Elysian Pilgrim

[Deferenz]

I had the Pilgrim OG and Noir with me at the same time and spent some good time with both. I actually preferred the OG. Noir is really good no question, and definitely hits all the right areas people have been discussing. For me personally though I think I found it too safe. It didn’t do anything wrong, but at the same time it didn’t wow me. The OG however did wow me. The treble on it is straight out of Lee’s top draw and I found the rest of the frequencies pleasing also. I was very impressed with what you could get for $399. Of course we all hear differently and have different preferences so your findings may be different to mine.

 

[Kerouac]

Alright then... I guess it's about time to get this out of my system:

I HATE IT! I HATE IT!! I HATE IT!!!

I hate it... how good the Pilgrim OG sounds out of my, really not that expensive (Galaxy A72 with still 3.5 out => one of the reasons that I chose it), smartphone!

Why? Because it just doesn't make any sense to me that such a <$1K combination can sound that good to my ears, and almost all audio price/performance logic seems to have gone completely out of the window with this combination imho. I have tried to find some reason why this is such a strong '1+1 = at least 3' combination, but I just can't figure it out, and it only left me confused (which is the part that I truly hate) in the end. But luckily, like Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders) once sang: 'It's a thin line, between love and hate...'

When I just got the Pilgrim, I mainly tried/used it out of my LPGT and I thought it was already delivering a pretty sweet performance for its 'only' $399. But after some time I moved on with listening to other iems (incl. the EA Noir, but later more on that) in my collection. And then, one day last week, when I had an appointment outside the house and I had to wait for some time over there. I decided to take the Pilgrim with me. I had put a few albums on the internal memory of my phone quite a long time ago (almost forgot about those) and I plugged the Pilgrim in to do some listening, while waiting. Btw, on the A72 I had the 'Poweramp' unlocked version (higly recommended app imo) installed and I used the stock cable + Spinfit (M) tips, which seem to work totally fine for me.

And then it hit me right in the freakin' ears! Dang it! What a full, dynamic and almost 'speaker like' sound this combination produced. I was completely blown away (not prepared for that result to be honest), right from the start!

Rich dynamic bass (which was mentioned earlier before)? Check!
More than enough treble, resolution and details to go around? Check!
Very wide (although depth could do a little better imo) soundstage? Check!
Highest level of plain old fun / guilty pleasure listening that I've experienced since quite some years? Double check!!

Back home, after that appointment (where I did my best to get that silly 'audio enjoyment' idiot grin from my face) I immediately loaded a 512gb card with music for the phone. And since then I have used this combination frequently, while I'm in bed or outside the house. It also feels like I just got an extra dap because of this imo wonderful synergy combination

NOIR vs Campfire Audio Bonneville

I also compared the Campfire Audio Bonneville. To start, I find the Bonneville to be oddly tuned. I prefer bass-heavy and good midbass in the IEMs, but I want my mids to remain clean and untouched. The Bonneville has too much midbass, which intrudes into the upper frequencies and masks a lot of details. However, the upper mids and treble are energetic enough to prevent the sound from being completely dark. Despite this, I don't think the midrange has the magic to be considered musical.

On the other hand, the Noir is a well-tuned version of the Bonneville, if you want to draw a comparison. The bass is excellent, with good subbass and midbass, satisfying those who enjoy a warm bass sound. The mids on the Noir are much better, with details that aren't masked like they are on the Bonneville. The issues I have with the Bonneville—bass bloat/bleed, mids not being forward and clean, and artificial treble energy—are all resolved with the Noir.

In terms of fit, the Noir is better for me. Although the Bonneville has a good ergonomic design, it sticks out of my ears a bit. The Noir, with its EA Eros cable, adds a nice touch and eliminates the hassle of changing cables too. You will save some money there for sure. The SPinfit silicone tips are also quite good. Going by some other reviews and impressions, Elysian Noir is a better package.

Overall, considering the price-to-performance ratio, the Noir is significantly ahead of the Bonneville. At $799, the Noir offers a more mature tuning and is more likable as a package, providing better value for money. Bass boost with just enough energy in the upper mids and open sounding—Noir is the most fitting IEM for these descriptions.

​

Nice and interesting comparison!

I also had the Elysian x EA Pilgrim Noir for some time over here, as EA had sent me a sample (without retail box), soon after the Pilgrim OG had arrived. I must say that I really enjoyed the Noir while I had it over here, and I thought that the sound even improved the longer I listened (I always do my burn-in by listening only) with it.

Sophisticated is a key word for the Noir (the way it looks and sounds) and I also preferred it over the OG version myself back then, before I had heard the OG out of my phone. But after some time EA asked me if I could send the Noir sample forward to an address in South Africa. So, of course (no sweat, as I already felt privileged that I had the opportunity to try it myself) I did what they asked me to, about two weeks ago now.

Anyway, as you compared the Noir with the CFA Bonneville I suddenly remembered that another HF member asked me (by pm) about a comparison between the Noir and the CFA Supermoon, which he had noticed in my signature below. So, this is what I wrote (maybe a nice addition to your post) to him some weeks ago:

''OK, I did some listening last night with both iems, using an Eros S cable on both, out of my LPGT.

First of all, I guess you have noticed/read this review already? As it was posted in multiple threads earlier today.

Now, this was a part that especially stood out for me in that review:
''Pilgrim Noir takes mid-range performance to new heights, unveiling a tonality that is both pronounced and organic. Vocals soar with lifelike clarity, while instruments resonate with a richness and texture that feels palpable.''

Although this was written in comparison to the original ($399) Pilgrim, I think this is also the part (mids) where the Noir showed the most differences with the Supermoon as well. The mids / vocals on the Noir sound more present and intense than on the Supermoon to my ears. Maybe also the reason that the Pilgrim sounds a bit more full bodied / balanced overall.

I think that the Supermoon has a cleaner sound though, probably because of the tighter note decay, due to the use of a Planar driver. This also gives (the impression of) better resolution, because of that, to my ears. Although I think that the Noir ain't no slouch in presenting details either.

Noir has a bit more sub-bass rumble to my ears, Supermoon has slightly less rolled off treble and that's why it sounds cleaner/brighter overall imo.

Both have an excellent (width and depth) soundstage imo, but Supermoon even slightly better. Probably because of the more V shaped tuning, where the mids on the Noir fill up the overall signature a bit more. Making it sound more full bodied and rich, but also a bit more close by.

Anyway, I think that it's only a positive thing that they have these differences in their signatures. It's always nice to have some variation available for listening, right?

Btw, I think that the Noir might benefit from some burn-in time. I have used it now for approx 20 hrs and I have the feeling that they even sound better now, then at the beginning. I think dynamic drivers (in general) always have to settle down for some time, to reach their best performance levels.

I hope the above is somehow helpful to you. But don't forget, these are only my impressions at this moment and yours might turn out differently later on''

Anyone find the Pilgrims muffled? Not really a big fan and I feel that there's a bit of hype about these. I put them down after a minute or so, not that impressed. There are better new IEM releases out there, e.g. Hype4, ProjectM, Davinci.

Muffled? Not to my ears! Maybe you should keep trying other tips (like other members suggested) or sources. Or it might need some extra burn-in time to open up the sound and maybe (if you were really unlucky) you just got a defected one. Or maybe it just doesn't 'click' (we all hear things differently afterall) with you...

I had the Pilgrim OG and Noir with me at the same time and spent some good time with both. I actually preferred the OG. Noir is really good no question, and definitely hits all the right areas people have been discussing. For me personally though I think I found it too safe. It didn’t do anything wrong, but at the same time it didn’t wow me. The OG however did wow me. The treble on it is straight out of Lee’s top draw and I found the rest of the frequencies pleasing also. I was very impressed with what you could get for $399. Of course we all hear differently and have different preferences so your findings may be different to mine.

I can totally understand that! Better performance doesn't always mean a highel level of musical (personal) pleasure in the end


So, do I miss the Elysian x EA Pilgrim Noir now it's gone?

Yes, of course I do!!! Seriously, what's not to miss about them? But who knows... they might return at some point in the future and luckily I still have enough other great sounding iems (incl. the Pilgrim OG) to keep me occupied in the meantime.

Happy listening (no matter if you have the Pilgrim OG, Noir, neither or both) and cheers to ya'all over here!

 

[Danx3k]

I was thinking about purchasing the EA Cadmus 4w for my pilgrim, as whilst I’m not a cable believer, I’m not a big fan of 2w cables, like the stock one.

Anyway, after seeing @ToneDeafMonk previous posts about being able to order a custom pentaconn connector cable from Hakugei, I decided to contact them on AE about ordering one myself as it’s a much cheaper option that the EA cable, and I’d previously owned the Eros S anniversary edition and never noticed any real sonic improvements.

I ended up ordering the Spring Rain cable, as I liked the aesthetics, it didn’t look too thick and felt it would match well with the pilgrim. I requested penteconn connectors and a modular L-Jack plug (4.4 & 3.5). straight connector is also an option but I much prefer L jack plugs, as I find them better for when I’m carrying my DAP in my pocket.

In total it cost me £51, including the modular plug and tax.

It arrived today and I’m very pleased with it, especially for the price. The modular plugs are also secured by a screw lock, so there’s no risk of the connection getting weaker over time like the common friction secured ones:

 

[Sonic Sleuth]

I was thinking about purchasing the EA Cadmus 4w for my pilgrim, as whilst I’m not a cable believer, I’m not a big fan of 2w cables, like the stock one.

Anyway, after seeing @ToneDeafMonk previous posts about being able to order a custom pentaconn connector cable from Hakugei, I decided to contact them on AE about ordering one myself as it’s a much cheaper option that the EA cable, and I’d previously owned the Eros S anniversary edition and never noticed any real sonic improvements.

I ended up ordering the Spring Rain cable, as I liked the aesthetics, it didn’t look too thick and felt it would match well with the pilgrim. I requested penteconn connectors and a modular L-Jack plug (4.4 & 3.5) It cost me £51 total including the modular plug and tax.

It arrived today and I’m very pleased with it, especially for the price. The modular plugs are also secured by a screw lock, so there’s no risk of the connection getting weaker over time like the common friction secured ones:

Pilgrim OG can definitely benefit from copper Litz or UPOCC copper cables. They can tame the spicy upper mid range a little.

 

[Danx3k]

Pilgrim OG can definitely benefit from copper Litz or UPOCC copper cables. They can tame the spicy upper mid range a little.

I’m not really a believer in material making much of a difference tbh. I’ve purchased various cables of different types over the past year and have a case full, but I realised I can’t really hear any difference. I think higher impedance cables do affect the treble for sure, but the material/metal, I’m not so sure.

Anyway, I’m not going to tell you what you can hear, only you know that. I tend to just go with a cable that I like the Aesthetics and feel of these days.

 

[Sonic Sleuth]

I’m not really a believer in material making much of a difference tbh. I’ve purchased various cables of different types over the past year and have a case full, but I realised I can’t really hear any difference. I think higher impedance cables do affect the treble for sure, but the material/metal, I’m not so sure.

Anyway, I’m not going to tell you what you can hear, only you know that. I tend to just go with a cable that I like the Aesthetics and feel of these days.

You’re right. I’m not a firm believer in cables either but they do make slight difference. I was a non believer too until I got into cable rolling for my Z1R and Andro 2019 couple of years ago. My God! Few cables made Z1R sound bad. Cables have most effect on extremely low sensitivity IEMs. For most, the differences are very minute or non existent to my ears.

 

[PixelSquish]

You must try a lot of tips with Pilgrim to get the best fit. Its not muffled at all. Muffled is when it does not have a proper tips on it. I would rate them above Hype 4 and DaVinci. Project M is a little better for my preference because it scales a lot and the dynamics get better with better sources. For some, Pilgrim is as good as Project M.

Yes the Pilgrim are definitely not muffled. Though I prefer the Hype 4 over the Pilgrim for sure.

 

[SushiiFi]

Pilgrim vs Pilgrim noir ( a short comparison)

Had the pleasure of demoing the pilgrim noir. So thought why not make a comparison?

In terms of design and looks, i straight up prefer the looks and aesthetics of the noir. The black shell and gold nozzle look sexy. It also does not have the shiny parts on the faceplate like the pilgrim, so no issues of scratches as well. I do not have to mention the better cable on the noir. The fit and comfort is the same on both

Now the sound, noir sounds warmer and smoother to me. People who find the original pilgrim to be on the thinner and brighter side then, they will prefer the noir. I am on the side of pilgrim, i like its slightly energetic tuning. The noir has a slight mid-bass increase plus its upper mids and treble are reduced . The vocals sound more extended on the pilgrim and more relaxed and laid back on noir. Noir lacks a bit of treble air for me as compared to noir, this is done to make it sound darker. the bass texture and detail is same.

The technical performance is slightly better on the pilgrim, due to its tuning. But there is not a big difference.

I can see people considering noir, but IMO it is a bit on the pricier side. I wish they priced it more aggressively.

Anyone find the Pilgrims muffled? Not really a big fan and I feel that there's a bit of hype about these. I put them down after a minute or so, not that impressed. There are better new IEM releases out there, e.g. Hype4, ProjectM, Davinci.

the pilgrims are very tip dependent. when I got the pilgrim I was disappointed like you. i tried all the tips I had, but it didn’t sounded correct, then I tried them with azla sedna earfit max tips. then I got the proper seal and bass texture. man these tips are the best I have tried with the pilgrim. IMO these are the only tips that sounded right with pilgrim. please give it a listen with azla sedna earfit max. I have talked about this tips issue in my review of the pilgrim you can check it out.

 

[voicemaster]

Double the price =/= double the sound quality.
The Pilgrim is the best bang of the buck from Elysian. Compete with $1000-$1500 price IEMs in detail and clarity. Some IEMs try to "enhanced" their detail retrieval by pushing the treble so hard that it is borderline sibilance but not with the Pilgrim.
Since I got the Ares S cable, the sound changed so much than the stock cable so I basically got 2 sets of tuning.

 

[Sonic Sleuth]

Double the price =/= double the sound quality.
The Pilgrim is the best bang of the buck from Elysian. Compete with $1000-$1500 price IEMs in detail and clarity. Some IEMs try to "enhanced" their detail retrieval by pushing the treble so hard that it is borderline sibilance but not with the Pilgrim.
Since I got the Ares S cable, the sound changed so much than the stock cable so I basically got 2 sets of tuning.

Any impressions on how Ares S changed the sound?

 

[voicemaster]

Any impressions on how Ares S changed the sound?

Vocal is more forward and clearer, treble got smoothened out - way less splash from cymbals, bass is more punchy, soundstage is more 3D.

 

[Vonbuddy]

I recently agreed to provide a review on the Elysian Acoustics Labs Pilgrim. I am not a frequent reviewer, but I will attempt to provide my thoughts:

This is Elysian Acoustics Labs effort to make their brand affordable to the vast majority of people. I want to share my own impressions of this iem and hope those impressions are clear.

What I liked: Highly detailed, with good instrument separation
Energetic, lively presentation
Solid build, with good accessories, including Spin Fit W1s.
Plays well with pop and some electronic music
Treble is extended and has air.
Bass had good rumble after finding the right tips
Cable was sturdy and didn't tangle.


What I didn't like: Comfort was not idea initially, with fatigue after 30 minutes.
The W1 tips are great, but not on this iem. I tried an assortment of tips, including Tang Sancai Wide Bores and Dunu Sweet Tips. After a couple of days, I found the tips that toned the treble, let the bass shine, and significantly improved my experience with this iem. Those tips were TENNMAK Ultra Strong Memory Foam Tips. This is my first experience with TENNMAK, and I am now a fan. All of this to say, the Pilgrim is tip dependent. Prior to my use of the memory foam tips, I experienced sibilance in the upper mids and the bass was subdued. It was a "night and day" experience.
Vocals are somewhat thin, and before using the memory foam tips there was a sense of "dryness". This is not a "laid back" approach.
I would have preferred a more layered approach to the sound, but I enjoyed the energy once the bass arrived and treble was tamed.

This is some of the music I listened to:









I enjoyed the sound the best on the more energetic tracks, especially Crystal Waters.

As this iem is tip dependent, it could also be considered source dependent. I used the following sources:

Earman Sparrow
Earman TR-AMP
Shanling UA4
Onix Alpha
Questyle M15

I had my best experience with the Shanling UA4. I think a warmer dac/amp is the best choice for the Pilgrim. I unfortunately don't have my Chord Mojo 2 with me but will eventually use that.

In summary, with the right source and the right tips the Pilgrim can shine. It is providing satisfaction when I am in the mood for an energetic sound with extension. The Pilgrim will find a place in my rotation of iems.





I want to thank the good folks at MusicTeck for the opportunity to provide this review.

 

[atechreviews]

I recently agreed to provide a review on the Elysian Acoustics Labs Pilgrim. I am not a frequent reviewer, but I will attempt to provide my thoughts:

This is Elysian Acoustics Labs effort to make their brand affordable to the vast majority of people. I want to share my own impressions of this iem and hope those impressions are clear.

What I liked: Highly detailed, with good instrument separation
Energetic, lively presentation
Solid build, with good accessories, including Spin Fit W1s.
Plays well with pop and some electronic music
Treble is extended and has air.
Bass had good rumble after finding the right tips
Cable was sturdy and didn't tangle.


What I didn't like: Comfort was not idea initially, with fatigue after 30 minutes.
The W1 tips are great, but not on this iem. I tried an assortment of tips, including Tang Sancai Wide Bores and Dunu Sweet Tips. After a couple of days, I found the tips that toned the treble, let the bass shine, and significantly improved my experience with this iem. Those tips were TENNMAK Ultra Strong Memory Foam Tips. This is my first experience with TENNMAK, and I am now a fan. All of this to say, the Pilgrim is tip dependent. Prior to my use of the memory foam tips, I experienced sibilance in the upper mids and the bass was subdued. It was a "night and day" experience.
Vocals are somewhat thin, and before using the memory foam tips there was a sense of "dryness". This is not a "laid back" approach.
I would have preferred a more layered approach to the sound, but I enjoyed the energy once the bass arrived and treble was tamed.

This is some of the music I listened to:









I enjoyed the sound the best on the more energetic tracks, especially Crystal Waters.

As this iem is tip dependent, it could also be considered source dependent. I used the following sources:

Earman Sparrow
Earman TR-AMP
Shanling UA4
Onix Alpha
Questyle M15

I had my best experience with the Shanling UA4. I think a warmer dac/amp is the best choice for the Pilgrim. I unfortunately don't have my Chord Mojo 2 with me but will eventually use that.

In summary, with the right source and the right tips the Pilgrim can shine. It is providing satisfaction when I am in the mood for an energetic sound with extension. The Pilgrim will find a place in my rotation of iems.





I want to thank the good folks at MusicTeck for the opportunity to provide this review.

Great impressions, thanks for sharing. I've heard many people say they prefer the sound of the Pilgrim when paired with Shanling. I haven't tried the Pilgrim with foam ear tips yet.

 

[tassardar]

So today I compared the pilgrim OG vs Noir.

The OG has bigger sound stage and more treble then the Noir. This gives it more air and alittle brighter/lighter sounding. Perceived clarity also seems a little better in most scenario except one which I will cover below.

The Noir has a punchier and more detailed bass, with ability to capture bass rumble and texture. Additionally the mids also has more body than the OG. It’s also has lesser treble energy. Last notable thing is In complex setting (drums, vocals, instruments in mids and highs) the noir also hold out better then the OG which can be alittle congested.

Personally, both are nice, they sound different enough and are more complementary than competing to me. For my preference, I prefer noir alittle more due to the bass and mids.

 

[Vonbuddy]

So today I compared the pilgrim OG vs Noir.

The OG has bigger sound stage and more treble then the Noir. This gives it more air and alittle brighter/lighter sounding. Perceived clarity also seems a little better in most scenario except one which I will cover below.

The Noir has a punchier and more detailed bass, with ability to capture bass rumble and texture. Additionally the mids also has more body than the OG. It’s also has lesser treble energy. Last notable thing is In complex setting (drums, vocals, instruments in mids and highs) the noir also hold out better then the OG which can be alittle congested.

Personally, both are nice, they sound different enough and are more complementary than competing to me. For my preference, I prefer noir alittle more due to the bass and mids.

My issue here is the significance price difference for sound variation.