IEMs are not an investment.
That said, there is one iem i can attest to that has long term value: the Elysian Annihilator 2021.
Many are familiar with the Annihilator 2023. It’s an excellent iem and I used to own it myself, but the Annihilator 2021 was the original king that started it all, when Crin first reviewed it. It has more holographic imaging, is slightly more detailed, and has a better treble extension for my ears. There are less than a hundred sets of the Annihilator 2021 out there today.
It’s quite sought after in demand. If anything, it’s worth more now than the original MSRP of 3000USD. I’ve received offers exceeding 4500USD already, especially because my particular unit is the very unit that Crin himself measured and reviewed.
possibly no one will be able to get their hands on to even try this - elysian annihilator 2021.
This sounded really expensive and one that i would personally pay the full msrp for it.
Problem with good sub $500 just sounded “meh” they are great but never special.. that’s why the hype.
But after trying about 30 odds kilobucks iem, i can attest if people are looking for performance to value, it’s not gonna happen.
All i can say is spent at your own budget. You pay for the specific branding and model.
People can call the xenns top pro a mini monarch but it will always be a xenns top pro, no people will call it a monarch just because propped reference it as a “mini” version of it.
*i gave up on the one and only opportunity to get my hands on the 2021 annihilator, used that money and went with a ciem.. didn’t regret my ciem but thought that i could have buy the annihilator first🥲
the annihilator was used.. i don’t think there are any sets that’s brand new sealed anymore.
I went with 64audio A18T. It’s a all rounder daily driver. For critical musical listening session i’ll take the annihilator any day.
Elytragofly
