Elysian Acoustic Labs - Annihilator 2023

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.

That was my one exception. :) We will see in 2 years!

I mean sure, but at the end of any day subjective experience is paramount. I'm not trading Abyss Diana for a Kiwi Ears KE4 since the Diana smashes the shit sound wise to my preferences (and it better for like 15X the cost). Kilobuck iems are the same. Elysian Annihilator 2023 (I know people say 2021 is better but havent tried them) was the most resolving and full sound IEM, Ive ever had. The Performer 5+2 and Odyssey I have dont compare.

In my experience, the most expensive iems do tend to have better technical details over cheaper ones. The details on sets that cost $5k+ (Storm, Hex, CP752B, etc) are for the most part better than say the ones in the $2k bracket. Tuning does play a role, but it’s less about justifying cost and more about how warmer sets can ‘hide’ details compared to their brighter counterparts. Take the bgvp Solomon, it's the brightest iem in my comparison and it's also the most: detailed, resolving, and most unforgiving with poorly recorded tracks. My two most expensive sets atm are the annihilator 2023 and fat freq grand maestro, and to my ears they do have better technicals (for the most part) compared to the the iems I've included in this review. There are outliers though, such as the Z1R. That iem to this day has one of the most expansive soundstages I've experienced with an iem. I upgraded to the grand maestro from it, but I do miss that set at times.

It's a hard choice, especially if you're unable to demo them. I'm more of an emotive listener, as opposed to a technical one, so the Solomon is bottom of my list. I've got an annihilator 2023, so the maven doesn't get as much eartime, as the anni covers most of what the maven II can offer. So, that leaves the valhalla and dawn X.

I love it! It's probably one, if not my favourite iem. Mind you, mine has been modded (grills removed) which imparts more warmth into the mids, and gives more air in the treble region. It's basically the only iem that gives me constant goosebumps, no matter what I throw at it.

Elysian annihilator 2021 begs to differ 😅

Endgame for me would be something like Annihilator 2023. I think the Mangird Xenns Top Pro is a good “endgame” iem. I have the Top OG and although it was real good, I tried the annihilator, elysian x effect, u12t so now I consider endgame to be the best possible experience for me. I upgraded to the FatFreq Quantum and I’ll keep these until I can justify spending $2k-3k on IEMs.

IEMs photographed left to right in first two photos: Unique Melody Mest MkII, Moondrop Variations, Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK, TSMR Halo, Thieaudio Monarch MkIII, Elysian Annihilator 2023, Elysian Diva 2023. I’ve also put a close-up photo of each IEM in the order they appear in photo one. Photography is not my skill so the photos are awful; whoops! This is just update post for my collection. Again, the post is mostly for me to look back on myself in the future (for example, I said in my last post I was looking for Diva 2023 and I finally got it courtesy of a Head-Fi seller). I’m not expecting anyone to care or be interested. But on the off-chance someone cares I’ll list a few rankings off here. You can also see the driver configurations of each IEM in photo three, listed top to bottom in the order I acquired the sets. My rankings are coming from the point of view of someone who values detail and treble extension primarily, with bass a secondary concern. Sound (most important of course): 1. Elysian Annihilator 2023 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Unique Melody Mest MkII 4. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 5. TSMR Halo 6. Moondrop Variations 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Comfort/Fit (essential for long listening sessions): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. TSMR Halo 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK Stock Cable (maybe interesting, maybe not): 1. Unique Melody Mest MkII 2. Elysian Diva 2023 3. Thieaudio Monarch MkIII 4. Elysian Annihilator 2023 5. Moondrop Variations 6. TSMR Halo 7. Moondrop x Crinacle DUSK (both cables) Finally, not photographed except for the boxes are my two DAPs. The iBasso DX340 is clearly the better of the two but I hesitate to say it’s ‘worth it’ as an upgrade to the R4. They’re both fantastic but as a value proposition I think the R4 is great. To conclude, clearly the IEM hobby is something of a chase for perfection which you will never achieve. There are tradeoffs to every IEM, DAC, DAP, cable and eartips. If you’re seeing this post and thinking about things like diminishing returns and these sets being nowhere near ‘worth’ their price – I’d say I agree. Diminishing returns (not a phrase I like much because everything has diminishing returns but I digress) set in quite early imho. For an all-rounder that you can use with practically any device the DUSK (as an example from my sets) could easily be the pinnacle of what you’re looking for and there’s really no need to chase the latest releases or constantly be looking to upgrade. Then again, I also disagree with people who look down on someone for owning more than one set – do we limit ourselves to one pair of shoes just because we only have two feet? (Bad example but maybe you get my point.) At the end of the day, yes, the IEM hobby is rife with consumerism, as are all similar tech products, but I think the craftsmanship and the various different designs, sound signatures and so on make it a fascinating hobby to be involved in. And on second-hand sites like Head-Fi (where I got my Mest, Diva & Halo from) or even r/AVexchange you can sometimes snag yourself a bargain, or at least meet more people to talk about this great hobby with. I’d be happy to discuss anything photographed if anyone has any questions (and made it all the way to reading this)! Take care and all the best, Rob

If budget is no consideration then Anni 2023. I don’t think any of these sets could really be considered a ‘bang for your buck’ kind of a deal but I think the best value of them would be the DUSK for its versatility.

I went from a Summit-Fi open-back, HE1000 Stealth to a Summit-Fi earphone Elysian Annihilator 2023. Fair to compare headphones and earphones by comparing those two things because they are both very bright, have proper mids, and don't have recessed bass, and pretty much everyone woukd consider them both top-tier if not the best. Headphones have poor bass response, weigh far more, worse stock cables, expensive and annoying pad replacements, get hair on the driver, harder to clean, terrible isolation, bad value, are larger, more risky to wear in windy or rainy weather, could more easily be broken by a child or pet, require a stand, are more power hungry. I think people assume headphones are higher quality because they are bigger and look more grand and have "better soundstage" and are "more neutral". They think headphones are more proper and sophisticated and think earphones are like toys that throw off tonal balance and are somehow impossible to mix music with. People will be like "Ah, I can't mix on earbuds lol *puts on DT 770*" I just like my good ol Annihilator absolutely blasting my ears.

Or you could just produce on what sound you prefer. Would make more sense for me to produce on my Annihilator I use for everything rather than switching to a boring headphone.

1. Headphones are basically pointless and earbuds/IEMs are simply superior. Headphones have pathetic bass. The bass is either recessed, far too lean, or muddy. They leak sound. They buzz from hair on the driver, weigh more, worse value, look worse, have to pay lots to replace padding, have awful stock cables, take up space, require stands, far more difficult to clean, open-backs are unusable outside, kinda. Headphones can leak sound into microphones when recording vocals. All these drawbacks for the sake of "soundstage". I have no idea how ANY headphone coukd sound as good as my Annihilator 2023. Same type of sound signature as the HE 1, but it has massively more bass. I used to have an HE1000 Stealth and it is weak and peaky and dull compared to Anni. Only issues with earbuds is that they block the sound of your own voice and they have earwax issues. Look at Annihilator 2023 graph vs the Utopia or HE 1 or Susvara or HE1000 Unveiled or 1266 or literally anything. No idea why there is so much of a focus on headphones over earbuds. People act as if headphones are far more sophisticated, when really, all the "summit-fi" ones have very similar measurements that include weightless bass. 2. Audiophiles tend to obsess over things that have nothing to do with sound. The earphone itself is the only thing that matters. DACs/amps/vinyl/power/cables are boring and pointless and do nothing. Zero 2 makes the Space Travel pathetic, and the Annihilator 2023 is massively better than the Zero 2, yet I can't hear any difference between running an IEM in 3.5mm on a little dongle vs my $530 desktop amp via 4-Pin XLR. 3. Driveability does not need to be talked about so much. You either have a dedicated amp or you don't. HD 600 can run at loud volumes on a $90 audio interface. Also, the idea that more power causes better bass response is ridiculous, and that's why nobody shows FR measurements to prove it. 4. Soundstage being improved by cables or sources is an absurd claim. How can a digital to analog converter make the sound wider??? 5. Neutrality is entirely pointless, and you can mix music well on everything that is not bad. The reason people think neutrality is needed for mixing is because they associate tonal coloration with bad earphones. The idea comes from "studio headphones" marketing nonsense and also musicians who have no idea how much earphones impact sound, and only see earphones as tools rather than modes of improving sound. They think they need neutrality and they talk about "translation" when in reality the goal of mixing is to make music sound good on earphones that sound good. The better an earphone sounds, the better it is for mixing. Also, why would I toss my Annihilator aside and listen to a neutral earphone for mixing? It would throw off my perception of the mix, because I don't listen to music like that. Also, these people often test their mixes with stock car speakers. A lot of the "studio headphones" they use are peaky or muddy or just terrible. 6. There's no such thing as "natural" when it comes to earphones. To assume an earphone is "natural" is to assume music itself is generally natural. Music is equalized and compressed and distorted and limited and clipped and sidechained and synthesized. 7. Term "rumble" suits midbass more than subbass. 8. I disagree when people say an earphone can only do certain genres well, and that you need multiple sound signatures for various genres. If you think an earphone is abd at a genre, then perhaps that genre generally has poor quality mixes, and you are compensating for it with a different sound signature. (Old metal music) The orchestral stuff I listen to has as much bass as the dubstep I listen to. 9. People should stop recommending things and calling things "good" without sharing their preferred sound signature. My idea of "good" is enormous bass and enormous treble, and anything that heavily diverts from that is irrelevant to me. 10. Boosted upper-treble IS "real clarity". Calling it "fake clarity" assumes that all music is perfectly clear in a natural manner and ignores the fact that equalizers are used in music production. 11. I like bright treble for the sake of intimacy and tonal aggression rather than "illusion of greater staging". 12. People often incorrectly use the term "sibilance" to describe any kind of brightness they dislike. 13. Would make more sense to buy an ideal earphone you like most, rather than having a bunch of various ones you like in varying degrees.

For me, my Annihilator is not too uncomfortable unless its un my ear for like 6 hours, then it grts pretty irritating.

How does neutrality prevent peakiness and harshness as opposed to a tasteful coloration? Neutrality isnt a magic tonality that prevents mixing issues. If anything, it would be harder to know if something is harsh on a neutral set. I make music with the Annihilator 2023. How would neutrality make the mixes less harsh? I like treble and bass boosts. If other people dont like that, they wont get those, because it translates. If there is peakiness in the song, or the bass is muddy, or the mids are ugly, how would that be caused by the Annihilator's tonality? I mix on what sounds good, because that's what matters, abd is what I'm used to. Why would I mix on a shitty "studio" open-back instead of the greatest earphone of all time? "Ah, yes. Mix music on earphones you don't listen to. Mix on earphones most people don't prefer over the one you already use."

I was already aware that one of those gets up to +20db. I did not mention it because its a cheap gimmicky closed back with poor tuning. Other than that, no other headphone has a lot of bass, especially open-backs. I have a $3000 IEM called Elysian Annihilator 2023. Has like +15dB bass. There is no headphone that competes with Annihilator 2023. The headphone most similar to Annihilator is the HE 1 that costs $70,000 and only has +4dB bass.

Elysian Annihilator 2023 outclasses everything.

Annihilator 2023 i have is great for everything, because I think the idea of a sound signature being better for a genre doesnt make sense. If people think bass boosts are bad for classical, they should listen to Alon Mor - Within Will with a bassy IEM.

I was fine with my IE 600 not having a waifu on the box but WHY THE FUCK DOESN'T MY ANNIHILATOR HAVE A TOMBOY WAIFU ON THE FUCKING BOX, LEE? WHERE IS MY BLESSING 2-STYLE ENGRAVED WAIFU ON THE FACEPLATE? (not enough budget i guess)

I'd recommend $25 Zero 2. Great comfort and good sound other than the highs being too dark for me. But instead of that, you could try $100 Juzear Defiant or $300 Elysian Pilgrim. There's also the Yu9 QUE which will be available soon. $400 QUE might be the best option if you want something of decent price. I haven't heard any of those three I just mentioned, but they are probably pretty great. Universally liked. I have a $3,000 Elysian Annihilator.

Elysian Annihilator 2023 annihilates the competition.

I use my Annihilator 2023 when making music but I haven't released anything yet.

https://preview.redd.it/yd1y5q8fjpnf1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=831cbc8162ca5f6ea48cdade3784e65f92625d0e Annihilator 2023. Ultra-aggressive thick bass, strong upper mids, enormous, clean treble. The ultimate v-shape. Very physical-sounding.

Just use something that sounds good. The only good mixing headphone is one that sounds good. I have a "summit-fi" IEM (Annihilator) I use for everything including music production. Just get a good earphone/headphone/whatever and stick to it and you'll know what good mixes sound like. Zero 2 is a good choice.

Elysian Annihilator 2023 IEM. Extremely intense. Supposedly the best IEM treble of all time. Might get a Subtonic Storm too.

Annihilator 2023. I'm saving for a STORM but keeping Annihilator regardless. Anni is very intense and cohesive and midbass forward and upper treble forward. STORM will be a good alternative for when I don't want that kind of bass and mids. I've never heard STORM, so I'll be blind-buying like I did with everything else.

I don't have much experience with other IEMs. I've only heard a few. It's enough of an allrounder. The bass makes the music sound glued together and powerful. The treble is not harsh whereas IE 600 is kinda harsh. Nothing clearly wrong with the mids although the 3kHz boost might not be good, but i dont know. A lot of people will find the bass too thick. Music sounds very physically present and electrified. The treble pushes the music up close and makes the timbre very strong. Nothing really pushes out way too much like IE 600 treble does. I only get coherent and tonally full bright IEMs because I'm a musician and I also just want to have decent bit of accuracy combined with extreme treble clarity with no dips or anything weird going on.

My Annihilator 2023. U-Shaped bassy clarity monster. Things sound physically present. EDM is extremely satisfying. Captures all the right parts of cymbals and snares. Has a lot of bite and sizzle but has no harshness. Not harsh at all. Huge thick bass. Full mids. It's like it's trying it's hardest to not sound boring. Can keep turning up the volume without anything poking out. Accentuates the best treble regions. Has a lot of character and excitement. I'm extremely biased in favor of bright upper treble. I also like thick bass.

Annihilator 2023. I have one. People have been saying it's the best IEM, for six years.

No headphone will sound as great as my Annihilator 2023. I find the bass to be absolutely astonishing, and that's with the bass being constantly said to be the worst part of it. I make dubstep and weird experimental music, and IEMs allow music to have power. Headphones sound lame and people think that's fine because it's "true to the source" True to which source? Everyone uses the same neutral gear to make all music? Sub-bass oriented music sounds bland on a neutral set.

Elysian Annihilator 2023 I own. Extremely thick and aggressive bass. Ultra-clear and clean treble. Proper mids. The music sounds physically present and immersive. The least boring earphone. IDK how an earphone can be better for dubstep than that thing. Boring EDM songs are forced to become satisfying. A lot of sounds have such a strong heft to them. Very coherent. People talk about how great the treble is and act like the bass is mediocre, but I find the bass extremely great. The bass is enormously powerful. Sounds like everything is attacking you.

You just gotta know what sound signature you like, and have a DAC amp with features and connections you want. I have an Elysian Annihilator 2023 IEM with a Jotunheim amp DAC. Questyle M15C for portable use. There are cheaper alternatives to that $3,000 IEM. Hype 4, Hype 10, IE 600, Glacier, Maestro Mini, etc. I also have an HD 6XX cause people like it. Pretty solid headphone but not my ideal thing. Just know what tuning you want, and see what reviewers find to be the best option for your budget. Don't worry about the vague things.

They sound amazing! Everything you are describing is what I love in IEMs.

https://preview.redd.it/xco8r6z60onf1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b98be5d90d98b2accf6ab0b4701e9474f10bc84 Elysian Annihilator 2023 for me. Pretty hard-pressed to come across such incredible treble tuning in any of the IEMs I've tried.

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.