Elysian Acoustic Labs has a halo standing within the fanatic audio phase, and for good cause; the model persistently delivers standout designs with beautiful sound high quality. So when Elysian Acoustic Labs introduced it was making IEMs that may retail for underneath $500, there was appreciable curiosity. The model’s merchandise price 5 instances as a lot, and its most reasonably priced IEMs till now was the $1,699 Diva.
That is altering with the introduction of the Pilgrim. The IEMs retain Elysian Labs’ fanatical consideration to element and construct high quality, and so they’re simply one of many extra distinctive IEMs you may see on this phase. However what you may like probably the most is the pricing; the Pilgrim is out there for $399 at audio retailers like HiFiGo, and that could be a terrific worth.
The design specifically is the place the Pilgrim stands out significantly from the remainder of the pack, in order that’s a superb start line. Most IEMs on this phase use resin-based shells, however the Pilgrim is made out of machined aluminum, and the sound nozzle is constructed out of stainless-steel.
Clearly, the selection of supplies means the Pilgrim is constructed to final, and to the model’s credit score, the IEMs feel and appear like they need to price much more. Lots of that’s all the way down to the design of the faceplate; the reflective rings with the Elysian Labs brand nestled within the center provides the IEMs loads of design aptitude, and it undoubtedly grabs consideration. I did not discover this in each day use, however the grooves in between the rings choose up plenty of mud — that was evident when taking images of the product.
I wasn’t positive in regards to the consolation of the IEMs given the metallic chassis, however that is not a problem in each day use. The sizing leans in direction of the bigger aspect, however I did not see any issues getting a comfortable match, and the IEMs did not trigger any fatigue even with prolonged use. The rounded corners make a distinction on this regard, and due to the way in which the sound nozzle is designed, you get actually good isolation.
Then there’s the bundled cable. Elysian Labs features a silver-plated copper cable with the Pilgrim, and it’s wonderful. It has a transparent sheath masking the complete size of the cable — giving it higher sturdiness — and the one qualm I’ve with the cable is that it would not have a modular plug. You possibly can select a 3.5mm or 4.4mm connector when ordering the Pilgrim, however there is not any method to change between the 2.
On that observe, the cable connects to the IEMs through Pentaconn plugs, and so they jut out a bit. It might have been higher to see a typical 2-pin system as that might have allowed the Pilgrim for use with a wider choice of aftermarket cables, and the connector itself is fragile, so you may should be vigilant whereas plugging within the cable.
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Elysian Labs did an important job with the packaging as properly, and also you get a tough shell case to carry the Pilgrim when not in use. Nonetheless, you simply get three SpinFit silicone ideas with the package deal, and that is not almost satisfactory; I might have appreciated to see a better choice of choices given the asking worth. That mentioned, the bundled ideas ought to present a superb match.
The Pilgrim makes use of a hybrid driver configuration that contains a 9.2mm dynamic driver encased in a liquid silicone rubber shell that is designed to ship higher sub-bass, and it is joined by two units of Sonion balanced armature drivers: the Sonion 2300 for the mids, and a pair of the model’s E50 drivers that deal with the treble.
The sound tubes and acoustic chamber of the Pilgrim are crafted through 3D printing, and this enables the model to ship higher consistency whereas manufacturing. With an impedance of simply 9Ω and sensitivity of 101dB, the Pilgrim is extremely simple to drive, and you do not want a strong supply to take advantage of out of the sound. I used it predominantly with the Fiio M23 and M15S, and you need to use any dongle DAC as a substitute to drive the Pilgrim along with your telephone.
Coming to the sound, what’s instantly evident is the bass shelf; the Pilgrim has a definite sub-bass enhance, and also you get a really noticeable rumble that is pleasant. The IEMs pair very properly with mainstream music, and in the event you’re on the lookout for a bass-heavy sound signature, it is without doubt one of the greatest on this phase. The exuberance would not lengthen as a lot to the mid-bass, however you continue to get wonderful definition and readability.
Fortunately, the bass extension would not affect the mids, and also you get wonderful readability and element retrieval. Vocals are clear and pure, however what’s significantly nice is simply how good devices sound — you may hear each nuance even in an ensemble setting.
The treble has good definition, and whereas it’s a bit vivid, there is not noticeable sibilance. The soundstage is broad and welcoming, and the Pilgrim nails the technical particulars; the tuning lends itself properly to plenty of trendy genres.
Actually, the Pilgrim appears to be like and sounds prefer it ought to price a minimum of twice as a lot as its $399 retail worth, and in order for you high-quality IEMs with a particular bass-focused sound, it’s a no-brainer. The minor quibbles — lack of a modular cable and restricted equipment — in the end do not make a distinction, and the Pilgrim is now my go-to selection within the sub-$500 phase.
Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim
Combining a particular design and unbelievable sound, the Pilgrim nails the technical particulars.