Just did a review on the ELYSIUM and compared them -
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/vision-ears-elysium.23939/reviews#review-22939 - but they are different enough that i would want to own both. The ELYSIUM is rich with lots of euphonics and mids are the start of the show where the VE8 is balanced and articulate. Both are full sized players even at low volume for realistic up close intimacy and both have stellar bass. The ELYSIUM universal sounded bass light as I didn't have as good of a seal as I thought, but in getting the custom, the bass was huge! The mids are still the star of the show, but the bass on the custom ELYSIUM is the best I have heard with super powerful rumble and sub-bass that wows me. The VE8 sounded like the bass was massive from the universal, and I have not heard the custom so it could get even bigger. Either way, this is not bloaty boom box bass on either, more audiophile high end subwoofer type bass that is tight, textured, and articulate. Best of all, but the ELYSIUM and VE8 bass integrate into the rest of the spectrum without the typical midbass hump offering incredible timbre and a natural signature. You cannot go wrong with either.