Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank the HIFIGO for providing this review unit.

The Elysian Pilgrim can be gotten here: https://hifigo.com/products/elysian-acoustic-labs-pilgrim (no affiliate links).




SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver configuration: 1 x 9.2 mm Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Mg-Al alloy diaphragm dynamic driver + 1 x 2300 Sonion balanced armature driver + 2 x E50 Sonion balanced armature drivers
• Frequency response: 10 Hz - 20 kHz
• Impedance: 9 Ω
• Sensitivity: 101 dB
• Cable: Pentaconn connector; silver-plated copper stock cable; option for 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm termination
• Tested at: $399 USD

ACCESSORIES

Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of Spinfit CP100 eartips (S/M/L)
- Cable
- Case
- Cleaning brush
- Cleaning cloth

For a midFI IEM, the accessory line-up is not up-to-scratch; gear at this price point usually incorporates a wider array of tips - foam or other silicone types for example - in addition to perhaps having a modular cable.




Nevertheless, the provided Spinfits are very comfortable and are quite balanced in terms of sonics.




The stock cable is a silver-plated copper one. This is well-braided, but has some tangling and microphonics. There's a chin cinch for grip. During ordering, one can opt for a 3.5 mm or 4.4 mm termination, depending on your source needs. Unfortunately, this cable utilizes a semi-proprietary Pentaconn connector; hence pairing aftermarket cables might be troublesome.




The ovoid carrying case is well stitched, and is rigid enough to withstand compression or a drop. The innards have webbing and a soft material to cushion the contents.

Last but not least, we have a cleaning cloth and brush to remove debris.

The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock Spinfit tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT



The beautiful matte housings are fashioned from 3D-printed 304 stainless steel. The faceplate has carved circular alternating panels of a mirror-like finish, which gives the Pilgrim an elegant façade. Unfortunately, these mirror-like portions may be potential scratch or fingerprint magnets, so do take care of these puppies!



Comfort and ergonomics are top-notch. With a lightweight shell and no awkward protrusions on the inner aspects, the Pilgrim can be used for long listening sessions without any discomfort whatsoever.



I did not find any driver flex on my pair. Isolation is average and nothing to write home about.


INTERNALS

The Pilgrim is a 4 driver hybrid:
- 1 x 9.2 mm LSR Mg-Al alloy diaphragm DD settles the bass
- 1 x 2300 Sonion BA takes care of the midrange
- 2 x E50 Sonion BAs handle the treble

These are arranged in a 3-way crossover within a 3D-printed internal acoustic cavity.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Pilgrim with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio KA11 dongle
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

This IEM is relatively easy to drive, with no essential requirement for amplification.

However, due to its low 9 Ω sensitivity, the Pilgrim may pose an issue for sources with > 1.125 Ω output impedance (based on the rules of eights), as higher OI sources may skew the sound signature. Thus, it is best to keep the Pilgrim with low OI sources.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES

Graph of the Elysian Pilgrim via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

Tonally, the Pilgrim sports a balanced and clean-sounding U-shaped profile. It sounds very crisp, something reminiscent of the usual Elysian house sound.

The Pilgrim is a sub-bass focused set. This hybrid is not one for bassheads, as the quantity is just north of neutral, with not the biggest bass boom. However, what it cedes in absolute quantity, it aces in quality, espousing a rapid and tight bass which is punchy without any bleed. Texturing of the bass is the chef's kiss.

The midrange is very transparent, with no bass flab to encroach here. With just a 6 - 7 dB ear gain in the upper mids, vocals are forwards without shoutiness or nasality.

The Pilgrim has a well-extended treble with good sparkle. Trebleheads will love the resolution on tap. It may be just at the border for the ardent treble-sensitive amongst us at the lower treble - there's admittedly slight sibilance - but treble perception is quite dependent on hearing health, volume played at (Fletcher Munson curve), source and eartip pairing etc. If one finds the treble a bit jarring here, do consider tip-rolling or even using a warmer source.

In technical aspects, the Pilgrim showcases its prowess, with a spacious soundstage with nimble transients and accurate layering and imaging. Micro-details are in abundance with solid instrument separation. Indeed, the Pilgrim is probably one of the most detailed IEMs at this price bracket.

There's just a small whiff of BA timbre, but it's not the biggest offender in this department amongst the BA containing hybrid rivals. The Pilgrim does not sound overly sterile despite being a technical champ, which is definitely a desirable trait - some technical behemoths do veer to being overly analytical after all!


COMPARISONS



Comparisons were made with other hybrids at the MidFI region. Planars, tribrids, single DDs and pure BA types were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.


ThieAudio Hype 4

Graph of the Elysian Pilgrim versus Hype 4 via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

The Hype 4 has more bass and a thicker note weight, but its treble is more recessed.

In technical aspects, the Hype 4 has a more profound bass reverberation, but there is some mid-bass bleed in contrast to the clean basslines of the Pilgrim. The Hype 4 has a deeper soundstage, but is a bit narrower in width. Micro-detailing is a tinge less pronounced on the Hype 4.

Timbre is more natural on the Hype 4. Of note, the Hype 4 has driver flex, which may be a deal-breaker for some users.


Moondrop Variations

Graph of the Elysian Pilgrim versus Moondrop Variations via IEC711 coupler. 8 kHz is a coupler artefact peak.

The measurebator's gold standard of the Variations, follows the Harman curve. The Variations has a scooped-out mid-bass/lower mids, which does cause it to sound a tinge anaemic here. The Variations also has a more shouty upper midrange with less treble extension.

In technicalities, the Variations has weaker staging and micro-details, though it has a hair better imaging.


CONCLUSIONS



The Elysian Pilgrim is a technical masterpiece for lovers of a clean and transparent soundscape. It is quite balanced in signature, with a nimble and textured bass, transparent midrange, and a sparkly and resolving treble.

Amongst its MidFI brethren, the Pilgrim may be considered a technical tour de force, with excellent micro-detailing and clarity being showcased. Soundstage is no slouch, and imaging is also commendable.

Sound-wise, the Pilgrim may be a tinge energetic in the lower treble regions, but this can perhaps be tamed with eartip or source choice. Most of my other quibbles have to do with non-sonic properties, such as the semi-proprietary Pentaconn connector (this limits aftermarket cable pairing), dearth of eartip choices, and its inherent low impedance (sources with high output impedance might skew the sound signature). Thankfully, the Pilgrim is ergonomic and easy to drive.

All things considered, the Pilgrim is a technicalities junkies' best friend, but it doesn't commit the cardinal sin of sounding overly sterile at the expense of just chasing technical chops. I would consider this to be a solid option at the MidFI pricing for fans of the Elysian house sound.

Last night I uploaded the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim video and today let's list what I found so endearing about this IEM.



This IEM was definitely worth the heat I got from my Loving and somewhat understanding wife.

I bought my unit from HiFiGo without prior approval. As they say better to beg forgivness than ask permission!

The hype was real.

If this is a taste of Elysian Acoustical Labs House Sound then count me a FANBOY.

So much to love but also a few things to keep in mind.

Cable is proprietary Pentaconn Ear terminations, While I love it personally it makes cable swapping hard unless your willing to buy a few more with these ends.

Thoose who have shared impressions stating poor bass response and thin mids and peaky treble probably have poor fitment with the shorter nozzles and should look to doing the simple O ring mod the help extend the length of your favorite eartips to get a good seal and insertion depth.

This is of paramount importance and cant be stated with enough importance. doing the eartip mod might sculpt your overall experience with the Pilgrim
from a mundane one to a exceptional Symphony.

Introduction:​

Elysian Acoustic Labs is no stranger to the world of high-end in-ear monitors and most if not all of their IEMs hold their own against the best IEMs available today. Diva 2023 and Gaea are IEMs that I enjoyed quite a bit and they both sit comfortably within the top 5 IEMs that I’ve heard to date.

When the Pilgrim was announced, I was first intrigued by the name – my mind immediately conjured up an image of the black and white attired folk from England that sailed a wooden ship across the Atlantic in the 17th century to settle in Massachusetts. I didn’t think much more of it at the time because knowing that it was an Elysian IEM, I assumed it would be unobtainium.

A couple weeks passed and I saw a reference to the actual price being $399, roughly 1/4 the price of the next cheapest Elysian and my interest level shot straight up! Could this be the Elysian IEM for the masses? Elysian certainly things so – as you unbox the Pilgrim, two phrases are highlighted, “The First Path,” and “Make No Compromises.”

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Where to Buy:​

The Elysian Pilgrim will be available to purchase on 5/7 from Hifigo:

Hifigo

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PROS:​

• Very exciting sound signature
• Vocals (both male and female but especially female) are sublime
• Good fit/ergonomics
• Very wide stage and good L/R imaging
• When it hits, bass texture and quality is top tier.

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CONS:​

• Lack of soundstage depth
• Can sometimes sound congested due to lack of depth to the soundstage
• Bass isn’t always there when I want it
• Pentaconn connector on the IEMs is rare and may require buying custom cables and connectors, some of which can be very expensive.

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Build, Fit, Accessories:​

What’s in the box: The Elysian Pilgrim comes in modest sized box but the presentation is pretty nice.

• a nice faux leather case
• IEM cleaning kit
• Microfiber cloth + warranty card
• Pentaconn cable
• 3 pack of Spinfit eartips, S, M, L (I believe these are the CP100)

Build and fit: The build quality of the Elysian Pilgrim is very solid with shells are made of stainless steel with a high polish spiral design for the faceplate for contrast against a matte background. Nozzle size is pretty par for the course for IEMs, which is to say they aren’t especially large. The shells themselves are medium sized and should fit most people comfortably. This is a relief because the two other IEMs I have heard from Elysian Audio have been quite large!

The cable is okay – it has a semi-sticky/rubbery feel to it but isn’t memory prone. It’s not bad but it’s also nothing to write home about. If you do want to change it out for something else, keep in mind, the IEM uses a rarer Pentaconn connector so you’ll either have to go with something custom from one of the more well known cable stores on AliExpress (like Xinhs, Hakugei, or iVipq, etc), buy an expensive Effect Audio cable, or use adapters if you want to use your existing 2-pin or MMCX cables.

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Bass:​

The quality of the Pilgrim’s bass is nothing short of excellent. When it hits, it hits hard. As one might expect from a DD, it pushes quite a bit of air and there is a very physical aspect to the bass response. There is a good amount of decay but not enough to detract from bass resolution or from the tactility and I would consider the quality of the bass on this set to be among the top 5.

The bass is capable of rumbling very, very hard. For example, on Deja Vu by Tomorrow X Together, the subbass dominant bass line made me feel like there was an earthquake going on in my head and had to I had to stop and compare this against a few IEMs I had on hand, all of which are known for bass quality – the 64Audio U12T, 64Audio Trio, ThieAudio Hype4, and Elysian Diva. Surprisingly the Pilgrim actually had the most visceral sound of the group.

Going into the midbass, the same physical qualities carry over and it can be pretty punchy when called for.

This is all to say that the quality of the dynamic driver on the Pilgrim is likely among the best I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. I do think Elysian could have been a bit more aggressive with the bass shelf though and added a couple more dB.

8/10

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Mids:​

The mid range is very clean. There is no bleed from the bass which keeps anything from sounding muddy. Voices and instruments throughout the range sound crystal clear and are nicely textured. This is in line with what I experienced with the Diva and the Gaea, at least in terms of tuning. This is not what one would call a completely natural or neutral sound, however. There is a bit of brightness and coloration here but it’s tastefully done and doesn’t detract from timbre, which is fantastic. Good amount of texture.

The star of the show here, like the Diva, is the vocals. Vocals on the Pilgrim are fantastic. They are nicely emphasized and very clear. And while both male and female vocals are great, female vocals are among the best I’ve heard in an IEM.

8/10

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Treble:​

Treble on the Pilgrim is good. Pretty good extension with tasteful elevation and no harsh peaks to my ears. That said, those that prefer a darker sound will probably want to demo this before buying to see if this is something they like. It’s certainly not as intense as previous Elysian IEMs but is present enough to add a good amount of air that is somewhat reminiscent of what I’ve heard in other Elysian IEMs. However, it does so in a way that is actually more palatable for the masses – the Gaea, for example, was too bright and harsh sounding for a good amount of people, but the Pilgrim is quite a bit more contained in this regard. Even the Diva is a bit more intense.

7/10

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Technicalities:​

Resolution – Above average in the mid-fi category. I don’t find myself missing details as much as details can sometimes feel “lost” in the commotion due to the lack of depth to the stage.

Soundstage – Stage is very wide for an IEM and extends out of the head. But it lacks in depth.

Imaging and Separation – Imaging is mostly left right, which it does quite nicely. But there is a lack of depth which can make it sound a bit congested at times.

Dynamics – Decent dynamics but don’t come into this expecting a dynamics monster like the rest of the Elysian lineup.

Transients – Decent but not standout. Another thing that the Pilgrim falls short of compared to its siblings. I do wish some of this trickled down from the more expensive models in the Elysian line up because this would probably help with the congestion.

7/10

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Comparisons:​

• ThieAudio Hype4
  • Priced exactly the same, the Hype4 is a much more “traditionally” balanced sounding IEM, following the the neutral with bass boost tuning philosophy that has been widely utilized over the past couple years. The Hype4 sounds less “colored” than the Pilgrim with a bit of a warmer sound signature. Where the Pilgrim is a very clean sounding IEM, the Hype4 has a bit more heft to the sound, owing, possibly, to a bass shelf that extends further into the midbass region.
  • That said, while the Hype4’s bass drivers (double DD) are no slouch, the Pilgrim still hits a bit harder and viscerally. The Pilgrim sounds more clean but both resolution on both are on par with each other. Hype4 has a deeper sound stage but Pilgrim edges it out in terms of width. Both could be good complements to each other given there isn’t much overlap in tuning.
• Elysian Acoustic Labs Diva 2023
  • Since Elysian is marketing this as the Elysian house sound for the masses, it makes sense to compare to another Elysian IEM. I happen to have the Diva 2023 on loan so how do they compare? The Diva is well known to have some of the best vocals of any IEM. And to this regard, the Pilgrim does retain this characteristic. They also do share a certain clarity through the mids but the Pilgrim does sound a bit warmer compared to the Diva. This makes the Diva sound more crisp in comparison. Going back and forth between the two, the Pilgrim can sound muddy after listening to the Diva. Likewise, the Diva can sound a bit thin after listening to the Pilgrim.
  • One of the characteristics that really made the Diva special is that beyond beautiful vocals. However, it also has some of the best technicalities, dynamics, and engagement that can be found in the IEM form factor. This characteristic of most of the Elysian lineup. The Pilgrim, unfortunately (but also as expected for the price difference) loses this quality. Transients on the Pilgrim are much less apparent and separation is a couple steps down from the Diva. The Pilgrim not as resolving and the stage is almost two dimensional. In comparison, the stage that feels like it surrounds your head on the Diva. This was an unfair comparison, however, and can’t be considered a negative for the Pilgrim.
  • Bass on the Diva is also pretty special. Despite using a BA driver for the bass, it can sometimes can feel like a DD with the physicality that it displays. With the Diva, you get the speed and resolution of a BA driver and the tactile punch of a DD driver. The DD on the Pilgrim is notably slower which means it loses a bit of resolution in the bass. Because of this, it does slam and rumble harder in the sub-bass regions.
  • Again, Diva being a significant step up is no surprise and the comparison isn’t close to being fair given that the Diva costs four times as much. The Pilgrim is no slouch and compared to others in the price range, it’s actually quite a bargain. Just don’t expect it to replace the Diva, Gaea, or any of other Elysian IEMs.

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Conclusion:​

Elysian marketed the Pilgrim as the Elysian house sound for the masses and I would agree with this to a certain extent. While most brands don’t necessarily have a house sound, Elysian definitely does. All of their IEMs generally bright and energetic with a very strong low end. All Elysian IEMs to date have also had industry leading dynamics. Elysian IEMs are very exciting to listen to and the Pilgrim mostly captures this essence. The overall tuning and tonality is in line with the Elysian house sound. It does have a little bit of brightness, having a little bit more upper mid energy. And bass is exceptional.

However, I did say it “mostly” captures the essence of Elysian. The Pilgrim, unfortunately, doesn’t quite live up to its older siblings in terms of sheer resolution and dynamics. It doesn’t have the “wow” factor when it comes to technicalities that has been present in all Elysian IEMs to date. This isn’t to say that the Pilgrim is bad. On its own, the Pilgrim is a very solid IEM. But being the youngest sibling of the Elysian family, expectations were high, even if these expectations weren’t exactly fair.

The Pilgrim comes in at 1/4 the price of the next cheapest Elysian IEM. And if you separate it from its lineage, it is a very, very solid pick in the price range. While you won’t get most of what makes the Elysian IEMs special (at least for me), the Pilgrim is a capable IEM on its own. Notably, it has excellent vocals and instrument timbre, and quite frankly, some of the best quality bass you can find in an IEM. For these characteristics alone, the Pilgrim, is my opinion, is an excellent value proposition. While it doesn’t exactly give you the full Elysian experience as promised, it is a fantastic IEM in and of itself. It is an IEM, that currently, has me constantly grabbing to enjoy music and that’s what matters most!

Note: There is a followup release to the Pilgrim that is coming soon. Elysian is collaborating with Effect Audio (again) to produce the Pilgrim:Noir. This new version supposedly has upgraded internal wiring, one additional crossover, an upgraded cable (made by Effect Audio) and a tuning change that supposedly addresses some of the issues I’ve listed above. However, the Noir version will be coming in at $799, which is a completely different price category, and because of this, I don’t think there is any reason to consider one over the other.