expecting comparisons with other BA monsters like the U18t...

I would love to, but I only can review what I can afford (or demo for a significant time), I don’t get samples like the pro do so I am a bit limited... I auditioned U18t but it was a long time ago so not enough to write in depth comparison. Same goes for Fourte... Maybe Deezel177 or Twister6 can chip in!

just back to backing the erlky with my a18. i mostly listen to orchestral music and have long thought the a18 was untouchable. what's so astounding about the erlky is that it is so gd musical...just stunningly musical, but the detail is all there. the stage is also somehow unbelievably holographic, even vs. the a18. the musicality and effortlessness of what ve created with this transducer is truly phenomenal.

@toaster22 thanks for confirming this. really helpful
I was thinking the erlkönig is just another overpriced IEM with the attention of face filters and U18t is still unbeatable to it. But now it seems newer high-end IEMs are beating the u18t quite effectively.

hey @Erfan Elahi - saying the erlky "beats" the 18 and "quite effectively" isn't exactly how i'd put it. it's more a tuning choice...the 18 is SUPREMELY neutral and remains a totl technical powerhouse of an iem, even years later. what wows me about ve's products, specifically the erlky and elysium, is the musicality in their tuning.

There is equal detail to my ears to the 18, but the presentation just has this insane level of musicality, particularly on the erlkonig, but with the elysium as well. the only other iem i've heard that i'd put at this same totl level is the fir m5, which i think sounds somwehat similar to the erlky in terms of its musicality and excitement.