strong to the point of being bothersome. it can also be felt, like there's a rumble in my ear that I only experienced from headphones.
- Details of songs are fantastic. Tuning doesn’t sound warm to me. Sounds better than my headphones for sure.
- Surprisingly wide soundstage. Music felt very "immersive”. It sounded similar to open back headphones!
- Fantastic for general use, whether it’s music, gaming, or watching movies .
Final Thoughts
Definitely an upgrade in leaps and bounds from what I am currently using (Phillips SHP9500 headphones & Truthear Hola)! The build quality of the shells, cable, and carrying case are top-notch. If I could afford this, I would buy this, BUT the fitment issue is a glaring issue for me since these are made of steel, I would be cautious of scratching or accidentally dropping the IEMs.
Nonetheless if you are looking for midrange (yes, audiophiles consider this midrange) IEMs that have amazing soundstage and details with a well balanced tuning, the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim should be at the top of your list, if not near there.
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ILuvAudio
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim – A strong contender for the Mid-Fi King crown
Pros: - Superb technicalities
- Ample detail retrieval
- Sub bass presence, bass texture is class leading for the price
- Metal shell with industrial design and comfortable fit
- Price
- Responds very well to tip rolling – suggested Divinus Velvet and Penon Lacquer
Cons: - Would have loved better cable
- Supplied CP100 tips doesn’t do justice to this iem, tip rolling required
- Carry case is of mediocre quality
- High notes on female vocals can be a delight or issue based on your source pairing, especially ch sounds
Elysian Acoustic Labs is a Malaysian high-end custom in-ear monitor (IEM) company that has garnered attention for its impressive offerings. We often associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end iems such as annihilator, X, Diva etc. The path to excellence started off in 2015 with anger at the inadequacies of the IEM options of the era. Out on a quest to reinvent what sound means to him, Mechanical Engineer Lee Quan Min took it upon himself to refurbish an old Ultimate Ears TripleFi10. Upon gaining public interest from local hobbyists, Lee started providing reshell services and thus accumulation experience along the way. It is nice to see EA Labs launching a relatively mid-fi iem which can give the taste of tonality from their esteemed firm’s high-end offerings.
This review reflects my personal and subjective listening experience with the mentioned audio gear product. I would like to thank Hifigo for the tour unit and @gadgetgod for organizing this review tour in my country and allowing me to share my thoughts on the product, it doesn’t influence my review in any form and nor I am compensated.
Before I start, I would like to mention that most of my impressions of the gear is based on the source and test tracks mentioned, so YMMV.
Sources: Mojo 2 + Poly via AirPlay, Apple Lightning dongle
Technical Specs
4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration.
Drivers: The Pilgrim features a hybrid setup with one 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver (Liquid Silicone Rubber technology) for sub-bass and three Sonion balanced armature drivers (including a custom-tuned Sonion 2300 BA for mids and a dual-tweeter E50) with a custom 3-way crossover.
1 X 9.2mm LSR DD (Instead of using vibrating bone conductors or traditional PET drivers, EA Labs developed a custom-made 9.2mm dynamic driver featuring Liquid Silicon Rubber (LSR) technology. The LSR is capable of reproducing low frequencies that reach an impressive 10 Hz, compared to the standard 20 Hz of traditional PET drivers. This contributes to a strong sub-bass rumble.
1 X Sonion 2300 BA (Sonion 2300 for mids ensures a versatile, smooth midrange response, creating a well-balanced, natural sound across various music genres).
2 X Sonion E50 BA (the Sonion E50 series, a dual ultra-tweeter balanced armature driver. It extends high frequencies with unprecedented technical capabilities, offering clarity and brilliance).
The Magnesium-Aluminum alloy for the diaphragm delivers optimal performance for a prolonged period of time. This design as per EA Labs, results in remarkably fast, deep, and precise performance with minimal distortion in the output signal, creating a natural and detail-rich full-frequency connection.
Box content
A faux leather case with soft finish and EA logo on top
3 pair of Spinfit
3.5mm to 6.35 adapter
Iems
- Cleaning brush tool
- A very good 2 core SPC cable, its soft and supple, however to note, EA labs suggest to pair Pilgrim with Effect Aaudio Cadmus 4W which supposedly enhance the clarity & resolution of sound without the harshness, whilst keeping the bass bold but controlled. I have used this iem with its stock cable to ensure the reader gets an impression as to what to expect when they pay $400 as what it retails for.
Vision – EA Labs wanted to get the specials from Annihilator and Diva combined and launch at a lower price point. Let’s see further if or not they were successful based on my subjective opinions.
Fit and comfort:
I would mention by bias first, I like metallic shell iems, resin shells doesn’t give me the confidence as I have had a couple of iems developing cracks either on shell or near the 2 pin section so I prefer metal shell iems though these have to sacrifice on the looks. Its striking silver aluminum housings feature knoll-inspired ridges and a mix of reflective and matte finishes. The look and feel of Pilgirm is very good, these look more than what they cost for sure, with that EE logo printed on the shell, it somewhat gives that premium look to it as we associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end. The shiny silver and matte finish is likeable, these have medium sized shell which sits comfortably in ears, so comfort is great on this. Comfortable earpieces ensure a good fit, and the design helps with noise isolation. Pilgrim is shipped with spinfit but even with the largest size of tip provided in the carry case, I was unable to find a good fit with these iems, so I switched to Penon Lacquer and Divinus velvet, fortunately the Divinus Velvet fit worked and helped me get a good seal. I remember when I tried with Spinfit, I was feeling that this iem has compromised mids, but Velvet fixes it for good.
Bass – Low end has enough presence, sub bass rumble can be felt, even in tracks where occasionally you will miss a bass guitar being played, Pilgrim is able to produce it flawlessly, the mid bass presence is alright, not overpowering which is my preference, I had this complaint with the twilight honestly,
Drums, dhol has accurate timbre. The transient response is fast, with decay shorter than expected from this kind of driver configuration. Reference track – Starlight (Muse), Bezubaan (ABCD), Starboy (Weeknd) and Droptop (AP Dhillon)
Timbre and Tonality – one of the aspects I keenly look for in iems is how it produces timbre and how is the tonal balance. I was listening to some Indian classicals on Pilgrim, the tonal character of the instruments is retained, it doesn’t color the timbre which is a good thing. Pianos sound so real; you have to experience it.
Vocals - Beautiful and natural especially female vocals sound majestic. I found female vocals to be more forward than male vocals as they sound a bit laid back or recessed this is due to Bright, Lively Vocal response, male vocals have naturalness, but the presence is not that prominent in comparison meaning some male vocals can sound a bit lean, again some bias to be mentioned because I adore mid centric iems so YMMV. The mid presence in terms of instruments is praiseworthy because they do not overwhelm you neither miss out.
Treble – feels airy and spacious.
There is space between instruments and the vocals being played, I do not hear much of a congestion in busy tracks as well, the transient response is good. Instruments sound like they are surrounded by space full of air. It creates nice ambience for the instruments to play well. Reference track Yaar Mila de from Saathiya – this is so engaging on the Pilgrim, I almost got lost while listening to this track, multiple instruments used in this track has enough space in between.
Details - Every minute detail is presented to the listener, for example I was listening to this track Maahi Ve from album Maahir, there is so many instruments used in this song simultaneously, especially the humming in the start followed by bass and cello, the entire continues with vocal echos, doodling, saxophone and cymbals, the lead singer vocal could have had more heft but sounds natural. The resolution on this can be considered as a benchmark considering its price.
The soundstage of Pilgrim is good. Impressive height but the depth is mediocre, it creates spacious sonic environment due to air and enhances the listening experience.
Instruments are well-placed and images precisely, the level of detail and imaging accuracy adds realism and immersion to the music with great clarity and separation.

Overall – This is a really nice addition to the $400 realm of iems, it is special if you like bright neutral iems with enough heft in sub bass, it can be one of those versatile and easy to listen iems that offer excellent technicalities without burning the pockets. Someone with the budget of $400 and above should definitely consider Pilgrim, more so if you like this kind of tuning. It’s a testament that you don’t need to spend huge to afford excellent sounding iems.
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DunninLA
Oh, strange my signature info doesn't show up here. My perfect signature is HD600 with more bass and more highs, which I gave up on but I think Focal Elex would be my pick if I wanted to try cans again.
In IEM, I liked the Canon 2 until I noticed the lower pinna gain of the Mega5EST in reviews, and so I used EQ to simulate that tonality on the Canon 2, and preferred that relaxed pinna by a lot. I was hearing glare through upper midrange I didn't know I was hearing until I fixed it with EQ. That made me think... why EQ the Canon 2 to Mega5EST,... just get the Mega5EST, which I did, but found it unengaging, don't know why. I use Canon 2 minimum bass (down/down) but it still felt a lot more prominent than M5E even through they graph the same. The M5E just didn't sound engaging to my ear. Listed it and it sold within 5 minutes, so my ears must be defective 
DunninLA
Also tried Hype2 but found it lacking in vocal forwardness. Tried AFUL P5 but its tuning to me was off... too much midbass, which caused the vocals to pull back as well as veil, then too much energy 4-6k which made cymbals sound like they jump out at you.
Tried all my tips on both of them... FinalE, CP100, CP145, BGVP A07, Penon Liqueur Orange, Dunu S&S, Tri Clarion, Spinfit W1.
PS: on the Mega5EST 7th, I used both MB Air 2020 headphone out, as well as Onix Alpha X1 dongle in 4.4 mode. The source didn't make any difference... of course also tried all my tips on the M5E as well.
wolfstar76
Headphoneus Supremus
A Tale of Two Pilgrims: Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir
Pros: Powerful and satisfactory bass, sweet and not-recessed mid-range, trademark Elysian treble, with a technical performance way above their price point.
Cons: Wide bore nozzle makes tip selection challenging, the cable of the OG Pilgrim limited its potential, Pentaconn termination makes cable rolling more difficult
First, I thank Effect Audio and @Sebastien Chiu for organizing this Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim (hereafter referred to as Pilgrim) and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir (hereafter referred to as Noir) tour so that I have the chance to do this comparison review.
I like both IEMs and I also put my money where my mouth is: I bought Pilgrim with my own money without any discount (even though I could get a discount if I went through MusicTeck’s review program). However, readers please don’t jump to the conclusion that I prefer Pilgrim over Noir, I will provide details in my review below.
Pilgrim stirred quite a hype when it was first introduced at CanJam NYC 2023. For readers who are not familiar with Elysian Acoustic Labs, it was pretty much a one-man’s boutique IEM shop running by the legendary Mr. Lee from Malysia until recently. All early date IEMs from Elysian were hand-made by Mr. Lee, such as the famous flagship limited edition “X” and the later Annihilator 2021 and 2023 (which was the IEM of the year in the famous watercooler). Those IEMs will cost you anywhere from $3k+ to $4k+. You can image the attention it gained when a $399 Elysian IEM was announced. Many headfiers went to the audition of the Pilgrim and almost all of the first impressions are very positive. The hype was quickly turned into a fast collaboration between the Elysian Acoustic Labs and the Effect Audio, which is a premium cable company based in Singapore. The feedback from the early impressions were adopted and the Noir was created and announced during the next CanJam (Singapre) just a few months after the Pilgrim.
The Build
Both Pilgrim and Noir share a similar 4-driver configuration but differ slightly. Both IEMs have a 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver for the low, but Pilgrim has a 3-way crossover design while the Noir has a 4-way crossover design. Noir uses 2 Sonion BA drivers for mid-range and 1 Knowles BA for highs while Pilgrim uses 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50 for the highs.
Effect Audio provided Noir with its Bespoke internal wiring mix inside the Noir and a special edition Eros S:Noir cable for Noir.
The Sound Impressions
With both IEMs in their stock cables, I find Noir has better and more elevated bass but very similar mids and treble as Pilgrim with probably thicker and slightly more full-bodied lower mids due to the bass.
However, since the stock cable of Noir is significantly better than that of Pilgrim, I quickly switched the stock cable of Pilgrim to my own Effect Audio code 24. The change is almost instantly, and I have to say that with code 24 cable for Pilgrim, there is almost no difference between Pilgrim and Noir unless you want to do a careful A/B test. Of course, I am using a $699 cable on a $399 IEM, but for the readers who already have their collection of better cables, Pilgrim will be a great value choice since I would strongly suggest to replace the stock cable if you bought Pilgrim.
Next, I need to talk about the tip rolling before I go further regarding the sound impression since the tip selection is very crucial, especially for Pilgrim. Some IEMs are not sensitive to tips, but some are very sensitive, such as Pilgrim and Noir. Both IEMs come with a wide bore nozzle, which makes tip selection even more challenging. I tried some tips with seemingly good seal but very questionable result since I heard very thin and weak bass. When I pushed the IEM further into my ears I could hear a huge difference in the bass and I know the tips are not a good match. For me, only a few tips in my large collection of tips work for Pilgrim, and a little bit more tips work for Noir since it is slightly easier to do the tip rolling. Among them are Penon Liqueur and Clarion Tri.
Therefore, make sure you picked the right tips that work for you before you jump to the conclusion regarding either Pilgrim or Noir since tips make day and night difference.
Now the bass. With both Pilgrim (on code 24) and Noir, the bass is impactful and very satisfactory. The texture of the bass and the bass quality is top notch for the price range. The quantity will satisfy almost everyone except for the most hard-cored bass-heads. The sub-bass and the mid-bass ratio is slightly leaning towards sub-bass, which is a clear contrast between those mid-bass monster IEMs, such as Campfire Audio Bonneville.
The mid-range of Pilgrim and Noir are both sweet and not-recessed, unlike most of the V shaped IEMs. However, I would not consider the mids of Pilgrm/Noir as too forwarded or mid-range focused. Both female and male singers sound fantastic.
Elysian Acoustic is famous for its treble tuning, especially in the Annihilator 2023, which is widely regarded as the treble king of the IEMs. Both Pilgrim and Noir exhibit the Elysian gene here: the treble is well-extended and artfully executed with none-fatiguing highs. However, don't expect the level of Anni 2023 in the treble performance from either Elysian or Noir. You will get a taste of the turning, but you won't get all the goodness, the details, and the technical level.
The sound stage of both Pilgrim and Noir are similar, they are open and tall, not particularly wide, but with good height and depth, large enough to not feel being cramped. Sometimes, at certain music track, I can feel some surprisingly large sound stage, but it is not consistent. The music from both IEMs have good instruments separation and nicely layered. The imaging is also precise enough for the price range. Both IEMs have very good resolution, but again not too much exceeding their price range.
To summarize my sound impression, I found either Pilgrim or Noir a great bargain at today's market. You get a taste of the Elysian Acoustic Labs' tunning, even though I would not call any of them as baby Annihilator (because they are different, especially in the bass and the treble areas), you still can find the gene of Elysian.
Music tracks used in the test
Hip Hop are great to test sub-bass, Pilgrim/Noir has great rumbling in sub-bass. There is absolutely no lack of any bass:
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry) (Official Video)
Sade - Slave Song (Audio)
In the following track, male vocal has good note weight, piano with good timbre. Very little difference between Pilgrim OG and Noir:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms (4K Official Video)
Below we can hear a good combination of mid-bass slam and sub-bass ramble, again bass on the fast side. Pilgrim is a little dark. Noir in this case demonstrated highly level of bass performance at both sub and mid bass, very satisfactory, more enjoyable than Pilgrim. Not only I feel the bass is elevated but also more decisive and impactful.
Wrong (2015 Remaster)
Iceland experimentalists, very interesting indie electronic music, with variety of sound to test your IEMs.
We Have A Map Of The Piano Mum
Female vocal with music that can test your limit of treble sensitivity. Noir for me is on the edge. Pilgrim is also on the edge but slightly better.
Beth Orton - Stolen Car
Noir slightly edges out in term of bass resolution, again slightly better bass, though in this case, the quantity is only slightly more in Noir. Both IEMs feel dark.
Teardrop (Remastered 2019)
In the end, my advise to the potential buyers of Pilgrim or Noir: if you did not have a good cable to replace the stock cable of the Pilgrim, Noir with the upgraded cable would be a better choice. If you already had some good spare cable, such in my case, an Effect Audio code 24 (I bought the Pentaconn kit later for that purpose though), Pilgrim would be a better value proposal.
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Ianbanz
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim
Pros: 1. Exceptional Bass Performance. The bass on the Pilgrim is truly a standout feature. It provides a deep and physical response, offering a
visceral experience and It strikes a balance between power and precision.
2. Smooth Upper Treble. The upper treble is beautifully handled, delivering a smooth, airy sound without any harshness.
3. Wide Soundstage.
4. Forward Mids. The midrange is forward and detailed, adding an emotional and engaging element to the music.
5. Precise Imaging. The imaging is precise, particularly on the left-right axis.
Cons: 1. Average Resolution
2. Faceplate have scratches out of the box.
3. Congestion in some busy tracks.
4. Inconsistent Midrange Intensity, but i noticed this is an almost common issue i find on most Mid forward iems i tried.
5. Decent but Not Outstanding Dynamics.
When it comes to evaluating IEMs, it's often about striking the right balance between technical performance and personal preference. The Pilgrim, from the Elysian brand, stands as a good example of quality craftsmanship and thoughtful tuning. However, as we dive deeper into its features and performance, it's important to keep in mind where it stands in the competitive mid-fi market, particularly around the $400 price point.
The Pilgrim showcases a range of strengths that make it a solid choice for many listeners. Its bass response is particularly notable, delivering a deep, visceral impact that's both powerful and precise. The upper treble is another highlight, offering a smooth, airy quality.
Technical Performance
Resolution
The resolution of the Pilgrim is just average within the mid-fi category. Details are generally clear, though they can sometimes feel dull or less sharp in more complex and fast mix due to a lack of depth in the soundstage.
Soundstage
The soundstage is notably wide for an IEM, more horizontal less vertical space, and it lacks depth. This can result in a somewhat flat and two-dimensional listening experience.
Imaging and Separation
Imaging is precise, primarily operating on a left-right axis, which it handles well, not exactly holographic more 2D than 3D However, the lack of depth can lead to congestion in busy tracks, making separation less distinct and lowers the resolution.
Dynamics
The dynamics of the Pilgrim are decent but not outstanding. It does not exhibit the dynamic prowess of other models in this price bracket, but still the Pilgrim delivers good dynamic range but falls short of delivering dynamic performance of its mid tier level counterparts.
Transients
Transients on the Pilgrim is good but still not exceptional. It has accuracy and speed, but there's room for improvement. Enhancing this aspect could reduce congestion and improve clarity.
Bass
The bass on the Pilgrim is exceptional, providing a deep and physical response characteristic of high-quality dynamic drivers. When the bass hits, it hits hard, pushing a significant amount of air and delivering a visceral experience. The bass decay is well-balanced, maintaining resolution, tactility and precision. While it doesn't delve too deep, the implementation is exceptionally tactile, accurate, and fast. It provides an atmospheric and clean presence without being overpowering or dry. This is particularly notable for listeners who prefer mid-bass over sub-bass, especially in techno, house and other electronic music that produces a quick repeatetive bass thumps and requires fast decay. The bass is emphasized tastefully, avoiding the detachment often found in pronounced bassy profiles, Pilgrim offers a more harmonious and authoritative yet non-dominant bass experience, the bass on the pilgrim is like having a mind of its own and knows when it needs to be boomy and when to slam with speed without bleed. very well controlled bass but not the most cleanest and detailed but still engaging.
Mids / Treble
The midrange and treble present a more contentious aspect. The mids are noticeably forward, this forwardness can feel unexpected and intense sometimes on select parts of the track but not very often. A distinctive sheen to the sound, enhancing detail and emotion without introducing grain or sibilance, the effect can enhance certain genres but may become too overwhelming with complex and technical music, occasionally reducing the soundstage like a narrowing effect in dense mixes. Despite this, the Pilgrim delivers high-quality sound even in challenging instances, though some of the magic can diminish, requiring a reduction in volume or unfortunately a skip to the next track
Upper Treble / Air
The upper treble is a standout feature, delivering pure bliss. The Pilgrim excels in this region, offering smooth, natural decay without any piercing qualities. It achieves a perfect balance, presenting a balance of warmth and details. This region is notoriously difficult to resolve, but the Pilgrim handles it well, ensuring no peaks, glare, or harshness—just beautiful, airy sound.
The Pilgrim is a very well-built and well-tuned IEM however, this brings us to its primary issue: it doesn't quite belong in its price bracket. When compared to its counterparts in the mid-fi range, particularly those around the $400 mark, the Pilgrim struggles to deliver the "wow" factor that you expect from IEMs in this category.
While the Pilgrim is not a bad IEM by any means—in fact, it performs admirably across almost all genres—it falls short of competing with other mid-fi options. The bass is deep and impactful, the treble is smooth and detailed, and the mids are engaging. However, it lacks the depth and resolution that a truly Mid-fi IEMs offer, which makes it less impressive.
If you're a collector of the Elysian brand and have some extra money to burn, the Pilgrim can be a worthwhile addition to your collection. But for the average listener looking for the best bang for their buck, this IEM would truly shine in the $150-$200 price range. It’s in this lower price bracket that the Pilgrim's strengths would be exceptional, offering a level of performance that would be hard to beat.
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
DaveStarWalker
Agreed 
deafdoorknob
so what are the mid-fi iems it cannot compete with? thanks
ch1525i
100+ Head-Fier
A Standout at Its Price Point
Pros: Sub-bass
Natural Timbe
Excellent Male & Female Vocals
Instrument Separation
Build Quality
Price to Performance Ratio
Cons: Pentaconn Connectors (I enjoy cable swapping)
Limited Ear Tip Selection
Disclaimer
I received a discount on this set from MusicTeck. They requested nothing more than for me to post a fair and honest review.
Look, Fit, Case & Cable
The Pilgrim is a stunning IEM. I love the matte/shiny concentric circles with the logo tastefully displayed at the center. The shells fit wonderfully. I have average size ears and with the included SpinFit tips, I was able to get a good seal, while this review was done with the stock tips, I have put a set of Divinus Velvets on them. The 4.4mm cable is quite premium feeling, without much memory and I did not have a problem with microphonics. As for the case, I’m sure it will get dirty over time, but it really appeals to my middle-aged female aesthetics. Overall, the looks, fit and accessories are very nice and have a premium feel.
Sound
Gear used:
- iphone 14 pro streaming Amazon music HD with Chord Mojo2
- iphone 14 pro streaming Apple Music with Questyle M15
- HiBy R4 with local FLAC files
- HiBy RS6 streaming Amazon Music HD and local FLAC files
Some of my test tracks:
- Little Bit of Rain (Martina McBride)
- Lonely Bed (Albert Cummings)
- Change the World (Eric Clapton)
- When I Fall in Love (Michael Buble)
- Believe (Cher)
- Summer of ’69 MTV Unplugged (Bryan Adams)
- All Through the Night (Cyndi Lauper)
- Mercy Street (Peter Gabriel)
- The Thrill is Gone (BB King)
- Lose Yourself to Dance (Daft Punk)
When I first put them in and fired up my HiBy RS6 with my BB King’s The Thrill is Gone, my first reaction was an audible WOW! The bass has strong impact and it’s quick for a DD. It’s doesn’t compare in bass to my Symphonium Titan, but it is not lacking in any way. It is good in both quality and quantity and doesn’t bleed into the mids. It has a sub-bass focus to my ears. In my opinion, the bass here competes with IEMs of a higher price point.
The greatness continues into the mids. I find the Pilgrim to be clear and with the proper body and shine for both male and female vocals. There are no obvious dips or bleed. Instruments in this range are also clear and quite precise. On Cher’s Believe many sets highlight the sibilance thereby distracting from the music, but here it was well managed and by no means distracting.
Treble for me is always a tricky subject. I have very middle-aged ears, so I don’t always hear the weaknesses others point out, but I am sensitive to peaks in the 3k-5k region. Therefore, weigh these comments appropriately. I find the treble to be a little bright but not overwhelming at all. It is well extended, carries decent detail and even some sparkle. Overall, it is quite nice.
Technicalities
The clarity, sound stage and resolution are outstanding highlights for me. The clarity is top-notch – the instruments are clear, and the vocals are clean. The micro and macro details are enough to catch your attention but not enough to fatigue – I can still enjoy the musicality of a piece and admire the detail. The Pilgrim is amazingly spacious and airy for its price point and has great layering and imaging.
Conclusion
Overall, the Elysian Pilgrim was an awesome purchase for me. It checks many of my top tier boxes: balanced, great soundstage, clean mids and enjoyable bass. Not to mention it’s superior build quality and nice accessories (although it could have used a couple additional tip options). It is a good addition to my collection and a standout at its price point.
tombrisbane
500+ Head-Fier
Elysian venture to the middle of Mid-Fi
Pros: Fantastic all-rounder
Comfort is great with the right tips
Killing it at this price point
Cons: Treble is safe
Pentaconn, while a great connection, means you probably won't be cable rolling given 2-pins dominance
Pilgrim
one who journeys in foreign lands
Elysian venture into the middle of Mid-Fi, how did they fare?
These are all my words and thoughts. I’ve tried to get my points across in the most succinct way.
The Pilgrim comes in a small but effective package, the unboxing experience is what you would expect from something priced a little higher, the two buds are beautifully presented to you when you open the package, with the case, cable, and ear tips underneath. All up very nice and better than the box with sleeve which is common at this price point.
The included cable feels decent, the case is also OK (it’s the same as the 7hz Aurora one, just a different logo on top), the included tips are also Spinfit which is a nice surprise, they didn’t work with the Pilgrim for me but I will use them on other IEMs.
Fit and comfort:
These feel nice in my ears, the shell is metal so when you initially put them in your ear they may be a little cold but they warm up pretty quickly and then I can easily forget about them for the rest of the day. Tip wise I found these to be a little odd, my normal sizing did not work, and I couldn’t get a good fit. In the end I used the Final E largest size in my right ear, and ML in the left, which is +1 size on each side. With these there were no issues at all, but for new buyers suggest that you might need to play around with different sizes until you find one that works. They also work well with the Velvets.
Sound:
These are smack bang in the Mid-Fi bracket. There is a lot of competition. Do they stack up? Are they at the top of the pile? Let’s find out.
TL;DR - They’re a perfect all-rounder, I generally shy away from all-rounders, preferring sets that have something unique in their presentation, but these just hit the all-rounder tick boxes without sounding bland or boring. Whilst they are an all-rounder, they bring detail that you generally wouldn’t find in this level and you’d be pushing into the > $1k bracket to get something comparable.
Starting with the lower frequencies, the bass has good impact; bass head this is not, but it isn’t light or lacking. The DD looks after the lower frequencies and does a fantastic job, the bass is fast (resembling a BA at points), but has the deep bass feel that only a DD can deliver, exceptional at its price point. A lot of other sets around this price are going with the dual driver approach, I prefer that for some genres, but for 90% of tracks this does everything I want.
Mids are extremely well done, the bass doesn’t interfere at all for me, vocals are extremely well done. Female vocals remind me a little of Diva which were arguably my favorite female vocals ever. Nothing strange, better than nearly everything else I’ve heard at this price point.
The treble is probably the weakest point, there are better sets at $400, but it’s still absolutely above average. Some people touted this as a mini Anni, not for my ears, but it gets the job done. I guess safe is probably the best way to put it, it’s not going to annoy anyone, but on some tracks it does leave you wanting a little more (if that’s your thing).
Detail retrieval, as I mentioned earlier, is crazy. This is punching over twice its price point in this respect. Imaging is good, I had no issues placing instruments or differentiating between them, but when it comes to stage I’d say that it’s fairly decent horizontal, however lacking depth and verticality. It works well as an all-rounder, but you’re not going to be listening to an orchestra in a three-dimensional space around you with these. There are others that will do that at this price point, but you’ll be making other sacrifices, to get this sound with the 3d imaging you’re heading well up in price.
Source wise I used these from a few dongle’s (iBasso DC04 Pro, DC06 Pro, L&P W4), FiiO Q7, and Sony TA-ZH1ES. It scales quite well up the chain.
Subjective thoughts and conclusion: I love these, I’ve had these for three weeks now and there hasn’t been a single track that I’ve put on where I felt I should switch to another set, for that to happen at this price point is unheard of for me. It's going to take a lot for something to come along and challenge this set at this price point. I generally find IEMs at this price grab my attention for a few genres, when they attempt to be an all-rounder they don’t hold my attention for very long, Pilgrim is the exception. At this price point the name is correct, if you’re starting your IEM journey and you’re after a single set around this price point to find out what it’s all about, get this. Perhaps the perfect everyday carry? That's what it has become for me.
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hitanshujoshi
New Head-Fier
A comparative review of Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir
Pros: (pilgrim)
Good sub-bass
Mostly natural timbre
Techs
Price
separation
Cons: (pilgrim)
Can be thin sometimes
typical elysian doesn't sound well without spinfits.
A lot of competition around this price point
stock cable is ok not great.
Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio
I was able to get my hands on a tour unit of Elysian Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir this a comparative review comparing both the iem. Even though I was offered the iem by the brand all thoughts and opinions on the matter are my own and are not at all influenced by the brand.
packaging:
The iems themselves come in a beautiful box that has almost all the accessories needed to get you started. The pilgrim come in a really beautiful white box with a basic 3.5mm cable, carrying case spinfit w1s and a cleaning tool. Can’t comment on Noir as I received them in the same box but the effect audio cable that comes with them is really premium.
Songs used:
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
Sound profile:
Bass:
Both the iems have similar bass response but the Noir’s bass certainly feels more prominent due to its tonal balance. Also, it being a tad bit darker in the upper treble region makes the bass more distinct this gives the Noir more fun sounding bass. OG pilgrim has good bass response where I didn’t feel that the bass was lacking anywhere but not as exciting sounding as Noir.
Then song A moment apart the has a distinct bass hit that slowly decays over few seconds this part is articulated quite well by both the iems. As both the iems have more focus on sub bass and so the mid bass doesn’t hit that hard its quite apparent in the track Eclipse by Pink Floyd where the drum hits are clear but don’t have that meaty sense to them like the Fir audio XE6 and Rn6 where you can really feel the drum hits. This dip in the midbass add a good contrast and makes them sound really wide epically for the price bracket.
Mids:
Both iems have an exceptionally well done mids. It also lacks the signature elysian dip just before pinna that some times make some male vocals lose body this is quite prominent with genre like Jazz where Louis Armstrong’s vocals can sound a bit thin and for me that ruins them. But I am happy to report that the vocals on both the iem are quite nice and have that signature texture that he is known for. I still feel that NOIR just sound a tad bit warmer and I really enjoy it for that track. But when we talk about instruments in the same track it fells like OG Pilgrim has a better position for instrument. The instruments sound a but delicate (Thin) but are well extended. While for the NOIR the instruments convey that sense of emotion and feeling but the trailing end can sound a bit dark also placement is not as good as OG. For female vocals I fell both the iems are on par as evident form A moment apart where the female vocals shine no matter what iem I listen them on. Also, the song Runaway playbacks quit well on both of them.
Treble:
As mentioned, several times before the NOIR has a bit of darker treble compared to OG pilgrim its not in dark territory just comparatively less. This makes the Hi hats and chimes in a moment apart a bit subdued and not as forward as OG. Also, the air region being darker makes the stage sound smaller. This treble tuning makes the OG sound well separated and exciting whereas, the NOIR sound laidback and relaxing.
Tech:
I feel both of the iem are really well tuned and are very capable when it comes to tech. But the OG pilgrim has an edge over NOIR due to its extra treble. For the Track Hotel California Hell freezes over version The OG pilgrim sounds a bit wider with me being able to concentrate on all the instruments if needed. Where as NOIR is a bit closed in and sometimes when the bass kicks in some of the instruments can sound a bit blended. The NOIR has a better timbre presentation over OG pilgrim especially for upper midrange where instrument that lie there can be a bit thin for OG.
Here why I would pick one over the other:
OG pilgrim:
In tracks like:
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
As you can see a lot of them are very busy tracks with a lot of instruments going off. This is due the tuning larger emphasis on separation. This is the iem that works well enough to be called an all rounder but I find that it works best on these tracks. The techs to price ratio is also really good. Also, the it in general has really great stating ability.
Pilgrim Noir:
In tracks like:
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
All the tracks mentioned above are really male vocals centric and aren’t that busy these iem are really good for these genres if you listen specifically to them this is your pick.
Conclusion: At the given price point I feel that OG pilgrim is a much better value for money to the point I can comfortably say if you are in the market for a new iem probably pilgrim is your best choice sub $1000 if your music library is as diverse as mine and if you are looking for a very technical sounding iem with good stage and separation. Whereas NOIR does feel a bit premium due to the excellent cable included for free, I feel that it lost me in the treble region.
JQuB3
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: Balanced sound signature.
Lightweight and comfortable earpieces.
Good technicalities for the price.
Cons: Limited eartips and accessories.
Midbass is somewhat lean.
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Disclaimer:
I received the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of a review tour in my country organized by Hifigo.com. I am not associated with either Hifigo or Elysian Acoustic Labs in any way and have no incentive whatsoever to write anything positive or negative about the IEM. The impressions shared in this write-up are based on my usage of the IEM over a week or so. The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is available for purchase from Hifigo.com at the following link:
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Introduction:
Although I’ve read about Elysian Acoustic Labs earlier, this is the first time I got to try one of their offerings and I must say, I’m quite impressed. The Pilgrim is a hybrid IEM housing 1 LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver and 3 Sonion Balanced Armature Drivers with a 3-way crossover. The IEM has an impedance of 9 ohms and a sensitivity of 101dB making it fairly easy to drive. The IEM comes with Pentaconn Ear connectors and cable options of 3.5mm SE, 4.4mm BAL, or both. The unit I received came with 3.5mm SE termination. The IEM comes with Spinfit CP100 ear tips. Apart from this, the package included a white carry case.
The earpieces were quite light in terms of weight and were quite comfortable to wear. I was able to get a good seal with the stock ear tips.
I tried the IEM predominantly with the Xduoo XD05-Pro with the ESS DAC card and Sparkos SS3602 opamps. I also tried it with Hiby R4 and FiiO BTR15, but my impressions here are based on the pairing with XD05-Pro.
Sound Impressions:
The bass has more presence in the sub-bass than the mid-bass region. The bass is well-controlled and is coherent with the rest of the frequency spectrum. The mid-bass is somewhat lean in comparison. This set is not something that bass heads would enjoy, but those who like a balanced signature, are likely to be pleased by the bass response of the Pilgrim. Although the bass is not mind-blowing in terms of either quality or quantity, it is acceptable for an IEM in this price range. Especially for a balanced-sounding set. The good thing is that there is no bass bleed, this is perhaps because the bass attack is well-controlled, and decay is minimal.
Mids are thick and realistic. There is a natural timbre in male vocals and female vocals too are well articulated without being shouty or sibilant. The midrange is somewhat forward in terms of presentation but not too much into your face.
The treble is well done too. It has just the right amount of sparkle and detail. The treble is somewhat laid back, thus, not sounding too energetic. I am very treble-sensitive, hence, for me, the Pilgrim’s treble was very well done. It had just the right amount of openness and airiness without being too bright or crisp.
Technicalities:
The soundstage and imaging are acceptable for the price. Nothing extraordinary or mindblowing about it. There is a slight sense of holography in terms of presentation, which at this price point is pretty good. The IEM could do better in terms of layering and resolution, which is apparent in complex tracks.
Conclusion:
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is a decent set for the price point with a balanced sound signature and comfortable earpieces. The performance and technical ability is acceptable for the price point.
DaveStarWalker
Agreed 
-
I didn’t originally plan to write an impression of this IEM. The reason? I didn’t have a unit to test! But hey, I got lucky and won a giveaway, so here we are. Honestly, I was hoping for the Annihilator (10x the price of this one), but the Pilgrim had already been on my radar. When I first heard it during its release, two impressions stood out in my mind: 1) "Elysian’s vocal tuning is insanely good," and 2) "Mid-Fi under $500 just got a new benchmark."Here it is... Elysian Pilgrim.
==DISCLAIMER==All impressions are based on my usual setup (listed below). Differences in impressions could be due to subjective hearing, defective units, or varying sources used.
All impressions are subjective and follow my motto: "I can lie to my savings, but never to my impressions." Agree? Cool. Disagree? That’s fine too. I write impressions because I want to, not because I have to. 
Important!! I recommend you audition it yourself—who knows, maybe it’s my ears that need an ENT check or yours (haha).
==MY DAILY DRIVER==IEMs:
Nostalgia Audio Camelot, Symphonium Crimson, 634ears Loak2 TX03, 7Hz Timeless II, Softears Volume S, EPZ P50
DACs:
FiiO Q15, Chord Mojo 2, XDuoo XD05 Pro
DAP:
HibyDigital M300
Cables:
Effect Audio 24c, Verus Lavender 6, VJC Heirs & Heirs Black, Kinera Mia
Ear Tips:
Eletech Baroque, Penon Liquer, JVC Spiral Dot++, Azla Sedna Max ASMR, Kiwi Ears Flex
==Unboxing==For a price of around $400 (roughly 6 million IDR), the unboxing experience feels quite premium to me, thanks to a unique box design that stands out in this price range. However, I find the accessories lacking:
- The IEMs themselves
- A 2-braid Pentaconn Ear cable with a 4.4mm non-modular jack (a 3.5mm version is also available, but I’m annoyed with the Pentaconn Ear connector because it limits cable-rolling options as most of my IEMs are 2-pin)
- Cleaning brush and IEM wipe
- Manual and warranty card
- A carrying case (stylish but white—prone to getting dirty)
- A set of Spinfit ear tips (3 sizes—I was hoping for more options)
==Fitting==With its 1DD + 3BA driver configuration, the aluminum body is standard-sized. It doesn’t feel too big or too small and is very comfortable to wear. The faceplate features a circular design with the Elysian logo, giving it a sleek look. The nozzle, made of metal, has a standard length and diameter, making it easy to pair with various ear tips.
==Sound Impression==
Base testing: Xduoo XD05 Pro and Spinfit W1 Premium
Bass:
My current preference leans towards a balanced sound with a slight bass boost, and the Pilgrim delivers great quality bass for its price range. While not for bassheads, its sub-bass has just the right amount of rumble and decay—neither too long nor too short—and feels dynamic with enough space to “breathe.” This makes it perfect for long listening sessions.
The mid-bass complements the sub-bass with sufficient body (not too thick or thin) and an average punch, delivering a well-rounded impact suitable for all genres. However, two things stand out:
- The sub-bass positioning feels slightly less immersive as it doesn’t fully surround the instruments.
- The speed is average and slightly relaxed, making it less optimal for fast-paced tracks.
Mid:
This IEM delivers some of the best vocals I’ve heard in its price range. The natural timbre, balanced and slightly forward presentation, and accurate note reproduction across the spectrum bring emotion to every song. The vocals feel airy, sweet, and lush. From my experience with Elysian’s lineup (Pilgrim, Noir, Gaea, Annihilator), their vocal tuning is always exceptional.
Treble:
Consistent with its overall tuning, the treble is smooth and inoffensive. If you’re looking for detailed treble that’s non-aggressive and well-controlled, the Pilgrim will suit you. Its extended treble offers excellent micro-detail retrieval. However, it lacks the energy and sparkle that some listeners might prefer for more dynamic tracks.
Clarity:
The clarity is excellent—there’s no sibilance or muddiness. The micro-detail retrieval is impressive for its price range, and the sound feels exceptionally soft and refined.
Soundstage:
Above average, with a wide and airy presentation.
Imaging:
The 3D imaging isn’t groundbreaking, but the instrument separation and dynamic layering are excellent, making it enjoyable for critical listening.
==Source Selection==For a mid-centric IEM with strong technicalities, the Pilgrim may feel too relaxed or “safe” with a balanced source. I recommend pairing it with either a warm or bright source, depending on your preference. If you want something more energetic, this IEM might not be the best choice.
==Ear Tips Selection==For me, the best fit is with Spinfit W1 Premium, offering comfort and balanced sound with good technicalities. You could also try Eletech Baroque or JVC Spiral Dot+ for extended comfort during long listening sessions. If you want to enhance the low end, Penon Liquer is a great option.
==Cable Selection==Honestly, I’m not a fan of the stock cable’s aesthetics. To enhance the Pilgrim’s look and add energy to the lows and highs, I suggest the 4modi x 4magni from Verus for a V-shaped sound with better low-end dynamics and treble detail. Alternatively, try Verus SPC or VJC Prabu for improved detail and dynamic bass response.
==Conclusion==
- After excelling in the high-end market with IEMs priced over $1000, Elysian has ventured into the “affordable” segment, incorporating the best aspects of its flagship models into the Pilgrim.
- Elysian’s hallmark—superb vocals and strong technicalities—is evident in this IEM. Dynamic sub-bass, well-balanced mid-bass, and controlled treble come together to deliver a highly enjoyable listening experience.
- However, there are three things to consider before purchasing: the Pentaconn Ear connector limits cable options, the accessories could use an upgrade, and the tonal profile may feel too soft and safe for fans of energetic music.
- Is it worth buying? At under $500, the Pilgrim sets a high benchmark for competitors to match or surpass—almost too high.
That’s all.
Trust your own ears, if they’re still working.If you don’t agree, no worries.
I’m not here to force my opinion.
Bye!
Attachments
iwatobi
Head-Fier
Pros: Safe Tuning
Awesome Build
Tastefully Done Sub-Bass
Great Soundstage & Imaging
Awesome Female Vocals
Incredible Details & Separation
Natural Timbre on Instruments
Cons: Mid-Bass is Not Satisfying & Lacks the Hard-Hits
Genre Specific Tuning & Dry Sounding
Tuning Might be Boring for A Set of Listeners
Requires A Decently Powerful Warm Source to Drive
No Modular Cable
Bad Price to Performance Ratio
Introduction
The Elysian Pilgrim created by the Elysian Acoustics Lab is the first mid-oriented entry in their catalogue. It is packed with 1 LSR DD & 3 Sonion BA, which comes in at $400. The
Disclaimer
I was sent this unit for a quick review by Sonic Mantra & Elysian Acoustics Lab; huge thanks to them for doing this. Nonetheless, my review is an honest write-up of what I felt while using the product. Therefore, I have only written what I believe in, and have not received any incentive from them.
Package Contents
- The Pilgrim Bud
- Pentaconn Connectors Cable
- Spinfits Ear tips (CP100)
- Paperwork
- A Cleaning Brush
- Pouch
Specifications
- Model: Elysian Pilgrim
- Driver Type: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configurations
- Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
- Sensitivity: 101db@1khz@100mV
- Impedance: 9 Ω@1khz
- Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
- Connector Type: Pentaconn Connection
- Plug Type: 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm
Driver Configuration
- 1 X 9.2 mm LSR DD
- 1 X Sonion 2300 BA
- 2 X Sonion E50 BA
Build & Design
The build of the Pilgrim is robust, and incredible. It is made from high-quality aluminium, which offers a durable, and lightweight shell. The bores are made of 304 stainless steels for corrosion resistance.
The design of the Pilgrim is sharp, and incredibly aesthetic.
Cable
They offer a Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable, which comes in 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm plug types with a “Pentaconn” Connector. It looks beautiful, but comes with the cost of an expensive cable replacement.
Fit & Comfort
The Pilgrim was comfortable, and extremely lightweight. It fit my ears perfectly, and had a good seal. However, it did not give me a deep insertion seal.
Tip Rolling
- Stock tips
- Dunu Candy
- Final E Clear Pink
Testing Gears
- Cayin N3 Ultra
- iBasso DX180
- Cayin RU7
- Celest CD-20
- Hidizs S8 Pro
- iBasso DC Elite
Sound
The sound section is tasteful, but it does not justify the $400 tag. More on it below:
Bass
Bass is textured, and clean, but lacks depth, engagement. It is well-controlled, and shows no sign of muddiness. The sub-bass is promising, and shines the most.
Sub-Bass
Sub-bass section of the Pilgrim is actually pretty good, and has good rumble. Its extension is deep; it is prominent, and has good separation. The sub-bass has a slow decay, but it is well textured.
Pilgrim has an enjoyable sub-bass.
Mid-Bass
Mid-bass is average, but smooth & natural. It is not thumpy or hard-hitting. The attack is slow as to not incur a bleed in the mids. However, it is a bit tight & punchy. The decay is average, and it doesn’t feel engaging. It lacks a good slam. It felt way too boring for me.
Mid-Range
The mids are well-balanced textured, and smooth. The vocals have a timbre.
Male Vocals
Male vocals have good warmth, smooth, detailed and has a good note-weight. It feels analytical, but is enjoyable to listen to. Moreover, it has some timbre. It gives a relaxed listening experience. The warmth also adds to the relaxing effect.
Female Vocals
The female vocals are smooth, has warmth, lively, and detailed. It is engaging, fun to listen, and soothing. The vocals are well represented, forward, energetic, and has a spacious feeling to it. Moreover, the previously mentioned warmth makes the listening experience even better. However, at higher volumes the vocals sound aggressive, and a bit sharp.
Nonetheless, female vocals are enjoyable.
Treble
The treble is quite energetic, has good air, and is sparkly. It is well extended, and it is not fatiguing for treble sensitive listeners like me. The lower & upper treble is clean, but the lower treble lacks some authority. The cymbals and hi-hats are crisp.
Instruments
Instruments are well-defined, textured, and clear. It has incredible separation, and natural timbre. They’re produced in a buttery smooth way.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage of the Pilgrim is good enough to make up for its missed points. It is intimate and has great width, height, and depth. However, it could feel a bit constricted on busy tracks. Nonetheless, the soundstage is great, and airy.
Imaging is another strong point of the Pilgrim. I could accurately pinpoint the instruments sounds.
The imaging & soundstage together creates an immersive listening experience.
Conclusion
The Elysian Pilgrim is a well-crafted IEM that impresses with its premium build quality and comfortable fit. Its sound profile features a standout sub-bass and exceptional vocal reproduction, particularly for female vocals, which provides an engaging listening experience. The treble is energetic and non-fatiguing, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
However, the mid-bass may lack the punch some listeners desire, and the tuning can feel genre-specific, which might not appeal to everyone. While the soundstage and imaging are strong points, the $400 price tag raises questions about its value.
zabiri
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian pilgrimSummary
The Elysian Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range. This is also Elysian’s first entry into the more budget segment. The Pilgrim consists of a 4 driver set up with 1DD+2BA drivers, priced at 400$. Moving on, Pilgrim comes in a fairly premium packaging and the included accessories are also of high quality. Although subjective, I quite like the build and design of this set, and fit and comfort is also decent. Now most importantly sound, Pilgrim offers a balanced clean sound with more emphasis on the upper mids and treble, bass is well controlled and tactile. Overall technical sound is above average. So is it any good? Yes, I think is a very solid contender at this sub 400$ price point. If you are looking for a balanced bright tuned set, this can be a good option.
Intro
Hey Guys, whats up….
Today I am checking out the “Pilgrim” from Elysian Acoustic Labs. The Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem with 1DD+3BA driver coming in at 400$. At the moment it is going for 350$ over at Hifigo’s sale, but I will be judging this iem as a 400$ set. The Pilgrim has been a very anticipated iem as this is Elysian’s first entry into the budget market (at least compared to their other popular releases). So where does it stand against other 400$ hybrid iems? Lets discuss…
About the brand:
First, let’s get to know the brand, Elysian Acoustic Labs is a boutique iem manufacturer based in Malaysia. Elysian has been around since 2015 and since then they have been making high end iems which has taken them to a supreme status in the audio community. This is my first time checking out and reviewing an Elysian iem, so hopes are high. Anyways enough yapping lets get back to the Pilgrim, starting off with specs.
Disclaimer: thanks to Hifigo and the review tour group “Audiophile Alliance Bangladesh” for loaning me this unit. However, please note that this review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion. I strive for transparency in all my reviews, whether the product is self-purchased, a free sample, loaned or received at a discount.
Specs
> Driver: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration (1 X 9.2mm LSR DD, 1 X Sonion 2300 BA, 2 X Sonion E50 BA)
> System: 3 Way Crossover
> Technology: LSR Bass Driver
> Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
> Sensitivity: 101db @1kHz @100mV
> Impedance: 9 Ohms @1kHz
> Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
= Price: 349$ to 399$
Packaging
Continuing on to the packaging section, Elysian did a great job with its over all presentation, feels premium. The box has minimal branding and a spiral type design on the box similar to the iem design. Opening up the lid you will find the iems beautifully presented in an insert. Below that you will find the carrying case and some paper works. Inside the carrying case, is the cable, eartips and a cleaning brush. I will get into more details about the eartips, case and cable below in the “accessories” section. I included some pictures of the packging and box contents here below. List of box contents:
IEMS
Eartips
Cable
Carrying Case
Cleaning brush
Papers
Build and Design
Moving on to the build and design section, the Pilgrim has a very unique and attractive design with overall pretty good build. The shells are made of machined aluminum. The faceplate has a spiral like design with a combination of shiny and matte silver color. In the center there is the Elysian logo slightly raised from the surface and there are four vents neatly placed in the spiral section. Although the design is gorgeous the shiny silver part seemed to scratch quite easily. Fingerprints were not an issue. The shells are on the medium to large side and have decent weight to them giving it a substantial feel. Instead of the common 2pin or mmcx connector Elysian has rather implemented pentacon connector. Although pentacon connector cables are rare, I like this connector over mmcx. The nozzle length and width is standard.

Fit and Comfort
Talking about fit and comfort of the Pilgrim, it is pretty good for my regular to large sized ears. But I recommend to change out the stock tips, as they do not fit well to my liking (I dropped the list of tips I used and prefer with this in the “tested with” info below. Long term listening comfort is decent, nothing too crazy. Isolation is fine. Breathability is good. Stability is good. All in all I find it plenty comfortable for daily use.
Inner Structure and Tech
Let’s see whats inside the Pilgrim. Elysian has gone for a hybrid 4 driver set up consisting of a single dynamic driver and three balanced armature drivers. The dynamic driver is 9.2mm and uses Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) technology to handle the bass. For the balanced armatures Pilgrim uses Sonion drivers, one of the three is the Sonion 2300, which handles the mids. And the other two balanced armatures drivers are Sonion E50, which handles the highs.
Accessories
Eartips
The Pilgrim comes with a single set of eartips. These are Spinfit eartips but not sure which spinfit model it is, seems like cp100 but in a different color way. Anyways these eartips are of decent quality but were not a suitable match for Pilgrim mainly in terms of fit and comfort. I much prefer Final tips over these. These do not seal very well. Case
The Pilgrim comes in a simple yet good looking and well made case. The white color of the case matches quite nicely with the iems and cable. The outside of the case is made of leather (not sure about what kind) and the inside is made of soft felt type material. The logo is the middle looks nice and classy. The stitching is in the same shade of white and done nicely. The hinge also seems durable. The closing action is a bit weak, could use stronger magnets or friction. The overall sizing is compact enough to throw in your bag but not pocketable. The inside is spacious enough to keep the iems nicely.
Cable
Now let’s look at the cable, Elysian has provided a really premium looking and feeling cable with the Pilgrim. The white and silver color of the cable really compliment the matte and shiny silver finish of the shells. Build wise this uses silver plated copper wire in 2core braid. The cable is on the thicker and chunky side, which I like. The 2 core braiding is nice and tight. The chin singe is functional. The cable is not the softest and has a bit of memory. The Y split and the connectors casing are metal. One unique thing about this cable is that it uses pentacon connector instead of more traditional 2pin or mmcx. The Pentacon connector allows the iem to swivel similar to mmcx but is more user friendly. There is minimal audible microphonics, close to none. This terminates into 3.5mm or 4.4mm (based on the version you purchase. At this price point I expect modular terminations, not cool.

SoundPlease note: Listening impressions are highly subjective and can differ depending on different ear shape, individual music library, choice of source, eartips, cable and personal preferences, so your experience may differ. I personally always use and test all my gear in various setups to get a generalized idea on it. You can find my “tested with” info below.
Now most importantly sound, Elysian has gone for a balanced mild V type sound signature with emphasis on the higher frequencies for the Pilgrim. Pilgrim’s sound is basically a version of Elysian’s house sound signature. It has high quality yet well controlled bass with fairly natural midrange with some additional sparkle and energy in the upper mids and treble section. All in all I find this to have a technical sound characteristic specially in the upper frequencies. Lets get into a bit more detail.

Bass
Lets look at the bass performance of the Pilgrim. This has a well controlled, tactile and dynamic bass performance. Elysian focused more on making higher quality bass over quantity, and I think they nailed it. I believe the dynamic driver they used is quite high quality, because I have not heard such articulate, detailed yet deep attack at this price range. The Pilgrim has a sub bass focused tuning with a more balanced mid bass. Although the bass is not authoritative, it does get deep when the music calls for it. Bass speed is on the fast and tactile side. And bass note separation is pretty good. The body and layering are executed well. Decay and reverberation is pleasant. All in all I find this has a tastefully balanced and controlled high quality bass.
Mids
Moving on to the midrange, the Pilgrim has a classic well balanced tuning with extra sparkle in the upper mids. There is a slight bass bleed giving some warmth to the vocals and instruments in the lower mids. Male vocals have a good balanced of smoothness and detail. Female vocals on the other hand are more forward with more sparkle and crispness. Although there is no major sibilance issue, this might not be suitable for treble sensitive listeners. Timbre and instruments sound decent and well defined. The body and texture is standard.
Treble
Proceeding on to the treble of the Pilgrim, it has a somewhat bright tuning, this is not exactly balanced but not very forward either, somewhere in the middle. But vocationally the treble does sound more forward than it is because of more controlled bass. Although this does get that harsh or sibilant, I still would mot recommend it to treble sensitive listeners. Over all the level of detail is pretty good, with quite good sense of air and space. The overall resolution is good. Level of energy is also good. Overall the treble tuning blends quite nicely with the bass and mids in my opinion.

Technical Sound:
Soundstage of the Pilgrim is above average. All three plains are decent, this has good width but the height is ok. Stage depth is good. Layering is fine.
Imaging is better than average. Pilgrim’s imaging is accurate and easy to pin point instruments.
Sound separation and layering is pretty good.
Resolution is above average
Dynamics are decent.
Timbre is good
Tested With
Source: cayin n3 ultra, cayin ru7, ifi go blu, questyle m15, fiio btr7, apple type c dongle
Eartips: stock, Final E Black (2nd best pairing), Final E Clear (best pairing), spinfit w1, Divinus velvet, JVC Spiral Dots, Azla Crystals (3rd best pairing)
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music
ComparisonDunu x Gizaudio Davinci
The Dunu DaVinci is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 300$ price range for the overall value it provides. I have previously checked out and reviewed the DaVinci and this is also one of my top recommendations at this price. This packs a 2DD+4BA driver configuration, coming in at 300$. Starting off the comparison with packaging, Pilgrim is getter. Build and design is better on the Pilgrim, but the design of the DaVinci is a close second. Fit and comfort is better on te DaVindi. Accessories wise its a tie. In terms of sound DaVinci is quite different from the Pilgrim, almost opposite. The DaVinci has amore thicker, warmer, relaxed and more bass forward presentation. Whereas the Pilgrim is more technical, balanced, bright and more detailed. Technical sound wise Pilgrim is superior.

Thie Audio Hype 4
The Hype 4 is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range and also one of my personal top favs. The Hype 4 has been in my collection for a while and I like to use it often because of its engaging sound. I will be publishing a separate review on the Hype 4 soon. This is a 2DD+4BA driver iem coming in at 400$. Now let’s compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrims wins easily. Build and design wise Pilgrims wins. Fit and comfort is a tie, although hype 4 shells are pretty big it sits comfortably, on the other hand Pilgrim with third party tips are also pretty good. Accessories are better with the Pilgrim compared to the Hype 4. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Hype 4 has much more forward sub bass and mid bass presence, lower mids are warmer and the upper mids and rreble region over all is more forward. The Hype 4 has a overall more engaging and fun type sound over the Pilgrim. On the other hand Pilgrim is more balanced, bright and technical version of the Hype 4. Technical sound wise, Hype 4 is superior in my opinion mainly in soundstage, imaging is a tie and resolution and timbre is better on the Pilgrim.

Thie Audio Oracle mk3
The Oracle mk3 is a fairly recent release from Thie Audio coming in at 590$. I know this is not exactly a fair comparison but I decided to do it any way. The Oracle mk3 has a driver configuration of 2DD+2BA+2EST drivers. I have been testing this set for a couple weeks now and will be reviewing it soon. Now lets compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrim wins. Build and design wise I prefer Pilgrim, fit and comfort is a tie. Accessories are slightly bit better on the Pilgrim. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Oracle is more well rounded with fuller bass and more refined treble. On the other hand Pilgrim’s bass is less forward with more forward upper mids and treble. Technical sound wise Oracle performs better in soundstage, imaging and dynamics but Pilgrim has better resolution.

Final Rating
Sound: 4.25/5Fit and Comfort: 4.25/5Build and Design: 4.5/5Packaging: 5/5Accessories: 4.5/5Pricing: 4/5Total rating: 4.25/5
Conclusion
So to conclude the review, is it worth the price and do I recommend this set? The Pilgrim is a pretty good contender in this price point and I think the 400$ pricing is fair. If you are looking for balanced bright type sound with good technical performance, this could be good option. The fantastic brand value, decent accessories are also a plus point. Props to Elysian for making a good entry point for a more premium experience.
And huge thanks to you all for sticking around, see yall in the next one.
Last edited:
thaslaya
1000+ Head-Fier
Master of None
Pros: + Mostly neutral/balanced tuning that works well as an all-rounder
+ Good sub-bass rumble and extension
+ Clear separation and vocal presentation
+ Accurate imaging
+ Solid build quality
Cons: - Tuning can come across as boring, lifeless
- Short nozzle and shallow insertion
- Faceplate prone to scratches
- Average technicalities
- Price to performance
thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure
Disclaimer:
This product was loaned to me by a friend for review purposes. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thank you to @Jaytiss for the opportunity.
Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle
●Hiby FC4
●KiwiEars Allegro
●Dunu DTC480
●BLON V1
Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.
Introduction:
Elysian Acoustic Labs is an audio company founded in 2016 by the legendary Lee Quan Min and is based out of Singapore. The company is well known for their kilobuck and multi-kilobuck IEMs that are touted as some of the best offerings money can buy, in particular the Annihilator and Diva models. When they announced the Pilgrim, the community was abuzz with excitement to see what Elysian could do in the mid-fi tier. This is their most affordable IEM to date, coming in at $399. I personally had a lot of anticipation to hear this newest model even though I haven't had the chance to hear the Annihilator or Diva yet (but will soon). Let's break down the Pilgrim and see what Elysian's most affordable IEM yet can do.
Build, fit, ergonomics:
This is a loaner unit, and I did not receive the retail box or all of the stock contents, so I cannot comment on the unboxing experience. I only received the carrying case, cable, and the IEMs themselves. The build quality of the shells is good. They are made of machined aluminum and have a somewhat matte silver/gray finish on most of the shell that helps minimize scratches and fingerprints. Unfortunately, the shinier, raised portion on the faceplate is very prone to scratches and will show wear very easily unless the utmost care is taken. I really like the three-dimensional design here, but Elysian could have chosen a different finish so that everyday wear and tear would not be as noticeable. The shape and size are about average, and the shells have good weight balance without feeling heavy in the hand or ear. The nozzle is a bit short. It measures 6 mm at its widest part near the end where the lip helps keep tips in place. The insertion depth is quite shallow and proved problematic for me regarding the fit. Initially, I could not achieve an insertion deep enough for a proper seal until I tried the Coreir Brass tips. These tips saved the day because the metal inside the silicone adds a little extra length to the end of the nozzle. Even my usual Penon Liqueurs did not work well, and without the Coreir tips, I could not get a consistently good seal. The Pilgrim, like Elysian's other IEMs, utilizes the Pentaconn ear connection for its cable. I actually like this connection more than MMCX because it feels sturdier and still allows for easy rotation, but I still prefer a 2-pin connection over all others. The Pentaconn also makes cable swapping difficult because it is much less widely adopted and available in aftermarket cables. Unfortunately, I could not test any other cable besides the stock 3.5mm that was provided. This cable is silver-plated copper and has decent build quality. I would have much preferred a modular cable at this price point, especially since Pentaconn is a rarer connection. The white faux leather carrying case is also a welcome inclusion. It's not very pocketable, but it's easy to throw into a backpack, although the light color may stain more easily.
Sound impressions:
During my testing, I found that the Pilgrim paired best with the Kiwi Ears Allegro, as it added a bit more excitement and a fun factor than something like the smoothed-over Hiby FC4. The Pilgrim has a mostly neutral tuning, with all three frequency bands being very balanced. No one area takes the spotlight from the others, but it is also almost too polite in its presentation, as if it's holding back. It can come across as flat and uninteresting at times, lacking a certain dynamic flair and engagement. The soundstage is quite nice, having a good amount of width but lacking some depth to truly be a standout feature. Separation is adequate, and all the frequencies work cohesively and coherently. On occasion, I did hear a slight metallic tinge to the timbre, and the note weight is a bit on the thinner side for my liking. I will say that the imaging is very good, with clear, concise notes that create a good three-dimensional space. Detail retrieval is also good, but the Pilgrim isn't a detail monster type of set. Its tuning is more musical than analytical, but again, overall, it just comes across as somewhat boring to me.
●Lows - I knew the Pilgrim would not be a bass cannon, but I was initially surprised at the amount of bass and rumble, considering some other reviews and impressions noted that the bass was lacking. Although it lacks some midbass thump and impact due to the focus being more on the sub-bass region, I'm quite happy with the quantity of bass here. It could use some more warmth in the mid-bass to help balance out the upper mids, though. The speed and decay are about average, and the resolution is good enough to easily pick out those double bass kicks. The texture is on the drier side, and the overall presentation can come across as a little too polite or anemic at times, but this is mostly track-dependent. When the music calls for a deep, elevated bass, the Pilgrim can show up, and things get more exciting and fun.
●Mids - There's nothing really "wrong" or "bad" that I can pinpoint in the midrange. Vocals and instruments are well separated and have good timbre. There is no bass bleed in the lower mids, and the pinna gain is smooth without sounding shouty or harsh. The mids are also well balanced with the bass and treble and are neither recessed nor forward. On paper, it should be a recipe for success, but they just don't give me any emotional response and sort of fall flat. Perhaps it's because the vocals lean more analytical and less musical and soulful in their presentation. Perhaps some added note weight would make them feel more grounded and realistic, with a less "produced" quality. As they are, I have trouble making an emotional connection to the music, as I do with sets that have a more fun tuning or those that are intimate and warm. In "deja vu" by Olivia Rodrigo, her voice sounds great from a technical standpoint, but it lacks a certain life and vigor that I'm used to hearing with my other favorite IEMs. In contrast, I find male artists fare better, but they still lack that special vocal quality that helps me connect to the music.
●Highs - I expected a lot from the treble before beginning this review, and it mostly lived up to my expectations. It seems the treble is where the Pilgrim truly comes to life. To my ears, this part of the tuning and frequency response has the most energy. There's a good amount of air and sparkle with plenty of detail and no real sibilance to speak of. It can sometimes get a bit thin and ever so slightly irritating at high volumes on certain tracks, but I am fairly treble-sensitive, so others may not encounter the same issues. The extension could be pushed a little further to add even more air, but that's a small nitpick. Cymbals, hi-hats, snares, and claps sound crisp and clean, and they add good energy to the highs. Overall, it's an enjoyable treble response with plenty of presence and clarity. It's probably the most standout part of the tuning for me, but I'm still not sure it can justify the $400 price tag.
Comparison to Sound Rhyme SP01 (balanced nozzle):
The Pilgrim is a hybrid consisting of one DD and three BAs, while the SP01 utilizes just a single dynamic driver. They may not seem like a great comparison, but I chose the SP01 because it is a recent release, has three distinct tuning nozzles (including a neutral option), and can help to see how the Pilgrim stacks up against IEMs at a much lower price (the SP01 is only $89). I used the "Balanced" nozzle on the SP01 and, to my ears, the tuning is quite similar to that of the Pilgrim. Both are well-balanced between the three frequency bands and have a neutrality that makes comparison easier. The build quality is similar as both have all-metal shells, but the SP01 is lighter in weight and smaller in size. The soundstage is wider on the Pilgrim, but the lack of depth and dynamics makes the SP01 sound more interesting. The Pilgrim has better separation and detail retrieval, but not by a huge margin. The tonality is slightly more colored on the SP01, but it's still mostly neutral and has a bit more life and vigor, which helps it sound less boring. The sub-bass extends deeper on the Pilgrim, and it has a slightly better rumble, but honestly, both are missing some mid-bass impact, and neither are very bassy IEMs in general. The midrange is more forward and clear on the Pilgrim, but the timbre is more natural on the SP01. The treble extension and air are better on the Pilgrim but also slightly brighter overall with a bit more energy. Now, I doubt many people would A/B these and not think that the Pilgrim is the "better" IEM, but for the price, I believe the SP01 has much more to offer. It currently retails for $89, while the Pilgrim comes in at $400. Does that mean the Pilgrim is four times better? Definitely not. Diminishing returns in audio are very real, and in today's market, they kick in at increasingly lower prices. I think the SP01 can come fairly close to the Pilgrim, but it also sounds a bit more lively and fun even with the balanced nozzle. That's not taking into account the fact that there are two more tuning options packed in that add more variety than the Pilgrim can offer.
In conclusion:
If I'm being honest, my first experience with Elysian has left me a little disappointed. I want to be clear that the Pilgrim is not a bad product. In fact, it does just about everything from soundstage and imaging to its tuning and frequency response well. But for $400, I'm looking for something, anything, to reach out and grab my attention to justify the cost. Unfortunately, there's nothing in particular that I can point to as fantastic or stand out. The tuning does have a certain sophistication and maturity, but it can also come across as boring and lifeless. The sub-bass is good, but the mid-bass impact and slam are lacking. The midrange is balanced and fits well with the overall tuning, but I didn't feel any emotional connection to vocals like I do with other sets. The treble, while also well balanced and good quality, can't make up for my issues with the other frequencies. Overall, everything is just good, not great. This also extends to the design and build quality as well. The shells are well made and sturdy with a neat raised engraved aesthetic, but the nozzle length is on the short side, and without the Coreir Brass tips coming in to save the day, the fit would be a huge issue for me. The cable is good, but it could also be better for the price tag. I found them to sound best with singer-songwriter, acoustic, and soft pop/rock genres. Generally, I do think most genres fair well and this could be considered a decent all-rounder, if you like the tuning that is. So, who is the Pilgrim for? In my opinion, it's a good option for someone looking for a mostly neutral/balanced sound and doesn't necessarily want a dynamic or "fun" tuning—someone who likes a more subtle and nuanced approach to their music. It also could be a good palate cleanser of sorts between other, more colored sets. I was really excited to try my first Elysian, but this one just didn't do it for me. I'd rather take that $400 and buy a few IEMs that punch above their weight and also gain a variety of tunings instead of just one. In my opinion, the Pilgrim would be more competitively priced at $200–250. I commend Elysian for their first foray into the lower mid-fi price bracket, and I wish more high-end companies would throw their hat into the ring. The Pilgrim, although not my cup of tea, is a good start. Unfortunately for me, it embodies the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none," and I think there are better, cheaper options on the market today.
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ILuvAudio
it is sad that Pilgrim didn't make it to your list of recommendation, but it was a good read to get perspective.
thaslaya
@ILuvAudio I was really expecting more from the Pilgrim but at the end of the day it's just OK to me. I'm sure there's a lot of people who love it but it's not high on my list. Give me the DaVinci, S12 2024, or even the S08 and I'd be happy keeping the extra $$$.
MakeItWain
Previously known as SemperMalum
The Yin to the Noir's Yang - Elysin Pilgrim
Pros: Great sub-bass
Detailed mids presentation, great for rock music
Treble is smoothly done - never sibilant or harsh
Great technicalities
Pentaconn connection is legit
Extremely comfortable in ear with manageable nozzle size
Tip rolling/Source rolling provides extra synergy
Cons: Proprietary cable option is also not necessarily market friendly vs 2-Pin or even MMCX
Upper mids being emphasized a bit more does make the Pilgrim a bit 'cooler' of a listen
Mid-bass is tuned to be detailed but lacks warmth or punch
May not have enough bass for some, treble for others - kind of too balanced/neutral
TL;DR: Cool, neutral sound in a solid package
Overview/History
Hi all.
Coming back in for a set of reviews over some Elysian IEMs. I still have to complete my write up on the Diva 2023 & the Annihilator 2023 but I digress! Those are just special so I'm trying to work my prose to do those justice.
Most people in this hobby that are in the market for the TOTL/Summit-Fi products know Elysian Acoustic Labs out of Malaysia. From my understanding, Lee Quan Min (owner and basically a one person operation) hand crafts each and every one of his IEMs that he sells. Not wanting to only be known for his TOTL IEMs, Lee has decided to take on the mid-fi budget range and released the Pilgrim (followed by a collaboration effort with Effect Audio known as the Pilgrim Noir) that still follows his 'Elysian House Sound'.
*Image from Elysian Acoustic Labs*
Both the Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir are a 1DD + 3BA IEMs. The dynamic driver is a 9.2mm sized driver with LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) which is found on both the Pilgrim and the Noir. Where they both differ in the BAs are that the Pilgrim comes with 3 Sonion drivers while the Noir comes with 2 Sonion and 1 'undampened' Knowles BA driver. The price for the Pilgrim is $399 (or you can add an Effect Audio Cadmus cable for $169 - total would be $568) while the Pilgrim Noir comes with a special Effect Audio cable for a total price of $799.
Essentially, the primary difference between the two IEMs is that the Noir is bundled together with the Effect Audio cable but is double the price as the OG Pilgrim and comes with 1 Knowles driver vs all 3 from Sonion.
Is the difference worth it? Which should you consider adding to your collection? Spoiler Alert: Join the Light Side.
Here's some specifications for you so you don't have to look it up yourself.
Pilgrim Specifications:
- 1DD+3 High-Performance BA Drivers
- 9.2mm LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver
- Three Sonion BA Drivers
- Impedance: 9Ω@1kHz
- Sensitivity: 101dB@1kHz
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-20kHz
Disclaimers: I received the Elysian Pilgrim and the Elysian Pilgrim Noir as part of a tour. I would like to thank @Sebastien Chiu for allowing me to participate and listen to both of them. I was not given any directions or told to write about anything in particular and this review is all of my own opinion.
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!
As this was part of a tour, I did not receive a full box so I can't document the full unboxing experience.
The Pilgrim is an extremely comfortable sized IEM in a light colored industrial design. I measured the nozzle lip (the largest part of the nozzle) to 6.0mm which is
definitely on the more manageable size.
The only thing I received with the Pilgrim was actually the upgraded Cadmus cable (so this is technically being tested at the $568 price point). I also, mistakenly, did not ask Sebastien for a bag of tips so there's that.
Tip Rolling
No stock tips this time! I believe they come with the Spinfit CP100s. My Spinfit W1s will have to do.
Also, apologies in advance. I think I'll start trimming down my Tips section as I have too much.
Spinfit W1: Considering how detail oriented the Pilgrim is, the W1 doesn't really help balance the sound to me. Not my preferred combo.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: Usually, the Clear/Red are my ideal fit/sound presentation but I actually found that it was just too transparent/neutral for my tastes with this combo. Bass was slightly boosted which was good.
Dunu S&S: Not my favorite combination, either. The Pilgrim already have a very wide presentation so the S&S does help boost that special sauce but it doesn't need it.
Kiwi Ears Flex: If you know my sound preference, the Kiwi Ears Flex works extremely well for me to help warm up the sound. Actually really enjoyed this combination as it brings some additional bass impact. For my review, I did not use these tips for my write up but this was an awesome combo.
Azla SednaEarFit Origin: Usually the Origin do a good job of boosting bass but I felt the Kiwi Ears Flex did it better in this case. I would pass over this combo as it took away too much from the treble but didn't have nearly the warmth that the Kiwi Ears Flex provided.
Radius Deep Mount: This was it. Radius Deep Mount did a great job of bumping the bass level up a bit while adding a perceived amount of warmth (which Cat Paw did not) while still keeping the special sauce of the treble extension and technicalities. My favorite combination.
Radius Deep Mount Zone: Similar to Clear/Red - boosted mids/treble isn't necessarily what I'd consider a good combination with the Pilgrim so I would pass on using these tips.
Canal Works Gel Tips aka Cat Paw: The Cat Paw tips are fantastic but are basically like a boosted version of the Clear/Reds - it keeps the sound signature transparent while giving a bit more impact on the bass due to the gel. This was a good combo for me.
Cable
So the Pilgrim was received with the upgraded Cadmus cable. Is there a difference between the Noir cable vs this cable?
Not that I can really tell.
Is this cable bad? No, actually. It's a very nice, light yet substantial cable and the Pentaconn connection is really good, honestly.
Sound
So, how does the Pilgrim sound?
The Elysian Pilgrim is an interesting IEM with just how much good detail that shines through. The Pilgrim manages to present a very balanced/neutral sound signature that doesn't go too far into that analytical side where it's unpleasant or cold to listen to.
Don't get me wrong. It's still on the cool side but the Pilgrim doesn't sound confused with what it's trying to present.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Element 3 Mk2 (with 4.4mm adapter)
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass: The bass of the Pilgrim is surprisingly very deep and competent but it suffers from what I would consider an analytical presentation.
Sub-bass is satisfyingly deep but the decay is very quick. It feels a bit like planar IEMs where detail is the key point in how the driver responds/reacts to the bass energy.
The mid-bass is a bit lean for my tastes but it makes sense where the Pilgrim is trying to minimize any potential bleed over in favor of the mids/treble to present that 'Elysian' house sound. It's not entirely my cup of tea here.
That being said, tip rolling really helped in my case and having a set of tips that do a good job of slightly boosting the bass (Radius Deep Mount, Kiwi Ears Flex) goes a long way.
Bass Score: 7.25/10 - TL;DR: Great sub-bass but most of the bass is presented in a quick/detail oriented manner so there's a lack of warmth or impact
Mids: The Pilgrim shines from the rest of the sound presentation from here on out though.
Keeping with the trend, the Pilgrim has amazing details in the mids from both a vocal sense and an instrument sense. This is especially evident in guitar rifts and rock music where I feel like the Pilgrim is king in.
My nitpick - and this is my own since it follows my sound preference - is that while the female vocals are absolutely amazing, male vocals will sometimes come through a bit thin and lack some warmth. That makes sense given the detail oriented nature and trying to sound very natural but I am missing that a bit here. This could be absolutely ideal for some ears.
Mids Score: 8.25/10 - TL;DR: Great details overall on the mids; good gain on the upper mids. Vocals all are super clear with more of a nod to female vocals as male vocals can be a bit thin/lack warmth. Cooler than the Noir
Treble: With keeping in the details segment, the treble with the Pilgrim is absolutely top-notch. There is no harshness or sibilance here in it's presentation. There's a militaristic precision to the treble presentation that isn't found in a lot of IEMs in it's price range.
The treble can come across as leaning towards the bright side but the way that Lee tunes his IEMs is to provide that extended airy sensation while never going over the edge of it being offensive to the ears.
With that all being said, I do slightly prefer the Noir and how it handles the treble energy but the OG Pilgrim comes across as less 'safe' and more special in this case.
Treble Score: 8.5/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely great extension; probably a bit better execution in treble vs the laid-back expensive Noir - Prefer Noir to my sound preference but I think OG Pilgrim is no slouch as it's very minor
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Timbre, Etc.: How the Pilgrim separates itself from the rest of the pack lies in it's excellent technicalities.
The soundstage is great and provides a good blend of horizontal/vertical space (more so the horizonal side). The imaging and instrument separation is top notch and really allows for busy tracks to shine especially with metal type of music.
There's an effortless precision in the detail retrieval which is where all the special sauce is for the Pilgrim and likely would be the biggest selling point for it.
Technicalities Score: 9/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely amazing details, soundstage and separation - some of the best in it's price segment
Library Hit List: Rock music - this is where the Pilgrim shines the brightest, IMO, and carves a niche into your library. Some stand out tracks:
Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky
The Rolling Stones - She's a Rainbow
Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
AC/DC - T.N.T.
While there are times where you won't get that same bass performance you would want, the detailed presentation really lends itself well to tracks with a lot of instruments or complexity.
Primary Comparisons: Here's the fun stuff. How does the Pilgrim perform vs it's peers? Rather than go too far into a breakdown with a long paragraph narrative for each IEM (as the price category is pretty full at this time), I'm going to do a quick hit of "Primary difference and which I prefer + why".
Hype 4 vs Pilgrim: These are more similar than they're different (compared to the others in my comparison section) but the Hype 4 will have fuller sounding bass while Pilgrim knocks it out of the park more on the detail retrieval/imaging/separation. I prefer the Pilgrim, actually, since the Hype 4 comes off analytical but trying hard not to be while the Pilgrim is unabashedly analytical from the get go.
Dusk vs Pilgrim: Dusk DSP is smooth (and probably my favorite vs Dusk Analog/Pilgrim), Dusk Analog is a bit more engaging and lively (in the vocals/mids) to my ears but Pilgrim is definitely more detailed. I like the Dusk DSP -> Dusk Analog -> Pilgrim in this case.
DaVinci vs Pilgrim: DaVinci is warm, smooth sound with definitely more bass, fuller mids and vocals - Pilgrim is, again, more detailed and energetic on the top end. DaVinci > Pilgrim to me since it fits my sound preference more.
Estrella vs Pilgrim: I've only had the Estrella for a day so far but, as far as sound goes, Estrella leans more towards the DaVinci side with deeper bass, better male vocals - Pilgrim, again, effortless in treble/technicalities but doesn't necessarily feel like the all-arounder that the Estrella would be. Estrella > Pilgrim.
These are the primary competition, at least as far as ones I've heard.
Other Things to be aware of:
There's one last comparison I can make but I figured it belonged in this section especially since I'm about to go on a rant.
Pilgrim Noir vs Pilgrim OG: To get this out of the way, I like the Pilgrim Noir tuning better. I really do. It's a bit warmer, bass feels just a smidge fuller but it still has a lot of the special sauce that the Pilgrim OG has. The issue is that the incremental tuning change is hard to justify the price difference and I would pick up the Pilgrim vs the Noir 10/10 times. If the Noir came without the Effect Audio cable and was either the same price or $100 more, I could whole heartedly recommend the Noir.
But, even with the upgraded cable for the Pilgrim with a different Effect Audio cable, the price difference is still $238. I like the cable well enough but not that much.
The Pilgrim, at $399, does things differently enough (but everything still well enough) to be worth consideration if someone tells you that they're looking for a detailed sound signature for their library. But I don't know if the Noir does enough in this case since it's creeping up to the $1k market where there's some real gems there. An example is like the Elysian Diva 2023 used which is around $1k - save the extra $200 and pick that up instead for something that's fantastic and unique. I say used because it's being discontinued and you're only able to find some stock here and there.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Competes well with all the other IEMs in this price bracket and becomes a game of 'Name that tuning preference!'
Conclusion:
The Elysian Pilgrim is an extremely solid first entry into the more mid-fi marketplace. It does a lot of things differently with it's detailed treble and technical performance that is capable of overshadowing it's peers.
For some sound preferences, this could be the ideal gateway to the 'Elysian House Sound' especially with a rock/metal type of library. For me, I'm excited to see if Lee/Elysian Acoustic Labs will continue to push into this price segment and bring something different to the table that can continue to drive the audiophile market forward.
Final Score w/o Special Sauce: 8.25/10 - I wanted to bring this score in since I'll do the same with the Noir - Overall, this scores super well for me and I can easily recommend it
Final Weighted Score: 8.1/10 - Final score tally is what I'll do the stars with; overall, different than my preference but I appreciate everything that the Pilgrim brings and can recommend it for some people based on their sound/tuning preference
Thanks for reading!
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MakeItWain
@thaslaya - thanks man. I can't wait to see how you feel about DaVinci vs Estrella.
MakeItWain
@jmwant - thank you, sir! For sure, I like the DaVinci overall way more than the Pilgrim. It's a great set.
Nealz
100+ Head-Fier
A Journey to the South!
Pros: Smooth, silky, well extended and detailed treble.
Immersive and deep reaching sub-bass extensions.
Forward, emotional and textured vocals.
Wide, holographic, spacious and airy soundstage.
Very good instrument separation and micro detailing.
Natural timbre for instruments.
Option to choose 4.4 mm balanced cable.
Cons: Not musical, rather somewhat dry sounding.
Lacks bass quantity, lean mid-bass.
Too safe tuning, lacks dynamics and doesn’t sound engaging.
Bad build quality, faceplates scratches easily.
Pentaconn connectors, making Pilgrim incompatible with most after market cables.
Not very good price to performance ratio.
Disclaimer:
Although I purchased the Elysian Pilgrim with my own funds, I did receive a reviewer discount worth $100 from HifiGo. If you decide to buy this IEM based on my review and find that you disagree with the sound or assessment, that responsibility lies solely with you. I strongly discourage relying solely on a single review for purchasing decisions in the realm of audio quality, as preferences vary. You should conduct thorough research by exploring platforms such as YouTube, head-fi forums, and various Facebook audiophile groups before making a purchase decision.
Non-affiliated Purchase Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-p
Unboxing:
Elysian has provided a decent amount of accessories with the Pilgrim, you get a white carrying case (Elysian logo comes off easily), a small cleaning brush, a set of Spinfit CP 100 Eartips (S,M,L), a stock sliver platted copper cable with pentaconn connectors, and a small carrying pouch as well. The unboxing experience itself is premium, you get layers of accessories presented to you with the Pilgrim theme and the box itself matches the white colorway of the IEM. You get to choose between a 3.5mm, 4.4 mm or a 3.5mm & 4.4mm cable while purchasing the Pilgrim and the price will rise by $30 if you choose the last option. Having the option to choose between a single-ended or balanced cable is always a positive in my book. However, I certainly do not appreciate this new Pentaconn connector from Elyisan, which means I have to buy after market cables specifically for the Pilgrim, as all my other IEM’s have a 2-pin connector. At $400 asking point I expected Pilgrim to come with some more ear-tips out of the box as well.
Build Quality & Design:
The Pilgrim is quite an ergonomic IEM with a lightweight design, personally I had no issues with the seal or comfort. In fact, I could listen to it for hours without feeling any sort of ear-fatigue, I don’t think even people with smaller ears will struggle with this one. Pilgrim has a very atheistic and beautiful faceplate, the design is supposed to mimic the gentle rolling hills. Each step in its design is meant to reflect the relentless pursuit of enlightenment through its journey from the initial development stage. Unfortunately, these beautiful shells of the Pilgrim are not very long lasting and tend to get scratched or have dents in them quite easily, especially the shiny metal parts, My unit already has some noticeable scratches and some tiny dents event after using it very carefully. Although Elysian has crafted an unique design for the Pilgrim its let down by the poor build quality.
The Tech:
Pilgrim sports a multi-driver or hybrid configuration; it has four drivers in total on each side. A 9.2mm LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver unit takes care of the bass, 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50’s for the highs. Pilgrim also offers a 3-way crossover design for a harmonious, clear and balanced sound across the whole frequency range. They have also crafted the internal chambers and acoustic duct tubes inside the cavity of the Pilgrim using highly precise 3D printing technology.
Sources Used During Review:
Cayin RU7, Hiby R6 Gen III, Hiby R4. The pilgrim is pretty sensitive at 9 Ohms @ 1khz, what that means is that devices or sources with higher impedance output can skew the overall tuning and sound signature. Fortunately, all of my sources have a reasonable output impedance, the Cayin RU7 added some warmth and an analogue sound as usual to the Pilgrim. However, I preferred the neutral tonality of the Hiby R6 Gen III & Hiby R4 Dap’s. Being sensitive doesn’t mean Pilgrim doesn’t need some power, feeding it good quality power opens up the stage, tightens the bass and brings more texture to the midrange. However, Pilgrim tends to maintain the same level of performance both at higher and lower volumes, you won’t notice a significant difference in sound quality while pushing the volume higher.
Sound Evaluation
Signature:
The Pilgrim has a very neutral and mid-centric tuning. It’s smooth and neutral profile allows it to render genres like rock, metal, indie etc beautifully and effortlessly. Due to its lack of dynamics, bass quantity and overall engagement factor, genres like Pop, Hip-Hip, EDM etc don’t sound as good on the Pilgrim. This IEM doesn’t sound go for thick or musical sound rather it can sound a bit dry and lean, however Elysian Pilgrim maintains a natural timbre and tonality for all the instruments presented in a track.
Highs (4.5/5):
The highs of the Pilgrim is really well extended detailed and sparkly, it maintains a smooth profile without sounding harsh or fatiguing at any point. Instruments like cymbals, high hats and trumpets maintain a lot of air and sound crisp, this can be especially noticed in tracks like half-alive – Summerland or Superglue by Joan. Saxophones are also beautifully rendered and makes its presence felt in tracks like Syst3m Glitch – Young and Wild and Free. The upper treble region is nicely detailed, vivid and energetic whereas the lower treble region lacks a bit of energy and air. Overall, the treble region of the Pilgrim manages to nail the balance between a uniquely bright yet smooth tonality.
Mids (4/5):
Kansas – Miracles Out Of Nowhere, is a track where the mids of the Pilgrim truly shines, drums, violins and electric guitars sound truly breathtaking. There is no Harman like forced upper-mids boost, the female vocals are presented slightly forward in the mix and sound quite emotional. Male vocals sound a bit hollow in comparison mainly due to the somewhat lean lower mids. Vocals overall sound very clean and textured on the Pilgrim, it has very good definition and resolution. Elysian has proved with their years of tuning experience that vocals don’t need to be too forward to sound beautiful.
Low’s (3.5/5):
Due to the use of LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver the sub-bass of the Pilgrim is well extended, it has deep reaching reverberating effect and rumble which is quite distinct. The bass has excellent resolution and a fast decay, being able to keep up with busy tracks effortlessly. Kick drums in Big Dawgs Ft. Kalmi by Hanumankind sounds rich and impactful. And that deep reaching, full bodied sub-bass rumble can also be felt rocking your ears in tracks like Green Juice by A$AP Ferg ft. Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes. Mid-bass of the Pilgrim doesn’t have very good extension, it lacks punch and sounds rather lean and dry compared to the sub-bass.
That’s enough about the quality of the bass, but what about the quantity? That’s where the Pilgrim falls behind significantly, I am afraid! I am by no means a bass-head (I enjoy well-known less bassy IEM’s like Simgot EA1000 or Hiby Project Ace), yet the bass quantity of the Pilgrim did not impress me. Now I have tried tip-rolling with Final E-tips, Penon Liqueur Black Tips and Tri i3 Pro stock tips, all of which are known to enhance the bass quantity of IEM’s, yet the Pilgrim still failed to satisfy me. I would suggest bass-heads or even bass lovers to avoid this IEM, you will feel like there’s something big missing in this department.
Technicalities (4/5):
Pilgrim is a master of micro details, it presents the listener with a lot of information, you can pick up small details like background humming, little gasps for air while the singer is performing the songs or even vocal echoes. The overall clarity and resolution is very good but it does not immediately grab the listeners attention like some other sets do, for example, Simgot EA1000. Instrument separation is much better on the other hand due to the clarity and resolution you can easily tell apart each instrument and where it’s positioned in the mix. The soundstage is wide, holographic and spacious with a good amount of air but lacks the spatial depth. The dynamics of the Pilgrim are a little bit blunt It’s dynamic prowess aren’t as engaging or exciting compared to other sets in the same price range, making the Pilgrim sound inoffensive but also boring to listen to.
Comparisons:
vs Dunu DaVinci
Although both are hybrid sets, these two sets are world apart. One sounds balanced, slightly bright and less dynamic whereas the other sounds thick, meaty and engaging. Pilgrim has the better treble extension, air and sparkle compared to DaVinci, especially it extracts better micro details in the brilliance region (upper registers). DaVinci on the other hand decimates the Pilgrim when it comes to bass quantity, it has much better mid-bass and sub-bass presence. While the Pilgrim does offer better bass texture and quick decay, I honestly don’t care about these when the quantity is so scarce. DaVinci presents better lower-mids (thick male vocals) and thick note weight whereas Pilgrim plays it safe with a more balanced presentation and slightly forward but smooth upper-mids (emotional female vocals). Technicalities goes to the Pilgrim with a wider and taller soundstage, better instrument separation and natural instruments timbre. Overall, my personal preference leans towards the more musical, thicker and dynamic sounding tuning of the DaVinci, Pilgrim loses my vote while trying to play it too safe.
vs Simgot EA1000
The Fermat is a Single DD flagship from Simgot whereas the Pilgrim is an entry level hybrid set from Elysian. EA1000 offer better treble extension compared to Pilgrim but it’s quite harsh as well, you will need a warm source and a pure copper cable to tame that harshness. Pilgrim on the other has nicely extended treble but without any harshness or peaks, I prefer its much smoother presentation. Micro-details extraction is excellent on both however EA1000 edges out the Pilgrim by a slight margin. EA1000 highlights the midrange instruments better and vocals sound forward and cleaner as well. Vocals on Pilgrim although, not as forward as EA1000, but they do sound more emotional and fuller. Bass is interesting with these two, both have a faster decay and very good texture, however EA1000 has the better quantity and bass slam. Technicalities are comparable on both sets, soundstage is slightly wider on the Pilgrim but is has more spatial depth with the EA1000, imaging and instrument separation is pretty great on both. Overall, it’s a matter of taste, personally I prefer the clarity, higher resolution, better dynamics, engagement factor and especially the more satisfying bass impact of the EA1000 compared to the Pilgrim.
Conclusion:
The Pilgrim is a great set but for a specific demographic of people, if you listen to a lot of Rock, Metal, Indie etc then the Pilgrim can serve your purpose quite masterfully. Those looking for a smooth, inoffensive and mid-focused tuning will also be happy with what the Pilgrim has to offer. Those who like a bassy, engaging or thick sound should take their business someplace else. Pilgrim has a unique tonality that’s for sure, it’s extremely balanced but plays it too safe. Its clear Elysian is sticking to what it does best and not interested in taking risks. I can respect that, but unfortunately my personal taste doesn’t align with it. If I have to consider the price to performance ratio then I would say $400 is a bit too much asking price for it has to offer, $300 would be more reasonable. And that’s all folks.
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Pranto Dev
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim | The pilgrimage of Music ?
Pros: Solid Build
Safe tuning
Coherent hybrid setup
Tasteful Sub-bass
Wide sound stage
Natural Tonality
Budget offering from an expensive brand
Cons: Face plate gets scratched easily
Cable replacement can be expensive
Treble sparkle missing
Genre specific
Require decent power to drive
Elysian Pilgrim
Disclaimer: This iem was provided by HIFIGO for review to AudioPhile Alliance BD. Big shout out to them. Regardless, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Inside The Box
Iems
Cables(Pentaconn connectors )
Carry case
Spinfit eartips (cp100)
Warranty card
Microfiber cloth

Specs
Hybrid(1 DD + 3 BA)
9.2mm LSR Dynamic Driver (Low)
One Sonion 2300(Mid) and two E50(High) series BA
3 way crossover
Frequency response 10Hz-20 Khz
Actually what do these specifications yell? Elysian didn’t cut corners while choosing the drivers and made sure to make them sound coherent. In other words, they sound as if a single driver is playing. 10 Hz frequency response means you can expect a good lower end response. More about it in the sound impressions.
Build and Comfort
Starting with the build it has a solid build with 304 series stainless steel (Only the body and bores). I think the cross over is built out of resin. The face plate is aesthetic. But it easily gets scratched due to the mirror-like pattern on the face plate.
Overall the build is premium.
Comfort wise it sits comfortably right outside your ear canals but the iems doesn’t allow to have a deeper insertion.
The nozzle is a bit on the wider side. Good luck while inserting eartips!
Source
Cayin IHA-6
Ibasso DX170
All testing is done using balanced cable. (if you damage or loose the cable good luck finding cheap replacement)
It requires decent amount power to drive.


Sound
Elysian is known for its high end iems and award winning tuning. They claim the highlight of the show to be their tuning. So let's dig down to discover the claim vs the reality.
signature / graph : Balanced sound signature with sub-bass boosted.
Bass:
The bass is tight, punchy. It doesn’t bleed into mids and sounds so clean. But for busy tracks where a lot of instruments are playing, like: bass guitar, drums and tabla. It literally overshadows other instruments. But in hip hop, edm shines like a gem. It's a sub-bass boosted iem, where the “oomf ” has been prioritized over bass. It has fast, textured bass. Depth of the bass is missing.
On the contrary the sub-bass has slower decay. The sub-bass is done tastefully.
Mids
Male vocals are done quite well; they sound thick and have a good note weight. On the other hand, female vocals don't sound as good as male vocals. Vocals sound a bit dry which affects female vocals as well as string instruments. Instruments sound natural but not as engaging as I expected for this price range. If you are a fan of smooth and non fatiguing vocals you will like em. But, if the treble sparkles then this might not be your cup of tea. The background instruments could use some presence. They kind of fade away.
Treble
The treble is well extended and non fatiguing even more so for some who are treble sensitive. For in other iems i found Hi-hats bit fatiguing but this one does that beautifully. The lower treble and upper treble region sounds clean. For example in some busy tracks like “Can You feel my heart” it retains the details when it gets loud.
But my complaint with lower treble is that the drums could have more authority or definition to it.
Technical aspect :
The imaging is on point unless it's a very track like classical music or orchestral. The soundstage is very wide, 180-270 Degree. It gives 3D representation and an immersive experience.
For the overall sound experience I would say the strong points are sound stage sub-bass and coherent sound. Coherent sound is very important on which a big company like sony spends million dollars(ie: z1r).
Eartips roll off : Pilgrim has a short nozzle which doesn’t provide good seal and depth insertion. There are some mods you can try. I personally used Divinus velvet as it helps to elongate the nozzle + eartips depth and provides a better seal.
Comparison
Comparison is a thief of joy
Verdict
If someone is heavily leaned towards: Hip Hop, rap , edm they can buy this iem.
This offers a solid build, does everything decent. Moreover people who are heavily treble sensitive can pick this iem for everyday use easily. There are some other options in 400$ price bracket. This is in the competitive zone but not something which I would call value for money.
Attachments
P
Pranto Dev
@jmwant Yes Sir. I feel like, when manufacturers are creating iems, its art. Better thing might be to view from the people's perspective what they really trying to create. In case of pilgrim they claimed their tuning and coherent driver setup.
Project Audio
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim - The First Path
Pros: Great build and unboxing
Excellent tuning
Deep and defined bass
Vivid and articulate highs
Good soundstage and imagining
Cons: Unusual cable connector
Hi, I'm Feliphe Espildora and today I'm going to give my first contribution here with what is probably my "endgame". Introducing Elysian Acoustics Pilgrim.
Obs: This is a personal unit, purchased by myself on HifiGo
Buy Elysian Pilgrim
The unboxing of the Pilgrim, as with the other headphones of the brand, is relatively simple but very elegant, with a white box with some lines that refer to the faceplate of the IEMs. Opening the box we see the Pilgrim and right below is the envelope with manuals, warranty card and cleaning cloth. Finally, we have a beautiful white case with magnetic closure and inside it an excellent cable and SpinFit CP100 kit.
The earphones are beautiful, all made of aluminum and mix a matte finish with polished lines on the faceplate, being relatively small and very comfortable. The nozzle is made of stainless steel and has only a small screen protecting the output ducts, and use the Pentaconn Ear connector, which works in a similar way to the MMCX.
Inside, we have 1 dynamic driver and 3 balanced armatures arranged in a 3D printed structure and organized in a 3-way crossover (1+1+2).
Bass: Tonally, they are a little above what I consider neutral and with more emphasis on the sub-bass, but still maintaining a good presence of mid-bass and are far from being dry or thin. The word that best describes the Pilgrim's bass for me is “grandiose”, everything sounds big and deep, has body and weight but is not dull. The extension and impact in songs like "Bad Guy" and "The Dinner", both by Billie Eillish, are impressive, but perhaps some people miss a little more mid-bass to give more weight to the notes of a double bass. In technical terms, I've never heard so much texture and detail, not even on the Softears RSV, the most expensive earphones I've ever heard, in addition to a lot of speed capable of maintaining the pose even on an “Intra Venus”.
Mids: Starting with the lower midrange, in the notes of a cello everything sounds beautiful, with body, weight, intensity worthy of goosebumps in "Nothing Else Matters (Live)", the same goes for lower notes of an acoustic guitar and even a bass-guitar, even without much presence of low midrange. The upper midrange stands out, but it doesn't take over the presentation nor is it too frontal, it's just crisp and clear, effortless. The voices sound natural, both female and male, and have a lot of detail and texture without becoming harsh or sibilant, and as an Aurora fan that I am, you can be sure that listening to “The River” is always a pleasure, and the same goes for “No soy una de Essas” by Andrea Grauzas, which sounds beautiful, clear, detailed, textured. Lindsey Stirling's violin is also the same, and at no point is it overshadowed by the rest of the performance. It's there, crisp and clear amidst the tinkling of the bells in “Carol of the Bells.” Speaking of bells, let's move on to the highs.
Treble: Still on the subject of the bells in “Carol of the Bells,” even with the violin's greater prominence, they are perfectly audible, and this happens in practically any song, and even if they are not highlighted, the highs are there to be heard. The cymbals have a lot of extension in “September in Montreal,” even though they don't reach the level of a top-of-the-line magnetic planar, but they sound more organic and "raw," with metal really sounding like metal, without the thin tone that many headphones have. The highs here are just right for my taste, both in quantity and quality, being a region with a certain prominence but that doesn't get in the way.
Technicalities: In this regard, Pilgrim is the best I've ever heard, simple, not even Softears RSV beats this guy here. Everything is there for you to hear clearly and palatably, even microscopic details, like in “Cure For Me (Acoustic)”, by Aurora, where right at the beginning you can hear the person's hand sliding across the neck of the guitar as they change notes, or in “SKINNY”, by Billie Eilish, where you can hear small whispers in the background at various points in the song. Pilgrim is also very expansive, and even though the vocals and instruments are relatively close, the space behind them is huge, the sounds seem to die away several meters away. The song “Give Me the Night”, by George Benson, gives me the feeling of being on stage in a theater with the crew, as the music spreads and fills the room in front of me. Conclusion: A $399 headset is not cheap at all and few will be able to afford the Pilgrim, but those who can will have a great experience. That's how I define the Pilgrim: it's great. Everything about it feels big, alive, captivating and exciting, while also being very technical.
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Argha
100+ Head-Fier
King without a crown ?
Pros: Unbeatable Value Till Date
Luxurious Tuning
Exceptional Layering
People Pleaser (Safe tuning for the majority)
Cons: Midbass delivery does not complement the sub-bass
No shine and sparkle in the music
Shout-out to HiFiGo and @gadgetgod for providing me with this unit. Here is the unaffiliated link to the IEM -
Elysian Acoustic Labs PILGRIM 1 LSR DD+3 Sonion BA Hybrid In-Ear Monitors
All the thoughts and opinions are mine and honest to my findings. No one paid or influenced me to write anything good or bad about the product.
Elysian Audio Pilgrim
Elysian is a well-established IEM brand that focuses on the higher end of the budget spectrum in the IEM market. This is their intro to the mid-fi segment and oh boy! I am so happy that they chose to enter into this field also, where a huge competition is already waiting to devour any IEM that doesn't match the value proposition even the tiniest bit. And Elysian not only scored well in that race, but I would say it might’ve won it too. Let’s dive in.
Introduction to the sound
Pilgrim is not the kind of IEM that will impress you with cheap tricks. The fundamentals are excellent on this IEM. Although not everything is perfect, it has flaws in two places and I will be discussing that later on. But I think if it hits the right spot for you, it has the potential to be an all-rounder IEM that would serve you well in every genre.
Philosophy Towards Tuning
The intention towards the tuning reminds me a lot of the Sennheiser HD6X0 Series. They did the primary tuning very well, which doesn’t only impress you with refinement but can also challenge IEMs that are much more pricier. Simply put, if you love music for the art in it (Composition and Orchestration) rather than enchanting factors like huge stage depth and sparkly details, you will be delighted with this IEM. The majority of the genres sounded good. Where recorded music shines in this IEM, Electronic music still needs a little bit more oomph. Personally, it worked extremely well for my library. But if you have a very electronic music-heavy collection, it won’t give you a satisfying low-end. The sound is organic, beautifully coherent and wet while being refined through and through.
Simply put, Pilgrim can’t do everything well. But for sure it doesn’t sound like a $399 IEM but a lot more than that. The value you will get from this IEM is astronomically high.
Tuning in detail
Subbass ( A lot better than I expected )
- Rumble is there in this region
- It feels authoritative
- The extension is deep
- Separation is excellent in this region
- The sub-bass is not room-filling (The immersion factor is missing a bit)
- Doesn't sound like a subwoofer is in the action (Cohesive but not defused)
- Amplitude is tasteful as a neutrally tuned IEM
- Decay and Attack is extremely neutral and feels analogue
- Falloff to the midbass is very natural and gradual
Mid-Bass (A slight departure from the excellent sub-bass)
- The transition is very smooth from the sub-bass
- Mid-bass is not thumpy to my ears
- The amplitude of the overall midbass is also not very high
- The transition to midrange is very neutral and doesn’t give husky characteristics to the male vocals nor it will make it lush.
- Overall the low-end seems very natural and slightly hints at a more reference-grade tuning
- Compared to the sub-bass, the midbass is a bit underwhelming in presentation and resolution both
- The attack is a bit slow
- Decay is extremely well implemented. It is as natural as it can get at this price point.
- The bass depends heavily on the music. If the music has sufficient bass it will reproduce properly enough.
- Again, the overall bass performance is extremely tasteful
Let me explain the low end of this IEM using a few songs from my library
(For reference the song “We All Have Dreams” - doesn’t produce enough oomph with this IEM but the sub-bass is good enough. The song “Personal” also left me a bit desiring with the bass performance. In the song “Reconssiance” this IEM performed so well that most of the gripe I had with the midbass vanished. The song “Anthology - Daft Punk Tribute”, made me question what I said about the mid-bass, it sounded very full and thumpy. So it is clear that it is highly dependent upon the tracks you’re listening to, but the points above apply to most genres I listened to).
Lower Mids (The whitepaper reference)
- Lower mids are very neutral
- Vocals and Instruments are aptly textured. It doesn’t sound hyper-textured (Like Tangzhu GATE) but never felt it was lacking by any means.
- The resolution is good enough for the price and so are the details (micro contrasts & micro details)
- The bass causes no bleed to the mids whatsoever.
- Timbre in this region is very enriched (The production of every instrument is more appealing ), which is a delight to listen to if you are not chasing absolute realism in timbre.
- This range is extremely dynamic.
- Zero Dryness & roughness can be noticed here. The vocals sound great.
- The vocals do sound intimate rather than having a spacious presentation although it is not as heady as I thought.
Upper Mids (Sparkle Where ?)
- The upper mids are not sibilant even a tiny bit.
- The whole range is controlled through and through
- Although I craved a little bit of elevation in this range.
- No sudden peaks and dips are there that can result in unevenness
- The resolution is perfect here, the texturing to micro details everything is very good in this range.
- Some air extension can be felt but it is not sufficient for my ears to call it a fulfilling female vocal reproduction.
- 4Khz needs to be EQed to sound exciting
- Very realistic timbre.
Treble ( OK so you have to choose one pill - comfort or elevation )
- The treble is very safe for every song I have thrown at this IEM.
- The treble contributes to a wetness to the sound which I adore.
- Very refined and controlled throughout the range.
- The resolution is very organic, no sudden peaks cause unnatural detail exaggeration which contributes to the unevenness in the music.
- Although I would’ve liked a bit more elevation in this region. The transience could’ve been a little bit crisper at the end.
- Note Falloffs are a bit blurred too which also contributes to the wetness. But I don’t find it bothering me enough.
- Timber is a bit weighted, few instruments lacked the presence region refinement.
- The resolution is OK for the price here.
- I kept craving for trailing edges since every nuance matters to me.
- The attack and bite are a bit missing, which contributes to the smoothing out of string instruments in micro-contrast.
- Overall, the treble is extremely useful for longer listening sessions. I used it for hours at a stretch and didn’t feel fatigued even a tiny bit which is a huge win.
Simply saying, Pilgrim sounds like a much higher-priced set. With a few changes here and there in EQ, you can live with this IEM without worrying about an upgrade, for a long time. I guess the experience talks here, Elysian haven’t backed out a single bit to give this IEM a lot of care as they do with their much pricier IEMs.
Technicalities
Sound Stage (OK! IEM Version of HD650)
The soundstage of this IEM is intimate but it is far from being claustrophobic. Some might express it as a heady IEM which I don't agree upon. The soundstage though is well applied in all directions. No stretching of any sort, to give it a Stereo Imaging benefit, nor does it shy away from producing height. This IEM won’t wow you with a huge stage but the utilisation is very strong for the minimal scope it acquires.
Imaging (Damn! They've outdone themselves here)
The imaging on this IEM is exceptional, to say the least. Not only I could pinpoint every instrument in the soundstage but also the border around their sound projection could be felt. There was space between instruments even on the busiest tracks.
Now comes the part that blew me away. The layering of this IEM is insane for the price. You can hear layers upon layers within the soundstage of this IEM. I can easily compare it to a $1000 IEM and it might still beat most of them in terms of layering capabilities only. For this reason, Binaural Recordings sound superb with this IEM.
Dynamics
I have zero complaints about the dynamics. It handles everything well. It felt very analogue and I loved that since dynamics like IE600 is arguably better but I would much prefer the sound of this IEM in terms of Dynamics.
Resolution
Now IEMs have gotten so good with resolution that it is hard to complain. The resolution likewise is very good with this IEM. It might seem a bit under-detailed due to psychoacoustics for the treble tuning but it is very resolving.
Comparison
Softears Studio 4 - They might look similar in the FR but they sound a bit different. Whereas S4 is very neutral in the sense that it is flat. Pilgrim is not as reference grade as studio 4. The soundstage on S4 is a bit better but Imaging and layering are better on Pilgrim. Subass is way better in Pilgrim whereas S4 will give you a thump in the mid-bass.
I would choose S4 if I aim to listen to music from an analytical perspective. Otherwise, Pilgrim is a more richer and luxurious way to listen to music.
AFUL Performer 8 - Again, they are very different. P8 is massively better in providing sparkle and air. Where Pilgrim beats Performer 8 in the bass. Staging of P8 is a hint better and on the other side layering of Pilgrim is better.
Project Dita M - Pilgrim is a lot more expensive than Project M and likewise it is an upgrade in all aspects, so if you have the extra bit of cash in your wallet, go for it.
IE600 - These two are complementary sets. IE600 sounds wider and has better separation, air, and it is loaded with sparkles. Where Pilgrim is a much more mature set.
Conclusion
I wholeheartedly recommend this IEM at $399. Pilgrim is a mature, well-refined and well-tuned set with exceptional layering capabilities which will be the benchmark for me at this price point from now on.
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ILuvAudio
Nice one bro
gadgetgod
Glad that you liked the set bro.
Argha
@ILuvAudio @gadgetgod Means a lot coming from you guys.
MuddyCrab
New Head-Fier
A pilgrimage to great sound? | thoughts on the Elysian Pilgrims
Disclaimer:
I’m more of a Teach head than an audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.
Gear Used:
Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bit rate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
Box:
Starting at certain price points you kinda want a nice unboxing experience and this definitely has on without being over the top or unnecessary. You open up this unit of a box to reveal the IEMs then with the silver pull tabs on the side you can start to unpack the rest down all the way revealing this posh white case.
The case it comes with is definitely more of a storage case rather than a carrying case. With its white pleather material and white exposed stitching you definitely don’t want to be shoving this thing in your backpack everyday. Reminiscent of a watch case it definitely would be a nice display piece on your PC setup or IEM collection. The Elysian branded microfiber cloth inside is a nice little touch as well to further add to its overall vibe.
Build:
The stock cable it comes with is pretty nice with a metallic silver finish that matches the IEMs themselves making it for a fairly simple but pleasant color palette. It all leads down to a nice little stop with a subtle and classy looking Elysian logo. I’ve been rocking the stock cable the entire time and it’s not loud when you ruffle against clothes and it’s light enough not to be cumbersome in any way. The ear hooks are covered in a clear plastic material like usual but it’s not too thick wherein it starts to bother my glasses.
With a nice and even matte silver finish the IEMs themselves are lightweight and nice to hold. There’s a little indicator for left and right on the inner side of them which is a nice little bonus for people like me who have the hardest time somehow putting on cables on the right side even. While the overall finish is super nice and premium, the mirror accent pieces are honestly a little annoying. The sharp ridges tend to catch on cloth or anything fibrous while the mirror finish itself which seems to be the bare aluminum gets micro scratches super easily making it looking fairly worn down after a while. They still look good from afar don’t get me wrong but they definitely start looking a little battle worn close up.
Sound:
If you’re gonna skim this entire section then the one thing you should know is these sound super fun to listen to. In terms of sound quality the two things that stand out to me the most are its bass and its accentuated imaging.
In terms of bass it’s not the strength that gets me but the richness I feel from it. There’s this extremely satisfying thump that hits you without messing with any of the other sounds coming from it. It’s got this nice reverb roll off that just gives kick drums and some EDM bass such a nice texture. The chorus bass hit in Wake Up Alone (feat. Jhené Aiko) - Chainsmokers has this nice reverb effect that’s just very apparent with the Pilgrims. As for the imaging, the clarity in some of the minor instruments that's isolated is eye opening in some songs. The level of detail you get out of something like the bamboo flute in Head in the clouds - 88rising which is something I never really noticed before and the electro stereo effects in This is what space feels like - JVKE where the left and right effects are slightly offset but you still get that flavor out of them just takes you to a different dimension.
Oh and another added bonus of these I found out is that even at lower volumes you still get a nice full sound out of them. There are times where I would need to lower the volume but I’d still get a nice little kick out of the bass. Clarity doesn’t suffer either, everything can still be heard at lower volumes which is just the cherry on top.
Nitpicks:
This is clearly a case to case thing but these things just don’t want to give me a proper seal after a few minutes. I can’t go a few songs without pushing them back in and trust me, I’ve tried all the tips and sizes I could have possibly tried.
These tend to be flatter(physically and not sonically) and shorter on the inside so it might be less ergonomic I think.. For me personally, IEMs like the salnotes 7hz with that kind of flatter inside shape have never really given me a good fit.
Because of the constant effort to keep them in my ears like keeping my loved ones in my life, they tend to hurt after a bit so no matter how good they sound I just can’t enjoy them for a longer listening session let alone try them for things like movies or TV shows.
Final Thoughts:
While the whole fitment thing is an instant deal breaker for me, It’s obviously something that will depend from person to person so I'm not really going to count that in this final conclusion.
At the end of the day I think it’s an okay package with great sound. I do wish they took more consideration into the longevity of the mirror finish accents because it does have the price tag to warrant it. If these will live solely in its case and be taken out for dedicated listening sessions then the durability probably won’t be an issue but if these will become your daily drivers then you might want to take those factors into consideration.
But remember, Music is a personal experience so make sure to find whichever makes you enjoy it the most regardless of what a graph says.
Attachments
ShabtabQ
100+ Head-Fier
"Theatery" experience on the go...
Pros: The sub-bass is impressive
Built like a tank
Efficient
Cons: Proprietary connector
Scratchable glossy part of the faceplate
Introduction
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs have recently become very popular among audiophiles due to the beautiful design, top-notch sound and affordable price. Targeted at the listeners who are looking for a quality sound experience while at the same time maintaining a reasonable budget, these IEMs come as the latest addition to Elysian Audio’s mission of giving quality sound at a reasonable price this time. This IEM was sent to me for the purposes of review by @gadgetgod , however by no means the review is influenced, it's all my personal opinion and a very positive one for sure.
Build
The build quality of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs shows how much the company pays attention to detail and the quality of their products. The shells are made of high-quality aluminium alloy which makes them light yet strong and give a high-class look. This choice of material is not only practical as it adds durability to the IEMs but also enhances the IEMs’ looks. The faceplate has six vents that point towards the proper design aimed at improving soundstage and airflow. The care that has gone into the construction of the Pilgrim IEMs is evident and it shows that they are designed to last and can be used on a daily basis, however the faceplate where there is glossy finish is prone to scratches, being a review unit, it is understandable but still one has to take extra care if they want to keep these looking as good as new. Another important thing to note is that the cable although removable comes with a different connectors, proprietary, something that I have never used before, but I would add to it that this connectors are much much better than mmcx, but yet I wish they were 2-pins as its the universal these days and a lot of people with cables already lying around would have better time as well.
Comfort
Comfort is a key factor of any in-ear monitor and the Pilgrim IEMs are no exception. They are decent in size, not as big as the blessing series, and not as small as AFUL, however they are very lightweight and are designed to sit comfortably on the ears for hours on end. For me the provided Spinfits were very good, and it offered a great fit that made the ear-tips very comfortable and provided good sound isolation as well. These would fit most of the ear size and shapes without an issue.
Sound
Lows: The sub-bass of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs is excellent and is one of the product’s highlights. The low end is quite prominent and has a strong, almost visceral character; it delivers a nice punch that works best with electronic pop, EDM, and techno. Sub bass is deep even by the standard of most IEMs in this price range, and delivers a powerful slammer without overwhelming the rest of the frequency range. The mid bass is well integrated and offers good texture and tonality, which is rather detailed. The bass is tightly controlled with no signs of muddiness or bloating and for those who are into a clean and punchy low end, then the bass of this IEM will not disappoint even the bassheads out there who are looking for quality bass. One thing to note is that the quantity of the bass is not high but the quality is just amazing, never heard before kinda in this price range.
Mids: The midrange of the Pilgrim IEMs is rather lively and not recessed at all, vocals and instruments sound clear and detailed. This smooth mid while injecting some excitement to the listening experience, can be quite aggressive at some points especially when the volume is turned up. Vocals, and especially female ones can be a tad on the aggressive side which may be tiring after hours of use. Nevertheless, this issue can be counteracted with the proper choice of ear tips and proper control of the volume. It has smooth and a bit detailed mids which I think is great for all kinds of music; be it rock, pop, classical, or jazz.
Highs: In terms of treble, the Pilgrim sounds very good with a smooth and detailed sound in this region, there is no harshness or sibilance often found in many IEMs of this price range. The highs are well-extended with a nice sparkle to them that helps to give the general listening experience a lift without being too forward. This makes the Pilgrim IEMs to be very comfortable to use even for long periods with intricate high frequency details being delivered in a clean manner. The treble here reminded me a lot of the IE-600, it could be a problem for a very few treble sensitive people, but other than its perfect for what it is.
Resolution: As for clarity, the Pilgrim IEMs are exceptional and can easily be considered as some of the best in their price range in terms of detailing and information retrieval. A clear division between the instruments can be noted, which results in you being able to hear and distinguish each and every instrument that has been used in the mix. This kind of clarity and resolution is especially apparent in more intricate songs, which the Pilgrim IEM is able to decompose into its individual components and present in a way that gives a very “theatery” experience.
Soundstage: As for the soundstage of the Pilgrim IEMs, it is another strong point. The space is notably large and the depth of it is fairly great, thus offering a rather spacious and involving listening area. Meticulous position of instrumentation and voice within this soundstage can be seen since the listeners can easily map out the layout of the musicians. The soundstage is mostly good, but it can be slightly constricted in busy songs. Nevertheless, this is a rather small issue in the otherwise impressive piece of work. The soundstage accompanied by a great imaging results in the feeling of openness and airiness that only strengthens the general impression of the Pilgrim IEMs.
Rating
Comfort: 



The Pilgrim IEMs are lightweight and ergonomically designed, providing a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. The wide nozzle may require some experimentation with tips to achieve the perfect seal, but once found, the comfort level is high.
Sound:
Lows: 




The bass is deep and impactful, with excellent control and texture. It delivers a satisfying sub-bass presence without overpowering the mid-range. The bass is well-balanced and suitable for a variety of music genres, though hardcore bass enthusiasts may find it slightly lacking in power.
Mids: 



It can occasionally be intense, especially with female vocals, the overall tonality is detailed. The mids provide a rich, engaging listening experience that avoids muddiness.
Highs: 



The treble is smooth and detailed, with a non-fatiguing quality that avoids harshness.
TL;DR
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs are a great choice in the sub-$1000 bracket as they are well built, comfortable to wear, and sound fantastic. It has good bass with good control, the mid frequencies are lively and the high frequencies are smooth with good detail. Due to a high level of detail and a decent enough soundstage, these IEMs will be perfect for listening to any kind of music. However, the upper midrange may be quite hot for some people. All in all, the Pilgrim IEMs provide a comprehensive and accurate sound reproduction that is entertaining and satisfying for both music enthusiasts and general consumers.
David Haworth
Previously known as J Weiner
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: Class leading Sub bass
Class leading separation and details
Cons: Tip sensitive (Spinfit loving )
I am listening to the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of the Audio Geeks tour of Australia. Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio I am pleased to offer my honest opinion of this set.
The Pilgrim is a new lower priced sibling to the DIVA, and flagship Annihilator which launched in 2023. It sells for $399 USD and is a single DD and three BA hybrid. Its uses a LSR (Liquid silicone rubber ) Dynamic driver which its is claimed can produce frequencies as low as 10Hz. Midrange is handled by a Sonion Driver 2300 and the treble by a dual tweeter Sonon E50. Pilgrim uses a Pentaconn connect cable meaning you are unable to use .78 pin cables without purchasing an adaptor first. Luckily the cable is excellent.
Pilgrim’s shell is made from aluminum and has a very high-quality feel. It is lightweight but feels durable and I find it comfortable to wear. Pilgrim has six vents on its faceplate and this led me to expect a nice big soundstage (as per my MP145 planar) so high expectations. I found the staging respectably wide and deep, and it is enhanced by the IEM’s superb instrument separation. The sound is airy and detailed with the placement of instruments and backing vocals so precise and discrete that I can picture the stage of musicians vividly in my head.
In terms of tuning, the Pilgrim employs the Elysian w-shaped sound signature. The sub bass goes deeper than I have heard before with a physical impact and the bass in general has excellent texture and tonality. The midbass is balanced nicely giving enough impact without overpowering the midrange and allowing air and space for the midrange to perform. Pilgrim does electronic pop and EDM extremely well. Pilgrim has a widish nozzle and it took a lot of tip rolling to find a good seal to allow the bass to reach correct levels. I actually purchased some Spinfit W1 tips on recommendation and sure enough these worked perfectly with Pilgrim. Stage and vocals enhanced and a good seal for that great bass.
Midrange is energetic and prominent but tonally natural. I found some vocals could be forced and overpowering. This was ameliorated by using the W1 tips but I would primarily say that for my ears, Pilgrim has a forward energy that is exciting but can be a little draining in a long listening session. The best way I can explain this is regards volume. Many IEM’s I can push listening volume up to unhealthy levels without the sound signature troubling me. With the Pilgrim there is a fine line, which if crossed can bring an overly forward edge to vocals, especially female vocals. Reducing the volume brings the sound balance back. The good thing is the treble is sparkly and detailed while also being smooth and non-fatiguing. The detail retrieval is first rate. It bests my planar easily and uncovers new layers of delight in my favourite tracks.
I spent hours with The Elysian Pilgrim over the last 10 days and it performs well with every genre in my listening library. From Billie Eilish and Post Malone to classics from Dire Straits and Supertramp. As I mentioned, electronic music from Romy and Rufus Du Sol sound on point and digging out some 80’s rock was also rewarding. I really enjoyed my time with the baby of Effect Audios range and would love to hear their range topping products one day.
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jreqtech
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: - Amazing premium build of the cable and IEM
- Fantastic bass, soundstage, and immersion
- Accurate imaging, great for competitive gaming or general media consumption!
Cons: - Shell fitment does not give me a good seal, need to readjust from time to time
- Can get cold because of the shell’s material
Disclaimer
Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim was lent to me as part of a review tour in the Philippines. Thanks to Ian and Mars who invited me to join!
Price: 399 USD
Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Part 1: General Product Details
Package Inclusions:
- IEM shells & cable
- Carry case (with cleaning brush & cloth)

The IEM Shells
- The shell is made of metal, likely stainless steel. It looks very industrial, looking like bare metal silver. It features the Elysian Acoustic Labs logo embossed on both earpieces surrounded by concentric circles
- Each earpiece weighing at around 6.7g, almost double the weight of the budget IEMs I am currently using.
- The Pilgrim uses MMCX connectors (single pins) which allows you to rotate and adjust the IEM around the connector.




The Carrying Case
- The flip-top carrying case is made of faux leather on the outside. Embossed on the lid is the silver logo of Elysian Acoustic Labs. Seems like the faux leather would easily get dirty over time so consider bringing wipes to keep it clean.
- Inside, we find that the lid and bottom are covered with grey suede. The lid has a netted compartment for extras like eartips.
- In the container, I found a black cloth, likely for covering and cleaning the IEM shells, as well as a small cleaning brush.


The cable
- Thick and braided translucent but flexible cable. Feels very premium and doesn’t tangle easily, likely the best IEM cables I’ve ever seen.
- The slider, y-splitter connector as well as the straight 3.5mm jack have steel jackets

Extras
- There are no extras aside from the manual and warranty paperwork
Part 2: Subjective review

General Usage Impressions
- After a few hours of usage, my ears started getting tired due to the weight but after 3 days, I have gotten used to the weight
- The shell can get cold because of its material, might be uncomfortable to some
- The fit on my ears is loose, even if I changed tips from small to large. Can’t seem to make a good seal because of the shell’s shape, need to do extra effort to push them in. Occasionally, I’d need to push them in as the IEMS seems to keep sliding out.
Sound Impressions
- The bass is strong, but not strong to the point of being bothersome. it can also be felt, like there's a rumble in my ear that I only experienced from headphones.
- Details of songs are fantastic. Tuning doesn’t sound warm to me. Sounds better than my headphones for sure.
- Surprisingly wide soundstage. Music felt very "immersive”. It sounded similar to open back headphones!
- Fantastic for general use, whether it’s music, gaming, or watching movies .
Final Thoughts
Definitely an upgrade in leaps and bounds from what I am currently using (Phillips SHP9500 headphones & Truthear Hola)! The build quality of the shells, cable, and carrying case are top-notch. If I could afford this, I would buy this, BUT the fitment issue is a glaring issue for me since these are made of steel, I would be cautious of scratching or accidentally dropping the IEMs.
Nonetheless if you are looking for midrange (yes, audiophiles consider this midrange) IEMs that have amazing soundstage and details with a well balanced tuning, the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim should be at the top of your list, if not near there.
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ILuvAudio
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim – A strong contender for the Mid-Fi King crown
Pros: - Superb technicalities
- Ample detail retrieval
- Sub bass presence, bass texture is class leading for the price
- Metal shell with industrial design and comfortable fit
- Price
- Responds very well to tip rolling – suggested Divinus Velvet and Penon Lacquer
Cons: - Would have loved better cable
- Supplied CP100 tips doesn’t do justice to this iem, tip rolling required
- Carry case is of mediocre quality
- High notes on female vocals can be a delight or issue based on your source pairing, especially ch sounds
Elysian Acoustic Labs is a Malaysian high-end custom in-ear monitor (IEM) company that has garnered attention for its impressive offerings. We often associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end iems such as annihilator, X, Diva etc. The path to excellence started off in 2015 with anger at the inadequacies of the IEM options of the era. Out on a quest to reinvent what sound means to him, Mechanical Engineer Lee Quan Min took it upon himself to refurbish an old Ultimate Ears TripleFi10. Upon gaining public interest from local hobbyists, Lee started providing reshell services and thus accumulation experience along the way. It is nice to see EA Labs launching a relatively mid-fi iem which can give the taste of tonality from their esteemed firm’s high-end offerings.
This review reflects my personal and subjective listening experience with the mentioned audio gear product. I would like to thank Hifigo for the tour unit and @gadgetgod for organizing this review tour in my country and allowing me to share my thoughts on the product, it doesn’t influence my review in any form and nor I am compensated.
Before I start, I would like to mention that most of my impressions of the gear is based on the source and test tracks mentioned, so YMMV.
Sources: Mojo 2 + Poly via AirPlay, Apple Lightning dongle
Technical Specs
4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration.
Drivers: The Pilgrim features a hybrid setup with one 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver (Liquid Silicone Rubber technology) for sub-bass and three Sonion balanced armature drivers (including a custom-tuned Sonion 2300 BA for mids and a dual-tweeter E50) with a custom 3-way crossover.
1 X 9.2mm LSR DD (Instead of using vibrating bone conductors or traditional PET drivers, EA Labs developed a custom-made 9.2mm dynamic driver featuring Liquid Silicon Rubber (LSR) technology. The LSR is capable of reproducing low frequencies that reach an impressive 10 Hz, compared to the standard 20 Hz of traditional PET drivers. This contributes to a strong sub-bass rumble.
1 X Sonion 2300 BA (Sonion 2300 for mids ensures a versatile, smooth midrange response, creating a well-balanced, natural sound across various music genres).
2 X Sonion E50 BA (the Sonion E50 series, a dual ultra-tweeter balanced armature driver. It extends high frequencies with unprecedented technical capabilities, offering clarity and brilliance).
The Magnesium-Aluminum alloy for the diaphragm delivers optimal performance for a prolonged period of time. This design as per EA Labs, results in remarkably fast, deep, and precise performance with minimal distortion in the output signal, creating a natural and detail-rich full-frequency connection.
Box content
A faux leather case with soft finish and EA logo on top
3 pair of Spinfit
3.5mm to 6.35 adapter
Iems
- Cleaning brush tool
- A very good 2 core SPC cable, its soft and supple, however to note, EA labs suggest to pair Pilgrim with Effect Aaudio Cadmus 4W which supposedly enhance the clarity & resolution of sound without the harshness, whilst keeping the bass bold but controlled. I have used this iem with its stock cable to ensure the reader gets an impression as to what to expect when they pay $400 as what it retails for.
Vision – EA Labs wanted to get the specials from Annihilator and Diva combined and launch at a lower price point. Let’s see further if or not they were successful based on my subjective opinions.
Fit and comfort:
I would mention by bias first, I like metallic shell iems, resin shells doesn’t give me the confidence as I have had a couple of iems developing cracks either on shell or near the 2 pin section so I prefer metal shell iems though these have to sacrifice on the looks. Its striking silver aluminum housings feature knoll-inspired ridges and a mix of reflective and matte finishes. The look and feel of Pilgirm is very good, these look more than what they cost for sure, with that EE logo printed on the shell, it somewhat gives that premium look to it as we associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end. The shiny silver and matte finish is likeable, these have medium sized shell which sits comfortably in ears, so comfort is great on this. Comfortable earpieces ensure a good fit, and the design helps with noise isolation. Pilgrim is shipped with spinfit but even with the largest size of tip provided in the carry case, I was unable to find a good fit with these iems, so I switched to Penon Lacquer and Divinus velvet, fortunately the Divinus Velvet fit worked and helped me get a good seal. I remember when I tried with Spinfit, I was feeling that this iem has compromised mids, but Velvet fixes it for good.
Bass – Low end has enough presence, sub bass rumble can be felt, even in tracks where occasionally you will miss a bass guitar being played, Pilgrim is able to produce it flawlessly, the mid bass presence is alright, not overpowering which is my preference, I had this complaint with the twilight honestly,
Drums, dhol has accurate timbre. The transient response is fast, with decay shorter than expected from this kind of driver configuration. Reference track – Starlight (Muse), Bezubaan (ABCD), Starboy (Weeknd) and Droptop (AP Dhillon)
Timbre and Tonality – one of the aspects I keenly look for in iems is how it produces timbre and how is the tonal balance. I was listening to some Indian classicals on Pilgrim, the tonal character of the instruments is retained, it doesn’t color the timbre which is a good thing. Pianos sound so real; you have to experience it.
Vocals - Beautiful and natural especially female vocals sound majestic. I found female vocals to be more forward than male vocals as they sound a bit laid back or recessed this is due to Bright, Lively Vocal response, male vocals have naturalness, but the presence is not that prominent in comparison meaning some male vocals can sound a bit lean, again some bias to be mentioned because I adore mid centric iems so YMMV. The mid presence in terms of instruments is praiseworthy because they do not overwhelm you neither miss out.
Treble – feels airy and spacious.
There is space between instruments and the vocals being played, I do not hear much of a congestion in busy tracks as well, the transient response is good. Instruments sound like they are surrounded by space full of air. It creates nice ambience for the instruments to play well. Reference track Yaar Mila de from Saathiya – this is so engaging on the Pilgrim, I almost got lost while listening to this track, multiple instruments used in this track has enough space in between.
Details - Every minute detail is presented to the listener, for example I was listening to this track Maahi Ve from album Maahir, there is so many instruments used in this song simultaneously, especially the humming in the start followed by bass and cello, the entire continues with vocal echos, doodling, saxophone and cymbals, the lead singer vocal could have had more heft but sounds natural. The resolution on this can be considered as a benchmark considering its price.
The soundstage of Pilgrim is good. Impressive height but the depth is mediocre, it creates spacious sonic environment due to air and enhances the listening experience.
Instruments are well-placed and images precisely, the level of detail and imaging accuracy adds realism and immersion to the music with great clarity and separation.

Overall – This is a really nice addition to the $400 realm of iems, it is special if you like bright neutral iems with enough heft in sub bass, it can be one of those versatile and easy to listen iems that offer excellent technicalities without burning the pockets. Someone with the budget of $400 and above should definitely consider Pilgrim, more so if you like this kind of tuning. It’s a testament that you don’t need to spend huge to afford excellent sounding iems.
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DunninLA
Oh, strange my signature info doesn't show up here. My perfect signature is HD600 with more bass and more highs, which I gave up on but I think Focal Elex would be my pick if I wanted to try cans again.
In IEM, I liked the Canon 2 until I noticed the lower pinna gain of the Mega5EST in reviews, and so I used EQ to simulate that tonality on the Canon 2, and preferred that relaxed pinna by a lot. I was hearing glare through upper midrange I didn't know I was hearing until I fixed it with EQ. That made me think... why EQ the Canon 2 to Mega5EST,... just get the Mega5EST, which I did, but found it unengaging, don't know why. I use Canon 2 minimum bass (down/down) but it still felt a lot more prominent than M5E even through they graph the same. The M5E just didn't sound engaging to my ear. Listed it and it sold within 5 minutes, so my ears must be defective 
DunninLA
Also tried Hype2 but found it lacking in vocal forwardness. Tried AFUL P5 but its tuning to me was off... too much midbass, which caused the vocals to pull back as well as veil, then too much energy 4-6k which made cymbals sound like they jump out at you.
Tried all my tips on both of them... FinalE, CP100, CP145, BGVP A07, Penon Liqueur Orange, Dunu S&S, Tri Clarion, Spinfit W1.
PS: on the Mega5EST 7th, I used both MB Air 2020 headphone out, as well as Onix Alpha X1 dongle in 4.4 mode. The source didn't make any difference... of course also tried all my tips on the M5E as well.
wolfstar76
Headphoneus Supremus
A Tale of Two Pilgrims: Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir
Pros: Powerful and satisfactory bass, sweet and not-recessed mid-range, trademark Elysian treble, with a technical performance way above their price point.
Cons: Wide bore nozzle makes tip selection challenging, the cable of the OG Pilgrim limited its potential, Pentaconn termination makes cable rolling more difficult
First, I thank Effect Audio and @Sebastien Chiu for organizing this Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim (hereafter referred to as Pilgrim) and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir (hereafter referred to as Noir) tour so that I have the chance to do this comparison review.
I like both IEMs and I also put my money where my mouth is: I bought Pilgrim with my own money without any discount (even though I could get a discount if I went through MusicTeck’s review program). However, readers please don’t jump to the conclusion that I prefer Pilgrim over Noir, I will provide details in my review below.
Pilgrim stirred quite a hype when it was first introduced at CanJam NYC 2023. For readers who are not familiar with Elysian Acoustic Labs, it was pretty much a one-man’s boutique IEM shop running by the legendary Mr. Lee from Malysia until recently. All early date IEMs from Elysian were hand-made by Mr. Lee, such as the famous flagship limited edition “X” and the later Annihilator 2021 and 2023 (which was the IEM of the year in the famous watercooler). Those IEMs will cost you anywhere from $3k+ to $4k+. You can image the attention it gained when a $399 Elysian IEM was announced. Many headfiers went to the audition of the Pilgrim and almost all of the first impressions are very positive. The hype was quickly turned into a fast collaboration between the Elysian Acoustic Labs and the Effect Audio, which is a premium cable company based in Singapore. The feedback from the early impressions were adopted and the Noir was created and announced during the next CanJam (Singapre) just a few months after the Pilgrim.
The Build
Both Pilgrim and Noir share a similar 4-driver configuration but differ slightly. Both IEMs have a 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver for the low, but Pilgrim has a 3-way crossover design while the Noir has a 4-way crossover design. Noir uses 2 Sonion BA drivers for mid-range and 1 Knowles BA for highs while Pilgrim uses 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50 for the highs.
Effect Audio provided Noir with its Bespoke internal wiring mix inside the Noir and a special edition Eros S:Noir cable for Noir.
The Sound Impressions
With both IEMs in their stock cables, I find Noir has better and more elevated bass but very similar mids and treble as Pilgrim with probably thicker and slightly more full-bodied lower mids due to the bass.
However, since the stock cable of Noir is significantly better than that of Pilgrim, I quickly switched the stock cable of Pilgrim to my own Effect Audio code 24. The change is almost instantly, and I have to say that with code 24 cable for Pilgrim, there is almost no difference between Pilgrim and Noir unless you want to do a careful A/B test. Of course, I am using a $699 cable on a $399 IEM, but for the readers who already have their collection of better cables, Pilgrim will be a great value choice since I would strongly suggest to replace the stock cable if you bought Pilgrim.
Next, I need to talk about the tip rolling before I go further regarding the sound impression since the tip selection is very crucial, especially for Pilgrim. Some IEMs are not sensitive to tips, but some are very sensitive, such as Pilgrim and Noir. Both IEMs come with a wide bore nozzle, which makes tip selection even more challenging. I tried some tips with seemingly good seal but very questionable result since I heard very thin and weak bass. When I pushed the IEM further into my ears I could hear a huge difference in the bass and I know the tips are not a good match. For me, only a few tips in my large collection of tips work for Pilgrim, and a little bit more tips work for Noir since it is slightly easier to do the tip rolling. Among them are Penon Liqueur and Clarion Tri.
Therefore, make sure you picked the right tips that work for you before you jump to the conclusion regarding either Pilgrim or Noir since tips make day and night difference.
Now the bass. With both Pilgrim (on code 24) and Noir, the bass is impactful and very satisfactory. The texture of the bass and the bass quality is top notch for the price range. The quantity will satisfy almost everyone except for the most hard-cored bass-heads. The sub-bass and the mid-bass ratio is slightly leaning towards sub-bass, which is a clear contrast between those mid-bass monster IEMs, such as Campfire Audio Bonneville.
The mid-range of Pilgrim and Noir are both sweet and not-recessed, unlike most of the V shaped IEMs. However, I would not consider the mids of Pilgrm/Noir as too forwarded or mid-range focused. Both female and male singers sound fantastic.
Elysian Acoustic is famous for its treble tuning, especially in the Annihilator 2023, which is widely regarded as the treble king of the IEMs. Both Pilgrim and Noir exhibit the Elysian gene here: the treble is well-extended and artfully executed with none-fatiguing highs. However, don't expect the level of Anni 2023 in the treble performance from either Elysian or Noir. You will get a taste of the turning, but you won't get all the goodness, the details, and the technical level.
The sound stage of both Pilgrim and Noir are similar, they are open and tall, not particularly wide, but with good height and depth, large enough to not feel being cramped. Sometimes, at certain music track, I can feel some surprisingly large sound stage, but it is not consistent. The music from both IEMs have good instruments separation and nicely layered. The imaging is also precise enough for the price range. Both IEMs have very good resolution, but again not too much exceeding their price range.
To summarize my sound impression, I found either Pilgrim or Noir a great bargain at today's market. You get a taste of the Elysian Acoustic Labs' tunning, even though I would not call any of them as baby Annihilator (because they are different, especially in the bass and the treble areas), you still can find the gene of Elysian.
Music tracks used in the test
Hip Hop are great to test sub-bass, Pilgrim/Noir has great rumbling in sub-bass. There is absolutely no lack of any bass:
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry) (Official Video)
Sade - Slave Song (Audio)
In the following track, male vocal has good note weight, piano with good timbre. Very little difference between Pilgrim OG and Noir:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms (4K Official Video)
Below we can hear a good combination of mid-bass slam and sub-bass ramble, again bass on the fast side. Pilgrim is a little dark. Noir in this case demonstrated highly level of bass performance at both sub and mid bass, very satisfactory, more enjoyable than Pilgrim. Not only I feel the bass is elevated but also more decisive and impactful.
Wrong (2015 Remaster)
Iceland experimentalists, very interesting indie electronic music, with variety of sound to test your IEMs.
We Have A Map Of The Piano Mum
Female vocal with music that can test your limit of treble sensitivity. Noir for me is on the edge. Pilgrim is also on the edge but slightly better.
Beth Orton - Stolen Car
Noir slightly edges out in term of bass resolution, again slightly better bass, though in this case, the quantity is only slightly more in Noir. Both IEMs feel dark.
Teardrop (Remastered 2019)
In the end, my advise to the potential buyers of Pilgrim or Noir: if you did not have a good cable to replace the stock cable of the Pilgrim, Noir with the upgraded cable would be a better choice. If you already had some good spare cable, such in my case, an Effect Audio code 24 (I bought the Pentaconn kit later for that purpose though), Pilgrim would be a better value proposal.
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Ianbanz
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim
Pros: 1. Exceptional Bass Performance. The bass on the Pilgrim is truly a standout feature. It provides a deep and physical response, offering a
visceral experience and It strikes a balance between power and precision.
2. Smooth Upper Treble. The upper treble is beautifully handled, delivering a smooth, airy sound without any harshness.
3. Wide Soundstage.
4. Forward Mids. The midrange is forward and detailed, adding an emotional and engaging element to the music.
5. Precise Imaging. The imaging is precise, particularly on the left-right axis.
Cons: 1. Average Resolution
2. Faceplate have scratches out of the box.
3. Congestion in some busy tracks.
4. Inconsistent Midrange Intensity, but i noticed this is an almost common issue i find on most Mid forward iems i tried.
5. Decent but Not Outstanding Dynamics.
When it comes to evaluating IEMs, it's often about striking the right balance between technical performance and personal preference. The Pilgrim, from the Elysian brand, stands as a good example of quality craftsmanship and thoughtful tuning. However, as we dive deeper into its features and performance, it's important to keep in mind where it stands in the competitive mid-fi market, particularly around the $400 price point.
The Pilgrim showcases a range of strengths that make it a solid choice for many listeners. Its bass response is particularly notable, delivering a deep, visceral impact that's both powerful and precise. The upper treble is another highlight, offering a smooth, airy quality.
Technical Performance
Resolution
The resolution of the Pilgrim is just average within the mid-fi category. Details are generally clear, though they can sometimes feel dull or less sharp in more complex and fast mix due to a lack of depth in the soundstage.
Soundstage
The soundstage is notably wide for an IEM, more horizontal less vertical space, and it lacks depth. This can result in a somewhat flat and two-dimensional listening experience.
Imaging and Separation
Imaging is precise, primarily operating on a left-right axis, which it handles well, not exactly holographic more 2D than 3D However, the lack of depth can lead to congestion in busy tracks, making separation less distinct and lowers the resolution.
Dynamics
The dynamics of the Pilgrim are decent but not outstanding. It does not exhibit the dynamic prowess of other models in this price bracket, but still the Pilgrim delivers good dynamic range but falls short of delivering dynamic performance of its mid tier level counterparts.
Transients
Transients on the Pilgrim is good but still not exceptional. It has accuracy and speed, but there's room for improvement. Enhancing this aspect could reduce congestion and improve clarity.
Bass
The bass on the Pilgrim is exceptional, providing a deep and physical response characteristic of high-quality dynamic drivers. When the bass hits, it hits hard, pushing a significant amount of air and delivering a visceral experience. The bass decay is well-balanced, maintaining resolution, tactility and precision. While it doesn't delve too deep, the implementation is exceptionally tactile, accurate, and fast. It provides an atmospheric and clean presence without being overpowering or dry. This is particularly notable for listeners who prefer mid-bass over sub-bass, especially in techno, house and other electronic music that produces a quick repeatetive bass thumps and requires fast decay. The bass is emphasized tastefully, avoiding the detachment often found in pronounced bassy profiles, Pilgrim offers a more harmonious and authoritative yet non-dominant bass experience, the bass on the pilgrim is like having a mind of its own and knows when it needs to be boomy and when to slam with speed without bleed. very well controlled bass but not the most cleanest and detailed but still engaging.
Mids / Treble
The midrange and treble present a more contentious aspect. The mids are noticeably forward, this forwardness can feel unexpected and intense sometimes on select parts of the track but not very often. A distinctive sheen to the sound, enhancing detail and emotion without introducing grain or sibilance, the effect can enhance certain genres but may become too overwhelming with complex and technical music, occasionally reducing the soundstage like a narrowing effect in dense mixes. Despite this, the Pilgrim delivers high-quality sound even in challenging instances, though some of the magic can diminish, requiring a reduction in volume or unfortunately a skip to the next track
Upper Treble / Air
The upper treble is a standout feature, delivering pure bliss. The Pilgrim excels in this region, offering smooth, natural decay without any piercing qualities. It achieves a perfect balance, presenting a balance of warmth and details. This region is notoriously difficult to resolve, but the Pilgrim handles it well, ensuring no peaks, glare, or harshness—just beautiful, airy sound.
The Pilgrim is a very well-built and well-tuned IEM however, this brings us to its primary issue: it doesn't quite belong in its price bracket. When compared to its counterparts in the mid-fi range, particularly those around the $400 mark, the Pilgrim struggles to deliver the "wow" factor that you expect from IEMs in this category.
While the Pilgrim is not a bad IEM by any means—in fact, it performs admirably across almost all genres—it falls short of competing with other mid-fi options. The bass is deep and impactful, the treble is smooth and detailed, and the mids are engaging. However, it lacks the depth and resolution that a truly Mid-fi IEMs offer, which makes it less impressive.
If you're a collector of the Elysian brand and have some extra money to burn, the Pilgrim can be a worthwhile addition to your collection. But for the average listener looking for the best bang for their buck, this IEM would truly shine in the $150-$200 price range. It’s in this lower price bracket that the Pilgrim's strengths would be exceptional, offering a level of performance that would be hard to beat.
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
DaveStarWalker
Agreed 
deafdoorknob
so what are the mid-fi iems it cannot compete with? thanks
ch1525i
100+ Head-Fier
A Standout at Its Price Point
Pros: Sub-bass
Natural Timbe
Excellent Male & Female Vocals
Instrument Separation
Build Quality
Price to Performance Ratio
Cons: Pentaconn Connectors (I enjoy cable swapping)
Limited Ear Tip Selection
Disclaimer
I received a discount on this set from MusicTeck. They requested nothing more than for me to post a fair and honest review.
Look, Fit, Case & Cable
The Pilgrim is a stunning IEM. I love the matte/shiny concentric circles with the logo tastefully displayed at the center. The shells fit wonderfully. I have average size ears and with the included SpinFit tips, I was able to get a good seal, while this review was done with the stock tips, I have put a set of Divinus Velvets on them. The 4.4mm cable is quite premium feeling, without much memory and I did not have a problem with microphonics. As for the case, I’m sure it will get dirty over time, but it really appeals to my middle-aged female aesthetics. Overall, the looks, fit and accessories are very nice and have a premium feel.
Sound
Gear used:
- iphone 14 pro streaming Amazon music HD with Chord Mojo2
- iphone 14 pro streaming Apple Music with Questyle M15
- HiBy R4 with local FLAC files
- HiBy RS6 streaming Amazon Music HD and local FLAC files
Some of my test tracks:
- Little Bit of Rain (Martina McBride)
- Lonely Bed (Albert Cummings)
- Change the World (Eric Clapton)
- When I Fall in Love (Michael Buble)
- Believe (Cher)
- Summer of ’69 MTV Unplugged (Bryan Adams)
- All Through the Night (Cyndi Lauper)
- Mercy Street (Peter Gabriel)
- The Thrill is Gone (BB King)
- Lose Yourself to Dance (Daft Punk)
When I first put them in and fired up my HiBy RS6 with my BB King’s The Thrill is Gone, my first reaction was an audible WOW! The bass has strong impact and it’s quick for a DD. It’s doesn’t compare in bass to my Symphonium Titan, but it is not lacking in any way. It is good in both quality and quantity and doesn’t bleed into the mids. It has a sub-bass focus to my ears. In my opinion, the bass here competes with IEMs of a higher price point.
The greatness continues into the mids. I find the Pilgrim to be clear and with the proper body and shine for both male and female vocals. There are no obvious dips or bleed. Instruments in this range are also clear and quite precise. On Cher’s Believe many sets highlight the sibilance thereby distracting from the music, but here it was well managed and by no means distracting.
Treble for me is always a tricky subject. I have very middle-aged ears, so I don’t always hear the weaknesses others point out, but I am sensitive to peaks in the 3k-5k region. Therefore, weigh these comments appropriately. I find the treble to be a little bright but not overwhelming at all. It is well extended, carries decent detail and even some sparkle. Overall, it is quite nice.
Technicalities
The clarity, sound stage and resolution are outstanding highlights for me. The clarity is top-notch – the instruments are clear, and the vocals are clean. The micro and macro details are enough to catch your attention but not enough to fatigue – I can still enjoy the musicality of a piece and admire the detail. The Pilgrim is amazingly spacious and airy for its price point and has great layering and imaging.
Conclusion
Overall, the Elysian Pilgrim was an awesome purchase for me. It checks many of my top tier boxes: balanced, great soundstage, clean mids and enjoyable bass. Not to mention it’s superior build quality and nice accessories (although it could have used a couple additional tip options). It is a good addition to my collection and a standout at its price point.
tombrisbane
500+ Head-Fier
Elysian venture to the middle of Mid-Fi
Pros: Fantastic all-rounder
Comfort is great with the right tips
Killing it at this price point
Cons: Treble is safe
Pentaconn, while a great connection, means you probably won't be cable rolling given 2-pins dominance
Pilgrim
one who journeys in foreign lands
Elysian venture into the middle of Mid-Fi, how did they fare?
These are all my words and thoughts. I’ve tried to get my points across in the most succinct way.
The Pilgrim comes in a small but effective package, the unboxing experience is what you would expect from something priced a little higher, the two buds are beautifully presented to you when you open the package, with the case, cable, and ear tips underneath. All up very nice and better than the box with sleeve which is common at this price point.
The included cable feels decent, the case is also OK (it’s the same as the 7hz Aurora one, just a different logo on top), the included tips are also Spinfit which is a nice surprise, they didn’t work with the Pilgrim for me but I will use them on other IEMs.
Fit and comfort:
These feel nice in my ears, the shell is metal so when you initially put them in your ear they may be a little cold but they warm up pretty quickly and then I can easily forget about them for the rest of the day. Tip wise I found these to be a little odd, my normal sizing did not work, and I couldn’t get a good fit. In the end I used the Final E largest size in my right ear, and ML in the left, which is +1 size on each side. With these there were no issues at all, but for new buyers suggest that you might need to play around with different sizes until you find one that works. They also work well with the Velvets.
Sound:
These are smack bang in the Mid-Fi bracket. There is a lot of competition. Do they stack up? Are they at the top of the pile? Let’s find out.
TL;DR - They’re a perfect all-rounder, I generally shy away from all-rounders, preferring sets that have something unique in their presentation, but these just hit the all-rounder tick boxes without sounding bland or boring. Whilst they are an all-rounder, they bring detail that you generally wouldn’t find in this level and you’d be pushing into the > $1k bracket to get something comparable.
Starting with the lower frequencies, the bass has good impact; bass head this is not, but it isn’t light or lacking. The DD looks after the lower frequencies and does a fantastic job, the bass is fast (resembling a BA at points), but has the deep bass feel that only a DD can deliver, exceptional at its price point. A lot of other sets around this price are going with the dual driver approach, I prefer that for some genres, but for 90% of tracks this does everything I want.
Mids are extremely well done, the bass doesn’t interfere at all for me, vocals are extremely well done. Female vocals remind me a little of Diva which were arguably my favorite female vocals ever. Nothing strange, better than nearly everything else I’ve heard at this price point.
The treble is probably the weakest point, there are better sets at $400, but it’s still absolutely above average. Some people touted this as a mini Anni, not for my ears, but it gets the job done. I guess safe is probably the best way to put it, it’s not going to annoy anyone, but on some tracks it does leave you wanting a little more (if that’s your thing).
Detail retrieval, as I mentioned earlier, is crazy. This is punching over twice its price point in this respect. Imaging is good, I had no issues placing instruments or differentiating between them, but when it comes to stage I’d say that it’s fairly decent horizontal, however lacking depth and verticality. It works well as an all-rounder, but you’re not going to be listening to an orchestra in a three-dimensional space around you with these. There are others that will do that at this price point, but you’ll be making other sacrifices, to get this sound with the 3d imaging you’re heading well up in price.
Source wise I used these from a few dongle’s (iBasso DC04 Pro, DC06 Pro, L&P W4), FiiO Q7, and Sony TA-ZH1ES. It scales quite well up the chain.
Subjective thoughts and conclusion: I love these, I’ve had these for three weeks now and there hasn’t been a single track that I’ve put on where I felt I should switch to another set, for that to happen at this price point is unheard of for me. It's going to take a lot for something to come along and challenge this set at this price point. I generally find IEMs at this price grab my attention for a few genres, when they attempt to be an all-rounder they don’t hold my attention for very long, Pilgrim is the exception. At this price point the name is correct, if you’re starting your IEM journey and you’re after a single set around this price point to find out what it’s all about, get this. Perhaps the perfect everyday carry? That's what it has become for me.
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hitanshujoshi
New Head-Fier
A comparative review of Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir
Pros: (pilgrim)
Good sub-bass
Mostly natural timbre
Techs
Price
separation
Cons: (pilgrim)
Can be thin sometimes
typical elysian doesn't sound well without spinfits.
A lot of competition around this price point
stock cable is ok not great.
Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio
I was able to get my hands on a tour unit of Elysian Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir this a comparative review comparing both the iem. Even though I was offered the iem by the brand all thoughts and opinions on the matter are my own and are not at all influenced by the brand.
packaging:
The iems themselves come in a beautiful box that has almost all the accessories needed to get you started. The pilgrim come in a really beautiful white box with a basic 3.5mm cable, carrying case spinfit w1s and a cleaning tool. Can’t comment on Noir as I received them in the same box but the effect audio cable that comes with them is really premium.
Songs used:
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
Sound profile:
Bass:
Both the iems have similar bass response but the Noir’s bass certainly feels more prominent due to its tonal balance. Also, it being a tad bit darker in the upper treble region makes the bass more distinct this gives the Noir more fun sounding bass. OG pilgrim has good bass response where I didn’t feel that the bass was lacking anywhere but not as exciting sounding as Noir.
Then song A moment apart the has a distinct bass hit that slowly decays over few seconds this part is articulated quite well by both the iems. As both the iems have more focus on sub bass and so the mid bass doesn’t hit that hard its quite apparent in the track Eclipse by Pink Floyd where the drum hits are clear but don’t have that meaty sense to them like the Fir audio XE6 and Rn6 where you can really feel the drum hits. This dip in the midbass add a good contrast and makes them sound really wide epically for the price bracket.
Mids:
Both iems have an exceptionally well done mids. It also lacks the signature elysian dip just before pinna that some times make some male vocals lose body this is quite prominent with genre like Jazz where Louis Armstrong’s vocals can sound a bit thin and for me that ruins them. But I am happy to report that the vocals on both the iem are quite nice and have that signature texture that he is known for. I still feel that NOIR just sound a tad bit warmer and I really enjoy it for that track. But when we talk about instruments in the same track it fells like OG Pilgrim has a better position for instrument. The instruments sound a but delicate (Thin) but are well extended. While for the NOIR the instruments convey that sense of emotion and feeling but the trailing end can sound a bit dark also placement is not as good as OG. For female vocals I fell both the iems are on par as evident form A moment apart where the female vocals shine no matter what iem I listen them on. Also, the song Runaway playbacks quit well on both of them.
Treble:
As mentioned, several times before the NOIR has a bit of darker treble compared to OG pilgrim its not in dark territory just comparatively less. This makes the Hi hats and chimes in a moment apart a bit subdued and not as forward as OG. Also, the air region being darker makes the stage sound smaller. This treble tuning makes the OG sound well separated and exciting whereas, the NOIR sound laidback and relaxing.
Tech:
I feel both of the iem are really well tuned and are very capable when it comes to tech. But the OG pilgrim has an edge over NOIR due to its extra treble. For the Track Hotel California Hell freezes over version The OG pilgrim sounds a bit wider with me being able to concentrate on all the instruments if needed. Where as NOIR is a bit closed in and sometimes when the bass kicks in some of the instruments can sound a bit blended. The NOIR has a better timbre presentation over OG pilgrim especially for upper midrange where instrument that lie there can be a bit thin for OG.
Here why I would pick one over the other:
OG pilgrim:
In tracks like:
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
As you can see a lot of them are very busy tracks with a lot of instruments going off. This is due the tuning larger emphasis on separation. This is the iem that works well enough to be called an all rounder but I find that it works best on these tracks. The techs to price ratio is also really good. Also, the it in general has really great stating ability.
Pilgrim Noir:
In tracks like:
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
All the tracks mentioned above are really male vocals centric and aren’t that busy these iem are really good for these genres if you listen specifically to them this is your pick.
Conclusion: At the given price point I feel that OG pilgrim is a much better value for money to the point I can comfortably say if you are in the market for a new iem probably pilgrim is your best choice sub $1000 if your music library is as diverse as mine and if you are looking for a very technical sounding iem with good stage and separation. Whereas NOIR does feel a bit premium due to the excellent cable included for free, I feel that it lost me in the treble region.
JQuB3
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Pros: Balanced sound signature.
Lightweight and comfortable earpieces.
Good technicalities for the price.
Cons: Limited eartips and accessories.
Midbass is somewhat lean.
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Disclaimer:
I received the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of a review tour in my country organized by Hifigo.com. I am not associated with either Hifigo or Elysian Acoustic Labs in any way and have no incentive whatsoever to write anything positive or negative about the IEM. The impressions shared in this write-up are based on my usage of the IEM over a week or so. The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is available for purchase from Hifigo.com at the following link:
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Introduction:
Although I’ve read about Elysian Acoustic Labs earlier, this is the first time I got to try one of their offerings and I must say, I’m quite impressed. The Pilgrim is a hybrid IEM housing 1 LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver and 3 Sonion Balanced Armature Drivers with a 3-way crossover. The IEM has an impedance of 9 ohms and a sensitivity of 101dB making it fairly easy to drive. The IEM comes with Pentaconn Ear connectors and cable options of 3.5mm SE, 4.4mm BAL, or both. The unit I received came with 3.5mm SE termination. The IEM comes with Spinfit CP100 ear tips. Apart from this, the package included a white carry case.
The earpieces were quite light in terms of weight and were quite comfortable to wear. I was able to get a good seal with the stock ear tips.
I tried the IEM predominantly with the Xduoo XD05-Pro with the ESS DAC card and Sparkos SS3602 opamps. I also tried it with Hiby R4 and FiiO BTR15, but my impressions here are based on the pairing with XD05-Pro.
Sound Impressions:
The bass has more presence in the sub-bass than the mid-bass region. The bass is well-controlled and is coherent with the rest of the frequency spectrum. The mid-bass is somewhat lean in comparison. This set is not something that bass heads would enjoy, but those who like a balanced signature, are likely to be pleased by the bass response of the Pilgrim. Although the bass is not mind-blowing in terms of either quality or quantity, it is acceptable for an IEM in this price range. Especially for a balanced-sounding set. The good thing is that there is no bass bleed, this is perhaps because the bass attack is well-controlled, and decay is minimal.
Mids are thick and realistic. There is a natural timbre in male vocals and female vocals too are well articulated without being shouty or sibilant. The midrange is somewhat forward in terms of presentation but not too much into your face.
The treble is well done too. It has just the right amount of sparkle and detail. The treble is somewhat laid back, thus, not sounding too energetic. I am very treble-sensitive, hence, for me, the Pilgrim’s treble was very well done. It had just the right amount of openness and airiness without being too bright or crisp.
Technicalities:
The soundstage and imaging are acceptable for the price. Nothing extraordinary or mindblowing about it. There is a slight sense of holography in terms of presentation, which at this price point is pretty good. The IEM could do better in terms of layering and resolution, which is apparent in complex tracks.
Conclusion:
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is a decent set for the price point with a balanced sound signature and comfortable earpieces. The performance and technical ability is acceptable for the price point.
DaveStarWalker
Agreed 
-
All impressions are based on my usual setup (listed below). Differences in impressions could be due to subjective hearing, defective units, or varying sources used.
All impressions are subjective and follow my motto: "I can lie to my savings, but never to my impressions." Agree? Cool. Disagree? That’s fine too. I write impressions because I want to, not because I have to.
All impressions are subjective and follow my motto: "I can lie to my savings, but never to my impressions." Agree? Cool. Disagree? That’s fine too. I write impressions because I want to, not because I have to.

Important!! I recommend you audition it yourself—who knows, maybe it’s my ears that need an ENT check or yours (haha).
==MY DAILY DRIVER==IEMs:
Nostalgia Audio Camelot, Symphonium Crimson, 634ears Loak2 TX03, 7Hz Timeless II, Softears Volume S, EPZ P50
DACs:
FiiO Q15, Chord Mojo 2, XDuoo XD05 Pro
DAP:
HibyDigital M300
Cables:
Effect Audio 24c, Verus Lavender 6, VJC Heirs & Heirs Black, Kinera Mia
Ear Tips:
Eletech Baroque, Penon Liquer, JVC Spiral Dot++, Azla Sedna Max ASMR, Kiwi Ears Flex
==Unboxing==For a price of around $400 (roughly 6 million IDR), the unboxing experience feels quite premium to me, thanks to a unique box design that stands out in this price range. However, I find the accessories lacking:
The IEMs themselves A 2-braid Pentaconn Ear cable with a 4.4mm non-modular jack (a 3.5mm version is also available, but I’m annoyed with the Pentaconn Ear connector because it limits cable-rolling options as most of my IEMs are 2-pin) Cleaning brush and IEM wipe Manual and warranty card A carrying case (stylish but white—prone to getting dirty) A set of Spinfit ear tips (3 sizes—I was hoping for more options)
==Fitting==With its 1DD + 3BA driver configuration, the aluminum body is standard-sized. It doesn’t feel too big or too small and is very comfortable to wear. The faceplate features a circular design with the Elysian logo, giving it a sleek look. The nozzle, made of metal, has a standard length and diameter, making it easy to pair with various ear tips.
==Sound Impression==Base testing: Xduoo XD05 Pro and Spinfit W1 PremiumBass:
My current preference leans towards a balanced sound with a slight bass boost, and the Pilgrim delivers great quality bass for its price range. While not for bassheads, its sub-bass has just the right amount of rumble and decay—neither too long nor too short—and feels dynamic with enough space to “breathe.” This makes it perfect for long listening sessions.
The mid-bass complements the sub-bass with sufficient body (not too thick or thin) and an average punch, delivering a well-rounded impact suitable for all genres. However, two things stand out:
The sub-bass positioning feels slightly less immersive as it doesn’t fully surround the instruments. The speed is average and slightly relaxed, making it less optimal for fast-paced tracks.
Mid:
This IEM delivers some of the best vocals I’ve heard in its price range. The natural timbre, balanced and slightly forward presentation, and accurate note reproduction across the spectrum bring emotion to every song. The vocals feel airy, sweet, and lush. From my experience with Elysian’s lineup (Pilgrim, Noir, Gaea, Annihilator), their vocal tuning is always exceptional.
Treble:
Consistent with its overall tuning, the treble is smooth and inoffensive. If you’re looking for detailed treble that’s non-aggressive and well-controlled, the Pilgrim will suit you. Its extended treble offers excellent micro-detail retrieval. However, it lacks the energy and sparkle that some listeners might prefer for more dynamic tracks.
Clarity:
The clarity is excellent—there’s no sibilance or muddiness. The micro-detail retrieval is impressive for its price range, and the sound feels exceptionally soft and refined.
Soundstage:
Above average, with a wide and airy presentation.
Imaging:
The 3D imaging isn’t groundbreaking, but the instrument separation and dynamic layering are excellent, making it enjoyable for critical listening.
==Source Selection==For a mid-centric IEM with strong technicalities, the Pilgrim may feel too relaxed or “safe” with a balanced source. I recommend pairing it with either a warm or bright source, depending on your preference. If you want something more energetic, this IEM might not be the best choice.
==Ear Tips Selection==For me, the best fit is with Spinfit W1 Premium, offering comfort and balanced sound with good technicalities. You could also try Eletech Baroque or JVC Spiral Dot+ for extended comfort during long listening sessions. If you want to enhance the low end, Penon Liquer is a great option.
==Cable Selection==Honestly, I’m not a fan of the stock cable’s aesthetics. To enhance the Pilgrim’s look and add energy to the lows and highs, I suggest the 4modi x 4magni from Verus for a V-shaped sound with better low-end dynamics and treble detail. Alternatively, try Verus SPC or VJC Prabu for improved detail and dynamic bass response.
==Conclusion==
After excelling in the high-end market with IEMs priced over $1000, Elysian has ventured into the “affordable” segment, incorporating the best aspects of its flagship models into the Pilgrim. Elysian’s hallmark—superb vocals and strong technicalities—is evident in this IEM. Dynamic sub-bass, well-balanced mid-bass, and controlled treble come together to deliver a highly enjoyable listening experience. However, there are three things to consider before purchasing: the Pentaconn Ear connector limits cable options, the accessories could use an upgrade, and the tonal profile may feel too soft and safe for fans of energetic music. Is it worth buying? At under $500, the Pilgrim sets a high benchmark for competitors to match or surpass—almost too high.
That’s all.
Trust your own ears, if they’re still working.If you don’t agree, no worries.
I’m not here to force my opinion.
Bye!Attachments
iwatobi
Head-Fier
Pros: Safe Tuning
Awesome Build
Tastefully Done Sub-Bass
Great Soundstage & Imaging
Awesome Female Vocals
Incredible Details & Separation
Natural Timbre on InstrumentsCons: Mid-Bass is Not Satisfying & Lacks the Hard-Hits
Genre Specific Tuning & Dry Sounding
Tuning Might be Boring for A Set of Listeners
Requires A Decently Powerful Warm Source to Drive
No Modular Cable
Bad Price to Performance RatioIntroduction
The Elysian Pilgrim created by the Elysian Acoustics Lab is the first mid-oriented entry in their catalogue. It is packed with 1 LSR DD & 3 Sonion BA, which comes in at $400. The
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Disclaimer
I was sent this unit for a quick review by Sonic Mantra & Elysian Acoustics Lab; huge thanks to them for doing this. Nonetheless, my review is an honest write-up of what I felt while using the product. Therefore, I have only written what I believe in, and have not received any incentive from them.
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Package Contents
- The Pilgrim Bud
- Pentaconn Connectors Cable
- Spinfits Ear tips (CP100)
- Paperwork
- A Cleaning Brush
- Pouch
Specifications
- Model: Elysian Pilgrim
- Driver Type: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configurations
- Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
- Sensitivity: 101db@1khz@100mV
- Impedance: 9 Ω@1khz
- Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
- Connector Type: Pentaconn Connection
- Plug Type: 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm
Driver Configuration
- 1 X 9.2 mm LSR DD
- 1 X Sonion 2300 BA
- 2 X Sonion E50 BA
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Build & Design
The build of the Pilgrim is robust, and incredible. It is made from high-quality aluminium, which offers a durable, and lightweight shell. The bores are made of 304 stainless steels for corrosion resistance.
The design of the Pilgrim is sharp, and incredibly aesthetic.
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Cable
They offer a Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable, which comes in 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm plug types with a “Pentaconn” Connector. It looks beautiful, but comes with the cost of an expensive cable replacement.
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Fit & Comfort
The Pilgrim was comfortable, and extremely lightweight. It fit my ears perfectly, and had a good seal. However, it did not give me a deep insertion seal.
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Tip Rolling
- Stock tips
- Dunu Candy
- Final E Clear Pink
Testing Gears
- Cayin N3 Ultra
- iBasso DX180
- Cayin RU7
- Celest CD-20
- Hidizs S8 Pro
- iBasso DC Elite
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Sound
The sound section is tasteful, but it does not justify the $400 tag. More on it below:
Bass
Bass is textured, and clean, but lacks depth, engagement. It is well-controlled, and shows no sign of muddiness. The sub-bass is promising, and shines the most.
Sub-Bass
Sub-bass section of the Pilgrim is actually pretty good, and has good rumble. Its extension is deep; it is prominent, and has good separation. The sub-bass has a slow decay, but it is well textured.
Pilgrim has an enjoyable sub-bass.
Mid-Bass
Mid-bass is average, but smooth & natural. It is not thumpy or hard-hitting. The attack is slow as to not incur a bleed in the mids. However, it is a bit tight & punchy. The decay is average, and it doesn’t feel engaging. It lacks a good slam. It felt way too boring for me.
Mid-Range
The mids are well-balanced textured, and smooth. The vocals have a timbre.
Male Vocals
Male vocals have good warmth, smooth, detailed and has a good note-weight. It feels analytical, but is enjoyable to listen to. Moreover, it has some timbre. It gives a relaxed listening experience. The warmth also adds to the relaxing effect.
Female Vocals
The female vocals are smooth, has warmth, lively, and detailed. It is engaging, fun to listen, and soothing. The vocals are well represented, forward, energetic, and has a spacious feeling to it. Moreover, the previously mentioned warmth makes the listening experience even better. However, at higher volumes the vocals sound aggressive, and a bit sharp.
Nonetheless, female vocals are enjoyable.
Treble
The treble is quite energetic, has good air, and is sparkly. It is well extended, and it is not fatiguing for treble sensitive listeners like me. The lower & upper treble is clean, but the lower treble lacks some authority. The cymbals and hi-hats are crisp.
Instruments
Instruments are well-defined, textured, and clear. It has incredible separation, and natural timbre. They’re produced in a buttery smooth way.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage of the Pilgrim is good enough to make up for its missed points. It is intimate and has great width, height, and depth. However, it could feel a bit constricted on busy tracks. Nonetheless, the soundstage is great, and airy.
Imaging is another strong point of the Pilgrim. I could accurately pinpoint the instruments sounds.
The imaging & soundstage together creates an immersive listening experience.
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Conclusion
The Elysian Pilgrim is a well-crafted IEM that impresses with its premium build quality and comfortable fit. Its sound profile features a standout sub-bass and exceptional vocal reproduction, particularly for female vocals, which provides an engaging listening experience. The treble is energetic and non-fatiguing, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
However, the mid-bass may lack the punch some listeners desire, and the tuning can feel genre-specific, which might not appeal to everyone. While the soundstage and imaging are strong points, the $400 price tag raises questions about its value.zabiri
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian pilgrimSummary
The Elysian Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range. This is also Elysian’s first entry into the more budget segment. The Pilgrim consists of a 4 driver set up with 1DD+2BA drivers, priced at 400$. Moving on, Pilgrim comes in a fairly premium packaging and the included accessories are also of high quality. Although subjective, I quite like the build and design of this set, and fit and comfort is also decent. Now most importantly sound, Pilgrim offers a balanced clean sound with more emphasis on the upper mids and treble, bass is well controlled and tactile. Overall technical sound is above average. So is it any good? Yes, I think is a very solid contender at this sub 400$ price point. If you are looking for a balanced bright tuned set, this can be a good option.
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Intro
Hey Guys, whats up….
Today I am checking out the “Pilgrim” from Elysian Acoustic Labs. The Pilgrim is a very popular hybrid iem with 1DD+3BA driver coming in at 400$. At the moment it is going for 350$ over at Hifigo’s sale, but I will be judging this iem as a 400$ set. The Pilgrim has been a very anticipated iem as this is Elysian’s first entry into the budget market (at least compared to their other popular releases). So where does it stand against other 400$ hybrid iems? Lets discuss…
About the brand:
First, let’s get to know the brand, Elysian Acoustic Labs is a boutique iem manufacturer based in Malaysia. Elysian has been around since 2015 and since then they have been making high end iems which has taken them to a supreme status in the audio community. This is my first time checking out and reviewing an Elysian iem, so hopes are high. Anyways enough yapping lets get back to the Pilgrim, starting off with specs.
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Disclaimer: thanks to Hifigo and the review tour group “Audiophile Alliance Bangladesh” for loaning me this unit. However, please note that this review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion. I strive for transparency in all my reviews, whether the product is self-purchased, a free sample, loaned or received at a discount.
Specs
> Driver: 4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration (1 X 9.2mm LSR DD, 1 X Sonion 2300 BA, 2 X Sonion E50 BA)
> System: 3 Way Crossover
> Technology: LSR Bass Driver
> Frequency Response: 10hz~20khz
> Sensitivity: 101db @1kHz @100mV
> Impedance: 9 Ohms @1kHz
> Cable: Default Silver-Plated Copper Stock Cable
= Price: 349$ to 399$
Packaging
Continuing on to the packaging section, Elysian did a great job with its over all presentation, feels premium. The box has minimal branding and a spiral type design on the box similar to the iem design. Opening up the lid you will find the iems beautifully presented in an insert. Below that you will find the carrying case and some paper works. Inside the carrying case, is the cable, eartips and a cleaning brush. I will get into more details about the eartips, case and cable below in the “accessories” section. I included some pictures of the packging and box contents here below. List of box contents:
IEMS
Eartips
Cable
Carrying Case
Cleaning brush
Papers
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Build and Design
Moving on to the build and design section, the Pilgrim has a very unique and attractive design with overall pretty good build. The shells are made of machined aluminum. The faceplate has a spiral like design with a combination of shiny and matte silver color. In the center there is the Elysian logo slightly raised from the surface and there are four vents neatly placed in the spiral section. Although the design is gorgeous the shiny silver part seemed to scratch quite easily. Fingerprints were not an issue. The shells are on the medium to large side and have decent weight to them giving it a substantial feel. Instead of the common 2pin or mmcx connector Elysian has rather implemented pentacon connector. Although pentacon connector cables are rare, I like this connector over mmcx. The nozzle length and width is standard.
Fit and Comfort
Talking about fit and comfort of the Pilgrim, it is pretty good for my regular to large sized ears. But I recommend to change out the stock tips, as they do not fit well to my liking (I dropped the list of tips I used and prefer with this in the “tested with” info below. Long term listening comfort is decent, nothing too crazy. Isolation is fine. Breathability is good. Stability is good. All in all I find it plenty comfortable for daily use.
Inner Structure and Tech
Let’s see whats inside the Pilgrim. Elysian has gone for a hybrid 4 driver set up consisting of a single dynamic driver and three balanced armature drivers. The dynamic driver is 9.2mm and uses Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) technology to handle the bass. For the balanced armatures Pilgrim uses Sonion drivers, one of the three is the Sonion 2300, which handles the mids. And the other two balanced armatures drivers are Sonion E50, which handles the highs.
Accessories
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Eartips
The Pilgrim comes with a single set of eartips. These are Spinfit eartips but not sure which spinfit model it is, seems like cp100 but in a different color way. Anyways these eartips are of decent quality but were not a suitable match for Pilgrim mainly in terms of fit and comfort. I much prefer Final tips over these. These do not seal very well.Case
The Pilgrim comes in a simple yet good looking and well made case. The white color of the case matches quite nicely with the iems and cable. The outside of the case is made of leather (not sure about what kind) and the inside is made of soft felt type material. The logo is the middle looks nice and classy. The stitching is in the same shade of white and done nicely. The hinge also seems durable. The closing action is a bit weak, could use stronger magnets or friction. The overall sizing is compact enough to throw in your bag but not pocketable. The inside is spacious enough to keep the iems nicely.![]()
Cable
Now let’s look at the cable, Elysian has provided a really premium looking and feeling cable with the Pilgrim. The white and silver color of the cable really compliment the matte and shiny silver finish of the shells. Build wise this uses silver plated copper wire in 2core braid. The cable is on the thicker and chunky side, which I like. The 2 core braiding is nice and tight. The chin singe is functional. The cable is not the softest and has a bit of memory. The Y split and the connectors casing are metal. One unique thing about this cable is that it uses pentacon connector instead of more traditional 2pin or mmcx. The Pentacon connector allows the iem to swivel similar to mmcx but is more user friendly. There is minimal audible microphonics, close to none. This terminates into 3.5mm or 4.4mm (based on the version you purchase. At this price point I expect modular terminations, not cool.
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SoundPlease note: Listening impressions are highly subjective and can differ depending on different ear shape, individual music library, choice of source, eartips, cable and personal preferences, so your experience may differ. I personally always use and test all my gear in various setups to get a generalized idea on it. You can find my “tested with” info below.
Now most importantly sound, Elysian has gone for a balanced mild V type sound signature with emphasis on the higher frequencies for the Pilgrim. Pilgrim’s sound is basically a version of Elysian’s house sound signature. It has high quality yet well controlled bass with fairly natural midrange with some additional sparkle and energy in the upper mids and treble section. All in all I find this to have a technical sound characteristic specially in the upper frequencies. Lets get into a bit more detail.
Bass
Lets look at the bass performance of the Pilgrim. This has a well controlled, tactile and dynamic bass performance. Elysian focused more on making higher quality bass over quantity, and I think they nailed it. I believe the dynamic driver they used is quite high quality, because I have not heard such articulate, detailed yet deep attack at this price range. The Pilgrim has a sub bass focused tuning with a more balanced mid bass. Although the bass is not authoritative, it does get deep when the music calls for it. Bass speed is on the fast and tactile side. And bass note separation is pretty good. The body and layering are executed well. Decay and reverberation is pleasant. All in all I find this has a tastefully balanced and controlled high quality bass.
Mids
Moving on to the midrange, the Pilgrim has a classic well balanced tuning with extra sparkle in the upper mids. There is a slight bass bleed giving some warmth to the vocals and instruments in the lower mids. Male vocals have a good balanced of smoothness and detail. Female vocals on the other hand are more forward with more sparkle and crispness. Although there is no major sibilance issue, this might not be suitable for treble sensitive listeners. Timbre and instruments sound decent and well defined. The body and texture is standard.
Treble
Proceeding on to the treble of the Pilgrim, it has a somewhat bright tuning, this is not exactly balanced but not very forward either, somewhere in the middle. But vocationally the treble does sound more forward than it is because of more controlled bass. Although this does get that harsh or sibilant, I still would mot recommend it to treble sensitive listeners. Over all the level of detail is pretty good, with quite good sense of air and space. The overall resolution is good. Level of energy is also good. Overall the treble tuning blends quite nicely with the bass and mids in my opinion.
Technical Sound:
Soundstage of the Pilgrim is above average. All three plains are decent, this has good width but the height is ok. Stage depth is good. Layering is fine.
Imaging is better than average. Pilgrim’s imaging is accurate and easy to pin point instruments.
Sound separation and layering is pretty good.
Resolution is above average
Dynamics are decent.
Timbre is good
Tested With
Source: cayin n3 ultra, cayin ru7, ifi go blu, questyle m15, fiio btr7, apple type c dongle
Eartips: stock, Final E Black (2nd best pairing), Final E Clear (best pairing), spinfit w1, Divinus velvet, JVC Spiral Dots, Azla Crystals (3rd best pairing)
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music
ComparisonDunu x Gizaudio Davinci
The Dunu DaVinci is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 300$ price range for the overall value it provides. I have previously checked out and reviewed the DaVinci and this is also one of my top recommendations at this price. This packs a 2DD+4BA driver configuration, coming in at 300$. Starting off the comparison with packaging, Pilgrim is getter. Build and design is better on the Pilgrim, but the design of the DaVinci is a close second. Fit and comfort is better on te DaVindi. Accessories wise its a tie. In terms of sound DaVinci is quite different from the Pilgrim, almost opposite. The DaVinci has amore thicker, warmer, relaxed and more bass forward presentation. Whereas the Pilgrim is more technical, balanced, bright and more detailed. Technical sound wise Pilgrim is superior.
Thie Audio Hype 4
The Hype 4 is a very popular hybrid iem in the sub 400$ price range and also one of my personal top favs. The Hype 4 has been in my collection for a while and I like to use it often because of its engaging sound. I will be publishing a separate review on the Hype 4 soon. This is a 2DD+4BA driver iem coming in at 400$. Now let’s compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrims wins easily. Build and design wise Pilgrims wins. Fit and comfort is a tie, although hype 4 shells are pretty big it sits comfortably, on the other hand Pilgrim with third party tips are also pretty good. Accessories are better with the Pilgrim compared to the Hype 4. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Hype 4 has much more forward sub bass and mid bass presence, lower mids are warmer and the upper mids and rreble region over all is more forward. The Hype 4 has a overall more engaging and fun type sound over the Pilgrim. On the other hand Pilgrim is more balanced, bright and technical version of the Hype 4. Technical sound wise, Hype 4 is superior in my opinion mainly in soundstage, imaging is a tie and resolution and timbre is better on the Pilgrim.
Thie Audio Oracle mk3
The Oracle mk3 is a fairly recent release from Thie Audio coming in at 590$. I know this is not exactly a fair comparison but I decided to do it any way. The Oracle mk3 has a driver configuration of 2DD+2BA+2EST drivers. I have been testing this set for a couple weeks now and will be reviewing it soon. Now lets compare, starting with packaging, Pilgrim wins. Build and design wise I prefer Pilgrim, fit and comfort is a tie. Accessories are slightly bit better on the Pilgrim. Most importantly, in terms of sound the Oracle is more well rounded with fuller bass and more refined treble. On the other hand Pilgrim’s bass is less forward with more forward upper mids and treble. Technical sound wise Oracle performs better in soundstage, imaging and dynamics but Pilgrim has better resolution.
Final Rating
Sound: 4.25/5Fit and Comfort: 4.25/5Build and Design: 4.5/5Packaging: 5/5Accessories: 4.5/5Pricing: 4/5Total rating: 4.25/5
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Conclusion
So to conclude the review, is it worth the price and do I recommend this set? The Pilgrim is a pretty good contender in this price point and I think the 400$ pricing is fair. If you are looking for balanced bright type sound with good technical performance, this could be good option. The fantastic brand value, decent accessories are also a plus point. Props to Elysian for making a good entry point for a more premium experience.
And huge thanks to you all for sticking around, see yall in the next one.Last edited:thaslaya
1000+ Head-Fier
Master of None Pros: + Mostly neutral/balanced tuning that works well as an all-rounder
+ Good sub-bass rumble and extension
+ Clear separation and vocal presentation
+ Accurate imaging
+ Solid build qualityCons: - Tuning can come across as boring, lifeless
- Short nozzle and shallow insertion
- Faceplate prone to scratches
- Average technicalities
- Price to performance![]()
thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure
Disclaimer:
This product was loaned to me by a friend for review purposes. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thank you to @Jaytiss for the opportunity.
Gear used:
●LG v30+
●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
●Samsung dongle
●Hiby FC4
●KiwiEars Allegro
●Dunu DTC480
●BLON V1
Source:
●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.
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Introduction:
Elysian Acoustic Labs is an audio company founded in 2016 by the legendary Lee Quan Min and is based out of Singapore. The company is well known for their kilobuck and multi-kilobuck IEMs that are touted as some of the best offerings money can buy, in particular the Annihilator and Diva models. When they announced the Pilgrim, the community was abuzz with excitement to see what Elysian could do in the mid-fi tier. This is their most affordable IEM to date, coming in at $399. I personally had a lot of anticipation to hear this newest model even though I haven't had the chance to hear the Annihilator or Diva yet (but will soon). Let's break down the Pilgrim and see what Elysian's most affordable IEM yet can do.
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Build, fit, ergonomics:
This is a loaner unit, and I did not receive the retail box or all of the stock contents, so I cannot comment on the unboxing experience. I only received the carrying case, cable, and the IEMs themselves. The build quality of the shells is good. They are made of machined aluminum and have a somewhat matte silver/gray finish on most of the shell that helps minimize scratches and fingerprints. Unfortunately, the shinier, raised portion on the faceplate is very prone to scratches and will show wear very easily unless the utmost care is taken. I really like the three-dimensional design here, but Elysian could have chosen a different finish so that everyday wear and tear would not be as noticeable. The shape and size are about average, and the shells have good weight balance without feeling heavy in the hand or ear. The nozzle is a bit short. It measures 6 mm at its widest part near the end where the lip helps keep tips in place. The insertion depth is quite shallow and proved problematic for me regarding the fit. Initially, I could not achieve an insertion deep enough for a proper seal until I tried the Coreir Brass tips. These tips saved the day because the metal inside the silicone adds a little extra length to the end of the nozzle. Even my usual Penon Liqueurs did not work well, and without the Coreir tips, I could not get a consistently good seal. The Pilgrim, like Elysian's other IEMs, utilizes the Pentaconn ear connection for its cable. I actually like this connection more than MMCX because it feels sturdier and still allows for easy rotation, but I still prefer a 2-pin connection over all others. The Pentaconn also makes cable swapping difficult because it is much less widely adopted and available in aftermarket cables. Unfortunately, I could not test any other cable besides the stock 3.5mm that was provided. This cable is silver-plated copper and has decent build quality. I would have much preferred a modular cable at this price point, especially since Pentaconn is a rarer connection. The white faux leather carrying case is also a welcome inclusion. It's not very pocketable, but it's easy to throw into a backpack, although the light color may stain more easily.
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Sound impressions:
During my testing, I found that the Pilgrim paired best with the Kiwi Ears Allegro, as it added a bit more excitement and a fun factor than something like the smoothed-over Hiby FC4. The Pilgrim has a mostly neutral tuning, with all three frequency bands being very balanced. No one area takes the spotlight from the others, but it is also almost too polite in its presentation, as if it's holding back. It can come across as flat and uninteresting at times, lacking a certain dynamic flair and engagement. The soundstage is quite nice, having a good amount of width but lacking some depth to truly be a standout feature. Separation is adequate, and all the frequencies work cohesively and coherently. On occasion, I did hear a slight metallic tinge to the timbre, and the note weight is a bit on the thinner side for my liking. I will say that the imaging is very good, with clear, concise notes that create a good three-dimensional space. Detail retrieval is also good, but the Pilgrim isn't a detail monster type of set. Its tuning is more musical than analytical, but again, overall, it just comes across as somewhat boring to me.
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●Lows - I knew the Pilgrim would not be a bass cannon, but I was initially surprised at the amount of bass and rumble, considering some other reviews and impressions noted that the bass was lacking. Although it lacks some midbass thump and impact due to the focus being more on the sub-bass region, I'm quite happy with the quantity of bass here. It could use some more warmth in the mid-bass to help balance out the upper mids, though. The speed and decay are about average, and the resolution is good enough to easily pick out those double bass kicks. The texture is on the drier side, and the overall presentation can come across as a little too polite or anemic at times, but this is mostly track-dependent. When the music calls for a deep, elevated bass, the Pilgrim can show up, and things get more exciting and fun.
●Mids - There's nothing really "wrong" or "bad" that I can pinpoint in the midrange. Vocals and instruments are well separated and have good timbre. There is no bass bleed in the lower mids, and the pinna gain is smooth without sounding shouty or harsh. The mids are also well balanced with the bass and treble and are neither recessed nor forward. On paper, it should be a recipe for success, but they just don't give me any emotional response and sort of fall flat. Perhaps it's because the vocals lean more analytical and less musical and soulful in their presentation. Perhaps some added note weight would make them feel more grounded and realistic, with a less "produced" quality. As they are, I have trouble making an emotional connection to the music, as I do with sets that have a more fun tuning or those that are intimate and warm. In "deja vu" by Olivia Rodrigo, her voice sounds great from a technical standpoint, but it lacks a certain life and vigor that I'm used to hearing with my other favorite IEMs. In contrast, I find male artists fare better, but they still lack that special vocal quality that helps me connect to the music.
●Highs - I expected a lot from the treble before beginning this review, and it mostly lived up to my expectations. It seems the treble is where the Pilgrim truly comes to life. To my ears, this part of the tuning and frequency response has the most energy. There's a good amount of air and sparkle with plenty of detail and no real sibilance to speak of. It can sometimes get a bit thin and ever so slightly irritating at high volumes on certain tracks, but I am fairly treble-sensitive, so others may not encounter the same issues. The extension could be pushed a little further to add even more air, but that's a small nitpick. Cymbals, hi-hats, snares, and claps sound crisp and clean, and they add good energy to the highs. Overall, it's an enjoyable treble response with plenty of presence and clarity. It's probably the most standout part of the tuning for me, but I'm still not sure it can justify the $400 price tag.
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Comparison to Sound Rhyme SP01 (balanced nozzle):
The Pilgrim is a hybrid consisting of one DD and three BAs, while the SP01 utilizes just a single dynamic driver. They may not seem like a great comparison, but I chose the SP01 because it is a recent release, has three distinct tuning nozzles (including a neutral option), and can help to see how the Pilgrim stacks up against IEMs at a much lower price (the SP01 is only $89). I used the "Balanced" nozzle on the SP01 and, to my ears, the tuning is quite similar to that of the Pilgrim. Both are well-balanced between the three frequency bands and have a neutrality that makes comparison easier. The build quality is similar as both have all-metal shells, but the SP01 is lighter in weight and smaller in size. The soundstage is wider on the Pilgrim, but the lack of depth and dynamics makes the SP01 sound more interesting. The Pilgrim has better separation and detail retrieval, but not by a huge margin. The tonality is slightly more colored on the SP01, but it's still mostly neutral and has a bit more life and vigor, which helps it sound less boring. The sub-bass extends deeper on the Pilgrim, and it has a slightly better rumble, but honestly, both are missing some mid-bass impact, and neither are very bassy IEMs in general. The midrange is more forward and clear on the Pilgrim, but the timbre is more natural on the SP01. The treble extension and air are better on the Pilgrim but also slightly brighter overall with a bit more energy. Now, I doubt many people would A/B these and not think that the Pilgrim is the "better" IEM, but for the price, I believe the SP01 has much more to offer. It currently retails for $89, while the Pilgrim comes in at $400. Does that mean the Pilgrim is four times better? Definitely not. Diminishing returns in audio are very real, and in today's market, they kick in at increasingly lower prices. I think the SP01 can come fairly close to the Pilgrim, but it also sounds a bit more lively and fun even with the balanced nozzle. That's not taking into account the fact that there are two more tuning options packed in that add more variety than the Pilgrim can offer.
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In conclusion:
If I'm being honest, my first experience with Elysian has left me a little disappointed. I want to be clear that the Pilgrim is not a bad product. In fact, it does just about everything from soundstage and imaging to its tuning and frequency response well. But for $400, I'm looking for something, anything, to reach out and grab my attention to justify the cost. Unfortunately, there's nothing in particular that I can point to as fantastic or stand out. The tuning does have a certain sophistication and maturity, but it can also come across as boring and lifeless. The sub-bass is good, but the mid-bass impact and slam are lacking. The midrange is balanced and fits well with the overall tuning, but I didn't feel any emotional connection to vocals like I do with other sets. The treble, while also well balanced and good quality, can't make up for my issues with the other frequencies. Overall, everything is just good, not great. This also extends to the design and build quality as well. The shells are well made and sturdy with a neat raised engraved aesthetic, but the nozzle length is on the short side, and without the Coreir Brass tips coming in to save the day, the fit would be a huge issue for me. The cable is good, but it could also be better for the price tag. I found them to sound best with singer-songwriter, acoustic, and soft pop/rock genres. Generally, I do think most genres fair well and this could be considered a decent all-rounder, if you like the tuning that is. So, who is the Pilgrim for? In my opinion, it's a good option for someone looking for a mostly neutral/balanced sound and doesn't necessarily want a dynamic or "fun" tuning—someone who likes a more subtle and nuanced approach to their music. It also could be a good palate cleanser of sorts between other, more colored sets. I was really excited to try my first Elysian, but this one just didn't do it for me. I'd rather take that $400 and buy a few IEMs that punch above their weight and also gain a variety of tunings instead of just one. In my opinion, the Pilgrim would be more competitively priced at $200–250. I commend Elysian for their first foray into the lower mid-fi price bracket, and I wish more high-end companies would throw their hat into the ring. The Pilgrim, although not my cup of tea, is a good start. Unfortunately for me, it embodies the phrase "jack of all trades, master of none," and I think there are better, cheaper options on the market today.
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Attachments
Last edited: View previous replies…
ILuvAudio it is sad that Pilgrim didn't make it to your list of recommendation, but it was a good read to get perspective.
thaslaya @ILuvAudio I was really expecting more from the Pilgrim but at the end of the day it's just OK to me. I'm sure there's a lot of people who love it but it's not high on my list. Give me the DaVinci, S12 2024, or even the S08 and I'd be happy keeping the extra $$$.MakeItWain
Previously known as SemperMalum
The Yin to the Noir's Yang - Elysin Pilgrim Pros: Great sub-bass
Detailed mids presentation, great for rock music
Treble is smoothly done - never sibilant or harsh
Great technicalities
Pentaconn connection is legit
Extremely comfortable in ear with manageable nozzle size
Tip rolling/Source rolling provides extra synergyCons: Proprietary cable option is also not necessarily market friendly vs 2-Pin or even MMCX
Upper mids being emphasized a bit more does make the Pilgrim a bit 'cooler' of a listen
Mid-bass is tuned to be detailed but lacks warmth or punch
May not have enough bass for some, treble for others - kind of too balanced/neutral TL;DR: Cool, neutral sound in a solid package
Overview/History
Hi all.
Coming back in for a set of reviews over some Elysian IEMs. I still have to complete my write up on the Diva 2023 & the Annihilator 2023 but I digress! Those are just special so I'm trying to work my prose to do those justice.
Most people in this hobby that are in the market for the TOTL/Summit-Fi products know Elysian Acoustic Labs out of Malaysia. From my understanding, Lee Quan Min (owner and basically a one person operation) hand crafts each and every one of his IEMs that he sells. Not wanting to only be known for his TOTL IEMs, Lee has decided to take on the mid-fi budget range and released the Pilgrim (followed by a collaboration effort with Effect Audio known as the Pilgrim Noir) that still follows his 'Elysian House Sound'.
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*Image from Elysian Acoustic Labs*
Both the Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir are a 1DD + 3BA IEMs. The dynamic driver is a 9.2mm sized driver with LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) which is found on both the Pilgrim and the Noir. Where they both differ in the BAs are that the Pilgrim comes with 3 Sonion drivers while the Noir comes with 2 Sonion and 1 'undampened' Knowles BA driver. The price for the Pilgrim is $399 (or you can add an Effect Audio Cadmus cable for $169 - total would be $568) while the Pilgrim Noir comes with a special Effect Audio cable for a total price of $799.
Essentially, the primary difference between the two IEMs is that the Noir is bundled together with the Effect Audio cable but is double the price as the OG Pilgrim and comes with 1 Knowles driver vs all 3 from Sonion.
Is the difference worth it? Which should you consider adding to your collection? Spoiler Alert: Join the Light Side.
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Here's some specifications for you so you don't have to look it up yourself.
Pilgrim Specifications:
- 1DD+3 High-Performance BA Drivers
- 9.2mm LSR (Liqud Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver
- Three Sonion BA Drivers
- Impedance: 9Ω@1kHz
- Sensitivity: 101dB@1kHz
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-20kHz
Disclaimers: I received the Elysian Pilgrim and the Elysian Pilgrim Noir as part of a tour. I would like to thank @Sebastien Chiu for allowing me to participate and listen to both of them. I was not given any directions or told to write about anything in particular and this review is all of my own opinion.
Build Quality, Comfort and Accessories
Photo dump time!
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As this was part of a tour, I did not receive a full box so I can't document the full unboxing experience.
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The Pilgrim is an extremely comfortable sized IEM in a light colored industrial design. I measured the nozzle lip (the largest part of the nozzle) to 6.0mm which is
definitely on the more manageable size.
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The only thing I received with the Pilgrim was actually the upgraded Cadmus cable (so this is technically being tested at the $568 price point). I also, mistakenly, did not ask Sebastien for a bag of tips so there's that.
Tip Rolling
No stock tips this time! I believe they come with the Spinfit CP100s. My Spinfit W1s will have to do.
Also, apologies in advance. I think I'll start trimming down my Tips section as I have too much.
Spinfit W1: Considering how detail oriented the Pilgrim is, the W1 doesn't really help balance the sound to me. Not my preferred combo.
Final Type E - Clear/Red: Usually, the Clear/Red are my ideal fit/sound presentation but I actually found that it was just too transparent/neutral for my tastes with this combo. Bass was slightly boosted which was good.
Dunu S&S: Not my favorite combination, either. The Pilgrim already have a very wide presentation so the S&S does help boost that special sauce but it doesn't need it.
Kiwi Ears Flex: If you know my sound preference, the Kiwi Ears Flex works extremely well for me to help warm up the sound. Actually really enjoyed this combination as it brings some additional bass impact. For my review, I did not use these tips for my write up but this was an awesome combo.
Azla SednaEarFit Origin: Usually the Origin do a good job of boosting bass but I felt the Kiwi Ears Flex did it better in this case. I would pass over this combo as it took away too much from the treble but didn't have nearly the warmth that the Kiwi Ears Flex provided.
Radius Deep Mount: This was it. Radius Deep Mount did a great job of bumping the bass level up a bit while adding a perceived amount of warmth (which Cat Paw did not) while still keeping the special sauce of the treble extension and technicalities. My favorite combination.
Radius Deep Mount Zone: Similar to Clear/Red - boosted mids/treble isn't necessarily what I'd consider a good combination with the Pilgrim so I would pass on using these tips.
Canal Works Gel Tips aka Cat Paw: The Cat Paw tips are fantastic but are basically like a boosted version of the Clear/Reds - it keeps the sound signature transparent while giving a bit more impact on the bass due to the gel. This was a good combo for me.
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Cable
So the Pilgrim was received with the upgraded Cadmus cable. Is there a difference between the Noir cable vs this cable?
Not that I can really tell.
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Is this cable bad? No, actually. It's a very nice, light yet substantial cable and the Pentaconn connection is really good, honestly.
Sound
So, how does the Pilgrim sound?
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The Elysian Pilgrim is an interesting IEM with just how much good detail that shines through. The Pilgrim manages to present a very balanced/neutral sound signature that doesn't go too far into that analytical side where it's unpleasant or cold to listen to.
Don't get me wrong. It's still on the cool side but the Pilgrim doesn't sound confused with what it's trying to present.
Gear Tested On: Primarily streamed music via either dedicated Streamer, Laptop or Phone
Phone chain: Pixel 8 Pro -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> Shanling Onyx XI1
Streamed Music Chain Workstation: Laptop -> JDS Element 3 Mk2 (with 4.4mm adapter)
*My Audio Preference and Score Disclaimer*: To preface my breakdown, here's my sound preference. I tend to prefer warmer sound. I enjoy good sub-bass extension with enough mid-bass to feel the music. I prefer more fuller sounding mids to match my library. My preference is for smooth treble extension; while I'm not treble sensitive, I'd probably lean more towards 'safer' treble tuning for longer listening. I also tend to listen at either medium to louder listening volumes (reasonably loud).
In addition, all scores listed below are typically (unless otherwise stated) rated/scored as it relates to it's peers in the same price group.
Lows/Bass: The bass of the Pilgrim is surprisingly very deep and competent but it suffers from what I would consider an analytical presentation.
Sub-bass is satisfyingly deep but the decay is very quick. It feels a bit like planar IEMs where detail is the key point in how the driver responds/reacts to the bass energy.
The mid-bass is a bit lean for my tastes but it makes sense where the Pilgrim is trying to minimize any potential bleed over in favor of the mids/treble to present that 'Elysian' house sound. It's not entirely my cup of tea here.
That being said, tip rolling really helped in my case and having a set of tips that do a good job of slightly boosting the bass (Radius Deep Mount, Kiwi Ears Flex) goes a long way.
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Bass Score: 7.25/10 - TL;DR: Great sub-bass but most of the bass is presented in a quick/detail oriented manner so there's a lack of warmth or impact
Mids: The Pilgrim shines from the rest of the sound presentation from here on out though.
Keeping with the trend, the Pilgrim has amazing details in the mids from both a vocal sense and an instrument sense. This is especially evident in guitar rifts and rock music where I feel like the Pilgrim is king in.
My nitpick - and this is my own since it follows my sound preference - is that while the female vocals are absolutely amazing, male vocals will sometimes come through a bit thin and lack some warmth. That makes sense given the detail oriented nature and trying to sound very natural but I am missing that a bit here. This could be absolutely ideal for some ears.
Mids Score: 8.25/10 - TL;DR: Great details overall on the mids; good gain on the upper mids. Vocals all are super clear with more of a nod to female vocals as male vocals can be a bit thin/lack warmth. Cooler than the Noir
Treble: With keeping in the details segment, the treble with the Pilgrim is absolutely top-notch. There is no harshness or sibilance here in it's presentation. There's a militaristic precision to the treble presentation that isn't found in a lot of IEMs in it's price range.
The treble can come across as leaning towards the bright side but the way that Lee tunes his IEMs is to provide that extended airy sensation while never going over the edge of it being offensive to the ears.
With that all being said, I do slightly prefer the Noir and how it handles the treble energy but the OG Pilgrim comes across as less 'safe' and more special in this case.
Treble Score: 8.5/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely great extension; probably a bit better execution in treble vs the laid-back expensive Noir - Prefer Noir to my sound preference but I think OG Pilgrim is no slouch as it's very minor
Detail, Separation, Imaging, Overall Timbre, Etc.: How the Pilgrim separates itself from the rest of the pack lies in it's excellent technicalities.
The soundstage is great and provides a good blend of horizontal/vertical space (more so the horizonal side). The imaging and instrument separation is top notch and really allows for busy tracks to shine especially with metal type of music.
There's an effortless precision in the detail retrieval which is where all the special sauce is for the Pilgrim and likely would be the biggest selling point for it.
Technicalities Score: 9/10 - TL;DR: Absolutely amazing details, soundstage and separation - some of the best in it's price segment
Library Hit List: Rock music - this is where the Pilgrim shines the brightest, IMO, and carves a niche into your library. Some stand out tracks:
Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky
The Rolling Stones - She's a Rainbow
Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
AC/DC - T.N.T.
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While there are times where you won't get that same bass performance you would want, the detailed presentation really lends itself well to tracks with a lot of instruments or complexity.
Primary Comparisons: Here's the fun stuff. How does the Pilgrim perform vs it's peers? Rather than go too far into a breakdown with a long paragraph narrative for each IEM (as the price category is pretty full at this time), I'm going to do a quick hit of "Primary difference and which I prefer + why".
Hype 4 vs Pilgrim: These are more similar than they're different (compared to the others in my comparison section) but the Hype 4 will have fuller sounding bass while Pilgrim knocks it out of the park more on the detail retrieval/imaging/separation. I prefer the Pilgrim, actually, since the Hype 4 comes off analytical but trying hard not to be while the Pilgrim is unabashedly analytical from the get go.
Dusk vs Pilgrim: Dusk DSP is smooth (and probably my favorite vs Dusk Analog/Pilgrim), Dusk Analog is a bit more engaging and lively (in the vocals/mids) to my ears but Pilgrim is definitely more detailed. I like the Dusk DSP -> Dusk Analog -> Pilgrim in this case.
DaVinci vs Pilgrim: DaVinci is warm, smooth sound with definitely more bass, fuller mids and vocals - Pilgrim is, again, more detailed and energetic on the top end. DaVinci > Pilgrim to me since it fits my sound preference more.
Estrella vs Pilgrim: I've only had the Estrella for a day so far but, as far as sound goes, Estrella leans more towards the DaVinci side with deeper bass, better male vocals - Pilgrim, again, effortless in treble/technicalities but doesn't necessarily feel like the all-arounder that the Estrella would be. Estrella > Pilgrim.
These are the primary competition, at least as far as ones I've heard.
Other Things to be aware of:
There's one last comparison I can make but I figured it belonged in this section especially since I'm about to go on a rant.
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Pilgrim Noir vs Pilgrim OG: To get this out of the way, I like the Pilgrim Noir tuning better. I really do. It's a bit warmer, bass feels just a smidge fuller but it still has a lot of the special sauce that the Pilgrim OG has. The issue is that the incremental tuning change is hard to justify the price difference and I would pick up the Pilgrim vs the Noir 10/10 times. If the Noir came without the Effect Audio cable and was either the same price or $100 more, I could whole heartedly recommend the Noir.
But, even with the upgraded cable for the Pilgrim with a different Effect Audio cable, the price difference is still $238. I like the cable well enough but not that much.
The Pilgrim, at $399, does things differently enough (but everything still well enough) to be worth consideration if someone tells you that they're looking for a detailed sound signature for their library. But I don't know if the Noir does enough in this case since it's creeping up to the $1k market where there's some real gems there. An example is like the Elysian Diva 2023 used which is around $1k - save the extra $200 and pick that up instead for something that's fantastic and unique. I say used because it's being discontinued and you're only able to find some stock here and there.
Special Sauce/Personal Bias Score: 7.5/10 - TL;DR: Competes well with all the other IEMs in this price bracket and becomes a game of 'Name that tuning preference!'
Conclusion:
The Elysian Pilgrim is an extremely solid first entry into the more mid-fi marketplace. It does a lot of things differently with it's detailed treble and technical performance that is capable of overshadowing it's peers.
For some sound preferences, this could be the ideal gateway to the 'Elysian House Sound' especially with a rock/metal type of library. For me, I'm excited to see if Lee/Elysian Acoustic Labs will continue to push into this price segment and bring something different to the table that can continue to drive the audiophile market forward.
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Final Score w/o Special Sauce: 8.25/10 - I wanted to bring this score in since I'll do the same with the Noir - Overall, this scores super well for me and I can easily recommend it
Final Weighted Score: 8.1/10 - Final score tally is what I'll do the stars with; overall, different than my preference but I appreciate everything that the Pilgrim brings and can recommend it for some people based on their sound/tuning preference
Thanks for reading!Last edited:
MakeItWain @thaslaya - thanks man. I can't wait to see how you feel about DaVinci vs Estrella.
MakeItWain @jmwant - thank you, sir! For sure, I like the DaVinci overall way more than the Pilgrim. It's a great set.Nealz
100+ Head-Fier
A Journey to the South! Pros: Smooth, silky, well extended and detailed treble.
Immersive and deep reaching sub-bass extensions.
Forward, emotional and textured vocals.
Wide, holographic, spacious and airy soundstage.
Very good instrument separation and micro detailing.
Natural timbre for instruments.
Option to choose 4.4 mm balanced cable.Cons: Not musical, rather somewhat dry sounding.
Lacks bass quantity, lean mid-bass.
Too safe tuning, lacks dynamics and doesn’t sound engaging.
Bad build quality, faceplates scratches easily.
Pentaconn connectors, making Pilgrim incompatible with most after market cables.
Not very good price to performance ratio.Disclaimer:
Although I purchased the Elysian Pilgrim with my own funds, I did receive a reviewer discount worth $100 from HifiGo. If you decide to buy this IEM based on my review and find that you disagree with the sound or assessment, that responsibility lies solely with you. I strongly discourage relying solely on a single review for purchasing decisions in the realm of audio quality, as preferences vary. You should conduct thorough research by exploring platforms such as YouTube, head-fi forums, and various Facebook audiophile groups before making a purchase decision.
Non-affiliated Purchase Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-p
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Unboxing:
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Elysian has provided a decent amount of accessories with the Pilgrim, you get a white carrying case (Elysian logo comes off easily), a small cleaning brush, a set of Spinfit CP 100 Eartips (S,M,L), a stock sliver platted copper cable with pentaconn connectors, and a small carrying pouch as well. The unboxing experience itself is premium, you get layers of accessories presented to you with the Pilgrim theme and the box itself matches the white colorway of the IEM. You get to choose between a 3.5mm, 4.4 mm or a 3.5mm & 4.4mm cable while purchasing the Pilgrim and the price will rise by $30 if you choose the last option. Having the option to choose between a single-ended or balanced cable is always a positive in my book. However, I certainly do not appreciate this new Pentaconn connector from Elyisan, which means I have to buy after market cables specifically for the Pilgrim, as all my other IEM’s have a 2-pin connector. At $400 asking point I expected Pilgrim to come with some more ear-tips out of the box as well.
Build Quality & Design:
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The Pilgrim is quite an ergonomic IEM with a lightweight design, personally I had no issues with the seal or comfort. In fact, I could listen to it for hours without feeling any sort of ear-fatigue, I don’t think even people with smaller ears will struggle with this one. Pilgrim has a very atheistic and beautiful faceplate, the design is supposed to mimic the gentle rolling hills. Each step in its design is meant to reflect the relentless pursuit of enlightenment through its journey from the initial development stage. Unfortunately, these beautiful shells of the Pilgrim are not very long lasting and tend to get scratched or have dents in them quite easily, especially the shiny metal parts, My unit already has some noticeable scratches and some tiny dents event after using it very carefully. Although Elysian has crafted an unique design for the Pilgrim its let down by the poor build quality.
The Tech:
Pilgrim sports a multi-driver or hybrid configuration; it has four drivers in total on each side. A 9.2mm LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver unit takes care of the bass, 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50’s for the highs. Pilgrim also offers a 3-way crossover design for a harmonious, clear and balanced sound across the whole frequency range. They have also crafted the internal chambers and acoustic duct tubes inside the cavity of the Pilgrim using highly precise 3D printing technology.
Sources Used During Review:
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Cayin RU7, Hiby R6 Gen III, Hiby R4. The pilgrim is pretty sensitive at 9 Ohms @ 1khz, what that means is that devices or sources with higher impedance output can skew the overall tuning and sound signature. Fortunately, all of my sources have a reasonable output impedance, the Cayin RU7 added some warmth and an analogue sound as usual to the Pilgrim. However, I preferred the neutral tonality of the Hiby R6 Gen III & Hiby R4 Dap’s. Being sensitive doesn’t mean Pilgrim doesn’t need some power, feeding it good quality power opens up the stage, tightens the bass and brings more texture to the midrange. However, Pilgrim tends to maintain the same level of performance both at higher and lower volumes, you won’t notice a significant difference in sound quality while pushing the volume higher.
Sound Evaluation
Signature:
The Pilgrim has a very neutral and mid-centric tuning. It’s smooth and neutral profile allows it to render genres like rock, metal, indie etc beautifully and effortlessly. Due to its lack of dynamics, bass quantity and overall engagement factor, genres like Pop, Hip-Hip, EDM etc don’t sound as good on the Pilgrim. This IEM doesn’t sound go for thick or musical sound rather it can sound a bit dry and lean, however Elysian Pilgrim maintains a natural timbre and tonality for all the instruments presented in a track.
Highs (4.5/5):
The highs of the Pilgrim is really well extended detailed and sparkly, it maintains a smooth profile without sounding harsh or fatiguing at any point. Instruments like cymbals, high hats and trumpets maintain a lot of air and sound crisp, this can be especially noticed in tracks like half-alive – Summerland or Superglue by Joan. Saxophones are also beautifully rendered and makes its presence felt in tracks like Syst3m Glitch – Young and Wild and Free. The upper treble region is nicely detailed, vivid and energetic whereas the lower treble region lacks a bit of energy and air. Overall, the treble region of the Pilgrim manages to nail the balance between a uniquely bright yet smooth tonality.
Mids (4/5):
Kansas – Miracles Out Of Nowhere, is a track where the mids of the Pilgrim truly shines, drums, violins and electric guitars sound truly breathtaking. There is no Harman like forced upper-mids boost, the female vocals are presented slightly forward in the mix and sound quite emotional. Male vocals sound a bit hollow in comparison mainly due to the somewhat lean lower mids. Vocals overall sound very clean and textured on the Pilgrim, it has very good definition and resolution. Elysian has proved with their years of tuning experience that vocals don’t need to be too forward to sound beautiful.
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Low’s (3.5/5):
Due to the use of LSR(Liquid Silicone Rubber) dynamic driver the sub-bass of the Pilgrim is well extended, it has deep reaching reverberating effect and rumble which is quite distinct. The bass has excellent resolution and a fast decay, being able to keep up with busy tracks effortlessly. Kick drums in Big Dawgs Ft. Kalmi by Hanumankind sounds rich and impactful. And that deep reaching, full bodied sub-bass rumble can also be felt rocking your ears in tracks like Green Juice by A$AP Ferg ft. Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes. Mid-bass of the Pilgrim doesn’t have very good extension, it lacks punch and sounds rather lean and dry compared to the sub-bass.
That’s enough about the quality of the bass, but what about the quantity? That’s where the Pilgrim falls behind significantly, I am afraid! I am by no means a bass-head (I enjoy well-known less bassy IEM’s like Simgot EA1000 or Hiby Project Ace), yet the bass quantity of the Pilgrim did not impress me. Now I have tried tip-rolling with Final E-tips, Penon Liqueur Black Tips and Tri i3 Pro stock tips, all of which are known to enhance the bass quantity of IEM’s, yet the Pilgrim still failed to satisfy me. I would suggest bass-heads or even bass lovers to avoid this IEM, you will feel like there’s something big missing in this department.
Technicalities (4/5):
Pilgrim is a master of micro details, it presents the listener with a lot of information, you can pick up small details like background humming, little gasps for air while the singer is performing the songs or even vocal echoes. The overall clarity and resolution is very good but it does not immediately grab the listeners attention like some other sets do, for example, Simgot EA1000. Instrument separation is much better on the other hand due to the clarity and resolution you can easily tell apart each instrument and where it’s positioned in the mix. The soundstage is wide, holographic and spacious with a good amount of air but lacks the spatial depth. The dynamics of the Pilgrim are a little bit blunt It’s dynamic prowess aren’t as engaging or exciting compared to other sets in the same price range, making the Pilgrim sound inoffensive but also boring to listen to.
Comparisons:
vs Dunu DaVinci
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Although both are hybrid sets, these two sets are world apart. One sounds balanced, slightly bright and less dynamic whereas the other sounds thick, meaty and engaging. Pilgrim has the better treble extension, air and sparkle compared to DaVinci, especially it extracts better micro details in the brilliance region (upper registers). DaVinci on the other hand decimates the Pilgrim when it comes to bass quantity, it has much better mid-bass and sub-bass presence. While the Pilgrim does offer better bass texture and quick decay, I honestly don’t care about these when the quantity is so scarce. DaVinci presents better lower-mids (thick male vocals) and thick note weight whereas Pilgrim plays it safe with a more balanced presentation and slightly forward but smooth upper-mids (emotional female vocals). Technicalities goes to the Pilgrim with a wider and taller soundstage, better instrument separation and natural instruments timbre. Overall, my personal preference leans towards the more musical, thicker and dynamic sounding tuning of the DaVinci, Pilgrim loses my vote while trying to play it too safe.
vs Simgot EA1000
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The Fermat is a Single DD flagship from Simgot whereas the Pilgrim is an entry level hybrid set from Elysian. EA1000 offer better treble extension compared to Pilgrim but it’s quite harsh as well, you will need a warm source and a pure copper cable to tame that harshness. Pilgrim on the other has nicely extended treble but without any harshness or peaks, I prefer its much smoother presentation. Micro-details extraction is excellent on both however EA1000 edges out the Pilgrim by a slight margin. EA1000 highlights the midrange instruments better and vocals sound forward and cleaner as well. Vocals on Pilgrim although, not as forward as EA1000, but they do sound more emotional and fuller. Bass is interesting with these two, both have a faster decay and very good texture, however EA1000 has the better quantity and bass slam. Technicalities are comparable on both sets, soundstage is slightly wider on the Pilgrim but is has more spatial depth with the EA1000, imaging and instrument separation is pretty great on both. Overall, it’s a matter of taste, personally I prefer the clarity, higher resolution, better dynamics, engagement factor and especially the more satisfying bass impact of the EA1000 compared to the Pilgrim.
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Conclusion:
The Pilgrim is a great set but for a specific demographic of people, if you listen to a lot of Rock, Metal, Indie etc then the Pilgrim can serve your purpose quite masterfully. Those looking for a smooth, inoffensive and mid-focused tuning will also be happy with what the Pilgrim has to offer. Those who like a bassy, engaging or thick sound should take their business someplace else. Pilgrim has a unique tonality that’s for sure, it’s extremely balanced but plays it too safe. Its clear Elysian is sticking to what it does best and not interested in taking risks. I can respect that, but unfortunately my personal taste doesn’t align with it. If I have to consider the price to performance ratio then I would say $400 is a bit too much asking price for it has to offer, $300 would be more reasonable. And that’s all folks.Last edited:Pranto Dev
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim | The pilgrimage of Music ? Pros: Solid Build
Safe tuning
Coherent hybrid setup
Tasteful Sub-bass
Wide sound stage
Natural Tonality
Budget offering from an expensive brandCons: Face plate gets scratched easily
Cable replacement can be expensive
Treble sparkle missing
Genre specific
Require decent power to drive Elysian Pilgrim
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Disclaimer: This iem was provided by HIFIGO for review to AudioPhile Alliance BD. Big shout out to them. Regardless, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Inside The Box
Iems
Cables(Pentaconn connectors )
Carry case
Spinfit eartips (cp100)
Warranty card
Microfiber cloth
Specs
Hybrid(1 DD + 3 BA)
9.2mm LSR Dynamic Driver (Low)
One Sonion 2300(Mid) and two E50(High) series BA
3 way crossover
Frequency response 10Hz-20 Khz
Actually what do these specifications yell? Elysian didn’t cut corners while choosing the drivers and made sure to make them sound coherent. In other words, they sound as if a single driver is playing. 10 Hz frequency response means you can expect a good lower end response. More about it in the sound impressions.
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Build and Comfort
Starting with the build it has a solid build with 304 series stainless steel (Only the body and bores). I think the cross over is built out of resin. The face plate is aesthetic. But it easily gets scratched due to the mirror-like pattern on the face plate.
Overall the build is premium.
Comfort wise it sits comfortably right outside your ear canals but the iems doesn’t allow to have a deeper insertion.
The nozzle is a bit on the wider side. Good luck while inserting eartips!
Source
Cayin IHA-6
Ibasso DX170
All testing is done using balanced cable. (if you damage or loose the cable good luck finding cheap replacement)
It requires decent amount power to drive.
Sound
Elysian is known for its high end iems and award winning tuning. They claim the highlight of the show to be their tuning. So let's dig down to discover the claim vs the reality.
signature / graph : Balanced sound signature with sub-bass boosted.
Bass:
The bass is tight, punchy. It doesn’t bleed into mids and sounds so clean. But for busy tracks where a lot of instruments are playing, like: bass guitar, drums and tabla. It literally overshadows other instruments. But in hip hop, edm shines like a gem. It's a sub-bass boosted iem, where the “oomf ” has been prioritized over bass. It has fast, textured bass. Depth of the bass is missing.
On the contrary the sub-bass has slower decay. The sub-bass is done tastefully.
Mids
Male vocals are done quite well; they sound thick and have a good note weight. On the other hand, female vocals don't sound as good as male vocals. Vocals sound a bit dry which affects female vocals as well as string instruments. Instruments sound natural but not as engaging as I expected for this price range. If you are a fan of smooth and non fatiguing vocals you will like em. But, if the treble sparkles then this might not be your cup of tea. The background instruments could use some presence. They kind of fade away.
Treble
The treble is well extended and non fatiguing even more so for some who are treble sensitive. For in other iems i found Hi-hats bit fatiguing but this one does that beautifully. The lower treble and upper treble region sounds clean. For example in some busy tracks like “Can You feel my heart” it retains the details when it gets loud.
But my complaint with lower treble is that the drums could have more authority or definition to it.
Technical aspect :
The imaging is on point unless it's a very track like classical music or orchestral. The soundstage is very wide, 180-270 Degree. It gives 3D representation and an immersive experience.
For the overall sound experience I would say the strong points are sound stage sub-bass and coherent sound. Coherent sound is very important on which a big company like sony spends million dollars(ie: z1r).
Eartips roll off : Pilgrim has a short nozzle which doesn’t provide good seal and depth insertion. There are some mods you can try. I personally used Divinus velvet as it helps to elongate the nozzle + eartips depth and provides a better seal.
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Comparison
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Verdict
If someone is heavily leaned towards: Hip Hop, rap , edm they can buy this iem.
This offers a solid build, does everything decent. Moreover people who are heavily treble sensitive can pick this iem for everyday use easily. There are some other options in 400$ price bracket. This is in the competitive zone but not something which I would call value for money.Attachments
PPranto Dev @jmwant Yes Sir. I feel like, when manufacturers are creating iems, its art. Better thing might be to view from the people's perspective what they really trying to create. In case of pilgrim they claimed their tuning and coherent driver setup.Project Audio
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim - The First Path Pros: Great build and unboxing
Excellent tuning
Deep and defined bass
Vivid and articulate highs
Good soundstage and imaginingCons: Unusual cable connector Hi, I'm Feliphe Espildora and today I'm going to give my first contribution here with what is probably my "endgame". Introducing Elysian Acoustics Pilgrim.
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Obs: This is a personal unit, purchased by myself on HifiGo
Buy Elysian Pilgrim
The unboxing of the Pilgrim, as with the other headphones of the brand, is relatively simple but very elegant, with a white box with some lines that refer to the faceplate of the IEMs. Opening the box we see the Pilgrim and right below is the envelope with manuals, warranty card and cleaning cloth. Finally, we have a beautiful white case with magnetic closure and inside it an excellent cable and SpinFit CP100 kit.
The earphones are beautiful, all made of aluminum and mix a matte finish with polished lines on the faceplate, being relatively small and very comfortable. The nozzle is made of stainless steel and has only a small screen protecting the output ducts, and use the Pentaconn Ear connector, which works in a similar way to the MMCX.
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Inside, we have 1 dynamic driver and 3 balanced armatures arranged in a 3D printed structure and organized in a 3-way crossover (1+1+2).
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Bass: Tonally, they are a little above what I consider neutral and with more emphasis on the sub-bass, but still maintaining a good presence of mid-bass and are far from being dry or thin. The word that best describes the Pilgrim's bass for me is “grandiose”, everything sounds big and deep, has body and weight but is not dull. The extension and impact in songs like "Bad Guy" and "The Dinner", both by Billie Eillish, are impressive, but perhaps some people miss a little more mid-bass to give more weight to the notes of a double bass. In technical terms, I've never heard so much texture and detail, not even on the Softears RSV, the most expensive earphones I've ever heard, in addition to a lot of speed capable of maintaining the pose even on an “Intra Venus”.
Mids: Starting with the lower midrange, in the notes of a cello everything sounds beautiful, with body, weight, intensity worthy of goosebumps in "Nothing Else Matters (Live)", the same goes for lower notes of an acoustic guitar and even a bass-guitar, even without much presence of low midrange. The upper midrange stands out, but it doesn't take over the presentation nor is it too frontal, it's just crisp and clear, effortless. The voices sound natural, both female and male, and have a lot of detail and texture without becoming harsh or sibilant, and as an Aurora fan that I am, you can be sure that listening to “The River” is always a pleasure, and the same goes for “No soy una de Essas” by Andrea Grauzas, which sounds beautiful, clear, detailed, textured. Lindsey Stirling's violin is also the same, and at no point is it overshadowed by the rest of the performance. It's there, crisp and clear amidst the tinkling of the bells in “Carol of the Bells.” Speaking of bells, let's move on to the highs.
Treble: Still on the subject of the bells in “Carol of the Bells,” even with the violin's greater prominence, they are perfectly audible, and this happens in practically any song, and even if they are not highlighted, the highs are there to be heard. The cymbals have a lot of extension in “September in Montreal,” even though they don't reach the level of a top-of-the-line magnetic planar, but they sound more organic and "raw," with metal really sounding like metal, without the thin tone that many headphones have. The highs here are just right for my taste, both in quantity and quality, being a region with a certain prominence but that doesn't get in the way.
Technicalities: In this regard, Pilgrim is the best I've ever heard, simple, not even Softears RSV beats this guy here. Everything is there for you to hear clearly and palatably, even microscopic details, like in “Cure For Me (Acoustic)”, by Aurora, where right at the beginning you can hear the person's hand sliding across the neck of the guitar as they change notes, or in “SKINNY”, by Billie Eilish, where you can hear small whispers in the background at various points in the song. Pilgrim is also very expansive, and even though the vocals and instruments are relatively close, the space behind them is huge, the sounds seem to die away several meters away. The song “Give Me the Night”, by George Benson, gives me the feeling of being on stage in a theater with the crew, as the music spreads and fills the room in front of me. Conclusion: A $399 headset is not cheap at all and few will be able to afford the Pilgrim, but those who can will have a great experience. That's how I define the Pilgrim: it's great. Everything about it feels big, alive, captivating and exciting, while also being very technical.Last edited:Argha
100+ Head-Fier
King without a crown ? Pros: Unbeatable Value Till Date
Luxurious Tuning
Exceptional Layering
People Pleaser (Safe tuning for the majority)Cons: Midbass delivery does not complement the sub-bass
No shine and sparkle in the music![]()
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Shout-out to HiFiGo and @gadgetgod for providing me with this unit. Here is the unaffiliated link to the IEM -
Elysian Acoustic Labs PILGRIM 1 LSR DD+3 Sonion BA Hybrid In-Ear Monitors
All the thoughts and opinions are mine and honest to my findings. No one paid or influenced me to write anything good or bad about the product.
Elysian Audio Pilgrim
Elysian is a well-established IEM brand that focuses on the higher end of the budget spectrum in the IEM market. This is their intro to the mid-fi segment and oh boy! I am so happy that they chose to enter into this field also, where a huge competition is already waiting to devour any IEM that doesn't match the value proposition even the tiniest bit. And Elysian not only scored well in that race, but I would say it might’ve won it too. Let’s dive in.
Introduction to the sound
Pilgrim is not the kind of IEM that will impress you with cheap tricks. The fundamentals are excellent on this IEM. Although not everything is perfect, it has flaws in two places and I will be discussing that later on. But I think if it hits the right spot for you, it has the potential to be an all-rounder IEM that would serve you well in every genre.
Philosophy Towards Tuning
The intention towards the tuning reminds me a lot of the Sennheiser HD6X0 Series. They did the primary tuning very well, which doesn’t only impress you with refinement but can also challenge IEMs that are much more pricier. Simply put, if you love music for the art in it (Composition and Orchestration) rather than enchanting factors like huge stage depth and sparkly details, you will be delighted with this IEM. The majority of the genres sounded good. Where recorded music shines in this IEM, Electronic music still needs a little bit more oomph. Personally, it worked extremely well for my library. But if you have a very electronic music-heavy collection, it won’t give you a satisfying low-end. The sound is organic, beautifully coherent and wet while being refined through and through.
Simply put, Pilgrim can’t do everything well. But for sure it doesn’t sound like a $399 IEM but a lot more than that. The value you will get from this IEM is astronomically high.
Tuning in detail
Subbass ( A lot better than I expected )
- Rumble is there in this region
- It feels authoritative
- The extension is deep
- Separation is excellent in this region
- The sub-bass is not room-filling (The immersion factor is missing a bit)
- Doesn't sound like a subwoofer is in the action (Cohesive but not defused)
- Amplitude is tasteful as a neutrally tuned IEM
- Decay and Attack is extremely neutral and feels analogue
- Falloff to the midbass is very natural and gradual
Mid-Bass (A slight departure from the excellent sub-bass)
- The transition is very smooth from the sub-bass
- Mid-bass is not thumpy to my ears
- The amplitude of the overall midbass is also not very high
- The transition to midrange is very neutral and doesn’t give husky characteristics to the male vocals nor it will make it lush.
- Overall the low-end seems very natural and slightly hints at a more reference-grade tuning
- Compared to the sub-bass, the midbass is a bit underwhelming in presentation and resolution both
- The attack is a bit slow
- Decay is extremely well implemented. It is as natural as it can get at this price point.
- The bass depends heavily on the music. If the music has sufficient bass it will reproduce properly enough.
- Again, the overall bass performance is extremely tasteful
Let me explain the low end of this IEM using a few songs from my library
(For reference the song “We All Have Dreams” - doesn’t produce enough oomph with this IEM but the sub-bass is good enough. The song “Personal” also left me a bit desiring with the bass performance. In the song “Reconssiance” this IEM performed so well that most of the gripe I had with the midbass vanished. The song “Anthology - Daft Punk Tribute”, made me question what I said about the mid-bass, it sounded very full and thumpy. So it is clear that it is highly dependent upon the tracks you’re listening to, but the points above apply to most genres I listened to).
Lower Mids (The whitepaper reference)
- Lower mids are very neutral
- Vocals and Instruments are aptly textured. It doesn’t sound hyper-textured (Like Tangzhu GATE) but never felt it was lacking by any means.
- The resolution is good enough for the price and so are the details (micro contrasts & micro details)
- The bass causes no bleed to the mids whatsoever.
- Timbre in this region is very enriched (The production of every instrument is more appealing ), which is a delight to listen to if you are not chasing absolute realism in timbre.
- This range is extremely dynamic.
- Zero Dryness & roughness can be noticed here. The vocals sound great.
- The vocals do sound intimate rather than having a spacious presentation although it is not as heady as I thought.
Upper Mids (Sparkle Where ?)
- The upper mids are not sibilant even a tiny bit.
- The whole range is controlled through and through
- Although I craved a little bit of elevation in this range.
- No sudden peaks and dips are there that can result in unevenness
- The resolution is perfect here, the texturing to micro details everything is very good in this range.
- Some air extension can be felt but it is not sufficient for my ears to call it a fulfilling female vocal reproduction.
- 4Khz needs to be EQed to sound exciting
- Very realistic timbre.
Treble ( OK so you have to choose one pill - comfort or elevation )
- The treble is very safe for every song I have thrown at this IEM.
- The treble contributes to a wetness to the sound which I adore.
- Very refined and controlled throughout the range.
- The resolution is very organic, no sudden peaks cause unnatural detail exaggeration which contributes to the unevenness in the music.
- Although I would’ve liked a bit more elevation in this region. The transience could’ve been a little bit crisper at the end.
- Note Falloffs are a bit blurred too which also contributes to the wetness. But I don’t find it bothering me enough.
- Timber is a bit weighted, few instruments lacked the presence region refinement.
- The resolution is OK for the price here.
- I kept craving for trailing edges since every nuance matters to me.
- The attack and bite are a bit missing, which contributes to the smoothing out of string instruments in micro-contrast.
- Overall, the treble is extremely useful for longer listening sessions. I used it for hours at a stretch and didn’t feel fatigued even a tiny bit which is a huge win.
Simply saying, Pilgrim sounds like a much higher-priced set. With a few changes here and there in EQ, you can live with this IEM without worrying about an upgrade, for a long time. I guess the experience talks here, Elysian haven’t backed out a single bit to give this IEM a lot of care as they do with their much pricier IEMs.
Technicalities
Sound Stage (OK! IEM Version of HD650)
The soundstage of this IEM is intimate but it is far from being claustrophobic. Some might express it as a heady IEM which I don't agree upon. The soundstage though is well applied in all directions. No stretching of any sort, to give it a Stereo Imaging benefit, nor does it shy away from producing height. This IEM won’t wow you with a huge stage but the utilisation is very strong for the minimal scope it acquires.
Imaging (Damn! They've outdone themselves here)
The imaging on this IEM is exceptional, to say the least. Not only I could pinpoint every instrument in the soundstage but also the border around their sound projection could be felt. There was space between instruments even on the busiest tracks.
Now comes the part that blew me away. The layering of this IEM is insane for the price. You can hear layers upon layers within the soundstage of this IEM. I can easily compare it to a $1000 IEM and it might still beat most of them in terms of layering capabilities only. For this reason, Binaural Recordings sound superb with this IEM.
Dynamics
I have zero complaints about the dynamics. It handles everything well. It felt very analogue and I loved that since dynamics like IE600 is arguably better but I would much prefer the sound of this IEM in terms of Dynamics.
Resolution
Now IEMs have gotten so good with resolution that it is hard to complain. The resolution likewise is very good with this IEM. It might seem a bit under-detailed due to psychoacoustics for the treble tuning but it is very resolving.
Comparison
Softears Studio 4 - They might look similar in the FR but they sound a bit different. Whereas S4 is very neutral in the sense that it is flat. Pilgrim is not as reference grade as studio 4. The soundstage on S4 is a bit better but Imaging and layering are better on Pilgrim. Subass is way better in Pilgrim whereas S4 will give you a thump in the mid-bass.
I would choose S4 if I aim to listen to music from an analytical perspective. Otherwise, Pilgrim is a more richer and luxurious way to listen to music.
AFUL Performer 8 - Again, they are very different. P8 is massively better in providing sparkle and air. Where Pilgrim beats Performer 8 in the bass. Staging of P8 is a hint better and on the other side layering of Pilgrim is better.
Project Dita M - Pilgrim is a lot more expensive than Project M and likewise it is an upgrade in all aspects, so if you have the extra bit of cash in your wallet, go for it.
IE600 - These two are complementary sets. IE600 sounds wider and has better separation, air, and it is loaded with sparkles. Where Pilgrim is a much more mature set.
Conclusion
I wholeheartedly recommend this IEM at $399. Pilgrim is a mature, well-refined and well-tuned set with exceptional layering capabilities which will be the benchmark for me at this price point from now on.Last edited:
ILuvAudio Nice one bro
gadgetgod Glad that you liked the set bro.
Argha @ILuvAudio @gadgetgod Means a lot coming from you guys.MuddyCrab
New Head-Fier
A pilgrimage to great sound? | thoughts on the Elysian Pilgrims Disclaimer:
I’m more of a Teach head than an audiophile and I use YouTube Music for 99% of my listening. Take everything I say with this in mind and please don’t come after me for not having refined taste. This is purely from my silly little point of view, of which you might be interested in.
Gear Used:
Streaming Platform: YouTube Music Premium (Bit rate: 256kbps AAC & OPUS)
Dongle: USB to Lightning JCALLY JM08L
Box:
Starting at certain price points you kinda want a nice unboxing experience and this definitely has on without being over the top or unnecessary. You open up this unit of a box to reveal the IEMs then with the silver pull tabs on the side you can start to unpack the rest down all the way revealing this posh white case.
The case it comes with is definitely more of a storage case rather than a carrying case. With its white pleather material and white exposed stitching you definitely don’t want to be shoving this thing in your backpack everyday. Reminiscent of a watch case it definitely would be a nice display piece on your PC setup or IEM collection. The Elysian branded microfiber cloth inside is a nice little touch as well to further add to its overall vibe.
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Build:
The stock cable it comes with is pretty nice with a metallic silver finish that matches the IEMs themselves making it for a fairly simple but pleasant color palette. It all leads down to a nice little stop with a subtle and classy looking Elysian logo. I’ve been rocking the stock cable the entire time and it’s not loud when you ruffle against clothes and it’s light enough not to be cumbersome in any way. The ear hooks are covered in a clear plastic material like usual but it’s not too thick wherein it starts to bother my glasses.
With a nice and even matte silver finish the IEMs themselves are lightweight and nice to hold. There’s a little indicator for left and right on the inner side of them which is a nice little bonus for people like me who have the hardest time somehow putting on cables on the right side even. While the overall finish is super nice and premium, the mirror accent pieces are honestly a little annoying. The sharp ridges tend to catch on cloth or anything fibrous while the mirror finish itself which seems to be the bare aluminum gets micro scratches super easily making it looking fairly worn down after a while. They still look good from afar don’t get me wrong but they definitely start looking a little battle worn close up.
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Sound:
If you’re gonna skim this entire section then the one thing you should know is these sound super fun to listen to. In terms of sound quality the two things that stand out to me the most are its bass and its accentuated imaging.
In terms of bass it’s not the strength that gets me but the richness I feel from it. There’s this extremely satisfying thump that hits you without messing with any of the other sounds coming from it. It’s got this nice reverb roll off that just gives kick drums and some EDM bass such a nice texture. The chorus bass hit in Wake Up Alone (feat. Jhené Aiko) - Chainsmokers has this nice reverb effect that’s just very apparent with the Pilgrims. As for the imaging, the clarity in some of the minor instruments that's isolated is eye opening in some songs. The level of detail you get out of something like the bamboo flute in Head in the clouds - 88rising which is something I never really noticed before and the electro stereo effects in This is what space feels like - JVKE where the left and right effects are slightly offset but you still get that flavor out of them just takes you to a different dimension.
Oh and another added bonus of these I found out is that even at lower volumes you still get a nice full sound out of them. There are times where I would need to lower the volume but I’d still get a nice little kick out of the bass. Clarity doesn’t suffer either, everything can still be heard at lower volumes which is just the cherry on top.
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Nitpicks:
This is clearly a case to case thing but these things just don’t want to give me a proper seal after a few minutes. I can’t go a few songs without pushing them back in and trust me, I’ve tried all the tips and sizes I could have possibly tried.
These tend to be flatter(physically and not sonically) and shorter on the inside so it might be less ergonomic I think.. For me personally, IEMs like the salnotes 7hz with that kind of flatter inside shape have never really given me a good fit.
Because of the constant effort to keep them in my ears like keeping my loved ones in my life, they tend to hurt after a bit so no matter how good they sound I just can’t enjoy them for a longer listening session let alone try them for things like movies or TV shows.
Final Thoughts:
While the whole fitment thing is an instant deal breaker for me, It’s obviously something that will depend from person to person so I'm not really going to count that in this final conclusion.
At the end of the day I think it’s an okay package with great sound. I do wish they took more consideration into the longevity of the mirror finish accents because it does have the price tag to warrant it. If these will live solely in its case and be taken out for dedicated listening sessions then the durability probably won’t be an issue but if these will become your daily drivers then you might want to take those factors into consideration.
But remember, Music is a personal experience so make sure to find whichever makes you enjoy it the most regardless of what a graph says.Attachments
ShabtabQ
100+ Head-Fier
"Theatery" experience on the go... Pros: The sub-bass is impressive
Built like a tank
EfficientCons: Proprietary connector
Scratchable glossy part of the faceplate Introduction
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs have recently become very popular among audiophiles due to the beautiful design, top-notch sound and affordable price. Targeted at the listeners who are looking for a quality sound experience while at the same time maintaining a reasonable budget, these IEMs come as the latest addition to Elysian Audio’s mission of giving quality sound at a reasonable price this time. This IEM was sent to me for the purposes of review by @gadgetgod , however by no means the review is influenced, it's all my personal opinion and a very positive one for sure.
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Build
The build quality of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs shows how much the company pays attention to detail and the quality of their products. The shells are made of high-quality aluminium alloy which makes them light yet strong and give a high-class look. This choice of material is not only practical as it adds durability to the IEMs but also enhances the IEMs’ looks. The faceplate has six vents that point towards the proper design aimed at improving soundstage and airflow. The care that has gone into the construction of the Pilgrim IEMs is evident and it shows that they are designed to last and can be used on a daily basis, however the faceplate where there is glossy finish is prone to scratches, being a review unit, it is understandable but still one has to take extra care if they want to keep these looking as good as new. Another important thing to note is that the cable although removable comes with a different connectors, proprietary, something that I have never used before, but I would add to it that this connectors are much much better than mmcx, but yet I wish they were 2-pins as its the universal these days and a lot of people with cables already lying around would have better time as well.
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Comfort
Comfort is a key factor of any in-ear monitor and the Pilgrim IEMs are no exception. They are decent in size, not as big as the blessing series, and not as small as AFUL, however they are very lightweight and are designed to sit comfortably on the ears for hours on end. For me the provided Spinfits were very good, and it offered a great fit that made the ear-tips very comfortable and provided good sound isolation as well. These would fit most of the ear size and shapes without an issue.
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Sound
Lows: The sub-bass of the Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs is excellent and is one of the product’s highlights. The low end is quite prominent and has a strong, almost visceral character; it delivers a nice punch that works best with electronic pop, EDM, and techno. Sub bass is deep even by the standard of most IEMs in this price range, and delivers a powerful slammer without overwhelming the rest of the frequency range. The mid bass is well integrated and offers good texture and tonality, which is rather detailed. The bass is tightly controlled with no signs of muddiness or bloating and for those who are into a clean and punchy low end, then the bass of this IEM will not disappoint even the bassheads out there who are looking for quality bass. One thing to note is that the quantity of the bass is not high but the quality is just amazing, never heard before kinda in this price range.
Mids: The midrange of the Pilgrim IEMs is rather lively and not recessed at all, vocals and instruments sound clear and detailed. This smooth mid while injecting some excitement to the listening experience, can be quite aggressive at some points especially when the volume is turned up. Vocals, and especially female ones can be a tad on the aggressive side which may be tiring after hours of use. Nevertheless, this issue can be counteracted with the proper choice of ear tips and proper control of the volume. It has smooth and a bit detailed mids which I think is great for all kinds of music; be it rock, pop, classical, or jazz.
Highs: In terms of treble, the Pilgrim sounds very good with a smooth and detailed sound in this region, there is no harshness or sibilance often found in many IEMs of this price range. The highs are well-extended with a nice sparkle to them that helps to give the general listening experience a lift without being too forward. This makes the Pilgrim IEMs to be very comfortable to use even for long periods with intricate high frequency details being delivered in a clean manner. The treble here reminded me a lot of the IE-600, it could be a problem for a very few treble sensitive people, but other than its perfect for what it is.
Resolution: As for clarity, the Pilgrim IEMs are exceptional and can easily be considered as some of the best in their price range in terms of detailing and information retrieval. A clear division between the instruments can be noted, which results in you being able to hear and distinguish each and every instrument that has been used in the mix. This kind of clarity and resolution is especially apparent in more intricate songs, which the Pilgrim IEM is able to decompose into its individual components and present in a way that gives a very “theatery” experience.
Soundstage: As for the soundstage of the Pilgrim IEMs, it is another strong point. The space is notably large and the depth of it is fairly great, thus offering a rather spacious and involving listening area. Meticulous position of instrumentation and voice within this soundstage can be seen since the listeners can easily map out the layout of the musicians. The soundstage is mostly good, but it can be slightly constricted in busy songs. Nevertheless, this is a rather small issue in the otherwise impressive piece of work. The soundstage accompanied by a great imaging results in the feeling of openness and airiness that only strengthens the general impression of the Pilgrim IEMs.
Rating
Comfort:
The Pilgrim IEMs are lightweight and ergonomically designed, providing a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. The wide nozzle may require some experimentation with tips to achieve the perfect seal, but once found, the comfort level is high.
Sound:
Lows:
The bass is deep and impactful, with excellent control and texture. It delivers a satisfying sub-bass presence without overpowering the mid-range. The bass is well-balanced and suitable for a variety of music genres, though hardcore bass enthusiasts may find it slightly lacking in power.
Mids:
It can occasionally be intense, especially with female vocals, the overall tonality is detailed. The mids provide a rich, engaging listening experience that avoids muddiness.
Highs:
The treble is smooth and detailed, with a non-fatiguing quality that avoids harshness.
TL;DR
The Elysian Audio Pilgrim IEMs are a great choice in the sub-$1000 bracket as they are well built, comfortable to wear, and sound fantastic. It has good bass with good control, the mid frequencies are lively and the high frequencies are smooth with good detail. Due to a high level of detail and a decent enough soundstage, these IEMs will be perfect for listening to any kind of music. However, the upper midrange may be quite hot for some people. All in all, the Pilgrim IEMs provide a comprehensive and accurate sound reproduction that is entertaining and satisfying for both music enthusiasts and general consumers.David Haworth
Previously known as J Weiner
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim Pros: Class leading Sub bass
Class leading separation and detailsCons: Tip sensitive (Spinfit loving )![]()
I am listening to the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of the Audio Geeks tour of Australia. Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio I am pleased to offer my honest opinion of this set.
The Pilgrim is a new lower priced sibling to the DIVA, and flagship Annihilator which launched in 2023. It sells for $399 USD and is a single DD and three BA hybrid. Its uses a LSR (Liquid silicone rubber ) Dynamic driver which its is claimed can produce frequencies as low as 10Hz. Midrange is handled by a Sonion Driver 2300 and the treble by a dual tweeter Sonon E50. Pilgrim uses a Pentaconn connect cable meaning you are unable to use .78 pin cables without purchasing an adaptor first. Luckily the cable is excellent.
Pilgrim’s shell is made from aluminum and has a very high-quality feel. It is lightweight but feels durable and I find it comfortable to wear. Pilgrim has six vents on its faceplate and this led me to expect a nice big soundstage (as per my MP145 planar) so high expectations. I found the staging respectably wide and deep, and it is enhanced by the IEM’s superb instrument separation. The sound is airy and detailed with the placement of instruments and backing vocals so precise and discrete that I can picture the stage of musicians vividly in my head.
In terms of tuning, the Pilgrim employs the Elysian w-shaped sound signature. The sub bass goes deeper than I have heard before with a physical impact and the bass in general has excellent texture and tonality. The midbass is balanced nicely giving enough impact without overpowering the midrange and allowing air and space for the midrange to perform. Pilgrim does electronic pop and EDM extremely well. Pilgrim has a widish nozzle and it took a lot of tip rolling to find a good seal to allow the bass to reach correct levels. I actually purchased some Spinfit W1 tips on recommendation and sure enough these worked perfectly with Pilgrim. Stage and vocals enhanced and a good seal for that great bass.
Midrange is energetic and prominent but tonally natural. I found some vocals could be forced and overpowering. This was ameliorated by using the W1 tips but I would primarily say that for my ears, Pilgrim has a forward energy that is exciting but can be a little draining in a long listening session. The best way I can explain this is regards volume. Many IEM’s I can push listening volume up to unhealthy levels without the sound signature troubling me. With the Pilgrim there is a fine line, which if crossed can bring an overly forward edge to vocals, especially female vocals. Reducing the volume brings the sound balance back. The good thing is the treble is sparkly and detailed while also being smooth and non-fatiguing. The detail retrieval is first rate. It bests my planar easily and uncovers new layers of delight in my favourite tracks.
I spent hours with The Elysian Pilgrim over the last 10 days and it performs well with every genre in my listening library. From Billie Eilish and Post Malone to classics from Dire Straits and Supertramp. As I mentioned, electronic music from Romy and Rufus Du Sol sound on point and digging out some 80’s rock was also rewarding. I really enjoyed my time with the baby of Effect Audios range and would love to hear their range topping products one day.Last edited:jreqtech
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim Pros: - Amazing premium build of the cable and IEM
- Fantastic bass, soundstage, and immersion
- Accurate imaging, great for competitive gaming or general media consumption!Cons: - Shell fitment does not give me a good seal, need to readjust from time to time
- Can get cold because of the shell’s material Disclaimer
Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim was lent to me as part of a review tour in the Philippines. Thanks to Ian and Mars who invited me to join!
Price: 399 USD
Link: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Part 1: General Product Details
Package Inclusions:
- IEM shells & cable
- Carry case (with cleaning brush & cloth)
The IEM Shells
- The shell is made of metal, likely stainless steel. It looks very industrial, looking like bare metal silver. It features the Elysian Acoustic Labs logo embossed on both earpieces surrounded by concentric circles
- Each earpiece weighing at around 6.7g, almost double the weight of the budget IEMs I am currently using.
- The Pilgrim uses MMCX connectors (single pins) which allows you to rotate and adjust the IEM around the connector.
The Carrying Case
- The flip-top carrying case is made of faux leather on the outside. Embossed on the lid is the silver logo of Elysian Acoustic Labs. Seems like the faux leather would easily get dirty over time so consider bringing wipes to keep it clean.
- Inside, we find that the lid and bottom are covered with grey suede. The lid has a netted compartment for extras like eartips.
- In the container, I found a black cloth, likely for covering and cleaning the IEM shells, as well as a small cleaning brush.
The cable
- Thick and braided translucent but flexible cable. Feels very premium and doesn’t tangle easily, likely the best IEM cables I’ve ever seen.
- The slider, y-splitter connector as well as the straight 3.5mm jack have steel jackets
Extras
- There are no extras aside from the manual and warranty paperwork
Part 2: Subjective review
General Usage Impressions
- After a few hours of usage, my ears started getting tired due to the weight but after 3 days, I have gotten used to the weight
- The shell can get cold because of its material, might be uncomfortable to some
- The fit on my ears is loose, even if I changed tips from small to large. Can’t seem to make a good seal because of the shell’s shape, need to do extra effort to push them in. Occasionally, I’d need to push them in as the IEMS seems to keep sliding out.
Sound Impressions
Final Thoughts
- The bass is strong, but not strong to the point of being bothersome. it can also be felt, like there's a rumble in my ear that I only experienced from headphones.
- Details of songs are fantastic. Tuning doesn’t sound warm to me. Sounds better than my headphones for sure.
- Surprisingly wide soundstage. Music felt very "immersive”. It sounded similar to open back headphones!
- Fantastic for general use, whether it’s music, gaming, or watching movies .
Definitely an upgrade in leaps and bounds from what I am currently using (Phillips SHP9500 headphones & Truthear Hola)! The build quality of the shells, cable, and carrying case are top-notch. If I could afford this, I would buy this, BUT the fitment issue is a glaring issue for me since these are made of steel, I would be cautious of scratching or accidentally dropping the IEMs.
Nonetheless if you are looking for midrange (yes, audiophiles consider this midrange) IEMs that have amazing soundstage and details with a well balanced tuning, the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim should be at the top of your list, if not near there.Last edited:ILuvAudio
100+ Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim – A strong contender for the Mid-Fi King crown Pros: - Superb technicalities
- Ample detail retrieval
- Sub bass presence, bass texture is class leading for the price
- Metal shell with industrial design and comfortable fit
- Price
- Responds very well to tip rolling – suggested Divinus Velvet and Penon LacquerCons: - Would have loved better cable
- Supplied CP100 tips doesn’t do justice to this iem, tip rolling required
- Carry case is of mediocre quality
- High notes on female vocals can be a delight or issue based on your source pairing, especially ch sounds Elysian Acoustic Labs is a Malaysian high-end custom in-ear monitor (IEM) company that has garnered attention for its impressive offerings. We often associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end iems such as annihilator, X, Diva etc. The path to excellence started off in 2015 with anger at the inadequacies of the IEM options of the era. Out on a quest to reinvent what sound means to him, Mechanical Engineer Lee Quan Min took it upon himself to refurbish an old Ultimate Ears TripleFi10. Upon gaining public interest from local hobbyists, Lee started providing reshell services and thus accumulation experience along the way. It is nice to see EA Labs launching a relatively mid-fi iem which can give the taste of tonality from their esteemed firm’s high-end offerings.
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This review reflects my personal and subjective listening experience with the mentioned audio gear product. I would like to thank Hifigo for the tour unit and @gadgetgod for organizing this review tour in my country and allowing me to share my thoughts on the product, it doesn’t influence my review in any form and nor I am compensated.
Before I start, I would like to mention that most of my impressions of the gear is based on the source and test tracks mentioned, so YMMV.
Sources: Mojo 2 + Poly via AirPlay, Apple Lightning dongle
Technical Specs
4 Drivers Hybrid Configuration.
Drivers: The Pilgrim features a hybrid setup with one 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver (Liquid Silicone Rubber technology) for sub-bass and three Sonion balanced armature drivers (including a custom-tuned Sonion 2300 BA for mids and a dual-tweeter E50) with a custom 3-way crossover.
1 X 9.2mm LSR DD (Instead of using vibrating bone conductors or traditional PET drivers, EA Labs developed a custom-made 9.2mm dynamic driver featuring Liquid Silicon Rubber (LSR) technology. The LSR is capable of reproducing low frequencies that reach an impressive 10 Hz, compared to the standard 20 Hz of traditional PET drivers. This contributes to a strong sub-bass rumble.
1 X Sonion 2300 BA (Sonion 2300 for mids ensures a versatile, smooth midrange response, creating a well-balanced, natural sound across various music genres).
2 X Sonion E50 BA (the Sonion E50 series, a dual ultra-tweeter balanced armature driver. It extends high frequencies with unprecedented technical capabilities, offering clarity and brilliance).
The Magnesium-Aluminum alloy for the diaphragm delivers optimal performance for a prolonged period of time. This design as per EA Labs, results in remarkably fast, deep, and precise performance with minimal distortion in the output signal, creating a natural and detail-rich full-frequency connection.
Box content
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A faux leather case with soft finish and EA logo on top
3 pair of Spinfit
3.5mm to 6.35 adapter
Iems
- Cleaning brush tool
- A very good 2 core SPC cable, its soft and supple, however to note, EA labs suggest to pair Pilgrim with Effect Aaudio Cadmus 4W which supposedly enhance the clarity & resolution of sound without the harshness, whilst keeping the bass bold but controlled. I have used this iem with its stock cable to ensure the reader gets an impression as to what to expect when they pay $400 as what it retails for.
Vision – EA Labs wanted to get the specials from Annihilator and Diva combined and launch at a lower price point. Let’s see further if or not they were successful based on my subjective opinions.
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Fit and comfort:
I would mention by bias first, I like metallic shell iems, resin shells doesn’t give me the confidence as I have had a couple of iems developing cracks either on shell or near the 2 pin section so I prefer metal shell iems though these have to sacrifice on the looks. Its striking silver aluminum housings feature knoll-inspired ridges and a mix of reflective and matte finishes. The look and feel of Pilgirm is very good, these look more than what they cost for sure, with that EE logo printed on the shell, it somewhat gives that premium look to it as we associate Elysian Acoustic Labs with high end. The shiny silver and matte finish is likeable, these have medium sized shell which sits comfortably in ears, so comfort is great on this. Comfortable earpieces ensure a good fit, and the design helps with noise isolation. Pilgrim is shipped with spinfit but even with the largest size of tip provided in the carry case, I was unable to find a good fit with these iems, so I switched to Penon Lacquer and Divinus velvet, fortunately the Divinus Velvet fit worked and helped me get a good seal. I remember when I tried with Spinfit, I was feeling that this iem has compromised mids, but Velvet fixes it for good.
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Bass – Low end has enough presence, sub bass rumble can be felt, even in tracks where occasionally you will miss a bass guitar being played, Pilgrim is able to produce it flawlessly, the mid bass presence is alright, not overpowering which is my preference, I had this complaint with the twilight honestly,
Drums, dhol has accurate timbre. The transient response is fast, with decay shorter than expected from this kind of driver configuration. Reference track – Starlight (Muse), Bezubaan (ABCD), Starboy (Weeknd) and Droptop (AP Dhillon)
Timbre and Tonality – one of the aspects I keenly look for in iems is how it produces timbre and how is the tonal balance. I was listening to some Indian classicals on Pilgrim, the tonal character of the instruments is retained, it doesn’t color the timbre which is a good thing. Pianos sound so real; you have to experience it.
Vocals - Beautiful and natural especially female vocals sound majestic. I found female vocals to be more forward than male vocals as they sound a bit laid back or recessed this is due to Bright, Lively Vocal response, male vocals have naturalness, but the presence is not that prominent in comparison meaning some male vocals can sound a bit lean, again some bias to be mentioned because I adore mid centric iems so YMMV. The mid presence in terms of instruments is praiseworthy because they do not overwhelm you neither miss out.
Treble – feels airy and spacious.
There is space between instruments and the vocals being played, I do not hear much of a congestion in busy tracks as well, the transient response is good. Instruments sound like they are surrounded by space full of air. It creates nice ambience for the instruments to play well. Reference track Yaar Mila de from Saathiya – this is so engaging on the Pilgrim, I almost got lost while listening to this track, multiple instruments used in this track has enough space in between.
Details - Every minute detail is presented to the listener, for example I was listening to this track Maahi Ve from album Maahir, there is so many instruments used in this song simultaneously, especially the humming in the start followed by bass and cello, the entire continues with vocal echos, doodling, saxophone and cymbals, the lead singer vocal could have had more heft but sounds natural. The resolution on this can be considered as a benchmark considering its price.
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The soundstage of Pilgrim is good. Impressive height but the depth is mediocre, it creates spacious sonic environment due to air and enhances the listening experience.
Instruments are well-placed and images precisely, the level of detail and imaging accuracy adds realism and immersion to the music with great clarity and separation.
Overall – This is a really nice addition to the $400 realm of iems, it is special if you like bright neutral iems with enough heft in sub bass, it can be one of those versatile and easy to listen iems that offer excellent technicalities without burning the pockets. Someone with the budget of $400 and above should definitely consider Pilgrim, more so if you like this kind of tuning. It’s a testament that you don’t need to spend huge to afford excellent sounding iems.Last edited:
DunninLA Oh, strange my signature info doesn't show up here. My perfect signature is HD600 with more bass and more highs, which I gave up on but I think Focal Elex would be my pick if I wanted to try cans again.
In IEM, I liked the Canon 2 until I noticed the lower pinna gain of the Mega5EST in reviews, and so I used EQ to simulate that tonality on the Canon 2, and preferred that relaxed pinna by a lot. I was hearing glare through upper midrange I didn't know I was hearing until I fixed it with EQ. That made me think... why EQ the Canon 2 to Mega5EST,... just get the Mega5EST, which I did, but found it unengaging, don't know why. I use Canon 2 minimum bass (down/down) but it still felt a lot more prominent than M5E even through they graph the same. The M5E just didn't sound engaging to my ear. Listed it and it sold within 5 minutes, so my ears must be defective
DunninLA Also tried Hype2 but found it lacking in vocal forwardness. Tried AFUL P5 but its tuning to me was off... too much midbass, which caused the vocals to pull back as well as veil, then too much energy 4-6k which made cymbals sound like they jump out at you.
Tried all my tips on both of them... FinalE, CP100, CP145, BGVP A07, Penon Liqueur Orange, Dunu S&S, Tri Clarion, Spinfit W1.
PS: on the Mega5EST 7th, I used both MB Air 2020 headphone out, as well as Onix Alpha X1 dongle in 4.4 mode. The source didn't make any difference... of course also tried all my tips on the M5E as well.wolfstar76
Headphoneus Supremus
A Tale of Two Pilgrims: Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir Pros: Powerful and satisfactory bass, sweet and not-recessed mid-range, trademark Elysian treble, with a technical performance way above their price point.Cons: Wide bore nozzle makes tip selection challenging, the cable of the OG Pilgrim limited its potential, Pentaconn termination makes cable rolling more difficult First, I thank Effect Audio and @Sebastien Chiu for organizing this Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim (hereafter referred to as Pilgrim) and Effect Audio Pilgrim:Noir (hereafter referred to as Noir) tour so that I have the chance to do this comparison review.
I like both IEMs and I also put my money where my mouth is: I bought Pilgrim with my own money without any discount (even though I could get a discount if I went through MusicTeck’s review program). However, readers please don’t jump to the conclusion that I prefer Pilgrim over Noir, I will provide details in my review below.
Pilgrim stirred quite a hype when it was first introduced at CanJam NYC 2023. For readers who are not familiar with Elysian Acoustic Labs, it was pretty much a one-man’s boutique IEM shop running by the legendary Mr. Lee from Malysia until recently. All early date IEMs from Elysian were hand-made by Mr. Lee, such as the famous flagship limited edition “X” and the later Annihilator 2021 and 2023 (which was the IEM of the year in the famous watercooler). Those IEMs will cost you anywhere from $3k+ to $4k+. You can image the attention it gained when a $399 Elysian IEM was announced. Many headfiers went to the audition of the Pilgrim and almost all of the first impressions are very positive. The hype was quickly turned into a fast collaboration between the Elysian Acoustic Labs and the Effect Audio, which is a premium cable company based in Singapore. The feedback from the early impressions were adopted and the Noir was created and announced during the next CanJam (Singapre) just a few months after the Pilgrim.
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The Build
Both Pilgrim and Noir share a similar 4-driver configuration but differ slightly. Both IEMs have a 9.2mm LSR dynamic driver for the low, but Pilgrim has a 3-way crossover design while the Noir has a 4-way crossover design. Noir uses 2 Sonion BA drivers for mid-range and 1 Knowles BA for highs while Pilgrim uses 1 Sonion 2300 for midrange and 2 Sonion E50 for the highs.
Effect Audio provided Noir with its Bespoke internal wiring mix inside the Noir and a special edition Eros S:Noir cable for Noir.
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The Sound Impressions
With both IEMs in their stock cables, I find Noir has better and more elevated bass but very similar mids and treble as Pilgrim with probably thicker and slightly more full-bodied lower mids due to the bass.
However, since the stock cable of Noir is significantly better than that of Pilgrim, I quickly switched the stock cable of Pilgrim to my own Effect Audio code 24. The change is almost instantly, and I have to say that with code 24 cable for Pilgrim, there is almost no difference between Pilgrim and Noir unless you want to do a careful A/B test. Of course, I am using a $699 cable on a $399 IEM, but for the readers who already have their collection of better cables, Pilgrim will be a great value choice since I would strongly suggest to replace the stock cable if you bought Pilgrim.
Next, I need to talk about the tip rolling before I go further regarding the sound impression since the tip selection is very crucial, especially for Pilgrim. Some IEMs are not sensitive to tips, but some are very sensitive, such as Pilgrim and Noir. Both IEMs come with a wide bore nozzle, which makes tip selection even more challenging. I tried some tips with seemingly good seal but very questionable result since I heard very thin and weak bass. When I pushed the IEM further into my ears I could hear a huge difference in the bass and I know the tips are not a good match. For me, only a few tips in my large collection of tips work for Pilgrim, and a little bit more tips work for Noir since it is slightly easier to do the tip rolling. Among them are Penon Liqueur and Clarion Tri.
Therefore, make sure you picked the right tips that work for you before you jump to the conclusion regarding either Pilgrim or Noir since tips make day and night difference.
Now the bass. With both Pilgrim (on code 24) and Noir, the bass is impactful and very satisfactory. The texture of the bass and the bass quality is top notch for the price range. The quantity will satisfy almost everyone except for the most hard-cored bass-heads. The sub-bass and the mid-bass ratio is slightly leaning towards sub-bass, which is a clear contrast between those mid-bass monster IEMs, such as Campfire Audio Bonneville.
The mid-range of Pilgrim and Noir are both sweet and not-recessed, unlike most of the V shaped IEMs. However, I would not consider the mids of Pilgrm/Noir as too forwarded or mid-range focused. Both female and male singers sound fantastic.
Elysian Acoustic is famous for its treble tuning, especially in the Annihilator 2023, which is widely regarded as the treble king of the IEMs. Both Pilgrim and Noir exhibit the Elysian gene here: the treble is well-extended and artfully executed with none-fatiguing highs. However, don't expect the level of Anni 2023 in the treble performance from either Elysian or Noir. You will get a taste of the turning, but you won't get all the goodness, the details, and the technical level.
The sound stage of both Pilgrim and Noir are similar, they are open and tall, not particularly wide, but with good height and depth, large enough to not feel being cramped. Sometimes, at certain music track, I can feel some surprisingly large sound stage, but it is not consistent. The music from both IEMs have good instruments separation and nicely layered. The imaging is also precise enough for the price range. Both IEMs have very good resolution, but again not too much exceeding their price range.
To summarize my sound impression, I found either Pilgrim or Noir a great bargain at today's market. You get a taste of the Elysian Acoustic Labs' tunning, even though I would not call any of them as baby Annihilator (because they are different, especially in the bass and the treble areas), you still can find the gene of Elysian.
Music tracks used in the test
Hip Hop are great to test sub-bass, Pilgrim/Noir has great rumbling in sub-bass. There is absolutely no lack of any bass:
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry) (Official Video)
Sade - Slave Song (Audio)
In the following track, male vocal has good note weight, piano with good timbre. Very little difference between Pilgrim OG and Noir:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms (4K Official Video)
Below we can hear a good combination of mid-bass slam and sub-bass ramble, again bass on the fast side. Pilgrim is a little dark. Noir in this case demonstrated highly level of bass performance at both sub and mid bass, very satisfactory, more enjoyable than Pilgrim. Not only I feel the bass is elevated but also more decisive and impactful.
Wrong (2015 Remaster)
Iceland experimentalists, very interesting indie electronic music, with variety of sound to test your IEMs.
We Have A Map Of The Piano Mum
Female vocal with music that can test your limit of treble sensitivity. Noir for me is on the edge. Pilgrim is also on the edge but slightly better.
Beth Orton - Stolen Car
Noir slightly edges out in term of bass resolution, again slightly better bass, though in this case, the quantity is only slightly more in Noir. Both IEMs feel dark.
Teardrop (Remastered 2019)
In the end, my advise to the potential buyers of Pilgrim or Noir: if you did not have a good cable to replace the stock cable of the Pilgrim, Noir with the upgraded cable would be a better choice. If you already had some good spare cable, such in my case, an Effect Audio code 24 (I bought the Pentaconn kit later for that purpose though), Pilgrim would be a better value proposal.Last edited:Ianbanz
New Head-Fier
Elysian Pilgrim Pros: 1. Exceptional Bass Performance. The bass on the Pilgrim is truly a standout feature. It provides a deep and physical response, offering a
visceral experience and It strikes a balance between power and precision.
2. Smooth Upper Treble. The upper treble is beautifully handled, delivering a smooth, airy sound without any harshness.
3. Wide Soundstage.
4. Forward Mids. The midrange is forward and detailed, adding an emotional and engaging element to the music.
5. Precise Imaging. The imaging is precise, particularly on the left-right axis.Cons: 1. Average Resolution
2. Faceplate have scratches out of the box.
3. Congestion in some busy tracks.
4. Inconsistent Midrange Intensity, but i noticed this is an almost common issue i find on most Mid forward iems i tried.
5. Decent but Not Outstanding Dynamics. When it comes to evaluating IEMs, it's often about striking the right balance between technical performance and personal preference. The Pilgrim, from the Elysian brand, stands as a good example of quality craftsmanship and thoughtful tuning. However, as we dive deeper into its features and performance, it's important to keep in mind where it stands in the competitive mid-fi market, particularly around the $400 price point.
The Pilgrim showcases a range of strengths that make it a solid choice for many listeners. Its bass response is particularly notable, delivering a deep, visceral impact that's both powerful and precise. The upper treble is another highlight, offering a smooth, airy quality.
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Technical Performance
Resolution
The resolution of the Pilgrim is just average within the mid-fi category. Details are generally clear, though they can sometimes feel dull or less sharp in more complex and fast mix due to a lack of depth in the soundstage.
Soundstage
The soundstage is notably wide for an IEM, more horizontal less vertical space, and it lacks depth. This can result in a somewhat flat and two-dimensional listening experience.
Imaging and Separation
Imaging is precise, primarily operating on a left-right axis, which it handles well, not exactly holographic more 2D than 3D However, the lack of depth can lead to congestion in busy tracks, making separation less distinct and lowers the resolution.
Dynamics
The dynamics of the Pilgrim are decent but not outstanding. It does not exhibit the dynamic prowess of other models in this price bracket, but still the Pilgrim delivers good dynamic range but falls short of delivering dynamic performance of its mid tier level counterparts.
Transients
Transients on the Pilgrim is good but still not exceptional. It has accuracy and speed, but there's room for improvement. Enhancing this aspect could reduce congestion and improve clarity.
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Bass
The bass on the Pilgrim is exceptional, providing a deep and physical response characteristic of high-quality dynamic drivers. When the bass hits, it hits hard, pushing a significant amount of air and delivering a visceral experience. The bass decay is well-balanced, maintaining resolution, tactility and precision. While it doesn't delve too deep, the implementation is exceptionally tactile, accurate, and fast. It provides an atmospheric and clean presence without being overpowering or dry. This is particularly notable for listeners who prefer mid-bass over sub-bass, especially in techno, house and other electronic music that produces a quick repeatetive bass thumps and requires fast decay. The bass is emphasized tastefully, avoiding the detachment often found in pronounced bassy profiles, Pilgrim offers a more harmonious and authoritative yet non-dominant bass experience, the bass on the pilgrim is like having a mind of its own and knows when it needs to be boomy and when to slam with speed without bleed. very well controlled bass but not the most cleanest and detailed but still engaging.
Mids / Treble
The midrange and treble present a more contentious aspect. The mids are noticeably forward, this forwardness can feel unexpected and intense sometimes on select parts of the track but not very often. A distinctive sheen to the sound, enhancing detail and emotion without introducing grain or sibilance, the effect can enhance certain genres but may become too overwhelming with complex and technical music, occasionally reducing the soundstage like a narrowing effect in dense mixes. Despite this, the Pilgrim delivers high-quality sound even in challenging instances, though some of the magic can diminish, requiring a reduction in volume or unfortunately a skip to the next track
Upper Treble / Air
The upper treble is a standout feature, delivering pure bliss. The Pilgrim excels in this region, offering smooth, natural decay without any piercing qualities. It achieves a perfect balance, presenting a balance of warmth and details. This region is notoriously difficult to resolve, but the Pilgrim handles it well, ensuring no peaks, glare, or harshness—just beautiful, airy sound.
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The Pilgrim is a very well-built and well-tuned IEM however, this brings us to its primary issue: it doesn't quite belong in its price bracket. When compared to its counterparts in the mid-fi range, particularly those around the $400 mark, the Pilgrim struggles to deliver the "wow" factor that you expect from IEMs in this category.
While the Pilgrim is not a bad IEM by any means—in fact, it performs admirably across almost all genres—it falls short of competing with other mid-fi options. The bass is deep and impactful, the treble is smooth and detailed, and the mids are engaging. However, it lacks the depth and resolution that a truly Mid-fi IEMs offer, which makes it less impressive.
If you're a collector of the Elysian brand and have some extra money to burn, the Pilgrim can be a worthwhile addition to your collection. But for the average listener looking for the best bang for their buck, this IEM would truly shine in the $150-$200 price range. It’s in this lower price bracket that the Pilgrim's strengths would be exceptional, offering a level of performance that would be hard to beat.
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
DaveStarWalker Agreed
deafdoorknob so what are the mid-fi iems it cannot compete with? thanksch1525i
100+ Head-Fier
A Standout at Its Price Point Pros: Sub-bass
Natural Timbe
Excellent Male & Female Vocals
Instrument Separation
Build Quality
Price to Performance RatioCons: Pentaconn Connectors (I enjoy cable swapping)
Limited Ear Tip Selection Disclaimer
I received a discount on this set from MusicTeck. They requested nothing more than for me to post a fair and honest review.
Look, Fit, Case & Cable
The Pilgrim is a stunning IEM. I love the matte/shiny concentric circles with the logo tastefully displayed at the center. The shells fit wonderfully. I have average size ears and with the included SpinFit tips, I was able to get a good seal, while this review was done with the stock tips, I have put a set of Divinus Velvets on them. The 4.4mm cable is quite premium feeling, without much memory and I did not have a problem with microphonics. As for the case, I’m sure it will get dirty over time, but it really appeals to my middle-aged female aesthetics. Overall, the looks, fit and accessories are very nice and have a premium feel.
Sound
Gear used:
Some of my test tracks:
- iphone 14 pro streaming Amazon music HD with Chord Mojo2
- iphone 14 pro streaming Apple Music with Questyle M15
- HiBy R4 with local FLAC files
- HiBy RS6 streaming Amazon Music HD and local FLAC files
When I first put them in and fired up my HiBy RS6 with my BB King’s The Thrill is Gone, my first reaction was an audible WOW! The bass has strong impact and it’s quick for a DD. It’s doesn’t compare in bass to my Symphonium Titan, but it is not lacking in any way. It is good in both quality and quantity and doesn’t bleed into the mids. It has a sub-bass focus to my ears. In my opinion, the bass here competes with IEMs of a higher price point.
- Little Bit of Rain (Martina McBride)
- Lonely Bed (Albert Cummings)
- Change the World (Eric Clapton)
- When I Fall in Love (Michael Buble)
- Believe (Cher)
- Summer of ’69 MTV Unplugged (Bryan Adams)
- All Through the Night (Cyndi Lauper)
- Mercy Street (Peter Gabriel)
- The Thrill is Gone (BB King)
- Lose Yourself to Dance (Daft Punk)
The greatness continues into the mids. I find the Pilgrim to be clear and with the proper body and shine for both male and female vocals. There are no obvious dips or bleed. Instruments in this range are also clear and quite precise. On Cher’s Believe many sets highlight the sibilance thereby distracting from the music, but here it was well managed and by no means distracting.
Treble for me is always a tricky subject. I have very middle-aged ears, so I don’t always hear the weaknesses others point out, but I am sensitive to peaks in the 3k-5k region. Therefore, weigh these comments appropriately. I find the treble to be a little bright but not overwhelming at all. It is well extended, carries decent detail and even some sparkle. Overall, it is quite nice.
Technicalities
The clarity, sound stage and resolution are outstanding highlights for me. The clarity is top-notch – the instruments are clear, and the vocals are clean. The micro and macro details are enough to catch your attention but not enough to fatigue – I can still enjoy the musicality of a piece and admire the detail. The Pilgrim is amazingly spacious and airy for its price point and has great layering and imaging.
Conclusion
Overall, the Elysian Pilgrim was an awesome purchase for me. It checks many of my top tier boxes: balanced, great soundstage, clean mids and enjoyable bass. Not to mention it’s superior build quality and nice accessories (although it could have used a couple additional tip options). It is a good addition to my collection and a standout at its price point.tombrisbane
500+ Head-Fier
Elysian venture to the middle of Mid-Fi Pros: Fantastic all-rounder
Comfort is great with the right tips
Killing it at this price pointCons: Treble is safe
Pentaconn, while a great connection, means you probably won't be cable rolling given 2-pins dominance Pilgrim
one who journeys in foreign lands
Elysian venture into the middle of Mid-Fi, how did they fare?
These are all my words and thoughts. I’ve tried to get my points across in the most succinct way.
The Pilgrim comes in a small but effective package, the unboxing experience is what you would expect from something priced a little higher, the two buds are beautifully presented to you when you open the package, with the case, cable, and ear tips underneath. All up very nice and better than the box with sleeve which is common at this price point.
The included cable feels decent, the case is also OK (it’s the same as the 7hz Aurora one, just a different logo on top), the included tips are also Spinfit which is a nice surprise, they didn’t work with the Pilgrim for me but I will use them on other IEMs.
Fit and comfort:
These feel nice in my ears, the shell is metal so when you initially put them in your ear they may be a little cold but they warm up pretty quickly and then I can easily forget about them for the rest of the day. Tip wise I found these to be a little odd, my normal sizing did not work, and I couldn’t get a good fit. In the end I used the Final E largest size in my right ear, and ML in the left, which is +1 size on each side. With these there were no issues at all, but for new buyers suggest that you might need to play around with different sizes until you find one that works. They also work well with the Velvets.
Sound:
These are smack bang in the Mid-Fi bracket. There is a lot of competition. Do they stack up? Are they at the top of the pile? Let’s find out.
TL;DR - They’re a perfect all-rounder, I generally shy away from all-rounders, preferring sets that have something unique in their presentation, but these just hit the all-rounder tick boxes without sounding bland or boring. Whilst they are an all-rounder, they bring detail that you generally wouldn’t find in this level and you’d be pushing into the > $1k bracket to get something comparable.
Starting with the lower frequencies, the bass has good impact; bass head this is not, but it isn’t light or lacking. The DD looks after the lower frequencies and does a fantastic job, the bass is fast (resembling a BA at points), but has the deep bass feel that only a DD can deliver, exceptional at its price point. A lot of other sets around this price are going with the dual driver approach, I prefer that for some genres, but for 90% of tracks this does everything I want.
Mids are extremely well done, the bass doesn’t interfere at all for me, vocals are extremely well done. Female vocals remind me a little of Diva which were arguably my favorite female vocals ever. Nothing strange, better than nearly everything else I’ve heard at this price point.
The treble is probably the weakest point, there are better sets at $400, but it’s still absolutely above average. Some people touted this as a mini Anni, not for my ears, but it gets the job done. I guess safe is probably the best way to put it, it’s not going to annoy anyone, but on some tracks it does leave you wanting a little more (if that’s your thing).
Detail retrieval, as I mentioned earlier, is crazy. This is punching over twice its price point in this respect. Imaging is good, I had no issues placing instruments or differentiating between them, but when it comes to stage I’d say that it’s fairly decent horizontal, however lacking depth and verticality. It works well as an all-rounder, but you’re not going to be listening to an orchestra in a three-dimensional space around you with these. There are others that will do that at this price point, but you’ll be making other sacrifices, to get this sound with the 3d imaging you’re heading well up in price.
Source wise I used these from a few dongle’s (iBasso DC04 Pro, DC06 Pro, L&P W4), FiiO Q7, and Sony TA-ZH1ES. It scales quite well up the chain.
Subjective thoughts and conclusion: I love these, I’ve had these for three weeks now and there hasn’t been a single track that I’ve put on where I felt I should switch to another set, for that to happen at this price point is unheard of for me. It's going to take a lot for something to come along and challenge this set at this price point. I generally find IEMs at this price grab my attention for a few genres, when they attempt to be an all-rounder they don’t hold my attention for very long, Pilgrim is the exception. At this price point the name is correct, if you’re starting your IEM journey and you’re after a single set around this price point to find out what it’s all about, get this. Perhaps the perfect everyday carry? That's what it has become for me.Last edited:hitanshujoshi
New Head-Fier
A comparative review of Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir Pros: (pilgrim)
Good sub-bass
Mostly natural timbre
Techs
Price
separationCons: (pilgrim)
Can be thin sometimes
typical elysian doesn't sound well without spinfits.
A lot of competition around this price point
stock cable is ok not great. Thanks to @GiullianSN @EffectAudio
I was able to get my hands on a tour unit of Elysian Pilgrim and Pilgrim Noir this a comparative review comparing both the iem. Even though I was offered the iem by the brand all thoughts and opinions on the matter are my own and are not at all influenced by the brand.
packaging:
The iems themselves come in a beautiful box that has almost all the accessories needed to get you started. The pilgrim come in a really beautiful white box with a basic 3.5mm cable, carrying case spinfit w1s and a cleaning tool. Can’t comment on Noir as I received them in the same box but the effect audio cable that comes with them is really premium.
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Songs used:
Sound profile:
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
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Bass:
Both the iems have similar bass response but the Noir’s bass certainly feels more prominent due to its tonal balance. Also, it being a tad bit darker in the upper treble region makes the bass more distinct this gives the Noir more fun sounding bass. OG pilgrim has good bass response where I didn’t feel that the bass was lacking anywhere but not as exciting sounding as Noir.
Then song A moment apart the has a distinct bass hit that slowly decays over few seconds this part is articulated quite well by both the iems. As both the iems have more focus on sub bass and so the mid bass doesn’t hit that hard its quite apparent in the track Eclipse by Pink Floyd where the drum hits are clear but don’t have that meaty sense to them like the Fir audio XE6 and Rn6 where you can really feel the drum hits. This dip in the midbass add a good contrast and makes them sound really wide epically for the price bracket.
Mids:
Both iems have an exceptionally well done mids. It also lacks the signature elysian dip just before pinna that some times make some male vocals lose body this is quite prominent with genre like Jazz where Louis Armstrong’s vocals can sound a bit thin and for me that ruins them. But I am happy to report that the vocals on both the iem are quite nice and have that signature texture that he is known for. I still feel that NOIR just sound a tad bit warmer and I really enjoy it for that track. But when we talk about instruments in the same track it fells like OG Pilgrim has a better position for instrument. The instruments sound a but delicate (Thin) but are well extended. While for the NOIR the instruments convey that sense of emotion and feeling but the trailing end can sound a bit dark also placement is not as good as OG. For female vocals I fell both the iems are on par as evident form A moment apart where the female vocals shine no matter what iem I listen them on. Also, the song Runaway playbacks quit well on both of them.
Treble:
As mentioned, several times before the NOIR has a bit of darker treble compared to OG pilgrim its not in dark territory just comparatively less. This makes the Hi hats and chimes in a moment apart a bit subdued and not as forward as OG. Also, the air region being darker makes the stage sound smaller. This treble tuning makes the OG sound well separated and exciting whereas, the NOIR sound laidback and relaxing.
Tech:
I feel both of the iem are really well tuned and are very capable when it comes to tech. But the OG pilgrim has an edge over NOIR due to its extra treble. For the Track Hotel California Hell freezes over version The OG pilgrim sounds a bit wider with me being able to concentrate on all the instruments if needed. Where as NOIR is a bit closed in and sometimes when the bass kicks in some of the instruments can sound a bit blended. The NOIR has a better timbre presentation over OG pilgrim especially for upper midrange where instrument that lie there can be a bit thin for OG.
Here why I would pick one over the other:
OG pilgrim:
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In tracks like:
As you can see a lot of them are very busy tracks with a lot of instruments going off. This is due the tuning larger emphasis on separation. This is the iem that works well enough to be called an all rounder but I find that it works best on these tracks. The techs to price ratio is also really good. Also, the it in general has really great stating ability.
- A moment apart
- Eclipse
- Hotel California Live
- Mediterranean Sundance
Pilgrim Noir:
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In tracks like:
All the tracks mentioned above are really male vocals centric and aren’t that busy these iem are really good for these genres if you listen specifically to them this is your pick.
- Runaway
- What a wonderful world
- One for my baby
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Conclusion: At the given price point I feel that OG pilgrim is a much better value for money to the point I can comfortably say if you are in the market for a new iem probably pilgrim is your best choice sub $1000 if your music library is as diverse as mine and if you are looking for a very technical sounding iem with good stage and separation. Whereas NOIR does feel a bit premium due to the excellent cable included for free, I feel that it lost me in the treble region.JQuB3
New Head-Fier
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim Pros: Balanced sound signature.
Lightweight and comfortable earpieces.
Good technicalities for the price.Cons: Limited eartips and accessories.
Midbass is somewhat lean. Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Disclaimer:
I received the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim as part of a review tour in my country organized by Hifigo.com. I am not associated with either Hifigo or Elysian Acoustic Labs in any way and have no incentive whatsoever to write anything positive or negative about the IEM. The impressions shared in this write-up are based on my usage of the IEM over a week or so. The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is available for purchase from Hifigo.com at the following link:
https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim
Introduction:
Although I’ve read about Elysian Acoustic Labs earlier, this is the first time I got to try one of their offerings and I must say, I’m quite impressed. The Pilgrim is a hybrid IEM housing 1 LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) Dynamic Driver and 3 Sonion Balanced Armature Drivers with a 3-way crossover. The IEM has an impedance of 9 ohms and a sensitivity of 101dB making it fairly easy to drive. The IEM comes with Pentaconn Ear connectors and cable options of 3.5mm SE, 4.4mm BAL, or both. The unit I received came with 3.5mm SE termination. The IEM comes with Spinfit CP100 ear tips. Apart from this, the package included a white carry case.
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The earpieces were quite light in terms of weight and were quite comfortable to wear. I was able to get a good seal with the stock ear tips.
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I tried the IEM predominantly with the Xduoo XD05-Pro with the ESS DAC card and Sparkos SS3602 opamps. I also tried it with Hiby R4 and FiiO BTR15, but my impressions here are based on the pairing with XD05-Pro.
Sound Impressions:
The bass has more presence in the sub-bass than the mid-bass region. The bass is well-controlled and is coherent with the rest of the frequency spectrum. The mid-bass is somewhat lean in comparison. This set is not something that bass heads would enjoy, but those who like a balanced signature, are likely to be pleased by the bass response of the Pilgrim. Although the bass is not mind-blowing in terms of either quality or quantity, it is acceptable for an IEM in this price range. Especially for a balanced-sounding set. The good thing is that there is no bass bleed, this is perhaps because the bass attack is well-controlled, and decay is minimal.
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Mids are thick and realistic. There is a natural timbre in male vocals and female vocals too are well articulated without being shouty or sibilant. The midrange is somewhat forward in terms of presentation but not too much into your face.
The treble is well done too. It has just the right amount of sparkle and detail. The treble is somewhat laid back, thus, not sounding too energetic. I am very treble-sensitive, hence, for me, the Pilgrim’s treble was very well done. It had just the right amount of openness and airiness without being too bright or crisp.
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Technicalities:
The soundstage and imaging are acceptable for the price. Nothing extraordinary or mindblowing about it. There is a slight sense of holography in terms of presentation, which at this price point is pretty good. The IEM could do better in terms of layering and resolution, which is apparent in complex tracks.
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Conclusion:
The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim is a decent set for the price point with a balanced sound signature and comfortable earpieces. The performance and technical ability is acceptable for the price point.
DaveStarWalker Agreed