Myth

Started with the OG 2017 CFA Andromedas, have since upgraded to the Dunu Glacier, with another sidegrade in the Mysticraft Myth. Honestly, each purchase has been well worth it, considering how different they sound and how much has changed since 2017 (the Andromedas still have their place though). Compared to mid-range IEMs like the YU9 Que or the Aether, there is a significant difference that more than justifies the price increase imo. It's like instead of the music being in your head, you're truly in the music. Surprisingly, a good DAP has made a bigger difference than I'd ever expected.

After basically eating and sleeping at **CanJam NYC 2026** for two days, I wanted to share some quick impressions of a few IEMs that were quite popular at the show. These are purely my personal opinions. For most IEMs I spent **at least around an hour listening**, though a few I only had limited time with. My music library mostly consists of **modern music**. **Gear used:** AK SP3000M **Eartips:** Spinfit W1 # 1. Mysticraft Hex ($9000) The build quality is absolutely top-tier: titanium faceplate and nozzle with diamond and gold inlays, extremely premium looking. The shell is large but surprisingly light and quite comfortable. Bass has strong punch with very satisfying mid-bass impact. Sub-bass extends deep with strong rumble and full texture. The bass notes are round with a very unique “bouncy” character that makes it extremely engaging, though it can get slightly bloomy on certain tracks. The midrange is fairly forward. Vocals and instruments are clear and well defined. Male and female vocals sound natural without being overly warm or thin. Treble keeps the **Annihilator DNA**, but is tuned much smoother. It’s bright, sparkly, and very detailed without ever becoming harsh, even at higher listening volumes. Technical performance is excellent: wide soundstage with good width, height, and depth, accurate imaging, and **top-tier detail retrieval**. **Rate: 9.5/10** For my taste, the tuning is nearly perfect and it performs well across almost every genre. The only real issue is the price — **$9000 is wild**. # 2. Mysticraft Myth ($1000) You could consider Myth a **“downgraded” version of Hex** at roughly **1/9 of the price**. The titanium shell is very solid and compact, making it quite comfortable. The bass tuning is quite similar to Hex, with that same satisfying bouncy character. However, it’s not as clean, tight, or textured. The midrange follows a similar direction with forward vocals and instruments, but overall sounds thinner. Female vocals can occasionally become slightly sharp on certain tracks. Treble actually feels **even closer to the classic Annihilator tuning** than Hex. It’s brighter but still smooth, though the stronger treble presence makes the overall sound noticeably thinner. Technical performance is **excellent for the price**, honestly feeling closer to something in the **$2k range**. **Rate: 9/10** Myth delivers about **90% of Hex’s sound** at $1k, which makes it a far more reasonable option. At this price point, very few IEMs can compete with Myth’s overall sound quality unless you specifically prefer a more neutral or natural tuning. # 3. Unique Melody Pentara ($5000) Pentara can be seen as an **upgrade to the Maven II**. The titanium shell is solid yet lightweight. The finish reminds me of Dunu Glacier or Sony IER-Z1R, which means it attracts fingerprints and scratches easily. The faceplate design looks a bit strange to me personally, but it’s definitely unique. It includes a tuning switch, though I mostly listened in the **ON mode**. Bass isn’t heavily boosted but is very well balanced. It feels like a hybrid between the **speed and cleanliness of BA bass** and the **impact and texture of DD bass**. Overall, it might be the **best bass I’ve heard from a UM IEM**. The midrange isn’t as forward as Mysticraft IEMs, but it feels more balanced. Instrument notes have satisfying weight and sound very natural. Vocals retain the classic **UM “magic”**, with a slight reverb-like presentation that gives them a special character. Treble emphasizes the mid-treble region, sounding bright and sparkly. It can occasionally get a bit sharp depending on the eartips. Personally, I still think Mysticraft and Elysian handle treble better. Technical performance is where UM really shines. The **soundstage is extremely wide**, even wider than Hex, and live recordings feel almost like you’re standing on stage. **Rate: 8.5/10** The best UM IEM I’ve personally heard. If you listen mostly to **pop, vocal, acoustic, or live recordings**, this could easily be endgame. Faster or more aggressive music can become slightly fatiguing over long sessions. # 4. Elysian Annihilator 26 ($3200) This version feels like both an **upgrade and downgrade** compared to previous Annihilator models. The shell design is mostly unchanged from the 2023 version, though the nozzle is slightly longer. Comfort remains quite good. The new **9.2mm LSR dynamic driver** improves the biggest weakness of the older Annihilators. Sub-bass now has better weight and texture, while mid-bass punch is stronger and less dry. The midrange is also improved, with vocals and instruments gaining more body and sounding less thin. However, the treble is where things get controversial. Mid-treble is pushed quite aggressively while there seems to be less energy around **10kHz**, making the treble sound slightly sharp and losing some of the smooth, sparkling magic that made the original Annihilator famous. Technical performance is slightly improved compared to the 2023 version, with better height and depth in the stage. The overall presentation reminds me somewhat of the **Annihilator 2021**. **Rate: 7.5/10** The biggest strength of the Annihilator series has always been its treble, but the 26 version seems to lose some of that magic. On its own it’s still a very good IEM, but compared to previous versions it feels a bit disappointing. Personally, I still prefer **Myth by a noticeable margin**. # A few IEMs I only briefly listened to # Mysticraft Tet ($7700) Large shell similar to Hex but still comfortable. The titanium faceplate design is similar to Myth while the transparent shell resembles Hex. Sub-bass has stronger rumble and texture than Myth. Mid-bass is faster but slightly dry and lacks the bouncy character. Midrange tuning is more neutral compared to Myth and Hex. Male vocals can sound slightly thin while female vocals are excellent. Treble is sparkly and not harsh, though upper treble extension feels slightly limited. Technical performance is quite similar to Hex. **Rate: 8/10** Personally I still prefer Myth. # Alpha Omega Fulgrim ($6900) Large shell with a very big nozzle, though still fairly comfortable. The faceplate design is a bit flashy, and there is noticeable driver flex. I initially expected this to have one of the best bass performances, but in practice the bass quantity is **extremely high**, almost basshead level. This makes the bass sound bloomy and somewhat muddy, lacking the tightness and cleanliness I prefer. The midrange is thick and dark. Treble has a clear peak around **7–9kHz**, making some tracks quite sharp and fatiguing. Technical performance is underwhelming for the price: the soundstage is fairly narrow and detail retrieval is only average. **Rate: 6/10** # BGVP Wukong ($4300) The shell is thick and solid with an artistic design, but it’s extremely heavy, probably among the heaviest IEMs I’ve tried. Long listening sessions can become uncomfortable. Bass has a **pure BA character** with fast speed and good impact. Sub-bass texture is decent but still lacks the physical feel of a dynamic driver. The midrange follows BGVP’s typical tuning with a very bright upper-midrange. Male vocals sound thin while female vocals can become somewhat sharp. Treble is safe but lacks extension, so it doesn’t stand out much. **Rate: 7/10** # Elysian Apostle 26 ($2000) The design and sound are almost unchanged from Apostle 25. The titanium shell is very solid and looks great. The tuning is quite balanced across the spectrum, which unfortunately makes it feel slightly **boring**. It reminds me somewhat of **Thieaudio Valhalla**, but with dynamic driver bass and slightly more forward vocals. Interestingly, the soundstage is **very impressive for such a warm tuning**. Overall it’s solid but nothing particularly special. **Rate: 8/10** # Aroma Fei-wan ($4688) The shell is extremely light with a bright transparent yellow color. The build feels somewhat cheap and plastic-like compared to its price, though comfort is excellent. Despite using a dynamic driver, the bass actually sounds quite BA-like. Mid-bass is very tight and punchy, while sub-bass feels a bit weak. The midrange overall sounds somewhat thin, and the timbre feels slightly off, especially with vocals. Treble has a strong mid-treble emphasis and can become quite sharp. However, the soundstage is **extremely wide and very detailed**. **Rate: 6.5/10** # Brise Audio Fukagu Ampless (Price unknown) The build is solid but fairly heavy, and the design is very unusual compared to most IEMs. The earhooks are extremely difficult to wear properly, making it hard to get a good fit. I had to hold them in place by hand to listen properly. When properly fitted, the tuning is **neutral leaning warm**, balanced and easy to listen to, but nothing particularly stands out. **Rate: 6/10**

I spent so much time in e-earphones in both Akihabara and Osaka on my vacation these past two weeks. Testing was so much fun, but I decided to just pick up eartips. I have the myth, and when comparing to some of the big boys they had, I realized I have it good

I just use what I have. It was rare opportunity to test this. Limited time + limited slot. So I'm grateful enough with what I have now. I just support the local product from my country and I love it very much although I only can afford to buy the Myth only.

Nice write up, thanks. I have the Myth as well. An outstanding set in many ways. Only complaints is the slight lack of mids texture. Treble is very special, awesome airy with one of best technicalities around in this price bracket and above. As I am a bass head, I would have hoped for a smidge more low end. Treble can be too much but mostly it is just great imo. :-) High rec set.

Thanks a lot for sharing, much appreciated!! Great impressions. Agree with the Myth. Amazing IEM with just some slight deficiencies in the mid range. Treble on it is just something very special and enjoyable. I expected more of the the Fulgrim, it is so much praised. Nice that you listened to the Tet as well. Sounds a bit that I dont miss anything there. :-)

Mysticraft Myth and Elysian Annihilator 2023. Really sounds amazing.

It's got decent bass but it's not an IEM for bassheads. It's got the right amount of mid bass for an energetic iem I think. Lower mids are slightly recessed, upper mids slightly forward this being a u shaped IEM but overall not bad either. Coherence I think it could be better in but overall it's not below average in any aspect for an $1k IEM while having superior treble to most IEMs I've heard even in the $3k price range.

I haven't heard any of those actually, but the treble is not as forward or pushed up as Annihilator or other Elysian IEMs according to my friend who has owned those

Sure. Sub bass has good texture and extension. mid bass is not too much or little, just the right amount in quantity. Overall I'd give the Bass a B rating - above average. Mids are probably a weaker point because it sounded slightly recessed to me although I was using the SPC upgrade cable from Elise. The lower mids are definitely recessed while the upper mids are a bit forward. It wasn't bad though. I'd give the mids a C rating - average. Treble is the best part of the Myth and has incredible airiness and detail to it. I'd give it an A - outstanding. Soundstage and resolution I'd give them both B - above average for the price point and comparable to $2k IEMs. I think the best music to listen to it would be energetic pop tracks or EDM