A Casual's Review of the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim IEMs

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Disclaimer: Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.

The Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim was lent to me as part of a review tour in the Philippines.

Pros

😄 Amazing premium build of the cable and IEM

😄 Fantastic bass, soundstage, and immersion

😄 Accurate imaging, great for competitive gaming or general media consumption!

Cons

😔 Shell fitment does not give me a good seal, need to readjust from time to time

😔 Can get cold because of the shell’s material


General Product Details

Package Inclusions

  • IEM shells & cable
  • Carry case (with cleaning brush & cloth)

The IEM Shells

  • The shell is made of metal, likely stainless steel. It looks very industrial, looking like bare metal silver. It features the Elysian Acoustic Labs logo embossed on both earpieces surrounded by concentric circles
  • Each earpiece weighing at around 6.7g, almost double the weight of the budget IEMs I am currently using.
  • The Pilgrim uses MMCX connectors (single pins) which allows you to rotate and adjust the IEM around the connector.

The Cable
  • Thick and braided translucent but flexible cable. Feels very premium and doesn’t tangle easily, likely the best IEM cables I’ve ever seen.
  • The slider, y-splitter connector as well as the straight 3.5mm jack have steel jackets

The Carrying Case
  • The flip-top carrying case is made of faux leather on the outside. Embossed on the lid is the silver logo of Elysian Acoustic Labs. Seems like the faux leather would easily get dirty over time so consider bringing wipes to keep it clean.
  • Inside, we find that the lid and bottom are covered with grey suede. The lid has a netted compartment for extras like eartips.
  • In the container, I found a black cloth, likely for covering and cleaning the IEM shells, as well as a small cleaning brush.

Subjective Review


General Usage Impressions
  • After a few hours of usage, my ears started getting tired due to the weight but after 3 days, I have gotten used to the weight
  • The shell can get cold because of its material, might be uncomfortable to some
  • The fit on my ears is loose, even if I changed tips from small to large. Can’t seem to make a good seal because of the shell’s shape, need to do extra effort to push them in. Occasionally, I’d need to push them in as the IEMS seems to keep sliding out.

Sound Impressions
  • The bass is strong, but not strong to the point of being bothersome. it can also be felt, like there's a rumble in my ear that I only experienced from headphones.
  • Details of songs are fantastic. Tuning doesn’t sound warm to me. Sounds better than my headphones for sure.
  • Surprisingly wide soundstage. Music felt very "immersive”. It sounded similar to open back headphones!
  • Fantastic for general use, whether it’s music, gaming, or watching movies .

Final Thoughts

Definitely an upgrade in leaps and bounds from what I am currently using (Phillips SHP9500 headphones & Truthear Hola)! The build quality of the shells, cable, and carrying case are top-notch. If I could afford this, I would buy this, BUT the fitment issue is a glaring issue for me since these are made of steel, I would be cautious of scratching or accidentally dropping the IEMs.

Nonetheless if you are looking for midrange (yes, audiophiles consider this midrange) IEMs that have amazing soundstage and details with a well balanced tuning, the Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim should be at the top of your list, if not near there.